Latest Information 

June 5, 2020

Dear East Irondequoit Families,

I hope that this note finds each of you doing well.  It has been an emotional week in Rochester and throughout the country and I wanted to follow up my message on Sunday by including a few resources that the district has curated for you as parents and guardians to access.  It is the goal of our district  to assist you in supporting your student(s) as you process world events at home but please don’t hesitate to also reach out to your child’s principal, school counselor/social worker or school psychologist for additional support.   I wish deeply that we were with your children right now to assist in processing their emotions, however, we are committed to supporting all our students if you choose to reach out.

Sesame Street Town Hall: Standing up to Racism

https://www.cnn.com/2020/06/02/us/cnn-sesame-street-standing-up-to-racism/index.html?fbclid=IwAR0xBVjPTVWtRCSNR3yVDvj4AawXeyuiaweQ4Vmjn7GGuK1PrT83rDvZlOE

Talking to Your Children About Racism

https://www.parenttoolkit.com/social-and-emotional-development/advice/social-awareness/how-to-talk-to-kids-about-race-and-racism

Age-Related Reactions to a Traumatic Event (The National Child Traumatic Stress Network)

https://www.nctsn.org/sites/default/files/resources//age_related_reactions_to_traumatic_events.pdf

*Additional resources can be found on our district webpage: https://www.eastiron.org/raceandjustice

Vote: I would like to take a minute to explain the confusion regarding the delivery of the absentee ballots for the 2020-2021 School Budget Vote and School Board Election.  When the Governor issued his Executive Order in May, mandating that the school budget elections would be done by absentee ballot, we contracted with a vendor who promised the delivery of the paper ballot the week of May 25^th; however, on the morning of Friday, May 29^th we received an email from the vendor informing us that they were not able to meet our deadline due to a shortage of the required envelopes to mail the ballots.  Our district clerk moved very quickly to secure an alternate printer who worked throughout the weekend to print ballots and finish the order so that ballots were in the mail by Monday afternoon.  Please know that you can return your ballots via the postage paid envelope included with your ballot or you can drop your ballot off at 600 Pardee Road (District Office) in the designated drop box located at the main entrance.  We apologize for the delay and hope that you understand that this was not our intention when securing a vendor for the absentee ballot process.

Device Information: I have included an attachment in this communication that you may have already received from your student’s principal regarding the device assigned to your student in the fall or when we closed in March.  Please read the correspondence carefully as our goal is to have our students keep their devices throughout the summer to continue their engagement with educational resources.  Specific directions depend on your child’s grade level.

Reopening of Schools: At the time of this writing, I have not received any guidance from the New York State Department of Education or the Governor’s office related to the possible reopening of our schools this fall.  The district team has been meeting regularly to discuss multiple scenarios knowing that some of these scenarios will never come to fruition; however, it is better to over prepare, than to not prepare enough.  I am hopeful that more information will be shared with all local school districts in the coming weeks, and I promise to share that information with all of you along with the plans we are making for the fall.  I understand the frustration you as parents and guardians are feeling; we are feeling it too.  All of us are excited to welcome our students back to school and are hopeful that this is the ultimate plan to prepare for in the coming weeks.  Stay tuned.

Be well as we head into the final, full week of distance learning.

Lancer Strong,

Mary

May 29, 2020

Dear Lancer Families,

It feels like this week went by in a blink of an eye, perhaps it’s this summer weather that is making the days fly?!

I wanted to share important information regarding the last day(s) of school for your students.  If you have a students at Eastridge High School, their last day will be Monday, June 15^th.  If you have a students at EIMS, Laurelton Pardee, Durand Eastman or Helendale Road schools, their last day is Tuesday, June 16^th.  If you have a primary students at Ivan Green, their last day will be Wednesday, June 17^th.  The reason for the difference in the last days is due to each school reaching 180 days of compulsory attendance. Ivan Green experienced a water main break in October, which closed the school, and according to New York State Education Law, all students must attend 180 days of instruction. Please feel free to reach out to your child’s principal if you have any questions or concerns.

