EHCSD NEWS

UPDATE - PHASE II ACTIVITIES

4/3/2020

Phase II is designed to sustain educational continuity during this extended school closure. The first wave of Phase II work is rolling out now. Officially, we are closed by Governor Cuomo's decree through April 15th. Most would assume this will be extended for another two weeks. We have taken the position of working to stay ahead of those closures to provide the educational continuity; Phase II.

Click here for more information.

Southern Tier Weekend Backpack Program

3/25/2020

For those students who participate in the Food Bank of the Southern Tier Weekend Backpack Program: The bags of food that normally go home in student’s backpacks on weekends can be picked up from either the Cohen Elementary School or Elmira Heights Village Hall food distribution sites on either Thursday (3/26) or Friday (3/27). Delivery assistance is available upon request.

Click here for more information.

CHANGE TO MEAL PICK UP

3/27/2020

The Elmira Heights School District is changing its program making meals available to students in need to Monday, Wednesday and Friday distribution. Effective Monday, March 30, pre-packaged breakfasts and lunches for two days will be available for curbside pickup at the entrance of Cohen Elementary School and at the Elmira Heights Village Hall, 215 Elmwood Avenue from 10:30-11:30 a.m.

Click here for more information.

School Closing Announcement

3/14/2020

The Elmira Heights Central School District will be closed for students beginning Tuesday, March 17 through April 13. If at the end of spring recess, the situation is deemed clear by health officials, students will report Tuesday, April 14, 2020.

Click here for more information.

COVID-19 Information

3/4/2020

For the latest information on the COVID-19 virus use these links:

Center for Disease Control and Prevention

New York State Department of Health

Chemung County Health Department

NYSDOH COVID-19 Information Line: 1-888-364-3065

District Calendar

	APRIL 2020
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5	6	7	8	9	10	11
12	13	14	15	16	17	18
19	20	21	22	23	24	25
26	27	28	29	30

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Welcome to the Elmira Heights Central School District

April 3, 2020

Dear Elmira Heights Central School District Community:

It's hard to imagine that it was only a few weeks ago we are attending school during the day, looking forward to fun school activities in the evenings, and hoping for a break in the weather so we could be outside enjoying the start of spring sports. Life has changed and so, school has changed. This update is meant to bring people up to speed on where we are in our Phase II activities.

In Phase II we are focused on improving the work we have students participate in at home. We know this work is supported by families, for the most part, up until this point. This was Phase I of this COVID-19 Closure. Now in Phase II, we are figuring out ways we can enhance this experience for our kids.

At the middle school and high school levels we are pushing towards a more digitally- based learning platform. This is a shift, as we do not have a 1:1 computer initiative like many of our neighboring schools. Being that this is so new, we need to have the most accurate information on what students have available currently in their homes.

We will be sending a survey out to see what our capacities are for families to take on this digital enhancement. We will be asking about Internet connectivity, as well as the type of technology available in the home. Please look for this survey in the coming days, which will be available via email. For those who we don't hear from, or are unable to be reached through email, we will follow up with calls from school.

While not everybody will be able to participate digitally, we feel we can support those who are unable to do so in a reasonable manner, but see this enhancement has a strong enough benefit to push forward with the initiative.

At our elementary level we will continue to utilize our packet production as the core on which we build our academic supports. As teachers can, we will continue to communicate with our students and support them through this time. We are exploring more and diverse ways of making these connections and supporting our students and families during this closure.

We are currently working to complete a plan of the next wave of Phase II learning here in the Heights. In the coming weeks each building will send to families their plan for educational continuity during the ongoing school closure. This will include guidelines for the work being done at home, the plan for staying connected with teachers, and other supports to supplement time at school for our kids.

Other topics of note:

3-8 Grade State Assessments: Cancelled

Regents Exams: Currently being reviewed at the State level. There is no word yet if these will be cancelled, and what this would mean for progress towards graduation. Please be reassured, everything we are hearing from these discussions is meant to minimize any negative impact on our students, in particular our seniors.

Spring Break: You may have heard that spring break has been cancelled. What this means is that we will continue to support the learning experiences our kids are involved in during the week we would have otherwise been on spring break. Work is going home, and teachers are available to assist.

Spring Sports: As of communications during the last couple of days our league, the I.A.C., has a plan for a delayed start for our sports seasons. This could involve an abbreviated league schedule, but final details would be put in place when a back to school date is established. We're all certainly hoping our Spartans get to take up the colors this spring!

Other Events: Prom, Senior Trip, Graduation, etc... As of right now we are adjusting impacted events according to the window of time our governor has us on closure. Much like sports, when we return will determine the impact on these activities. We will do everything in our power to maintain these big events in our students lives, even if it means the timing is adjusted. Though these are huge events in our students lives I know everyone wants answers on, we just don't have any answers at this point. We are brainstorming potential scenarios but really, until we have a formal cancellation of school during the window of time these events take place, we go forward with our timing and plan as is.

Additionally, we continue with our lunch and breakfast programs. Please check out our website at heightsschools.com for more information in this program. You can also access a lot of information through our various social media accounts. Links are available on the school website.

We understand this is a difficult time for everyone. Families are taking on roles supporting our students learning at a high level, and it can be downright tough to do. Many of our staff are also parents and so, we have insight into what this looks and feels like in our own homes. We are taking care to balance the challenging nature of the work and the ability to support it. We may be on a school closure, but our teachers can still be contacted for help. Look for that information with communications from our specific levels. We are here for our students. We are in this together! And hopefully, we will be back at school together soon.

