Survey open through Thursday
The district’s survey asking families if they would choose a fully virtual learning environment to start the new school year will be open through Thursday at 4 p.m.
The district had received a total of 1,523 responses to the survey as of 6 p.m. Wednesday; the survey also includes questions related to transportation.
More than 58% of the respondents (886) indicated they would choose a fully virtual learning environment. A significant majority of all respondents (1,301, or 85.4%) said they would be willing to commit to their decision about their student’s learning environment – virtual, in-person or a hybrid model – through the first marking period, which closes Nov. 13.
You can find much more information about the proposed instructional models, and much more information about our planning for the new school year, in our 2020-21 Reopening Plan.
Beginning next Monday, Aug. 10, and continuing through Monday, Aug. 24, the district will provide an opportunity for all families that would prefer a fully virtual learning environment to formally commit to that decision through the first marking period.
Families choosing a fully virtual model will have an opportunity to switch to a different instructional model – if another model is available, based on precautions necessary at that time due to COVID-19 – at the start of the second quarter.
The district also will ask families whose students are eligible for transportation to let us know by Aug. 24 if the students will need a bus for the start of the school year, or if the family will provide another means of transportation to and from school each day. We also will ask for a commitment to this decision through the first marking period.
In our current survey, 52.4% of families with students who are eligible for transportation have indicated they will find another way for their students to get to and from school each day.
We are grateful to everyone who has completed the brief survey so far, and we encourage all who have not yet had an opportunity to do so before it closes Thursday afternoon.
Reopening forums planned for August
The district is planning virtual forums for families and community members during the week of Aug. 17 to provide opportunities to learn more about our 2020-21 Reopening Plan and to ask questions.
The forums will be held via Google Meet on the following dates:
- Monday, Aug. 17 -- Elementary, 6-7 p.m.
- Tuesday, Aug. 18 -- Middle school, 6-7 p.m.
- Wednesday, Aug. 19 -- High school, 6-7 p.m.
The forums will provide an update on our plans for starting the new school year in September, including updates that are anticipated this week from Governor Cuomo that will continue to inform the planning for schools statewide, as well as an opportunity for participants to ask live questions.
The Great American Mask Drive
The Great American Mask Drive is an opportunity for people to donate masks to schools for the start of the upcoming school year.
The masks are washable and reusable, and made by Hanes. The are $1.50 apiece and you can donate any quantity to any school in the district by following the link above. We also are working with masks.com to add the district for centralized donations that would allow us to assist in providing equitable distribution for all of our schools.
Following guidance from the New York State Department of Health, the district will provide masks for employees as well as masks for students who arrive at the bus or school without one. The Great American Mask Drive is an opportunity for you to supplement these supplies if you would like to help.
The Great American Mask Drive will be accepting orders through Monday, Aug. 31. Orders then will be shipped directly to each school, or, in cases in which a school does not receive at least 500 donated masks, masks.com will ship directly to the district for distribution to individual schools.
Summer Adventure awaits!
Thanks to our partners at Capital Region BOCES, students from kindergarten-grade 5 can take part in free and fun summertime activities on a new website.
The Summer Adventure website provides a wealth of activities for kids and their families, ranging from cooking to science to arts and crafts to mindful moments. With a mix of independent learning and family fun, parents will have the freedom to choose from a variety of summer adventures for their kids.
New activities are unveiled every Friday through Aug. 21 to keep kids active all summer long. Sign up here for Summer Adventure activities delivered to your inbox each week.
