CMS Spirit Week
Chatham Middle School celebrated winning the NYS School of Character Award with a PTSA sponsored Spirit Week. The Character P.E.A.C.E. Club presented a slide show of all the projects, activities, community services and service learning projects students had completed throughout the year. Read More
Senator Saland Visits Chatham
Students at MED and the High School played host to a distinguished guest when NY State Senator Stephen Saland stopped by the District to read to students and talk economics.
Senator Saland paid a visit to second graders at MED where he read to them a book called "The Tree Farmer." The story highlights the significance of trees in our everyday lives and the importance of being stewards of the land. Afterward, Mr. Saland donated the book to the MED Library. The senator's visit coincided with Agricultural Literacy Week, and was sponsored by Cornell University's College of Agriculture and Life Science.
Mr. Saland then visited Chatham High School where he stopped by Mrs. Campbell's senior economics class. He spoke with students about the NYS budget process and how the current economy is affecting decision-making at the State Capital. The class gained insight into how the economic downturn has challenged individuals and governments alike.
Senator Saland represents the 41st Senate District of New York State.
Student Athletes "Go Bald" To Help Children Fight Cancer
Student athletes and coaches from the Chatham Central School District stepped up to the plate and volunteered to have their heads shaved to raise money and awareness for the Saint Baldrick's Foundation. The charity raises funds for childhood cancer research, largely through shaved-head events.
Sponsored by friends and family, our students and coaches shed their locks to show solidarity with children who typically lose their hair during cancer treatment. "They did it to support a good cause, and because they are great young men and community members," said Athletic Director Scott Steltz of the athletes.
Together the group raised over six thousand dollars.
MED Receives Portrait of George Washington
The Mary E. Dardess Elementary School in Chatham received a portrait of George Washington from the Mount Vernon Educational Center in Virginia. The center’s goal is to restore George Washington’s traditional presence in public schools throughout the country. So far, over 7,000 schools have received the portrait. Valued at $400 in the Educational Center’s Gift Shop, the portrait is part of an educational kit received by the school. Principals who wish to receive the portrait and kit may visit the Mount Vernon Education Center and fill out the required form expressing their interest. In addition to the portrait, a flag that was flown over Mt. Vernon is being sent to the school.
How Is It Said In Chinese?
As part of their exploration of China, MED third-graders enjoyed a visit from Chinese language teacher Betty Chang-Twillie. Ms. Chang-Twillie revealed the importance of the use of tones, or intonation, in the Chinese language. Students heard and then practiced identifying and pronouncing these tones, which are distinctively different from sounds used in English. Ms. Chang-Twillie’s visit was part of MED’s partnership with Spencertown Academy’s artsVOYAGE program.
Chatham Middle School Students "Mix it up at Lunch"
Tuesday, March 2nd, Chatham Middle School students participated in "Mix It Up at Lunch." The lunch periods were devoted to tolerance and bullying issues in an effort to continue to contribute to a peaceful school environment. Click here for more
Senior Citizen and Limited Income Disability Exemptions
Chatham Middle School Receives Grant from Capital Region Service Learning Institute Learn and Serve America Fund
Chatham Middle School Home and Consumer Sciences Teacher, Mrs. Teresa Zema, applied for and received a grant from the Capital Region Service Learning Institute Learn and Serve America Fund for $200 to involve her students in a service learning project to help provide fresh bread to the food pantry in Chatham. Click here for more.
Chatham Middle School Named 2010 New York State School of Character
Chatham Middle School staff and students on the New York State
Capitol Steps, joining Assemblyman Marcus Molinaro, Dr. John D. Walko,
Director of the Academy for Character Education at Sage Colleges, and
Dr. Philip Fusco, Assistant Director
Click here for more!
Would You Like To Help Shape Tomorrows Leaders?
The Business Education Department is looking for volunteers at the Mary E. Dardess Elementary School and Chatham Middle School to help run a brand new program to Chatham, Junior Achievement.
“JA Worldwide is the world’s largest organization dedicated to educating students about workforce readiness, entrepreneurship and financial literacy through experiential, hands-on programs”.
