Superintendent's Message

Dear Families,

It is my pleasure to welcome you to the 2024-25 school year! As we start this new school year, I hope that you are filled with excitement and ready for new adventures in learning. This year holds countless opportunities for growth, discovery, and making memories that will last a lifetime. Regardless of yesterday’s challenges, I encourage all to seize the opportunities of this new school year as we strive for excellence.

One of our top priorities this school year is to improve daily student attendance. Attending class regularly is crucial for academic success. Students who attend class regularly are more likely to achieve higher grades and have better academic performance overall.

According to research compiled by the United States Department of Education (https://www2.ed.gov/datastory/chronicabsenteeism.html#four) the impact of regular school attendance at ALL grade levels is critical.

Studies show that:

• Children who are chronically absent in UPK, Kindergarten and first grade are significantly less
likely to read at grade level by the third grade.

• Children who cannot read at grade level by the end of the third grade are four times more likely than proficient readers to drop out of high school.

• One study found that a child who is chronically absent in even one single year between 8th and 12th grades is seven times more likely to drop out of school.

We understand that ensuring daily attendance may be challenging at times. We are committed to partnering with families to improve school attendance and academic achievement. If you need support, please reach out to your building principal, the guidance counselor, or the school social worker.

We are excited to announce that we will be implementing ParentSquare as our communications platform this school year. ParentSquare will provide a safe and secure way for the school principal, teachers, staff, and families to communicate. Please visit the ParentSquare tab on the district website to learn more.

Over the past several weeks, our faculty and staff have worked diligently to prepare for the arrival of students
in September. During the summer, great efforts have been made behind the scenes to freshen the school buildings and grounds, prepare the buses, ready student schedules and design lessons. To all who strive to make our opening day successful, thank you!

Enclosed is our 2024-25 school calendar, which contains various upcoming events, directories, and district policies. Please note that some of our calendar events could change during the school year, so please visit our website at www.mcs.k12.ny.us (click the “Calendar” link to view the full calendar of events) for the most up-to-date information.

Thank you for your continued support of our schools and for being a partner in your children’s education. Best wishes for a successful school year!

Sincerely,

Ronald P. Burke
Superintendent of Schools