Complete details available on the District Registration Page.
Dear Mahopac Parent/Guardians and Staff,
As stated in previous correspondence, the MCSD may be designated as a school district required to administer bi-weekly COVID-19 screening tests to 20% of in-person students and staff as a result of the positivity rate in Putnam County. These Binax Rapid Antigen Tests have been provided to the MCSD by NYS DOH and are conducted by using a simple anterior nasal swab which provides results in fifteen minutes. We need to meet the 20% required testing threshold for MCSD to remain open and in our hybrid model. If the positivity rate among in-person students and staff is lower than the designated number at the time of the Governor’s order, the MSCD may not have to continue with the testing and schools can remain open.
Over the past week, we have been reviewing the testing requirements and scheduling of our testing plan. The requirements are that we randomly select students equally over each building. Should your child be selected, you will receive an email from the district containing a consent form as well as the testing information including the location and time. If your household does not receive an email, your child(ren) are not subject to screening at this time. In order to complete the tests in an orderly and safe manner, it will warrant a number of days that our hybrid students will be on remote asynchronous instruction while students in those buildings are being tested. Should MCSD be designated by the Governor to test, we will then provide a testing schedule.
As I have mentioned many times, we face fluid scenarios that are unprecedented in education and continue to need patience and understanding. Please be assured we will make the best decisions possible, based on the information from New York State and Putnam County, and always with the health and safety of our students and staff as the priority.
We are delighted to have our Blue Cohort students physically back in school today and tomorrow and look forward to our Gold Cohort Wednesday, Thursday and Friday. Please continue to follow the practices of completing the daily health screening, wearing a mask, wash/sanitize your hands, and social distancing. Also as a reminder, if you believe at any point you and/or your child may have been in close contact with someone who has COVID-19, you and your child should self-quarantine and be tested. If you suspect your child is becoming ill, that child should stay home. Some symptoms of COVID-19 include fever, cough, sore throat, runny nose, headache, muscle aches, nausea, muscle pain, fatigue, and issues with smell and/or taste. You should consult with your physician for more medical advice.
Thank you for your understanding and patience. I will keep you informed of the testing protocol possibility as appropriate.
Sincerely,
Estimados padres / tutores y personal de Mahopac:
Como se indicó en correspondencia anterior, el MCSD puede ser designado como un distrito escolar que debe administrar pruebas de detección de COVID-19 quincenales al 20% de los estudiantes y el personal en persona como resultado de la tasa de positividad en el condado de Putnam. Estas pruebas rápidas de antígeno Binax han sido proporcionadas al MCSD por NYS DOH y se llevan a cabo utilizando un hisopo nasal anterior simple que proporciona resultados en quince minutos. Necesitamos cumplir con el umbral de prueba requerido del 20% para que MCSD permanezca abierto y en nuestro modelo híbrido. Si la tasa de positividad entre los estudiantes y el personal en persona es menor que el número designado en el momento de la orden del gobernador, es posible que el MSCD no tenga que continuar con las pruebas y las escuelas pueden permanecer abiertas.
Durante la semana pasada, hemos estado revisando los requisitos de las pruebas y la programación de nuestro plan de pruebas. Los requisitos son que seleccionamos estudiantes al azar por igual en cada edificio. Si su hijo es seleccionado, recibirá un correo electrónico del distrito que contiene un formulario de consentimiento, así como la información de la prueba, incluida la ubicación y la hora. Si su hogar no recibe un correo electrónico, sus hijos no están sujetos a evaluación en este momento. Para completar las pruebas de manera ordenada y segura, se garantizará una cantidad de días en que nuestros estudiantes híbridos estarán en instrucción asincrónica remota mientras los estudiantes en esos edificios están siendo evaluados. Si el gobernador designa a MCSD para realizar la prueba, proporcionaremos un calendario de pruebas.
Como he mencionado muchas veces, enfrentamos escenarios fluidos que no tienen precedentes en educación y continúan necesitando paciencia y comprensión. Tenga la seguridad de que tomaremos las mejores decisiones posibles, basándonos en la información del estado de Nueva York y el condado de Putnam, y siempre con la salud y seguridad de nuestros estudiantes y personal como prioridad.
Estamos encantados de tener a nuestros estudiantes de Blue Cohort físicamente de regreso a la escuela hoy y mañana y esperamos nuestra Gold Cohort los miércoles, jueves y viernes. Continúe siguiendo las prácticas de completar el examen de salud diario, usar una máscara, lavarse / desinfectarse las manos y distanciarse socialmente. También como recordatorio, si cree que en algún momento usted y / o su hijo pueden haber estado en contacto cercano con alguien que tiene COVID-19, usted y su hijo deben ponerse en cuarentena y hacerse la prueba. Si sospecha que su hijo se está enfermando, debe quedarse en casa. Algunos síntomas de COVID-19 incluyen fiebre, tos, dolor de garganta, secreción nasal, dolor de cabeza, dolores musculares, náuseas, dolor muscular, fatiga y problemas con el olfato y / o el gusto. Debe consultar con su médico para obtener más consejos médicos.
