- East Irondequoit Central School District
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Important Information Regarding School Closure due to the Coronavirus (COVID-19)
As a district it is our goal to keep parents, students, staff and community members apprised of the latest information on our schools' closure due to the Novel Coronavirus (COVID-19). Please check this section of our website routinely for information as we navigate through this ever-changing fluid situation.
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Latest Information
July 24, 2020
Dear East Irondequoit CSD Parents/Guardians,
There has been a great deal of information shared with the school districts throughout New York State in the last week. Governor Cuomo, along with the New York State Education Department (NYSED) and Department of Health (DOH), released guidance last Thursday to assist in planning for the reopening of schools this fall. As we continue to develop those plans, we will adhere to the requirements laid out in the guidance to submit a comprehensive reopening plan by July 31st.
The East Irondequoit CSD has been working for weeks on the reopening of our schools in the safest and most effective way. As we have been planning, we distributed surveys to parents, guardians, students, and staff to gather input on reopening. Based on the documents released last week at the State level, we have determined several factors.
- Physical distancing to six feet in all directions will make coming back to school full-time, at every one of our six buildings, a challenge.
- Face coverings will be required in our school buildings and we will practice physical distancing. This means masks are expected to be worn. Accommodations will be made on a student by student basis, depending on needs.
- The data we collected from parent/guardian, student, and staff surveys has been reviewed and will be taken into consideration as we craft the three final plans for the reopening of schools this fall. Per the NYSED guidance, we must craft plans for in-person, remote, and hybrid learning. Based on the requirements from both NYSED and DOH, we intend to submit plans specific to the following:
- 100% return to in-person instruction at grades Pre-Kindergarten through fifth grade: This plan requires us to organize classroom spaces with the indicated 6 foot of physical distancing between student workspaces. Students will stay in their classroom cohort with special area teachers (with the exception of Physical Education teachers) who will be traveling to the classroom space.
- Hybrid instructional plan at grades 6-12: This plan would have 50% of our student body in the school building on any given day. The schedule would alternate groups every other two days allowing a cohort of students to be in physical attendance 3 days one week and 2 days the following week. When students are not in physical attendance, they would be learning in a virtual environment. In this environment, attendance would be taken, and grades would be given.
- Remote Instruction Plan: This plan would allow students to learn remotely with a connection to a classroom teacher. Instruction would be a combination of synchronous and asynchronous instruction. In this environment, attendance would be taken, and grades would be given. Several EICSD families have chosen this option and building principals will follow up with additional guidance.
I am mindful that each of these scenarios will not satisfy our entire community. Inevitably there will be families upset that we are moving too quickly or too slowly; we are expecting too much masking or not enough; we are overemphasizing distancing or not taking it seriously. I also know that many of our families will simply be thankful that their children are back in school in some form or fashion, seeing their friends and engaging with their teachers.
The number one priority remains the health and safety of our children AND our staff. I commit to moving forward in a thoughtful and very measured way that makes our plans sustainable for as long as possible and is flexible enough to meet the needs of our families. We will continue to follow the guidance of the State Education Department, Department of Health and the guidance found in the CDC publications. All school reopening plans require approval from the New York State Education Department.
Please note we have made a change to the first day for instruction in East Irondequoit schools. The first day of school will now be Thursday, September 10, 2020. This is an adjustment to the school calendar as we are required and believe it is necessary to provide professional development to our staff as they return to a new school environment. Additional information will be provided by your student’s principal.
Thank you for your participation in the many surveys we have sent in the last month. We will follow up individually with families who have chosen to opt out of transportation and who have chosen to opt into remote learning. In the coming days and weeks your child’s principal will also be reaching out with a great deal of information related to the return to school including schedules, routines, and expectations for health and safety.
Thank you for your attention to this important information. We will continue to use the district’s website as a repository for all information related to COVID-19. Please see www.eastion.org and please continue to work with your children on how to properly wear a face covering, wash their hands, and stay six feet apart.
Sincerely,
Mary E. Grow-Superintendent of Schools
July 10, 2020
Greetings East Irondequoit Families
I hope that your summer has gotten off to a good start, even as we continue to deal with situations and circumstances we never could have imagined.
I just wanted to take a few minutes to update you on what has been taking place in the district since school ended last month.
Our leadership team along with many parents, school board members and teachers have been hard at work planning for numerous scenarios we could be dealing with for the 2020-2021 school year. I want to assure you, no matter what school might look like, the health and safety of our staff and students remains the top priority.
The first, and preferred model, would have all students back in the classroom.
There is also the possibility that some students will return to school, while some receive remote learning.
Finally, we must consider the chance that there will be no students back in school and that all instruction will be distance learning.
Obviously, these are three extremely different scenarios, and each present a wide range of challenges to deal with. These include transportation, providing meals, cleaning buildings and classrooms and providing adequate and equitable instruction to all our students.
As we continue to work on how to deal with these solutions, we will continue to keep you updated. The district will be sending out a newsletter soon with more details about what is being done to create a safe and effective learning environment.
We want to thank all of you who responded to the recent survey we sent out. Your responses are being taken into consideration during every step of this process.
As a reminder, if our buildings are open in the fall and your child will not be riding the bus, please fill out our transportation opt-out form. Due to the possible capacity limits and to improve route accuracy, it will be helpful to know this information in advance. If your needs change throughout the year, you may opt back in by emailing the transportation department at transportation@eastiron.monroe.edu. A link to the opt-out form is provided below.
