June 11 district updates

Posted June 11, 2020

Perspectives in Online Learning

Thursday's installment of Perspectives in Online Learning features a video from Albany High School art teacher Kristine Monahan.

Perspectives in Online Learning is a forum we have created to allow teachers and students to share their experiences with virtual teaching and learning. We will highlight a new vignette or video each day while schools are closed due to COVID-19.

We hope you enjoy hearing the perspectives of our teachers and our students!

Secondary grading reminders

We want to share a reminder for students and families about grading procedures that will be in place for students in grades 6-12 as we close out the 2019-20 school year. The grading will determine how course credit is awarded, how final averages are calculated and if a student is eligible for the New York State Education Department Regents exam waiver.

"These grading procedures were developed with the well-being of our students in mind," said Superintendent Kaweeda G. Adams. "They reflect the unprecedented situation the COVID-19 crisis has created but are also designed to preserve the integrity of an academic program in which our staff and students have invested so much."

Please review this document for information on grading and course credit for the fourth quarter and full school year.

District to live-stream vote count

The district will live-stream the opening and counting of ballots in this year’s budget vote and Board of Education election.

We plan to begin counting votes at 5 p.m. Tuesday, which is the deadline for mail-in ballots to be received at Academy Park. The opportunity to deliver ballots in person and to pick up new ballots ended this past Tuesday.

We will be hand-counting ballots. To ensure privacy in the voting process, the law requires, and the district follows, a clearly defined protocol for opening oath envelopes and recording absentee ballots. Each step is completely discreet and separate to ensure that folded ballots are separated from the signed oath envelopes so that no ballot, when counted, can be associated with the oath envelope in which it was delivered to the district.

The live-stream opportunity is another step to ensure transparency and accountability in the process. The live-streaming link will be available next week in advance of the start of the count.

Please contact District Clerk Tanya Bowie at tbowie@albany.k12.ny.us or (518) 475-6015 if you have any voting- or ballot-related questions.

Celebrating the Class of 2020

When Albany High School’s seniors return to the building next Tuesday and Wednesday to pick up their caps and gowns for graduation, they also will have the opportunity to pick up another item celebrating their success.

The district partnered with the Albany Fund for Education and the Albany Booster Club to produce congratulatory lawn and window signs that the graduates can display at home to let everyone know they are proud members of the Class of 2020.

Also keep an eye out for similar messages on CDTA bus shelters throughout the city, another part of our ongoing efforts to let our 2020 graduates know we are proud of all they have achieved. The district also is recognizing our seniors via our social media channels throughout the month, so please stay tuned to those on a daily basis as well.

End-of-year Chromebook returns

A reminder that students who anticipate leaving the district before the 2020-21 school year begins, and graduating seniors who do not have younger siblings enrolled in district schools, can return their district Chromebooks during the week of June 15-18.

Chromebook returns can be made on any of those days at the district’s seven “grab and go” meal distribution locations from 11:30 a.m.-1 p.m.:

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.

Chromebooks will be accepted at any of those locations.

Seniors who do not have younger siblings that will need the Chromebook for virtual summer school work also can return the device at their graduation ceremony. The district is working on plans for in-person graduation ceremonies for the Class of 2020 on June 27-28 that will meet the state’s new guidelines of fewer than 150 total people per event with appropriate social distancing protocols.

The district-issued Chromebooks cannot be used outside of the district’s network. An active student account is required for access, and students leaving the district will have their accounts disabled. The devices cannot be used in any other way and have no utility for a non-student.

Albany High graduation, secondary promotion ceremony information

Albany High School is making plans for in-person graduation ceremonies on the weekend of June 27-28 following Governor Cuomo's recent notice that outdoor graduations can be held beginning June 26 with up to 150 total people and with social distancing guidelines in place that follow guidance from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

We are developing plans for in-person ceremonies that are in alignment with the guidance provided. We will share more information as soon as our plans are confirmed. We also have a Class of 2020 Information page that includes a variety of updates and reminders for our seniors.

