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February Family Newsletter: MIDDLE SCHOOL
Adirondack Middle School FEBRUARY 2026 Principal's Message Good afternoon, middle school families, Students who were only absent 0-2 days in Marking Period 2 were given "Responsible Attendance" certificates today at lunch with 3 green tickets. The goal is for students to not miss more than 18 days of school each year, as that is 10% of the school year. Thank you for helping your child achieve this attendance achievement for marking 2. If a student did not earn it, marking period 3 is a fresh start! At Adirondack Middle School, cell phones are "OFF & AWAY" during the day. Students are only able to put their cell phone (turned OFF) in their locker or pencil pouch. If your child is in 7th or 8th grade, please review this with them and ensure they are not hiding their cell phones in their waistbands. Students do this and then go to the restroom ( a lot!) to check their phone. Cell phones out in the bathroom (or locker room or health office) are a HUGE privacy concern. Additionally, this is a good time to remind all families that students are supposed to be 13 years old to be on any social media. There is a graphic included in the newsletter with more detailed information on social media age restrictions. I tell students that it is a family decision to purchase a cell phone for a child. However, when students access social media (or bring a phone to school) it then is necessary for school and home to partner. The choices students make on social media outside of school can still definitely impact our school building. Examples include: Cyberbullying Posting inappropriate photos or videos that are then sent around to other students Threats (written, verbal or implied) Age restrictions are in place for a reason on social media because their adolescent brains cannot handle all that comes with it. I often tell students that if I was in charge, students would need to do the following to access a cell phone and social media: Turn 16 Get a permit (after taking a test) Get a phone/social media license after taking another test Have to get cell phone/social media insurance All the same things they need to do to drive a car! But truly, cell phones and social media can be a tool of destruction when students are not ready for the responsibility they require. Thank you for your support as we work together to ensure a safe and orderly learning environment for all students! As always, please reach out via email, parent square, or by phone with any questions or concerns. I am proud to partner with each Adirondack Middle School Family to ensure success for our students! Thanks, Mrs. Brandie Collins Principal Adirondack Middle School (315) 942-9200 x4500 BCollins@Adirondackcsd.org SOCIAL MEDIA AGE RATINGS: WHY THEY MATTER From The Contented Child via Instagram "This post breaks down the age ratings for the most commonly used social media platforms — and more importantly, why those ages exist. These limits aren’t about being strict or out of touch; they’re there because younger brains simply aren’t ready for the pressures, demands and risks that come with online spaces. Under 13's are still developing key skills in emotional regulation, social understanding and impulse control. Many platforms also rely on data collection, algorithms, and dopamine-driven reward loops that younger children are particularly vulnerable to. Exposure too early can affect sleep, self-esteem, attention, and mental health — and increases the risk of cyberbullying, comparison fatigue and addictive use. This isn’t about judgement. Many parents feel pressure to allow early access because “everyone else has it”. But understanding the reasoning behind these age ratings gives you the confidence to hold firm, set boundaries, and protect your child’s wellbeing." Family Handbook This year, all students were sent home with a printed Middle School Family Handbook. This booklet is designed to be a resource for your family throughout the school year so keep it handy and refer to it as needed. Each month in the family newsletter, different sections of the handbook will be featured. This month includes: Restricted List & Mandatory 10th (p. 15) School Health Office (p. 16) Medication in School (p. 16) Health Requirements (p. 16) Immunizations (p. 16) Counseling Department (p. 17) Reporting Discrimination, Harrassment, and Bullying (p. 17) If your child did not bring a handbook home, please contact the main office and we will send it home. It can also be accessed electronically by clicking here or going to the Adirondack Website. FAMILY HANDBOOK- click here 8th Grade Technology 8th Grade ELA - Back from Break Project Academic Achievement - Marking Period 2 Great job, Wildcats! Adirondack Middle School and Principal Brandie Collins proudly reports that the following students have demonstrated outstanding academic achievement for the 2nd marking period for the 2025-2026 academic year. Congratulations Wildcats!! High Honor Roll 94.5-100 5th grade-Brock Bala, Matix Hutchins, William Leuenberger, Elias Pitts 6th grade-Caleb Bourgeois, Aidyn Bowman, Taylor Henry, Elijah Mercurio, Ryan Petersen, Ezlynn Platt, Francis Roginski, Miles Seigers, Eleanor Stephenson, Sophia Sturtevant, Armante Ventequattro, Rowan Wallace, Avery Zanker 7th grade-Natalie Allen, Isabella Burdick, Charlotte Croniser, Olivia Gydesen, Maddox James-Wahl, Kira Nellenback, Zander Platt, Reegan Ritter, Olivia Schoff, Domenica Ventiquattro, Brook Wilcox 8th grade-Brynlee Bala, Miley Hutchins, Rosalie Mourer, Isabella Reeder, Molly Seigers, Jason Suminguit, Juniper Wallce, Bella Ward Honor Roll 89.5-94.49 5th grade-Ryleigh Adams, Nathan Allen, Casen Bruni, Levi Champion, Jonathan Crill, Colton Curry, Evangeline Dutch, Nolan Gydesen, Ellie Lastowski, Eric Leuenberger, Gavin Maine, Jason McDonald, Reilly Moore, Hunter Nellenback, Maya Perry, Rylee Peters, Ella Pfendler, Margaret Ross, Brody Salman, Harlan Smith, Allie Sperry, Eli Spicer, Angelica Strain, Jaxon Williamson 6th grade-Kwame Addo, Jadyn Bator, Henry Benson, Richard Brockway Jr., Colton Cullings, Logan Green, Delaney Hance, Thomas Kosakowski, Lucy Mehne, Azaleia Melnick, Matthew Mihalko, Andrew Muha, Zoey Ortmann, Mara Patterson, James Pegues, Kyle Phillipp, Ayden Ridge, Caysen Schaffner, Logan Sturtevant, Alexis Taylor, Jase Weaver, Kyle Weber, Jack White, Paisley Wilson 7th grade-Levi Boek, Dalton DeVoe, Griffin Kilgallen, Hannah Kosakowski, Isaac Moore, Corryn Newman, Leah Noti, Kinsley Premo, Nevaeh Race, Joseph Roberts, Blake Salmon, Ryleigh Stammers, Evangeline Wilsey 8th grade-Addison Claudio, Ella Clementi, Makayla Croniser, Lauren Curry, Clayton Dale, Keagan DeVoe, Ella Ernst, Emma Gerrard, Olivia Gluck, Mitchell Gray, Alexandria Klatt, Aidden Loranger, Keodiretse Nukpenu, Aubrey Petersen, Julian Pitts, Gracie Sperry, Ezekiel Strain, Evan Wright Merit Roll 84.5-89.49 5th grade-Evan Becker, Gannon Burdick, Kevin Dougherty, Easton Doyle, Levi Dragan, Olivia Gleasman, Jacob Glenn, Hunter Hutchins, Forrest