February 2012 From the Superintendent Budget Process Begins With the start of the new year also comes the beginning of the budget development process for area schools. While the past few years have proven to be very difficultfor many school districts, including CCS, this year is prov ing to be the most difficult plan ning year yet. There are many reasons for this difficulty includ ing the fazing out of federal stimulus funds, another year of nearly flat state aid, and contend ing with the new tax-cap law. When you consider the above, combined with exploding costs such as health insurance and retirement benefits, you can start to see the difficulty in put ting together a responsible budget for 2012-2013. The Board of Education and I are committed to building the best possible budget which balances fiscal responsibility with main taining the quality educational programming that we are very proud of here at CCS. In the coming months, I will con tinue to discuss some of the challenges facing our school in this new fiscal reality. January 23, 2012 - The structural steel being delivered for the project. Building Project Update As you can see from the above picture, things are really starting to progress in a visual way with the building project. The can opy over the visitors' entrance has been draped in plastic so that the masonry and structural work could start during the cold weather. We were also very excited to see the structural steel being delivered on January 23rd. By the end of that first day, the construction crew had erected much of the steel for the classroom addition. While it was gratifying to see the skele ton of the new classroom and gym starting to take shape, it must be pointed out that the contractors have been hard at work, through some of he coldest weather of the year, doing the fundamental work on the foundation, electrical, and plumbing systems. Although most of that particular work is never seen, without it, the building would be a useless shell. (7 know there is a meta phor about life in there some where.) Dale Breaultjr., Superintendent Board of Education Highlights 12/20/11 Held an open discussion on the contract of the Health Insurance Consortium Con sultant. 1/9/12 Received a thank you note from the Migrant Education Program. Authorized Mr. Breault to sign change orders. Authorized Mr. Breault to move forward with the refi nancing of the prior building project bond. Added Connie Martin and Raymond Boulanger to the non-teaching substitute list. Granted additional sick days to Chandra Henderson, Julie Burgoyne, and Tim Seymour. • Approved Monique Smith as substitute ski club advi sor. Upcoming BOE Meetings: Monday, February 13, 7:30 pm Monday, February 27, 7:30 pm Chateaugay Central School CCS Newsletter February 2012 Inside this issue: Message From Mrs. 2 Fowler Parent-Teacher Confer- 3 ences, Elementary Ski Day, February Break, Attendance Reminder Kindergarten Registra- 4 tion, Elementary Testing Message From Mrs. 5 Andre Student Council News, 6 All County Musicians, Fundraising Yearbook Order Form 7 Community Connection 8 February Menus 9-'° Mark your calendars Report Cards Mailed Home — Week of Febru ary 6-10 February 4 — All-County Concert, Brushton-Moira February 4-6 — Ski Club's Smuggler's Notch Trip February 20-24 — Mid- Winter Break, No School
Transcript
February 2012
From the Superintendent
Budget Process Begins
With the start of the new yearalso comes the beginning of thebudget development process forarea schools. While the past fewyears have proven to be verydifficult for many school districts,including CCS, this year is proving to be the most difficult planning year yet. There are manyreasons for this difficulty including the fazingout of federalstimulus funds, another year ofnearly flat state aid, and contending with the new tax-cap law.When you consider the above,combined with exploding costssuch as health insurance and
retirement benefits, you canstart to see the difficulty in putting together a responsiblebudget for 2012-2013. TheBoard of Education and I are
committed to building the bestpossible budget which balancesfiscal responsibility with maintaining the quality educationalprogramming that we are very
proud of here at CCS.
In the coming months, I will continue to discuss some of the
challenges facing our school in
this new fiscal reality.
January 23, 2012 - The structural steel being delivered for the project.
Building Project Update
As you can see from the abovepicture, things are really startingto progress in a visual way withthe building project. The canopy over the visitors' entrancehas been draped in plastic sothat the masonry and structuralwork could start during the coldweather. We were also veryexcited to see the structural
steel being delivered on January23rd. By the end of that firstday, the construction crew haderected much of the steel for
the classroom addition. While
it was gratifying to see the skeleton of the new classroom and
gym starting to take shape, itmust be pointed out that thecontractors have been hard at
work, through some of hecoldest weather of the year,doing the fundamental work onthe foundation, electrical, andplumbing systems. Althoughmost of that particular work isnever seen, without it, the
building would be a uselessshell. (7 know there is a metaphor about life in theresome
where.)
Dale Breaultjr., Superintendent
Board of Education Highlights
12/20/11
Held an open discussion onthe contract of the Health
Insurance Consortium Con
sultant.
