April Updates...

College and Career Readiness Committee

At the April 17 CCRC meeting, we reviewed the "Attributes of a Central Square Learner" that were created by this committee during previous meetings, which can be seen by clicking the following link:
https://tinyurl.com/Attributes-of-a-CS-Learner


To view the PowerPoint from the meeting, click on the following link: 
https://tinyurl.com/CCRC-PowerPoint-4-17-18 
In a previous meeting, the committee focused on what has been traditionally viewed by most school districts as the main pathway for students, which is the college and university pathway. We had an amazing Central Square graduate, now a student at the prestigious Whitman School of Management at Syracuse University, Camryn Lawyea, speak of the wonderful, rigorous courses she took at PVM High School, as well as the meaningful clubs and activities she participated in such as DECA, Student Government, Student Leadership Task Force, and our nationally recognized Rifle Team, to name a few.  She described how the courses she took and the clubs/activities she participated in while at PVM, prepared her for the rigors of attending college. It really speaks volumes that she is on our College and Career Readiness Committee during her freshman year of college.

At this past meeting, as you can see from the PowerPoint link above, after reviewing the "Attributes of a Central Square Learner," we focused on an equally rewarding pathway, Career and Technical Education.  Similar to how we showcased the college/university pathway, we had a wonderfully experienced Central Square parent/employee at PVM High School, Ms. Linda Fuller, who has had three children at Central Square that have attended CiTi BOCES, with her youngest son currently in the P-Tech program.  Click here for more information on the P-Tech program: https://www.citiboces.org/ptech.  

We also had an outstanding BOCES student, Miranda Hoyt, speak of the courses she took at CiTi BOCES that have prepared her for a nursing career. She also shared many wonderful experiences she had while attending PVM that also prepared her for such a meaningful career. Our next College and Career Readiness Committee (meeting again on May 17 at 5:30pm-7pm) will focus on the military pathway, as this is yet another choice that our students have. We continue to be delighted by the large number of committee members that attend these meetings and share such valuable experiences with the group, experiences that ALL students will benefit from. The following link with bring you to a wonderful article written by Debbie Grooms from the Citizen Outlet: http://www.oswegonews.com/osw/central-square-school-committee-seeks-better-communicators-and-thinkers-in-its-graduates-20180427&template=mwdt

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          Student presenting to the Chamber of Commerce                

                   

Tristin Rice presented to the Fort Brewerton Greater Oneida Lake Chamber of Commerce on April 18, 2018, on the achievements of our DECA chapter at PVM High School. He wanted to personally thank the Chamber members for their much appreciated donations they made to DECA that the students greatly benefited from. Tristin also shared that the skill sets and experiences he received as a member of DECA at PVM prepared him for his future, which will lead him to Stanford University, as he has been accepted to this very prestigious university to study physics. The Chamber members continue to be impressed by the students at Central Square and they are so very proud of them, as we all are!!!!

School Safety

Safety and Security Community Forum (March 19)

On March 19, we had approximately 200 community members, parents, school staff, local police/firefighters/EMTs, and other first responders, take part in sharing concerns, feedback, and suggestions regarding the safety and security of our schools. We started by having all participants sit at one of the 24 tables spread around the large PVM cafeteria.  We had an administrator seated at each table with a device so he/she could document all of the safety concerns/feedback that was shared at each table. Each table had a specific tab within the Google document allowing us the opportunity to know all concerns and suggestions in one very comprehensive document.  

We had a local police officer with many years of law enforcement experience as well as running the school security for a large school district in Onondaga County.  This individual played a key role in helping a neighboring school district and their local police department utilize the position of Special Patrol Officer, which is exactly what our District will be doing.  We are looking at obtaining three Special Patrol Officers to start, and even though they will be affiliated with the Central Square Village Police Department, they can still do everything as they would within the jurisdiction of the village, except the booking of arrests, which would be handed over to the local police department for that area. We are very excited to have these trained law enforcement professionals in our schools, not just for the added security measure, but also to provide professional development on school safety for our staff on an ongoing basis. These officers will be in our schools 100% of their time and will not be called anywhere else by the Village Police Department. 

We also had a local fire chief from a neighboring town who also happens to be a Central Square parent speak to the packed room of participants.  He spoke from a medical perspective and opportunities for the students to be able to learn emergency techniques, similar to the Stop The Bleed program held at Upstate Hospital. Although he is not affiliated with this program, he was able to discuss its main focus. If you are interested in learning more about this program at Upstate Medical University, click on the following link: http://www.upstate.edu/surgery/healthcare/trauma/stop-the-bleed.php  .
He also spoke about other things that our District needs to be aware of in case of an emergency, all of which were very well received. 

