Superintendent's Office
Dear Community Members,
Happy September! Even though our campus has been busy with construction and summer school, the summer is a lonely time in a public school district. The arrival of Labor Day brings everyone back with busy classrooms, busy hallways, and students coming and going - and that's what our schools should be about everyday of the year!
We will continue to work towards greater academic success for our students this year -- our NY SED test scores are less desirable than we would like them to be, and the entire district faculty is committed to providing our students with high quality instruction which will lead to improved results. Our graduation rate is climbing, our teachers have the training, materials and time to target instruction, and our principals are setting goals for achievement.
And, as our state and federal funding decreases - and our ability to raise funds are capped by state mandate - we will do more with less. We have trimmed considerably from every area of the budget except instruction - and our goal this year will be to find additional ways to contain our expenses so that our students can continue to benefit from program offerings and staff expertise.
Please plan to attend your child's Back to School program to meet with teachers so that you can support classroom activities at home through the year. Contact your child's teacher(s) when you have questions or concerns, especially if you would like your child to participate in our extended day programs on either campus. Academic assistance is available daily on the secondary campus and, at the elementary campus, two days per week, through extra help or Homework Helpers. Students at CES who participate in Kids Club after school also have academic support daily.
Our last pieces of construction - both from the 2005 referendum and the Excel project - are wrapping up. Questar students are in place in the high school in the new second floor addition, and many of our own Catskill students have "come home" to be housed in our own district for their academic programs. Less travel for our kids, and more ability to participate in home district activities and community programs.
This year we will be participating in a NYS initiative to work with the Chinese Ministry of Education to bring Chinese teachers to New York State to teach in our high schools. The ability for our students to learn a 21st century language will give them a huge advantage in college, graduate school and the growing Pacific business community. We hope to have language classes in place for the second semester, and, certainly, for the 2012 Fall schedule.
I hope to see many of you at Homecoming Weekend, this year September 23rd and 24th.
There is a full array of sports activities planned and, of course, PANCAKES at Parents, Partners and Pancakes - this year on Saturday morning, Sept. 24th. There will be a dance for high school students and lock in on Saturday also.
Catskill is a small community, and one which values its youth. Your support of classroom activities, clubs, sports, and all in which our students engage is appreciated. This is your district and you have helped make it a great place for children to learn, to grow, and to mature into active community participants. Please stop by to say hello, to walk our buildings, or to ask a question - or to register a concern (or a compliment!) - our doors are always open and we are always available to you.
See you this year - and especially on September 24th for pancakes!
Sincerely,
Kathleen Farrell, Ph.D.
Superintendent
Superintendent's Office
Dr. Kathleen P. Farrell - Superintendent : email
343 West Main Street
Catskill, New York 12414
Telephone (518) 943-4696
Fax: (518)-943-7116
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