Kinsley, Harper Kline, Pyper LaPointe, Chase Lyness, Andrew Magnum, Madeline Marsden, Jack Martin, Evelyn Moore, Jayson Okyere Anim, Addilyn Race, Preston Schafer, Daisylynn Smith, Daniel Valade, Ryden Wellema 6th grade-Mason Backer, Caleb Bellinger, Arizona Conaway, Audrey Gingerich, Devin Gutowski, Kyloe Howard, Keira Kent, Seth Liebi, Olivia Lisowski, London Lyon, Gabriella Perry, Landyn Sokoloff, Savannah Sweeney, Chloie Thomas, Charles Wright 7th grade-Kwaku Addo, Levi Carpenter, Zoey Croniser, Brenton Fox, Mason Glenn, Jax Huppe, Aubree Kafka, Logan Krantz, John Leuenberger, Kylie McConnell, Olivea Peters, Ella Platt, Carson Schafer, Elleanor Shue, Kate Thrasher 8th grade-Troy Bowman, Seth Cady, Blake Croniser, Madison Cushman, Eden Czajka, Alandra Davoy, Drake Fruin, Kylee Jordan, Eli Kent, Emily Maricle, Rylan Patterson, Kaiden Pfendler, Kendra Reed, Jayden Smith, Arayna Snyder, Enoch Stosal, Tucker Whitish, Dixie Wilson 6th Grade Enjoys the Great Outdoors Despite the brisk temperatures this winter, the sixth grade class was able to escape the classroom and spend time in the great outdoors. The students journeyed to BREIA where students had a choice to cross country ski or snowshoe. The experience offered opportunities to release physical energy while enjoying the hills, gullies and fresh coat of snow. The trails were groomed and ready for our students to explore the natural beauty. The tour guides were knowledgeable about the plant and animal life, only adding to the experience. Congratulations to the staff and students that overcame the challenge of spending a chilly day outdoors and many thanks to the staff at BREIA that provided a day of fun in the ¨backyard¨ that we call our home. 6th Grade STEAM class Clases de Espanol THREE KINGS DAY January 6th is Three Kings Day and is an important day for many Spanish speaking families. On January 6th Spanish students decorated Rosca de Reyes. Rosca de Reyes is a cake usually decorated with dried or candied fruit. HUMAN TOWERS 8th grade students recently learned about Castels or human towers. There are competitions in Northern Spain to see who can make the tallest towers. Students were able to compete to see who could make the tallest tower out of spaghetti and marshmallows. Classe de Francais French Celebration On February 2nd French classes celebrated Chandeleur. This is a celebration of being halfway between the winter solstice and spring equinox. To celebrate the returning of the sunlight, round golden Crepes are cooked and enjoyed. Students learned about the tradition, the making of crepes and each got to enjoy one. Update from the 5th grade Team In 5th grade ELA, Mrs. Lucia and Mrs. Pominville are having a “Tower of Books” Contest! Kids that are reading can do a small report on the book of their choice and construct a “mini” book to build a tower. The winner of the contest gets a pizza party! Also, in 5th grade we have begun Unit 4 with The Adventures of Don Quixote. 5th graders are learning about what it takes to be a Knight in the Medieval Times of the 1600’s. 7th Grade Art Mark Your Calendars Tuesday, February 10 Board of Education Mtg. 6 pm- HS Library Wednesday, February 11 M.S. Choral Concert & Art Show (6:30 pm- HS Aud) 5-12 Band Concert & Art Show (7 pm- HS Aud) February 16 - 20 February Break- NO SCHOOL Monday, February 23 Return from Break- Welcome back! February 23-27 National FFA Week Friday, February 27 Grades 5/6 Dance & Grades 7/8 Dance Wednesday, March 4 Wildcat Wednesday- SHOW YOUR SCHOOL SPIRIT! Sunday, March 8 Spring ahead- Change clocks! Tuesday, March 10 Board of Education Mtg. 6 pm- HS Library Saturday, March 14 National Pi Day (it's a MATH thing!) Thursday, March 19 - Saturday, March 21 Adirondack High School Musical - SPAMALOT "There's nothing like an Adirondack musical!" Shows on Thursday, Friday, and Saturday Adirondack FFA Members Compete 3 Adirondack FFA members competed in District 5 Leadership Development contests on Saturday, February 8th at Cazenovia High School. They all stepped out of their comfort zones and challenged themselves to develop their communication and other leadership skills that will benefit them throughout life - one of the pillars of FFA. Hallie Patterson competed in Employment Skills, Addy Capron in Sr. Prepared speaking, and Addison Claudio in Jr. Prepared speaking. Picture below (Left to Right): A. Capron, A. Claudio, H. Patterson) We are proud of you! Disclaimer FIND US ON SOCIAL We utilize social media and parent engagement channels to share news and information about our schoolwide programs and activities. Please adhere to our Adirondack Central School District’s social media guidelines below. Social Media Terms of Use: Our goal in using social media is to keep interested members of our community – students, staff, alumni, local residents, business partners – informed about current events and exciting things happening at the Adirondack Central School District as well as to create an additional pathway for dialogue. Our social media channels are not intended to replace the communication channels already established to address student, personnel and other individual issues. These issues should continue to be directed to the appropriate Adirondack Central School District administrator and/or school personnel. We welcome active participation and comments from users. It should be understood that all comments are solely the opinion of the author and do not represent Adirondack Central School District. In engaging with us on social media, users are agreeing to comply with Adirondack Central School District board policies, including, but not limited to, our Acceptable Use Policy, our Code of Conduct, the Dignity for All Students Act (DASA), and the Children’s Internet Protection Act (CIPA), as well as terms of use established by each social media platform. Community Guidelines for Adirondack Central School District Online Spaces: Do not post profanity, pornography, violence or other content that is not appropriate for an educational environment. Be respectful of all users and ensure your comments are appropriate for all audiences. Do not bully, intimidate or harass another user or post hateful or threatening content. Do not make false or libelous claims or use Adirondack Central School District pages to conduct otherwise unlawful, misleading, malicious or discriminatory activity. Do not advertise products or services or otherwise post spam. All comments on our online spaces are monitored and reviewed. The Adirondack Central School District may, but is not obligated to, remove comments or posts deemed in violation of our guidelines and/or remove a user’s access to the page. Different platforms also encourage users to report inappropriate content through built-in links. FRONT BUS LOOP SIGNAGE You might have noticed the new signage on the front bus loop. This sign is a reminder that the bus loop is closed to traffic during arrival and dismissal. Thank you for sharing this with anyone who might be picking your child up or dropping them off. Safety is our top priority!
