High School Students Learn Archery in PE Class:
In the downstairs gym at the high school, physical education teacher Sean Mack can be heard saying, “the range is hot, pick up the quiver, make sure the fletching is placed correctly.” This new vocabulary seems second nature to the high school students. Students line bows, draw their bows, aim and fire.
The archery unit is new in high school physical education classes this year. Athletic Director, and head of the physical education department, Tim Wagoner said, “thanks to a grant from the NYS Department of Environmental Conversation we were able to get the teachers trained in the summer. The DEC also loaned us the equipment for archery, so we did not have additional strains to our budget to do this unit.”
The National Archery in the Schools Program, (NASP) ...
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STOP Time at Junior High:
In their second year operating as an independent school, the Junior High School has been focusing on trying to have more opportunities for students built in their school day. By operating on their own schedule, that is seperate from the High School, the Junior High School decided to implement STOP time.
STOP is an acronym for study, try something new, or play. During this time, the gym is open for them to play basketball and other organized games. The auditorium is also open for quiet “chill” time, and teachers classrooms are open for students to come and get extra help or recieve enrichment.
In Mrs. Francey-Henry’s classroom, she gets most of the students that either really like math, or who need to improve their math. With some inspiration from Pinterest, ...
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Alex Ryan Competes at NYSPHSAA Indoor State Track Meet:
NYPHSAA, combined with the PSAL, et. al., Indoor Track and Field Championships, a.k.a. "States" was held on Staten Island at the Ocean Breeze Athletic Complex. The Cortland High School Athletics program was represented by Alex Ryan, who ran in the 600-meter event.
The track was a banked, six-lane track that could also be lowered to a flat eight-lane track (which they did for the wheelchair 1-mile race) on the second floor, creating a thundering sound when the athletes ran in front of the stands each lap.
Coach Paul Drexler and teammate Andy Ryan, along with Coach Luke Parker, Dan Ruggiero, Tyler Stevens, and family/friends accompanied Alex to States. Before Alex’s race, he used the “warm up track” to dispense of some nerves, literally warming up with ...
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Science Honor Society Starts at Cortland HS:
It was at a STANYS (Science Teachers Association of NYS) conference that Cortland High School Physics teacher, Charles Canestero first heard of the NYS Science Honor Society. Canestero said, “immediately when I heard about the Science Honor Society, I thought we should definitely bring this to Cortland High School. The more I looked into it, the more I thought this would be a great opportunity for our students and be something really special.”
The New York State Science Honor Society was established in 1991 and was the first statewide Science Honor Society in the United States. Its purpose is to encourage an interest and understanding of science and science-related careers, as well as to recognize the academic achievement in science of high school students.
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Science Olympiad Finishes the Season at Cornell:
Our Cortland Science Olympiad Team finished out the 2018-2019 season with an intense competition at Co rnell University on February 16th.
At Cornell, the Cortland High School team was competing with the top 60 high school teams in the nation. Club advisor Charles Canestaro said, “we really got to experience a large competition at Cornell. Our team got to compete with some of the best Science Olympiad teams in the nation.”
All of the events were grounded in different scientific fields such as biology, chemistry, forensics, engineering, math, earth science and physics. Students that have interest in each field could dig deeper and learn about specific topics. Some events include: Duct Tape Challenge where students use engineering principles and duct tape to build a ...
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Winter 2019 Sports Wrap Up:
As the first signs of spring begin to show themselves in Central New York, it also brings with it the close of the winter sports season. Check out this article highlighting the achievements of our winter sports programs this season!
Boys Varsity Basketball: Jeremy Milligan, Head Coach
On the hardwood, the Purple Tigers basketball team played selflessly throughout the season, while earning a 13-9 record. The ten-man roster, including seven returning seniors to the squad, steadily improved over the course of the winter. Just over the midpoint of the season, the 6-6 team could have seen their season go in many directions. The experienced team of veterans showed their grit and talent by winning seven of the their final ten contests, including a thrilling double-overtime home victory ...
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Unified Bowling:
Being part of an athletic team during high school is a unique experience that only some students get to experience. Students that have disabilities often do not get to join a varsity sports team, unless it is in a position of a manager or assistant. Hoping to be more inclusive and allow everyone to have a chance to play a sport, NYS has expanded the Unified Sports program to include bowling.