By now all of our schools have begun the process of having students and families return to either clean out a locker or pick up instruments, classroom materials, etc. I thank you for your patience and your willingness to follow all safety protocols. I am sure that returning to your child’s school feels a bit sad as the walls of the hallways are no longer decorated, and the absence of people depletes the energy we all love about our schools. Please know that we understand the sadness and the frustration that your child may feel because they didn’t get the closure to their school year. Please be assured that although school might look different in the fall, the energy, excitement and sense of community will return! 

Absentee ballots for the District Budget Vote and Board Member Election which were supposed to be mailed this week have been delayed until early next week due to the inability of the printer, NTS, to meet their deadline. The district learned of this delay earlier today. We are in the process of securing a new printer to distribute the ballots as quickly as possible and they should be mailed to residents on Wednesday or Thursday.  All ballots must be returned to the District Office by June 9^th at 5:00 PM for them to be valid. Ballots may be returned by mail or placed in the outdoor drop box located at our District Office, 600 Pardee Road. Please check out our website for more information regarding the budget proposal and Board of Education candidates: https://www.eastiron.org/

Take care and be well.

Regards,

Mary

Mary E. Grow

Superintendent of Schools

East Irondequoit CSD

May 22, 2020

Dear Lancer Families,

I hope this weekly update finds everyone doing well and enjoying the beautiful weather of the last few days. It sounds like we are going to get a taste of summer next week!

If you haven’t received a communication from your student’s principal about their plans for you or the students (grades 6-12 only) to return to their school to collect personal belongings, it will arrive today. We aim to be flexible and accommodating, so please don’t hesitate to reach out to your student’s principal for a work-around to their plan, if necessary. As you return to school to pick up your child’s belongings, our IT Department is asking that you return any device that your student may have that is no longer working or is broken. There will be a bin outside of the main office for you to place the device. This is only for broken or non-working devices. We need your student(s) to keep their working device until the school year ends. Speaking of the end of the year, although we have yet to receive the Executive Order from the Governor, we are anticipating that the end of the 2019-2020 academic year will fall the week of June 15^th. The date will depend on the grade level of your student as it is driven by 180 days of attendance. I will send you the exact date next week when we have a clearer picture at the State level.

A reminder about the upcoming Budget Vote and School Board Election: Residents will vote on the next year’s school budget along with three open Board of Education seats. In accordance with the Executive Order, in order to vote, a person must be a resident of East Irondequoit Central School District for at least 30 days immediately preceding the vote, at least 18 years of age, and a citizen of the United States. Absentee ballots will be mailed on Tuesday, May 26^th.  All ballots must be returned by 5:00 pm on June 9^th.  More information regarding the budget proposal and Board of Education candidates is available on our website: https://www.eastiron.org/ .

I wanted to take another opportunity to thank all of our parents and guardians who have been so resourceful in helping their child through distance learning. It has certainly come with bumps and frustrations along the way. Thank you for your patience and your commitment to helping your student(s). I wanted to share that beginning this week, our Student Help Desk has been offering similar office hours that our teachers are conducting. The Student Help Desk is staffed by our high school students and the office hours are designed to troubleshoot issues that students might be experiencing in our Schoology LMS, Office 365 or technical issues that students might experience using their iPad or laptop. The next Office Hours “sessions” will take place next Tuesday, May 26^th from 5:30 - 6:30 pm and Thursday, May 28^th from 1:00 - 2:00 pm. We will continue to offer these Help Desk office hours every Tuesday and Thursday until the school year ends.  You can connect to these office hours via Zoom using the Meeting ID number 984 9437 359 or following this link, https://zoom.us/j/98494373589.

Finally, if you have a student graduating here is some helpful information related to plans for the Class of 2020.