We are proud of our soon-to-be graduates!

Here is the schedule for promotion ceremonies and other recognition activities at the secondary level. Please stay tuned for information about events at the elementary level. In every case, each school will have more detailed information about these activities for their students and families.

Middle schools – Virtual promotion ceremonies

Edmund J. O’Neal Middle School of Excellence – Thursday, June 18 at 11 a.m.
North Albany Middle School – Thursday, June 18 at 12:15 p.m., online student recognition event
Stephen and Harriet Myers Middle School – Wednesday, June 17 at 9 a.m.
William S. Hackett Middle School – Tuesday, June 16 at 9 a.m.

Albany International Center

Tuesday, June 16 at 11 a.m., online student recognition event

Tony Clement Center for Education

Students will participate in the middle school programs

Please note that students must pass all classes to be eligible to participate in these activities.

Meal delivery reminders for the final weeks of school

The district has moved from daily meal delivery to three times a week over the final two weeks of the school year. However, we still will deliver meals for all seven days of the week during that time to the approximately 2,400 students we are serving.

This week, meal delivery will be Monday-Wednesday-Friday
Next week, meal delivery will be Monday-Wednesday-Thursday (Thursday, June 18 is the last day of the 2019-20 school year)

Our 23 buses will deliver meals for multiple days each day of operation. The district has served nearly 320,000 meals to date during the school closure.

We also will continue to have our seven “grab and go” locations through June 18 each weekday from 11:30 a.m.-1 p.m. Those sites are:

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.

Our summer meals “grab and go” program will begin Monday, June 22 at the locations listed above. It has not been determined yet if we will be permitted by federal regulations to deliver meals during the summer. Please watch for more information.

New information line for support services

The City School District of Albany has established an information phone line for families of students who may need additional assistance with linkages to services available from the district, city, county and state.

The new CSDA Information line phone number is (518) 475-6130. It is available from 8 a.m.-4 p.m. daily through Thursday, June 18.

The Office of Pupil Personnel Services will receive phone calls and provide a warm hand-off to building-level student support service personnel to provide support to families during this difficult time, including connections to services available throughout our community. Calls will be returned as soon as possible, but by the close of business each day. Please note that if you are calling with an emergency or an issue of immediate safety, do not call the information line but instead call 911.

The district also has developed a Community Resource Guide to help connect families with a wide range of supports.

Social distancing reminder

As the Capital Region moves through the COVID-19 reopening process, please continue to keep in mind social distancing guidelines as we all try to do our part to slow the spread of COVID-19 and help our city, our region and our state return to operations in a way that is safe for all. Stay home whenever possible, maintain a minimum of six feet between yourself and other individuals if you must go out, and wear a mask if you cannot adhere to those social distancing guidelines. You can find helpful information about social distancing practices on the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention website.

Returning musical instruments

As part of the end-of-the-school-year process, students who currently participate in the district’s band and orchestra programs should plan to return their instruments before the last day of the school year on Thursday, June 18. District staff will inventory the instruments, assess for repairs and sanitize them for next school year.

Families wishing to keep a school-loaned instrument for summer practice may do so under the following guidelines: You are not leaving the district before the start of next school year, your student will be enrolled in the same school for 2020-21, and you communicate that request to the Fine Arts Office at (518) 475-6554 prior to June 18.

Also, please know that due to the closure of our school buildings because of the COVID-19 crisis there will not be any summer arts enrichment program or summer lesson offerings this year. We hope to return to our normal arts programming as soon as it's safe to do so.

New summer adventure website coming July 3

Summer vacation may look a bit different this year, but Capital Region BOCES and area school districts, including the City School District of Albany, are partnering to develop a new website that will provide eight weeks of activities to keep your elementary-age children engaged during the summer.

Starting July 3, visit https://summeradventure.capitalregionboces.org for a week-by-week collection of fun, enriching activities. Curated by educators, these theme-based activities will range from arts and crafts and backyard science to mindful moments and staying active — perfect for a summer spent at home!

