October 9, 2020

Dear Families,

It is time for another update!  I hope you are finding these bi-weekly updates useful, and if you have questions/topics that you would like me to address in future updates, please contact me directly.

We are ending our 5th week of school, and high school progress reports will be issued soon.  Please stay in touch with your teachers and foster positive communication.  Our teachers are committed to regular parent contact, and we really need you to partner with us!  Thank you!

Speaking of parent communication, plans are underway for virtual open houses and parent conferences at each school.  Details will be shared shortly, but we are planning a “full remote learning day” for elementary students in late November to provide the opportunity for a full day of conferences for our parents and teachers.  We have used our allotment of Superintendents Conference Days (we are allowed 4), so having one day of remote learning for our students will keep us in full compliance with state education law. 

How wonderful it is to have our student athletes back and competing on the fields!  Thank you to our parents and families for adhering to the two spectator guidelines/student as well.  I realize this is an inconvenience, but is necessary to have our students participating.  Go Tigers! 

Last week, I released the new “return to school” information provided by the Health Department.   This has been much needed guidance, and again, here is the link to that info:  here.  I would direct your attention to primarily the first two pages.  However, the most important guidance is to please continue to keep your children home if they are not feeling well.  Proper handwashing, mask-wearing, and social distancing also continue to be the best preventative steps, and will help us keep our school OPEN!

This past Monday--on our Superintendents Conference Day--our staff was engaged in a number of productive programs, which included additional training on supporting our students social and emotional learning, instructional strategies, parent-teacher conference preparation, and dedicated time to coordinate remote learning calendars. 

Please be sure to observe the parking lot procedures for drop off and pick up, as this will help keep us all safe.  The parking lot map and directions may be found here.

Over the last couple of weeks, we have experienced some power outages in our school, with one day leading to school being closed (last Tuesday, September 29).   Although the power returned by 7:45 am last Tuesday, we were given no guarantees by National Grid, thus the decision to close.  This past Wednesday, we began to experience intermittent power outages between 1:45-2:15, and our generators did turn on.  Fire alarms and hallway lighting were working properly, and student dismissal occurred as normal.

We have been fortunate in Orleans County to have relatively low COVID-19 infection rates, and it continues to be my fervent hope that we remain fully open.  I am thankful to the proactive communication that I receive from our local health department, as I participate in weekly to bi-weekly calls with Paul Petit and his staff.  Paul and his staff keep my staff and I updated on the many changes. 

Finally, I would like to thank our nurse, Mary Kurz, for her continued dedication and commitment to ensuring a safe and healthy school!

As a reminder we do not have school Monday due to the Columbus Day federal holiday!

Have a great weekend!

Jason

Jason Smith, Superintendent

e-mail:  Jasmith@lcsdk12.org

phone:  585-765-3101

Twitter:  @LyndonvilleCSD

Facebook:  Lyndonville CSD