Additional settings for Safari Browser.
Cornell Chronicle 2/6/26
 |
CORNELL CHRONICLE February 6, 2026 Cornell strives to support a safe and secure learning environment that treats all students with dignity, respect, and high expectations. |
| CALENDAR OF EVENTS |
| Feb 6-12 | Literati Book Fair, Cornell Library |
| Feb 7 | Library OPEN for Book Fair, 10am-1pm |
| Feb 10 | School Site Council Meeting: School Safety Plan |
| Feb 11 | Community Time: Black History Month, 8:30am, yard |
| Feb 12 | Black History Month Celebration, 6-8pm, AHS Little Theater |
| Feb 16-20 | No School - Mid-Winter Break |
| Feb 27 | Coffee with Cat, yard, 8:30am |
| Feb 28 | Lunar New Year Celebrations, OV MPR, 4-6pm (see below to sign up) |
| Mar 14 | Dress rehearsal for CGT, OV MPR |
| Mar 28 | Cornell's Got Talent Show, OV MPR |
| PRINCIPALLY SPEAKING |
Dear Coyote Families,
Happy Friday! I hope you and the family can enjoy the sunshine this weekend. Coming up next week:
During our next School Site Council Meeting on Tuesday, 2/10 we will review our School Safety Plan. We are also welcoming parent David McKinney to the SSC team, who was voted in this week. Here is the agenda for the meeting. Please join us!
Next Wednesday, 2/11 is our February Community Time where we will celebrate Black History Month right after the 8:30 bell.
It’s Budget Planning time! The District is working now to set our budget for the 2026–27 school year. The budget reflects our priorities and defines what we are able to provide for our students. You are invited to these Community Town Hall meetings to learn more and give input. Your voice matters!
February 11: Community Town Hall (combined with Special Education Advisory), 6:30–7:30pm Zoom webinar.
February 25: Community Town Hall (combined with Student Achievement Committee), 6–7:30pm, Zoom webinar.Have a wonderful weekend!
In community,
Catherine Floresca
Principal
| CORNELL ANNOUNCEMENT |
Thank you Cornell Community for Donating Food during our Food Drive for the Alameda County Community Food Bank.
It was a huge success! We filled 3 ½ barrels which equals 350 pounds of food and will provide an estimated 292 meals to families in Alameda County.
If you are interested in volunteering at the food bank, here is a link to sign up: https://www.accfb.org/get-involved/volunteer-calendar/
It is an easy process to sign up online, and there are some Saturday shifts that are offered monthly. In case your family is interested, please note, volunteers must be at least 10 years of age.
| CORNELL LIBRARY CORNER |
Weekly Library Spotlight
The Cornell Book Fair Is Here! (ONLINE NOW and in-person 2/6-2/12)
This is a great chance to find new books for your personal collection and donate new, high-quality books to our school. The Cornell Library wishlist is online and donations of any size are greatly appreciated!
New in 2026: Online Book Fair Shopping & Gift Cards. We print the gift cards out daily so kids don’t need to bring anything in. This avoids keeping track of cash and speeds up check-outs!
We strongly encourage you to visit the book fair website to make purchases–the selection is much greater online. Please share the link with friends and family who would love to support kids’ reading!
Class and Community Visits
Students come to the fair during their regularly scheduled library visit, 2/6-2/12.
1st- 5th grade students may enjoy the fair during their lunch recesses.
-
Families are invited to come to the fair before and after school all week.
8:00-8:25 AM, 3:05-3:35 PM, except Wed which will be 11:45-2:15.
Please enter the building through the courtyard door closest to the library.
NEW! Saturday, 2/7, from 10-1, the fair will be open to the community.
Sign up to volunteer and be part of the fun!
EXCITING NEWS: Guest Author, Annie Barrows, will be visiting Cornell, 3/2/26!
Local, award-winning author, Annie Barrows, will be coming to Cornell and doing presentations for our TK-3rd graders on Read Across America Day! Students love her Ivy & Bean and Stella & Marigold early chapter book series.
She is presenting for free and we can support her and our own readers by pre-ordering discounted copies of her books here. Order by 2/26/26 to have your copy signed and delivered in person during her visit!
| PTA NEWS |
REMINDER: Sign Up for Cornell's Got Talent!