Athletic Director Tim Wagoner said, “expanding the Unified program is something we were looking to do after seeing the success of the Unified basketball team had last year. It was always something on our radar, and the opportunity presented itself with starting a Unified bowling team.”
Tenth grade student Hannah Partigianoni is on the Unified bowling team. Hannah said, ...
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Demonstration Classroom:
The Cortland Enlarged City School District is committed to providing student learning in a modern and pleasant environment in a financially responsible manner. The current auditorium renovation project is an example of this commitment, as is the decision to transition from five to three elementary schools.
Unfortunately, the Districts’ financial situation has prevented us from remaining current with our furniture and classroom environments. We’ve done a good job providing students with computers and other technology, but the classroom spaces have been neglected. Hopefully, when the financial situation of the district is stabilized we’ll be able to attend to the situation and modernize our classrooms. In preparation for the time when we can modernize, the District, ...
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Pennies for Patients:
There has been lots of activities going on this month at Smith Elementary School! The Student Council has been running a “Pennies for Patients” donation drive the week of February 11, and also holding a book drive that runs from February 1st to March 1st.
The Pennies for Patients campaign benefits the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society. The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society works with thousands of schools across the country to raise funds for blood cancer research--and Smith School is one of them!
Cailiyah VanDee, a sixth grade student at Smith Elementary School, and member of Student Council said, "I think Pennies for Patients is important because it's helping people with illness. People with cancer need hope that perhaps a new treatment or drug will be ...
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High School Students Study Poetry by African American Authors:
“Hold fast to dreams, for if dreams die, life is a broken-winged bird, that cannot fly.” reads a student in Ms. Giffords 9th grade English class. Langston Hughes famous poem echoes throughout the room as the students read his work during during a collaborative unit on African American poetry.
When asked about the project, Ms. Gifford said, “I feel like the contributions African Americans made to literature and culture is so significant, I do not want to limit that I only teach about it during the month of February. I will continue to incorporate African American literature throughout the year in my curriculum. The history of African Americans in this country is so in-depth. I felt that poetry allows figurative language to express the trials and triumphs of their ...
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Peanut Butter and Jelly Drive:
Peanut butter and jelly, a staple in many pantries, is often a food item in short supply at local food pantries. Knowing that many people are struggling to make ends meet, the Barry Student Council came up with the idea of doing a peanut butter and jelly drive.
Student council advisor Karen Matteson said, “the student council has a long history of service to others. Now that we are learning about the Positivity Project, and #OtherPeopleMatter, the peanut butter and jelly drive really blended in well with what the student council wanted to accomplish this year. The Cortland Kiwanis Club began the drive, and asked the local schools to participate. When the students found out about the drive, the students eagerly wanted to help!”
Members of the student council, Essence ...
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Science Olympiad Competed at Lemoyne College on Jan 26:
The Science Olympiad team just competed in the Regional Tournament at LeMoyne College. The students competed in a variety of scientific and engineering events, from solving mathematical ciphers (“Codebusters”) to understanding the biology of the planet (Dynamic Planet) to testing overall knowledge of science (“science quiz bowl”).
Club advisor, Charles Canestero said, “I was super impressed with the hard work and enthusiasm that the entire team displayed. According to the head judge of the duct tape challenge, Meredith and Izzy built one of the most creative and well engineered solutions to the problem that he had ever seen.”
Individual honors went to Samantha Engst-Mansilla (Dynamic Planet), Liza Antonova (Dynamic Planet), Gino Cinquanti ...
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Cortland Hosts GeoBee:
Students from Cortland Enlarged City Schools participated in the school-level competition of the National Geographic GeoBee on January 24th. Christian VanPatten, a 5th grade student from Parker Elementary, won first place, with Mya Romans, a 7th grade student, winning second place and Tara Knickerbocker, a 7th grade student, finishing in third place.
The school-level competition is the first round in the annual National Geographic GeoBee, a geography competition designed to inspire and reward students’ curiosity about the world they inhabit. Questions cover not only geography, but also cultures, history, zoology, and earth science.
The National Geographic Society developed the GeoBee in 1989 in response to concern about the lack of geographic knowledge among young people ...
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Fourth Grade Sings With Ithacapella:
On January 16th, fourth graders from across the district united for an exciting musical experience! The fourth graders came together to present a combined concert with the college a cappella group Ithacappella, for community members, staff and parents. This concert, was a collaborative effort of the music teachers in all five elementary schools.
