Coxsackie-Athens Central School District

Only two weeks until the National Honor Society's Parents Night Out Fundraiser! If interested, parents or guardians must register their child(ren) by June 1st. Please fill out this form if you are interested in Parents Night Out, where you drop-off your child(ren) with us and we watch them from 5-8 PM. We will have snacks, crafts and movies. We will also have outside activities if the weather permits. Available to ages 4-11. Pay at drop-off, CASH ONLY. If you would like to prepay with a check, please make it out to CA NHS and drop it off at the HS Main Office by June 1st.

REMINDER: There will be NO classes tomorrow (Friday, May 23) and Monday, May 26 for all students. We hope everyone has a safe Memorial Day Weekend!

This past weekend, our National Junior Honor Society took an unforgettable overnight trip to Washington, D.C.!🇺🇸 Students explored iconic landmarks like the Lincoln Memorial, the U.S. Capitol, and the Smithsonian museums. 🏛️ The experience brought American history to life and gave members a chance to bond, reflect, and grow as young leaders. It was a meaningful journey that celebrated the values of scholarship, citizenship, and service. A heartfelt thank you goes out to our amazing chaperones, whose support, guidance, and enthusiasm helped make this trip safe, memorable, and fun!

On Tuesday, May 20, residents of the Coxsackie-Athens Central School District supported a $37.7 million budget for the 2025-26 school year by a vote of 533 (yes) to 320 (no). The budget of $37,700,000 calls for an increase of 1.89% from the 2024-25 school year and a tax levy increase of 2.83%, which is under the tax cap. “Thank you to the Coxsackie-Athens CSD residents who voted on the 2025-26 school budget. Our staff and Board of Education worked hard on developing a budget that is fiscally responsible and maintains a strong academic program for our students despite rising healthcare costs and transportation contracts,” Superintendent Randall Squier said. Residents also elected Nicole Canning, Shelly West and Michael Donahue to the Board of Education. Candidate vote counts are below, in the order they appeared on the ballot: Michael Petramale: 332 votes Shelly West: 499 votes Nicole Canning: 503 votes William Gates: 398 votes Michael Donahue: 424 votes Thank you to everyone who voted and thank you to our poll workers who worked long hours to ensure an accurate result.

Congratulations to Jackson Bliss, our 6th Grade Rotary Student of the month! Jackson gives his best in everything he does. He’s hardworking, curious, and always ready for a challenge. From reading and math to science and social studies, Jackson stands out for his thoughtful questions, strong work ethic, and leadership. As a Baritone Saxophone player, he earned a spot in the All County Band and leads with dedication and enthusiasm. Jackson’s kindness, responsibility, and positive attitude make him a role model and a joy to have in class. Great job, Jackson!

EJA's second grade classes are having a plant sale on May 20th from 1 to 7pm in the EJA lobby to benefit their garden program. Be sure to stop by when you vote!

Congratulations to Morgan Boehlke , our 9th grade Rotary Student of the Month! The 9th grade team is proud to present Morgan Boehlke with this special honor. Morgan consistently works hard in all of her classes and is always willing to help her peers. Her positive attitude and dedication make the classroom a more enjoyable place for everyone. We’re so proud of you, Morgan keep up the outstanding work!

On Monday, May 12, our High School Peer Mentors hosted Bring a Buddy Day! Each mentor invited a high school buddy to join them for a period outside with their 6th grade Mentees. ☀️ The weather was perfect, and everyone had a blast connecting, playing games, and making memories. Way to go Peer Mentors!💙

Don't forget‼️ ⏰Tomorrow May 17th, 9:00am - 11:00am 📍Coxsackie-Athens High School

We want to make you aware of a potentially dangerous social media trend that encourages unsafe behavior. More details are in the attachment below. Thank you for helping us keep our students safe.

🚌🎨 C-A hits the big Apple! 🗽🖼️ Last week, Ms. Seekamp, our sixth-grade students, and some awesome parents took a memorable trip to New York City to visit The Metropolitan Museum of Art! Students explored world-renowned exhibits, experienced art from across the globe, and got inspired by the rich history and creativity on display. It was a fantastic day full of learning, culture, and fun!

