Dear Secondary School Families:
I hope this update finds you healthy and much better than last week following the powerful storm. We want to support our families and ensure that no student is penalized for attendance or missing assignments as a result. As a building we continue to make student wellness and social/emotional learning a top priority; any setback to our community can have a tremendous impact on both home and school. We are always here if you have any questions or we can be of help in any way!
We had another productive week at the Secondary School, highlighted by last week's open house program and three days of school photos. I am pleased to share with you a digital copy of our Red, White, and Blue cohort calendar for the second marking period. 6th grade parents should note that Friday, December 4 and Friday, January 15 will be virtual days for all secondary students. At the current time, NY State Department of Education and Department of Health guidelines remain status quo in regards to social distancing requirements for students and staff. With more of our fully remote students set to join our hybrid model and our physical space being small, scheduling options are increasingly limited. Despite these challenges, our Task Force did a commendable job of creating a calendar that actually increases student in-person contact days from 11 to 13 days for each cohort in quarter 2! A reminder that in the event of a closure, the calendar will remain unchanged. Once we have updated numbers of in-person students in hand, our committee will be taking a closer look at additional opportunities to further increase student contact time for the mid year point.
Quarter 2 Calendar: rhttps://docs.google.com/document/d/1NpboaBiiOd1IKem7JMVmrw5gv3EsrVUfvExk1-XwWEU/edit?usp=sharing
Here are several other important updates for the week:
November 3 - Virtual Day: Due to the need for a polling location in our building, the Board of Education has approved Tuesday, November 3 as a virtual day of instruction for all 6-12 students (this does not affect Elementary). It is still a regular “Red Cohort” school day and teachers will be providing remote instruction on the normal nine period schedule. Attendance will be taken during period 1 from 7:30-7:45. The rest of the calendar for the week of 11/2-11/6 remains unchanged.
Quarter 2 Mode of Instruction: A reminder that if your child is fully remote, parents/guardians have until October 23 to notify the counseling department if you would like to switch to hybrid learning beginning on November 9.
School Picture Makeup Day: If your child missed their school photo opportunity, Adirondack School Portraits will be back for picture makeup day on Monday, November 23 from 11 am -2:15 pm. This opportunity is open to all 6-12 students (hybrid and remote).
Remote Coursework Continues to Expand! Beginning on Monday, October 19, Remote Photography will be offered to our high school students. Please reach out to the instructor directly (jbush@brunswickcsd.org) if you have any questions. Thank you for your patience as we continue to assess and expand opportunities for all of our students.
Health/Wellness: A reminder from our nurses as cold/flu season approaches. Please keep your child home if they are experiencing any symptoms consistent with COVID. If your child’s symptoms are improving AND they are fever-free for at least 24 hours without the use of fever reducing medicine, they may return to school with a note from their doctor with an alternate diagnosis clearing them to return to school OR a copy of their negative COVID test result. We appreciate your help in keeping our school safe for everyone!
Self Advocacy: Adolescence is a unique transition period marked by growth and opportunity. During this time, students explore who they are and discover their voice through peer and adult interactions. Student self-advocacy is a lifelong skill that needs development during the journey through middle and high school. If you notice your child is feeling overwhelmed with schoolwork or struggling academically, please encourage them to connect with their teachers and/or counselor. Our dedicated teaching and counseling staff is available to support your child every step of the way!
Weekly Calendar:
Mon. 10/19 = Red Day Tues.10/20 = White DAY Wed. 10/21= BLUE DAY, Thurs 10/22 = RED DAY, Fri 10/23= Virtual Day 7-12 students
Financial Aid Night which will be Wednesday, October 21st at 6 pm. An opportunity to meet with a representative from Siena regarding the financial aid process!
Meeting Link: https://siena.zoom.us/j/97041263350
Thank you for your continued partnership! Your support has been a tremendous boost during these challenging times. We look forward to another great week ahead. In the meantime, have a safe and relaxing weekend! #TamaracStrong
Sincerely,
Ken Rizzo
Principal
Tamarac Secondary School