We will soon invite all the participants that attended the March 19 community forum to a follow up meeting where we can share with the group all of the feedback that was shared that day, since there were 24 tables full of people contributing. 

Our District will be purchasing NaviGate Prepared through BOCES which allows it to be both extremely affordable for the District through the BOCES Coser, and consistent for the many police and fire departments in our region that will benefit from having many school districts using this technology tool. The NaviGate app does many things such as maintaining all current safety plans and drill procedures, as well as a 360' view of every room in each of our schools, which will come in very handy for police and firefighters when responding to a crisis situation. The best part about this technology is that it will allow any staff member to initiate a lock down if the situation should ever present itself.  This is a huge step towards empowering our staff to take action when one of them sees a potential danger, instead of relying on the building principal or main office secretary that might be in a different part of the school.  For more on NaviGate Prepared, click on the following website: https://tinyurl.com/NaviGate-Prepared  

Channel 9 recently mentioned this and you can click on the following link to view it: http://www.localsyr.com/news/local-news/safety-app-allows-school-staff-to-report-threats-emergencies/1085312883 

March 14 Update...

Dear Parents/Guardians,

I am aware that social media sites are buzzing with parents and community members sharing their feelings and opinions regarding how the District addressed the "National Walk-Out" that was heavily discussed and posted on social media sites and news outlets across the country. I am reluctant to respond in those forums because I never want people to think that I do not value their opinions and their right to have an opinion, because I absolutely do. With that said, I just wanted to provide additional details (that were included in the staff letter but excluded from the parent/guardian letter) now that the planned event is over and any details I share will not endanger our students and staff by sharing the locations of the brief student led activity that took place. Students were in the hallways in different locations at both CSMS and PVM High School from 9:55 a.m. to 10:12 a.m., which was a total of 17 minutes.  The student leadership felt that the 17 minutes was a symbolic gesture for the 17 students and faculty that lost their lives at Parkland, Florida.

First, I want to be very clear, the District did not support or endorse any political movement, we simply provided an opportunity for students to do something positive with their peers for 17 minutes. These students were engaged in an activity led by their peer leaders on the Student Leadership Task Force, where students got to know their peers a little better in a creative way.  This was student driven and well received by the many students that participated.  The 17 minute activity was completely optional, as those that did not want to participate were able to complete their homework, read a book, or just relax for the 17 minutes in a supervised setting.  No student at the high school or the middle school decided to leave their school.  We were prepared if students left their school to peacefully congregate outside of our schools (but still on school grounds) and designated school administrators were prepared to accompany any student that felt the need to do this, as the safety of all students is our top priority.

We planned this 17 minute student led activity inside our middle school and high school because we did not want students leaving our schools and congregating in a large group, since this was announced throughout the country that it would take place at 10 a.m. on March 14 for 17 minutes. This potentially could have made our students a target for someone that could harm them knowing several students would be outside at the same time.  It sickens me that I have to think that way, but unfortunately, there are people in society that do horrific things. At no time was the 2nd Amendment discussed, nor were any other political beliefs discussed, as that was not what the 17 minutes were about today. As always, if you have any questions for me, my office phone number is (315) 668-4220, or my work cell phone number which is (315) 314-1432. Do not hesitate to contact me, as I value your feedback, suggestions, and healthy dialogue regarding any concerns you may have. If your inquires pertain to specific situations in your child's school, I suggest giving the teacher and principal an opportunity to respond first, but I am always available to speak with. As another reminder, please join us at our community forum focused on safety and security, held on March 19, at 6 PM in the PVM High School Cafeteria.

Thank you for your time,

Thomas J Colabufo
Superintendent

Spotlight on HME and the New Chamber Incentive Program...

These amazing students presented at our March 12, 2018 Board of Education Meeting held at Hastings-Mallory Elementary School where they showcased their use of technology, specifically Chromebooks, as a key research tool that can be utilized in all classes.  We are so proud of our dedicated staff and exceptional students that come to school everyday eager to learn and grow.

Fort Brewerton/Greater Oneida Lake Chamber of Commerce

Citizenship Incentive Award Program

Monthly awards are given to Paul V. Moore High School and Central Square Middle School students who do not have a discipline referral for each month.  This is a great way to recognize good citizenship in our students, which is a big part of the District’s mission.

Our March winners are (PVM High) Maegan Dean and Nicolas Stevens, and (from CSMS) Angilee Haberer and Karter Stark. We are very proud of you! They each received fantastic gift certificates from businesses belonging to the Fort Brewerton/Greater Oneida Lake Chamber of  Commerce.

A lot happening at Central Square to be proud of...

