December breakfast and lunch menus are now available to view: https://www.cairodurham.org/documents/cafeteria-menus/254963
Nominations for the November 2024 “Mustang Monthly Alumni Spotlight” are open and can be submitted at the link below by Tuesday, November 26, 2024, at 3 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 November 2024!
The Fall Sports Awards Ceremony was held last night in front of a packed crowd of family and friends. The coaches talked about their seasons and handed out MVP and Coaches Award plaques. It was a great night to celebrate our student athletes.
Do you know a person or community organization that has given extensive service to the Cairo-Durham Central School District? Nominate them for the Mustang Pride Hall of Fame!
To nominate a person or community organization, please use this nomination form: https://forms.gle/PYzxA4mXtaReGYtK8
See below for the criteria. Nominations will be accepted through February 1, 2025.
The chosen nominees will be honored at a Hall of Fame induction ceremony at the Shamrock House on Saturday, April 26, 2024, at 5 PM.
Criteria:
Nominees must have contributed to the improvement of Cairo-Durham CSD with extensive service through: academics, athletics, coaching, teaching, administration, employment, volunteerism and/or community service.
Nominees can be past or present staff members, school administrators, Board of Education members, alumni and community members or organizations. (Please note that a former student nominee must be out of school for at least 10 years to be considered for induction into the Mustang Pride Hall of Fame.)
Some examples of extensive service/support include (but are not limited to):
Academics (e.g., teaching, tutoring).
Involvement in school athletics (e.g., coaches, officials, volunteers).
Mentoring.
Volunteer work/community service.
Community relations.
Mustang Pride Hall of Fame Mission and By-Laws: https://www.cairodurham.org/page/mustang-pride-hall-of-fame-mission-and-by-laws
About the Hall of Fame:
The Mustang Pride Hall of Fame was established in 2017 to recognize individuals and/or groups who have worked to support public education in the Cairo-Durham CSD community.
To nominate a person or community organization, please use this nomination form: https://forms.gle/PYzxA4mXtaReGYtK8
Take a look at the five prior classes of the Cairo-Durham Mustang Pride Hall of Fame:
Class of 2018:
Ron Agostinoni - Faculty/Student,
Helen Enck - Faculty,
Don Gibson Sr. - Administrator,
Tom Karnes - Faculty/Coach,
Trudy Lynch - Faculty/Coach,
Suzanne Oldakowski - Rotary President/Community Member,
Kerry Quinn - Faculty/Coach,
Ann Skelly - Faculty,
Art Waldron - Faculty/Coach,
Bob Zimmerman - Faculty/Coach.,
Class of 2019:
Fran Cook - Faculty,
Peter Maassmann - Student/Faculty,
Beth Phillips - Board of Education/Support Staff,
Cairo Rotary Club - Community Organization,
Bill Zwoboda - Faculty/Administrator,
Class of 2020/2021,
Dave Battini - Faculty/Coach,
John Hull - Faculty/Community Member,
Resurrection Lutheran Church - Community Organization,
Bill Lawrence - Faculty/Legislature,
Kay Sutton - Faculty,
Jeff Waldron - Student/Athlete,
Class of 2022:
Hugh Gallagher - Faculty,
William Getzke - Faculty,
Harry Lennon - Alumni,
Keith Phillips - Faculty,
Richard Uzzilia - Faculty,
Class of 2023:
Virginia Ambrose - Faculty,
Richard Booth - Administrator,
Kris Monteverd - Faculty,
Carol and Fred Spohler - Community Members,
Donna Wexler - Faculty,
Class of 2024:
Bridget “Bunny” Agostinoni - Alumni/Retired Faculty,
Emily Brunner - Faculty,
Patricia “Patty” Gibson - Former Coach,
Caroline Benton Pfleger - Retired Faculty
The Cairo-Durham Central School District is accepting applications for an elementary school counselor. Click here to learn more: https://www.cairodurham.org/documents/employment/job-postings/246137
Congratulations to the September 2024-25 Cairo-Durham Middle School Students of the Month!
From left, Lucy Palmer (8th), Felicity Lendin (7th), Brayden Maraglio (6th), and Mr. Crittenden.
Nominations for the November 2024 “Mustang Monthly Alumni Spotlight” are open and can be submitted at the link below by Tuesday, November 26, 2024, at 3 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 November 2024!
The Fall Sports Awards Ceremony is being held this Thursday, November 14th, in the High School Auditorium. The Modified Sports Teams will begin at 5:00 PM and the Varsity and JV Ceremony will begin at 6:00 PM. We hope that all of our Fall Athletes can attend and that they can help celebrate all of the MVP's and Coaches Award recipients.
