Staff Updates

A massive round of applause for our Interact Club volunteers! Every single month, these students flex their muscles to unload thousands of pounds of food at the local pantry, ensuring our community stays fed. You are the definition of "Service Above Self." Thank you for making a real difference!

Shout-out to the student crews packing 24 weekend backpacks to make sure no student goes hungry over the weekends

Shout out to Tonja Sauca from a colleague: "I know I mentioned this to you in person, but I wanted to reiterate how impressed I am with the way you ran your recent parent-teacher conferences. It was clear that you were very well prepared, had done the work to find strengths and areas of growth prior to the meeting, and you followed up the conference with a written summary. Excellent work!"

No one today can predict what awaits us in thirty years, just as no one in 1990 accurately predicted the many changes that have occurred over the last 30 years. One thing that won't change is the need for everyone to possess a core set of personal dispositions and attributes that allow them to adapt to a constantly changing world.

We have identified six essential attributes—the five core personal dispositions and being Academically Prepared—that industry leaders and colleges have consistently indicated all students will need to be successful. These attributes are not new. What is new is that instead of simply talking about them, which schools have been doing for thirty years, C-A is committing our efforts towards helping every student develop these six attributes that everyone agrees have the most impact on a student's future success.

We are excited that our attributes will transition to the NYS Portrait of a Graduate. On the following pages are our five core dispositions we have been reporting on since 2018 organized to align with the New York State Portrait of a Graduate. We have added academically prepared to complete our transition to reflect the upcoming expectations for graduation in New York State.

Review the the document HERE.

We have taken the "I CAn" statments and added a one word descriptor and a competency descriptor for each "I CAn " statement.

The Varsity Girls delivered yet another gritty performance of the season, and their largest test to date, outlasting the Suburban Council’s Triple AAA, Guilderland Dutchmen in a double-overtime thriller, 72-69. The lead changes were plenty and never more than a single digit lead swing by either the Riverhawks or the Dutchmen all game long.

After a tightly contested first half, the Riverhawks found their spark late — thanks in large part to a spectacular second-half surge from Baileigh Briski. Briski poured in 28 points overall, with an incredible 24 coming after halftime and through both overtime periods. Briski answered Guilderland’s big shots with clutch baskets of her own including 8 of 11 from the free throw line in the 4th quarter and double OT's combined.

Reaghan Hellen added 18 points, controlling the tempo during tense stretches and keeping the offense organized as the game grew more chaotic. Hellen also intercepted Guilderland's final pass of the night sealing the victory for the Riverhawks.

Cam Slater chipped in 11 hard-earned points, providing steady scoring inside and out showing her range with a big 3 in the first OT. A huge boost came from the bench as MadiJo DeRose stepped up with 7 points and 2 assists from the post including momentum-shifting plays that helped keep Coxsackie-Athens within striking distance in regulation.

The Riverhawks’ resilience told the story of the night — weathering lead changes, momentum swings, foul trouble, and fatigue on their way to a hard-fought 72–69 victory. Three of the five starters played extended minutes with four fouls, yet maintained their composure and stayed locked in. While there were inevitable lapses and mistakes along the way, it was their collective commitment to teamwork, accountability, and a focused, positive mindset, that ultimately propelled the Riverhawks to a dramatic, statement-making win.

- Coach W's post

Our Varsity Club did an amazing job and I want to recognize their efforts. We had a wonderful turnout and incredible results over the past two Saturdays. Our Santa’s Helpers did an outstanding job, raising nearly $1,400 for families in need. Because of their efforts, ten children from five different families in our district will be able to better enjoy the holiday season.

Toolkit from Common Sense Media Overview Artificial Intelligence (AI) is shaping our children's world, from the videos they watch to the tools they use in school. This toolkit is designed to help families and educators have thoughtful, age-appropriate conversations about AI and build the skills kids need to navigate an increasingly digital world.

Our current world is constantly changing based on technological developments. The digital landscape in 2025 looks vastly different than at the turn of the 21st century. It is imperative we inquire about what we need to know as parents/caregivers to protect our children and teach them how to responsibly and appropriately utilize technology. The parameters, rules, and expectations we put in place in our homes undoubtedly guide our children’s sense of digital responsibility.