As a volunteer you will be placed with a local teacher to bring real world experience to your assigned classroom. J.A. provides all materials at no cost to the volunteer and asks volunteers for 45 Minutes a session over a 5 week session. This is a great opportunity to become involved in your students classroom.
For more information about J.A. or to volunteer please visit: http://www.janeny.org/volunteers/ or contact Mr. DeCrescenzo at decrescenzof@chatham.k12.ny.us or 518-392-2400.
Chatham Halfback Josh Keyes 'Player of the Year'
Josh Keyes, who set 14 school records in his junior year, has received a number of awards recently.
Read More
Kindergarteners Help Brighten Thanksgiving For Some Local Families
All the kindergarten classes at MED conducted a food drive that garnered enough non-perishable foods for a dozen Thanksgiving dinners.
Big Week for Chatham Vocalists
With the high school winter concert still fresh in our minds, four of Chatham High School's singers gave the district even more reason to be proud recently. Senior Brittney Gerber was Chatham's first All-State vocalist in nearly two decades as she joined about 100 other students from around the state in the All-State Mixed Choir, Dec. 3 – 6 at the Eastman Theater in Rochester. Meanwhile, senior Erin Lanphear, an alto, and sophomores Diana Jones, a soprano, and Geena Eglin, an alto, sang with the Empire State Youth Orchestra in its "Melodies of Christmas" concerts, also Dec. 3 - 6 at Proctor's Theater in Schenectady. Read More
CMS Students Create Totem Pole at Art Omi
Students from the Sixth Grade worked with artist Jason Middlebrook to create a totem pole out of wooden objects important to them at Art Omi recently. Read More
Sixth-Graders Thinking April in November
It may be time to start wearing winter coats, but it's not too late to plant tulips, students in Mrs. Zema's Home and Careers class learned recently, when they planted 100 bulbs in front of the Chatham Middle School sign. Read More
Third-Graders Find Second Home in Venice
For the fifth year in a row, the third-grade curriculum is focused on Venice, a project initiated and supported by the Spencertown Academy. Lately, the students have been learning first-hand about theater and music. Read More
Top Spitzer Aide, Anti-Trust Lawyer Talks Careers
Lloyd Constantine, one of Eliot Spitzer's most trusted advisors during his short stint as governor, and the lead counsel on the anti-trust case that brought down the Visa/MasterCard bank cartel, spoke to CHS seniors about career opportunities Monday, Nov. 2. Read More
What's Up at the Middle School
Seventh graders visit the Merwin farm, home of the man who provided Washington Irving with the inspiration for Ichabod Crane of "The Legend of Sleepy Hollow." Read More
Chatham Middle School celebrated Character Counts Week, October 19th through October 23rd, and students learned the six pillars of character. Read More
High School Staff Edges CMS/MED in Seesaw Battle
The High School Staff and Faculty came from behind to defeat the contingent from Mary E. Dardess and the Middle School 59-55 at the high school. The event raised money for the athletic program both through admissions and a 50/50 raffle put on by the Athletic Booster Club. Read More
Fourth-Graders Raise Trout
Students in MED's Fourth Grade have begun the Trout in the Classroom program. Read More
Middle-School Students, Staff Get Diversity Training
Some students and staff from Chatham Middle School recently attended a one-day workshop, where they learned about ways to build a caring school environment. Read More
MED Students Ride 'Wave of Exercise'
Students in Grades 1 through 4 at Mary E. Dardess Elementary School participated in a coast-to-coast exercise event known as Exercise US Read More
IMPORTANT ANNOUNCEMENT - TRAFFIC PATTERN CHANGE AT CHATHAM HIGH SCHOOL
Beginning the first day of school, the traffic pattern in the parking lot at Chatham High School has been altered. Read More
Holiday Shopping in Full Swing at M.E.D.
Smart gift-givers combined their child pickups and dropoffs with a visit to the front hall of Mary E. Dardess Elementary School, where the PTA's Fall Book Fair took place the week of Nov. 16-20.