Class of 2020 Graduation Information

1. During the week of June 15 – 19, we will hold senior “Walk the Stage Celebrations” with some family members of seniors present in our Eastridge Auditorium. One graduate and their family will be permitted at a time.  All will be required to wear masks while in the building.  Each senior will have a chance to walk the stage, be handed a diploma cover, and have some family photos taken. Families will receive a schedule for this soon. 
2. We are also planning a larger traditional graduation ceremony on July 31^st in the evening at Eastridge stadium (rain date will be August 1^st). By waiting until the middle of the summer, it gives us a better chance of being allowed to gather the entire class together in one place for a formal ceremony (speeches, music, etc.)  We will be required to follow the social distancing guidelines in effect during that time set forth by NYS and the Department of Health, so we may or may not be able to have guests present. This is why we want graduates and their families to take part in the first ceremony during the week of June 15 – 19.

Principal Heaphy will send graduates and their families further details regarding these events soon.

(NOTE:  GRADUATION AND OTHER EVENTS FULLY DEPEND ON ORDERS FROM THE DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH.  WE WILL FOLLOW THEIR GUIDELINES.  THE LARGE GRADUATION CEREMONY IS NOT GUARANTEED.)

Finally, I want to remind everyone that Monday will not be considered a day of instruction, as we will observe Memorial Day. I hope you all have a wonderful weekend!

Lancers Strong,

Mary

May 15, 2020

Greetings Everyone,

I hope this email finds you well. 

As I draft this weekly update, I still do not have a date marking the end of the academic year.  We continue to wait for an Executive Order from the Governor’s office and anticipate that will come shortly.   As I mentioned last week, our building administrators and Facilities Management Team are working together on a plan to safely bring students and staff back into the school buildings to collect any personal belongings.  I anticipate that the principals will communicate those plans with you in the next few days; please look for their weekly updates.   Our Information Technology department will also communicate a schedule of when they plan on collecting iPads, laptops and chargers.

Additionally, Advanced Placement (AP) exams began this week.  Many of our high schoolers have been hard at work completing these assessments. The AP assessments will continue through the month of May.  Please reach out to your child’s teacher or school counselor with any questions.

The 2020 Budget Vote and School Board elections have been moved to June 9^th and will be conducted by absentee ballot.  The District Clerk is working with the Board of Elections regarding the mailing of ballots.  Please look for this information along with the budget newsletters in the mail.  We have six candidates running for three open School Board seats.  Dave Yates will be hosting a virtual “ Meet the Candidates “ platform in the coming weeks.  More information will be posted on our website soon.

We continue to serve meals 5 days a week, at 6 locations, from 11am to 1pm. (For more information visit https://www.eastiron.org/scfoodprogram )   We will not serve meals on Monday, May 25^th due to the Memorial Day holiday.  However, we have been given permission at the State level to provide additional meals next Friday, May 22, to account for the missed day. Please remember that if anyone has emergency food needs you should not hesitate to reach out to the Irondequoit Community Cupboard at 336-9107.

We are finally starting to feel some warmer weather.  I hope you find time this week to open the windows a bit or get outside for some fresh air. 

Be well,
Mary

May 8 ,2020

Good Afternoon Everyone,

I hope this email update finds everyone doing well as another week comes to a close.  This week has also been the week where we shine an extra special bright light on all of our teachers, aides, paraprofessionals and nurses who make a difference in the lives of our students all year long.  They work incredibly hard and during these last two months they have been working around the clock to support our students.  I am so very grateful for all of them.  Our Communications Department created a video that you may have seen on social media.  If not, I have included the link: https://youtu.be/Gv6SdBM6QPY

As we know, schools will not reconvene this spring however distance learning continues.  As of today, I have not been given an end date for the academic year however, I am anticipating that Governor Cuomo’s next Executive Order will contain some guidance in establishing that date.  In the meantime, our building administrators are working together to create a plan to safely bring all students back into our buildings to collect any belongings that have been left in classrooms and lockers.  We are hoping to communicate those details in the next week.