Students around the District recently celebrated the first "100 Days" of school in style as many of their teachers dressed for the event.  Mrs. Morgan (above) at Millard Hawk Elementary got into the spirit and her students absolutely loved it! These teachers understand the need to inject humor and fun into the learning and that is why our school culture is so strong and student friendly at Central Square.

Our boys basketball team played hard (above) at their playoff game at the SRC Arena at OCC this past Sunday, falling to the Nottingham Bulldogs.  The boys fought hard until the final whistle, capping off a season to remember being ranked for much of the season.  Win or lose, I was amazed all year by the level of sportsmanship and class that these young men displayed game after game, as they helped opponents off the floor and shook off "possible" bad calls from the referees, never complaining, only giving it their all. You cannot congratulate the team without congratulating and thanking the greatest student section in America, The Flock, seen standing in a flock behind the basket.  Flock member and star football player, Jaime Battaglia poses with one of the youngest Flock members at Sunday's game, my son, Tommy.

Congratulations to the Central Square Junior Varsity and Varsity Winter Guards for the placing 1st place at their last event held at ESM this past Saturday. These students put so much into each competition, but that is nothing compared to the long hours of practice leading up to each event.  This level of motivation, dedication, and teamwork is truly remarkable.  Our Winter Guard is actually ranked 19th in the Country, yes, in the Country! (according to Winter Guard International) Make sure you get out to see them compete, you will not be disappointed. We are hosting the Winter Guard Home Show March 10 at PVM High School.  We hope to see you there, but you better get there early because we are expecting another full house. http://www.oswegonews.com/osw/winter-guard-home-show-march-10-20180227

"Spirit Fridays" are a regular on the menu at the R Diner as the ladies sport their maroon and white to support the District.  This is part of a continued effort by the Superintendent Parent Council, led by Mrs. Stringer, to partner with the local businesses to support the amazing students across or District. This is the type of support that makes our community so special and unique. These are great people!!!

"Central Square open house, orientation draw crowds." We were delighted by the turnout as students and parents had the opportunity to explore multiple pathways and career exploration. http://www.oswegonews.com/osw/central-square-open-house-orientation-draw-crowds-20180223
This aligned perfectly to the work our College and Career Readiness Committee has been doing.  
http://www.oswegonews.com/osw/cssd-asks-what-are-the-attributes-of-a-central-square-graduate-20180227 
If you would still like to join this committee, please click on the following link and complete and submit the following brief form:
https://docs.google.com/forms/d/1Qklq6vms1UZW1B41TbWOneriGe74qIf60Ue3U9Y57Zw/edit 
The remaining meeting dates and times for the 2017-2018 school year are as follows: April 17 from 4:15-6:00 p.m., May 17 from 5:30-7:00 p.m., and June 12 from 4:15:6:00 p.m.

Our new sign located on Route 11 in the Village finally arrived and we are getting a lot of positive feedback from community members. Mayor, Ken Sherman, has done a lot to spruce up the Village and this sign is a welcome addition. 

February 12 College and Career Readiness Committee Meeting

College and Career Readiness Committee Member and 2017 PVM Graduate, Camryn Lawyea, sharing her experiences at PVM and the pathway she chose that has led her to Syracuse University's prestigious Whitman's School of Management. She shared the courses at PVM that prepared her for college as well as the courses she wished she had taken, which was excellent for students in the room that share her pathway to hear.  The group reviewed the identified attributes selected at the first College and Career Readiness Committee back in December, and they provided additional feedback so we can finalize the list.

The committee of students, staff, parents, local business leaders, and community members did a wonderful job providing us with detailed feedback regarding the attributes of a Central Square graduate.  Although the group has provided us with things we can (and will) change regarding the originally identified group of attributes, the overall consensus was that the group really liked the identified attributes. The finalized attributes of a Central Square graduate will be posted and hung in every PreK-12 classroom across the District. We fully understand that unless we actually plan opportunities to provide students with opportunities to effectively communicate, problem solve, collaborate, etc., then these attributes will not be worth the paper they are posted on.  These attributes must be systematic across the District so we have a highly reliable organization.

A Lot of Great Things Happening...

Our first College and Career Readiness Committee meeting was a huge success, as we had over 100 members consisting of students, parents, staff, community members, local and neighboring business owners/workers, local college/university admissions officers, and more, collaborating for the two hours. At the end of the two hours, the group identified MANY potential attributes of a Central Square graduate, seen in the Wordle above. If you are not familiar with Wordles, the words that are larger were the most frequently identified words from the entire group.  Just looking at that will give you an idea of the attributes that the group of over 100 members felt were very important for students to possess upon graduation, no matter which pathway the students should decide to take. The evening was well organized with committee members seated at 13 tables with a facilitator at each table recording all of the attributes identified by the group. We had 3 rotations where each member went to a preassigned table with completely different table members and repeated the process.  The dialogue was very meaningful, especially from the students that were located at every table.

