Weekly Updates

The governor yesterday submitted her state budget proposal for 2025-26.

The budget will include legislation to require all school districts and charter schools to adopt a policy to prohibit the use of “internet-enabled devices” by students on school grounds during the school day. Policies would be required to include one or more methods for on-site storage of devices during the school day. Exemptions would be allowed, for example, if authorized for a specific educational purpose, necessary for management of a health condition, for translation services, or where part of an individual education program or 504 plan. As noted, the budget would provide $13.5 million to support implementation of this initiative to be allocated through a plan approved by the Governor's Budget Director.

The proposed College in High School Fund would provide $52.4 million for Smart Schools, Smart Scholars, Smart Transfers, and Pathways in Technology Early College High School programs and $12.2 million to provide per-credit funding for students in college in high school programs that give students an opportunity to earn at least 12 transferrable college credits and meet other criteria.

In School Aid, the Governor recommends a $1.5 billion (5.9%) increase in Foundation Aid. She also proposes two changes to Foundation Aid: replacing poverty data from the 2000 Census with Small Area Income and Poverty Estimates, also from the Census Bureau, and replacing flawed free and reduced price lunch data with an economically disadvantaged figure. Both changes are consistent with recommendations of the Rockefeller Institute and Board of Regents. The Governor’s budget would also ensure all districts at least a 2% increase in Foundation Aid and include modifications to provide additional aid to low-wealth districts. C-A would receive the minimum 2%($157,704) increase in foundation aid.

The budget does not propose an extension of the earnings limit exemption for public sector retirees working in schools. Nor does it recommend any steps toward a more realistic transition to zero-emission school buses.

A year ago, paper and pen seemed to be the winner when the journal Frontiers in Psychology published a Norwegian study that documented how different areas of the brain were communicating more frequently when students were writing by hand. When students were typing, the brain was not nearly so active. This extra brain activity, the neuroscientists wrote, is “beneficial for learning.”

Yet earlier this month, the same academic journal published a scathing rebuttal to the handwriting study.

Read a SUMMARY HERE - 3 minute read.

Analysis of 50 years of research argues that there isn’t strong evidence for the academic advantages of placing children with disabilities in general education classrooms

A professor of special education is about to ignite a fierce debate over a tenet of his field, that students with disabilities should be educated as much as possible alongside their peers in general education classrooms, a strategy known as inclusion.

In a paper that reviews more than 50 years of research, Douglas Fuchs of Vanderbilt University and the American Institutes for Research, along with two other researchers, argues that the academic benefits of including students with disabilities in general education classrooms are not settled science despite the fact that numerous studies have found that children with disabilities learn more that way. Fuchs said the paper is slated to be published this spring in the Journal of Learning Disabilities and he expects it to be made public online sooner.

Read more HERE

As we celebrate Custodian Appreciation Month, I want to take a moment to extend my heartfelt gratitude for all that you do to make our schools safe, clean, and welcoming spaces for our students, staff, and community.

Your hard work often happens behind the scenes, but its impact is visible and deeply felt every day. From ensuring our classrooms, hallways, and facilities shine, to maintaining a safe and inviting environment, your efforts are vital to our mission of providing an excellent education to every student.

Winter presents its own challenges, yet you meet them head-on with determination and efficiency. Clearing parking lots and walkways of snow and ice is no small task, but your commitment ensures that everyone who arrives at our schools can do so safely, no matter the weather.

Your dedication and attention to detail allow teaching and learning to happen seamlessly. You are truly the unsung heroes of our school community, and we are so fortunate to have you as part of our team.

On behalf of the entire Coxsackie-Athens Schools communirty, thank you for everything you do. We celebrate you this month and every day.

With gratitude,

That afternoon slump isn't just in your head – it's in your biology. Research shows we’re less sharp and more error-prone during the mid-afternoon dip, about seven hours after waking up. Consider this: *Test scores are lower in the afternoon. *Doctors miss more polyps during afternoon colonoscopies. *Auto accidents spike between 2–4 p.m. Timing matters. Schedule your most critical tasks—tests, medical appointments, etc—when you're at your best, not during the trough. Small adjustments in timing can lead to big improvements in outcomes.