I wanted to share a link to the website that our Art Department has created which features some of the incredible artwork of our students.  Art Curriculum Leader Jessica Spaker shared, “The Lancer's Art Hub gives students/families access to art contests/games/online galleries/tutorials/activities and galleries for each building in the district.”  This website is a creative way for the department to highlight student work that would ordinarily be featured in the annual Art Show. https://lancersarthub.weebly.com/   

In case you missed the announcement at the start of the week, the 2020 Budget Vote and School Board elections have been moved to June 9^th and will be conducted by absentee ballot.  The District Clerk is working with the Board of Elections regarding the mailing of ballots.  Please look for this information along with the budget newsletters in the mail.

Since the closure the School Nutrition Team has served more than 55,000 meals to our community. We are very thankful for this group and very proud of the work they and our transportation team have done.  We continue to serve meals 5 days a week at 6 locations (For more information: https://www.eastiron.org/scfoodprogram ) from 11am to 1pm.  Additionally, if anyone has emergency food needs please do not hesitate to reach out to the Irondequoit Community Cupboard at 336-9107.

Finally, I wanted to take an opportunity to thank all our families who have been patient, supportive, generous and understanding as we have navigated our way through the last 8 weeks. Everyday has brought a new challenge, as well as another reason to celebrate how awesome our East Irondequoit community is.  On behalf of myself and the Board of Education, we are grateful for all of you!  Take care and with any luck the sun will replace the snow blowing around my window in May!  Happy Mother’s Day!

Be well,
Mary

Mary E. Grow

Superintendent of Schools

East Irondequoit CSD

May 1, 2020

Good Afternoon Everyone,

As we close out week number seven, I hope that everyone continues to stay healthy and active.  It looks like the weekend ahead will bring some warmer weather which is a nice break from the rain.

As the governor announced today, we will not return to our traditional school day until September.  The news is bittersweet as we were all hoping to have time for some closure to the 2019-2020 school year. All of us will miss our annual celebrations, concerts, athletic events and just being able to say goodbye to our students and to you, our families.  Your student’s principals will be sending their own communications home to you in the next day or two with some ideas about how we might get the closure we all want.  They will also be sending information regarding locker/classroom cleanout and when students will be allowed to return to collect their materials.  We may begin this process ahead of the official end of the year.

Although we know for certain that we will not be back in our buildings this school year, this does not mean that school is done.  East Irondequoit continues to learn!  Please check out our district website at www.eastiron.org for all of the resources you need to support your student’s learning from home.  Additionally, we are encouraging you to sign up for the Parent Portal through Infinite Campus if you haven’t already done that. There is a link on our district webpage however, if you get stuck at all, please don’t hesitate to call the main office in the school your student attends.  

I want to end this update with some good news!  Since the first day of our school closure the School Nutrition team has served approximately 45,000 meals to our community.  That is an unbelievable number of meals and I couldn’t be more grateful to this outstanding group of people.  In honor of “National School Lunch Hero Day” I want to say THANK YOU to our School Nutrition Team and our Transportation folks who have stepped in to help!  You are all Heroes! 

Please watch this video clip from Danielle Gorevski in our Communications Office.

https://spark.adobe.com/video/2dRKhgqSnsfjr

Today is also “National School Principals’ Day.”  East Irondequoit is very fortunate to have wonderful leadership in our schools, thank you to each and every principal and assistant principal who cares so greatly for our students.

Have a nice weekend everyone and stay healthy!

Lancers Strong,

Mary

Mary E. Grow

Superintendent of the East Irondequoit CSD

April 17, 2020

Good Morning,

I wanted to clarify a couple of items in the news this week.  While local officials are suggesting that the re-opening of schools this academic year is unlikely, I need to emphasize that the decision to open or remain closed cannot be made at the local level.  The decision to open our schools will be made by the Governor in collaboration with the Board of Regents and in counsel with local officials such as the County Executive and the Commissioner for Health in Monroe County.   Our hope is that if there is a decision to reopen schools this academic year, we will be given enough advanced notice to secure whatever materials and equipment are necessary to keep everyone safe.   Items such as face masks and thermometers are in short supply, so timing and communication is essential.  I will communicate the decisions as I learn them at the State level.  As of today, we will remain closed through May 15^th.

