Cairo-Durham High School

The Cairo Durham High School Teachers recognize and honor a student every month (SOM) during the school year. The student is nominated and then voted on by the teachers and staff in the high school. The student is then awarded a certificate and a $10 gift card. Congrats to the CDHS Winter Students of the Month, Emilio, Jessica, and Aiden! Emilio Maynard, a member of Cairo Durham’s class of 2027, has been recognized as one of the Winter 2025 Students of the Month. Emilio is a hardworking and kind-hearted student who is always ready to lend a hand to those who need it. His friendly personality and great sense of humor brighten the day for both classmates and teachers—he’s known for putting a smile on people’s faces wherever he goes. Emilio is involved in both academics and athletics, proudly representing Cairo-Durham on both the football and bowling teams. Outside of school, he enjoys spending time at the park with friends and playing video games. One fun fact about Emilio? He loves Little Debbies—ask him his favorite, and he’ll probably have more than one answer! In keeping with his love of food, Emilio has big dreams for his future: he plans to become a chef and one day open his own restaurant, combining his passion for food with his hardworking spirit and creativity. Maybe he’ll even invent a new snack for future students to enjoy! Mrs. Engelin tells us that “Emilio has been putting great effort into his schoolwork this year. He brings a wonderful sense of humor to the classroom and values building positive relationships with his teachers. He also demonstrates a strong sense of loyalty and care toward his friends.” Congratulations, Emilio! Your kindness, positive vibes, and ability to make others laugh make you a memorable part of the school community! Jessica Baeckmann, a member of this year’s graduating Class of 2025, has been recognized as one of the Winter 2025 Students of the Month. Jessica is a quiet force of determination and creativity—known for her strong work ethic, independence, and thoughtful presence in the classroom. Jessica is actively involved in many areas of school life. She serves as Class Historian and is a member of the National Honor Society, National Art Honor Society, Interact Club, and Yearbook Club. She is also a three-season athlete, competing on the varsity tennis, indoor track, and outdoor track teams. Jessica volunteers regularly at both the high school and elementary school by taking photos at events, assisting staff, and supporting school spirit through her involvement. Outside of school, Jessica enjoys reading, making art, traveling, and volunteering. After graduation, Jessica plans to attend college to pursue a degree in English, with dreams of working in publishing where she can read and create art for books. She also plans to continue her track career at the collegiate level. Mr. Chamberlain says that “Jessica is a considerate student inside and outside of the classroom. She demonstrates maturity and a willingness to work hard no matter how difficult the task in a class. Jessica's impressive character traits have helped her grow here at Cairo-Durham. The willingness to stand out through hard work and motivation is one of the reasons I truly enjoyed teaching Jessica last year, in my AP U.S. class. Jessica is truly a model student in every way and I wish her all the best as she finishes up the school year!” Congratulations, Jessica! Your dedication, creativity, and quiet leadership make a lasting impression on everyone around you! The class of 2027’s Aiden Holbrook has been recognized as one of the Winter 2025 Students of the Month. Aiden is a dedicated and determined student who has been working hard to stay on top of his assignments and participate actively in class. He is always willing to help others and brings a positive attitude to everything he does. Aiden’s biggest passion is football—on and off the field. He’s known for his commitment to the sport and his drive to keep improving. When he’s not playing football, he is getting ready for more great games as a member of the school’s Wellness program. Aiden’s teachers recognize his dedication and growth, especially in how he’s worked to stay focused on his goals. His dream is to become a professional football player, but he also has a solid backup plan—he’s interested in becoming a rig welder and plans to attend Syracuse University after graduation. According to Mrs. Scheitinger, “Aiden has totally stepped up this school year. He is focused, self disciplined, motivated and ready to get the work done to move on to the next level. Aiden wishes to move on to get his bachelor's degree and play division I football.” Congratulations, Aiden! Your hard work, passion, and persistence are setting you up for a bright future!

More photos from Quiz Night 2025!

Quiz Night 2025 at CDHS was a tremendous success! Students, faculty, staff, admin, and board members competed in groups to answer questions about fun trivia. The teams came up with unique team names, including Skibidi Slicers and Tubatomic! It is great to see students smiling while learning until 8 PM. Get your team ready for next year's Quiz Night! Thank you to our wonderful sponsors for your support!

