GOOD NEWS

AUGUST & SEPTEMBER 2021 SEPTEMBER & AUGUST SYRACUSE CITY SCHOOL DISTRICT

owners and more. Varsity and college coaches even came by to Building Men Summer coach athletic clinics.

Institutes Provide Athletics HW Smith 8th grade student Shukri Hassan took part in the virtual Building Men Summer Institute last summer and was and Academic Learning excited to participate in the program in person at Grant this More than 100 middle school boys in grades 6-8 enjoyed some year. special summer programming this year, thanks to the Building “Math is my favorite subject and has been my favorite part of the Men Summer Institute. Through a basketball camp at Lincoln, summer,” he added. “I had forgotten like half of the content over a football camp at Roberts and a basketball and soccer camp at COVID, so this has helped me relearn it. Today, we multiplied and Grant, students enjoyed a daily opportunity to come together added fractions. It’s easier to learn over the summer because [the for academic tutoring, mentoring, and of course, athletics. teachers] push us to do all our academic stuff before we can play In the morning, students worked on their ELA and math skills. sports. I want to play sports, too, so it pushes me. It’s going to Then, they took part in team building activities, traditional help me a lot to be ready for the new year!” Building Men “Chalk Talks,” and a “Man Class” to talk about healthy masculinity. They enjoyed regular guest speakers, Learn more about the Building Men Program! Visit www.buildingmenprogram.org ranging from police and probation officers to minority business

MAILING ADDRESS PHYSICAL ADDRESS 1025 Erie Boulevard West 725 Harrison Street Syracuse, NY 13204 Syracuse, NY 13210 syracusecityschools.com A MESSAGE FROM THE SUPERINTENDENT IMPORTANT DATES

September 2021 22 First Day of Autumn Dear Families, 22 Board of Education Work Session Welcome back! We are excited to invite students back into the 27 Board of Education Work Session classroom to begin the 2021-22 school year. The challenges of the COVID-19 pandemic are still with us, but thanks to your October 2021 continued support, we are thrilled to be able to safely return to in-person learning this year. As the year progresses, we will 11 Indigenous Peoples’ Day/ Columbus Day— No School continue to adhere to guidance provided by local and state 13 Board of Education Meeting 15 Educational Foundation Grant health officials to ensure that we are acting in ways that put the Application Deadline healthThis summer, and safety it was of ourwonderful students, to staffsee our and students families engagingfirst. in their learning, both in person and remotely. In this newsletter, 19 Superintendent’s Parent Council you will hear about a virtual capstone project that middle school 20 BOE Quarterly Finance Work Session students completed, helping them become civic ready. You will learn how the Building Men Program used athletics to motivate 23 All City Jazz Concert— 1:00 PM, young men to make academic growth and reverse the ‘summer Lincoln slide.’ You’ll read about Dr. Weeks students who strengthened 25 Board of Education Work Session their bilingual skills, high school students who completed bridge programs and STEM camps at local colleges, and so much more. 27 Board of Education Work Session 29 Elementary and Middle School The pandemic has changed a lot, but it has not changed the Marking Period 1 Ends desire of our students to take advantage of the educational opportunities offered to them! Our students, families and staff continue to show their dedication to our collective success, and I am proud to lead such a great and supportive community. Say Yes Syracuse Did you know? SCSD graduates Sincerely, are eligible for Say Yes Syracuse scholarships (including students). Now is the time to start planning for your future!P-TECH Learn more at sayyessyracuse.org.

Student & Staff Spotlights Former SCSD Coach Inducted into HW Smith Student Performs with Syracuse Mets Hall of Fame Philadelphia Symphony Former Corcoran baseball Orchestra coach Bob “Southy” HW Smith 8th grader Angelina Southworth was inducted Gomez had a unique opportunity into the Syracuse Mets this summer: she performed Hall of Fame, Class of with the Philadelphia Symphony 2021, this summer. Orchestra at the Saratoga Performing Congratulations to Arts Center! Angelina plays the violin Coach Southworth – we and is a member of the Symphoria String appreciate his years of Ensemble, which recommended her for this opportunity service to our student

AUGUST & 2021 SEPTEMBER & AUGUST through a program to support talented young musicians. athletes! She learned eight pieces of music in just over a week for the performance. Way to go, Angelina!

