Chatham Central School District

Welcome to Chatham Central School District

Chatham Central School District is in the process of updating its website to make it a better resource for parents and the community. If you have any questions or comments, please e-mail us.

Announcements

District Names Interim Superintendent

On Tuesday, April 22 the Board of Education named Lee Bordick, an experienced educator who served 22 years as a superintendent before retiring last year, as the interim superintendent for Chatham Central School District. Mr. Bordick will start June 1. To learn more about the appointment, please click here.

District to Hold Public Information Meeting

On Tuesday, May 6 at 6:30 p.m. in the High School Library, the Board of Education will hold a Public Information Meeting to explain the Capital Project referendum that residents will vote on May 20. To see the agenda for the meeting, please click here. To view a list of the proposed projects, please click here.

District to Hold Public Hearing for 2008-2009 School Budget

On Tuesday, May 13 at 7 p.m. in the High School Library, the Board of Education will hold a public hearing on the 2008-2009 proposed budget. For details about the proposed budget, please visit the district's budget page.

Students Can Still Register for SAT Prep Course

It's not too late for students to sign up to take SAT Prep Courses offered at Chatham. Students can learn strategies to improve their scores. To learn more, download this informational letter. To sign up, download this form.

It's Not Too Late to Apply for Scholarships

The High School Guidance Office has a list of scholarships for seniors but deadlines are approaching fast. Click here for more information.

Elementary School to Perform "101 Dalmatians"

The MED Elementary School will perform the musical "101 Dalmatians" on May 15 and 16 at 7 p.m. in the High School auditorium. Pictured are students rehearsing for the big production.

Parent Tips for a Safe Prom and Graduation Season

Chatham School District's SADD Chapter is partnering with local law enforcement agencies to help prevent underage drinking. Click here to read tips on how to keep your son or daughter safe this spring and summer.

Memorial Day Weekend Extended at Chatham

There will be no school on Friday, May 23 as the school has an unused emergency closing day. Enjoy the long weekend!

2008-2009 School Calendar Available

The school district has approved the 2008-2009 school calendar. Click here to download the calendar.

Information About New York State Property Tax Cap

While recognizing the need for property tax relief, school districts across New York are concerned by the proposed Property Tax Cap because it does nothing to reduce the costs that are causing budgets to increase. Read more about the issue and why school districts are concerned.

Looking for Health Information or Forms?

Then check out the new Health Services webpage. Just click on the "Health Services" hyperlink on the left side of this page.

What's Happening at Chatham

High School Students Take First in County at Envirothon

On April 29, Chatham High School's Envirothon team finished in first place for Columbia County at the Hudson Valley Regional Envirothon Competition. Chatham’s team finished third overall among 37 teams from 11 counties. As a result, the team will compete in the New York State Envirothon Championship later this month. The Envirothon is an academic competition where teams of students solve various environmental problems presented to them. This year’s competition focused on preservation of farmland, providing students an opportunity to research the issue and hone their public speaking skills as the group provided an oral presentation. Congratulations!

Senior Wins First Place in State Competition

Matt Pottenburgh recently won first place in the Carpenter’s Assistant competition at the New York State Leadership Conference and Skills Championship held in Syracuse. More than 1,800 students from 84 career and technical schools from across New York competed in the event, which showcases the skills of career and technical education students. Congratulations Matt!

Students Pitch In On Earth Day

Students at all three Chatham schools celebrated Earth Day on Tuesday, April 22 by learning about environmental issues and helping to clean up the school. Students pitched in to clean up litter in the school playgrounds, butterfly garden and the Geologic Park, enjoying the warm weather and making their school a more earth friendly place.

Students Enjoy Visit from Chatham Olympian

Chatham students recently got an inspiring visit from Chatham alumna Michelle "Mickey" Kelly who will participate in the pentathlon in the 2008 Summer Olympic games in China. Kelly was a successful athlete at Chatham, including playing wide receiver on the football team. Kelly's message to Chatham's third grade students was "Do whatever you want!"

Chatham Volleyball Players and Coach Honored

The Chatham High School Volleyball Team's outstanding season resulted in individual awards for three players and the team's coach recently. Athletes Seth Powell and Steve Ewasick were named first-team All Stars by the Times Union and Brian Macfarlane was named to the second-team. Coach Matt Torrey was named coach of the year. Congratulations!