Last fall a group of teachers, coaches, parents, board members and administrators came together to review the existing East Irondequoit logos, colors and fonts.  After several meetings the committee made recommendations about how to refine our existing logos, colors and fonts to be more consistent in their use.  Although we will officially “unveil” the Lancer logo next fall, I wanted to share some of the changes that will go into effect as we phase out the old and welcome in the new.  Please check out this short video which shows our new district logo and the refined colors used in our East Irondequoit branding. The new Lancer logo will have to wait for the fall for a peek 😊 Thanks to the committee for all of their thoughtful discussions and recommendations.

https://youtu.be/Hpz7SS9-SlM

Attached to this weekly update is information regarding the Town of Irondequoit’s contest to name the new Senior Living complex at Skyview on the Ridge. Our Town Supervisor, Dave Seeley would love to have as many ideas as possible to choose from and there is a prize of $500 in gift cards to our local businesses!  Please check out the contest guidelines.

We miss our East Irondequoit students so much and yesterday’s news from the Governor was a disappointment however, it is so important that we follow the guidance of our Governor and our Commissioner for Health in Monroe County when they say to stay home.  As I shared last week, we will do our best to honor our students when we return to school with the priority given to the Class of 2020. 

Lancers Strong,

Mary

April 10, 2020

Good Afternoon,

On Monday afternoon we learned that the Board of Regents has decided to cancel the June 2020 administration of the Regents exams.  Although this wasn’t surprising news, it did lead to a lot of questions about course credits and the impact of this decision on graduation requirements for a Regents or advanced diploma.  Yesterday, the Board of Regents provided additional guidance related to the impact of their decision on graduation and course credit.  The Interim Commissioner of Education, Shannon Tahoe, stated:

“During this time of great uncertainty, the department has developed guidance to ensure that students who were on track to graduate this year will have the opportunity.” 

Our EIMS and Eastridge students who are currently enrolled in a course of study culminating in a Regents exam will be exempt from the June 2020 Regents examination.  Your student’s teacher and school counselor will work together to ensure that course credits are awarded based on the achievement of course outcomes.  It is important to remind our students that although the Regents exams will not be administered, they have not completed the course until they have achieved the course outcomes determined by their teacher, and their teacher completes an assessment of the students learning.  An assessment of learning can take many forms and your student’s teacher will determine what form that will take.  I encourage you to reach out to your student’s teacher, counselor or administrator if you have specific questions.  I have also included an additional communication in this email with a message from our Office of Instruction regarding what to expect as we extend our school closure.  Parent Letter - Phase Two Learning

As I shared last week, Governor Cuomo has directed all New York schools to remain closed through April 29^th. I know many of you have questions about the spring athletic season, awards ceremonies, concerts and general end of the year events.  The answer to whether or not we can hold any of these events will be determined by when we are allowed to return to school and additional guidance from the Department of Health related to the size of gatherings.  Please know that we want to honor as many events as possible and will give priority to those that impact the Class of 2020.   

I have two attachments included in this email.  The first is a letter from the New York State of Health related to health insurance assistance in New York and the second is "The Point" filled with a lot good news about the school community from our winter season. Additionally, on Wednesday evening we received news that East Irondequoit has once again been recognized as one of 754 school districts that are among the best communities in the nation for music education.  A well-deserved recognition for our music department!

Lastly, we love our student’s dedication to learning, even after it’s been re-envisioned due to the closure.   Send us pictures of your students e-learning on their devices with their smiling faces and they might be featured on our website.  Email them to communications@eastiron.monroe.edu. 

I hope that everyone is doing well and staying healthy and that we will be able to return to our schools soon. 