Tuesday, Feb 10 2026
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JANUARY Family Newsletter: MIDDLE SCHOOL
Adirondack Middle School JANUARY 2026 Principal's Message Good evening, middle school families, I hope that winter break was an enjoyable time for you all! We are looking forward to welcoming all students back tomorrow, Monday, January 5th. To help ensure a smooth and successful transition back to school, please remind students that cell phones and air pods are off and away during the day (in either their locker or pencil pouch, NOT their pockets or waistbands). As I shared before break, students in grades 7 and 8 are testing this expectation and need the reminders both at school and at home. At Adirondack middle school, wildcats are respectful, responsible, and safe! As we guide our students in making responsible choices both in school and on the bus, it is beneficial to reiterate to your child that there are both audio and video recordings on every school bus. Meeting behavior expectations daily on the school bus is key for a safe ride home for all students. As we start fresh tomorrow, students will also be reminded of the academic assistance available to them. First, Grade 7 & 8 students have "Catch-Up Club" during lunch which provides a quiet space for students to eat their lunch and work on school work. Second, 10th period is available for all students Monday-Wednesday. Students need to talk to their teachers about staying after to ensure the teacher is available. 10th period goes from 2:25-3 pm and transportation is available (Mon- Wed ONLY). Thank you for encouraging and supporting your child to pursue the extra academic support when needed! As always, please reach out via email, parent square, or by phone with any questions or concerns. I am proud to partner with each Adirondack Middle School Family to ensure success for our students! Thanks, Mrs. Brandie Collins Principal Adirondack Middle School (315) 942-9200 x4500 BCollins@Adirondackcsd.org Family Handbook This year, all students were sent home with a printed Middle School Family Handbook. This booklet is designed to be a resource for your family throughout the school year so keep it handy and refer to it as needed. Each month in the family newsletter, different sections of the handbook will be featured. This month includes: Items Prohibited in School Academic Information (p. 14 & 15) If your child did not bring a handbook home, please contact the main office and we will send it home. It can also be accessed electronically by clicking here or going to the Adirondack Website. FAMILY HANDBOOK- click here 7th Grade Visits BOCES in Glenfield As part of our comprehensive school counseling curriculum led by Ms. Houppert (school guidance counselor), 7th grade students were able to visit the Howard G. Sackett Career and Technical Center in early December. While at BOCES, students first attended a very short presentation before heading on a tour that allowed them to go into each classroom and lab so they can see each program firsthand. These BOCES programs are opportunities available to students when they reach 11th and 12th grade. What is the comprehensive school counseling curriculum? A comprehensive school counseling curriculum is a structured, developmental program that provides proactive, preventative guidance to all students in three core areas: academic, career, and personal/social development. It is delivered systematically through classroom instruction, group activities, and individual planning to help students build skills, knowledge, and attitudes, and is often aligned with the American School Counselor Association (ASCA) National Model. The three core areas are: Academic development: Focuses on attitudes, knowledge, and skills that contribute to effective learning. Career development: Focuses on preparing students for postsecondary options and understanding the relationship between academics and the world of work. Personal/social development: Focuses on developing interpersonal communication, self-awareness, and social-emotional skills. 6th Grade Award Winner The Oneida County Conservation Education Day Committee recently announced the grand prize winner of the 2025 poster contest and we are proud to share that the winner is Adirondack Middle School 6th grade student, Francis Mae Roginski! The committee traveled to the middle school for the award presentation on Monday, Dec. 8. Mae is pictured with the committee, her winning poster, and all of her prizes! Click here to read the Rome Daily Sentinel Article! Student of the Quarter - Marking Period 1 Congratulations, Wildcats! At the end of each marking period, faculty members choose students based on achievement, effort, and/or character. We recently expanded these quarterly awards so that students are recognized by subject area. Middle school is a time when students begin to identify where their strengths and talents are and we want to support that through these awards. In addition to a certificate, all award winners received a green raffle ticket and an Adirondack t-shirt. Their names are also posted in the lobby. Food & Nutrition (8th Grade) Students taking Food and Nutrition this semester have been busy cooking delicious food. Most recently students are working on making individual casseroles, but we have also made bread, pizza, cinnamon rolls, chicken, beef, fish, apple pie, cookies and macaroni and cheese. Students have been doing a great job making good food, maintaining a hygienic kitchen and working as teams. 7th & 8th Grade CATCH UP Club Does your 7th or 8th grade student need to get caught up on school work? For a few more weeks, the middle school will be offering a quiet spot for students in 7th & 8th grade to eat lunch and complete school work during 7th grade lunch. This opportunity will be available for the 1st half of the school year only. This "Catch-Up Club" will be in a classroom and will be supervised by a teacher. Students get a pass to Catch-Up Club from a teacher. This is not mandatory, but instead an optional support for any student who might want to focus on school work during lunch. Maybe they were absent for a day and this is a great way to get caught up or maybe they are motivated to get their grade above passing. Either way, we hope students will use this when needed! Sewing Club Extra-curricular opportunity for students grades 7-8 Sewing club meets every Wednesday and is open to students in 7th grade or above. So far students have made reusable heat pads and zipper pouches. Sewing club has also been doing a fix-a-button fundraiser. Students repair missing buttons for $5 each. Update from the 5th grade Team It has been full steam ahead in 5th grade! Students are working on their public speaking skills as they present their current event summaries in ELA. Many students have accepted the challenge and are really showing how seriously they are taking the assignment by dressing in their best attire as they prepare to be college and career ready. They have also been putting their scientific skills to the test trying to identify mystery powders in lab class. Math class has been developing concepts of multiplying and dividing decimals. Additionally, researching explorers and creating slide show presentations about what they have learned has been another challenge for our 5th graders. As always, the 5th grade team thanks all of the parents and guardians for their continued support as we navigate through this year. Door Decorating Brings the