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2026 CAES Summer Institute

CAES, led by Kitrina Finlayson, will host the Summer Institute on Thursday and Friday, August 13 and 14, 2026 in the library of the New Hartford Senior High School, 33 Oxford Rd., New Hartford, NY 13413. This is a very economical way of acquiring 10.5 CTLE hours of Professional Development credit while collaborating with your colleagues from across the state. 

For only a $25 registration fee, your facilitators will guide you to create materials that you can immediately use in 2026. Register today! Registration closes August 1st.

Registration

A hotel block has been reserved at Burrstone Inn, an Ascend Collection Hotel located at 1777 Burrstone Road, New Hartford, NY 13413. The hotel block rate is arranged for participants to pick 1-2 nights at the discounted rate of $179 a night.There are ten King bedrooms and five double Queen bedrooms reserved at those rates. Breakfast is included. The reservation deadline is July 22nd. 

Hotel Reservations

Summer Institute Program

Day 1 – Thursday, August 13th 

Session 1: 8:00am-10:00am Welcome & Hands-on Workshop Creating Materials for Checkpoint B

Facilitator: David Pellegrino, Keziah Armstrong & Kitrina Finlayson

  • Overview the NYSED guidelines and expectations for Checkpoint B and anticipated expectations for Checkpoint C based on released expectations at the lower levels.
  • Start to work on generating materials arranged by content area of the standards so that there are readings on every topic and questions for every portion of the Checkpoint B tests by topic area. 
  • Work to write test questions, practice questions, as well as review and introduction materials to prepare students for the assessment.
  • Work in small groups or alone. 
  • Stressing that materials could be used for review or assessment. 
  • Then have revision time on someone else’s work.

 

Session 2 10:15am-11:15am Year in Review: Successes & Revisions Round Table

Facilitator: Kitrina Finlayson

  • Participants are asked to share something that was a success this year and something they could use some help improving for next year.
  • Giving Participants some ideas, conversation starters for meals, and work time on group solutions to any struggles.
  • Gain insight on Checkpoint A & B successes and failures to be addressed in other portions of the Institute. Review the work CAES has already done with the workshops hosted the past two years.

 

11:30am-12:30pm Catered Lunch

 

Session 3: 12:45pm-2:45pm Hands-on Workshop Creating Materials for 

Checkpoints A & B – Session I

Facilitator: David Pellegrino, Keziah Armstrong, Kristen Griswold & Kitrina Finlayson

  • Continue to work on generating materials arranged by content area of the standards so that there are readings on every topic and questions for every portion of the Checkpoint A and B tests by topic area. 
  • Work in small groups or alone. 
  • Stressing that materials could be used for review or assessment. 
  • Revise and edit time for produced work. Revision time on someone else’s work.
  • Identify areas where additional materials are needed for the various standard topic areas and test question formats.

Session 4: 3:00pm-4:30pm Toolkit for Strengthening and Preserving NYS Latin 

Programs with JCL

Facilitator: Kitrina Finlayson

  • Brainstorm a toolkit of ideas for strengthening and supporting in danger Latin programs across the state. 
  • Write some stock letters that could be quickly adapted by people to help write letters when a program is in danger. 
  • Create a rapid response network to be able to flood the district in danger with support from across the state. 
  • Organize some resources to guide a program on how to increase their numbers. All these materials will be behind the CAES paywall.
  • Resources and overview for offering and evaluating the Seal of BiLiteracy to encourage students to complete the sequence of offered classes.
  • Consider ways to make the NYS JCL better and have more district participation. How JCL can strengthen your Latin program. Discussion and planning of the State Convention weekend being planned for 2026-2027 school year.
  • Work on mapping out existing k-12 Latin programs, college & university programs, and JCL participating clubs.

5:00pm Go out to dinner together

Hours: 6.5

Day 2 – Friday, August 14th

Session 6: 8:00am-9:30am How to use AI in the Classroom with work time

Facilitator: Billy Breitweiser & Kitrina Finlayson

  • Provide an overview of the different types of AI available and how to use them. 
  • Provide examples of what they can do and their limitations.
  • List of AI resources and opportunity to share your own AI usage in the classroom.
  • Work time to use AI to support lesson development, curriculum content, or assessments and ask for help or guidance.

 

Session 7: 10:00am-12:30pm Hands-on Workshop Creating Materials for 

Checkpoints A & B – Session II

Facilitator: David Pellegrino, Keziah Armstrong, Kristen Griswold & Kitrina Finlayson

  • Continue to work on generating materials arranged by content area of the standards so that there are readings on every topic and questions for every portion of the Checkpoint A and B tests by topic area. 
  • Work in small groups or alone. 
  • Stressing that materials could be used for review or assessment. 
  • Revise and edit time for produced work. Revision time on someone else’s work.
  • Identify areas where additional materials are needed for the various standard topic areas and test question formats.

 

12:30pm-1:30pm Catered Lunch & Institute Accomplishments, Future 

Needs Assessment, & Farewell

  • Overview of what has been accomplished at this Summer Institute and what additional needs should be worked on in the future. Certificates & Evaluations.

Hours: 4

Total Institute Hours: 10.5