"Human beings must involve themselves in the anguish of other human beings. This, I submit to you, is not a political thesis at all. It is simply an expression of what I would hope might be ultimately a simple humanity for humanity's sake."

― Rod Serling

As we begin the second half of the school year, I acknowledge the enforcment of our cell phone policy in the high school needs improvement. We also know it will need to be a team effort to improve.

We will be havng a new emphasis in our high school regarding the use of cell phones during the school day. Interim high school principal Karen Miller will be worknig with and supporting teachers and staff in making sure students phones are away for the day.

Regret isn't your enemy – it's your teacher.

Transform past mistakes through three powerful moves:

1. Inward (practice self-compassion)
2. Outward (share your story)
3. Forward (learn through self-distancing).

When you treat yourself like you'd treat a friend, your regrets become tools for growth rather than sources of shame

Please share the stories happening in your classrooms or a colleague's through out the year. Share a shout-Out for one of your colleagues.

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1/29: Lunar New Year- No Classes- Staff Report

1/30: BOE Workshop; 6pm

2/17: Presidents Holiday: No Classes, Offices Closed

2/18-2/21: Winter Break, No Classes

C-A is looking to highlight students and staff members who embrace the District's mantra, #CA_RightHereRightNow, through acts of service to better their school community. This includes the many projects our students engage in throughout the year. Please complete the form at the link below if you, someone you know, a club, or grade level provides service to the school community!

Link: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSeFIZEF29RCA-YQnDWe2SvIDnuxWSrwGAcV7D6orJBL5fNSzw/viewform?usp=sf_link

Do you know your Why for the goal you set?

You may have noticed we are using #CA_RightHereRightNow as our new hashtag in our social media posts. We ask that if you post anything about our schools you also include the #CA_RightHereRightNow

Reminder, contact Austin Crosier at crosierA@cacsd.org with photos, narratives or ideas to help us tell our story to our community. Remember, if we don't tell our story someone else will. So much positive stuff is happening, lets be proud and share.

Artificial intelligence (AI) is a broad term for technologies that allow computers to perform advanced functions, while generative AI is a specific type of AI that focuses on creating new content

Researchers pitted humans against AI on essay grading and the robot did OK. In a companion study on evaluating student essays, ChatGPT also produced impressive feedback, sometimes better than human writing instructors. In a separate essay grading study, it appeared that AI was consistently penalizing Asian American students. It’s still not known whether instant grades or feedback improves student writing. READ MORE

This week's AI tool is Napkin AI. I have been using it for a couple weeks. I put it to the test for my slide deck updates (slides 7-12) for the last BOE meeting. It is a pretty good tool at organizing a text, bulleted list, or a group of ideas and graphically presenting them.

Here’s a quick step-by-step guide to using Napkin AI:

1. Sign Up or Log In

• Visit the Napkin AI website or download the app (if available).
• Create an account or log in using your credentials.

2. Create a New Workspace

• Once logged in, click on "New Workspace" or a similar option.
• Give your workspace a name that aligns with your project or note-taking needs.

3. Add Notes or Ideas

• Type out your ideas, tasks, or notes directly into the workspace.
• Use bullet points, sentences, or keywords. Napkin AI organizes this information automatically.

4. Organize and Connect Notes

• Napkin uses smart linking to connect similar or related ideas.
• Review the connections Napkin AI suggests and make adjustments if needed.

5. Use Tags for Easy Categorization

• Add tags to notes to make them searchable and better organized.
• You can create custom tags or use system-recommended ones.

6. Visualize Relationships

• Explore the visual map or network of your notes to see how ideas are connected.
• This is great for brainstorming or identifying patterns.

7. Export or Share Your Workspace

• When your workspace is ready, export it as a document or share it with collaborators via a link (if supported).

8. Regularly Update and Refine

• Add new ideas and revisit your workspace regularly.
• Let Napkin AI's algorithm enhance connections over time for better insights.