Holiday Spirit The middle school student council members requested a door decorating contest to help bring some holiday spirit! For most of the decorated doors, students took the initiative to plan and create a fun holiday door. Enjoy a sampling of some of the doors below! Mark Your Calendars Wednesday, January 7 Wildcat Wednesday- SHOW YOUR SCHOOL SPIRIT! Tuesday January 13 Board of Education Mtg. 6 pm- HS Library Monday, January 19 MLK Day- NO SCHOOL Friday, January 23 Last Day of Marking Period 2 Tuesday January 27 2nd Regular Board Meeting 6 pm- HS Library Thursday, January 29 Computer-Based Testing Simulation (AM) Wednesday, February 4 Wildcat Wednesday- SHOW YOUR SCHOOL SPIRIT! Tuesday, February 10 Board of Education Mtg. 6 pm- HS Library Wednesday, February 11 M.S. Choral Concert & Art Show (7 pm- HS Aud) February 16 - 20 February Break- NO SCHOOL Winter Concert & Art Show Disclaimer FIND US ON SOCIAL We utilize social media and parent engagement channels to share news and information about our schoolwide programs and activities. Please adhere to our Adirondack Central School District’s social media guidelines below. Social Media Terms of Use: Our goal in using social media is to keep interested members of our community – students, staff, alumni, local residents, business partners – informed about current events and exciting things happening at the Adirondack Central School District as well as to create an additional pathway for dialogue. Our social media channels are not intended to replace the communication channels already established to address student, personnel and other individual issues. These issues should continue to be directed to the appropriate Adirondack Central School District administrator and/or school personnel. We welcome active participation and comments from users. It should be understood that all comments are solely the opinion of the author and do not represent Adirondack Central School District. In engaging with us on social media, users are agreeing to comply with Adirondack Central School District board policies, including, but not limited to, our Acceptable Use Policy, our Code of Conduct, the Dignity for All Students Act (DASA), and the Children’s Internet Protection Act (CIPA), as well as terms of use established by each social media platform. Community Guidelines for Adirondack Central School District Online Spaces: Do not post profanity, pornography, violence or other content that is not appropriate for an educational environment. Be respectful of all users and ensure your comments are appropriate for all audiences. Do not bully, intimidate or harass another user or post hateful or threatening content. Do not make false or libelous claims or use Adirondack Central School District pages to conduct otherwise unlawful, misleading, malicious or discriminatory activity. Do not advertise products or services or otherwise post spam. All comments on our online spaces are monitored and reviewed. The Adirondack Central School District may, but is not obligated to, remove comments or posts deemed in violation of our guidelines and/or remove a user’s access to the page. Different platforms also encourage users to report inappropriate content through built-in links. FRONT BUS LOOP SIGNAGE You might have noticed the new signage on the front bus loop. This sign is a reminder that the bus loop is closed to traffic during arrival and dismissal. Thank you for sharing this with anyone who might be picking your child up or dropping them off. Safety is our top priority!
Sunday, Jan 04 2026
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NOVEMBER Family Newsletter: MIDDLE SCHOOL
Adirondack Middle School November 2025 Principal's Message Good afternoon, middle school families, First, I wanted to make you aware of a recurring social media trend, often referred to as the "Bathroom Challenge," circulating on TikTok. This trend encourages students to engage in vandalism or destruction of school property, most often in restrooms, and to post videos of the damage online. We would appreciate it if you would discuss this trend with your child and remind them that this is vandalism and would be disciplined according to the code of conduct. Additionally, all bathrooms in the middle school have signs on the door reminding students that cell phones are not allowed in bathrooms due to privacy concerns so nothing should be recorded in those spaces. Second, on behalf of the entire Adirondack Middle School, we hope that you enjoy a wonderful Thanksgiving holiday with family and friends! As always, please reach out via email, parent square, or by phone with any questions or concerns. I am proud to partner with each Adirondack Middle School Family to ensure success for our students! Thanks, Mrs. Brandie Collins Principal Adirondack Middle School (315) 942-9200 x4500 BCollins@Adirondackcsd.org Family Handbook This year, all students were sent home with a printed Middle School Family Handbook. This booklet is designed to be a resource for your family throughout the school year so keep it handy and refer to it as needed. Each month in the family newsletter, different sections of the handbook will be featured. This month includes: School-Issued Electronic Devices Restrooms Field Trips Dress Code Cell Phone Policy If your child did not bring a handbook home, please contact the main office and we will send it home. It can also be accessed electronically by clicking here or going to the Adirondack Website. FAMILY HANDBOOK- click here Screenagers & Special Guest On Wednesday, November 19, 2025, students in the middle school attended an assembly where they were able to watch the Screenagers documentary (classroom version). Grades 7/8 watched the regular Screenagers documentary for use in the classroom, while students in grades 5/6 watched the elementary version of the Screenagers documentary. Learn more about the Screenager Series here. In addition to watching the documentary, Lieutenant Morgan from the Oneida County Sheriff's office also spoke to all students about staying safe online. 6th Grade STEAM Students in 6th grade STEAM collaborated on a whole class project involving Sphero robots, block coding, and creative engineering. They used their creativity to design scary covers for the robots and coded Halloween sounds and words. Then they used infrared signals to allow for the robots to communicate with each other. The robots were coded with luminosity sensors to begin when the lights turned off and then to follow the leader of the group to navigate their scary path. The students fulfilled multiple roles in order to complete a total group effort! STEAM OPEN HOUSE - Dec. 2 Adirondack High School to Host STEAM Open House on December 2 The Adirondack Central School District will host its annual STEAM Open House on Monday, December 2, from 6:00 to 7:00 p.m. in the High School STEAM Lab and C-Wing hallway. The community is invited to see firsthand the creativity, innovation, and hard work of Adirondack’s STEAM students. The evening will feature student displays and demonstrations, including projects from the Sphero Global Challenge and the First Tech Challenge Robotics Team. Visitors will also enjoy a 3D printing demonstration and sale, where students will showcase items they have designed and produced. Admission to the event is free, but guests are encouraged to bring a canned food item to donate to the local food bank as a “ticket in the door.” “This event is a great opportunity for our students to