Important Letter from Dr. Cook – April 17, 2020 – 4th Quarter Grading Expectations / Delivery of Unclaimed Student Work

(April 17, 2020) Updated to reflect school closure date being extended to May 15

Dear Catskill CSD Community,

I thank you again for your patience and willingness to work with us through this challenging situation. Thank you to our entire staff for their hard work with preparing our students for extended learning, meal preparation, sanitizing our buildings and child care. Thank you to our students and families for your patience and understanding as we move forward to the next phase of school closure.

As you know, New York State Governor Andrew Cuomo has extended school closures to May 15, 2020. Nevertheless, our District will continue to engage students with Distance Learning until we receive further direction from the Governor. In the interim, it’s imperative that your child complete the assignments that are assigned by his or her teachers. All assignments will be graded and counted towards the 4th Quarter Marking Period.

Secondly, the District has been relentless with distributing Chromebooks to students who need them and arranging for hot spot / wifi access to families who do not have internet in their homes. We are also scheduling door to door delivery for unclaimed student work. Our actions demonstrate the importance of continuous instruction during these difficult times. I encourage you and your child to communicate with our teachers. Many of them have been unsuccessful with trying to communicate with you.

Several documents are attached at the bottom of this correspondence. You will find a document that outlines the expectations for student work and 4th Quarter grading by school. Please review this document with your child.

Every Friday, we will be collecting completed work for students who are unable to submit their work online to their teachers. The drop box will be located in front of my office at 343 West Main Street, Catskill, New York 12414. The work can be dropped off between the hours of 8:00 am -4:00 pm. We ask that you place the completed work in an envelope with your child’s name, grade level and / or the name of the course.

It is also important to note that the New York State Board of Regents has released guidance cancelling the June 2020 High School Regents Examination Program. Students who meet one of the following eligibility requirements are exempt from Regents Examinations they were planning to take in June 2020:

  • The student is currently enrolled in the course of study culminating in a Regents Exam and by the scheduled date of the June 2020 Regents Examination will have earned credit in such course of study.
  • The student is in grade 7, is enrolled in a course of study leading to a Regents Examination, and has met the standards assessed in the provided coursework.
  • The student is currently enrolled in a course of study culminating in a Regents Examination and has failed to earn credit by the end of the school year. Such student returns for summer instruction to make up the failed course credit and is subsequently granted diploma credit in August 2020.
  • The student was previously enrolled in the course leading to an applicable Regents examination, has achieved course credit, and has not yet passed the associated Regents Exam but was intending to take the test in June to achieve a passing score. The New York State Education Department has released FAQs about the Regents Exams . The FAQ information is also attached to this correspondence.

Important Information for Our Students

The District is committed to recognizing you, acknowledging your success and celebrating you as best as we can during this difficult situation. Whether you are a 12th grader and focused on graduation, an 11th grader looking forward to the Junior Prom, transitioning to 6th or 9th grade, or performing in the school play, etc. The District will do everything possible to preserve these celebrations and performances as best as we can. Please be patient as we await guidance from the Governor.

Food Program

Updated information is also attached to this correspondence.

Child Care

Child Care Connections is a Child Care Resource and Referral Agency serving Columbia, Greene, and Ulster Counties. They provide child care referrals for families, as well as trains child care providers, sponsors the Child and Adult Care Food Program, and registers and inspects family day care and school age child care programs in all three counties.
Contact information:
http://www.familyofwoodstockinc.org/ccc/
Program Director for Columbia/Greene office: Suzanne Holdridge – (518) 822-1944 ext. 105
Team Leader for tri-county region (Ulster, Columbia and Greene): Kerry Wolfeil – (845) 331-7080 ext 134
Child Care Connections Program Director: Penny L. Dombrowski – 845-331-7080 ext. 132 845-331-0526 (fax)

pdombrowski@familyofwoodstockinc.org
The Family’s Child Care Council was established in 1984 to provide child care resource and referral services in Ulster County under contract to Work/Family Directions. Prior to that, Family of Woodstock Inc. ran a family day care training project for the Ulster County Department of Social Services, as well as sponsoring a licensed child care center and after-school program. The Child Care Council participated as a subcontractor in the first family day care training project awarded to the New York State Child Care Coordinating Council by New York State Department of Social Services. In 1988, the Child Care Council expanded services to Columbia and Greene Counties and became the publicly funded child care resource and referral service for the tri-county area.

In closing, I am extremely proud of our entire staff for exceeding expectations during this unfortunate situation. Your hard work and dedication to our students, staff and community is commendable. We will overcome this pandemic together. Please stay safe and healthy! Cats Can, Cats Will!

Regards,

Dr. Ronel Cook
Superintendent of Schools

Elementary School’s 4th Quarter Expectations

Middle School’s 4th Quarter Expectations

High School’s 4th Quarter Expectations

Student Loaned Chromebook Form

NYS Regents Exams Cancellation FAQ

Food Services

CHS Yearbook Ad

Posted in District.