Virgil elementary music teacher, Jonathan Keefner said, “When our team of music teachers met during collaboration time, we saw an opportunity to create community through music during a transition period where community will be more important than ever."
Ashley Merritt, student at Randall School said, “I really enjoyed this performance. During the last rehearsal we had Ithacappella come and give us some advice on how ...
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Instrument Recruitment Starting!:
The 3rd grade instrument recruitment process has started in each of the elementary schools! It is an exciting time for our 3rd graders to pick their instrument. Our elementary instrument teachers have been very busy getting started with the 3rd Grade Recruitment!
The Cortland Instrumental Process
First, music teachers have a recruitment assembly at each of the elementary schools. The teachers demonstrate each instrument the students can choose from and let the students ask questions about the instruments and the process. Next, students bring home the instrumental sign up sheet. Then as the teachers are able to schedule our new recruits, they travel to each school for a series of hands on days. The hands on day is when the students get to try out and get to play each instrument of ...
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Cortland Enlarged City School District History:
A tradition of pride and excellence in education started long ago in Cortland. It is believed that the first schoolhouse was erected as early as 1789 near the corner of what is now Port Watson and Main Street. In 1813, a state law was passed which provided for the establishment of common schools. Not long thereafter, a new school was built in 1816 near Court House Park. It was not very long after this that the villagers in Cortland began to think about secondary education.
In early 1828, NYS passed an act for the establishment of education of females. In response to this, the Female Seminary was formed and prepared women for “distinguished positions in married life.” Young men attended a school on Church Street that prepared them for “entering the counting room, ...
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Students at the High School Bowl and Ice Skate as Part of PE Class:
Sean Mack, one of the physical education teachers at Cortland High School, has been taking his students off campus for ice skating and bowling. Part of the goal of the physical education program has been to instill a lifestyle of life long activity in his students. In order to do this he and the other physical education teachers have incorporated different units that involve activities that the students can practice throughout their lives, such as bowling and ice skating. Bowling and Ice skating are offered for free to all 11 and 12th grade students.
Before the holiday break, students were bused to SUNY Cortland Park Center Alumni Arena. Students then laced up and ice skated. 11th grade student, Alysha Wehnke said, “some people have not ice skated before so it is cool ...
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3rd Grade Students Practice Gymnastics at Parker School:
Students at Parker Elementary School are learning about the different elements of gymnastics including the balance beam, uneven bars, parallel bars, floor, and vault. All of the students get the chance to explore each station before rotating to the next.
Luke Schweider, physical education teacher at Parker Elementary School, encourages students to push themselves and keep trying. On January 15th Luke said, “the class was focusing on perseverance which was our character strength for this week. If a student could only climb to the first or second knot in the rope, I would challenge them to try to get to the third knot. I am proud to see the kids keep trying! Thanks to the Cortland Public Education Foundation (CPEF) we have a new set of uneven bars for the kids to challenge themselves ...
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Three Cortland Students Advance to Regional Spelling Bee:
On January 12, 175 students from across Central New York took a written spelling test to earn a spot at the Post Standard Spelling Bee.
Thirty five students who scored the highest on the written test will move on to the oral round.
We are proud to announce that three Cortland students: Matthew DeRado, Gabriel Mendiola and Victoria Ramiza will be advancing to the next round.
Some of the words that were used in the written test were: calculus, guava, pronto, barbarous, piedmont, muumuu, alderman, affidavit, courteous, sachet, consonants.
Matthew DeRado said, “This is my second spelling bee. I really enjoy the experience. I have been studying for the next round and hope to have a chance at winning so I can go to Washington D.C.”
The oral round will be ...
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Health Students Explore How Physicians Diagnose Patients:
8th graders in Christine Andrew’s health class at the Junior High have been exploring how physicians diagnose and treat patients. Students are presented with patient folders ranging from rashes on their hands, joint pain, chest pain after activity, and severe fatigue. Each student works with a partner to use websites like mayoclinic.org and webmd.com to research the symptoms and come up with a diagnosis and treatment plan.
Nicole Simpson, an 8th grade student said, “I like this project because it is interesting researching what is wrong with the patient and figuring out a treatment plan.”
“My partner and I get to explore different diagnoses that may match the symptoms in the patient folders. I like this project because it is more interesting trying to ...
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