Cortland Schools
District Newsletter, June 2025
From Mr. Edwards
Dear Students, Families, Staff, and Members of the Cortland Community,
Welcome to June!
As we enter the final month of the school year, we find ourselves in a season full of energy, emotion, and anticipation. June brings with it a unique blend of excitement and reflection—there is joy in celebration, a touch of sadness in saying goodbye, and great pride in how far we have come together.
This is a time when our school buildings are both looking ahead to the opportunities of a new year and thoughtfully closing the chapter on the one we are completing. It is a month full of culminating experiences: concerts that showcase the artistic growth of our students, final athletic events that display accomplishment and resilience (go Tennis and go Track!), academic celebrations that honor hard work and achievement, and ceremonies that mark important transitions—especially for our graduates who are preparing to take their next big steps beyond Cortland.
To our students: we are proud of your efforts, your growth, and your perseverance this year. You’ve faced challenges and overcome them with courage. Keep pushing forward and take pride in all you’ve accomplished.
To our families: thank you for your partnership. Your involvement and encouragement are a vital part of your child’s educational journey, and we are grateful for the trust you place in us.
To our dedicated staff: your tireless commitment to our students and to each other is deeply appreciated. The Cortland community is stronger because of the work you do every single day. Our students are better because of you.
I encourage everyone—whether you have a child in our schools or simply care about the future of our community—to attend one of our many year-end events. These moments of celebration are not only meaningful for the students but serve as a reminder of what makes our school district such a vibrant and special place.
Please continue to check our district website and follow us on social media to stay informed about all the activities happening in our schools this month. Your engagement matters, and we want you to be a part of the joy and celebration that June brings.
Go Tigers!
Bob
Weekly Blast
The Weekly News Blast features the Budget Revote and the Olympiad.
Vitamin Z in Print
It is the end of the year and as promised in September, it flew by! It has been a great year of growth and learning for all of us. Students were able to engage in weekly Positivity Project lessons and discuss why different character strengths are important. As we went through the school year, all students in grades 7-12 heard a different positive quote each day. My favorite for the month of June is this… “You are the driver of your own life. Don’t let anyone else steal your seat.” Our Junior High Tigers are the best kids in the world! They all have positive dreams and goals in their minds. The one thing that can get a young teenager off-track is letting the opinion of others steer them in a different direction. We urge our kids to simply be themselves.
I will leave you with a quote that comes to mind as we close this school year. I picked this one because working with your kids has inspired me. “So often you find that the students you’re trying to inspire are the ones that end up inspiring you.”
Thank you for sharing your most prized possession with us; your children.
School Nurse Updates
Parents: please be on the lookout for summer messages from your school nurse.
*Summer is a great time to schedule a yearly physical for your child, please make sure your school nurse receives a copy of your child’s physical and make sure all immunizations are up to date.
*Please pick up any leftover medications from your school nurse by June 25th or they will be discarded.
* Our schools have been selected for BMI reporting next school year. This data will be gathered from this current year’s physical. If you do NOT want your child’s anonymous data shared, please contact your school nurse by December 1, 2025.
Happy Summer to all!
History Club’s Trip to Boston
On May 22nd and 23rd, 36 students ranging from freshman to seniors traveled to Boston, MA. In Boston students were able to visit several historical sites, view marine wildlife, and expand their usual diets. While Thursday was a bit cold and rainy, Friday was a beautiful day to walk about the city and explore the Freedom Trail. A good time was had by all, special thanks to our whole team at Cortland to allow for these special opportunities for our students!
Where should we travel next year, join history club and make your voice and vote heard for future travel!
Upcoming Music Events
Barry 2nd Grade Showcase - Thursday, June 5th
- Purple Team - 6:00 PM
- White Team - 7:00 PM
Tri-M Inductions - Monday, June 9th at 6:00 PM in the choir room.
Junior High Concert - Wednesday, June 11th at 7:00 PM.
String Orchestra Students: Please arrive at 6:15 PM the night of the concert for tuning and warm ups. Wear something nice and school appropriate for the concert.
JamFest - Thursday, June 12th at 5:00 PM at the Homer Center for the Arts
Randall 6th Grade Musical - Wednesday, June 18th at 6:00 PM at Randall School.
Overnight Trip to NYC and fundraising success!
Fundraisers included yard clean up, chocolate bar sales, scrap metal drive, and a car wash/bake sale. Thank you everyone for your generous support!
The trip was a blast with shopping in Manhattan, the musical Wicked, Hard Rock Cafe, Spring Hill Suites, Ellis Island, Liberty Island, 9-1-1 Memorial, and One World Observatory.
Congrats to our top Math OIympiad Scorers at Randall!
Jaenila Stephenson and David Ford were our grade 5 and 6 winners. Keep up the great work, Mathematicians!
Sixth-Graders Present Frozen Jr!
Participating sixth-graders are busy rehearsing for their musical, under the supervision of Stage Director Jim Wallis, Musical Director, Amber Thayer, and Set Director Shana Snyder. Join us on Wednesday, June 18 at 6:00pm at the Randall School gymnasium. Cost is $2 per person. There are also daytime showings on 6/16 and 6/17 at 9:45 am and 6/18 at 1:30pm.
3rd Annual Cortland County Olympiad
The 3rd Annual Cortland County Olympiad was held at SUNY Cortland on May 28, 2025. The day was kicked off with a parade, the McGraw marching band led student athletes from schools across the county around the track to a stadium of cheering fans. Ricky O. from McGraw sang the National Anthem while students in the Cortland High School Life Skills Class performed using American Sign Language. After that, student athletes participated in track and field events, obstacle courses, races, bike rides, and more! Students could also play yard games, enjoy a sensory area, and get their face painted. Music throughout the day was provided by the DeRuyter band. A resource fair with community agencies was also held. It was a great day to celebrate the abilities of our students!
Special Education News
Progress Notes
If your child has an Individualized Education Program (IEP), you will receive regular progress notes that track their progress toward specific educational goals. Progress notes are provided at the same intervals as regular report cards. Please carefully review each progress note to understand your child's achievements and challenges.
If any information is unclear or raises concerns, don't hesitate to reach out to your child's case manager or related service provider.
Community Resource Map
NYSED, in collaboration with the FACE (Family and Community Engagement) Center at Syracuse University, has created a great interactive map highlighting community agencies that support students with disabilities.
Award of Excellence
An Award of Excellence from the NYSPHSAA was awarded to Cortland Athletic Director Tiffany Beam for an exemplary display of sportsmanship, ethics and integrity.
Every1Camp
Every1Camp is a free, one-day sports camp for children with intellectual or physical disabilities, staffed by NYS Certified Physical Education Teachers specializing in Adapted Physical Education, offering a safe and fun-filled day for children and their parents. For more information, please see the attached flier.
Budget Revote
Don't forget to vote on the Budget Revote, Tuesday, June 17th, 11 am - 8 pm.
- Kaufman Center
- Virgil Town Hall
- Cortlandville Municipal Garage