Rachna DeRose Selected as the October 2024 "Mustang Monthly Alumni Spotlight" Recipient:
November 6, 2024-
CAIRO, NY – The Cairo-Durham Central School District is proud to announce the October 2024 recipient of the “Mustang Monthly Alumni Spotlight” is Rachna DeRose (‘98).
Rachna, who earned her Master’s Degree of Science in Physical Therapy from D’Youville College in Buffalo, New York, has just celebrated her 20th work anniversary at Greene Meadows Skilled Nursing & Rehabilitation Center and finished the season as an assistant coach for the Cairo-Durham girls’ varsity soccer team.
Rachna treasures her role as Greene Meadow’s Assistant Director of Rehabilitation. This role provides her with more flexibility and gives her more time with her husband, Steven, and her three children: Nia, Mya, and Jai, who are all Cairo-Durham students.
“I knew I wanted to pursue a career in health care since I was younger,” Rachna DeRose said. “One of the most rewarding parts of my profession is helping patients regain their optimal functional level. For most of them, that means returning home, after a hospitalization.”
For the last 11 years, Rachna has also been known as a talented girls' soccer coach, including coaching for the Rip Van Winkle Youth Soccer Club and being the assistant coach to the Cairo-Durham girls’ varsity soccer team, which made sectionals this season.
“Coaching girls, specifically can be both very rewarding and challenging at the same time,” Rachna said. “Some of these girls I’ve been coaching since they were 4, 5, and 6 years old. It was always my vision to keep them playing together, so they would dominate by the time they came up to school-level soccer. It’s always been my dream to have the outcome they had this season.”
Throughout the multiple nominations for Rachna DeRose, all shared a similar sentiment - she is dedicated and focused on her goals, goes above and beyond, and cares about those in her community.
“Rachna is a well-respected community member and CD Alumni she holds true to the principles of Cairo Durham she strives for excellence in all she does, she achieves success with her hard work and warm heart, and she believes in everything Cairo Durham has to offer,” said one of her nominators.
In her time as a Cairo-Durham student, Rachna enjoyed playing varsity soccer and softball, being a cheerleader, and participating in the National Honor Society.
Sharing wisdom with future generations of Mustangs, Rachna iterated how important it is to be yourself, embrace your unique qualities, and surround yourself with positive friends.
“Always surround yourself with positive people who lift you up and make you want to be the best version of yourself,” DeRose said. “Lastly, it’s okay to make mistakes, as long as you learn from them. Things aren’t always going to go your way. What matters most, is how you respond.”
To bridge the community and the Cairo-Durham Central School District, the “Mustang Monthly Alumni Spotlight” was created to provide an opportunity for community members to nominate members of the Cairo-Durham Class of 2018 or prior who have made an impact in the community, embrace Cairo-Durham pride and serve as role models to future generations of Mustangs to be recognized on the District’s platforms. Nominations are now open for the November 2024 spotlight, click here: https://forms.gle/S7SQNRr4NTzNhopXA to nominate a Cairo-Durham alum. Submissions are due by Tuesday, November 26, 2024 at 3 p.m.
Some middle school teachers and staff dressed as "Locker Police" last week for Halloween!
The Cairo-Durham Central School District, in partnership with Questar III BOCES Health & Safety, held a reunification drill on Friday, November 1. Faculty and staff participated in the drill, acting as students, parents, teachers, and reunification team members. The drill aimed to familiarize staff with the procedures for reuniting students with their families in case of an unexpected emergency.
The Modified Football Team finished their season on Wednesday night with a decisive victory over Hudson. The final score was 21-12 which gave the Mustangs a 6-1 record on the year Congratulations on a successful season.
Do you know a person or community organization that has given extensive service to the Cairo-Durham Central School District? Nominate them for the Mustang Pride Hall of Fame!
To nominate a person or community organization, please use this nomination form: https://forms.gle/PYzxA4mXtaReGYtK8 . See below for the criteria. Nominations will be accepted through February 1, 2025.
The chosen nominees will be honored at a Hall of Fame induction ceremony at the Shamrock House on Saturday, April 26, 2025, at 5 PM.
Criteria:
Nominees must have contributed to the improvement of Cairo-Durham CSD with extensive service through: academics, athletics, coaching, teaching, administration, employment, volunteerism and/or community service.
Nominees can be past or present staff members, school administrators, Board of Education members, alumni and community members or organizations. (Please note that a former student nominee must be out of school for at least 10 years to be considered for induction into the Mustang Pride Hall of Fame.)
Some examples of extensive service/support include (but are not limited to):
Academics (e.g., teaching, tutoring).
Involvement in school athletics (e.g., coaches, officials, volunteers).
