Rensselaer City School District -

• ✔️ Get moving – aim for 30 minutes of exercise daily
• 🥗 Eat nutritious foods – plenty of fruits, veggies, and whole grains
• 🚰 Stay hydrated – drink plenty of water
• 💤 Prioritize rest – a good night's sleep is key
• 😊 Manage stress – practice mindfulness and deep breathing

Thank you to our amazing 8th graders, Maya, Ella, and Tattiana, for stepping up this week to pack and deliver backpacks alongside Mrs. Britton-Smith!

With her high school crew unavailable due to Regents Week, these young ladies truly shined with their kindness and sense of community. We’re so proud of their efforts and the difference they made! 🌟

Good afternoon,

Spring Sports Sign-Ups:
Spring Sports sign-ups will begin next week in the health office and run until February 28. If you wish to participate in a spring sport, you must sign up with our school nurse, Tammy Slingerland. Once signed up, you will receive an eligibility packet that must be completed and returned. All athletes must also have an up-to-date physical on file to participate.

Winter Sports Senior Night:
All winter sport senior athletes will be recognized together on February 13, 2025, before the start of the boys varsity basketball game. The game begins at 5:30 PM. All seniors and their parents are asked to be in the gymnasium by 4:50 PM, as the ceremony will take place at 5:00 PM.

Court Naming Ceremony for Coach Rick McCabe:
On Tuesday, January 28, the Rensselaer City School District will hold a court naming ceremony in honor of former teacher and coach Rick McCabe. The ceremony will take place between the boys JV and varsity basketball games. JV begins at 5:00 PM, varsity at 6:30 PM, and the ceremony is expected to start at approximately 6:00 PM.

Coach McCabe was a dedicated teacher and coach for many years, serving as a mentor and positive influence for countless students and athletes. We invite the community to join us in honoring his incredible legacy on this special evening.

Please sign up as soon as possible if you plan to play a spring sport. Early sign-ups help us get an accurate count of athletes, check eligibility, and ensure physicals are up to date before the season starts.

This month, Van Rensselaer Elementary celebrated Citizenship during our Character Education Assembly. The 2nd Grade Team performed an inspiring rendition of "Just Sing," spreading joy and positivity. Mrs. Blake's class also shared valuable insights on how to be a good citizen, reminding us all of the importance of kindness, respect, and community.

✨ Watch the video to see our students shine and learn how they're making a difference!

Students in Grades 6-8 will have CBT Testing tomorrow, Wednesday, January 22. Please ensure they bring their fully charged Chromebooks to school.

Loaner Chromebooks will not be available for students in other grades, as they will be set aside to accommodate testing needs. Thank you for your understanding!

This past Saturday, January 18th, the HOPE Drive-Thru Pantry was at Rensselaer CSD, providing over 150 bags of food (free meat, fruit, vegetables, dairy & more) to families in need.

Thank you to all of our volunteers who helped make this a heartwarming success. Your dedication and kindness brought hope to our community!

We are thrilled to announce that Rensselaer Jr-Sr High School's math teacher, Jackie Schacht, has been chosen as a recipient of the prestigious SUNY Oneonta Alumni Association's Outstanding Educator Award!

This incredible honor recognizes a graduate of SUNY Oneonta who has demonstrated unwavering dedication to the service of students and their field. The award celebrates a commitment to innovative classroom practices, programming, extra-curricular activities, and impactful community work.

Congratulations, Jackie Schacht, on your well-deserved recognition for your excellence and passion. We truly appreciate your dedication to our students and the countless ways you inspire them every day. Thank you for making a difference!

Students in Grades 3-5 will have CBT Testing tomorrow, Wednesday, January 22. Please ensure they bring their fully charged Chromebooks to school.

Loaner Chromebooks will not be available for students in other grades, as they will be set aside to accommodate testing needs. Thank you for your understanding!

This is a reminder that midterm exams will be held during Regents Week, January 21-24, for grades 9-12. Please review the schedule details below:

• Grades 6-8: Regular sessions will be held on these dates.
• Grades 9-12: Students will attend only if they have a scheduled Regents or midterm exam that day.

🚌 Transportation

Buses will operate on their regular schedules, with an additional run at 11:05 AM to accommodate students with morning or afternoon exams. During the 11:05 AM run:

• RCSD buses will transport students home after morning exams while also picking up students across the city for afternoon exams.

📖 Review Sessions

To support student preparation, review classes for Algebra 1 Regents and Living Environment Regents will be held on:

• Dates: January 7, 8, 9, 14, 15, and 16
• Time: 2:30 PM - 3:45 PM

A late bus will be available at 3:45 PM.

🗓️ Midterm Schedule

The full midterm schedule is the attached image.

