Cortland Enlarged City Schools

Good afternoon students, parents, and staff.

Welcome to the first of our District Monthly Newsletters for the 2023-2024 school year! This year our focus continues to be on improving student learning and achievement and creating opportunities for student engagement. I am so excited for this school year to be underway and I am so appreciative of our entire staff for getting us off to a great start. Our staff have worked so hard getting our buildings ready, preparing learning opportunities for all of our students, scheduling games, meetings and events, and thinking about the ways that we can continually improve.

During the month of September you will be receiving information from each building and from your / our students' teachers and administrators. This is a great opportunity for my reminder that answers to your questions and general and specific information is always readily available for you. Here are some of the many options to access information:

• Visit our website at http://www.cortlandschools.org/
• Email a staff member, teacher, a principal, or me
• Call a building - our clerical staff is top-notch and can answer almost any question.
• Use the Stop Finder app on your phone to monitor where you child's bus is.
• View some of our informational videos on our website and on each building's page
• Follow us on Twitter. Here are some of our accounts:

In addition to the many ways above to stay connected, many of our staff host other social media sites or tools to keep parents in the loop. Please be sure to reach out if you have any questions.

Please stay in touch with us by checking our social media and website often and by keeping lines of communication open via phone and email. Each week there are many opportunities for you to come see our students in action, whether that be at a concert, performance, game, curriculum night or open house. I look forward to seeing you when you stop by to observe our students ROAR!

• Barry Primary - September 21, Pre-K 6:00pm-7:00pm and 1st and 2nd grade 6:30pm-7:30pm.

• Smith Intermediate - 3rd Grade: September 14, 6:15pm - 7:15pm. 4th Grade: 6:45pm - 7:45pm.
• Randall Middle - September 20, 6:00pm - 7:30pm
• Junior High - September 27, 6:30pm - 8:00pm
• Senior High - October 11, 6:30pm

On Tuesday, Sept. 5 the entire Cortland School District gathered in the JSHS Auditorium to start a new and exciting school year together! The day began with live music performed by a student/staff and alum combo from our modern band program. Once the staff was settled in the auditorium, the Pledge of Allegiance was lead by Cortland Students. Next up was a beautiful rendition of the Star Spangled Banner sung by Jenna Phalen! Thank you to everyone who made the day a huge success and positive start to the year!

On a beautiful Wednesday morning students across the district boarded busses, walked and traveled to their schools for the first day of the 2023-24 school year. There were lots of smiles and hugs with school friends and new teachers. This is going to be a great year Tigers!

JH Purple Tigers had their first ROAR day. They went over expectations in the Auditorium with Mr. Zarcone, then had a kickball tournament on the athletic fields, and all of the students got ice cream! Such a great first week!

The Cortland School District is looking forward to a new and exciting school year with 66 new staff members!