share their work with the community,” said STEAM Instructor Nick Palczak. “It highlights their creativity and problem-solving skills while giving them a chance to engage with others about what they’ve learned.” All community members, families, and students are welcome to attend. Come see the future of innovation at Adirondack! Updates from the Guidance Office From Ms. Houppert, School Counselor 7th Grade students will be traveling to Glenfield BOCES on either December 2 or December 3 in order to visit the CTE programs available for our students in grades 11 & 12. Your child should have brought home a permission slip on Friday, November 21st. It is due by 11/25/25. All students are expected to attend as this is part of our Comprehensive School Counseling Program at Adirondack. Please reach out to Ms. Houppert in the Guidance office with any questions or concerns. LHouppert@Adirondackcsd.org (315) 942- 9200 x4520 Parentsquare: Lori Houppert What is the comprehensive school counseling curriculum? A comprehensive school counseling curriculum is a structured, developmental program that provides proactive, preventative guidance to all students in three core areas: academic, career, and personal/social development. It is delivered systematically through classroom instruction, group activities, and individual planning to help students build skills, knowledge, and attitudes, and is often aligned with the American School Counselor Association (ASCA) National Model. The three core areas are: Academic development: Focuses on attitudes, knowledge, and skills that contribute to effective learning. Career development: Focuses on preparing students for postsecondary options and understanding the relationship between academics and the world of work. Personal/social development: Focuses on developing interpersonal communication, self-awareness, and social-emotional skills. International Club International Club hosted Song Bird Studios of Rome for a Glass Fusion ornament making class. Students Parents and Staff joined in an evening of crafting to make ornaments inspired by Dia de Los Muertos. International Club holds monthly events after school celebrating languages and cultures from around the world. Pictured above are some of the French and Spanish 4 MVCC level students modeling the finished product on Halloween. 7th & 8th Grade CATCH UP Club Does your 7th or 8th grade student need to get caught up on school work? Starting Wednesday, 10/22/25, the middle school will be offering a quiet spot for students in 7th & 8th grade to eat lunch and complete school work during 7th grade lunch. This opportunity will be available for the 1st half of the school year only. This "Catch-Up Club" will be in a classroom and will be supervised by a teacher. Students get a pass to Catch-Up Club from a teacher. This is not mandatory, but instead an optional support for any student who might want to focus on school work during lunch. Maybe they were absent for a day and this is a great way to get caught up or maybe they are motivated to get their grade above passing. Either way, we hope students will use this when needed! Mandatory 10th Period to Begin 12/1/25 Academic Support for Students who Failed Two or More Classes Any student who failed two or more classes on their marking period 1 report card will be required to stay after for 10th period support beginning on Monday, December 1st. Families whose child failed 2 or more classes received a paper about Mandatory 10th period in the report card that was mailed home. Students sign in at the library before reporting to their teachers for academic support on the days listed below. Library News from Mrs. Ripp Lots of exciting things happened in the library this month! TURKEY DISGUISES Students have been "disguising" turkeys in their study halls and learning labs. The creativity and fun has been abundant! There were winners selected for those who "Disguised A Turkey": Most Unique Disguise - Skylynn Dias Most Creative Disguise - Evangeline Dutch Best Disguise - Gavin Maine Excellent job to everyone who participated! BOOK TASTINGS There were also book tastings that took place the mornings of the half days. They were a great success again this year! Over 40 students checked out books between the 2 days. If students happened to check out a book, their name was added to a raffle and 3 winners were picked. The book tasting winners are: Jason McDonald Autumn Rogers Charlotte Croniser Congratulations! BOOK FAIR NEXT WEEK There will be a scholastic book fair in the library next week! See the info below our disguised turkeys. 5th Grade ROCKS the middle school Our fifth graders have been rocking the transition to middle school, as the fall season quickly comes to an end. We applaud our students for having mastered using their lockers, getting to class on time, while making new friends along the way. Back in October, the fifth graders had the opportunity to attend their first middle school Halloween dance and the excitement was palpable! The festivities were enjoyed by all as they dressed up and danced the night away with their friends. In their four core classes, students have been busy writing personal narratives to include more sensory details, learning to multiply two-digit numbers, including decimals, learning about different types of energy and who were the first people to arrive in the Americas. As curriculum instruction continues, students may look forward to reading The Adventures of Don Quixote, dividing whole numbers and decimals using the standard algorithm, becoming familiar with European explorers, and exploring space for themselves. It is full steam ahead as we move into the winter and holiday season. While we enjoy this time together, it is important to stay focused and maintain progress amongst the holiday celebrations. The fifth grade staff would like to thank our families for their ever present and continued support. Mark Your Calendars Wed. November 26- Fri. November 28: Thanksgiving Break - NO SCHOOL December 1 - December 5 (Mon- Fri): Scholastic Book Fair in the middle school library Tuesday & Wednesday, December 2 & 3: 7th Grade Field Trips to Glenfield BOCES Tuesday, December 2: STEAM Open House, 6-7 pm Wednesday, December 3: Wildcat Wednesday Show your school spirit! Tuesday, December 9: Board Meeting @ 6 pm, HS Library Wednesday, December 10: Middle School Concert & Art Show, 7 pm December 24 - January 2: Winter Break - NO SCHOOL Adirondack FFA Annual Fall Tours & Retreat On November 7th and 8th, Adirondack FFA joined up with Remsen FFA to experience our annual Fall Tours & Retreat. This year we had the privilege of touring and visiting North Harbor Dairy and Crop Farm (home of Old McDonald’s Farm) in Sackets Harbor, NY. There we learned about the history of the farm and how it led to the diverse operations that they have today. Currently, the Robbins’ employ 50 plus employees, farm 8,000 acres of crops including corn, soybeans, wheat, hay, sweet corn and pumpkins (Robbins Family Grain), produce high quality milk from 1500 dairy cows (North Harbor Dairy), invite the public to visit a modern, working family farm (Old McDonald's Farm), raise beef (North Harbor Beef Co.), and haul the farm's own crops across the Northeast as well as contract for other agricultural companies through RFG Trucking. From there we traveled to Zoo New York in Thompson Park in Watertown where we took a very cold and rainy guided walk through the zoo to see some of their collection of native and indigenous to NY species. h Our next stop was to the new and improved Miller’s Meat Market outside of Lowville. There we got a behind the scenes look at their meat processing facilities and learned some of the processes and technology involved in meat harvesting. Before departing, we made sure to explore their new retail store and bought some goodies to take with us! Then we were off to Oswegatchie Educational Center in Croghan to spend the night. Friday evening and again Saturday morning, members participated in various team building and leadership activities. Green Ticket Raffles Students had a chance at lunch today to use their green tickets to win a variety of prizes. 