Community food distribution event Monday

Catholic Charities Mobile Outreach Vehicle Extension is sponsoring a Community Partnership Mass Food Distribution on Monday, June 15 beginning at 9:30 a.m.

All are invited to receive food, fresh fruits and vegetables, and other items while supplies last. The event will be held at the Catholic Charities Pastoral Center, 40 North Main Ave., near the North Main entrance to Albany High School (use the Western Avenue entrance for the pastoral center).

Catholic Charities has asked that all attendees follow these guidelines:

Please do not arrive before 9:30 a.m. Arriving early will cause traffic and jeopardize social distancing guidelines
If you are driving, stay in your car
If you are walking, please practice social distancing
Adhering to these instructions will allow food to be distributed quickly, efficiently and safely

Funding for childcare costs

New York is using a portion of the federal Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic Security Act (CARES Act) funds to provide free childcare to income-eligible essential workers.

To qualify for a scholarship to cover the cost of care, essential workers must work outside of the home and use a licensed and regulated childcare provider. This would include the YMCA partnership described below. Families also must have an adjusted gross income at or below 300% of the federal poverty level. For a family of four that equals an annual income of $78,600.

Parents and guardians are asked to complete this application for the CARES Child Care Scholarship. Applications will be considered complete once the online application is finished AND the required supplemental documentation is submitted to Bright side Up, the Childcare Resource and Referral Agency (MCCRAY) for Albany, Fulton, Montgomery, Rensselaer, Saratoga and Schenectady counties.

For parents and guardians that currently receive a subsidy from their local Department of Social Services to pay for childcare, this scholarship can cover the co-pay. Parents and guardians should apply for the CARES Act Scholarship, and then contact their local DS to get a letter stating their current co-pay. Please address any questions to Tricia Holland at Rowland@brightsideup.org.

Technical support for students and families

The City School District of Albany’s Technology Help Desk is available to assist students and families with issues related to connecting a Chromebooks 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 should be directed to each student’s teacher or principal.

You also can find instructions and other helpful Google Classroom guidance in our online instruction section.

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.

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.

Health insurance assistance

NY State of Health is committed to ensuring access to affordable, quality health insurance for all New Yorkers so they can get the care they need during the COVID-19 crisis.

Many New Yorkers are likely to be eligible for health coverage with financial assistance through NY State of Health due to their loss of coverage and income. NY State of Health opened a Special Enrollment Period in March to provide a safety net for people who are uninsured in difficult times like this.

You can apply for health insurance immediately through NY State of Health. If you lost employer coverage, you must apply within 60 days of losing that coverage.

Because of a loss of income, New Yorkers may also be eligible for Medicaid, the Essential Plan, Child Health Plus or subsidized Qualified Health Plan coverage.

Visit NY State of Health online for more information. You also can contact the Marketplace directly at (518) 486-9102 or NYSE@health.ny.gov.

Mental health hotline

Along with the impact the COVID-19 outbreak is having on physical health, we can't underestimate the impact this pandemic is having on mental health.

More than 6,000 mental health professionals have volunteered their time to help with New York’s response to COVID-19. For free emotional support, consultation and referral to a provider, call 1-844-863-9314.

Domestic violence resources

The New York State Office for the Prevention of Domestic Violence has a message for victims during these challenging times: You are not alone.

Please call the New York State Domestic and Sexual Violence Hotline at 800-942-6906 for information on domestic violence resources in our community. You also can access these resources online.

Expanded mobile crisis hours

Northern Rivers has extended its hours for mobile crisis services. The expanded hours are:

Monday–Friday – 8 a.m.–10 p.m.
Saturday–Sunday – 11 a.m.–7 p.m.
- For immediate crisis services, call (518) 292-5499
- For general information, call (518) 952-9032

Mobile crisis services provides telephone support for children, families and adults experiencing emotional and/or behavioral crisis, and for professionals working with these individuals. Northern Rivers also provides in-person crisis assessment and intervention for individuals experiencing emotional and/or behavioral crisis anywhere in the community.

For more information, visit Northern Rivers online.