#FortheHeights

Michael F. Gill

Superintendent of Schools

March 26, 2020

Dear Elmira Heights Central School District Community:

The past two weeks have been an unbelievable series of shifts in all aspects of our daily lives. We essentially shuttered school as we know it. We moved to create a new version of learning for our students in a matter of hours. Our staff preparing and delivering work for our kids to do while at home was an astonishing accomplishment. We have so much respect for our parents and caregivers stepping into the roles as teachers, and our kids adapting to this new normal. It has been an amazing collective effort.

What’s next? We hope we can return to school as soon as possible. We do not know when that date will be with any certainty. What we do know is that we can restart school within our buildings very quickly when we can. The plan is that date will be April 14^th. The question then is, what do we do if this goes on longer? That’s the challenge we are going to start to tackle now, to be ready if the word comes that we will be closed longer. That work is what we are calling Phase II.

Phase II will target the weeks when we are scheduled to be back from this closure, the two weeks after our scheduled Spring Break, April 14-April 24. Over the next week teachers will be working to prepare academic support with a goal of getting these new materials out to families and students when the timing dictates if we are going to be out longer. Each building will communicate their specific plans if and when this is needed.

We do not have any specific information that we will be closed longer but we cannot wait to see what happens, we need to be prepared. We hope we are back together soon. We want our kids back in their classes, back out on our playground, back out onto those sports fields and courts, and back into the multitude of opportunities we have here when we are doing school the normal way. Hopefully that will be sooner rather than later. Either way, we will be ready. Be on the lookout for more specific information coming soon.

Don’t hesitate to reach out if you have questions or concerns.

Stay healthy. Stay Safe.

#FortheHeights

Sincerely,

Michael F. Gill

Superintendent of Schools

March 25, 2020

For those students who participate in the Food Bank of the Southern Tier Weekend Backpack Program:

The bags of food that normally go home in student’s backpacks on weekends can be picked up from either the Cohen Elementary School or Elmira Heights Village Hall food distribution sites on either Thursday (3/26) or Friday (3/27).

Families requiring assistance for delivery of the Food Bank Weekend Bags are asked to email Mr. Lutz at alutz@gstboces.org. If you don’t have access to email, please call 734-7132 and leave your name, address and phone number for delivery.

March 20, 2020

Dear Elmira Heights School District Family,

Due to technical issues, we have been forced to launch a new District Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/EHeightsSchools/.

The old District page will remain active but will not be updated with new information. It is important that you like the new page to receive the latest updates and information as we continue to navigate our way through the COVID-19 crisis together.

In an effort to reach as many of you as we can, we have also created a District Instagram page at https://www.instagram.com/eheightsschools and a Twitter feed at https://twitter.com/EHeightsSchools. Feel free to like them.

Each of our schools also has a Facebook page too.

The High School is at https://www.facebook.com/Thomas-A-Edison-High-School-847749268582484/

The Middle School page is https://www.facebook.com/CohenMiddleSchool/

The Elementary School’s page is https://www.facebook.com/Cohen-Elementary-School-1685963744962125/

Feel free to like them all. You’ll find great information and more all the time, not just in our current situation.

We will also continue to update the District webpage at http://www.heightsschools.com/ with the latest information.

Our goal is to keep you informed on whatever platform(s) you consume information. Stay safe and strong. We are all in this together and will continue to support our students and families now and always.

#FortheHeights

Michael Gill
Superintendent

March 17, 2020

Elmira Heights Central School District Emergency Meals Plan

Meals are available at no charge for Elmira Heights School District children 18 years old and younger who are in need during the school shutdown. Children enrolled in the district, and siblings who reside in the same household, may participate.

Pre-packaged breakfasts and lunches will be available for curbside pickup Monday-Friday beginning Tuesday, March 17 at the entrance of Cohen Elementary School.

Distribution time is 10:30-11:30 a.m.

We are working with the Food Bank of the Southern Tier to provide emergency food boxes for families who need additional help.Please contact the cafeteria office at 733-5854.

We will continue to support our students and families through this unprecedented crisis.

March 14, 2020

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Dear Elmira Heights Central School District Community:

Under advisement of the New York State Department of Health and by order of Chemung County Executive Chris Moss regarding the suspension of all classroom and extra-curricular functions for prevention efforts against COVID-19, the Elmira Heights Central School District will be closed for students beginning Tuesday, March 17 through April 13. If at the end of spring recess, the situation is deemed clear by health officials, students will report Tuesday, April 14, 2020.

Schools are scheduled for regular session on Monday, March 16 in order for students and staff to prepare for this extended suspension of classroom and extra-curricular functions. Students will be dismissed at the end of the school day March 16 until schools reopen. Monday, April 13, 2020 will be a Superintendent’s Conference Day.

In the next few days, we will be following up with information for staff and for parents regarding educational programming, food services, and other important items regarding this closure.

If at the end of spring recess, the situation is deemed clear by health officials, Monday, April 13 will be a Superintendent’s Conference Day for staff, and students will report Tuesday, April 14. We will keep parents and staff informed via the district’s regular communication channels.

Thank you for your concern for our children and their safety. We encourage everyone to take precautions during this time by reducing travel, maintaining social distance, and practicing good hand hygiene.

Sincerely,

Michael F. Gill

Superintendent of Schools