2 SCSD NEWS PK-8th Grade News

Bellevue Students Enjoy Library ‘Camp Sites’ Bellevue and Syracuse Latin students who participated in the ‘Soaring Through Summer’ summer school at Bellevue enjoyed some fun summer learning in their special library ‘camp site!’

Librarian Doug Petroff had the idea to build a few different camping areas in

sounds and stars projected onto the ceilings.the library – complete with campfire “I really wanted to encourage the kids to enjoy their independent reading Middle School Students Become Civic time this summer,” Mr. Petroff shared. “I didn’t want the students to just feel like Ready through Virtual Capstone Project they were coming to the library to do Middle school students participating in the virtual summer school some reading. I wanted them to actually program had a unique opportunity to develop their academic skills feel like they were at a campground and to be able to choose a space that might while becoming civic ready, thanks to a creative capstone project. excite them to read in.”

Presented with three community members on the interdisciplinary options, the COVID-19 vaccine’s effectiveness students spent their summer and how getting a vaccine can have learning time engaging with a a direct impact on their community; project of their choosing. At the a plan to raise awareness of conclusion of summer school, the recycling among the Syracuse students presented their completed community; a plan to embrace projects to their summer school and celebrate the many cultures teachers, as well as Mayor Walsh, represented in Syracuse; or create through a Teams meeting. a student-led organization for their school focused on a subject they are AUGUST &SEPTEMBER 2021 The students were invited to interested in. create a presentation to educate

Dr. Weeks Students Start in their home languages with the hope literacy in their native languages and that they will continue developing receive a seal of biliteracy upon their on Path to Earning Seal of high school graduation. Biliteracy About 100 Dr. Weeks students in The project-based program provided students with the opportunity to create started on the path to earning a New a memoir book of their family’s journey Yorkkindergarten State Seal through of Biliteracy, fifth grade thanks to in America. This year, students focused the Steps to the Seal program! Steps to on learning Karen/Burmese, Spanish, the Seal is a heritage language program Nepali, Arabic, Swahili and Somali. where students learn to read and write

SCSD NEWS 3 Delaware Students Spread “I wanted our summer school to Huntington student Tajhan Edwards continue to create a positive and kind Happiness in Kindness environment for students so they the project was a great way to show Challenge can feel safe, happy, and successful at supporthelped direct for his the classmates PSA film. andHe said Students from all grade levels at Delaware,” she explained. friends. Delaware Primary spent the end of summer engaged in a Kindness “I think we might be able to get a Middle School Students message out there that we can all be Challenge – Show Civic Readiness with the goal united if we come together,” he said. of helping with Interdisciplinary PSA “Equality is important to me. I wanted their school Project to support my friends, and this perform as Students in Lincoln Middle School’s allowed me to help support them with many acts of summer program wanted the their struggles by supporting what kindness as community to know what they’re they stand for. It makes me feel good.” possible! passionate about. They stand for accepting differences. ELMS Students Connect Students and Grow through Summer were each Black Lives. LGBTQIA+. Asian Lives. provided with They stand with people who are Learning Activities a checklist protecting their freedom. Education. Through the Summer Academy at of 50 kind acts – as a class, they Equal rights. ELMS, students collaborated on were challenged to complete all everything from daily crew meetings 50 challenges. Classrooms also to adventure games and team participated in a kindness door bonding activities, decorating contest; as well as a wall academics and of kindness, where students could more. list their acts of kindness, write notes Guest facilitators with compliments or draw happy from Terra Science pictures. The students worked together to and Education Vice Principal Janel Milana said the collectively create a Public Service even led students challenge was adapted from The Great Announcement (PSA) to capture their in an engineering Kindness Challenge, a national event stance as young and informed youth challenge, where used as an anti-bullying program that citizens, charged with empowering groups of students worked together was designed to help schools build a fellow community members. to develop their critical thinking positive culture. skills.

