This page will be updated as information becomes available. Last updated May 21, 2020.

Governor Cuomo announced that all school districts in New York State will remain closed through the end of the 2019-20 school year to help protect the public against the spread of the COVID-19 virus. All extracurricular activities and events are suspended and our buildings are closed to all visitors.

CCSD Communications/Letters

Statewide Exchange on Reopening Schools Survey (May 21, 2020)

Important Information from Dr. Cook – Last Day of Virtual Instruction for Students is Tuesday, June 16, 2020 (May 21, 2020)

Important Letter from Principal Bragg – Alternative Graduation Plan for the Class of 2020 (May 20, 2020)

School Budget Vote & Board Election June 9

Important Letter from Dr. Cook – Updates Concerning School Closure (May 8, 2020)

Board of Ed. Candidate Petitions Due May 11 (May 7)

County to Distribute Masks to Public May 4 & 5 (May 2, 2020)

Schools Closed for Remainder of School Year (May 1, 2020)

School Closure Extended To May 15 (April 16, 2020)

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

June, 2020 Regents Exams Canceled (April 7, 2020)

School Closure Extended Until April 29 (April 6, 2020)

Parent Need for Child Care Survey (April 2, 2020)

School Budget Vote and Board Election Postponed (April 2, 2020)

Cancellation of Spring Recess, Pick Up of Student Work and Chromebook Distribution (April 1, 2020)

Extended School Closure Update (March 27, 2020)

Childcare Resources (March 26, 2020)

Coronavirus Needs Assessment Survey (March 24, 2020)

Updated Meal Plan Information- Designated Locations and Door to Door (March 20, 2020)

Letter from Dr. Cook: School Closure – (March 17, 2020)

School Closure Letter to CES Parents – (March 16, 2020)

School Closure Letter to CMS Parents – (March 16, 2020)

School Closure Letter to CHS Parents – (March 16, 2020)

CCSD Action Plan – (March 15, 2020)

Updated Information (March 14, 2020)

Half Day of School for Students Monday, March 16 (March 13, 2020)

Updated Information: Coronavirus Memorandum – (March 10, 2020)

Coronavirus Letter to Parents/Guardians – (March 3, 2020)

CCSD Extended Learning While School Is Out

Extended Learning for Elementary School (Round 2)

Extended Learning for Middle School (Round 2)

Extended Learning for High School (Round 2)

Extended Learning for Elementary Students(Round 1)

Extended Learning for Middle School Students(Round 1)

Extended Learning for High School Students (Round 1)

Learning Expectations

Elementary School’s 4th Quarter Expectations

Middle School’s 4th Quarter Expectations

High School’s 4th Quarter Expectations

Grading
Fourth quarter grading will be implemented to ensure that equity among all students remains the priority. We plan to evaluate the quality of work, while providing flexibility to students who have had difficulty with internet access and with working from home. The grading plan is structured to ensure that students are successful during this difficult situation.

Maintaining Communication

Our teachers are doing an extraordinary job with maintaining communication with their students. Please email your child’s teacher(s) and or the building principal if you are experiencing any issues with communication.

End of the School Year

The last day of virtual learning for the 2019-20 school year is June 16, 2020.

Retrieving Items Left in Lockers and Classrooms
Retrieval will occur in June. Students’ belongings will be bagged and labeled with his or her name for pick-up. Please contact your child’s principal to schedule a June pick-up date and time.

Returning Chromebooks, Books, Calculators and Other School Items
We are targeting the week of June 22-26 for students/parents to return District-issued chromebooks, library books, textbooks, scientific calculators and other school-issued items. Additional information will be forthcoming.

Food Service While School Is Out

We are offering free meals to all CCSD students at 12 locations throughout the District on Mondays and Thursdays until the District is able to re-open safely. On Mondays each student will receive one hot and two bagged lunches, and on Thursdays one hot and one bagged lunch.

Please note: if you are unable to reach one of our 12 distribution locations we will make every attempt to assist you. Call the number provided below on the day before expected delivery and leave a detailed message with your child(ren’s) name(s), address and phone number. We will try our best to ensure delivery of meals to those in need. For questions or concerns please contact Food Service at 518-943-2300 ext. 1413.

For questions or concerns please contact Food Service at 518-943-2300 ext. 1413.

Distribution locations:

10:30 am – Mountain Turnpike & Caridi Drive
11:00 am – Cauterskill & Paul Saxe
11:30 am – B & B Lounge
12:00 pm – Kiskatom Fire House
12:30 pm – Storys Corner
1:00 pm – Maple Grove & Pennsylvania

10:30 am – Grandview & Landon Ave
11:00 am – Catskill Community Center
11:30 am – VFW Main St & Grand
12:00 pm – Greene Med Arts Pkg Lot
12:30 pm – Leeds Post Office
1:00 pm – Bethel Ridge & Cairo Junct

Lunch and a snack will be available to pick up at the above listed times and locations free of charge to all Catskill School District students. At the end of each day, food that is not picked up at the designated locations is dropped off at the Matthew 25 Food Pantry in the Village of Catskill.