Raising children in a digital era can seem overwhelming at times. Technology has entered our lives rapidly over the past several years and continues to evolve daily. In reality, apps and technological devices may always change, but the behavior stays the same. Moderation is key to managing technology use in our homes. This does not need to be an “all or nothing” approach with either absolute prohibition or full unchecked usage, but we must reflect on the frequency we use technology.

It is beneficial to maintain an open, transparent, and ongoing dialogue with our children regarding the internet, technology, social media, and video games. Remaining approachable and representing that trusted adult to the children in our lives could make the difference between whether our children come to us when issues or uncomfortable situations arise, rather than feeling alone in the process and seeking comfort and advice from peers or strangers.

Technology is here to stay, whether we like it or not. Future employers and/or admissions departments are increasingly evaluating and assessing the digital reputations of our children and how they choose to represent themselves online. The goal of this parent/caregiver guide is to help introduce the major social media platforms, video games, and relevant trends that are already used or have the potential to be used by our children.

Stay the course. We want to prepare our children for their tech-infused futures and walk down this digital journey alongside them by staying informed. Good luck!

READ THE GUIDE HERE

The concept of leakage has been referenced by professionals and researchers for over two decades. However, its significance has grown substantially for Threat Assessment Teams due to the expansion and widespread use of social media and the digital sphere.

Subject Matter Experts agree that an overall assessment of risk cannot be determined without looking at an individual's online activity as a parallel process when initiating a threat assessment. Leakage can be a cry for help, a sign of inner conflict, and includes any warning behaviors that may indicate a serious threat. Leakage is one of the most important clues that may precede an adolescent’s violent act.

These clues may include subtle threats, predictions, boasts, or any planning surrounding a violent act, where it is imperative to look at verbal, written, and digital leakage for threat assessment purposes. However, these potential cries for help might not be as clear and direct as one would hope, as they are often expressed through coded language, hashtags, abbreviations, or emojis.

This Resource Guide will provide School Safety/Threat Assessment (SS/TA) Teams with a functional understanding of emojis commonly used by today’s youth and their association with specific categories of concern.

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OpenAI announced that they were releasing a free version of ChatGPT that is built for teachers.

https://openai.com/index/chatgpt-for-teachers/

OpenAI is supporting this initiative with free online training. https://academy.openai.com/public/clubs/k-12-education-aacga/videos/getting-started-with-chatgpt-edu-2025-05-06

Common Sense Media also released an updated online course to support educators using ChatGPT.

https://www.commonsense.org/education/training/chatgpt-k12-foundations

Apple and Common Sense Media released an impressive set of documents to help teachers use AI. The resources on this website provide useful ideas and guidance.

https://www.commonsense.org/education/articles/teachers-essential-guide-to-ai-fundamentals-with-apple

An Ohio lawmaker has proposed legislation to ban marriages between humans and AI

chatbots. https://www.akronlegalnews.com/editorial/37527

There is a pushback against AI-created music.... https://www.theguardian.com/music/2025/nov/17/the-sound-of-silence-why-theres-barely-anything-there-in-paul-mccartney-new-release

A report from McKinsey that was written in 2022 reminds us of perhaps the most important idea to consider when we use AI:

“Artificial Intelligence brings information to our fingertips that might otherwise be

unobtainable. It can teach, educate, partner, and save us a lot of time, but we need to

learn to use it as a tool and not have it use us.”

At the July 2025 Board of Regents meeting, the Board formally adopted the New York State Portrait of a Graduate, a critical milestone in NY Inspires, the Department’s implementation plan for transformative education. The Portrait offers a unifying vision of what it means to be a graduate in New York State, describing the essential skills and dispositions that all students should develop to succeed in college, careers, and civic life.

To ensure clarity and support stakeholders’ shared understanding of the Portrait, the Department developed “Need-to-Know” documents for students, parents, educators, administrators, and school board members.

These documents provide role-specific guidance on the Portrait and serve as foundational tools for stakeholder engagement, professional learning, and strategic planning.