High School News Math Bridge Camp Helps Prepare reviewingmath skills… math and concepts their confidence! like area, Studentsperimeter, created and dividing house Students for Algebra andfloor multiplying plans, made fractions. mosaic self-portraits They even created and more a beat – all through while More than 75 8th and 9th the use of clapping patterns. graders from across the SCSD came together this summer “Our goal is that math exploration becomes fun, intriguing, for a six-week summer and intuitive in order to build a solid foundation of algebraic school bridge math program skills for the next school year,” Personalized Learning Coach designed to help prepare them Amber McKay explained. for Algebra. PSLA Students Become Career Ready Using MindfullyU math through Summer Bridge Program

AUGUST & 2021 SEPTEMBER & AUGUST curriculum, the students engaged in research-based math and mindfulness activities Thanks to a one-week summer bridge program, incoming that allowed them to use their creativity to develop their freshmen and sophomores at PSLA at Fowler got a head start for the school year… and their future careers!

4 SCSD NEWS Freshmen in the school’s P-TECH Middle and high school students program enjoyed team building interested in participating in ERIE21 activities and a tour of their new school year programs can contact Ben school, as well as a chance to Atwood at [email protected] experiment with robotics kits. They for more information! engaged with guest speakers from MACNY, who spoke about what High School Students employers are looking for; they Contribute to First-Ever developed their 30 second ‘elevator SCSD Literary Magazine speech’ to help pitch themselves to About 30 students from a potential employer; and they even Thinking Village and the Inaugural Henninger, ERIE21 Innovation Academy. ITC, Nottingham and PSLA at Fowler contributed their artistic and literary to Onondaga Community College. Rising 6th-8th graders were invited wrapped up the week with a field trip Freshman Zack Stachnik, who will to the Quantitative Thinking Village, magazine, which is be pursuing the Remotely Piloted where they learned to code and availabletalents to thisthe first-everfall SCSD literary Aircraft Systems (RPAS) pathway, said gained hands-on experience in online and in print this head start was what made him engineering, robotics, programming, to high school sign up for the program. app development and more. They students. experienced life on the Le Moyne “I was hoping I’d learn the school, the College Campus by enjoying the Last year, while teachers and what I’m going to be campus facilities and equipment; and working with doing in the program next year,” he they will be invited to continue to her colleagues, explained. “I’m excited to get started continue working with the ERIE21 Nottingham now, because I know what I’m going program this fall as well! ELA teacher to be doing throughout the school Midheta Mujak year. I’m really looking forward to Rising 9th-12th graders participated had the idea of bringing students building drones and the components in the ERIE21 Innovation Academy, together in the same way that the ELA where they took part in programming teachers had been working together. to help enhance their college and Partnering with art teachers, the SCSDto make themStudents respond Become and fly!” career readiness. They worked with ELA teachers sought out student professionals from Le Moyne College submissions of artwork, journalism College & Career Ready at and the Greater Syracuse-area Le Moyne College articles and creative writing pieces community (including MACNY and including narratives, memoirs, poems, Middle and high school students from Partners in Education and Business short stories and even plays. across the SCSD had the opportunity educators), learning about tech and to participate in two summer drone aviation, career branding and To view the full literacy magazine, programs at Le Moyne College: the more. please visit www.syracusecityschools. 4th annual ERIE21 Quantitative com/ELA! AUGUST &SEPTEMBER 2021 School Notices Student Information/ Emergency Card It is extremely important that your child’s school has up-to-date information on your child, including an emergency contact. Every family will receive a pre-populated Student Information/Emergency Card in the mail. Please review the information on the card and make any necessary changes before returning it to your child’s school. Note that throughout the school year, photographs, audio and/or video may be taken of students for use in district publications, on the website and/or social media or by news media. Parents who do not wish to have their children photographed or recorded must check the appropriate box on the current Student Information/Emergency Card and submit it to their child’s school.