That's it! Napkin AI helps turn scattered thoughts into meaningful connections with minimal effort.

Notion for education acts as a digital workspace that allows students and teachers to organize their notes, assignments, class schedules, and other educational materials in one centralized location, enabling them to effectively manage their coursework, collaborate with peers, and track progress, all within a customizable interface; essentially acting as a personalized digital notebook for learning.

Key features for education use:

• Note-taking: Create structured notes with different block types like text, lists, images, and embedded links for each subject.

  Project management: Organize project tasks, deadlines, and collaborate with group members on assignments.

• Lesson plan creation: Teachers can build detailed lesson plans with objectives, activities, and assessments.

• Grade tracking: Keep track of student grades and performance

• File storage: Upload and store relevant course materials like documents, presentations, and videos

• Sharing capabilities: Easily share pages and databases with classmates or collaborators

• Customization: Design your workspace with different layouts and color schemes to suit your learning style

Benefits for students:

• Improved organization: Centralize all learning materials in one place, making it easier to find information

  Enhanced collaboration: Work together on projects with classmates through shared pages

• Flexible note-taking: Adapt note structure to different learning styles

• Accessibility across devices: Access notes and assignments from any device

Benefits for teachers:

• Streamlined lesson planning: Create and manage lesson plans efficiently

  Effective student monitoring: Track student progress and provide personalized feedback

• Efficient communication: Share important information with students through shared pages

• Improved class organization: Manage class schedules, assignments, and deadlines in one platform

Below are steps to generate personalized digital art work.

1. Search for Adobe Firefly
2. Click on AI Art Generator Online
3. Click on Generate Ai Art (in blue oval)
4. Describe the image you want created. Be descriptive, the more details you provide the closer to your vision the artwork will be
5. Click Generate
6. It may ask you to sign in, using your school Google account
7. It will produce four samples
8. You can download an image or add more details or take out details and generate new images.

https://notebooklm.google/ is a tool that has been around a while in AI terms. Like a notebook it can store documents, slides, websites, videos and your own notes. You can ask it questions(it creates suggested questions to ask) and it will answer using the resources you uploaded into the notebook.

After you have uploaded all your resources with a click you can create: FAQ, summary, study guide, timeline, a table of contents, citations, a briefing. AND as of last month a podcast.

I have just started experimenting with this tool and it has some real possibilities in the classtoom and district. In about 2 innings of play while watchng the Mets take care of the Phillies one night last week I uploaded several docs from our website and a webpage from our district website and created a six minute 2-person pod cast that explains our Redefining Ready work.

Imagine uploading your notes and materials on your unit about the Great Depression, or a book you are reading in class. How about uploading websites or articles on a science topic and then have NotebookLM create all your study materials for you. BTW you can share your notebook page with students or other persons in our CACSD domain. i've just started exploring this AI app, and we have opened up this AI app for you to try as well. Tech Services is ready to support your adventure.

This summer, MIT hosted a conference called the AI + Education Summit. You can view all 33

videos from the conference here: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PL6cp6kydiOXeS3Sz-

IUYlo7JfERyxzd7a

Common Sense Media published a new report, "The Dawn of the AI Era: Teens, Parents, and the Adoption of Generative AI at Home and School." "The findings tell us that young people are quickly understanding the potential of generative AI platforms, perhaps without fully grasping the pitfalls, which underscores the need for adults to talk with teens about AI. We need to better understand their experiences so we can discuss the good and the bad—especially around bias and inaccuracy," said Amanda Lenhart, head of research at Common Sense Media.

