“Name The Cougar” — A New Valley Proud Initiative at SES
Mr. Fredrick, Mrs. Peterson, and Mrs. Quattrone are collaborating on an exciting new project titled “Name The Cougar.” While the team is still in the early stages, they’re eager for the next phases to roll out during the 2025–26 school year.
“Name The Cougar” is a Valley Proud initiative focused on building a strong, unified, and engaging system for our elementary students at SES. Centered around our school mascot—the cougar—the project aims to create a fun and meaningful way to promote bringing out the best in EVERY student. The best part: it requires minimal additional time from teachers and staff!
By transforming our cougar mascot into a dynamic, cartoon-style character with a unique name and personality, we can create a memorable figure that represents and reinforces positive behaviors across the school. This creative approach blends consistency, community-building, and school spirit to foster a culture of kindness, respect, responsibility, and safety.
Mrs. Quattrone is currently finalizing the kid-friendly, cartoon rendering of the cougar. The design will highlight the qualities we want students to embody—kindness, courage, responsibility, and respect—drawn from the Leader in Me program. Once the design is complete, staff will submit name suggestions, which will then be narrowed down to three finalists. A school-wide naming contest will follow, giving students the chance to vote for the winning name—building early ownership and excitement!
Lastly, the SES PTO is partnering with a local vendor to feature our new cougar mascot on school merchandise such as cups, clothing, and other spirit items available to the school community.
A big thank you goes out to custodians Dora and Amanda, for saving all the paper towel rolls used to make the tree trunks. Their help made this fun project possible!
Our library is more than just a place for books — it's a welcoming space where students learn to love reading, explore new ideas, and feel supported every day. Kim and Lisa work tirelessly to keep this space vibrant and engaging, and Romeo adds his own special magic by offering comfort and calm to students who need it.
📖 This week is extra special — it's Book Fair Week at SES! The Book Fair is one of our biggest and most exciting events of the year. It takes weeks of planning and preparation behind the scenes to make it the magical experience our students and families enjoy. From organizing book displays to creating inviting decorations, coordinating with vendors, managing volunteers, and setting up shopping times for each class — it's truly a labor of love.
We want to give a HUGE thank you to Kim, Lisa, and Romeo for making the library a heart of our school — and for going above and beyond to bring the Book Fair to life. Your hard work and dedication are appreciated more than words can say!
📚✨ Be sure to stop by the Book Fair this week and support our library — and don't forget to say hi to Romeo while you're there! https://bookfairs.scholastic.com/bf/sinclairvilleelementarysch?fbclid=IwY2xjawNbPixleHRuA2FlbQIxMABicmlkETFBUGtlbDRiSTJiY2VsZ0t1AR6CsdA9GjNZ6wIIwe1WBa6e3_wJrYNmgyzUvvtwnPH48FxsiG8Ujqk6SL7OZQ_aem_gCwWmUfx2TBgL2N-e3kUAQ
This week, we proudly recognize and celebrate the incredible dedication of our Board of Education: Aaron Richner, Board President; Diane Ellsworth, Board Vice President; Marcus Clark, Board Member; Matthew Miller, Board Member; and Dylan Runge, Board Member—a team of committed volunteers who work tirelessly behind the scenes to help shape the future of our district.
💼 Not only do they attend monthly meetings, but they also serve on numerous committees—consistently showing up with purpose and passion.
💪 Their unwavering commitment to our district’s goals—and their steadfast belief that we can achieve them—continues to inspire positive change and growth in every corner of our schools.
👩🎓 We’d also like to give a special shoutout to our new student board member, Emma Daigle! A true example of Cougar spirit, she’s deeply involved in sports, music, and multiple clubs—and still makes time to attend monthly meetings and contribute to other school committees. Her voice brings an important student perspective to the table, and we’re so grateful for her dedication and leadership.
🐾 These Cougars don't just support from the sidelines—they ROAR with vision, leadership, and heart!
Please join us in thanking our Board of Education for their time, energy, and belief in our students, staff, and community. We are stronger because of you!
Reminder that the SES book fair starts tomorrow! Yes, tomorrow is a holiday but you can still shop online!
https://bookfairs.scholastic.com/bf/sinclairvilleelementarysch
Last week, students were enjoying one of our new Middle School Clubs, Pickup Basketball, led by Mr. Wilcox 🏀⛹️
Help us drive solutions for The Valley!
