Welcome Back PSES & SSES Families!

☀️ I hope your summer was perfect

🧘🏻 I hope you caught up on rest

📖 Read a great book

🍿 Saw a fun movie

🎢 Rode a crazy roller coaster

🚌 And didn't think about school (well, maybe a little!)

🙉 And now it's time to get ready for the greatest year ever!

Here's all the info you need in advance of our return. Excited to see you soon! 🌟

Miss Nugent brings with her an impressive background, having obtained her undergraduate degree from Hobart and William Smith Colleges. Following her graduation, she gained work experience in higher education while residing in Auckland, New Zealand. Upon returning to Syracuse, she pursued a Master's in Inclusive Special Education from Syracuse University. Additionally, she recently completed her CAS in Educational Leadership from SUNY Oswego.

After receiving her master’s degree, she worked as an elementary special education teacher in Syracuse, serving in various capacities such as 12:1:1, 15:1, and as a consultant teacher. She also spent a few years teaching 4th and 5th grade in Cazenovia before transitioning to administration. For the past 2 years, Miss Nugent served as the Assistant Principal at Central Square Middle School.

When Miss Nugent is not working, she likes to spend time hiking with her 2 dogs Tucker and Duke. She is also an avid supporter of the Syracuse Orange and loves spending time with family and friends.

This will actually be Ms. Yuksel's second year teaching in CCSD. This is however her nineteenth year teaching languages. She is originally from Turkey and moved to the US in 2010. She enjoys traveling, hiking, biking, camping, and spending time with my family and friends. She had a great time traveling in Canada, Turkey, and the Netherlands this summer. She is looking forward to another great year at CCSD!

Mrs. Hart will be joining the South Side Elementary School Team this year in Third Grade! She graduated from SUNY Potsdam in 2018 and then SUNY Cortland in 2021 with a Masters of Science In Teaching. She has spent the last two years teaching in the Syracuse City School District and recently moved to the East Syracuse area with her husband and two cats.

Mrs. Emerson will be joining us mid September as Mrs. Russo will be leaving us to accept a position in another district. Mrs. Emerson has a Masters in literacy and multiple years of experience working for MO Boces. We are so excited to welcome Mrs. Emerson to our South Side family! She currently resides in Sherrill with her husband and 4 children.

Will Lamont joins the district as the new Project Manager for Connected Community Schools. Will has worked with youth for about five years now, and is looking forward to meeting the students and families of Canastota. His office will be located at RSES but he will spend some time popping in and out of SSES/PSES. We are so excited to have him onboard.

Kate Fowler has a teaching degree from Nazareth, and a Masters in Reading from SUNY Cortland. Kate grew up in Central New York and lives with her husband and three daughters in Cazenovia. Over the past 14 years she has taught first, third, fourth, and fifth grade and has also been an elementary and middle level Reading Teacher. Kate comes to us from Roberts Street School where she taught fourth and fifth grade. She is looking forward to joining our Peterboro Family where she will be teaching first grade.

Although Mrs. Gillette is not new to the district she is new to SSES. Mrs. Gillette joins us from RSES where she currently co-teaches. She is very excited to join the SSES community and is looking forward to an exciting school year.

When she is not working Mrs. Gillette loves to spend time with her husband and two children. They enjoy spending time outdoors and with their pets- Salem (bunny) and Chicken Nugget (turtle)

Long time first grade teacher Missy Ackerman has now joined out AIS Math team. We are excited for her to start this new position working with students at both PSES and SSES!

Mrs. Stotts is a mom of 3 ambitious kiddos and lives right here in Canastota. She enjoys taking adventures with her husband and kids- like searching for waterfalls or exploring a new city. When she's not working you can find her walking, reading a book or enjoying a beautiful sunset.

Although not completely new as she joined us halfway through the year last year, Ms. McCracken enjoys painting, ceramics and working with children with special needs. She is looking forward to returning to PSES and Kindergarten.

I’m Ms. Owens! I am so excited to be back at Canastota in my new position as a Pre-k teacher! This will be my third year as part of the MO-BOCES Pre-K program. I finished studying for my Early Education Certification earlier this year. I live in Canastota with my four children, ages 16, 15, 10, and 8.

My name is Mrs. Nowakoski and I will be one of the Pre-K teachers. I live in Canastota with my husband and three children. I like going walking and gardening. I am so excited to return to teaching Pre-K!

My name is Lindsey Kurak, and I am the new Early Childhood Coordinator. I live in Minoa with my husband and our two children, who are 7 and 8. Previously, I worked as an Assistant Principal in Auburn and as a Pre-K Teacher in the Syracuse City School District. I am very excited to be back in Pre-K!

Hi! My name is Samantha Pulverenti. I am a navy veteran. I enjoy going on adventures with my kids. I love learning new ways to help kids succeed. I am looking forward to joining the Pre-K team at PSES!

We hope you all had a wonderful summer vacation and are ready to start the new school year! We, as the PTA, are always looking for new ideas and members!

Please consider joining our PTA by attending our first meeting on September 20th at 6:00 at SSES, or by filling out the form that will come home from school with your child!

Last year we were able to successfully host Winter Fun Night and Bingo, as well as send home goodies for various holidays. Stay tuned for different ways to support us throughout the year!

Joining is easy! Scan the QR code to sign up. It is $6 to become a member or 2 for $10!

To continue with the badging and to increase participation PSES/SSES will be rolling out a new aspect of the badge books that will include a lanyard & a pinning ceremony.

As students complete their badge books and turn them in they will be pinned with the focus of the badge book - kindness, responsibility etc. There will also be special badges for special books that are created when a need arises (bullying & acceptance). These will be open to all students (K-3) to complete.

Students will be welcome to wear their lanyards to the monthly assemblies to show off their pins.

We are pleased to inform you that Peterboro Street Elementary, South Side Elementary, Roberts

Street and Canastota Jr-Sr High School will be implementing a meal certification option

available to schools participating in the National School Lunch and School Breakfast Programs

for 2023-2024.

What does this mean for your child(ren) attending the school(s) identified above?

All students enrolled at Peterboro Elementary, South Side Elementary, Roberts Street and Canastota Jr-Sr High are eligible to receive a healthy breakfast and lunch at school at no charge to your

household each day of the 2023-2024 school year.

No further action is required of you. Your child(ren) will be able to participate in these meal programs without having to pay a fee or submit an application. If you have any further questions, please contact Hollie Ackerman at 315-687-4000.

Please make sure you complete and return your green sheets with any changes. These help us make updates to important student information such as pick up information, phone numbers and addresses.

Remember we are NOT able to release students to someone who is not on the pick-up list!