1/9/12
Received a thank you notefrom the Migrant Education
Parent-Teacher Confer- 3ences, Elementary SkiDay, February Break,Attendance Reminder
Kindergarten Registra- 4tion, Elementary Testing
Message From Mrs. 5Andre
Student Council News, 6All County Musicians,Fundraising
Yearbook Order Form 7
Community Connection 8
February Menus 9-'°
Mark your calendars
Report Cards MailedHome — Week of Febru
ary 6-10
February 4 — All-County
Concert, Brushton-Moira
February 4-6 — Ski Club's
Smuggler's Notch Trip
February 20-24 — Mid-
Winter Break, No School
hFrom Mrs. Fowler
February Newsletter - Mrs.
Fowler
The month of Februaryshares a few events
that we've come to
LOVE. The All CountyMusical Festival, Valen
tine's Day, ParentTeacher Conferences,
Elementary Ski Day,and Winter Break
bring us joy at the beginning, middle, and
end of the month.
All County Music
Festival:
Miss Simon-Shult has
been busy preparingeight members of theelementary chorus forthe All County MusicFestival which will be
held at Brushton-Moira
Central School The
students will practiceon Friday, February 3and perform on Saturday, February 4 from
9:00 am - 3:00 pm.
The students who will
be participating areCatherine Jock, Kennedy McComsey, EmilyAshlaw, Destiny Bige-low, Hopejaquish, Amber Jarvis, Taylor Staples, and Cody War-riner. This year thespecial choral director
is our very
own Mr.
Breault. He's
very excitedto be teach
ing the stu
dents.
Valentine's
Day:
Do you remember be
ing in theearly gradesof elementaryschool and writingyour valentines foryour classmates?When you were in kindergarten learning towrite not only yourname; but the names of
all your classmates, itcould literally takehours to choose justthe right valentine forthe exact classmate
who loved the cartoon,
princess, prince, or animated movie character
you have. Then, you'dwant to write yourname on the card.
Your parents wantedto help you but youwanted to write the
names all by yourself. You would finallyconcede and write
your name on the valentine and let yourparents write your
February 2012
classmate and teacher's
name on the little
white envelope.
Then, as you grew inage, the relationshipsbecame more special.As your writing skillsbecame more devel
oped and fluent; youwrote a very specialmessage to your valentine. Some of you stillhave those letters and
cards.
Yes, you say, "The cardmatters, but still I
LOVE chocolate, dia
monds, books, and an
evening out." Later, asyou must work outmore because the calo
ries in the chocolate
went straight to yourstomach and hips, orthe money becametight because of the
economy and raising kidsbecame more expensive,or you're too tired to goanywhere even on a holiday; you'll be remindedthat "words" truly matter
and are a cherished gift.
I think it's safe to say thatat school Valentine's Dayis truly a special day forthe students. I certainlyenjoy watching them givetheir classmates and
teachers that special, chosen valentine. I'm so gladthat the principal also getsto have her name written
on that little white enve
lope! A special thanks toMrs. Hanley and her students. They always makeme a Valentine holder to
collect my valentines.
(Continued on page 3)
CCS Newsletter
Elementary News
(Continuedfrompage 2)
Parent Teacher Conferences:Thursday,
February 9, 2012Parents are invited to participate in parent teacherconferences on Thursday, February 9, 2012. Students will be dismissed from school at 11:30 am
and busses will depart at I 1:45 am. Teachers willbe available during the day and during eveninghours to accommodate parents. Teachers are alsowilling to schedule parents on alternate dates dur
ing their planning periods and/or double dismissal.
If you receive a teacher request for a parent conference, please make every effort to schedule andkeep your appointment. Teachers prepare studentwork, grades, and additional comments to help youbetter understand how your child learns and toshow you activities that can be helpful to use withyour child at home. They also share many positive
comments about your child.
If you do not receive a teacher request for a parent conference, you are more than welcome toschedule a conference. Teachers will prepare for
your conference in the same manner.
Parents are the key to accelerating student learn-
Page3 rq
ing. We thank you in advance for your commitment
to your child's continued growth and education.
Elementary Ski Day: Friday, February
10
Fourth and Fifth Grade students will have the opportunity to ski all day on Friday, February 10. Moreinformation will be coming your way outlining theday. The students have a great time starting out onthe Bunny Hill, then moving on to the chair lift, and
finally advancing to the face of the mountain.
A special thanks to the Board of Education for supporting the Ski Club Advisors and High School SkiClub members in presenting our young students
with a day of outdoor fun!
Winter Break: February 20-24
Winter Break is scheduled for February 20-24. En
joy your time with your family. By this time of the
school year, the students are getting tired and rest
less. Please help your child by keeping routines and
making sure bedtime is consistent.
Attendance Notes
Parents are reminded to provide a note ifyour child is absent or tardy for school.Should your child have a doctor, dentist,counseling, law guardian, or other type ofprofessional appointment, please providethe school with a note from the professional providing the service. Often the receptionist automatically provides this note.If you made the appointment and forgot thenote, the receptionist can fax the note to