On another note we are very excited to partner with the West Irondequoit School District and the Irondequoit Public Library in a community read of the book, Stamped; Racism, Antiracism and You. I encourage you to join us in reading the book and taking part in the community discussion which will be held on August 18th. There are a limited number of copies of the book available to EI families. You can check out a copy at EI Middle School between the hours of 8am and 3pm. There are also audio and print copies available at the Irondequoit Library. To register to participate in the community discussion visit: http://www.irondequoitlibrary.org/stamped/
I hope that you all stay safe and healthy as the summer continues and that we can all be together soon.
We will get through this, and we will do everything in our power to make the upcoming school year a positive experience.
Thank you,
Mary Grow-Superintendent of Schools
June 18, 2020
Dear Lancer Families,
May this weekly update find everyone doing well. Now that the 2019-2020 school year has come to a close, I hope that your schedules will include time to relax and enjoy the weather.
On Tuesday night, we counted the almost 3500 ballots for the District Budget Vote and School Board Election with an outcome of 70% voter approval. THANK YOU for your support! I am honored to lead this school district. I would also like to welcome three new community members to our Board of Education: Mr. Dan McInerney, Ms. Jill Ricci and Ms. Carol Watt.
Throughout the last week we have received several phone calls inquiring about the use of playgrounds and fields. Unfortunately, because we are still in phase 3 of the Governor’s reopening plan, we cannot allow community members to use the playgrounds and fields at this time. Education is part of the phase 4 reopening plan, which we are anticipating entering in the next two weeks. If we are cleared to reopen our playgrounds and fields, then we will take down the signage indicating no access to these areas, and we will use social media to let everyone know they are welcome to utilize the appropriate spaces within the school district. I know that this has been frustrating as similar areas throughout the town have been reopened; however, schools are not cleared yet.
Wednesday was the last day of school for all of our students, and I wanted to start by saying a heartfelt thank you for all that you have done to support your students, our staff and your neighbors throughout the last 13+ weeks that schools have been closed. I know this has been a difficult time for many of our families, and I hope that the next 11 weeks are filled with some laughter and excitement as you enjoy the summer and we prepare to reopen our schools. I wish our Class of 2020 much success as they end their journey in East Irondequoit Schools. I am very proud of what they have accomplished individually and collectively. They are incredible scholars, athletes, performers, musicians, creators, friends, and we are going to miss them terribly!
Finally, if you missed Wednesday night’s Athletic Awards ceremony, I am attaching the link for you to view https://ensemble.monroe.edu/Watch/Ly58GfMa .
Lancers Strong,
Mary
Mary E. Grow
Superintendent of Schools
East Irondequoit CSD
(585)339-1210
June 12, 2020
Hello Lancer Families,
I hope this email finds everyone well. We are entering the final week of digital learning, and thank you just doesn’t seem to capture the gratitude I have for all our parents and guardians who have been supporting their student’s learning throughout the last twelve weeks. I know it has not been easy juggling multiple responsibilities in what has been a challenging time for everyone, but you are all deeply appreciated.
I want to thank everyone who cast their absentee ballot for the school budget and Board of Education vote. All ballots are due by mail no later than 5:00 p.m. next Tuesday, June 16th. Ballots will be tallied beginning that night at 5:15 p.m. and results will be shared with the community on our website and social media throughout the night and again when the tabulation is complete.
We continue to serve meals every day, however, beginning the week of July 6th we will move to a 3-day distribution service and double meals will be provided. More details will be forthcoming as we end the current school year.
On Tuesday night, the high school presented many seniors with academic and scholarship awards. It was a lovely, virtual ceremony. I have included the link below if you would like to check it out.
Eastridge High School Scholarship Awards Ceremony 2020
Finally, I wanted to take an opportunity to share the names of our wonderful school district employees and the Board of Education members who will be retiring this June. Please join me in wishing everyone the best!
Theresa Anderson, 35 years of service
Robert Aser, 16 years of service
Martha Coye, 14 years of service
Sharon Deuel, 32 years of service
Heather Gilfoy, 16 years of service
Cheryl Gillen, 2 years of service
Judith Kinz, 14 years of service
Jerry Lonthair, 19 years of service
Patti Mazzo, 24 years of service
Don Moroni, 11 years of service
Claudia Murphy, 27 years of service
Jan Nienhuis, 28 years of service
Phil Oberst, 32 years of service
Gretchen Pawlak, 20 years of service
Victoria Romanchik, 15 years of service
Bill Rowe, 34 years of service
Tim Scheg, 28 years of service
Michael Stone, 12 years of service
Bodie Woods, 27 years of service
Karen Sutton, 29 years of service
Board of Education: Mr. Ronald Cooper and Mr. Rich Oxley
Please remember to check out our district website at https://www.eastiron.org/. There are so many awesome resources!
Lancers strong,
Mary
Mary E. Grow
Superintendent of Schools
East Irondequoit CSD
(585)339-1210
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
Talking to Your Children About 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 25th; however, on the morning of Friday, May 29th 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 15th. If you have a students at EIMS, Laurelton Pardee, Durand Eastman or Helendale Road schools, their last day is Tuesday, June 16th. If you have a primary students at Ivan Green, their last day will be Wednesday, June 17th. 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 9th 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 15th. 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 26th. All ballots must be returned by 5:00 pm on June 9th. 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 26th from 5:30 - 6:30 pm and Thursday, May 28th 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
- 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.
- We are also planning a larger traditional graduation ceremony on July 31st in the evening at Eastridge stadium (rain date will be August 1st). 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 9th 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 25th 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 9th 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,
MaryMary 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 15th.
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.
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 29th. 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 15th. On April 15th the Governor will reassess and determine whether or not schools should continue to be closed or will reopen on April 16th. 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
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