Lancers Strong,

Mary

Mary E. Grow

Superintendent of Schools

East Irondequoit CSD

March 31, 2020

Good Morning,

Late yesterday afternoon school districts across New York received clarification from the Department of Education regarding the 180-day requirement set forth in the Executive Order issued by

Governor Cuomo.  The language in the order is captured below;

Pursuant to Governor Cuomo's Executive Order 202.11, "Districts must continue to provide remote instruction for students, meals for students, and child care every weekday between April 1, 2020 and April 14, 2020, even if the district is scheduled to be on spring break during that time."  

As a result of this order, the EICSD will not have spring break next week as planned and must continue continuity of programming and meals for students next week, April 6-10. 

Our principals are working closely with teachers and the Office of Instruction to continue with instruction for your students. More information regarding specific plans will follow from your student’s principal.

Thank you for your continued support and your patience as we pivot and adjust during this unprecedented time.

Regards,

Mary E. Grow

March 27, 2020

Good Afternoon Everyone,

You may have heard the Governor just announced that all New York State schools will remain closed until April 15^th.  On April 15^th the Governor will reassess and determine whether or not schools should continue to be closed or will reopen on April 16^th.  We do not have any additional information related to the school closure but promise to keep you updated as we are notified.

There have been some changes announced at the State and national levels since we last held classes, these include the cancellation of IB external assessments, a shift in the administration of AP exams and the cancellation of the New York State grades 3-8 assessments.  There has been no change to the NYS Regents exam schedule as of this communication, however, we will keep you notified.  Please continue to stay in touch with your child’s principal as their weekly communication have the most up to date news to share.  I also encourage you to check our district website for additional resources, www.eastiron.org.

The last two weeks have felt somewhat strange as we acclimate to this “new normal” however, I want to reassure you that when we do get the green light to reopen our schools, we will be ready.  Our outstanding teams in building maintenance, transportation and school nutrition have been operational throughout the shut down and are ready to welcome your students back!   We truly miss our Lancers and in case you didn’t see the latest “miss you” on social media, I have attached the link for your enjoyment.

https://ensemble.monroe.edu/Watch/WeMissYou

I wanted to pass along some information from the Office of Children and Family Services related to emergency childcare.  The OCFS is trying to determine current and future childcare needs as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic.  They are requesting that school districts publish the following survey related to emergency childcare needs, below is the link from OCFS. Please take a moment to fill out this brief survey if you are in need of or anticipate a need for childcare.

• Link to the Parent Survey: https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/3HSNNYJ

In the meantime, enjoy some of the mild weather we are getting.  Go for a long walk and enjoy the early signs of spring.

Lancers Strong,

Mary

Mary E. Grow

Superintendent of the East Irondequoit CSD

March 20, 2020

Dear East Irondequoit Families,

I hope all of you are staying safe and healthy during these strange and uncertain times.  It seems like things are changing almost hourly and we realize the importance of keeping everyone as up to date as possible.

I urge you to check our website at www.eastiron.org for information regarding the virus, as well as resources to help get our families through this situation. I would also encourage you to utilize our social media accounts on Twitter and Facebook @EICSD to receive the latest information as it becomes available.

Here are some of the steps being taken in our district:  

As of Wednesday, all buildings in the district are closed to visitors.   This will not impact the meal distribution at the schools.  However, in order to limit the number of trips needed, we will only be handing out food from 11am-1pm each day.  At that time, you can pick up lunch for that day and breakfast for the following day.  

Our staff has rallied to assist in whatever way needed and I cannot thank them enough.

Our food service team has been doing an incredible job of preparing and delivering meals to the families who have been coming by to pick them up.

Our transportation crew is on the road making deliveries both in our district and helping our neighboring school district in West Irondequoit.

Our custodial staff remains on the front lines, deep cleaning and sanitizing our buildings daily.

And our teachers, educational services team and building administrators have been going above and beyond, reaching out to families and students digitally in order to provide not only educational resources but also, and maybe more importantly, a social connection.

We are doing everything we can to provide our community with whatever they need to help get through this situation while at the same time focus on the health and safety of our staff.  