Arm of the Sea Theater Entertains MED Students
Students at Mary E. Dardess Elementary School were treated to a dramatization of the discovery of the Hudson River by Henry Hudson 400 years ago as the Arm of the Sea Theater's contribution to the Quadricentennial Celebration Thursday, Sept. 24.
School Board Welcomes New Staff
The Chatham School District Board of Education held a reception for the district's new teachers and staff prior to its Sept. 22 meeting, and also congratulated newly tenured faculty.
New High School History Teacher Stephanie Campbell speaks with Board Members John Wapner, right, and Mike Clark, as, in the background, Superintendent Cheryl Nuciforo, back to the camera, regales new teachers and MED Principal Kristen Reno and Middle School Principal Gordon Fitting at Tuesday's reception.
Board Member Mike Clark chats with four new faculty members during the reception.
Newly tenured teachers rise for congratulations from the School Board, surrounded mainly by new faculty members. Supt. Nuciforo urged the new hires to follow in the footsteps of their tenured colleagues.
M.E.D. Welcomes New Principal
Please welcome Mrs. Kristen Reno, who was appointed 
Principal of the Mary E. Dardess Elementary School at the special Board of Education meeting on Tuesday June 2.
Mrs. Reno has a 17-year career in education, serving the last five years as principal of Durham Elementary School. She was highly recommended by the interview committee comprised of parents, instructional and non-instructional staff, and a representative of administration. Mrs. Reno stated "I am honored and excited to be working with the staff, students and parents at MED elementary school."
Earning a Bachelor of Science degree in Elementary Education with a concentration in English from SUNY-Cortland, and a Master of Science degree in Reading, Mrs. Reno holds a School Administrator/Supervisor certificate from the College of St. Rose. She resides with her family in Voorheesville. Mrs. Reno joined the Chatham Central School District on July 1.
Please extend a warm M.E.D. welcome to her!
A New Use of Space at Mary E. Dardess
Much work was done this summer to reconfigure space at Mary E. Dardess Elementary School to address educational, health and safety and work place issues. All classrooms will now be located on the main floor, which will have a 1st/2nd grade hallway and a 3rd/4th grade hallway. Classrooms that had been on the ground floor are moving upstairs, and to make room for them, the business and pupil personnel offices are being relocated to the ground floor. The change will benefit the program by uniting the entire student population, promoting collaboration, and allowing for age-appropriate rules and routines. The move also addresses Americans with Disabilities Act concerns for students, since all programs will be on one level, and promotes security by separating the student population from the general public.
Counselor Megan Kapusta prepares to receive students in her cozy, main-floor space that in previous years was the district assistant superintendent's office.
Miss Wadd's first-grade, main-floor classroom, in the first-second grade wing, waits for her students to return from lunch. Last year, all the first-graders were on the ground floor.
Miss Mullens' first-grade classroom, across the hallway from Miss Wadd's. Last year's third-grade classrooms have become this year's first-grade classrooms, as the third-graders are now in the third-fourth grade wing.
School Psychologist Brian Simon in his new office, formerly the office of the secretary to the assistant superintendent.
First Day of One-Bell Goes Well
The first day of one-bell transportation for the Chatham Central School District seemed to go off without a hitch, according to reports of drivers, demeanor of their passengers and timeliness of their arrivals. Administrators Jean Scheriff, director of Pupil Services, above, Superintendent Cheryl Nuciforo, and Mary E. Dardess Principal Kristen Reno met all the buses as they pulled into the high school parking, after having dropped off their middle school passengers.
New School Board Member Sworn In
School Business Administrator Diane Malecki, right, administers the oath of office to Chatham's newest Board of Education member, Melony Spock, at the Sept. 15 board workshop.
District Staff Receives Autism Response Training
In the past ten years, there has been an increase of over 400% in the number of students enrolled in New York State schools who are diagnosed with some form of Autism. Due to that dramatic increase, New York State has enacted new training requirements for some school personnel who have responsibilities for students with disabilities. Chatham staff members are among the first in the state to complete the new “Responding to the Needs of Students with Autism Spectrum Disorders” training. Congratulation to: Ron Davis, Renee Morgan, Amy Potter, Kristen Reno, Jean Scheriff and John Thorsen. It’s good to see our administrators modeling lifelong learning.
