Cortland Schools

Dear Students, Parents, Staff and our greater community,

Our theme for May is a focus on Mental Health. While we concentrate on finishing the school year strong and as we think about summer and next school year, I want to take a moment to reflect on the importance of mental health in our community. May is Mental Health Awareness Month, and it provides us with an opportunity to prioritize mental wellness and support those who may be struggling.

As you know, our schools are more than just academic institutions; they are places where students learn, grow, and thrive emotionally as well. With that in mind, I want to highlight some of the resources we have in place to support the mental health of our students, families, and staff.

Our school counselors play a crucial role in supporting the emotional well-being of our students. They provide individual and group counseling, crisis intervention, and referrals to community resources when needed. If you or your child is struggling, please don't hesitate to reach out to our counseling department or encourage your student to reach out for support.

In addition to our school counselors, we have dedicated social workers, psychologists, and administrators in each building. At every different level, May and June have their own particular challenges. And with each challenge comes an opportunity to engage and grow, to learn and to seek support. Our staff is poised to help all of our students access resources, both in school and in the greater community. Please be sure to reach out and ask if you have a question.

As we celebrate Mental Health Awareness Month, let's continue to prioritize mental wellness and support each other in our community. Together, we can create a culture of openness, empathy, and support where everyone feels valued and heard.

Thank you for your ongoing support and commitment to the well-being of our students and community.

Sincerely,

Bob Edwards

Click on the photo to see the Weekly Blast featuring Transportation.

Parents, start looking ahead to the next school year. Every preK, K, 1st, 3rd, 5th, 7th, 9th, and 11th grader will need a current physical on file. If your child is scheduled to get their physical before the end of this school year, please make sure a copy is sent to the appropriate school. Many immunizations are also due prior to the start of a school year. Reach out to your school nurse to see what specific ones your child may need. Don’t wait till the last minute as summer doctor office visits fill up quickly.

Vitamin Z in Print

May is here and the weather is actually starting to turn warmer. This is the month of “Mental Health Care”. It is so important that we take care of ourselves; physically and mentally.

The students at the Junior and Senior High will hear quotes such as, “Focus on the step in front of you, not the whole staircase”. This quote reminds us that looking at a whole task can cause anxiety. We have to see tasks in achievable chunks and celebrate success along the way.

Another great quote they will hear is, “I want to be like a sunflower, so that even on the darkest days I will stand tall and find the sunlight”. This quote urges us to remember that there are going to be “dark times” but sunlight is on its way.

Keep up the positive thoughts and get ready for the final push of the school year. It will be over before you know it.

From Principal Quinn

The month of May brings May flowers! We start to see more sunny days, more time outdoors, and we also see student levels of proficiency with grade-level Math and ELA essential standards continue to rise. Students have been engaging in high levels of learning throughout the school year, and May and June are the months when that learning culminates in various year-end projects. We have some important save-the-dates for our Randall Middle School community members to take note of:

• Randall Middle School Spring Music Concert & Art Show: 5/2 at 6 pm at CHS
• Scholastic Book Fair 6/10-6/14 (evening hours on 6/13)
• 6th Grade Musical The Lion King 6/13 6 pm
• 6th Grade Parade & Moving Up Day 6/20: caregivers and community members line the parade route and hold signs/balloons, cheer as 6th grade students travel up to CHS: time TBA
• Evidence of Learning Day: 6/21: caregivers and community members come to Randall to see examples of student learning from the 2023-2024 school year

We hope to see you at an upcoming event soon!

With Purple Tiger Pride,

~Juli Quinn, Randall Middle School Principal

From Principal Block

At Smith Intermediate School our ROAR mural team, which consists of 20 students, Molly Reagan, community partners, and parents has started painting our mural on the basketball court! Our mural will represent ROAR, which stands for students being responsible, open-hearted, acting safely, and respectful. It will also represent mental health awareness. We have partnered with the Mental Health Association, Seven Valleys Health Coalition, Speak Up, and Family Counseling Services to make this project a reality. We will have an unveiling event on June 4th with our staff, students, and community members from 4:00-5:00 pm at Smith. We hope everyone has a wonderful month to come!

From Principal Klumpp

May is Mental Health Care Month, and at Barry Primary School, we are committed to supporting the well-being of the whole child. We understand the importance of addressing mental health needs while maintaining high expectations for academic achievement. As caregivers, your role is crucial. Please encourage open communication with your child, create a supportive home environment, promote healthy habits such as consistent bedtime and healthy eating, encourage outdoor play, and seek professional help if needed. Our school counselor, social workers, and psychologist are here to assist you and our students. Additionally, our school works closely with Family Counseling Services to provide additional support for mental health needs. Together, we can raise awareness and create a supportive community for our students. Thank you for your partnership.