SCSD NEWS 5 ACM is removed to the extent practical. Asbestos Annual andschool maintenance administrative programs offices. designed Included for Syracuse City School District school Notification eachin these building plans forare the specific control operations of asbestos. buildings including support buildings Agencies of both the State and Federal governments Implementation of the response may have had some response action regulate asbestos in the recommendations began July 9, 1989. workthat have completed been identified in their buildings to contain ACM public schools. With the Since the implementation of the AHERA during the 2019-2020 school year. The enactment of the Asbestos Management Plan, the Syracuse City Hazard Emergency Response Act School District has conducted formal have been documented in writing and (AHERA) in 1987, all Local Educational inspections at six month intervals candetails be foundof those in specificthe AHERA response Management actions Agencies (LEAs) are required to identify and, in compliance with the law, will asbestos-containing material (ACM) in complete two more in the 2020-2021 of each building. schools and to formulate written plans school year in October and April. Plan located in the administrative office If at any time the status or condition to control and prevent the release of State and Federal mandates require that a triennial reinspection occur of any ACM is changed or disturbed through alterations, renovations or asbestosBuildings fibers owned in or the leased future. by the AHERA inspection. The Syracuse City episodic release, it will be documented Syracuse City School District have Schoolsometime District within conducted three years a triennial of the first and Management Plans will be updated. been inspected, and samples of reinspection in April 2019. The results We will continue to implement our suspect ACM have been analyzed by of this reinspection can be found in each Management Plans and alert the public Environmental Protection Agency building in the AHERA Management about the District’s efforts to control accredited laboratories. The results Plan. As the District renovates buildings, asbestos. of these inspections are available in

• silica gel and other nonvolatile ready-to-use pastes, foams, or Notification for gels in areas inaccessible to children; Pesticide Applications • boric acid and disodium octaborate tetrahydrat e; • the application of EPA designated biopesticides; New York State Education Law Section 409-H requires all public and nonpublic elementary • the application of EPA designated exempt materials under 40CFR152.25; all persons in parental and guardian relationships with • the use of aerosol products with a directed spray in containers studentsand secondary as well schools as faculty to provide and staff written regarding notification the potential to from an imminent threat from stinging and biting insects use of pesticides periodically throughout the school year. ofincluding 18 fluid venomous ounces or spiders,less when bees, used wasps, to protect and hornets. individuals The Syracuse City School District is required to maintain a list of persons who wish to receive 48-hour prior written In the event of an emergency application, a good faith effort

will be made to supply written notification to those on the requirements:notification of certain pesticide applications. The following of pesticide applications at your school, please complete the pesticide applications are not subject to prior notification formnotification below andlist. Ifmail you to would the Syracuse like to receive City School prior District, notification • a school remains unoccupied for a continuous 72-hours School Service Center, 214 Park Avenue, Syracuse, NY 13204; following an application; fax to 315-435-4936; or you can return the completed form • anti-microbial products; to your child’s school. • nonvolatile rodenticides and insecticide baits in tamper resistant bait stations in areas inaccessible to children;

SYRACUSE CITY SCHOOL DISTRICT REQUEST FOR PESTICIDE APPLICATION NOTIFICATION

IfCURRENT you wish SCHOOL/ to be notified, BUILDING please NAME complete the form below and print clearly so we can notify you.

NAME ADDRESS

DAY PHONE EVENING PHONE CITY STATE ZIP CODE AUGUST & 2021 SEPTEMBER & AUGUST

6 SCSD NEWS #SCSDCares: Supports for Students and Families Academic, Social, Emotional and Mental Health Support COVID-19 Questions & The SCSD has many academic, social, emotional and mental health Concerns supports available to students. School Social Workers at each of our The health, wellness and safety schools can help connect you and your child to in school and/or out of our students, staff and families of school supports that meet your needs. Please call your child's is a top priority and one that school using the list below and ask to speak with a Social Worker. we take very seriously. All protocols that we’ll be following at the District this year are outlined online in our 2021-22 ELEMENTARY SCHOOLS (315) 435-4490 H.W. Smith Family COVID Guide. Updates will be made Bellevue (315) 435-4520 Huntington (315) 435-4565 available online throughout the year should local Delaware Primary (315) 435-4540 Oasis Academy (315) 435-6226 guidance or circumstances change. Please visit syracusecityschools.com/COVID to access this Dr. Weeks (315) 435-4097 Roberts (315) 435-4635 important information. Elmcrest (315) 435-6244 MIDDLE SCHOOLS Franklin (315) 435-4550 Brighton Academy (315) 435-4535 Attendance LeMoyne (315) 435-4590 Clary Middle (315) 435-4411 Do you need help with your child’s attendance? Please give us a call at (315) 435-4146. Some Montessori (315) 435-4590 ELMS (315) 435-6416 of the things we can help you with include McCarthy @ Beard (315) 435-5855 Grant Middle (315) 435-4433 transportation, school refusal, immunizations, or if McKinley-Brighton (315) 435-4605 Lincoln Middle (315) 435-4450 you are unsure if your child should stay home. Meachem (315) 435-4610 Syracuse STEM @ Blodgett Porter (315) 435-4625 (315) 435-4386 Bullying Salem Hyde (315) 435-4570 If you or someone you know is a target of HIGH SCHOOLS Seymour (315) 435-4645 harassment and bullying, including cyberbullying Corcoran (315) 435-4321 and/or discrimination by employees or students STEAM @ Dr. King (315) 435-4580 Henninger (315) 435-4343 on school property or at a school function you can Syracuse Latin (315) 435-4606 ITC (315) 435-4300 report it using the DASA Complaint Form, available Van Duyn (315) 435-4660 on the school website (Student Support page) or Nottingham (315) 435-4380 Webster (315) 435-4670 Promising Futures Leadership school. If you have any questions, please contact Academy (315) 435-4135 PK-8 SCHOOLS yourin the school main officeDASA orCoordinator the counseling (listed office on school of your PSLA at Fowler (315) 435-4376 Edward Smith (315) 435-4650 webpages) or Student Support Services at (315) Frazer (315) 435-4555 435-6327.

