Small School – Big Effort
High Character – Huge Success
Weekly Bulletin – September 14th, 2023
Principal’s Message
It’s been a great start to the 2023-2024 school year, thanks to our hardworking, caring and dedicated faculty and staff as well as our cooperative and supportive school community (including our outstanding students)! To ensure to keep this optimistic momentum going, we hope you will join us in creating the safest and most welcoming school as possible by supporting our mission of practicing empathy, kindness and respect for each member of our school-community. We formalize this mission through our Positivity Project, which is a character education program that is centered around the empathetic theme: “other people matter” (more details in the following Student Focus section).
Here’s are some logistical details regarding the start of the school year:
- For the safety of all students and all of our SSCS school community, please follow the posted speed limits.
- At drop off in the morning in the traffic circle, please have your child exit your vehicle from the passenger side. If this is not possible, please pull into one of the visitor parking areas along the side of the school building, in front of the “Visitor Entrance.” (Additionally, if your child needs you to exit the vehicle for help, please also park along the side of the school building).
- As we finish up several construction projects throughout the school, please follow all signage, cones and fence borders.
- If you have any questions or concerns, please do not hesitate to contact me: tyorke@sharonsprings.org or call (518) 284-2266.
We look forward to a great school year within a culture at SSCS that is safe, welcoming, and empathetic!
Student Focus
Dear SSCS Families,
This week at SSCS we focused on the “Other People Mindset.” This means any action or conversation that is focused on building positive relationships is going to make us happy. The mission of the Positivity Project is to empower America’s youth to build positive relationships by understanding, appreciating, and exemplifying the character strengths in us all.
People who have strong positive relationships do five things consistently – these are the five practices of the Other People Mindset:
- Recognize the good in other people;
- Recognize that everything you say or do affects other people;
- Support others when they struggle;
- Cheer people on when they succeed; and
- Remain present when giving people your attention.
People who have a strong Other People Mindset are able to build and maintain strong, positive relationships with others. While mental health is incredibly complex, we do know that positive relationships can help people become happier, healthier, and more resilient. And, the Positivity Project believes that educators have a huge opportunity and vital role to play in this endeavor.
Our nation’s youth spends a large percentage of their time in school. By deliberately and consistently teaching students that relationships are important – and that positive relationships are cultivated through character and the Other People Mindset – educators can roll back challenging trends and create strong citizens and leaders for our Sharon Springs community and beyond.
We appreciate your partnership in building positive relationships!
Sincerely,
SSCS Educators
SSCS Student Handbook
Parents/Guardians should have received a Kinvo message with the link to review the 2023-24 Student Handbook and the link to sign the electronic Acknowledgement Agreement. If you have not already done so, please go to Sharon Springs Form and Policy Page on the school’s website and click on the Sharon Springs CSD’s Student Handbook to review the content and then click on Parent/Guardian Acknowledgment Agreement 2023-24. If a parent or guardian needs a paper copy of the Acknowledgment Agreement to sign, please contact Michelle Keaney at mkeaney@sharonsprings.org or by phone (518) 284-2267 x106.
Transportation/Dismissal Changes Guidelines
On a day that you need to change your child’s dismissal plan, a written request needs to be received in the Main Office by 9:00 am on the day the child(ren) will be picked up.
The notes should include:
- The student’s full name;
- The individual picking up the child(ren);
- The Parent/Guardian’s phone number;
- The Parent/Guardian’s signature.
End of the day or last minute phone calls to the school should be limited to unforeseen emergencies. This is in place to ensure accurate and timely communication so that your child is dismissed safely according to your wishes. In the event of a true emergency need, PLEASE DO NOT EMAIL – call the school at (518) 284-2267. Teachers and staff may not have access to email in order to relay your message to the appropriate people in a timely manner.
Emergency Dismissal Plans
Emergency Dismissal Forms & Demographic Forms were sent home with students this week. Please complete these forms and return to your child’s homeroom teacher or the Main Office as soon as possible to ensure information is up-to-date.
In the event of the School District declaring an emergency dismissal, the school district will follow the parent/guardian’s instructions on the early emergency dismissal notification forms on file.
If you have a cell phone number on file with the district, you will receive a text notification in the event of an early/emergency dismissal.
Student Lockers
Students are advised that the locker remains the property of the Sharon Springs Central School District and the District retains the right to search any locker that it believes may contain illegal or dangerous items.
