Dear Cairo-Durham CSD Families,
As you know, school is currently closed for Winter Break (Feb. 17- 21). The District has been made aware of a glitch in our absence tracking system that is sending “your student is absent today” robocalls to parents of high school students. This is simply a glitch and no action is needed from you. If you get a communication along those lines, please disregard it. We’re looking forward to seeing everyone on Monday (Feb. 24).
Sincerely,
Cairo-Durham CSD
Happy Presidents' Day!
Reminder: Cairo-Durham schools will be closed this week, Feb. 17-21, due to Presidents Day and the Winter Break. We look forward to seeing you back in school on Monday, Feb. 24!
We'd like to wish Deputy Espel and Deputy Rivera a Happy (early) School Resource Officer Appreciation Day! We are so lucky to have you as part of our school community. Thank you for all you do, each and every day!!
Hadestown, the high school's winter musical, is right around the corner! Showtimes are Friday, Feb 28th at 7 pm, Saturday, March 1st at 7 pm, and Sunday, March 2nd at 2 pm.
Pre-sale reservations are now open. This form will be open until Sunday, Feb 23rd at noon. We will be holding live sales on Monday, Feb 24th, and Tuesday, Feb 25th from 3:30 pm to 5:30 pm in the MS/HS lobby. All tickets reserved must be paid for by the end of live sales on Tuesday, February 25th, or your reservation will be canceled and your tickets will return to the queue.
Click here: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/1GJYZwyDvYo2ZABt9aDsK70KvGsbaGmwJyM49wmFPJ8k/viewform?chromeless=1&edit_requested=true
Reminder: Cairo-Durham schools will be closed next week, Feb. 17-21, due to Presidents Day and the Winter Break. We look forward to seeing you back in school on Monday, Feb. 24!
Congratulations to Mackenzie Sherburne, a CDHS Senior, for scoring her 1,000th career point on Monday, February 3, 2025, during the Girls Varsity Basketball game versus Hunter-Tannersville. Mackenzie is the first girl in Cairo-Durham history to reach this milestone!
Read the below press release for more!
To families of 8th graders: The 8th Grade Transition Night has been rescheduled to Tuesday, February 25.
Cairo-Durham is hiring a full-time maintenance person!
More information about this opportunity is available here: https://5il.co/37dp2
Nominations for the January 2025 “Mustang Monthly Alumni Spotlight” are open and can be submitted at the link below by Wednesday, February 12, 2025, at 4 p.m. Past nominations will also be considered in the selection process. Click here ( https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSd2q9nfXwRYv7cSUw_bdouBjcdspek0B2VyNasVZr-LvsYNdg/viewform ) to submit a nomination for January 2025!
Congratulations to the December 2024-25 Cairo-Durham Middle School Students of the Month!
From left, Patricia Jeune (7th grade), Jack Twomey (6th grade), and Nevaeh Stevenson (8th grade).
On March 13, 2025, the High School Classes (Class of 2025, 2026, 2027, and 2028) are hosting the Second Annual March Madness Basketball game as a fundraiser where the CD Elementary faculty and staff play the MS/HS faculty staff.
Tickets for entrance to the game will be sold, as well as concessions.
The CDTA will sell 50/50 tickets, with proceeds toward the CDTA Scholarship fund.
Booster Club will be selling Mustang Merchandise.
The game Ticket prices are
Adults $5
Kids/Students $3
If you want to purchase game tickets, please let us know.
Senior Class Advisor
Jennifer Searing-Burke
Junior Class Advisors
Matthew Hitchen and Bridgette Gregory bgregory@cairodurhsm.org
Sophomore Class Advisors
Shelly Gouza , and Jenn Hill
Freshman Class Advisor
Jennifer Searing-Burke jsearing@cairodurham.org and Jennifer Engelin jengelin@cairodurham.org
Cairo-Durham CSD is closed Thursday, February 6, 2025 due to inclement weather. The 8th grade transition night scheduled for tonight, will be postponed to a later date. All CSE meetings scheduled for today are canceled. A notice to reschedule will be sent by the Special Education Department to families impacted by this change.
The elementary school is hiring for a Teacher Aide!