124 prizes across the 4 grades will be handed out tomorrow! Wildcat Pride - Showing our School Spirit! Outstanding Academic Achievement Adirondack Middle School and Principal Brandie Collins proudly reports that the following students have demonstrated outstanding academic achievement for the 1st marking period for the 2025-2026 academic year. Congratulations Wildcats!! High Honor Roll 94.5-100 5th grade-Brock Bala, Evangeline Dutch, Jason McDonald, Reilly Moore, Allie Sperry 6th grade-Kwame Addo, Jadyn Bator, Caleb Bourgeois, Aidyn Bowman, Richard Brockway, Jr., Taylor Henry, Thomas Kosakowski, Lucy Mehne, Azaleia Melnick, Elijah Mercurio, James Pegues, Ezlynn Platt, Francis Roginski, Miles Seigers, Logan Sturtevant, Sophia Sturtevant, Alexis Taylor, Armante Ventequattro, Kyle Weber, Avery Zanker 7th grade-Charlotte Croniser, Dalton DeVoe, Olivia Gydesen, Griffin Kilgallen, Isaac Moore, Kira Nellenback, Nevaeh Race, Reegan Ritter, Blake Salmon, Olivia Schoff, Kate Thrasher, Domenica Ventiquattro, Brook Wilcox 8th grade-Brynlee Bala, Ella Clementi, Makayla Croniser, Emma Gerrard, Miley Hutchins, Rosalie Mourer, Julian Pitts, Molly Seigers, Gracie Sperry, Bella Ward Honor Roll 89.5-94.49 5th grade-Ryleigh Adams, Nathan Allen, Nolan Gydesen, Matix Hutchins, Ellie Lastowski, William Leuenberger, Maya Perry, Rylee Peters, Margaret Ross, Brody Salmon, Preston Schafer, Ava Spann, Eli Spicer, Angelica Strain, Jaxon Williamson 6th grade-Caleb Bellinger, Colton Cullings, Adele DeVoe, Evan Gerrard, Delaney Hance, Olivia Lisowski, Colton Lyon, Andrew Muha, Zoey Ortmann, Mara Patterson, Ryan Petersen, Kyle Phillipp, Caysen Schaffner, Eleanor Stephenson, Savannah Sweeney, Rowan Wallace, Jase Weaver, Jack White, Paisley Wilson 7th grade-Natalie Allen, Isabella Burdick, Brenton Fox, Jax Huppe, Braylee Kirk, Hannah Kosakowski, Logan Krantz, Kylie McConnell, Carson Mills, Corryn Newman, Leah Noti, Zander Platt, Kinsley Premo, Joseph Roberts, Ryleigh Stammers, Evangeline Wilsey 8th grade-Addison Claudio, Blake Croniser, Lauren Curry, Clayton Dale, Landon Day, Keagan DeVoe, Ella Ernst, Olivia Gluck, Kylee Jordan, Eli Kent, Aidden Loranger, Keodiretse Nukpenu, Rylan Patterson, Aubrey Petersen, Morrissa Powell, Isabella Reeder, Jayden Smith, Ezekiel Strain, Jason Suminguit, Juniper Wallace Merit Roll 84.5-89.49 5th grade-Micah Britton, Gannon Burdick, Levi Champion, Kevin Dougherty, Easton Doyle, Levi Dragan, Brody Ellinger, Olivia Gleasman, Jacob Glenn, Harper Kline, Eric Leuenberger, Chase Lyness, Gavin Maine, Jack Martin, Ella Pfendler, Elias Pitts, Addilyn Race, Daisylynn Smith, Harlan Smith, Ryden Wellema, Royale Yager 6th grade- Mason Backer, Henry Benson, Arizona Conaway, Jaziah Copes, Audrey Gingerich, Logan Green, Devin Gutowski, Keira Kent, William LaComb, Seth Liebi, London Lyon, Matthew Mihalko, Gabriella Perry, Ayden Ridge, Dean Rounds, Landyn Sokoloff, Chloie Thomas, MacKayla Williams, Charles Wright 7th grade-Kwaku Addo, Levi Boek, Levi Carpenter, Brandt Crofoot, Zoey Croniser, Hunter Crosby, Mason Glenn, Olivea Peters, Ella Platt, Carson Schafer, Elleanor Shue 8th grade-Brooke Barnhart, Seth Cady, Cayden Case, Madison Cushman, Eden Czajka, Alandra Davoy, SkyLyn Dias, Drake Fruin, Brycen Gatewood, Mitchell Gray, Alexandria Klatt, Madisyn Losurdo, Emily Maricle, Kaiden Pfendler, Kendra Reed, Arayna Snyder, Kaelynn Tanner, Madelyn Williamson, Dixie Wilson Lost & Found - MS Lobby If you recognize any of these items, have your child grab them off the lost and found tables in the main lobby. Lego Club Each year, at least one new club pops up due to student interest and request. This year, a 6th grade student started a new Lego club. The student worked to find advisors, create posters, and then work together with the advisors to schedule and announce meeting times. We are happy to report that the Adirondack Middle School Lego Club is off to a great start! If a student is interested in joining Lego Club, encourage them to listen for the announcements telling them when Lego club will be meeting 10th period in the library. New members are always welcome! Disclaimer FIND US ON SOCIAL We utilize social media and parent engagement channels to share news and information about our schoolwide programs and activities. Please adhere to our Adirondack Central School District’s social media guidelines below. Social Media Terms of Use: Our goal in using social media is to keep interested members of our community – students, staff, alumni, local residents, business partners – informed about current events and exciting things happening at the Adirondack Central School District as well as to create an additional pathway for dialogue. Our social media channels are not intended to replace the communication channels already established to address student, personnel and other individual issues. These issues should continue to be directed to the appropriate Adirondack Central School District administrator and/or school personnel. We welcome active participation and comments from users. It should be understood that all comments are solely the opinion of the author and do not represent Adirondack Central School District. In engaging with us on social media, users are agreeing to comply with Adirondack Central School District board policies, including, but not limited to, our Acceptable Use Policy, our Code of Conduct, the Dignity for All Students Act (DASA), and the Children’s Internet Protection Act (CIPA), as well as terms of use established by each social media platform. Community Guidelines for Adirondack Central School District Online Spaces: Do not post profanity, pornography, violence or other content that is not appropriate for an educational environment. Be respectful of all users and ensure your comments are appropriate for all audiences. Do not bully, intimidate or harass another user or post hateful or threatening content. Do not make false or libelous claims or use Adirondack Central School District pages to conduct otherwise unlawful, misleading, malicious or discriminatory activity. Do not advertise products or services or otherwise post spam. All comments on our online spaces are monitored and reviewed. The Adirondack Central School District may, but is not obligated to, remove comments or posts deemed in violation of our guidelines and/or remove a user’s access to the page. Different platforms also encourage users to report inappropriate content through built-in links. FRONT BUS LOOP SIGNAGE Last month's family newsletter reviewed student pick-up and drop-off locations. You might have noticed the new signage on the front bus loop. This sign is a reminder that the bus loop is closed to traffic during arrival and dismissal. Thank you for sharing this with anyone who might be picking your child up or dropping them off. Safety is our top priority!
