This morning at Caroline Elementary, families gathered for an inspiring Celebration of Learning! 🎉 Students proudly showcased their "Leaders of Change" books and portraits throughout the hallways, showcasing their incredible talents and creativity. 🌟📚✨
The Ithaca City School District (ICSD) was notified that its application for the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) 2023 Clean School Bus (CSB) Rebates was selected for funding in the amount of $800,000. The reserved funds are for four new electric buses, eligible infrastructure, and other eligible expenses to be used over the course of two years.
On June 18, residents of the ICSD will head back to the polls to vote on a new budget and an amended Proposition 2, which will ask voters to authorize the district to purchase up to two electric buses, only with rebates to defray costs, two ultra-low propane buses with wheelchair-accessible lifts, and three passenger vehicles. Notably, Proposition 2 was reduced from $3.2 million to $1.6 million. Proposition 2 is not taken from the General Fund but rather from a savings account called “Capital Reserve,” which can only be used for bus purchases. Every year, the district replaces buses that have aged out of the fleet and need to be taken off of the road as well as other vehicles that support students and facilities.
Check out the news story to learn more: https://www.ithacacityschools.org/article/1632589
On Monday, the Ithaca City School District (ICSD) Board of Education voted to approve a new budget for the fiscal year 2024-2025 in the amount of $163,012,098, a 2.79% increase over the current year (below the state tax cap of 2.9%). This is $5.9 million reduction to the budget proposed on May 21.
Please join us this Friday, June 7, at the Enfield Community Center at 4:30 p.m. for a community conversation about the new proposed budget.
The ICSD will hold the budget re-vote on Tuesday, June 18. Polls will be open from 12-9 p.m. For more information, including district polling locations and absentee and early mail ballot applications, visit ithacacityschools.org/vote.
🌟Junior Prom Photos Now Available🌟
On May 18, IHS held their Junior Prom at Celebrations. It was a night to remember! 🕺💃✨
Thank you to everyone who made it so special – friends, teachers, and the incredible organizers. 🎉💖
Full album: https://photos.app.goo.gl/mnwERqtFqZHp9v5F7
Yesterday, after many months of advocacy and hard work, the Haudenosaunee (Hood-en-no-sho-nee) flag was raised at Ithaca High School (IHS). Huge shout out to our students Rhianne Rushing '24, Naveena Clark '24, and Brenna Lucio-Belbase '25 for their tireless work and efforts that have come to fruition. Special thanks to Paul Heiland, Social Studies teacher at IHS, and Martha Hardesty, Associate Principal at IHS, for their support of our students.
At the end of November, the Ithaca City School District Board of Education unanimously voted to permit the flying of the Haudenosaunee flag on one of the two flagpoles at IHS, in consultation with members of the Haudenosaunee community.
The Haudenosaunee Confederacy is a group of six Native American nations: the Mohawk, Oneida, Onondaga, Cayuga, Seneca, and Tuscarora. The flag depicts the Hiawatha belt, traditionally created using wampum shells, and is a symbol of unity, peace, and strength among these nations. Displaying the flag at IHS signifies a deep respect for the native people and the land on which the school sits.
In collaboration with Ithaca Murals, AP art students painted a downtown power box to address an essential cause of food security. Their artwork, which includes themes from their AP Art Portfolios 🎨, serves as a powerful call to action. Check out their incredible work or visit the power box on the corner of State and Albany!
This morning, BJM students in the band and orchestra delivered an exciting performance for their classmates and families! The repertoire included everything from classics like "Hot Cross Buns" (BJM style) to the rock anthem "We Will Rock You," and even featured an original composition. Thank you to everyone who came out to support these talented kids and celebrate their hard work!
Earlier this month, LACS theatre took to the stage to present a double bill: Shakespeare's Twelfth Night and 10 Ways to Survive the Zombie Apocalypse! Our students delivered hilarious and impressive performances. Bravo! 🎭👏
The ICSD Fine and Performing Arts department provides opportunities to study theatre, both drama and musicals, cultivate student voice, agency, and the craft of theatrical storytelling. Student leadership opportunities are offered in assembling theatrical productions, theatrical design, and production crew. This year, the department has hosted over 40 performing arts events, including theatrical productions, concerts, and art shows in ICSD performance spaces.
🎶 Fall Creek Elementary rocked the gym this morning for their Spring concert 🎵
Thank you to everyone who came out to support our young musicians and make it a memorable morning!
This year's Budget Vote and School Board Election will be held on Tuesday, May 21. Polls will be open from 12 noon until 9 p.m.
To check your polling location and learn more about early mail and absentee ballots, visit ithacacityschools.org/vote!
On March 28, DeWitt Middle School held their talent show, "A Night Under the Stars". Talent shows encourage self-expression and self-motivation, build and develop self-confidence, and can play an important role in children's development. Way to go, performers! Thank you to our community for supporting them.
Last week, students at LACS and DeWitt Middle School shared part of their day with Randi Weingarten, President of the American Federation of Teachers, and Melinda Person, President of New York State United Teachers.
The day fostered collaboration and celebration of the shared commitment to educational excellence and served to highlight the way our educators incorporate hands-on, real-life skills like cooking, interpersonal relationship-building, and student self-care into the curriculum.
Read more about it here: https://www.ithacacityschools.org/article/1501987
✨ 🎥The second video in a series of superintendent interviews, "Sitting Down with Dr. Brown," is out now! Led by Ithaca High School 9th grader Gracelynn (Gracie) Lomax. 🎥✨
Gracie asks Dr. Brown about what it means to have a community of students look up to him, how he defines community, how he supports the cultivation of safe spaces for students and staff, and more.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SQqgsJGoSvw
On February 7, kindergarteners at Fall Creek were thrilled to welcome their families into their classrooms to showcase all they are learning!
On January 26, Caroline Elementary students and families gathered in the cafeteria to listen to fourth graders present projects on the Haudenosaunee and to hear fifth graders sing in the chorus!
New ICSD story on Inclusive Learning! 🌟
Read about it here: https://www.ithacacityschools.org/article/1434018
“In pursuit of a more effective and inclusive approach to English Language Arts (ELA) instruction, second-grade teachers Hannah Zimar and Alex Graves at Fall Creek Elementary School have embraced the Integrated Co-Teaching (ICT) model.”
Enfield Elementary students recently completed a challenge to fill their community jar with pompoms, which earned them a roller skating party! 🛼🛼
Students were awarded a pompom when they demonstrated that they were taking care of themselves, taking care of each other, or taking care of the Enfield community as a whole 💙
On December 21, our Scholar Athlete Council sponsored the first-ever Women in Sports Panel in Kulp Auditorium! 12 ICSD grads shared their experiences as scholar-athletes at the collegiate level with current ICSD female-identifying athletes. It was an impactful experience for all who attended!
Thank you to all of our alumni who participated in this event. We love it when our ICSD family comes home.
On December 19, Ithaca High School choirs performed in their winter concert! ☃️
At Caroline Elementary, the monthly all-school assembly this December featured the 6-Mile Dancers and a kindergarten play about our emotions! 🎶✨