NYS Testing Changes

The New York State Education Department has canceled the following state assessments for the 2019-20 school year:

NYS Grades 3-8 English Language Arts Test
NYS Grades 3-8 Mathematics Test
NYS Grade 4 Elementary-Level Science Test
NYS Grade 8 Intermediate-Level Science Test
NYS English as a Second Language Achievement Test (NYSESLAT) in Grades K-12
NYS Alternate Assessment (NYSAA) for students with severe cognitive disabilities in Grades 3-8 and high school.
NYS June Regents Exams
NYS August Regents Exams

Athletics

The spring, 2020 athletic season is canceled.

2020 School Budget Vote and Board Election

Chatham Central School District’s School Budget Vote and Board of Education Election has been rescheduled to June 9, 2020 and will take place by absentee ballot, per an executive order issued by Governor Andrew Cuomo. More information is available on our Budget Information Page.

Pre-Kindergarten and Kindergarten Registration

Pre-Kindergarten and Kindergarten registration is scheduled for June 1-5, 2020. The registration process will take place in the front circle at Catskill Elementary School. Please contact Ms. Nuala Jubie at njubie@catskillcsd.org for immediate support. We have tentatively rescheduled Pre-Kindergarten and Kindergarten screening for the last week in August 2020. Additional information will be forthcoming.

Novel Coronavirus Hotlines

New York State has established a Novel Coronavirus Hotline which can provide additional information. Call 1-888-364-3065 with questions or concerns about travel and symptoms.

Columbia Memorial Health has also established a Novel Coronavirus Hotline at 518-828-8249.

NYS Office of Mental Health has established a COVID-19 Emotional Support Hotline at 1-888-863-9314 or https://omh.ny.gov/

Rensselaer County
Samaritan Hospital

Dutchess County

Northern Dutchess Memorial Hospital, Rhinebeck
Vassar Brothers Medical Center, Poughkeepsie

Nearby County Resources

Albany County
Albany County website
Department of Health
Dept of Mental Health

Columbia County
Columbia County website
Department of Health

Rensselaer County
Rensselaer County website
Coronavirus Resource Guide
Department of Mental Health

NYSOH Health Insurance Special Enrollment Period

NY State of Health has opened a Special Enrollment Period for people who are uninsured, and has started an awareness campaign to let people know that NY State of Health is there as a safety net during the COVID-19 crisis. Many New Yorkers who are without health insurance are eligible should apply now through NY State of Health. If you lost employer coverage, you must apply within 60 days of losing that coverage. Because of a loss of income, New Yorkers may also be eligible for Medicaid, the Essential Plan, Child Health Plus, or subsidized Qualified Health Plan coverage. Visit www.nystateofhealth.ny.gov for help finding a health care plan that works for you. For questions, contact the Marketplace at 518-486-9102 or NYSOH@health.ny.gov.

Mental Health and Anxiety Resources/Information

NYS Office of Mental Health COVID-19 Emotional Support Hotline 1-888-863-9314 https://omh.ny.gov/

NYS has partnered with Headspace to offer New Yorkers free meditation and mindfulness content at www.headspace.com/ny

Taking Care of your Mental Health in the Face of Uncertainty
5 Ways to Help Teens Manage Anxiety About the Coronavirus
www.gozen.com
www.calm.com
Mini Meditation
Down Dog App, which includes the apps Down Dog, Yoga for Beginners, HIIT, Barre, and 7 Minute Workout, is free until April 1st and has exercises you can do at home
Feeling Anxious Or Worried? Listen To These 8 Podcasts
Coronavirus Anxiety: 4 Ways to Cope with Fear
Help Kids Manage Anxiety around the Coronavirus (3 Expert Videos)
Care for your Coronavirus Anxiety
Expert Offers Practical Advice to Manage Your Coronavirus Anxiety
Helping Children and Teens Cope with Anxiety About COVID-19

Child Care Resources

The NYS Office of Children and Family Services (OCFS) and your local Child Care Resource & Referral agency are here to support you during this difficult time with your child care needs. Take the OCFS Parent Need for Child Care Survey

Child Care Connections – March 26, 2020

How to Talk to your Children/Family about Coronavirus

Talking to Teens and Tweens About Coronavirus
How to Talk to Kids About Coronavirus
BrainPop cartoon video explaining Coronavirus
NPR Comic for Kids explaining Coronavirus
Talking to Kids About the Coronavirus
Help Your Family De-Stress During Coronavirus Uncertainty
Fear and Anxiety – An Age by Age Guide to Common Fears, The Reasons for Each and How to Manage Them
How to Talk About Coronavirus With Kids
The Yucky Bug – Julia Cook
So You’ve Got Questions about Coronavirus
Talking to Children about COVID-19 (Published by the National Association of School Psychologists)

Activities to do at Home

GoNoodle
BrainPOP
Sumdog Math
Time for Kids (K-6)
PBS Kids
Ideas for Activities During School Closings
Stuck at Home? These 12 Famous Museums Offer Virtual Tours You Can Take on Your Couch

ByrdseedTV (Educational Videos)
Flocabulary
NewsELA
Reading Eggs
Epic! Digital Book Library (for kids 12 and under – there is a cost – $7.99/month)
Khan Academy – Online video tutorials in a number of subjects at a variety of grade levels
Libby– a free app! Input your library card information and you have access to the library’s
catalog of free audiobooks and e-books.