With Tiger Pride,

Phyllis Klumpp

Seeking mental health support? Look no further than NAMI's comprehensive suite of programs! Join us in making a difference today!

www.nami.org/mham #TakeAMentalHealthMoment #MentalHealthMonth

Call the NAMI Hotline at 1-800-950-6264 or Text “Helpline” at 62640

Visit https://www.asha.org/public for more information about speech and language development and disorders.

Our 3rd and 4th graders at Smith Intermediate will be performing their end-of-the-year concert at the Cortland JSHS on 5/22, beginning at 6:00! Our theme for the concert is “good advice” with music to match; audience members will be treated to our talented young musicians from 3rd Grade Mini Music Maniacs, 4th Grade Music Maniacs, 3rd and 4th Grade Chorus, 4th Grade Orchestra, Little Fiddles, and 4th Grade Band.

• Senior High Band to Hershey Park - Friday, May, 10 7:00 AM - 12:00 PM
• Senior High Instrumental Concert - Thursday, May 16, at 7:00 PM.
• Junior High Bands to Symphoria - Saturday, May 18 4:00 - 11:00 PM.
• Senior High Choir Concert - Tuesday, May 21, at 7:00 PM.
• Tri-M Inductions - Monday, June 10, at 6:00 PM.
• Junior High Concert - Wednesday, June 12, at 7:00 PM.
• JamFest - Tuesday, June 18, at 5:00 PM, at Homer Center for the Arts.

Rileigh Madden and Cole Hudson were selected by the Ithaca Concert band to be recognized for their outstanding talent and contribution to the Cortland music program. They will be recognized at the Ithaca Concert Band Banquet on May 21 and presented a $500 check.

• May 6th: U.S. Gov’t & Politics - 8 am
• May 10th: U.S. History - 8 am
• May 14th: English Language & Comp. - 8 am
• Physics C: Mechanics - noon
• May 15th: Music Theory - noon

More info will be pushed out to students registered for these exams, 1-2 weeks prior to the exam.

A group of 17 sophomore and junior math students attended the 18th Annual Math Exploration Day sponsored by the Math Department at Ithaca College on March 28th. Here, our students took part in a team mathematical competition and then explored a variety of mathematical ideas with hands-on activities. There were 17 schools represented with 199 students in attendance. A fun challenging day was had by all.

The Cortland Unified Bowling Team wants to give a shout out to the Cortland Elks Lodge 748 for giving the team a very generous donation - Allowing the team to use the lodge for our end-of-the-season party and catering the dinner for nearly ZERO cost. Coach Harriger & Coach Moore are extremely thankful to the lodge for their time, effort, and generosity.

This month primary students are learning how to use a whiteboard during the planning stage for a work of art. They practice drawing without the stress of making a mistake and work out the general plan for the artwork they will create. This is an essential skill all artists must learn - to begin with the end in mind.

The Barry Primary School Social Workers are working on starting a basic needs closet. Basic needs would include food, clothing, and hygiene items. If you are interested in donating please drop off any items or monetary funds in the main office at Barry. Thank you!

The Science Honor Society students hosted a science night for over 70 elementary students and their families. The HS students planned 10 different hands-on activities from all areas of science for the young scientists to experience. The society members thank everyone who attended and are excited to be planning next year’s event!

A group of 9th-grade biology students spent a Saturday at Cornell’s College of Veterinary Medicine. The morning was spent exploring the activities and demonstrations at the Vet Open House and the students had the opportunity to work in the lab with graduate students for the afternoon to solve a crime - Who stole the Krabby Patty recipe? The grad students led them through blood typing tests and DNA fingerprinting through gel electrophoresis. It was a great day for experiencing science and learning about the different animal programs and activities not only at the university but also in the greater community.

Sixth-grade Randall students have already begun rehearsals to prepare for a performance of “The Lion King Jr.”, under the direction of Jim Wallis, Amber Thayer, and Shana Snyder. There will be an evening performance on Thursday, June 13th at 6pm as well as three daytime performances earlier that week. You can follow our facebook page, “Randall Middle School Spring Musical” to stay updated on our progress. We hope you enjoy the show!

Denise Fox presents Tiger Paws to Cindy Kennedy and Jason Beauvais.