The Media Literacy seniors have just published Edition #3 of The Ramblurr for January 2025, and it's packed with engaging student perspectives.

Click here for Ramblurr Edition #3: https://www.canva.com/design/DAGcMW5QcHU/n107Mgc2iNJTqzZVbnkMPg/view

Don't miss Gabby's exclusive video interviews with seniors Ge, Ava, Savannah, and Amani - giving us a glimpse into our students' lives and thoughts. The headline story covers our seniors' candid reactions to the TikTok ban, with fascinating insights into their social media habits and concerns about the platform's future.

The edition also includes coverage of other timely topics like the L.A. wildfires, sports updates, and even a delicious strawberry pie recipe from our culinary corner!

You can find the full edition attached. Please reply just to me with any comments and feedback that I can share with our students.

Through the RCSD Project AWARE program, we are excited to announce our partnership with St. Catherine's to offer the Rensselaer Connects Program and the Family Engagement Specialist position as part of our comprehensive approach to supporting students and families.

The program aims to connect students and families with vital community-based mental health and social supports, including:

• Emergency support (food, heat, housing)
• Mental health counseling
• Referrals to additional community-based agencies

This is a reminder that midterm exams will be held during Regents Week, January 21-24, for grades 9-12. Please review the schedule details below:

• Grades 6-8: Regular sessions will be held on these dates.
• Grades 9-12: Students will attend only if they have a scheduled Regents or midterm exam that day.

🚌 Transportation

Buses will operate on their regular schedules, with an additional run at 11:05 AM to accommodate students with morning or afternoon exams. During the 11:05 AM run:

• RCSD buses will transport students home after morning exams while also picking up students across the city for afternoon exams.

📖 Review Sessions

To support student preparation, review classes for Algebra 1 Regents and Living Environment Regents will be held on:

• Dates: January 7, 8, 9, 14, 15, and 16
• Time: 2:30 PM - 3:45 PM

A late bus will be available at 3:45 PM.

🗓️ Midterm Schedule

The full midterm schedule is the attached image.

REMINDERS

We are excited to announce the upcoming dates for the "HOPE" Drive-Thru Pantry, hosted by New H.O.P.E. (Helping Other People Excel), Greater Community Development, Inc., Rensselaer Boys & Girls Club, and the Rensselaer Police Department.

This pantry offers a variety of items, including meat, fruits, vegetables, dairy, and more! 🥦🍎

📅 Dates & Times:✨

📍 Location:

Rensselaer Elementary School
25 Van Rensselaer Drive, Rensselaer, NY
(Go up the main pathway and take your first right)

🙋 Volunteers Needed!✨

Come and take part in this incredible initiative aimed at supporting our community! Supplies are limited, so make sure to arrive early.

We look forward to seeing you there!

The Rensselaer Public Library is excited to collaborate with Capital Roots to bring fresh, locally farmed fruits and vegetables to our community through the Squash Hunger program!

Together, we can Squash Hunger!

Students in Mrs. Quackenbush's Humanitarian Crisis class and Mr. Higgs's Literature of the Holocaust class had a unique opportunity to hear directly from Holocaust survivor Eric Lipetz. His visit was a profound moment of learning, as he shared his personal experiences during one of history’s darkest periods.

Mr. Lipetz spoke about the challenges he and his family faced during the Holocaust, their remarkable perseverance, and the extraordinary efforts it took to survive and rebuild their lives. His story offered students an invaluable perspective on resilience and the importance of remembering the past to build a better future.

We are deeply grateful to Mr. Lipetz for dedicating his time to educate our students and to ensure that these stories continue to be heard and remembered.

This is a reminder that midterm exams will be held during Regents Week, January 21-24, for grades 9-12. Please review the schedule details below:

• Grades 6-8: Regular sessions will be held on these dates.
• Grades 9-12: Students will attend only if they have a scheduled Regents or midterm exam that day.

🚌 Transportation

Buses will operate on their regular schedules, with an additional run at 11:05 AM to accommodate students with morning or afternoon exams. During the 11:05 AM run:

• RCSD buses will transport students home after morning exams while also picking up students across the city for afternoon exams.

📖 Review Sessions

To support student preparation, review classes for Algebra 1 Regents and Living Environment Regents will be held on:

• Dates: January 7, 8, 9, 14, 15, and 16
• Time: 2:30 PM - 3:45 PM

A late bus will be available at 3:45 PM.

🗓️ Midterm Schedule

The full midterm schedule is the attached image.

Congratulations to Alex for an outstanding presentation of the December 2024 Recap! 🎉 The recap showcases the incredible work and memorable moments shared by our faculty and staff throughout December.