The Cairo-Durham Central School District is accepting applications for an elementary Teacher Aide. Click here to learn more: https://5il.co/32sdk
Reminder: There will be no school, District-wide, on Monday, December 9, 2024.
Dear Cairo-Durham Families and Community Members,
After the heartbreaking loss of David Gori, the District has decided to close school District-wide on Monday, December 9. Mr. Gori’s funeral mass will be held on Monday at 10:30 am at St Mary’s in Saugerties (36 Cedar Street Saugerties, NY 12477). Calling Hours will be on Sunday, Dec 8th from 1:00-4:00 at A.J. Cunningham Funeral Home in Greenville. (4898 New York 81 Greenville, NY 12083).
The counseling center is always available to guide students through grieving. Also, faculty and staff who need assistance can always reach out to the counseling center and building administration. Our last communication included some resources for the grieving process; They are also attached below.
Helping Children Cope Resource: https://core-docs.s3.us-east-1.amazonaws.com/documents/asset/uploaded_file/2363/cdcsd/5068697/Helping_Children_Cope.pdf .
Care Solace: https://www.cairodurham.org/documents/parent-resources/care-solace/542123 .
Staff Care Solace: https://core-docs.s3.us-east-1.amazonaws.com/documents/asset/uploaded_file/2363/cdcsd/3703884/Cairo-Durham_Central_SD-_Staff_Flyer.pdf .
Mr. Gori, for the past 23 years, has been dedicated to our student’s success and made a difference in the lives of our students, faculty, and staff. He will be dearly missed.
Our deepest condolences to Ginger Gori and her family.
Sincerely,
The Cairo-Durham Central School District
The Cairo-Durham Central School District is excited to announce its Cairo-Durham Middle School Principal’s Honor Roll, High Honor Roll, and Honor Roll members for the first quarter of the 2024-25 school year!
The upcoming Cairo-Durham Board of Education meeting scheduled for Wednesday, December 11, at 6pm will be held in the C-D Elementary School's Multi-Purpose Room.
Don't forget about these upcoming Winter Concerts throughout the District!
As a reminder, Cairo-Durham CSD schools will be closed from 11/27 to 11/29 for Thanksgiving Break. Enjoy the holiday and safe travels! We'll see everyone on December 2.
Also, the MS/HS will have an early dismissal on Wednesday, December 4, at 11:45am.
Enjoy the Thanksgiving Break!
Reminder: The Cairo-Durham Elementary Star-Seekers and the Mid-Hudson Astronomical Association are hosting a Star Party on Tuesday, December 3 from 6-7:30 pm at the Cairo-Durham Elementary School. The Star-Seekers is an after-school enrichment program for fourth and fifth-grade students, who have been using Science, Technology, Engineering, Art, and Math (STEAM) to learn about space. The community is invited to come observe the night sky through telescopes and learn from astronomers who will point out additional space objects. Participants will also engage in a few astronomy-related activities. There will be hot cocoa, a PTA bake sale, and more. The event is free.
December breakfast and lunch menus are now available to view: https://www.cairodurham.org/documents/cafeteria-menus/254963
Nominations for the November 2024 “Mustang Monthly Alumni Spotlight” are open and can be submitted at the link below by Tuesday, November 26, 2024, at 3 p.m. Past nominations will also be considered in the selection process.
Click here ( https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSd2q9nfXwRYv7cSUw_bdouBjcdspek0B2VyNasVZr-LvsYNdg/viewform ) to submit a nomination for November 2024!
The Fall Sports Awards Ceremony was held last night in front of a packed crowd of family and friends. The coaches talked about their seasons and handed out MVP and Coaches Award plaques. It was a great night to celebrate our student athletes.
Do you know a person or community organization that has given extensive service to the Cairo-Durham Central School District? Nominate them for the Mustang Pride Hall of Fame!
To nominate a person or community organization, please use this nomination form: https://forms.gle/PYzxA4mXtaReGYtK8
See below for the criteria. Nominations will be accepted through February 1, 2025.
The chosen nominees will be honored at a Hall of Fame induction ceremony at the Shamrock House on Saturday, April 26, 2024, at 5 PM.
Criteria:
Nominees must have contributed to the improvement of Cairo-Durham CSD with extensive service through: academics, athletics, coaching, teaching, administration, employment, volunteerism and/or community service.
Nominees can be past or present staff members, school administrators, Board of Education members, alumni and community members or organizations. (Please note that a former student nominee must be out of school for at least 10 years to be considered for induction into the Mustang Pride Hall of Fame.)
Some examples of extensive service/support include (but are not limited to):
Academics (e.g., teaching, tutoring).
Involvement in school athletics (e.g., coaches, officials, volunteers).
Mentoring.
Volunteer work/community service.
Community relations.
Mustang Pride Hall of Fame Mission and By-Laws: https://www.cairodurham.org/page/mustang-pride-hall-of-fame-mission-and-by-laws
About the Hall of Fame:
The Mustang Pride Hall of Fame was established in 2017 to recognize individuals and/or groups who have worked to support public education in the Cairo-Durham CSD community.