Among the findings, three important themes rose to the top:

• A majority of teens use AI tools, especially chatbots and AI-supported search.
  • Seven out of 10 teens have used at least one type of generative AI tool.
  • A majority (56%) of teens report using search engines with AI-generated results such as Google SGE.
  • Black and Latino young people are using image and video generators more than their White peers, for schoolwork and personal purposes.
• Teens are using AI to stave off boredom almost as often as they're using it for homework help.
  • Teens report using generative AI most often for homework help (53%), to stave off boredom (42%), and to translate something from one language to another (41%).
  • Two in five (40%) teens report having used generative AI to help with school assignments, and 46% of them report doing so without the teacher's permission.
  • Teens also use AI for other personal activities, including when creating content as a joke, planning activities, and seeking health advice.
• Most adults in teens' lives—from parents to teachers—are out of the loop.
  • Just 37% of parents whose teen reported using at least one generative AI platform thought their child had used generative AI.
  • Almost half (49%) of parents say they have not talked about generative AI with their child.
  • About six in 10 teens report either that their school has no rules for how generative AI can be used or that they're not sure if there are rules.
  • Importantly, most parents (83%) say that schools have not communicated with families about generative AI.

This report is based on a nationally representative survey of 1,045 general-population U.S. adults (18+) who are parents of a teenager age 13 to 18 and their adolescent child. To download the report, with complete findings and methodology, please visit www.commonsense.org/dawn-of-AI-era.

Purpose

Our anchor strategy, PATHWAYS TO SUCCESS states, “Students with Purpose are inspired to learn. The world has changed and a vision for college, career and citizenship readiness has emerged. Centered on the concept that each student will have a purpose and PATHWAY TO SUCCESS, we will have an uncompromising and relentless commitment to preparing students for college, career and citizenship; in other words, preparing students for their future. This will be accomplished by creating relevant learning environments, and interacting with the people working in the ecosystems of the career paths students are working towards.”

Therefore, we will inspire and prepare students for college, career, and citizenship readiness through comprehensive career exploration and pathway development. The program will help students discover their interests, skills, and preferences, and provide them with real-world experiences and guidance to prepare for their future careers.

READ MORE INCLUDING BUILDING LEVEL EXPECTATIONS

All C-A staff and their families have access to the Employee Assistance Program (EAP) that is free to all employees and their family members.

The begining of the school year, though exicting can also be stressful and I want to again remind you help is available.

A Professional Learning Community (PLC) at Coxsackie-Athens Schools is a collaborative effort focused on improving student learning. Every day during the professional learning period, teachers will engage in this work, emphasizing three core principles:

1. Ensuring That Students Learn: The focus shifts from just teaching to ensuring all students learn. Teachers collaborate to identify what each student should learn, how to assess learning, and how to provide support when students struggle.

2. A Culture of Collaboration: Teachers work together to analyze and improve classroom practices. This collaborative culture ensures that educators are not working in isolation but are continuously sharing strategies and supporting one another to enhance student outcomes.

3. A Focus on Results: PLCs measure their success by student achievement. Teachers regularly assess and discuss data, identifying areas for improvement and celebrating successes. This results-oriented approach drives ongoing improvement in teaching and learning.

By being present each day during the PLP we will work together to enhance the educational experience, ensuring that all students achieve their extraordinary success.

2025 PERFORMANCE GOALS (Set summer 2022)

In order for 95% of our students to graduate, our goals are:

1. Wellness:

   1. Support of student and staff wellness will be indicated by 100% of students and employees being able to identify one ally and improved results on climate surveys each year.

2. Reading:

   1. 73% of students PK-8 will be reading at or above grade level by 2025. This will be a 19% improvement from 2022.

3. Math:

   1. 73% of students PK-8 will demonstrate grade level proficiency in math by 2025. This will be a 17% improvement from 2022.

4. Research Based Projects:

   1. 100% of students will be creating at least three research-based products every year by 2025.

5. Life Readiness:

1. 100% of students will demonstrate competence in a majority of the Life Ready Skills and Financial Literacy Indicators appropriate for their school level by 2025.

Below you can access the strategies and action steps at the school level to reach our 2025 goals:

• Elementary Schools Plan
• Middle School Plan
• High School Plan:
• LINKS Team 24-25 Agendas and Notes

Talk with your principal if you have an idea that CAFE could help support.

Coxsackie-Athens Foundation for Education Grant Application

Submit grant applications to: cafe@cacsd.org

-Fred Rogers

We all learn in a variety of ways. Students should be able to demonstrate readiness in a variety of ways.