School Supplies
All students have been supplied with school supplies for their individual classes. Any student in need of school supplies should contact their teacher or the Guidance Counselor, Lindsay Blowers.
Fall Picture Day: Thursday, September 21st, 2023
School picture days help to capture the special moments that represent that year. Whether it’s braces, a new haircut, a favorite shirt, or anything else-a school photo’s value is in the memories it captures. Picture Day is Thursday, September 21st and will be held in the Auditorium Atrium from 7:00am – 3:00pm. Pictures can be purchased through Lifetouch with an order form or online with a Student ID or Picture ID: EVTQK3VV6
Harvest Dinner: Thursday, October 4th, 2023
The Class of 2025 will be hosting the Annual Fall Harvest Dinner on Thursday, October 4 from 5:00-7:00pm. Contact any member of the junior class, or advisors Coach Smith or Mrs. Korona, to pre-order your tickets. Pre-sale tickets will be available starting on Monday, September 28th.
Homecoming Events: Friday, September 29th, 2023
6:15 pm – Parade Line up
6:30 pm – Parade
6:45 pm – New Soccer Complex Reveal
7:00 pm – Bonfire (Next to the Bus Garage)
Teams will be announced – Team Games.
8:00 pm – Parent Pick Up
*Parents and students are respectfully asked to stay off the new soccer complex. We can use the new facility next season. Thank you for your cooperation.*
Come support your SSCS Spartans! Saturday, September 30th, 2023
10:00 am – Modified Games vs. GM-Worcester, BM- CV-s
12:00 pm – Alumni Game
1:00 pm – Girls Varsity Game vs. Saratoga Central Catholic
3:00 pm – Boys Varsity Game vs. Madison
7:00-10:00 – Homecoming Dance (New Gym) – Admission is $5.00.
Parent Teacher Organization (PTO)
The PTO strives to positively impact the lives of the students, parents, and staff of the Sharon Springs Central School community and works together to achieve common goals. We encourage all parents, staff and community members to join PTO.
Current Board Members:
Arianna Parsons, President
Valerie Ducharme, Vice President
Stacy Jump, Treasurer
Rose Chase, Secretary
If you are interested in running for a board member seat, please contact one of the Board members above. Voting will take place at the October 4th, 2023 meeting. You must be a registered PTO member to vote. Meetings take place the first Wednesday of the month at 6:00pm in the SSCS Library.
You can also join us on Facebook at Sharon Springs PTO. If you need additional information or have questions please sscspto@sharonsprings.org.
If you would like to provide a donation that will benefit the students and staff at SSCS, please do so on the attached Sign-up Form.
“Alone we can do so little; together we can do so much.” -Helen Keller
The PTO will be hosting a Youth Bicycle Raffle during the Sharon Springs Harvest Festival in the Kids Area September 16th & 17th!
$2 per raffle ticket and 5 different sizes to pick from! Each bicycle will have its own drawing to assure your child gets the size that works best for them. 24”, 20”, 18”, 16” and 12” Brand New Bicycles donated by KNK Landscaping LLC!
Tickets can be purchased via Venmo @sscspto or at the festival. Please be sure to provide Name, Phone Number and Bicycle Size Choice! Drawing Held Sept. 17th at 3:00pm during the Harvest Festival. Winners must retrieve bikes by 6:00pm that day!
Canajoharie Crocodiles Swim Club
Open to SSCS students in grades K-12. The swim season runs from mid-October until the end of February. Swim Practices are held on Tuesday-Thursday from 5:30pm-7:00pm at the Nellis Memorial Pool located at the Canajoharie Middle School & East Hill Elementary. Registration information is below and all questions should be directed to the Canajoharie Coach, Lindsay Noles at (603) 285-3881.
Computers Available
If your household qualifies for free or reduced school lunch and you would like a computer for your household, please contact Tom Reynolds at treynolds@sharonsprings.org or 518-284-2266.
Community Focus
A Service to the Sharon Springs Community
Weekly Bulletin Submissions
SSCS will continue to produce this document each week as a service to the SSCS community. Similar to last year, classified ads, such as advertisements for the sale of items, help wanted ads, etc., will no longer be accepted. Advertisements will only be accepted if it relates to a potential educational benefit for our students or it has the potential to benefit the Sharon Springs community. SSCS reserves the right to edit any submission. For consideration, please email by 3 p.m. on Tuesdays to weeklybulletin@sharonsprings.org.