Students in Mrs. Karker's French classes recently celebrated Mardi Gras in style by creating their own colorful parade floats! Embracing the festivity, students worked to craft vibrant floats, showcasing their creativity. This hands-on activity helped them learn about French culture and Mardi Gras traditions. Afterward, they paraded the floats through the middle school!

Two Cairo-Durham HS students had their art featured at the 26th Annual High School Regional Juried Art Exhibition!

On Thursday, March 20, the District hosted its annual Winter Sports Award Night. Congratulations to all the athletes, coaches, MVP Coaches, and Mustang Pride award recipients!

We are extremely proud of our alumni, and we need your help identifying individuals to highlight. Nominations are now open for the Spring 2025 Mustang Alumni Spotlight. Click here: https://forms.gle/XALrQCsGgZcd9CYPA to nominate a Cairo-Durham CSD alum. Submissions are due by Tuesday, April 1, 2025, at 2 p.m.

April breakfast and lunch menus are here! View them below or click here: https://www.cairodurham.org/documents/cafeteria-menus/254963

At Thursday's Winter Sports Awards Ceremony we also celebrated Indoor Track and Field Athletes who broke school records. Jessica Baeckmann (5 new school records), Lauren Zecca (2), Margaret Felton (1), and Destiny Moriello (1) were recognized for their accomplishments.

Our Boys Varsity Basketball 1,000 point scorer Jacob Young and our 3rd place at the Girls State Wrestling Tournament, Vivienne Myers were highlights of the Winter Sports Awards Ceremony last night.

Last night was the High School Winter Sports Awards Ceremony to celebrate the accomplishments of our student athletes. Most Valuable Player Awards, Coaches Awards, and Mustang Pride Awards were handed out to deserving athletes on all of our Varsity and JV Sports Teams.

Last week, students at the CDMS/HS enjoyed many Pi Day activities. Watch a video featuring it here: https://youtu.be/IZyZHc2vTK8

Cairo-Durham CSD is delighted to announce that artwork created by Dezaray Riley and Gloriannah Santosky has been selected for the 26th Annual High School Regional Juried Art Exhibition. Dezaray’s artwork is a 3’x3’ oil painting titled “Isolation”. It shows a series of emotional faces emerging from a fog-like background in monochromatic green, blending hauntingly into the mist. Glorannahs artwork titled “A Body of Work 2”, shows a bold, abstracted reclining female figure. She creates a dynamic interplay of form and repetition in a Matisse-inspired style. This year, 25 school districts submitted an impressive total of 526 pieces. The selection process was conducted by three jurors: Robert Cooper, a photographer and journalist; Thomasa Dwyer Nielsen, an artist and educator; and Tony Iadicicco, Executive Director of the Albany Center Gallery. The judges were truly impressed by the incredible creativity and talent displayed by high school students across the region, ultimately selecting 138 outstanding works for the exhibition. The exhibition will be held at The Albany Center Gallery, located at 488 Broadway, Suite 107, Albany. It's on display from March 21 to April 18. Congrats to Dezaray and Gloriannah on this well-deserved recognition!

Congratulations to Desiree Jenes for winning the Honorable Mention Award at the CGCC Juried Art Show! Additional congratulations to Aishwarya Thakur for having her work featured as well.

