The following is an important message from Principal William Rivers:
Greetings new and returning Myers families!
Welcome to the start of the 2024-25 school year! We are so excited to welcome you, and your student, to Stephen and Harriet Myers Middle School! Our faculty has spent much time together this summer prioritizing student safety, planning to embed opportunities for authentic relationship building and establishing a genuine enthusiasm for learning!
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 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 allows a two-week grace period at the start of each school year (through Friday, Sept. 20 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. Students without IDs will not be permitted to ride tripper buses after Sept 20.
Please watch for more information about our CDTA 801 tripper routes and schedules later this month.
First Day of School
Friday, September 6 is the first day of school and is required for all students. Breakfast will begin at 7:30 a.m. and first period starts promptly at 8:03 a.m.
Students will enter through the main entrance and participate in routine security protocols where student bags will be checked. Please be reminded that no sharp objects (including pointed scissors, hair picks, knives, blades, glass bottles or glass cologne/perfume dispensers) 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 the cafeteria, gymnasium or auditorium. School staff will be readily available to support students in locating their classrooms throughout the day.
In an effort to ensure a smooth transition back to school, our students will participate in sessions to better familiarize themselves with school protocols related to Social Emotional Behavior (SEB), hallway transitions, lunch/study hall routines and arrival and dismissal procedures with embedded team building activities.
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, sports/clubs will dismiss via the bell
Lunch
All students will eat lunch in the cafeteria during their scheduled time. Students will have the choice of bringing their own lunch to school or selecting a hot lunch provided for free every day. Each block will consist of a lunch period opposite a study hall. As a reminder, ordering food is not permitted (GrubHub, Uber Eats, etc.) at any time.
Student supply lists
Available on our school’s page on the district website:
School Messenger
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Cell Phone Expectations
Students are required to have all mobile devices off and away throughout the school day. During the school day, students are not permitted to access their cell phones. If a student is using their cell phone at any point during the day, the following will occur:
- A school monitor will be called to collect the phone
- The monitor will then turn the device over to the Assistant Principal
- Assistant Principal will then contact the guardian to inform them of the infraction
- The phone must be picked up by the guardian
- Persistent non-compliance will result in progressive discipline
As a technology forward school, it is a top priority to teach and promote 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 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.
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 run Aug. 12 - 16 from 8:30 -11:30 a.m. each day. Self-contained classroom students in grade 6 will receive this orientation on Friday, Sept 6 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. 12.
Parent Information Night
Parent information Night will be held in the Myers auditorium on Tuesday, Aug. 13 from 5-6 p.m. We will review the information outlined in this letter and other important information before releasing families to visit our gardens and enjoy light refreshments provided by The Vegetable Project.
Important dates and events
- Parent Information Night: Tuesday, Aug. 13, 5-6 p.m.
- First day of School: Friday, September 6
- Open House: Wed., Sept. 18, 5-6:30 p.m. (Community Partner Mixer 4:30 p.m.)
- After School programming tentatively begins: Week of Monday, September 23
- Rosh Hashana (no school): Thursday, Oct. 3
- Q1 Interim grades close: Friday, Oct. 11
- Indigenous Peoples’/ Columbus Day (no school): Monday, Oct. 14
- Early dismissal for staff professional development: Wednesday, Oct. 16
- Picture Day: Tuesday-Wednesday, Oct. 22-23
- Parent-Teacher Conferences: Thursday, Oct. 24
- Parent-Teacher Conference Day (no school): Friday, Oct. 25
- Spirit Week: Monday, Oct. 27-Friday, Nov. 1
- Q1 Grades Close: Thursday, Nov. 8
- Veteran’s Day (no school): Monday, Nov. 11
- Early dismissal for staff professional development: Wednesday, Nov. 20
- Picture Make-ups: Wednesday, Nov. 20
- Fall Ball Incentive: Thursday, November 21, 5-7pm
For the one-page family wall calendar, please visit the Communications Department page on the district website.
We look forward to a successful 2024-25 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 child(ren) 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:
- Attendance: Joe Burke - jburke1@albany.k12.ny.us
- Grade 6: Migdalia Torres- mtorres2@albany.k12.ny.us
- Grade 7: Amelia Gallagher - agallagher1@albany.k12.ny.us
- Grade 8: Ashley Dillon - adillon@albany.k12.ny.us
- Security: Harry Hart - hhart@albany.k12.ny.us
Enjoy the rest of your summer and we can't wait to welcome students back to the building in September!