For Teachers

Education Companies Offering Free Subscriptions due to School Closings
Khan Academy Student Schedules for School Closures
Penguin Classics Classroom
Scholastic Learn at Home: Teaching Remotely for Grades K-12
Scholastic Learn at Home: Free Resources for School Closures
Zoom – free sign up for teachers and students & relevant article
Seesaw

For Parents

A Google Classroom tutorial
Google Classroom explained for parents – a slideshow
A Google Classroom FYI…. Did you know XBoxOne and Playstation 4 BOTH have Google
Classroom apps! You or your child can access Google Classroom on these game consoles as
well as through a laptop, smartphone, or Chromebook.

Connectivity Resources

Free Access to WiFi & Broadband from Spectrum: Spectrum will be offering FREE broadband and WiFi access for 60 days to households with K-12 and/or college students who do not already have a Spectrum subscription. This is designed to ensure that all students have access to theinternet so they may continue their education during this time. All installation fees will be
waived. If you or someone you know can benefit from this service please call 1-844-488-8395.

Mid-Hudson Cable has Digital Basic service they will be offering for $19.95 for 60 days.
Their number is 800-342-5400. Or online at http://www.mhcable.net/pricing/

United Way Capital Region Community COVID-19 Response Fund

How You Can Help Others

How You Can Help
Purposity – finds those in need near you

Mental Health Therapists

The following is a list of therapists in our local area. This list is not meant to be a recommendation or
endorsement for a particular clinician.

Name	City	Phone
Lilly Casscles, PhD	Catskill, NY	518-755-2803
Suzanne Tolemao, LCSW	Leeds, NY	518-605-0016
Ken Russell, LCSW-R	Catskill, NY	518-943-0244
Mari Warfel, LCSW	Leeds, NY	518-618-8868
Craig Lennon, PhD	Catskill, NY	518-943-4360
Steven Abrahams, LCSW	Woodstock, NY	845-679-5511
Walter Kendall, PhD	Cairo, NY	518-719-8873
Marcie Pollit, LCSW	Saugerties, NY	845-247-4357
Julie Staber, LCSW	West Hurley, NY	845-679-7500
Richard, Madden, PhD	Catskill, NY	518-943-1000
Carole Sayle, LCSW, CASAC	Catskill, NY	518-943-5354
Tim Rodier, LCSW	Kingston, NY	845-705-9328
Pam Perkins, LCSW-R	Saugerties, NY	845-616-9087
Patricia O’Neil, LCSW-R	Chatham, NY	518-929-8511
Greene County Mental Health	Cairo, NY	518-622-9163
Columbia Memorial Psychotherapy Center	Catskill, NY	518-697-8010
Choices Counseling	Albany, NY	518-438-2222
Families Together Counseling	Catskill, NY	518-719-0123

Mobile Crisis Assessment Team

Is an emergency mental health service that can provide emergency mental health assessments. Their services are available 7 days a week from 8am—10pm by calling 518-943-5555.

About COVID-19

Background

2019 coronavirus disease (COVID-19) is a respiratory disease that can lead to fever, coughing, trouble breathing and/or shortness of breath. While approximately 80% of cases lead to mild symptoms, there can be life-threatening cases, especially among older adults and those who have serious chronic medical conditions like heart disease, diabetes and lung disease. The virus is likely spread from cough and sneeze droplets, close contact with an infected individual, or by touching a surface contaminated with the virus and then touching your mouth, nose, or eyes.

Symptoms

According to the Centers For Disease Control (CDC), symptoms of the virus most commonly include fever with dry cough, shortness of breath, and pneumonia. Other symptoms reported include tiredness, headache, runny nose, sore throat, loss of sense of smell or taste, diarrhea, and body aches. Some people may have mild symptoms or no symptoms at all but may still be contagious.

Prevention

There are currently no vaccines available to protect against this new virus. Federal, state, and local health departments recommend these simple steps to help stop the spread of COVID-19:

Stay home whenever possible.
Practice social distancing – stay at least six feet from others and avoid large groups.
If you must go out, wear a mask to cover your mouth and nose.
Wash your hands often with soap and water for at least 20 seconds. Use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer that contains at least 60% alcohol if soap and water are not available.
Avoid touching your eyes, nose, and mouth with unwashed hands.
Avoid close contact with people who are sick.
Stay home when you are sick and keep your children home if they are sick.
Cover your mouth and nose with a tissue or your sleeve (not your hands) when coughing or sneezing. If you use a tissue, throw it in the trash.
Routinely clean and disinfect frequently touched objects and surfaces, such as toys, door handles, cellphones, and countertops.

Additionally, if you or a family member begin showing symptoms of a respiratory illness and suspect it may be COVID-19, contact your healthcare provider before going there and inform them that a case of COVID-19 is suspected, then follow their advice.