How to File an Appeal for Transportation AUGUST &SEPTEMBER 2021 The School Board Eligibility Policy requires that a student reside more than 1 mile from school to qualify for bus transportation in grades K-8 and more than 1.5 miles from school for grades 9-12. This includes day care anproviders. appeal packet A parent if they may dofill not out meet an appeal the district’s packet if policy they doof 1.5not miles.meet theThe district’s appeal committee policy. The will appeal only committee consider will only consider distance as criteria for filing an appeal. This includes day care providers. A parent may fill out distance1. Appeal as packets criteria mayfor filing be acquired an appeal. at the student's school, 4. Transportation will notify parent/ guardian of the appeal online at www.syracusecityschools.com, or from the hearing date and time SCSD Transportation Center 5. Parent/ guardian attends the appeal hearing 2. 6. decision within a week theThe school appeal principal packet consists of two forms: one to be filled Committee meets and parent/ guardian is notified of the out by the parent/ guardian and one to be filled out by 3. Submit packet to the Transportation Center by fax (435- 5854) or mail (369 6th North St. Syracuse, NY 13208)

SCSD NEWS 7 SYRACUSE CITY SCHOOL DISTRICT Non-Profit 1025 Erie Boulevard West | Syracuse, NY 13204 Org. U.S. Postage PAID Syracuse, NY MISSION Permit 2563 To build, support and sustain school communities that provide all students with a high-quality education that prepares them to graduate as responsible, active citizens ready for success in college and careers and prepared to compete in a global economy.

VISION To prepare and inspire all of our students to innovate locally and contribute globally.

BOARD OF EDUCATION Dan Romeo, President Tamica Barnett, Vice President Pat Body David Cecile Derrick Dorsey Mark D. Muhammad, Ed.D. Katie Sojewicz ADMINISTRATIVE STAFF Jaime Alicea, Superintendent Patricia Clark, Chief Ombuds/Student Support Services Officer Dean DeSantis, Chief Operations Officer SYRACUSE Laura Kelley, Ed.D., Chief Academic Officer CITY SCHOOL Timothy Moon, Chief Accountability Officer DISTRICT Suzanne Slack, Chief Financial Officer Lisa A. Wade, Chief Human Resources Officer Monique Wright-Williams, Chief of Staff Stay Connected.

NOTICE OF NON-DISCRIMINATION Stay Involved. The Syracuse City School District hereby advises students, parents, employees and the general public that it is committed to providing equal access to all categories of employment, programs and educational opportunities, including career syracusecityschools.com and technical education opportunities, regardless of actual or perceived race, color, national origin, Native American ancestry/ethnicity, creed or Never miss an important update from the religion, marital status, sex, sexual orientation, age, gender identity or expression, disability or any other District or your child's school. legally protected category under federal, state or local law. Calls & Texts Text Y to 67587 in order Inquiries regarding the District’s non-discrimination to receive important voice policies should be directed to: messages and texts.

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