June 5, 2020: Town Hall Summary and Commencement Updates

Good Afternoon HCS Community,

I hope this note finds you well… we are almost there! Just a few updates and reminders to share with you this afternoon.

Honeoye Central School District Town Hall: June 4
The Honeoye Central School District hosted a Virtual Town Hall Meeting on Thursday, June 4, from 6:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. This event was hosted virtually as a Google Meeting and we had just under 50 participants! The purpose of this Town Hall meeting was to debrief the HCS response to our extended closing due to COVID-19. Thought Exchange Respondents shared their thoughts surrounding the question: Reflecting upon the district response to our extended closing due to COVID-19, what suggestions or feedback might you share surrounding how HCS executed our Plans for Continuity of Instruction, Meals, and Access to Childcare? For a summary of the information shared, please access this June 4 Town Hall Summary.

Class of 2020 Commencement Ceremony
As of yesterday, 6/4/2020, The NYS Department of Health shared the following information:

Interim Guidance for Graduation Celebrations During the COVID-19 Public Health Emergency June 4, 2020

The New York State Department of Health (NYS DOH) and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) continue to closely monitor the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak. In recognition of the important milestone that a graduation ceremony provides for young adults in New York State, particularly in this unprecedented time, NYS DOH is providing this guidance in alignment with Governor Cuomo’s strategic approach for a phased reopening.
While the celebration of graduation is encouraged, it must be done while maintaining public health precautions for COVID-19. COVID-19 is thought to primarily spread person-to-person via respiratory droplets through close contact. As a result, large gatherings present a significant risk to individuals and communities and continue to be prohibited. Therefore, NYS DOH offers these alternative graduation celebrations for school districts to consider: Virtual Celebrations, Drive In and Drive Through Graduations, Individualized Ceremonies (with further guidance and stipulations).
Nothing in this guidance would prohibit delaying a graduation ceremony until later in the summer. NYS DOH will continue to monitor public health data and will revise this guidance in July 2020 to reflect any changes to the restrictions on large, in-person gatherings.

In response to this information, Secondary Principal, Mrs. Klaehn, pushed out the following information today:
Saturday, June 13, 2020: Senior Caravan/Cap and Gown Pickup
● Each graduate is designated one (1) car, which can be “decorated” at home. Family members may ride in cars with graduates; all participants must wear masks.
● Graduates will assemble at St. Mary’s Church, no earlier than 11:30 am, and remain in their cars.
● Graduates may not ride in the same car together (unless they are members of the same household).
● Volunteers will be onsite to line up cars and assure that social distancing protocol is practiced by all participants.
● Community members, friends, and family may line the streets of Main St., however, must remain in their vehicles at all times.
● Class of 2020 Caravan will leave St. Mary’s at 12pm (police/fire escort) and travel down Main Street, turning left onto Allens Hill Road after passing the school.
● Volunteers will direct Graduates’ cars to designated parking spaces (spaced out in compliance with social distancing protocol) in the District Office parking lot at HCS.
● Graduates only may exit cars, but must remain in designated parking spots and must wear masks.
● Welcome: Mrs. Klaehn, Secondary Principal/Superintendent Ashton.
● Valedictorian Speech.
● Salutatorian Speech.
● Class of 2020 will be invited to sing HCS Alma Mater for recording.
● Graduates will receive caps and gowns.
● Photographer will take aerial “group shot” of the Class of 2020.
● Closing; volunteers will direct traffic out of the parking lot.
Monday, June 15th and Tuesday, June 16th, 2020: Individual Graduation Ceremonies
● 3-7:45 pm, Graduates sign up for 15-minute slots to “walk the stage.” Each Graduate may have six (6) guests in attendance. All attendees, including the Graduate, must wear masks and sanitize hands upon entry to school.
● Each Graduate will walk the aisle, stand on stage, and graduation bio will be read (parents and students: please make sure you have this done, or we won’t have a whole lot to say about you...here’s the link: https://forms.gle/paXV7Z4fESMzYsKC8). Valedictorian and Salutatorian speeches will be recorded.
● Graduate will receive diploma and exit the auditorium, followed by family.
● Each Graduate will receive scholarship or certification packets in District Office Atrium, and will exit the school building with family.
● Staff will sanitize any surfaces that guests have touched during the ceremony.
*Seniors and Parents are receiving a link to sign up for a time slot and a survey to determine dates/plans for a late-summer celebration.

REMINDER: Last Day of School Update
Reminder: The last day of the school year for HCS students will be Tuesday, June 16.

REMINDER: Collection of Devices and Textbooks
HCS will need to collect all student chromebooks, textbooks and other district learning materials to ensure readiness for the launch of the 2020-21 school year. Mrs. Wright and Mrs. Klaehn are collaborating with our Technology Director on a plan for collection of all instructional materials - devices, textbooks or other district learning materials, for all K-12 students at the Honeoye Central School District on Wednesday, 6/17, between 1:00 - 6:30 or on Thursday, 6/18, between 10:00 - 3:30 from the District Office Entrance from the Allens Hill Road district lot.