Chatham Students Rent Billboards to Promote Safe Prom Night

In April, area residents will notice three billboards around town encouraging students to be safe on Prom Night. The initiative was organized by Chatham's SADD Chapter, one of numerous efforts and activities planned over the next six weeks to encourage students not to drink and drive and to make safe decisions. "We thought it was important to remind students to think twice about the decisions they make," said SADD President Jill VanAlstyne. Students raised funds and worked with five local businesses to pay for the billboards.

Chatham School District Listed "In Good Standing" by State

The State Education Department recently released its accountability status list for school districts across the state. Chatham Central School District was designated as "In Good Standing," the highest category on the list.

Custodial Staff Learns Life Saving Skills

On Tuesday, April 1, the custodial staff at Chatham Central School District underwent their annual CPR and Automated External Defibrillator training. Each year custodial staff take the training so they know how to respond in the case of a medical emergency for adults, children or infants. Chatham provides defibrillators in all school buildings in case of emergencies.

High School Students Visit Washington, D.C.

A group of nearly 50 juniors at Chatham High School visited Washington, D.C. from March 28-30. The annual trip is sponsored by the Social Studies department and include trips to Mount Vernon, the national monuments, Arlington National Cemetery, the Smithsonian museums, and other sites. The trip is planned each year as a way to supplement school subjects that students are learning about. In the photo below, students stand in front of Mount Vernon, George Washington's home.

Students and Faculty Participate in Youth Leadership Summit

On March 27, students from Chatham's middle and high schools, joined by faculty and staff, participated in the Character Education Youth Leadership Summit where they learned information and tools they plan to share at Chatham to further promote character education. The annual event is organized by the Sage College’s Academy for Character Education. Students worked with more than 100 students from 20 other school districts at the day long event.

Children's Author Visits MED Elementary

Chatham elementary students got a chance to meet children's author Matt McElligott on March 20 when he visited the school. The author told students how he writes and draws his book series such as "Backbeard" and "Bean Thirteen". Students also got into the act as they drew their own characters. Click here to see the student drawings on McElligott's website.

Chatham Honored With School Safety Award

Chatham Central School District recently received a Platinum School Safety Award for "going above and beyond to provide a safe, healthy and focused culture for learning." The award was presented by the Utica National Insurance Group. Thanks to the following individuals who helped with this award: Shawn Caldwell, Larry Dreher, Teri Howard, Bruce Sarro, Scott Steltz, and Bill Visscher. To read a press release, click here.

Chatham High School Musical Photo Gallery

On March 13-15, High School students performed the musical "Annie Get Your Gun" to rave reviews. Click here to see a photo gallery from the performances.

Chatham Middle School Named “School of Character”

Chatham Central School District was honored by The Academy of Character Education at The Sage Colleges, which named Chatham Middle School a “School of Character.” The Middle School was one of just five schools in the state to receive the award at a banquet held on March 12. The Academy applauded Chatham Middle School’s faculty and staff for “the example you set as a role model attests to your positive influence in nurturing civility, striving for academic excellent and developing positive character traits.”

Chatham Helps Out Habitat for Humanity's Women Build

Students, faculty and staff are giving a helping hand to the Columbia County Habitat for Humanity's Women Build. In December, fifth grade teachers donated their annual charitable contribution to the organization and later worked on a house. They also built footstools and wooden boxes for the organization, which students painted with school colors. The Junior Honor Society promoted Habitat for Humanity at the March 12 open house and took donations. In all, $820 was raised. High School students have also volunteered to work on a house.

Student Work Exhibited at Spencertown Academy

Fourth grade Chatham students got a chance recently to see portraits they created in a gallery exhibit at Spencertown Academy. Students painted the Revolutionary Era portraits as part of an integrated project about the time period. Spencertown Academy held a well attended reception on March 19 where parents, students and community members observed the student work.

Chatham Volleyball Team Wins Patroon Conference!

On Monday, March 3 the boys volleyball team (22-1) defeated Coxsakie to win the Patroon Conference and were crowned the Class C/D Champions. State Senator Stephen Saland and Assemblyman Marcus Molinaro plan to introduce a resolution to officially recognize the team's outstanding achievement. To read the Times Union article about the team's impressive win, click here.

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Chatham Central Schools