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Cortland Junior High Newsletter

October 2023

Cortland JuniorHigh NewsletterOctober 2023

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Vitamin Z in Print

Each day, the students of the Junior High (as well as the High School) hear a positive quote during homeroom headlines. Mr. Zarcone reads the quote and then explains it in more detail. This has become known as the “Daily Dose of Vitamin Z”. Students are asked to listen to the quote and then reflect on their own habits and practices to see if they align with a positive lifestyle.


Each month, a positive quote will be posted in this newsletter. It will be titled, Vitamin Z in Print. The more positivity we can spread, the better off we will all be. Keep it positive, Cortland.


Your quote for this month: “The life in front of you is far more important than the life behind you.”


This quote reminds students that this is a new school year and whatever happened in the past does not have to impact the future.

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7th Grade Math

7th Grade Math started the year with an Area Code Divisibility Activity. We have moved onto a Probability Unit.

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Home and Career Skills

In 7th grade Home and Career Skills we have been working in Unit 1. Students have been learning about citizenship, teamwork, values, wants and needs, resources, goals, Time Management and Decision Making. Students are working on a goal project in which they were asked to think of 10 goals they would like to accomplish between 2023 and 2043.

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Mrs. Drake’s CTE Class

In Mrs. Drake’s 8th grade CTE class we have been learning all about careers. Students have been learning about their interests and personality traits as well as the classifieds, how to fill in a job application and how to conduct themselves during an interview. Students will be completing the True Colors Test and an interest inventory which will assist them in their Career Research Project.

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Physical Education - Albright and Meyer

In JH PE, we have completed the Mile Run! Everyone was able to complete the mile and give their best efforts!


We have now begun our Flag Football Unit.


We’d also like to welcome Ms. Meyer to JH PE. She has begun teaching JH PE classes in place of Mrs. O’Donnell.


Reminder: bring in sweatshirts and sweatpants to wear outside on chilly days. Please also remember sneakers must be worn for PE.

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Ms. Newcomb and Mrs. Murphy’s ELA Class

Students are currently working on a unit in Amplify titled Perspectives and Narratives. We are reading excerpts from Roald Dahl. Our next unit will focus on Frederick Douglass.

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The Stage is Set!

Congratulations to the cast of Cinderella! Performances will take place on November 17th at 7pm and November 18th at 2pm and 7pm. Tickets can be purchased at the door 30 minutes prior to each performance or online now at cortlandhightheatre.yapsody.com. Make sure to follow Cortland High Theatre on Instagram for more information and behind the scenes sneak peaks.

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Junior High Concert Band

Euphonium and Tuba players have the opportunity to participate in the Tuba Christmas this year on December 16. Watch for the permission slip to come home soon! Election of officers will take place the first week of October: President, Vice President, Secretary, and Treasurer. Band Lessons are under way and so far responsibility in lesson attendance is fantastic. Keep up the great work!

Band Lab

Students have chosen instruments and will be starting to learn how to play their chosen instruments the last week of September.

The String Orchestra

String Orchestra is in full swing! Students are working on music as a group and have started lessons. The lesson calendar is posted in the Orchestra Google Classroom, in the classroom, and on the door outside the classroom.


Our first concert is on December 14th!


We are also looking forward to having a Student Teacher join us for the next few months!

String Lab

String Lab students are cruising along! Students have learned the parts of their instruments, how to correctly hold their instruments, and are playing and reading 5 notes!

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Library & Makerspace

Welcome Back! New books are arriving all the time in the Library. Come check them out! The Makerspace opens with a maglev car project. If you’re interested, come in during your Learning Lab. Remember you must sign up for a library pass in Library Trac. Always out for you to use are Legos, board games, coloring, 3D printing with Tinkercad and physics wall.

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Mr. Gambitta’s Social Studies Classes

Welcome Back students and your families. I hope you all had a great summer. In Social Studies classes we started the year talking about our summer vacations, and learning names (I need a lot of help!). Our first unit of study was 9/11 and we watched a powerful documentary which showed actual footage from inside the Twin Towers. We concluded the unit with another powerful video showing the 9/11 Boat Rescue. Our second unit of study was a unit about ourselves with the goal of improving our own self-knowledge. Currently, we are reviewing Civil War.

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All mixed up!

In science we have been learning how to use various separation techniques to separate specific substances in a mixture. We then applied the techniques learned to complete a New York State Lab investigation. Next, we are moving on to weather and climate.

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Setting Things in Motion

In science we have been looking at what is needed in order for humans to put objects in motion. We are looking at kinetic energy and energy transfer and we will be looking at how the body systems work to help us make specific types of movements.

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Art Club is back!

This year, the Art Club will be combined between Junior High and High School. You DO NOT have to be currently taking art to join, the more the merrier. If you are interested please join Ms. Panzarella during Learning Block October 4th for an informational meeting.

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