Please stay well, stay connected and practice social distancing!  

Sincerely,


Mary E. Grow
Superintendent of Schools

March 14, 2020

Dear East Irondequoit Families,

Because of the ongoing health hazard caused by the Coronavirus(COVID-19), all East Irondequoit properties will remain closed until further notice.  This includes athletic facilities and playgrounds.

With the sudden closing of our schools, we realize that many of you rely on us for a variety of vital resources, including meals during the school day.

Beginning Monday March 16, all six schools in our district will be open for lunch in a “grab and go” setting from 11 am-1 pm. 

On Tuesday our school nutrition team will also begin providing breakfast from 8am-10am as well as continuing lunch service. 

These meals are free to anyone 18 and under and will continue until schools reopen.  You do not have to be an East Irondequoit resident in order to receive these meals.  Adult meals will be available for $2 at breakfast and $4 at lunch.  Students do not need to be present in order to receive their meals.

Please remember that the Irondequoit Community Cupboard is also an extremely useful resource.

This is a fluid situation which is changing at a rapid pace.  We urge you to visit our website for the most up to date information.

March 14, 2020

Beginning on Monday, March 16th East Irondequoit will suspend all classes for students until further notice. We have been monitoring the Novel Coronoa/COVID-19 Virus closely and are continuing to work with the county executive and Department of Health with this fluid situation.

All extracurricular events including athletics are also suspended.

During this time our priorities will be providing food for our students, continuing to thoroughly clean our facilities and continuation of our home and school connection.  More specific details will be following shortly.  

Please continue to check our website for more information and updates.

Sincerely,

Mary E. Grow

Superintendent of Schools

March 13, 2020

Dear East Irondequoit Families,

As the situation regarding the Coronavirus (COVID 19) continues to change at a rapid pace, we want to assure you that we are doing everything we can to stay on top of the information we are receiving from the Monroe County Department of Health. In addition, we are following the guidelines established by the Center for Disease Control and the New York State Department of Education. 

We have no intention of closing and will only do so at the recommendation of the Monroe County Health Department, however, we want to be fully prepared if a school closure is our reality.

With that in mind, we would like to encourage our families to begin looking into possible daycare options for your children in the event that we are faced with school closings. Unfortunately, if we are forced to close it may be done with little advance notice and for an unknown length of time. 

This is a situation unlike any we have ever encountered, and it presents several unique challenges.   Let me assure you that the health, safety and well-being of our students, families and staff is our highest priority and we will do everything possible to help you through the coming days.

Sincerely,

Mary E. Grow

Superintendent of Schools

March 12, 2020

Dear East Irondequoit Families,

With the first confirmed case of the Novel Coronavirus (COVID-19) in Monroe County, the virus is undoubtedly on everyone’s mind. As a district our top priority is to ensure the safety of our school community while at the same time provide the educational and support services that our families rely on.

We are having regular conversations with the Monroe County Department of Health as well as the other districts in the county in order to make informed, rational decisions with safety being our first priority.

While each district is making decisions based on their own needs and circumstances, there is NO recommendation for schools in our area to close at this time.

We have no intention of closing unless directed by health officials.  We realize the importance of the services provided to our students and families on a daily basis and do not want to compromise them in any way.

However, we are taking steps to limit exposure and reduce risk in our schools. These include:

• Postponing overnight travel such as field trips outside of the Rochester Area through April 12.
• We are postponing a number of upcoming events; a list can be found on our website by clicking here.  

This is a rapid and constantly changing situation and we are doing our best to stay on top of the information as we receive it.  We will continue to communicate with you as needed.  We have also set up a page on our website dedicated to information regarding the virus which lists precautionary steps we are taking and ones that you can take to keep yourself and those around you safe.

Please reiterate the importance of healthy habits to help reduce the spread of illness such as frequent handwashing, covering when coughing or sneezing and not touching your face.

Perhaps most importantly, stay educated, stay informed and if you or your child is sick, please stay home.

