April 3 health updates

  • Posted April 3, 2020
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Google Classroom instruction begins Monday

As we prepare for teachers to begin delivery of new instruction through Google Classroom on Monday, we wanted to share a reminder of the academic and instructional resources available on the City School District of Albany website. 

These resources include instructions for accessing and using Google Classroom, as well as schedules for students at all grade levels. 

Also beginning Monday, the district will be distributing paper instructional resources in ELA and Math for students in grades K-5 at our seven meal distribution sites (see below for these locations).

Chromebook distribution update

After distributing more than 1,500 Chromebooks to our students and families this week, we are reconciling the initial technology needs assessment survey results and attempting to meet the needs of those families identified as not having any technology or access in the home. 

Once that process is complete, we will reassess the availability of Chromebooks at that time. To help us with that process, we are asking families without computer access or Internet connection at home to call your child’s school and leave a message with the following information:

  • Student name
  • Student grade
  • Student ID number (if available)

We will use this information to assess technology and Internet access needs moving forward. We will have additional guidance next week. Parents and guardians will need to follow the above process in order to help the district respond in the most efficient manner.

Technical support for students and families

The district’s Technology Help Desk may assist students and families with issues related to connecting a Chromebook to wireless access points, or with student login to the Chromebooks or the Clever suite of applications. You can reach the Technology Help Desk from 8 a.m.-3:30 p.m. each weekday at (518) 475-6195. 

Please note that the Help Desk cannot assist with matters related to use, content or activities within any of the district instructional applications or Google Classroom. Questions regarding the use of Google Classroom, instructional resources, learning tasks or expectations related to instructional content need to be directed to each student’s teacher or principal. 

Meal program updates

The City School District of Albany has served nearly 46,000 total meals during the three weeks of our school closure, including more than 27,000 meals this week. 

As a reminder, we have seven school locations for our meal pickup service in addition to our daily delivery service. Each of these school sites is open from 11:30 a.m.-1 p.m. each weekday:

  • Albany High School (Washington Avenue entrance), 700 Washington Ave.
  • Albany School of Humanities (ASH), 108 Whitehall Road
  • Arbor Hill Elementary School, 1 Arbor Drive
  • Giffen Memorial Elementary School, 274 South Pearl St.
  • Schuyler Achievement Academy, 676 Clinton Ave.
  • Tony Clement Center for Education, 395 Elk St.
  • William S. Hackett Middle School, 45 Delaware Ave.

We also are planning to expand our meal delivery program to serve more families next week. Please watch for more information Monday about how to register. 

Free WiFi opportunities

We would like to provide these reminders about WiFi access for Albany families.

  • The City of Albany has partnered with FirstLight Fiber to offer Albany FreeNet, a free high-speed WiFi service. Any WiFi-enabled device – laptops, smart phones, PDAs, etc. – can connect to the network wirelessly wherever there is coverage. For more information, including a coverage map, you can visit http://albanyfreenet.net/.
  • WiFi at all Albany Public Library branches and two city parks (near Lincoln Park pool and Washington Park playhouse and skate park) remain turned on, so you can access them if you are in close proximity to those locations.
  • Spectrum is offering free Internet access to Capital Region households during the COVID-19 closure. The 60-day offer includes free WiFi access and is only available to households that aren't already Spectrum customers. Other restrictions may apply. Call 844-488-8395 to enroll. Installation fees are also being waived.
    • Spectrum also has an online map to help you find free WiFi locations nearest to you. 

You also can check out this ABC News article about what companies are doing to increase WiFi and Internet hotspot access: 

Be counted for Albany in the 2020 Census – from home!

This is an important reminder that in spite of the closures and significant precautions in place due to COVID-19, the 2020 U.S. Census is underway. The Census Bureau is carefully monitoring the situation and follows the guidance of federal, state and local health authorities.

The most important thing you can do is respond online, by phone, or by mail when you receive your invitation. Responding now will minimize the need for Census Bureau workers to be out in communities following up. Help your community – and help the Census Bureau adhere to social-distancing guidelines – by responding online to the 2020 Census. Do your part. Stay home. Get counted.

OCFS childcare survey

The New York State Office of Children and Family Services is asking parents, guardians and caregivers who are in need of childcare to complete a Parent Need for Childcare survey. 

Based on the information collected in this survey, OCFS may be able to help families find the childcare program to meet their needs. It may be a challenge to find childcare due to COVID-19-related closures. However, OCFS is trying its best to support families to find high-quality childcare programs.

The OCFS website also has several resources available.

YMCA childcare partnership

The district is partnering with the YMCA to offer childcare services for health and emergency-response personnel. The YMCA is administering and staffing the program, which operates from 7 a.m.-6 p.m. daily at the following six schools:

  • Arbor Hill Elementary School, 1 Arbor Drive
  • Eagle Point Elementary School, 1044 Western Ave.
  • Giffen Memorial Elementary School, 274 South Pearl St.
  • New Scotland Elementary School, 369 New Scotland Ave.
  • Schuyler Achievement Academy, 676 Clinton Ave.
  • Sheridan Preparatory Academy, 400 Sheridan Ave.

The program has a limited capacity, with a maximum of 30 children per school (three classrooms with 10 children). The YMCA is staffing each room with two employees.

Online registration is available. Health and emergency personnel needing childcare are also welcome to call the YMCA at (518) 869-3500.

Picking up medications at school

In the event of an emergency, parents and guardians who need to pick up medication that is currently stored at school can contact Health Services Coordinator Suzanne McCarthy to schedule a time to pick up the medication.

Parents and guardians can contact the health services coordinator at (518) 475-6730 or smccarthy@albany.k12.ny.us. They should be sure to include their child’s name and school, and the best phone number where they can be reached. The health services coordinator will contact them to make arrangements to pick up medications.