Gracias por su comprensión y paciencia. Lo mantendré informado de la posibilidad del protocolo de prueba según corresponda.
Board of Education Special meeting will be held on January 14, 2021. Due to Executive Order 202, the Board meeting will be held virtually.
It is anticipated the Board will move immediately into executive session to discuss a personnel matter.
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCyyGXNnB-fKndXzHrPO_WqA/videos?
Once live stream begins, YouTube link will update
The MCSD has six snow/emergency days allocated for the 2020-21 school year which can be used while still maintaining the required number of instructional days for students. Snow/emergency closures create complications beyond learning such as child care, power outages, and access to technology. Therefore, MCSD will continue to close or delay school based on weather conditions.
If we need to close due to the weather, we will use one of the six days built into the school calendar and there will be no remote learning for that day. Stay safe.
This Calendar includes school breaks, holidays, and color cohort days for the entire 2020-2021 school year. *Please refer to specific communications from schools for building specific changes and updates.*
Dear Families,
I am so excited to have our Austin Road students back for the start of the 2020-2021 school year. While our classroom set-up will look different and we will be learning with our masks on, we will make sure to hold on to our Austin Road core values: that all students are safe, loved, and engaged in their learning. I have been amazed at how hard our staff has worked during these challenging times to prepare for their students both in the classroom and at home.
I thank you for your support and look forward to working with all of you as we head into this new school year.
Respectfully,
Bryan Gilligan
When Austin Road Elementary students can't sing together (check out the video here!), they sign together instead! Music teacher Elizabeth Day, using technology and sign language, helped her students perform "Thanks a Lot" by Raffi in celebration of Thanksgiving and in gratitude. Enjoy!
The Lyrics of the song are:
This Calendar includes school breaks, holidays, and color cohort days for the entire 2020-2021 school year. *Please refer to specific communications from schools for building specific changes and updates.*
Michelle Tween has joined Austin Road Elementary as the school’s new assistant principal.
“I speak for everyone at Austin Road in saying that I am pleased to welcome Michelle to the Austin Road Family,” said Principal Bryan Gilligan. “I am grateful to the administration and The Board of Education for working diligently to select someone with the combination of educational experience and philosophy that she brings. I look forward to working closely with her to continue the good work being done at Austin Road to the benefit of all our students. I believe that her passion and dedication to early childhood and elementary education is well-aligned with mine and am confident will make a great team.”
Prior to joining Austin Road, Mrs.Tween spent nearly a decade as Director of Early Childhood Education at the Chapel School in Bronxville supervising and supporting preschool and K-2 team leaders, teachers, and teacher aides. Her other duties included coaching and observing teachers in instruction, management, and planning. She also created and implemented a schedule and protocol for school-wide faculty instructional rounds to create a culture of collegiality and collaboration. She was a reading specialist and a classroom teacher for Kindergarten, first, and second grades and participated on and led several educational and community committees including chairing the Cultural Competence Curriculum Review Committee.
“I am thrilled to be joining the Austin Road team. The warm welcome I received from Mr. Gilligan, the staff, and all of the teachers has been nothing short of amazing,” said Mrs. Tween. “Everything that I was told about the culture of Austin Road is what drew me here, and my experience so far is better than I could have imagined. Austin Road’s commitment to each other, to our students, and to our families will continue to keep us a truly connected and strong community.”
Mrs. Tween, who lives in Eastchester, NY, earned both a bachelor’s degree in psychology from Fordham University and a master’s degree in early childhood education and early childhood special education as well as an advanced diploma in school building leadership from The College of New Rochelle. She returned to Fordham to earn an Ed.D in Educational Leadership, Administration & Policy and is planning to graduate in 2021.
Please enjoy this Spotlight especially for Austin Road Families about the Reopening.
Teachers and staff from all three of Mahopac’s elementary schools - Lakeview, Austin Road, and Fulmer Road - held a parade on Friday, June 5, to pay tribute and say goodbye to their students, who they haven’t seen in person since the pandemic shutdown began. Students lined Route 6 with signs so they could say “goodbye” as well in a touching tribute.
Check out pictures of the parade - with many pictures submitted by YOU - here!
Read more about it and see even more pictures in the Mahopac News: https://www.tapinto.net/towns/mahopac/sections/education/articles/a-parade-of-goodbyes
