Welcome back, from Principal William Rivers!

Greetings new and returning Myers families!
 
Welcome to the start of the 2022-23 school year!  We are so excited to welcome your child back to our building. Our teachers and staff continue to work together to prioritize student safety, relationships and establish a genuine enthusiasm for learning! We will also continue to be  mindful of the health and safety protocols that remain critically important for all of our students, faculty and staff.  As we continue to closely monitor the impact of COVID-19, we align all of our efforts with the guidance of federal, state and local health officials, as well as the New York State Education Department and Capital Region BOCES. 
 
For the start of the 2022-23 school year, the following health and safety guidelines will be in place: 

• We will continue to follow the same hand hygiene and daily cleaning and disinfecting protocols that we have since the start of the pandemic.
• Masks remain required for all students on CDTA buses and we will remain at regular capacity guidelines on all buses.

Transportation
Students continue to be eligible for transportation to and from school based on the district’s standard criteria: all students living 1.5 miles or more from school and all students whose Individualized Education Plan (IEP) requires specialized transportation. Students receiving specialized transportation will ride yellow buses operated by First Student.  All other eligible middle and high school students in the district ride CDTA.

Students eligible to ride CDTA buses will have their student ID activated to use as their bus pass.  CDTA will allow a two-week grace period at the start of each school year (through Friday, Sept. 16 this year) when all students are allowed to ride without a pass.  CDTA will continue to provide Tripper buses for our students in the morning and afternoon and eligible students can also ride any regular CDTA bus using their activated student IDs.
 
Please watch for more information about our CDTA 801 tripper routes and schedules later this month.
 

Student Orientation Days Sept. 1-2
In an effort to ensure a smooth transition back to school for all students, the district has dedicated Sept. 1-2 as Student Orientation Days.  The goal of these two days is to welcome students back to school in smaller groups in order to provide time for them to get comfortable with their schedules, building-wide expectations, health and safety protocols, and their school lockers. Please note that attendance will be taken.
 
We will provide schedules and locker assignments during these Student Orientation Days; students will receive a copy of their schedule in the mail and copies will be available upon arrival, as well.

These orientation days will also provide our students with the opportunity to participate in small sessions to better familiarize themselves with school protocols related to PBIS, hallway transitions, lunch/study hall routines and arrival and dismissal procedures.
 
Thursday, Sept. 1 

• All self-contained classroom students in grades 6-8
• All grade 6 students 
• Grade 7 Team RPI and Grade 8 Team St. Rose

Friday, Sept. 2 

• All self-contained classroom students in grades 6-8
• Grade 6 does not report
• Grade 7 Team Union and Grade 8 Team Siena

On these orientation days, students will enter through the main entrance in their grade level line and participate in routine scan protocols where student bags will be checked.  Please be reminded that no sharp objects (including pointed scissors, sharp hair picks, knives, blades, glass bottles) are permitted in school at any time, for any reason.  

Following the routine scan, students will pick up their schedules from a pre-assigned grade-level line based on alphabetical order by last name.  After students receive their schedules, they will proceed to one of the following locations: cafeteria, gymnasium or auditorium.  School staff will be strategically located to support students in locating their classrooms throughout the day.

Student attendance and schedules
Tuesday, Sept. 6 will be the first full day of school for all students.  Breakfast will begin at 7:30 a.m. and the first period will begin at 8:03 a.m.  The school day will conclude at 2:52 p.m. with a staggered dismissal through 3 p.m. Students will be dismissed in the following order:

• 2:52 p.m.: Walkers, student pickup and first CDTA Tripper via announcements.
• 2:54 - 2:58 p.m.: Remaining Trippers will dismiss via announcements.
• 3 p.m.: First Student and sports/clubs will dismiss via the bell.

Upon entering the building, we will provide students with three options: cafeteria for breakfast, gymnasium for athletic play or the auditorium to socialize/complete homework.  

Lunch
At the present moment, the goal is for all students to eat lunch in the cafeteria.  Students will have the choice of bringing their own lunch to school or selecting from one of the hot items provided each day. Each block will consist of a lunch period opposite a study hall with period 1 teachers.
 
Student supply lists
Available on our school’s page on the district website.