Monday, Nov 24 2025
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OCTOBER Family Newsletter: MIDDLE SCHOOL
Adirondack Middle School October 2025 Principal's Message Good afternoon, middle school families, This week is BUS SAFETY Week! Students have heard a bus safety tip on the announcements each day this week and have also been provided with bus safety activities in 5/6 Learning Labs and the library. Students are able to write a thank you card to their bus driver! Since the start of the school year the location that has had the most discipline referrals is the bus. That makes bus safety week an even more important topic for our students both at school and at home. Thank you for talking to your child about bus safety. Halloween Dance - this Friday Students were given information about the first dance of the school year last week. Make sure to review the packet students bring home when you sign it so you are aware where to pick up and drop off students. Students are able to purchase a ticket for $3 during lunch on Tuesday (today), Wednesday, or Thursday only. NO TICKETS WILL BE SOLD ON FRIDAY. To purchase a ticket, students need to bring the signed permission slip along with their $3. Grades 5/6 Halloween Dance: Friday 10/24/25 from 6 - 7:30 pm Drop off at PE lobby out back Pick up in A-Wing/Front bus loop (please meet your child on the side walk) Grades 7/8 Halloween Dance: Friday 10/24/25 from 7:30 - 9 pm Drop off at PE lobby out back Pick up at PE lobby out back, please meet your child on the sidewalk Students are expected to follow all school rules. Any students who are not making safe or appropriate choices will get a phone call home asking to pick them up early. Thanks to Student Council for organizing our first dance of the school year! Friday, October 31: HALLOWEEN Students may dress up for school, however, they cannot cover their face or wear anything too gory or revealing. In addition, students are still at school to learn that day so please make sure the costume does not interfere with the ability to learn. No blow-up costumes at school during the day- thank you! FRONT BUS LOOP SIGNAGE Last month's family newsletter reviewed student pick-up and drop-off locations. You might have noticed the new signage on the front bus loop. This sign is a reminder that the bus loop is closed to traffic during arrival and dismissal. Thank you for sharing this with anyone who might be picking your child up or dropping them off. Safety is our top priority! 7th & 8th Grade CATCH UP Club Does your 7th or 8th grade student need to get caught up on school work? Starting Wednesday, 10/22/25, the middle school will be offering a quiet spot for students in 7th & 8th grade to eat lunch and complete school work during 7th grade lunch. This opportunity will be available for the 1st half of the school year only. This "Catch-Up Club" will be in a classroom and will be supervised by a teacher. Students get a pass to Catch-Up Club from a teacher. This is not mandatory, but instead an optional support for any student who might want to focus on school work during lunch. Maybe they were absent for a day and this is a great way to get caught up or maybe they are motivated to get their grade above passing. Either way, we hope students will use this when needed! As always, please reach out via email, parent square, or by phone with any questions or concerns. I am proud to partner with each Adirondack Middle School Family to ensure success for our students! Thanks, Mrs. Brandie Collins Principal Adirondack Middle School (315) 942-9200 x4500 BCollins@Adirondackcsd.org Family Handbook This year, all students were sent home with a printed Middle School Family Handbook. This booklet is designed to be a resource for your family throughout the school year so keep it handy and refer to it as needed. Each month in the family newsletter, different sections of the handbook will be featured. This month includes: Conferences Lockers Lost & Found FOOD (and drinks) Bus Notes Restricted Areas of Campus We have had an increase of students bringing energy drinks to school. Per our family handbook, energy drinks and Dunkin Coffee drinks are not allowed. Thank you for your support with this! If your child did not bring a handbook home, please contact the main office and we will send it home. It can also be accessed electronically by clicking here or going to the Adirondack Website. FAMILY HANDBOOK- click here From the School Social Worker Updates from the Guidance Office From Ms. Houppert, School Counselor Ms. Houppert is pushing into 6, 7 & 8th grade classrooms this month to talk to students about academic success. These lessons are part of the Adirondack Comprehensive School Counseling Curriculum. All students in grades 6-8 meet individually with the school guidance counselor each year for their individual reviews. These meetings are also part of the school counseling curriculum. 6th grade students will be meeting with Ms. Houppert for their annual reviews soon! 6th Grade Students will leave their meeting with Ms. Houppert with a copy of the sheet they fill out together. This is to initiate conversations at home regarding future & career planning. Please reach out to Ms. Houppert in the Guidance office with any questions or concerns. LHouppert@Adirondackcsd.org (315) 942- 9200 x4520 Parentsquare: Lori Houppert What is the comprehensive school counseling curriculum? A comprehensive school counseling curriculum is a structured, developmental program that provides proactive, preventative guidance to all students in three core areas: academic, career, and personal/social development. It is delivered systematically through classroom instruction, group activities, and individual planning to help students build skills, knowledge, and attitudes, and is often aligned with the American School Counselor Association (ASCA) National Model. The three core areas are: Academic development: Focuses on attitudes, knowledge, and skills that contribute to effective learning. Career development: Focuses on preparing students for postsecondary options and understanding the relationship between academics and the world of work. Personal/social development: Focuses on developing interpersonal communication, self-awareness, and social-emotional skills. Library News from Mrs. Ripp What's Happening: Mrs. Ripp is in the process of adding West Leyden books to the Middle School collection. This includes books that are new to the Middle School but also some that are already here that we will now have a second copy of for "buddy reads" in the future! The library also gets new books monthly that are always on display. 