Sincerely,

Mary E. Grow

Superintendent of Schools

March 10, 2020

Dear East Irondequoit Families,

Several weeks ago I sent out a communication regarding COVID-19 and the protocols taken around our school district to prevent the spread of disease.  Fortunately, we do not have any reports of any confirmed cases of COVID-19.  We are working very closely with the Monroe County Department of Health, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the New York State Education Department in monitoring this situation around our area and throughout the state of New York. 

District officials have been meeting daily to monitor this situation and will continue to do so.  We have reviewed and revised our School District Preparedness Plan in addition to increasing the cleaning of frequently touched points such as door knobs, handles, desks, doors, etc. In our schools, we continue to emphasize the following good habits.  People who think they may have been exposed to COVID-19 should contact their health care provider.

• Wash your hands often with soap and water for at least 20 seconds. If soap and water are not available, use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer. Heavily soiled hands should be washed.
• Avoid touching your eyes, nose and mouth with unwashed hands.
• Avoid close contact with people who are sick.
• Stay home when you are sick.
• Cover your cough or sneeze with a tissue, then throw the tissue in the trash.
• Clean and disinfect frequently touched objects and surfaces.

Please be assured that we are taking this very seriously and we will continue to consult with the Department of Health and NY Department of Education and follow their guidance related to COVID-19.   

Please check the East Irondequoit Website for helpful information related to COVID-19. 

Mary E. Grow

Superintendent of Schools

East Irondequoit CSD

(585) 339-1210

www.eastiron.org

February 28, 2020

To our East Irondequoit Families:

While the East Irondequoit Central School District does not have a confirmed case of COVID-19, caused by the novel coronavirus (SARS-CoV-2) in our schools, we are aware of concerns inthe community about the spread of this relatively new virus.

The district is closely monitoring this fluid situation and following guidance from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control (CDC), the New York State Department of Health (NYSDOH), Monroe County Department of Health and the New York State Education Department.

Based on recent reports, COVID-19 is not actively circulating in New York state at this time.  If the district becomes aware that a student or staff member is diagnosed with COVID-19, it will immediately notify staff and parents/guardians. If a student or staff member shows respiratory symptoms, we will follow our current practices for handling respiratory illnesses, subject to any additional guidance forthcoming.

The district has infectious disease protocols in place and has been taking steps, such as cleaning and disinfecting throughout its schools, to minimize the spread of viruses and a variety of other illnesses.

There are a number of steps that students, staff and community members can take to minimize the spread of all respiratory illnesses, including COVID-19, according to the state Department of Health:

• Wash your hands often with soap and water for at least 20 seconds. If soap and water are not available, use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer. Heavily soiled hands should be washed.

• Avoid touching your eyes, nose and mouth with unwashed hands.

• Avoid close contact with people who are sick.

• Stay home when you are sick.

• Cover your cough or sneeze with a tissue, then throw the tissue in the trash.

• Clean and disinfect frequently touched objects and surfaces.

If you or a family member begin showing symptoms of a respiratory disease and suspect it may be COVID-19, contact your healthcare provider. Before going to your healthcare provider’s office, inform them that a case of COVID-19 is suspected, and follow their advice.

Local health departments will contact schools if a suspected or known COVID-19 case emerges. The district is prepared to work with any affected families.

Families are also encouraged to follow the CDC’s information for travel, available at CDC Travel Information

For more information, consider consulting these additional resources:

• Novel Coronavirus (COVID-19)

• Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) - Frequently Asked Questions -

• Prevention, Treatment of Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19)

In addition, New York has established a Novel Coronavirus Hotline, which can provide additional information. Call 1-888-364-3065 with questions or concerns about travel and symptoms. The district will continue to share information as it becomes available.

Please know that, as always, the health and safety of our students and staff is our highest priority, and we will remain vigilant in our efforts to help prevent the spread of this illness.

Sincerely,

Mary E. Grow
Superintendent of Schools