So Then What???
Central Square Board member, Steven Patch, led our entire administrative team through an activity yesterday (Tuesday, January 9) where the entire administrative team had to categorize ALL of the attributes that the committee of 100 had identified at the original College

and Career Readiness Committee back on December 6, but we had to do it in complete silence.  If you know our group, you would know that doing anything in silence is extremely difficult for us (lol), but we accomplished it and after 90 minutes, Mr. Patch, led us in

some amazing conversations about the attributes and how they are interconnected. Here are some pictures and a video capturing the collaborative work being done. The following link is a quick look at our administrative team hard at work (silently as we were not allowed to speak during this

part of the process) 
https://tinyurl.com/Admin-Attribute-Activity 







What Now....

Our next College & Career Readiness Committee meeting will be held on February 12 from 5:30 pm-7 pm, and the College & Career Planning Committee will present to the large committee the results from the first meeting, which puts us closer to identifying what the attributes will be that we will look to provide all Central Square graduates.  Once they are narrowed down an agreed upon, the committee will discuss ways to incorporate those key attributes into our Pre-Kindergarten through 12th grade program.


Talent And Dedication Are Always On Display At PVM High
The following link illustrates just a few examples why Paul V Moore High School is a special place, a place where students are encouraged to showcase their talents and selflessness.  We have so much talent at Central Square!!! https://youtu.be/oHvYas61Uuc

Happy Halloween Central Square!!!

School Board Recognition Week

Last week was the New York State School Boards Association sponsored School Board Recognition Week, and as always, our fantastic art teacher from PVM High School, Mrs. Staats organized this truly special event.  Students from various grade levels across the District presented Board Members with a special piece of art work at our Board of Education meeting on Monday, October 23.  This is always a very special time at Central Square because it is yet another opportunity to showcase our talented students' work.  We are so very proud of our fine arts department at Central Square and we will never leave out the 'A' in STEAM, as we feel that while Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics, play key roles in preparing our students for success in the 21st Century, we also feel that the Arts play a significant role as well. 

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New York State Field Band Championship

Click HERE to view pictures from this week's Marching/Field Band Championship in the Carrier Dome. Congratulations to all of our student performers and to the staff, and a huge thank you to all of the parent/community volunteers that make this all possible, year after year. I have compiled just the Central Square photos from the Syracuse.com article.

 POWERFUL
 PERFORMANCE!!!

 SO MUCH TALENT!!!

 SO DEDICATED!!!
 

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Paul V. Moore High School To Present ‘Treasure Island’ Nov. 3-4

Paul V. Moore High School is proud to present “Treasure Island” on November 3 and 4 with the curtain opening at 7 p.m. on both evenings. 

Tickets are available at the door for $8 adults ($7 presale); $7 for students and senior citizens ($6 presale). Presale tickets can be reserved by email at jschantz@cssd.org.

“Treasure Island,” by Joseph George Caruso is adapted from Robert Louis Stevenson’s novel.

The play is directed by Jennifer Schantz and Katlin Ginney, and is produced by special arrangement with Pioneer Drama Service, Inc.

Come experience another amazing example of the talent that our fine arts department continues to produce.  Our students work so hard collaborating and preparing for these shows and its clearly shows.______________________________________________________________

CONGRATULATIONS
to all of our Fall Sports Teams!

Every Central Square Fall sports team made the playoffs in their respective sport.  This is a wonderful accomplishment and a testament to all of the hard work and dedication of our student-athletes, coaches, supportive parents, amazing fans (THE FLOCK), and Mr. Dranscak and Mrs. Hall from the athletic department, and all of our staff members that come out to support their current and past students.
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College and Career Readiness Committee

After blasting out an informational/invitation link to all staff members across the District last week, I have already received 36 interested staff members, which is wonderful because of the nature and goal of this particular committee. This week we will be sending out an email blast including the Google Form link to all parents/community members that have signed up to receive Central Square alerts via text message, or both.  If you have yet to sign up and would like to receive mass notification alerts throughout the year, click HERE and complete the required information (It is super easy and quick). We will also invite students to participate on this committee as well and we are collaborating on the best way to invite students as we would like a good cross section representing. Click HERE to view the informational/invitation form link that we are currently using to recruit interested members. For more information on the College and Career Readiness Committee, please view a prior blog I submitted on Wednesday, October 25, 2017, or scroll down to view it.

Wednesday, October 25, 2017