The District received communication from a few individuals inquiring as to why their school tax bill was higher than what they would have expected with a 2.04% tax levy increase. In light of those questions, we would like to provide some additional information and resources.
The school tax rate is calculated based on a formula prescribed under the direction of the New York State Department of Taxation and Finance. The tax rate is determined by dividing the tax levy by the total school taxable value x 1,000.
The school taxable value is provided to us by the Chautauqua County Real Property Tax Division, which they receive from each town assessor. The District does not have any influence over how school taxable values are established. The tax levy is the only part of the equation the District is responsible for determining.
The District would like the taxpayers to be aware that the 2026 true value tax rate is $10.238112 and is $0.286549 less than the prior year's tax rate. To determine the tax rate for each township the tax rate on true is divided by the town’s equalization rate. For example, if the equalization rate for a township is 100% the tax rate on true is applicable. If the equalization rate for a township is 64%, the tax rate applicable for that township would be $15.997050 ($10.238112 divided by .64).
Approximately two (2) percent of your tax bill increase is directly related to the tax levy increase. Any increase above that is a result of any one or potentially a combination of the following:
-Increase in Assessment as determined by your town assessor
-Removal of STAR Exemption, governed by the NYS Department of Taxation and Finance
-Decrease in Equalization Rate, governed by the NYS Department of Taxation and Finance
More information on how property taxes are calculated can be found at the following link: https://www.tax.ny.gov/pit/property/learn/proptaxcalc.htm
More information on equalization rates can be found at the following link: https://www.tax.ny.gov/pit/property/learn/eqrates.htm
If you received a STAR exemption on your tax bill last year, we encourage you to review your 2026 school tax bill and verify the exemption is on your bill for this year as some taxpayers have communicated that their STAR exemption was missing or less than previous years. If you have any questions about your STAR exemption please contact the New York State STAR Resource Center at 518-457-2036 between the hours of 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Monday through Friday.
More information on STAR can be found at the following link: https://www.tax.ny.gov/star/faqs.htm
If you have questions about any other exemptions we encourage you to contact your town assessor.
🥇 Altruismo — 1st place
🥈 Protoz — 2nd place
🥉 Reveur — 3rd place
👏 Sollevare — 4th place
Great job to all four houses for playing hard and cheering each other on!
Looking for something fun to do this winter? Join Ski Club and hit the slopes at Peek’n Peak every Friday for eight weeks of lessons and fun, beginning January 8th!
Discounted Pricing now available through October 31st. Pricing will increase on November 1st.
Anyone can purchase a ski pass through the CVCS - Peek’n Peak affiliate website. This means parents, siblings, grandparents, aunts, uncles, cousins and family friends can take advantage of the discounted pricing through the CVCS - Peek’n Peak affiliate website now available through October 31st. If Friday does not work for your family and you cannot attend Friday Ski-Club outings, choose a different day-pass, or choose an Infinity Pass and ski any day that fits your family’s schedule.
The MHS PTO is offering a $150.00 scholarship to three students participating in Ski Club for the 2027 season! All current and new Ski Club members are eligible to apply. Email middlecvpto@gmail.com to receive a copy of the scholarship application. Scholarship applications due by Oct. 9th.
If you have any questions, please contact Mr. John Cole jcole@cvcougars.org 716-962-8581 ext:1121
Peek’n Peak contact: Theresa Crandall TCrandall@visitscott.com 716–355-4141 ext:7002
Hope to see you on the slopes!
Purchase your passes using the link below.
Your affiliate link: Cassadaga Valley
Username: Cassadaga
Password: Cassadaga23
#StudentInfluencerCatie
Proceeds to benefit the CVCS Ski Club!
Your willingness to be outside in all kinds of weather, help students and families, monitor the hallways, assist with buses and parent drop-off/pick-up, and make sure everyone gets where they need to be safely does not go unnoticed.
These times of the day can be busy, but their teamwork, patience, and positive attitudes help set the tone for our students each morning and ensure they head home safely each afternoon.
We truly appreciate everything they do to keep our arrival and dismissal procedures safe, smooth, and organized! 💙❤️🐾
Thank you for being All-In for our Cougars!
#ValleyProud
We were excited to welcome Inner Lakes Federal Credit Union to Mrs. Schrader’s Life, Money and Success class! Students received an informative folder of resources and even a squishy piggy bank 🐷 to help reinforce the importance of saving.
Students learned about:
💵 Checking and savings accounts
📈 Money market accounts and certificates of deposit (CDs)
💳 The pros and cons of debit and credit cards
🛡️ Important ways to protect themselves from fraud and keep their money safe
A big thank you to Inner Lakes Federal Credit Union for helping our students build valuable financial knowledge and skills they can use for years to come! 🌟
Grades 5 & 6 explored the life and legacy of Anne Frank, learning about courage, tolerance, and the “upstanders” who risked their lives to help others during the Holocaust. Grades 7, 8 & 11 explored the Civil Rights Movement, the impact of discrimination and segregation, and ways individuals can promote equality and positive change in their communities. Grades 9, 10 & 12 examined the Holocaust, including the dangers of propaganda and prejudice, the choices made by ordinary people, and the courageous actions of those who stood up against injustice.