Cassadaga Valley is looking to team up with students, families, staff, and community members to find creative, practical solutions to today’s transportation challenges — from the national driver shortage to coordinating travel for shared sports and extracurriculars.
✅ Explore solutions to the driver shortage
✅ Improve coordination for shared sports & events
✅ Support safe, efficient transportation for all students
We are seeking:
2 Parent Reps
2 Students/Student-Athletes
2 Bus Drivers / 1 Bus Attendant
At least 1 Coach
🗓️ First two meetings: 10/22 and 11/12
We need your voice, your ideas, and your experience.
📧 Email mwilson@cvcougars.org today to join the committee and help us move forward together.
Yesterday our PreK students had a fun-filled day of hands-on learning! Activities included rainbow names, building the number 1, roll and color shapes, and an exciting fall-themed sensory hunt. We love seeing our youngest learners grow through play!
We want to make sure every family is receiving important district notifications — especially as winter approaches and snow day alerts become more likely.
Yesterday, we sent out an all-call phone call and text message about our upcoming planned lockdown drills.
👉 Did you receive the call and/or text?
If you did NOT receive either, please email Melissa Wilson in the District Office at mwilson@cvcougars.org so we can update your contact information.
⚠️ If you received the call but NOT the text:
Sometimes, if you’ve opted out of too many automated texts, your phone carrier may start blocking them altogether. Please reach out to your carrier to ensure you're able to receive school alerts.
Thank you for helping us keep communication clear and consistent for everyone's safety and awareness! ❄️📲
Thank you for helping our students thrive every day! 👏
#ValleyProud!
The History Club kicked off the year with an exciting first meeting where students brainstormed a list of activities, trips, and projects they’re eager to take on this year. From local history explorations to volunteering, there’s no shortage of ideas or enthusiasm! We can see why this club is one of the largest at the school.
Club officers, elected at the end of last year, were introduced and are ready to lead the charge alongside the club’s new advisor, Mr. Schrader with support from Mrs. Richir. It’s shaping up to be a fantastic year full of learning, leadership, and Cougar Pride! 🐾📚
#ValleyProud #CougarHistory #CVCS #StudentLeaders #CougarPride
On Wednesday, October 15, 2025 both of our buildings (MHS & SES) will conduct planned lockdown drills as part of our ongoing commitment to safety and emergency preparedness. New York State law requires public schools to notify parents about a planned lockdown drill to ensure safety and reduce potential trauma for students and staff.
These drills are scheduled in advance and provide an important opportunity for students, faculty, and staff to practice lockdown procedures in a calm and structured environment.
Following the drills, building administrators will meet with faculty and staff to debrief and identify practical ways to further enhance safety protocols.
If you have any questions, please contact the office at MHS or SES. We appreciate your support in helping us maintain a safe school environment.
🏈🏀 Student-Athletes & Families — Don’t Miss This! 🏐⚽
Cassadaga Valley Presents: The Sleep Guy – October 10th!
We’re excited to welcome Chris Sargent, known as “The Sleep Guy,” for a special FREE presentation focused on how sleep directly impacts athletic performance. Sargent works with student-athletes across New York State to help them reach their full potential — and it all starts with better sleep.
Whether you’re training for your next big game or just trying to stay sharp in school, understanding how sleep fuels your body and brain is a game-changer. This is a must-attend event for athletes, coaches, and families who want to unlock that next level.
🕔 5:00–6:00 PM — Family Dinner Fundraiser in the MHS cafeteria
🕕 6:00 PM — Engaging presentation by The Sleep Guy in the MHS Auditorium
Let’s take our performance — on and off the field — to the next level. See you there!
Mrs. Wise’s 4th grade class had the amazing opportunity to join a live webinar with award-winning author Katherine Applegate, best known for The One and Only Ivan, Wishtree, and many other beloved books. 💬🐘🌳
Students listened as she read from her newest novel, Pocket Bear, and then took part in a Q&A session where they could ask her questions directly. One of the most inspiring moments came when she told students, “If you don’t like reading yet, you just haven’t found your ‘best friend’ book.” ❤️📖
She also encouraged them to keep writing and sharing their stories—reminding us all that we’re storytellers at heart.
What an unforgettable experience for our young readers and writers!
👩🍳 Made delicious homemade applesauce
🎶 Built “Mat Man” while learning about body parts and spatial awareness through music
🌈 Explored light and color using the Kodo Kids Light Table
It’s been a fun-filled start to the year, and we can’t wait to see what they discover next! 💡🎉
https://www.cvcougars.org/page/employment-opportunities