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Below are several resources that highlight the opportunities we offer ALL students. WE truly are a small school with BIG Opportunities!

1. Did you know that every student at C-A HS can have one early college course paid for in full by the district? The reduced tuition rates for all college courses allows many students to graduate with over 20 credits. Many of our alum are able to enter college as sophomores or graduate from a college a semester early saving thousands of dollars.
2. Our parternship with Questar III BOCES provides 23 offerings in career technical education pathways. Our students who complete these programs are ready to enter the workforce in a varirty of occupations and fields.

We believe ALL students CAn be life, career and college ready when they graduate from C-A. I very muhc apprecait the collaborative work taking place in all classrooms to ensure ALL students are self-directed and prepared to succeed in our global society.

• COMMENCEMENT READINESS INDICATORS DASHBOARD
• READINESS INDICATORS K-12 BOOKLET 2020 :
• EARLY COLLEGE PAMPHLET
• COLLEGE IN THE H.S. OFFERINGS
• CAREER TECH ED OFFERINGS

LINKS- The process of aligning and LINKing the work we do to achieve aim high annual performance targets. Our LINKS team plans are our annual performance targets and the strategies and action steps as well as the professional development and training so that we can implement with confidence our strategies to help every kid be successful everyday. You can review the goals and building level plans on our LINKS Team Page. The 2023-24 plan is being worked on now and will be finalized this Thursday!

Each annual plan it aimed at making progress towards achieving our 3-year district wide performance goals. The most recent goals were set last summer to be achieved by 2025. These 3-year goals are aligned to our 2030 DESTINATION - a set of four possibilities we want to become reality by 2030.

Our LINKS Team Page will include notes from our quarterly meetings so that you can stay up to date on our collective work. Reach out to a LINKS member if you have questions or ideas-- or talk with your principal about being part of the LINKS team.

Why did our school join the AASA Learning 2025 Network and how will this affiliation impact teaching and learning in our district?

Being part of a network carries weight. There’s an expectation in a network that there’s both something you bring and receive

Our involvement is a collective way of lighting the way forward, serving as models for other school systems. We believe that now is a crucial time to catch our breath, look around, appreciate and respect one another, and acknowledge that public education is working. As we learn from one another, we will be taking bold action steps together, while we work to accelerate our goals not only for today’s students but our future students. These efforts take teamwork within C-A and partnership with other schools. We know that there is not an algorithm in a spreadsheet, nor a binder on a shelf to guide us on this journey, but we do know that research, evidence, common sense and shared experience will serve as the light on our path forward. Isolation is not an option if we’re going to deliver equity-based, future-driven education to every student learning and growing at C-A on our way to our 2030 Destination.

Coxsackie-Athens is among 13 school districts that have been recognized as “Lighthouse” systems that will serve as models of positive change in public education.

Learn More About Our Work Here

Like planning a road trip our 2030 DESTINATION, TIMELINE may change as detours pop up or new adventures present themselves.

Take a look. Our road trip will have some exciting mile markers that sustains and enhances the work we have started and will lead us to our 2030 Destination.

• Professional Learning Communities
• Growth Mindset
• Student Centered/Directed Learning
• Digital Conversion
• Pathways to Success

It is with gratitude and humility that we acknowledge that we are learning, speaking and gathering on the ancestral homelands of the Muhheaconneok (Muhhekunneuw) or Mohican people and the Munsee Lenape people, who are the indigenous peoples of this land. Despite tremendous hardship in being forced from here, they now reside in Wisconsin and are known as the Stockbridge-Munsee Community. We pay honor and respect to their ancestors past and present as we commit to building a more inclusive and equitable space for all.

Email: squierr@cacsd.org
Website: www.cacsd.org
Location: 24 Sunset Boulevard, Coxsackie, NY, USA
Phone: 518-731-1700
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100043677108930&mibextid=LQQJ4d
Twitter: @coxathschools

Our new app is now available for download from the Apple Store and the Google Play Store. Keep up to date on all things C-A, right from your device. This app is designed to create easy access to Sports Schedules, Live Feed, Alerts, our Staff Directory and more!