Mentoring.
Volunteer work/community service.
Community relations.
Mustang Pride Hall of Fame Mission and By-Laws: https://www.cairodurham.org/page/mustang-pride-hall-of-fame-mission-and-by-laws .
About the Hall of Fame:
The Mustang Pride Hall of Fame was established in 2017 to recognize individuals and/or groups who have worked to support public education in the Cairo-Durham CSD community.
To nominate a person or community organization, please use this nomination form: https://forms.gle/PYzxA4mXtaReGYtK8 .
Take a look at the four prior classes of the Cairo-Durham Mustang Pride Hall of Fame:
Class of 2018
;
Ron Agostinoni - Faculty/Student.
Helen Enck - Faculty.
Don Gibson Sr. - Administrator.
Tom Karnes - Faculty/Coach.
Trudy Lynch - Faculty/Coach.
Suzanne Oldakowski - Rotary President/Community Member.
Kerry Quinn - Faculty/Coach.
Ann Skelly - Faculty.
Art Waldron - Faculty/Coach.
Bob Zimmerman - Faculty/Coach.
Class of 2019:
Fran Cook - Faculty.
Peter Maassmann - Student/Faculty.
Beth Phillips - Board of Education/Support Staff.
Cairo Rotary Club - Community Organization.
Bill Zwoboda - Faculty/Administrator.
Class of 2020/2021:
Dave Battini - Faculty/Coach.
John Hull - Faculty/Community Member.
Resurrection Lutheran Church - Community Organization.
Bill Lawrence - Faculty/Legislature.
Kay Sutton - Faculty.
Jeff Waldron - Student/Athlete.
Class of 2022:
Hugh Gallagher - Faculty.
William Getzke - Faculty.
Harry Lennon - Alumni.
Keith Phillips - Faculty.
Richard Uzzilia - Faculty.
Class of 2023:
Virginia Ambrose - Faculty.
Richard Booth - Administrator.
Kris Monteverd - Faculty.
Carol and Fred Spohler - Community Members.
Donna Wexler - Faculty.
Class of 2024:
Bridget “Bunny” Agostinoni - Alumni/Retired Faculty.
Emily Brunner - Faculty.
Patricia “Patty” Gibson - Former Coach.
Caroline Benton Pfleger - Retired Faculty.
Halloween is this Thursday, October 31! As a reminder, students who wear Halloween costumes must follow the District’s dress code. Halloween dress code expectations are:
*No hoods, masks, blindfolds, or concealing face paints are allowed.
*No representations of weapons or toy weapons are allowed.
*Your costume must follow your school’s dress code
This week in sports!
The Boys and Girls Modified Soccer Teams ended their seasons on Friday with decisive wins over Germantown. The Boys won 3-1 and the Girls won 4-0 putting an exclamation point on two wonderful seasons.
The Cairo-Durham Central School District is accepting applications for a middle school science teacher. Click here to learn more: https://www.cairodurham.org/documents/employment/job-postings/246137
For the Anti-Bullying and Drug Prevention Theme Week, CDMS students and teachers participated in "walk in someone else's shoes day" and wore mismatched shoes or traded a shoe with a friend!
The NYS Education Department has informed the District that a new phone scam is targeting parents and guardians of students who recently took the SAT or PSAT exam.
The scam call will request that parents and guardians give sensitive information, including a credit card number, in order to get the rest results. Please remember that you should not share personal or financial information over the phone with unsolicited callers. Legitimate SAT or preparatory organizations will never ask you for personal details over the phone. If you receive such a call, hang up immediately.
Additional information on protecting yourself from these scams is available below:
Always be wary of unsolicited callers: If you receive a random call from someone asking for payment, research their organization before sharing any personal information.
Double check with your child: If someone claims they're calling because of a service your child requested, hang up and check with your child first.
Understand the College Board's practices: The College Board will never ask you for your bank or credit card information over the phone or through email.
Don't give your financial information to strangers: Never agree to pay a stranger with any form of payment for a purchase you didn't initiate.
The boys Varsity Soccer team played at home last night in a very fast paced and physical game against Coxsackie-Athens in the first round of sectionals.
Zander Santarelli scored off a beautiful pass from Andrew Searing-Burke giving the Mustangs the lead which was answered shortly after by CA. The score was tied at 1-1 going into half.
With about 12 minutes left in regulation, Chase Kelly found the back of the net off a rebound from Oliver Schrull’s direct kick, giving the Mustangs the lead which they held until the buzzer. Both teams left all that they had on the field.
Cairo-Durham travels to Mechanicville on Saturday for a 4 pm start against the Red Raiders.
Let’s go Mustangs! 💙🤍