148 students checked out books in the month of September. From those 148 students, two were randomly chosen to win a gift certificate! What's New: This school year we have started a weekly "This or That" voting. Students that come into the library get to vote which they would prefer of two options. Examples we've done so far this year include: Dragons vs. Unicorns Gummy Bears vs. Popcorn Penguins vs. Hawks Playing Football vs. Dancing Students have an opportunity to vote throughout the week and the votes are counted Fridays, 9th period. They have loved finding out which choice won at the beginning of the week and comparing who's winning/losing throughout the week. This is a new tradition that Mrs. RIpp looks forward to continuing! Day to Day: 5/6 Learning Lab students are able to come into the library to check out/return books and work on the ongoing puzzle or Halloween Banner for a portion of their Learning Lab period. 7/8 Study Hall students are able to sign in for the period and work on class work/homework, read, play chess or cards, work on a puzzle, color or do word searches. It is a space for them to collaborate and work together. On Fridays, we do "screen free Fridays". Chromebooks are away and students get to choose from a large assortment of board games to play. Health Office Info Click to learn more 5th Grade Hikes & Bikes 5th graders had the opportunity to go hiking and mountain biking at the BREOP facility at Potato Hill Road, on September 26th. The new middle school students were troopers as they weathered a bit of rain to explore our local natural ecosystem, learning to identify common living organisms found in the forest areas in which they live, while developing a better appreciation for conservation. Our brave bikers also learned how to safely traverse difficult terrain, as they enthusiastically pedaled their way through the wooded trails. It was a glorious day of exploration and fun, and we are very fortunate to have such a valuable resource available to our students. Winter Athletics Information Click Here - ADK Athletics Mark Your Calendars Tuesday, October 21: NJHS Induction Ceremony, 6 pm in HS Aud Friday, October 24: Grade 5/6 Halloween Dance (6-7:30 pm) Grade 7/8 Halloween Dance (7:30- 9 pm) Monday, October 27: PICTURE RETAKES Students must ask their teacher for permission to report to the P.E. lobby between 9 am and 12 noon if they would like picture re-takes. This is on the announcements for students to hear daily leading up to retakes. Friday, October 31: HALLOWEEN Students may dress up for school, however, they cannot cover their face or wear anything too gory or revealing. In addition, students are still at school to learn that day so please make sure the costume does not interfere with the ability to learn. No blow-up costumes at school during the day- thank you! Sunday, November 2: Daylight Saving - set your clocks back! Wednesday, November 5: Wildcat Wednesday Last day of Marking Period 1 Monday, November 10: GO HOME EARLY DRILL Leave 10 minutes early Tuesday, November 11: NO SCHOOL - VETERANS DAY Wednesday, November 12: Board of Education Meeting 6 pm; HS Library Wed. November 19 & Thurs. November 20: Half-Day (10:20 am dismissal) for Parent-Teacher Conferences Stay tuned to ParentSquare for information on Parent-Teacher Conferences! Wed. November 26- Fri. November 28: Thanksgiving Break - NO SCHOOL FFA Summer News 7th Grade MATH MASTERS 7th Grade Field Trip to Cooperstown On Thursday, October 2, 2025, the entire 7th grade enjoyed a field trip to the Fenimore Farm & Country Village and Fenimore Art Museum in Cooperstown, NY. Following this trip, the 7th grade team planned an interdisciplinary project the following week that connected to what students learned and saw in Cooperstown. Students were able to either make corn husk dolls, make homemade bread and butter, try their hand at wampum beaded belts, or create bark house models. This field trip has an art, social studies, and ELA curriculum connection. The day provided a chance for students to learn outside of the classroom, while also enjoying a beautiful fall day in Cooperstown with their friends and teachers! Big thanks to the 7th grade team for planning this trip and activity day for our students. Green Ticket Raffles In early October, middle school students enjoyed their first GREEN TICKET RAFFLE during lunch. 100 prizes were given away for this first Green Ticket Raffle (25 per grade). Prizes included: Mercer's Gift Cards Ticket to be the "first out the door" for a day Wildcat Cards You pick a Rubber Duck Free Item in the Cafeteria Adirondack Cinch Bag Adirondack Reebok Socks Stewart's Gift Cards Adirondack Baseball Cap Green Ticket Raffles occur monthly and are apart of the Middle School PBIS program. Disclaimer FIND US ON SOCIAL We utilize social media and parent engagement channels to share news and information about our schoolwide programs and activities. Please adhere to our Adirondack Central School District’s social media guidelines below. Social Media Terms of Use: Our goal in using social media is to keep interested members of our community – students, staff, alumni, local residents, business partners – informed about current events and exciting things happening at the Adirondack Central School District as well as to create an additional pathway for dialogue. Our social media channels are not intended to replace the communication channels already established to address student, personnel and other individual issues. These issues should continue to be directed to the appropriate Adirondack Central School District administrator and/or school personnel. We welcome active participation and comments from users. It should be understood that all comments are solely the opinion of the author and do not represent Adirondack Central School District. In engaging with us on social media, users are agreeing to comply with Adirondack Central School District board policies, including, but not limited to, our Acceptable Use Policy, our Code of Conduct, the Dignity for All Students Act (DASA), and the Children’s Internet Protection Act (CIPA), as well as terms of use established by each social media platform. Community Guidelines for Adirondack Central School District Online Spaces: Do not post profanity, pornography, violence or other content that is not appropriate for an educational environment. Be respectful of all users and ensure your comments are appropriate for all audiences. Do not bully, intimidate or harass another user or post hateful or threatening content. Do not make false or libelous claims or use Adirondack Central School District pages to conduct otherwise unlawful, misleading, malicious or discriminatory activity. Do not advertise products or services or otherwise post spam. All comments on our online spaces are monitored and reviewed. The Adirondack Central School District may, but is not obligated to, remove comments or posts deemed in violation of our guidelines and/or remove a user’s access to the page. Different platforms also encourage users to report inappropriate content through built-in links.
Tuesday, Oct 21 2025
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