To nominate a person or community organization, please use this nomination form: https://forms.gle/PYzxA4mXtaReGYtK8
Take a look at the five prior classes of the Cairo-Durham Mustang Pride Hall of Fame:
Class of 2018:
Ron Agostinoni - Faculty/Student,
Helen Enck - Faculty,
Don Gibson Sr. - Administrator,
Tom Karnes - Faculty/Coach,
Trudy Lynch - Faculty/Coach,
Suzanne Oldakowski - Rotary President/Community Member,
Kerry Quinn - Faculty/Coach,
Ann Skelly - Faculty,
Art Waldron - Faculty/Coach,
Bob Zimmerman - Faculty/Coach.,
Class of 2019:
Fran Cook - Faculty,
Peter Maassmann - Student/Faculty,
Beth Phillips - Board of Education/Support Staff,
Cairo Rotary Club - Community Organization,
Bill Zwoboda - Faculty/Administrator,
Class of 2020/2021,
Dave Battini - Faculty/Coach,
John Hull - Faculty/Community Member,
Resurrection Lutheran Church - Community Organization,
Bill Lawrence - Faculty/Legislature,
Kay Sutton - Faculty,
Jeff Waldron - Student/Athlete,
Class of 2022:
Hugh Gallagher - Faculty,
William Getzke - Faculty,
Harry Lennon - Alumni,
Keith Phillips - Faculty,
Richard Uzzilia - Faculty,
Class of 2023:
Virginia Ambrose - Faculty,
Richard Booth - Administrator,
Kris Monteverd - Faculty,
Carol and Fred Spohler - Community Members,
Donna Wexler - Faculty,
Class of 2024:
Bridget “Bunny” Agostinoni - Alumni/Retired Faculty,
Emily Brunner - Faculty,
Patricia “Patty” Gibson - Former Coach,
Caroline Benton Pfleger - Retired Faculty
The Cairo-Durham Central School District is accepting applications for an elementary school counselor. Click here to learn more: https://www.cairodurham.org/documents/employment/job-postings/246137
Congratulations to the September 2024-25 Cairo-Durham Middle School Students of the Month!
From left, Lucy Palmer (8th), Felicity Lendin (7th), Brayden Maraglio (6th), and Mr. Crittenden.
Nominations for the November 2024 “Mustang Monthly Alumni Spotlight” are open and can be submitted at the link below by Tuesday, November 26, 2024, at 3 p.m. Past nominations will also be considered in the selection process. Click here ( https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSd2q9nfXwRYv7cSUw_bdouBjcdspek0B2VyNasVZr-LvsYNdg/viewform ) to submit a nomination for November 2024!
The Fall Sports Awards Ceremony is being held this Thursday, November 14th, in the High School Auditorium. The Modified Sports Teams will begin at 5:00 PM and the Varsity and JV Ceremony will begin at 6:00 PM. We hope that all of our Fall Athletes can attend and that they can help celebrate all of the MVP's and Coaches Award recipients.
Rachna DeRose Selected as the October 2024 "Mustang Monthly Alumni Spotlight" Recipient:
November 6, 2024-
CAIRO, NY – The Cairo-Durham Central School District is proud to announce the October 2024 recipient of the “Mustang Monthly Alumni Spotlight” is Rachna DeRose (‘98).
Rachna, who earned her Master’s Degree of Science in Physical Therapy from D’Youville College in Buffalo, New York, has just celebrated her 20th work anniversary at Greene Meadows Skilled Nursing & Rehabilitation Center and finished the season as an assistant coach for the Cairo-Durham girls’ varsity soccer team.
Rachna treasures her role as Greene Meadow’s Assistant Director of Rehabilitation. This role provides her with more flexibility and gives her more time with her husband, Steven, and her three children: Nia, Mya, and Jai, who are all Cairo-Durham students.
“I knew I wanted to pursue a career in health care since I was younger,” Rachna DeRose said. “One of the most rewarding parts of my profession is helping patients regain their optimal functional level. For most of them, that means returning home, after a hospitalization.”
For the last 11 years, Rachna has also been known as a talented girls' soccer coach, including coaching for the Rip Van Winkle Youth Soccer Club and being the assistant coach to the Cairo-Durham girls’ varsity soccer team, which made sectionals this season.
“Coaching girls, specifically can be both very rewarding and challenging at the same time,” Rachna said. “Some of these girls I’ve been coaching since they were 4, 5, and 6 years old. It was always my vision to keep them playing together, so they would dominate by the time they came up to school-level soccer. It’s always been my dream to have the outcome they had this season.”
Throughout the multiple nominations for Rachna DeRose, all shared a similar sentiment - she is dedicated and focused on her goals, goes above and beyond, and cares about those in her community.
“Rachna is a well-respected community member and CD Alumni she holds true to the principles of Cairo Durham she strives for excellence in all she does, she achieves success with her hard work and warm heart, and she believes in everything Cairo Durham has to offer,” said one of her nominators.
In her time as a Cairo-Durham student, Rachna enjoyed playing varsity soccer and softball, being a cheerleader, and participating in the National Honor Society.
Sharing wisdom with future generations of Mustangs, Rachna iterated how important it is to be yourself, embrace your unique qualities, and surround yourself with positive friends.
“Always surround yourself with positive people who lift you up and make you want to be the best version of yourself,” DeRose said. “Lastly, it’s okay to make mistakes, as long as you learn from them. Things aren’t always going to go your way. What matters most, is how you respond.”
To bridge the community and the Cairo-Durham Central School District, the “Mustang Monthly Alumni Spotlight” was created to provide an opportunity for community members to nominate members of the Cairo-Durham Class of 2018 or prior who have made an impact in the community, embrace Cairo-Durham pride and serve as role models to future generations of Mustangs to be recognized on the District’s platforms. Nominations are now open for the November 2024 spotlight, click here: https://forms.gle/S7SQNRr4NTzNhopXA to nominate a Cairo-Durham alum. Submissions are due by Tuesday, November 26, 2024 at 3 p.m.
Some middle school teachers and staff dressed as "Locker Police" last week for Halloween!
The Cairo-Durham Central School District, in partnership with Questar III BOCES Health & Safety, held a reunification drill on Friday, November 1. Faculty and staff participated in the drill, acting as students, parents, teachers, and reunification team members. The drill aimed to familiarize staff with the procedures for reuniting students with their families in case of an unexpected emergency.