Welcome to the May 2026 Superintendent's Newsletter. The weather over the past couple of weeks has been all over the place, cold mornings, a few real soakers, then a stretch of sun that finally pulled the gardens and ball fields back to life, with Prospect field groomed to host soccer teams. I celebrate our entry into spring by hanging my hummingbird feeder and refilling it almost every two days to keep up with ravenous visitors.
We are in the busy final stretch of the school year, with Regents prep underway and the calendar full of spring concerts, field trips, classroom picnics, and baseball games. Our seniors just headed off to Virginia Beach with Ms. Reidell, Ms. Bovee, and Ms. Edwards, and graduation preparations are well underway. In this issue, we highlight Memorial Day, student artwork, career exploration, academics, and so much more.
Thank you for staying connected throughout the year. Please complete the 2026 Community Survey below.
In appreciation, Dr. C.
2026 COMMUNITY SURVEY ~ PLEASE SHARE YOUR FEEDBACK! Please take our community survey and share your thoughtful feedback - SURVEY LINK. The survey should take approximately 10-15 minutes to complete. Your responses will be kept confidential and will only be reported in aggregate form. The more voices we hear, the better we can serve all stakeholders. We need your help to achieve this goal! If you would like to discuss any of these questions, please email schauncey@northvillecsd.org. Dr. Chauncey will schedule a phone, WebEx, or in-person meeting.
MEMORIAL DAY IN NORTHVILLE Monday evening was my fifth Memorial Day celebration in Northville. The weather and setting were perfect. The guest speaker, Air Force Technical Sgt. Gabriel Enders, a Northville CSD graduate, shared his love for the community and spoke to "coming home" each time he crossed the bridge into the village.
Throughout the school year, 9th- and 10th-grade students participated in six career presentations featuring professionals from a variety of fields, including National Grid, St. Mary’s Hospital, protective services, digital marketing and photography, engineering, and real estate. Several of the guest speakers were NCS alumni, and we were pleased to welcome back Tom Groff, Rick Richardson, Todd Bailey, Gabe Enders, and Kim (Miller) Kemper.
HELP GRANT SCHOLARSHIP ~ MS. IZZO
An NCS senior has been awarded the HELP Grant for Fall 2026, a new program offered through the New York State Department of Health and St. Mary’s Hospital. The grant supports students pursuing careers in healthcare within New York State. Through this award, the student received full coverage for tuition, books, and wraparound services, including room and board, tutoring, childcare, and transportation. In exchange for funding her degree, she has committed to working at St. Mary’s Hospital for three years following graduation.
COLLEGE VISITS ~ MS. IZZO
On April 23rd, the 10th graders toured Hudson Valley Community College. On May 1st, the 9th graders visited Fulton-Montgomery Community College. On May 5th, the 11th graders learned about the program and campus opportunities at the University at Albany and Siena University.
ALBANY VISIT ~ MR. KARBOWSKI
On Wednesday, May 13th, 35 Northville senior students visited the New York State Capitol Building in Albany. Senator Mark Walczyk provided the students with a thorough 2-hour tour of the Capitol Building. Highlights of the tour included the Million Dollar Staircase, the War Room, and visits to both the Assembly and Senate Chambers. Students asked insightful questions and experienced the legislative process firsthand.
THE CAPITAL AREA SCHOOL DEVELOPMENT ASSOCIATION (CASDA)
Leah Valovic
Leah is truly one of a kind. Her resilience, determination, and compassion make a lasting impact on everyone around her. Despite facing personal challenges, she continues to overcome adversity with strength and positivity. Deeply involved in her school community, Leah is recognized as a dependable leader, supportive peer, and role model whose character and perseverance inspire others every day.
Karen Izzo
Mrs. Izzo has supported me through every challenge, always offering encouragement, advice, and kindness. She has done so much to help me succeed academically and personally throughout high school. I am truly grateful for everything she has done for me.
ELEMENTARY SCHOOL SPRING CONCERT ~ MS. McKNIGHT, MR. MARTIN & STAFF
Our elementary spring concert took us on a journey with songs from around the world. The students shared songs and instrumental pieces with such joy! Thank you, Ms. McKnight, Mr. Martin, and the teachers for helping our students develop and showcase their talents. The program finale, which brought all of our PreK-5th-grade students to the risers to sing a selection from "We Are the World." You can listen to the finale in the video below.
AROUND THE WORLD ART TOUR & EMU ART ~5th GRADE ~ MS. JACKSON
WRITING ~ TWR MULTI-PARAGRAPH ~ EXAMPLE FROM MR. HAMMONS CLASS
Our students in grades 3–5 are working on multi-paragraph writing using The Writing Revolution (TWR). In this video, students identify key details and organize them into paragraphs. They also practice using topic, closing, and transition sentences to develop stronger, more complete essays.
TROUT IN THE CLASSROOM
Thank you to Fulton County, Mr. Jason Kemper, and Mr. Hammons for supporting this project. I enjoy visiting the trout babies as they develop in the classroom aquarium!
ALUMNI SPOTLIGHT - MS. PURDY'S GRANDMOTHER ~ DORA "ANNA" KING
Ms. Purdy shared the following about her grandmother. Dora "Anna" Knowlton-King had three children. She loved camping and fishing in Wells at the "Forks." She wallpapered every room at the old Sacandaga Hotel. She worked at the glove factory that was on 1st Street in Northville. She passed away at age 50. Ms. Purdy and I chatted about how important it is to collect family stories.
CAFETERIA STAFF
Many thanks to our cafeteria staff, who will be so flexible in prepping and serving meals during the next phase of our capital project. We will break through the wall into our current cafeteria starting June 1st. Breakfasts and lunches will be served in classrooms and in our gym over the next three weeks.
ALUMNI SIGN-UP FORM
Northville CSD is building an alumni database to celebrate your accomplishments, strengthen connections, and open new opportunities for engagement with our students and community. We'd love to hear from you, whether you're just starting or well into your career! Please take a few minutes to complete this form and share your journey with us. Your story matters—and it might inspire the next generation of Falcons! Please complete this form to become part of our database. Your information will not be shared; it will only be used to support our alumni efforts as described above! LINK TO FORM or scan the QR Code with your phone.
TELHEALTH SERVICES ~ MRS. RENNER
NCS will offer telehealth services to students and staff through Albany Medical Center for the 2025-26 school year. We are excited and hopeful that this partnership will help alleviate some of the stress that often arises when a child needs medical care. Not only will our students have this service available during the school day, but it can also be used at home by anyone, including adults!
Please see the informational flyer and pre-registration form. A QR code is also included on the flyer and below if you wish to complete online registration. We strongly urge pre-registration to expedite care, but please be assured that your child will never be seen by a telehealth provider without your consent (every time). The Albany Med team will be at Open House on 09/16 at 6:30pm to offer insight and assist with registration. We hope many of our students take advantage of this excellent service!
Mrs. Fitzgerald posts to Northville CSD Parent Square daily to inform us about the numerous events that make our school and extended community such vibrant, welcoming spaces. Her efforts are essential to maintaining our strong sense of community. Also, be sure to check out our Facebook and Instagram pages.
We're always eager to support organizations contributing to our community's well-being. If you're involved with a community event you'd like us to promote, please don't hesitate to reach out. We're happy to help spread the word. If you would like to meet with me in person or virtually, just email or call to schedule a time during the school day or after your workday.