REMINDER: Fourth Marking Period and Final Grading
Effective 4/15/2020, the HCS Distance Learning Rubric became applicable for PreK-12 grading throughout the period of extended closing due to COVID19.
Elementary School Notes about 4th Marking Period and Final Grading:

At the Elementary School level, the HCS Distance Learning Rubric will be utilized for reporting fourth marking period and final grades for the 2019-20 school year.

Secondary School Notes about 4th Marking Period and Final Grading:

At the Secondary School level, the HCS Distance Learning Rubric will be utilized for reporting of pass / fail grades for the fourth marking period.
At the Secondary School level, student performance during marking periods one thru four will be utilized for reporting of pass / fail final grades for the 2019-20 school year.
Note on final grades at the Secondary School level: A passing grade indicates evidence that a student has achieved learning outcomes for units of study completed in a course. A failing grade indicates lack of evidence that a student has achieved learning outcomes for units of study completed in a course.
At the Secondary School level, credit accrual for any / all credit bearing courses will be awarded to students who have achieved learning outcomes for units of study completed.
At the Secondary School level, students at risk of not meeting minimal proficiency levels upon completion of the first three marking periods were provided opportunities to engage in remedial learning opportunities to achieve learning outcomes for units of study completed. Teachers and administration have been working with individual students and families on these plans for remediation. PLEASE reach out to teachers if you have any questions or concerns about student completion of these remedial learning tasks.
Students who did not achieve learning outcomes for units of study completed in a course and who receive a failing grade for a course will be invited to participate in summer school for credit recovery. Failure to participate in summer school will result in scheduling for credit recovery in the 2020-21 school year.
NOTE: Course work in Gemini, SUPA and AP classes will be graded per guidance from cooperating educational institutions.

REMINDER: MS HS Awards Ceremony
In lieu of our traditional awards ceremony, Mrs. Klaehn has pushed out a recognition video to staff and all of our High School award recipients and their families. Regretfully, she encountered a snag with the Middle School presentation, and will not be able to share that out today. It will be available on Monday and then be pushed out.

REMINDER: Summer School
On Thursday, Governor Cuomo announced that all in-person summer school experiences would be cancelled this year. However, HCS High School students requiring credit recovery will be invited to participate in WFL BOCES virtual summer school programming. The WFL BOCES summer distance learning opportunities are scheduled from July 8 through August 12.

Additionally, to support K-8 students retain the skills they developed during the school year, we are coordinating summer distance learning programming. This program will replace our usual Elementary School Summer Academy, and Ms. Wright and Mrs. Klaehn will be finalizing details in the days ahead. Invitation for students to participate in the summer distance learning programming will be based on academic performance and teacher recommendation. Logistics for this program:
What: 3 x 4 Virtual Summer School Program (3 days a week for four weeks)
Where: Distance Learning model of delivery
When: July 6 - 31 (Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursdays, ONLY)
How: Blended model of ELA and Math instruction delivered virtually with emphasis on high interest “passion projects” and required student participation in small group office hours

REMINDER: 2020-21 Budget Information
The 2020-21 Budget Hearing is scheduled for 6:30 on May 27 during the virtual Board of Education Meeting. Access information to the virtual BOE Google Meeting is posted on the district website.

The Budget Vote and Board Elections will be held Tuesday, June 9, 2020.
The Annual Meeting for election of school board members and budget vote will take place remotely. Qualified voters will vote by absentee ballot ONLY. Absentee ballots will be mailed to qualified voters by the district.
To be an eligible voter, an individual must be:

1) a US citizen
2) at least 18 years of age
3) a resident of the school district 30 days or more prior to June 9, 2020

Absentee ballots must be received at the District Office by 5:00pm on June 9.
If you have not received your absentee ballot by June 2, please contact our District Clerk, Jennifer Green, at [email protected] or at 585-229-4125.
Board Elections: Each of two (2) candidates, who receive the greatest number of votes, will serve a three-year term beginning July 1, 2020 through June 30, 2023.
The annual HCS Budget Booklet has been mailed and should have been received at your homes. Please reach out to Jennifer Green at 585-229-4125 or [email protected] if you did not receive one.
If you have any questions or concerns specific to BOE Elections or the Budget Vote, please contact our District Clerk, Jennifer Green, at 585-229-4125 or [email protected].

As an organization, our goal is to bring education to all students, regardless of age, gender, and socioeconomic status. We define education not only as the pursuit of knowledge but an openness to new ideas and an opportunity for change. We are committed to being part of the support system for all of our students and to working in advocacy for a better tomorrow. We must strive to ensure that the global pandemic and current unrest in our nation unites us together as one in humanity.

Warmest regards to you and yours,
Bridget Ashton

Elizabeth Bridget Ashton
Superintendent, Honeoye Central School District
8528 Main Street
Honeoye, New York 14471
[email protected]
On Twitter: @EBridgetAshton