Effective work in teaching happens in layers. First, we learn to protect our attention—managing interruptions so we can stay focused on what matters most: our students. Next, we look for ways to strengthen our practice and accomplish tasks that once felt beyond reach. Finally, we aim for meaningful results that improve student learning and contribute to our school’s goals.

This guide, by Perplexity an AI tool approaches AI as a tool to support each of these layers—not as a quick fix, but as a practical way to manage your workload, extend your effectiveness, and focus more of your energy on teaching and learning. The guide includes some good examples of prompts.

An interesting article from the Hechinger Report: Schools Cannot Teach AI Literacy Without a Way to Measure It https://hechingerreport.org/opinion-schools-cannot-teach-ai-literacy-without-a-way-to-me asure-it/

MIT published “A Guide to AI in Schools: Perspectives for the Perplexed.” I sent out a special shoutout to Meredith Dutra, who served on the advisory panel for this report. https://tsl.mit.edu/wp-content/uploads/2025/08/GuideToAIInSchools.pdf

Since 2012 the Coxsackie-Athens Foundation for Education has awarded over $170,000 in grants to support programming in the C-A Schools.

Grants will be awarded during three grant cycles:

• October 1st, January 1st, and April 1st.

  
  

Innovation Grants: The Coxsackie Athens Foundation for Education was formed to raise, manage and distribute financial and non-financial resources for educational enrichment. We have three grant cycles annually and you are invited to apply for funds by completing the attached application form.

Priorities will be given to projects that address the Foundation’s mission and are educationally enriching, innovative, creative and include a plan for continuation beyond Foundation support.

Mini- Grants: The Coxsackie Athens Foundation for Education (C.A.F.E.) is excited to announce that mini-grant applications will now be accepted. Mini-grants are in addition to the existing innovation grant program and C.A.F.E. will award up to 10 mini-grants in the amount of $200 (or less) on an annual basis. The purpose of the mini-grant is to provide opportunities to purchase smaller items that will have a big impact on our students. Examples might include books, supplies for a special art project, a speaking honorarium, subscriptions, or software tools.

Grants are open for this school year. Please go to the website and scroll down toward the bottom for the grant links. If you have any questions please feel free to ask!

https://www.cacsd.org/page/coxsackie-athens-foundation-for-education-cafe

12/17: HS concert

12/18: BOE Meeting

12/22: EJA concert

12/23: CE concert

Whether you’re teaching content and want to integrate career exploration, entrepreneurship, or workforce preparedness skills, EVERFI’s digital lessons help students plan for and practice these skills. LEARN MORE HERE reach out to Stacey Hopkins our Career ambassador for support.

Prepare students for their financial future

Financial education is more than dollars and cents. It’s about establishing better spending habits, instilling confidence, and equipping the next generation with the real-world skills to manage financial goals and milestones.

EVERFI’s online financial education curriculum, training, and support are completely free to K-12 educators. reach out to Stacey Hopkins our Career ambassador for support.

Financial literacy instruction will be required in 26-27 by NYS and is already included as one of our life readiness indicators. At C-A we will be itegrating more financial literacy including assessing student proficiency into our content this year.

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 for 2025-2026.

The LINKS team have established draft goals for 2028. They are below.

2028

Student Performance Goals

In order for all students to graduate ready for their post-secondary lives, our performance goals for 2028 are:

Reading: 78% of students K-8 will be reading at or above grade level by 2028. This will be a 17% improvement from 2025.

Math: 78% of students K-9 will demonstrate grade level proficiency in math by 2028. This will be a 19% improvement from 2025.

Life Readiness:

1. 100% of students in grades 4, 8 and 12 will demonstrate readiness in a majority of the Life and career ready indicators;
2. The district will see a 11% improvement in the number of students with >=90% attendance by 2028.
3. A 10% improvement in the number of students who often or consistently demonstrate competence in a majority of the personal dispositions.

-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.

• READINESS INDICATORS 2.0 2025
• READINESS INDICATORS K-12 BOOKLET 2020 :
• EARLY COLLEGE PAMPHLET
• COLLEGE IN THE H.S. OFFERINGS
• CAREER TECH ED OFFERINGS

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!