Chatham Athletes Attend Volleyball Clinic
Twenty –eight student athletes from Chatham High School participated in a three day volleyball clinic hosted by the Chatham Central School District from August 3-5 under the direction of Coach Don Perkins.
Coach Perkins has years of collegiate and United States Olympic volleyball experience and recently accepted the head volleyball coach position at Kean University in Union, New Jersey. After coaching the Chatham athletes, Coach Perkins stated “the knowledge of the game of the returning players exceeded my expectations. If they can stay focused as individuals and as a team, Chatham will continue to build on an already solid volleyball program.”
The clinic was organized by the Chatham Booster Club, Chatham Central School District Athletic Director Scott Stelz, Boys' Volleyball Coach Matt Torrey and Girls' Volleyball Coach Linda Colwell.
Summer School Students Take A Trip to Art Omni
On Monday, July 20th, Mr. Kevin Botsford’s summer school class visited Art Omi. The small students hiked great distances through the fields to view art installations with Art Educator, Sacha Sicurella. The students created paper sculptures and then enjoyed a healthy lunch inside the shade of one of the large sculptures. The field trip was provided by a grant that the District Wellness Committee obtained from the Kids in Motion/Healthcare Consortium. 
Chatham Bus Route Information Sent Out
The Chatham Central School District mailed bus route and bus stop information home to parents Tuesday, Sept. 2. If you do not receive this information in the mail, please call your child's shool building office. Bus routes will not be published in the newspaper as in the past.
Chatham High School Class of 2009 Honor Students
Mr. Ron Davis, Chatham High School Principal, is pleased to release the names of the Honor Students for the graduating Class of 2009.
Summer Reading Suggestions from MED Librarian
Ann Gainer
Parents looking for summer reading suggestions for their children should go to:
It has really good suggestions for all levels of readers, is well organized and includes reviews, too.
Happy Reading!
Ann Gainer,
MED Librarian
Construction proceeds on schedule at Chatham High
Windows are installed in the weight room
History unveiled: A history classroom also gets new windows
A new source of power: The old switch gear, which controls the district's electrical power, is removed from the high school to make room for a new one. The door also had to be removed to allow the large apparatus to be taken out.
More doors to learning: The high school entryway is being enlarged. There will be two sets of doors, to the left and right, for security purposes, with a receptionist's window in between (not shown). Here, ceiling work proceeds, with heating elements, in the upper foreground, already installed.
Two views of the new walkway between Mary E. Dardess Elementary School and the bus pickup spot at the high school parking lot, above, from MED, and below, from the pickup spot.
Crews Get Schools Ready for September Opening
Preparing for paving
The high school parking lot was paved in July.
Heating ventilation units installed at MED
Walkway being built between MED and Chatham High School
One-Bell Update
We are busy this summer with finalizing the implementation of the one-bell transportation system. Transportation staff are busy developing bus routes and rider lists with close attention to questions of child safety and health and the best learning outcomes for all students.
As a part of this transition, a dedicated group of parents (April Mountain, Elizabeth Powers, Mary-Noelle Fabiano and Meg Everett) have continued to meet with administrators throughout the summer, with the goal of creating the best system possible for all concerned. As a result of these meetings, an updated Q-and-A will be distributed over the next couple of weeks. We will also be updating the Web site regularly as new information becomes available.
Parents, students and other other district residents who have questions or ideas about the upcoming changes are encouraged to contact Superintendent Cheryl Nuciforo at 392-1501.
Chatham Central Schools One Bell Loading Practice Was a Success!
Chatham High School Student to Serve as a People to People Sports Ambassador in Brazil
Chatham High School Soccer player Tyler Mashaw will serve as a People to People sports ambassador in Brazil for two weeks in July. Click here for more information about Tyler and his trip.