The Mobile Museum of Tolerance allowed our students to bring history beyond the textbook while thinking critically, making connections between the past and present, and considering how their own choices can make a difference. A special thank you to the Mobile Museum of Tolerance and Mrs. Richir for providing our students with this meaningful and memorable educational experience!
Friday is the last day to buy your yearbook at the lowest price. Pay in person with cash or check (made payable to Valley View 2027) to Mrs. Bennink in MHS room 125.
www.jostensyearbooks.com
High School Books - Grades 9-12
Middle School Books - Grades 6-8
Our Medical Director from Southern Tier Pediatrics will be visiting the school on October 23rd to perform mandated physical examinations for current students in Pre-K, Kindergarten, 1st, 3rd, and 5th grades who have not yet provided a physical examination to the school health office for the current school year.
Our health office has already reached out to students’ listed Primary Care Physicians to request any missing physicals, with the hope of obtaining these records as soon as possible.
📬 What Parents Need to Know:
If our office is unable to obtain your child's physical from their primary care provider, we will send a notice home via backpack mail in the coming weeks.
If we anticipate that your child may need to see our Medical Director, we will contact you by phone ahead of time to discuss the situation and available options.
Our goal is to ensure all students meet New York State mandated health requirements while keeping families informed throughout the process.
Thank you for your cooperation and partnership in keeping our students healthy and ready to learn! 💙
Students, get ready to show your House Pride!
👕 Wear your House colors!
👟 Wear shoes that can get dirty!
Part of our House Day activities will take place outside, and the morning dew can make the grass wet and muddy. Please dress accordingly so you can fully participate and have fun!
💜 Altruismo
🧡 Reveur
💚 Protoz
💛 Sollevare
We can’t wait for another great House Day! 🏆
Dr. Hoefer challenged students to explore the differences between human imagination and AI-generated images, beginning with a simple activity: imagining a beach at sunset. Students considered the colors, sounds, atmosphere, and emotions they envisioned before comparing their mental images with those created by artificial intelligence.
Through discussion and collaborative activities, students explored how personal experiences, memories, and emotions shape creativity, and what AI may miss when attempting to recreate our ideas. Dr. Hoefer also encouraged students to think critically about how relying too heavily on AI could affect their own imagination and creative thinking.
Her message was clear: Let your imagination lead, and let AI follow. AI can be a valuable tool for developing and expressing our ideas, but it should not replace the thinking, creativity, and personal meaning that make our work uniquely our own.
Thank you, Dr Hoefer for sharing your helpful insights with our students!
~Addy (Tanner) Mikula shifted from SES to MHS this year!
~Jordan Young is our new SES PE Teacher!
~Alicia Risley and Candi George (who've formally subbed at the school) are two of our newest Teacher Aides!
~Troy Bova has joined our transportation department as a Bus Driver and Steven Penhollow will be joining us very soon as a Bus Attendant!
~Robert Frisbee II has recently joined our maintenance team as a Working Supervisor!
We’re excited to welcome these wonderful new additions to our school community and look forward to seeing how their experience, care, and dedication will help our students and staff learn, grow, and thrive here in The Valley! 🍎✨
Students in Mrs. Schrader’s new Keystone class, “Life, Money and Success,” recently welcomed visitors from our very own Business Office! Shanda Clark and Marci Hadley helped students gain valuable, real-world knowledge by walking them through important employment documents, including the W-4 Federal Withholding Certificate, IT-2104 State Withholding Allowance Certificate, and I-9 Employment Eligibility Verification Form.
Students also learned about dependents and allowances, FSA cards, retirement benefits, health insurance benefits, and sick days—all important pieces of navigating the world of employment.
The class also learned about civil service employment as one possible pathway to explore after graduation.
We love seeing our students build practical skills and knowledge that will help prepare them for success beyond high school! 🎓
We appreciate the time, creativity, and positive energy they are putting into encouraging our Cougars to come to school, be ready to learn, and make every day count!
Their efforts are helping us celebrate our students and build a strong culture around the importance of attendance, learning, and Cougar Pride! ❤️💙🐾
This initiative supports our district-wide goal of improving student attendance and celebrating students and classrooms for being here and ready to learn each day. ❤️💙
📚 How It Works:
Each week, classrooms with great attendance will earn a Popcorn Ticket! These tickets will be displayed outside the classroom, similar to our classroom Good Behavior Tickets.
🍿 Monthly Popcorn & PJ Day!
At each monthly Leader in Me Assembly, the classrooms with the most Popcorn Tickets will have an opportunity to win a Popcorn & PJ Day!
Winning classrooms will:
✨ Enjoy delicious popcorn
🛌 Wear their favorite PJs to school
📸 Be featured outside the cafeteria
🎉 Celebrate their outstanding attendance together!
There will be one winning classroom from the PreK–1st Grade hallway and one winning classroom from the 2nd–5th Grade wing each month.
Let’s work together to make being here, being ready, and being successful a priority every day!
Great attendance = Great opportunities! 🐾🍿❤️💙
Thank you again, Ms. Nocero and Ms. Sterner, for helping our Cougars ROAR! 🐾
You can also read their September newsletter here: https://aptg.co/PfkfpC