The Cairo-Durham CSD is proud to announce the Students of the Month for the Fall and Winter seasons. Each student is awarded with a certificate and a $10 gift card. Charlotte Rae, a member of the Class of 2027 at Cairo Durham High School, has been recognized as one of our three Fall-Winter Students of the Month. Charlotte is a dedicated and hardworking student who always strives to do her best. She is a proud member of the marching band and enjoys spending time with her sister, playing video games, and drawing. Charlotte has a strong determination to complete her work and takes great pride in her studies. She has a particular love for history and approaches all of her classes with a positive attitude. Her teachers admire her work ethic, perseverance, and the kindness she brings to school each day. Beyond academics, Charlotte is known for her friendly demeanor, always greeting teachers and classmates with a warm “good morning” or hello in the hallways. Her positive attitude and enthusiasm make her a joy to have in the Cairo-Durham community. Charlotte plans to attend college, where she hopes to continue working hard to build a successful future. Congratulations, Charlotte! Your determination and kindness make Cairo-Durham a better place! The Cairo Durham High School recognizes the Class of 2025’s Alan Lopez as one of the Fall-Winter Students of the Month. Alan is an outgoing and hardworking student who is deeply involved in both academics and extracurricular activities. A member of the National Honor Society, he balances a busy schedule filled with sports and the arts: participating in soccer, volleyball, indoor track and field, chorus, band, and even this year’s school musical, Hadestown. Alan’s passion for athletics extends beyond school, as he loves playing soccer in his free time. His dedication and enthusiasm make him a valued teammate and a leader among his peers. Beyond sports, Alan’s kindness and strong work ethic stand out, as he is known for his positive attitude, determination, and ability to connect with those around him. Alan has set his sights on life after high school, with plans to attend Russell Sage College in pursuit of a career in physical therapy, where his athletic, academic, people skills will doubtlessly combine to serve him well. Congratulations, Alan! Your commitment to academics, athletics, and leadership makes you a standout student and member of the community! Lauren Zecca, a member of the Class of 2025 at Cairo Durham High School, has been recognized as one of the Fall-Winter 2025 Students of the Month. Lauren is an exceptionally hardworking and driven student who sets a high standard for both herself and her peers. As the valedictorian of her class, she demonstrates outstanding academic achievement while balancing an impressive range of extracurricular activities and community service. Lauren is a true leader in the school community. She serves as class president, president of the Interact Club, vice president of the National Honor Society, and an active member of the Wellness Club, Student Council, and Yearbook Club. In addition, she is a dedicated athlete, competing in soccer, indoor track, and outdoor track and field. Her commitment to service is equally remarkable—she has volunteered over 320 hours throughout high school, including participating in a service trip to Costa Rica. She also had the incredible opportunity to travel to the Galápagos Islands with the school. Outside of school, Lauren enjoys staying active, being outdoors, traveling, and continuing her volunteer work. Her energetic and helpful nature makes her a valued presence among classmates and teachers alike. With her strong work ethic, kindness, and passion for helping others, it’s no surprise that Lauren plans to pursue a career in nursing. Mrs. Jones says “Lauren will make a great nurse with her always positive attitude. She comes to class cheerful and ready to learn.” Congratulations, Lauren! Your leadership, dedication, and service to your school and community make you an outstanding role model!

Winter Sports Awards are on this Thursday, March 20! Modified sports start at 5:30pm and JV/Varsity starts at 6pm in the CDHS Auditorium.

The District hosted a Mustang Wellness Step Challenge for 2025. Staff, faculty, and District admin tracked their steps from January to March. The top prize was a one-month membership to Lee Physical Therapy and Wellness, the second and third prizes were massages from Elite Massage Therapy, fourth and fifth place took home a $20 gift card to the Juice Branch, and fifth to tenth places earned a branded water bottle from Left Lane Designs LLC. Congrats to winners: 1. Christy Roe 2. Devon Passaro 3. Corbette Russell 4. Jessica Staiger 5. Jennifer Moritz 6. Nancy Trembacz 7. Jeffrey Miriello 8. Meghan Stalter 9. Brigette Parks 10. Elizabeth Fisher

Your 2024-2025 Patroon Conference Girls Most Outstanding Wrestler is freshman Vivienne Myers! Congrats!

Reminder: Today, Thursday, March 13, all Cairo-Durham CSD schools will be dismissed early. The middle and high schools will dismiss at 11:45 am, and the elementary school and AM Pre-K will dismiss at 12:45 pm. There will not be any PM Pre-K. Buses will still transport high school students to Questar programs at their normally scheduled times. School will also be closed tomorrow, Friday, March 14, for the Superintendent's Conference Day.

We are extremely proud of our alumni, and we need your help identifying individuals to highlight. Nominations are open for the Spring 2025 Mustang Alumni Spotlight. Click here: (https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSd2q9nfXwRYv7cSUw_bdouBjcdspek0B2VyNasVZr-LvsYNdg/viewform?usp=sf_link) to nominate a Cairo-Durham CSD alum. Submissions are due by Tuesday, April 1, 2025, at 2 p.m.