More information is available here: https://core-docs.s3.us-east-1.amazonaws.com/documents/asset/uploaded_file/2363/cdcsd/5271797/Aide_Posting_ES_2-4-25.pdf
Nominations for the January 2025 “Mustang Monthly Alumni Spotlight” are open and can be submitted at the link below by Wednesday, February 12, 2025, at 4 p.m. Past nominations will also be considered in the selection process. Click here ( https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSd2q9nfXwRYv7cSUw_bdouBjcdspek0B2VyNasVZr-LvsYNdg/viewform ) to submit a nomination for January 2025!
Last chance! To nominate a person or community organization for the Mustang Pride Hall of Fame, please use this nomination form: https://forms.gle/PYzxA4mXtaReGYtK8
Nominations will be closed on February 1, 2025.
The first annual cornhole tournament at Cairo Durham this past Sunday was a success!
You don’t need to watch the new Superman movie to see superheroes in action; two heroes are always being spotted in our schools.
The District is thrilled to announce that both of our school resource officers were presented with the Sheriff Spike School Officer Award of the Year from the New York State Sheriffs Institute. On Tuesday, January 21, 2025, the District’s school resource officers attended the Heroes’ Luncheon during the Sheriff Institute’s Annual Winter Training Conference in Albany, NY. During this time, law enforcement officers earned recognition for their service to their communities.
Congratulations to our dedicated Greene County officers JoAnne Rivera and Steven Espel, Jr!
Our School Resource Officers are a pillar of the school community. On a daily basis, they are protecting our students and staff, providing guidance and support, fostering strong relationships, and creating a warm, secure, and safety-informed environment. Many school districts our size only have one SRO, so Cairo-Durham greatly benefits from having one in each building.
“The fact that Deputy Rivera and Espel have been selected by the New York State Sheriffs’ Institute for their outstanding work is a testament to their dedication to the students, the school and our community,” said Greene County Sheriff Peter J. Kusminsky. “It takes a special police officer to be a good SRO and I am proud to have some of the best on my staff. I have no doubt that their efforts will have a lasting positive impact on all of the students they interact with.”
Deputy Steven Espel, Jr is a vital member of the Cairo-Durham Elementary School. His efforts create a welcoming, safe, and supportive environment for students and staff, alike. Every morning and afternoon, Deputy Espel is present during drop-off and dismissal, ensuring a smooth and safe transition for everyone. Rain or shine, he greets students and parents with a warm smile, offering a reassuring presence that embodies his commitment to the school, said elementary principal Christopher Stein.
Furthermore, Deputy Espel provides support and advice while being a positive mentor for students in need. He is always building strong relationships with the students, whether he’s playing basketball or calming a student outside the classroom. Deputy Espel further improved this supportive environment by taking rigorous training to bring a therapy dog, Mac, into the school. “Mac’s calming presence has been transformative, helping to de-escalate tense situations and bringing positivity to those who need it most,” said Principal Stein.
“On behalf of everyone at Cairo-Durham Elementary, we are thrilled and immensely proud to celebrate Deputy Espel’s recognition as an outstanding School Resource Officer in New York State,” said elementary principal Christopher Stein. “His tireless efforts, compassion, and dedication to the school community make him truly deserving of this honor.”
At the Cairo-Durham Middle and High Schools, Deputy JoAnne Rivera is a dependable and constant pillar of student support and school safety. Starting her day by greeting students in the morning, Deputy Rivera maintains close connections and ensures a smooth transition. In addition, she is a trusted adult for students to receive advice and mentorship, coordinating with the guidance department to meet their needs. The District’s Director of Pupil Personnel Services, Danielle Czech, also noted how Deputy Rivera is always available, 24/7, to provide assistance and guidance to students and their families.
“Deputy Rivera has built strong, meaningful relationships with both the staff and the students here at CDMS/HS. Her positive, contagious energy undoubtedly makes our building a better place,” said middle and high school principal Catherine Dodig. “We are so fortunate to have an SRO that goes above and beyond when it comes to caring for and supporting our building community.”
Catherine Dodig also expressed, “In my opinion, there is not a more deserving person to be honored with this award. In every facet of her work, Deputy Rivera makes a positive impact. She is so much more than just our SRO; because of the work that she does, she’s one of the most beloved people here at CDMS/HS.”
The District is immensely proud of Deputies JoAnne Rivera and Steven Espel, Jr. “The two of them are always there to support or assist in any way, shape, or form needed. True super heroes,” said Danielle Czech, Director of Pupil Personnel Services.
In December, middle school students got a chance to raise money for the American Heart Association while also playing games in the gym like partner dodgeball, Asteroids, and more.
Happy Lunar New Year!