Deadline: Friday, February 13th
Hey Cornell Coyotes!
Do you sing, dance, play an instrument, tell jokes, perform magic, or have another awesome talent? Here’s your chance to shine on stage during the 2026 edition of Cornell's Got Talent! (CGT!). Sign Up by February 13, 2026 to be part of the show—whether solo, in a group, or even as a whole class—everyone who signs up will perform, and "auditions" are just part of the fun!
Important Dates:
Sign Up by February 13, 2026
Video "auditions" due Friday, February 27 (Details TBA only to those who sign up by the deadline)
Dress Rehearsal: Saturday, March 14, Oceanview Elementary MPR (time TBA)
Show: Saturday, March 28, Oceanview Elementary MPR (time TBA)
Don’t wait—fill out the sign up form today and get ready to share your talent with the Cornell community!
Cornell PTA Instagram @cornellpta
Cornell Wear eStore is always here with t-shirts, hoodies and more for the whole family!
| FROM AUSD |
Link to the Superintendent's Community Update
Black History Month Celebration
Student performances from across Albany schools will be highlighted. Thursday, February 12, 6–8pm, Albany High School Little Theater. All are welcome! Please come and celebrate with us!
Ramadan Iftar Potluck
The Southwest Asian and North African Parent Engagement Group is hosting a Ramadan Iftar potluck on Friday, February 27, 6–8pm in the Ocean View Multipurpose Room. Come and learn about this special month through games, crafts, and conversation. Everyone is welcome! If you are able to bring a dish, please sign up using the QR code in the flyer above or at this link.
Lunar New Year Celebration
Join us for the Lunar New Year Celebration hosted by AUSD Asian Pacific Islander Parent Engagement Group (API-PEG). February 28, 4–6pm, Ocean View Elementary MPR. Food and volunteer sign up https://forms.gle/mGkDymidKpbZ4tk58 Join API-PEG Group email by filling out this form. You can also find us on Facebook and Instagram. If you have any questions, please email AlbanyAPIparents@gmail.com.
SchoolCARE needs passionate volunteers to assist with Spring fundraising efforts. Please join our team in supporting public education in Albany. Sign up at the links below for each activity:
Brochure Distribution: Distribute fundraising brochures throughout Albany. Routes take 1–2 hours and can be a fun family activity.
In-Person Promotion: Help us promote our Spring campaign during school drop-off the week of April 27.
Host a Lawn Sign: We will drop off and pick up the signs for a two-month display!
Science Olympiad Elementary Teams Forming Now!
Science Olympiad is a nationwide competition where students compete in STEM-related challenges across topics like earth science, biology, chemistry, physics, and engineering. Division A is the elementary division, where 3rd–6th graders can compete by constructing a vehicle made of pasta, decoding ciphers, identifying stars, and more. We recommend forming a team of 8 friends of a similar age group to ensure compatibility amongst the students. Find out more about SciOly Division A. Sign-up form is here. Questions? Contact us at scioly.div.a@gmail.com.
Dance Camp Is Back!
Albany Dance Company (ADC), Albany High’s dance group, will be once again hosting a one-day dance camp for students in grades K–8 on March 20, 8am–3:30pm, Albany Unified’s staff professional development day—a no-school day for students! We hope this event will help out AUSD families by providing a day of fun activities for their students while also introducing them to our dance program at Albany High. Cost is $45 per dancer, $50 after March 3. Register with the QR code above in the flyer or at http://bit.ly/ADCDanceCamp26.
| COMMUNITY |
Albany Sunday Youth Basketball
Register Now for Spring 2026. Open to 2nd–8th graders at the Albany High gym.| NOTES FROM THE OFFICE |
Please visit the Cornell website for general information.
OFFICE HOURS
Office Hours: 8:15am – 3:30pm
Office Phone: (510) 558-3700
Email: Sui-Ling (sangelidis@ausdk12.org), or Margaret (mglendening@ausdk12.org)
LINK TO 2025-26 AUSD SCHOOL CALENDAR
LINK TO BOARD OF EDUCATION MEMBERS