Happy New Year and Welcome Back Greetings HCS Community, Happy New Year and Welcome Back! I could not be more thrilled to launch 2021 as a member of the POUND and with the HCS community… I am reaching out this morning to share a few brief updates with you surrounding the following: HCS to Welcome ES Principal on 1/11 Reminder: Half Days Added to 2020-21 Calendar HCS Town Halls Scheduled Latest NYSDOH Guidance on Quarantine The Pound Welcomes Natalie Pfluke on January 11 The Honeoye Central School District is pleased to welcome Natalie Pfluke on January 11 as she assumes the role of Elementary School Principal. On Wednesday, 12/28, Natalie Pfluke was able to move into her freshly painted Elementary Principal office. She spent a half day in the district and is extremely eager to launch her professional journey with HCS on 1/11! To learn more about Mrs. Pfluke, please take a moment and read this press release or we invite members of the school community to join us for a virtual “Meet the Principal” discussion on 1/13/2021 from 10:00 - 11:00AM or 7:00 - 8:00PM. Families should check their email for Google Meet information to participate in either session. Members of the ES staff are brainstorming creative "Welcome New Principal" ideas to ensure a warm welcome. To this end, Mrs. Pezzimenti has generated Padlets for staff and for families to share messages of greeting. If you and your child are interested in contributing to the HCS Family Welcome Padlet, you may access it here: https://padlet.com/rpezzimenti/gbp0so8tctfs3eiv REMINDER: Half Days Added to School Calendar Given the construct of our mixed hybrid model for reopening and its impact on teaching and learning at HCS, we have identified five dates in which the Honeoye Central School District staff will have the opportunity to engage as a professional learning community during half days. These half days are being carved out in effort to ensure optimal levels of academic and social emotional support for ALL of our students, both in person and remote. Our work as a staff on these dates will be directly correlated to student learning and wellness. Please mark your calendars and make arrangements for child care, as applicable, now for the below dates: December 11 January 15 February 12 March 12 April 16 On the aforementioned dates, dismissal will occur as follows: Secondary dismissal: 10:00 a.m. Grades 3-5 dismissal: 11:00 a.m. Grades Pre-K to 2 dismissal: 12:00 UPK am dismissal: 12:00 UPK pm dismissal: 3:25 Students and families may expect that there will be teacher directed learning activities for student completion upon arrival at home on these dates. Note: Mrs. Klaehn will provide additional information surrounding period schedules at the secondary level and BOCES programming for these dates. Save the Date: HCS Town Halls Scheduled Many thanks to the families and community members who participated in the Elementary and Secondary Town Halls this fall. Feedback obtained during our Town Halls is greatly appreciated and informs the development of action items at HCS. Based on input from participants, we have scheduled our next set of Town Halls to accompany the conclusion of the first semester, as follows: Elementary Town Hall: Thursday, January 28 from 6:00 - 7:00 Secondary Town Hall: Thursday, January 28 from 7:00 - 8:00 Please Note: Google Meet links to these meetings will be provided later this month. In the event of a sudden shift in programming due to guidance surrounding COVID-19 we will plan for and communicate information about Town Halls scheduled for an earlier date. Latest NYSDOH Guidance on Quarantine On December 26, 2020, the New York State Department of Health (DOH) updated its mandatory quarantine requirements (the Quarantine Advisory) for people who have been exposed to COVID-19 but do not develop symptoms. The Quarantine Advisory may be found here. Previously, asymptomatic individuals who had been exposed to COVID-19 had to quarantine for 14 days. Now, such individuals must quarantine for 10 days. Importantly, the Quarantine Advisory also applies to individuals who traveled to a non-border state or country. As always, please feel free to reach out if you have any questions about this information or otherwise. We thank you for your continued support of the district and our work in advocacy for HCS students. Be safe and be well. Sincerely, Bridget Ashton Elizabeth Bridget Ashton Superintendent, Honeoye Central School District 8528 Main Street Honeoye, New York 14471 [email protected] On Twitter: @EBridgetAshton