

Principal
Mr. Luke Carnicelli
Assistant Principal/AD
Ms. Caitlin Wasielewski
Phone:
315.364.7111 x2103
Fax:
315.364.8207
Address:
2384 Route 34B,
Aurora, NY 13026
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Our 2023-24 School Motto: Strive for Excellence!
Greetings Grade 6-12 Families,
I am pleased to report that overall we had an amazing start to the 2023-24 school year! I hope your child(ren) feels the same way. I am always impressed with our students as they handle the transition to the start of school so well. It is so great to see all our students back on campus.
If you have not already, please check your child's School Tool Acct in the next few weeks for assignment completion, marking period grades, attendance, etc... Also, to note, each marking period is outlined on page 6 of the student handbook. If you have any questions on your Schooltool login, please contact Ms. Bergen bergenk@southerncayuga.org in the guidance office.
And, we will conduct our Fall safety drills in the next several weeks (Fire & Lockdown drills).
A few announcements...US News & World Report -- Best High Schools
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I am very pleased to report that SC Sr HS students continue to perform at the top level in Cayuga County. Southern Cayuga 7-12 Secondary School earned high National and metro-area rankings in 2023-2024 Best High Schools, which U.S. News released on Aug 29, 2023. Click here for our updated U.S. News profile page, with details about our rankings. SC Sr HS ranked in the top 20% of all High Schools in NYS. Congrats SC!
Pk-12 Open House/Curriculum Night
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On Thurs, September 21 from 5:30-7:30pm. Teachers will be in their rooms for Meet & Greet, Syllabus & Curriculum Map share. At the Jr/Sr HS entrance we will have student schedules and room maps for families to follow at your leisure. Students are welcome to accompany their families at Open House.
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We plan to have all our Jr & Sr HS Curriculum maps updated and posted on the HS website by the beginning of October.
Student Pictures
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School Pictures are planned for Thurs, September 21 in the morning for all grades 6-12 students. Please use the information/website below to pre-order your picture packages. Print forms will be distributed to students next week or you can print another copy from the district website, under announcements. Picture make-up day is November 6.
Website: www.inter-state.com/order -- Order Code: 79226RA
Athletics & Homecoming games/dance
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Please use this link for our Fall Sports Schedule. Our school community is cordially invited to each game. Please come out and support our student-athletes.
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Our 2023 homecoming games are on Sept 29 & 30, use this link to locate games and times. Our homecoming dances will be on Sat, 9/30. Jr HS (grades 7-8) from 4:00-5:30pm and Sr HS (grades 9-12) from 6:00-8:00pm in the HS gym. Tickets for the dance will be sold during lunch the week prior to the event.
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Also, if you are interested in supporting our teams by volunteering at the Booster Club concession stand, please email scboosters34@yahoo.com
2023-24 School Improvement Planning (Year 3 of 3)
Educational Initiative #1: MTSS (Multi-Tier Student Support) Programming
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Teachers will collect individual student data on progress towards the NYS power/priority standards in each content area.
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Academic, behavioral, and attendance data will be reviewed and analyzed every 2-3 weeks in all classes. Academic interventions will then be determined to assist students.
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The MTSS system will be used to analyze overall student progress every 2-3 weeks and reported to student families every 6 weeks to ensure each student is showing growth.
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Interventions will be collected and analyzed (each marking period) to determine if the supports at each Tier level are meeting student needs.
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Other measures & goals:
1. We will update curriculum maps for power/priority standards by September 15, 2023.
2. Our goal is to move all students to proficiency on the power/priority standards through weekly data collection, differentiation, and interventions as needed monitored via the MTSS data collection process.
Educational Initiative #2: Character Ed Programming
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Teachers will implement a SEL/character education program, Second Step at the 7-8 grade level, and Character Strong at the 9-12 grade levels one to two times per month. Students will also participate in character education activities during advisory to continue building skills.
Mascot Change Committee Update – Click here for details
SC Jr/Sr HS Community Advisory Council (CAC)
Background: A large part of our success at SC Jr/Sr HS is tied directly to home-school communication and parental support of our school mission and initiatives. The CAC is designed to advise the Principal with strategies that the school staff can assist with the home-school connection.
Charge: To support academics at home, To make suggestions for the best ways to communicate with parents, To discuss academic initiatives.
Meetings: The following Wednesdays... Nov 15, 2023 and Mar 13, 2024.
All meetings will be held via Zoom from 5:00-6:00p.m. Agendas for each meeting are sent via email.
Please follow us on Twitter...
https://twitter.com/Southern_
https://twitter.com/
Take care & Go Chiefs!
Luke
August 31, 2023
Dear Students,
Students in grades 6-12, please click the following link for the Student Handbook/Chromebook Sign-Off Form.
Please complete this form by Friday, September 8, 2023.
Thank you.
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August 18, 2023
Starting next week, the SCCS Schooltool portal will be open to review school information regarding your child. During the school year, attendance, grades, contact information, disciplinary information, etc. will be available using this program.
Cell Phone Use (Grades 6-12)
Cell phones can be a major distraction to a student’s progress in school. We ask the following of our students…
- Students in grades 6, 7, and 8: Cell phones are off and away the entire school day. If a student brings their cell phone to school, they must keep it in their locker during the school day.
- Students in grades 9 & 10: No cell phones permitted during all classes (phones should be off and away). Teachers will ask students to place their phone in a classroom holder if they have their phone on them. Students may check/use their phone between classes and during lunch.