School Messenger
Stay in the know about all things Stephen and Harriet Myers Middle School. If you aren’t already a member, sign up here.
 

Cell Phone Expectations
Students are required to leave all mobile devices in their lockers at the start of the day and they can be retrieved prior to dismissal.  During the school day, students are not permitted to access their cell phones. If a student is using their cell phone, a school monitor will be called to collect the phone and the monitor will then turn the device over to our Director of Security, Issac Cancer. Mr. Cancer will then contact the parent/guardian to inform them of the infraction and the phone can be collected by a parent/guardian from the front office at your convenience. Persistent non-compliance will result in progressive disciplinary action. 

As a technology forward school, it is a top priority to teach and promote appropriate digital citizenship and that includes limiting cell phone use to appropriate times. Our teachers and staff have overwhelmingly agreed that a consistent and school-wide expectation will help students stay more present and engaged in their learning. Our intent is to support our scholars in realizing their academic success, remove a major temptation and promote positive face-to-face social interactions and connection. A cell-phone on a desk - even when switched to silent mode - is a distraction for everyone in the classroom, not just the student to whom it belongs.

If a student needs to contact a parent/guardian during the school day, teachers will issue passes to the office where the student may use the office phone during their lunch periods. Of course, any emergency will be directly communicated from the school to our families. In addition, if a parent/guardian wishes to reach the student, or have a message relayed to the student during school hours, please feel free to call the main office at (518) 475-6425.

Summer Transition Camp - Grade 6
The Summer Transition Camp is a five-day program open to all students entering grade 6 at Stephen and Harriet Myers Middle School.  The camp is designed to help students get off to a smooth start to the school year. The Summer Transition Camp will be Aug. 22-26 from 8:00 -11:30 a.m. each day. Self-contained classroom students in sixth grade will receive this orientation on Sept 1-2 and should not report to Transition Camp.
 
Sixth-grade students will have opportunities to learn strategies to enhance study skills and note-taking abilities as well as engage in various team-building activities designed to promote a safe and secure learning environment. We hope that all incoming sixth graders take advantage of this fun opportunity. 
 
Students who have not yet submitted an application to participate in the Summer Transition Camp can still register by reporting to the cafeteria on the first day Monday, Aug. 22.

Parent Information Night 
Parent information Night will be held in the Myers auditorium on Monday, August 22 from 5:30 - 6:30 p.m. We will review the information outlined in this letter and other important information.
 
Important dates and events
Finally, I would like to share the following dates for various important school events.  Please be sure to mark these dates on your calendars:

• Parent Information Night: August 22
• Student Orientation (All grade 6, all self-contained classes 6-8, 7 RPI and 8 St. Rose): Thursday, September 1
• Student Orientation (All self-contained classes 6-8, 7 Union and 8 Siena):
•  Friday, September 2
• Labor Day (no school): Monday, September 5
• PTSA meeting: Monday, September 19
• Open House: Wednesday, September 21
• Rosh Hashanah (no school for students/staff): Monday, September 26
• Staff professional development (no school for students): Tuesday, September 27
• Yom Kippur (No school): Wednesday, October 5
• Columbus Day (No school): Monday, October 10
• School Pictures: Thursday, October 13-Friday, October 14
• PTSA meeting: Monday, October 17
• School picture makeups: Tuesday, November 15

For the one-page family wall calendar, please visit the Communications Department page on the district website.

We look forward to a  successful 2022-23 school year for all of our students. It will require that we work together to ensure our children receive the school experience they deserve! We ask that you review all of this information at home with your children prior to the start of school.  Now more than ever, it is critical that we are “All in for Albany!”
 
If you have any additional grade-specific questions, please call 518-475-6425 or contact:
Grade 6: Joe Burke, HSC - jburke1@albany.k12.ny.us 
Grade 7: Amelia Gallagher - agallagher@albany.k12.ny.us 
Grade 8: Mike Teator - mteator@albany.k12.ny.us 
Special Education: Brianna Olsen - bolsen@albany.k12.ny.us 
Security: Issac Cancer - icancer@albany.k12.ny.us 

Respectfully Yours,

William S. Rivers
Principal