🔥 Things are heating up!🔥 We’re proud to share that Ethan Ravenscroft, a student from the Coxsackie-Athens Central School District and a member of the Athens Volunteer Fire Department, has successfully passed the Fire Science Industry Certification Exam! He is part of the first cohort of students in the Questar III BOCES Fire Sciences program at the Donald R. Kline Technical School in Hudson.👨‍🚒👏 Here he is posing with Superintendent Randall Squier, left, during a Wet Down ceremony at Donald R. Kline Technical School on Friday. A Wet down ceremony is a tradition where firefighters commission a new fire truck by spraying it with water. Way to go, Ethan! 💪🔥

Don't miss the district's K-12 Art Show Youth & Family Celebration tomorrow evening! ⏰ Wednesday, May 14, 4-6 pm 📍The Athens Cultural Center 24 Second Street, Athens. https://athensculturalcenter.org/upcoming

Don't forget‼️ ⏰Saturday May 17th, 9:00am - 11:00am 📍Coxsackie-Athens High School

🎉 A HUGE congratulations to Edmund Chan! 🎉 All of us at Coxsackie-Athens are so proud to share that Edmund will be joining the freshman class at Harvard University in 2025! 🏫📚 Your hard work, dedication, and determination have truly paid off. Way to go, Edmund! 👏🎓

National Honor Society will be hosting a Parents Night Out Fundraiser! Please fill out this form if you are interested in Parents Night Out, where you drop off your child(ren) to us and we watch them from 5-8 PM. We will have snacks, crafts and movies. We will also have outside activities if the weather permits. Available to ages 4-11. Pay at dropoff, CASH ONLY. If you would like to prepay with a check, please make it out to CA NHS and drop it off at the HS Main Office by June 1st. Parents or Guardians need to register their child(ren) by June 1st if they are interested using the Google Form!

The New York Power Authority Visitors Center is gearing up for the Teddy Bear Picnic event on Sunday, June 1!

All parents and guardians are encouraged to attend our upcoming Parent Community Council meeting. This is a valuable opportunity to stay informed on key district matters. The Council provides a means to solicit feedback and give our stakeholders a seat at the table. This month’s agenda includes: * Recognizing Achievements * Budget Updates * New Graduation Expectations * Cell Phone Use in Schools The Council also provides a consistent connection between Mr. Squier and our families, helping to ensure regular updates about our schools and community. Next meeting is May 12th @ 6:30PM in the High School

On Tuesday, May 6, 2025, Governor Kathy Hochul announced that New York state is requiring all school districts to place restrictions on smartphones and other personal electronic devices. Governor Hochul and lawmakers decided on a “bell-to-bell” ban instead of allowing students to use their phones during free periods or lunch. Students will not have access to their phones from before the start of the school day until the end of it. The policy includes the following: • No unsanctioned use of smartphones and other internet-enabled personal devices on school grounds in K-12 schools for the entire school day (from “bell to bell”), including classroom time and other settings like lunch and study hall periods. • Allows schools to develop their own plans for storing smartphones during the day — giving administrators and teachers the flexibility to do what works best for their buildings and students. •Requires schools to give parents a way to contact their kids during the day when necessary. • Requires teachers, parents and students to be consulted in developing the local policy. •Prevents inequitable discipline. This policy includes a number of exemptions, including the use of devices needed for a student’s Individualized Education Program (IEP) or to manage a medical condition. “The district began implementing a policy that mirrors the new law at the beginning of this current school year and we have recently begun fully enforcing it this spring in the high school.” Superintendent Randy Squier stated. He adds, “ I am glad the law allows local schools to determine how to store the phones, and not force another unfunded mandate on us. We will release more information as plans are finalized for the start of the 2025-26 school year.”

🎶Congratulations to our talented C-A musicians!🎶 Seven high school students in grades 9-12 represented Coxsackie-Athens at the NYSSMA Solo & Ensemble Festival on April 25-26 at Kingston High School. Each student spent months practicing and preparing for their solo with Ms. Manetta, and their hard work really paid off! 🎼Senior Stars: Edmund Chan performed a Level V clarinet NYSSMA Solo, and Alessa Dingman performed a Level IV Snare Drum NYSSMA Solo. Both received exceptional comments from their adjudicators! Ms. Manetta is so proud of you both for continuing to challenge yourselves musically as seniors. 🎺Jammin’ Junior & Standout Sophomores: James Warren and first-time NYSSMA Soloist, Sophia Curik performed Level IV NYSSMA Solos on trumpet and alto saxophone. Both earning Excellent Ratings! Emma Roberg, a sophomore and first-time NYSSMA Soloist earned an Outstanding Rating on her Level III clarinet NYSSMA Solo. 🥁Fantastic Freshman: Robert Carl earned an Excellent Rating on his Level III Snare Drum solo. Nicole Multari earned an Excellent Rating on her Level IV clarinet NYSSMA Solo. 👏A big round of applause from all of Coxsackie-Athens! Ms. Manetta is incredibly proud of each and every one of her students and how hard they worked to achieve their great scores!