- Students in grades 11 & 12: Cell phones are permitted during classes if allowed by the teacher. Use of cell phones in a classroom is solely up to the discretion of the teacher. Cell phone use in the hallways and during lunch is allowed.
Consequence Progression: 1st offense: Collect phone, return to student at the end of the day; 2nd offense: collect phone, return to parent; 3rd offense: Collect phone, return to parent, ISS; 4th offense: multiple ISS days. Note: If a student fails to turn the phone over to a staff member the student will be subject to ISS or OSS.
Attendance Policy (Grades 6-12)
Every student has the right to educational opportunities that will enable the student to develop to their fullest potential. To maximize these opportunities, it is the responsibility of the student to be in attendance daily. Southern Cayuga Jr/Sr High School is committed to the philosophy that every student should attend every class every day. Regular attendance and promptness is expected in all classes and are essential for student success in school. An absence will be recorded for each that a student is not present within the class.
Families, please contact the main office if your child is not able to attend school.
Grades 9-12: 315-364-7111 x2103 or cartnerj@southerncayuga.org
Grades 6-8: 315-364-7111 x2114 or bergenk@southerncayuga.org
Under New York State Education Law Section 3205, parents are responsible for the regular attendance of their children for instruction. State law mandates that students must attend school until the age of 16. Students must finish the school year upon turning 16 years of age. Schools are required to code absences (the reason) for the attendance records. When no reliable information is received within a reasonable time and the absence does not meet an excused reason (pg. 11 in the handbook), it will be considered unexcused.
Dress Code (Grades 6-12)
As fully stated on page 16 of the student handbook, we believe that appropriate attire is important in developing worthwhile attitudes about the importance of school. Teachers and all other personnel should exemplify and reinforce acceptable student dress and help students develop an understanding of appropriate appearance in the school setting. Students will wear clothing and carry possessions that are appropriate for the school atmosphere. Backpacks… It is suggested that students purchase a mesh or see-through backpack, especially if they would like to carry items throughout the school day. A limited number of mesh bags will be available for students to use throughout the school year. Small purses/handbags may also be carried for personal items only. Normal type backpacks are not allowed during the school day for safety precautions. However, a normal backpack may be carried to and from school/bus to the student’s locker and left in the locker until the end of the day. Students are encouraged to use their locker throughout the school day to store their books/belongings and to keep their items secure.
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August 1, 2023
Hello Families-
On behalf of SCCS grade 6-12 staff, we would like to extend a warm welcome to the 2023-24 school year. We are excited to welcome all our students back to school on Wed, September 6.
A few announcements...
- Please see the attached school supply list for grades 6-12. Our goal with school supplies is to ask families to purchase only a few items.
- A reminder of our school day times, no changes from last school year...
Grades 9-12: 7:40am-2:11pm
Grades 7/8: 7:40am-2:13pm
Grade 6: 9:00am-3:30pm
- 2023-24 student schedules and our initial school newsletters in grades 6-12 will be mailed by August 18, please be on the lookout for this letter in the next few weeks.
- A reminder regarding the upcoming Fall sports season (grades 7-12)...
Parent/Athlete Information Night: Wed, August 9 at 6:00pm in the Auditorium.
Sports Physicals: August 9 & 17, please email Anne Reynolds, Jr/Sr HS Nurse via ReynoldsAnne@southerncayuga.org to schedule a time.
Varsity Sports Begin: August 21
Modified Sports Begin: August 23
- We will hold an open visitation day for students in grades 6-12 on Thurs, August 31 from 2-4pm. Students and families are welcome to stop into school to get acclimated with locker and classroom locations.
- And, a few September event reminders...
K-12 open house/curriculum night: Thurs, September 21 -- 5:30-7:30pm
Grade 6-12 picture day: September 21. Additional details on picture orders will be shared in September.
Stay up-to-date on Jr/Sr HS news using the school website and Twitter page.
Take care,
Luke
As always, if there is anything I can answer or assist with, please do not hesitate to email me at carnicellil@southerncayuga.org. I look forward to working with you and your child this school year.
SC Jr/Sr HS Community Advisory Council (CAC)
Background: A large part of our success at SC Jr/Sr HS is tied directly to home-school communication and parental support of our school mission and initiatives. The CAC is designed to advise the Principal with strategies that the school staff can assist with the home-school connection.
Charge: To support academics at home, To make suggestions for the best ways to communicate with parents, To discuss academic initiatives.
Meetings: The following Wednesdays... Nov 15, 2023 and Mar 13, 2024.
All meetings will be held via Zoom from 5:00-6:00p.m. Agendas for each meeting are sent via email.
Mission Statement: The Mission of Southern Cayuga Jr/Sr High School is to create an environment that is conducive to personal and academic excellence.
This will be accomplished by creating a school community that embodies the principles of being: Safe, Respectful, Responsible, and Kind.
Southern Cayuga Jr/Sr High School does not restrict students on the basis of race/ethnicity, religion, physical handicap subject to medical eligibility, or gender.
ACT vs SAT
Schooltool Family Login Guide
Tier 2 Vocab List gr 11/12
Tier 2 Vocab List gr 7/8
Tier 2 Vocab List gr 9/10
23-24 Supply List
23-24 Student Handbook Gr 6-12
SCCS Class of 2023 Newsletter
Jr HS Program Brochure
SCCS Safety Protocol Guide
Seasonal Flu Info (Eng)
Seasonal Flu Info (Span)
Student Picture Form 2023