September 11 Parent Communication
Dear NCS Parents and Guardians:
First and foremost, let me say how wonderful it has been to welcome students back to NCS this week. Whether learning has taken place remotely or in classrooms, students have been positive, engaged, and kind, and we are so grateful for all the support we have received from our parent community during the reopening process.
As the week comes to a close, I know that you have received a tremendous number of communications from NCS. I feel a bit guilty for adding another message to your inbox, but wanted to pass along a handful of updates before the weekend arrives.
Athletics:
Last Friday, schools received a detailed guidance document outlining requirements for certain sports to resume on September 21. However, schools in our region have different needs and limitations, and athletic directors are still finalizing what details involving a fall athletic season might look like. In the coming days, you should be receiving important information from Mr. Greg Parzych (NCS Athletic Director), but I wanted to ask for two important favors in advance:
- If your child or children in grades 7-12 are interested in playing sports this fall, please sign them up using Family ID (click here) as soon as possible. The registration numbers will help us determine the levels of soccer, tennis, golf, and cross country that we can offer this season
- If your child is on a remote learning day and will need NCS to provide transportation to school for athletic events beginning at 3:30 p.m., please complete this 30-second survey by Tuesday, September 15 (click here)
Open House Postponed:
Each September, we typically schedule evening Open Houses so that parents can familiarize themselves with our facilities and meet with our faculty and staff. However, because of ongoing health concerns, we are going to postpone our Open Houses at this point in time in order to limit the number of visitors in our buildings. While we may still offer virtual or limited Open Houses later on this year, we would encourage you to reach out to your child’s teacher with an email, a phone call, or a Zoom request if you have any questions.
Daily Health Checks:
Thank you for taking time each morning to complete the daily health screenings needed for students to attend school. Earlier today, we had a collaborative Zoom meeting that included our two school nurses, our school physician, and the Ontario County Department of Health. Although our understanding is that New York State will be releasing updated guidance on when students can return to school after experiencing certain symptoms, the current interpretation continues to be that they will need a negative COVID-19 test before they are able to resume in-person learning.
I know that this can be frustrating for parents whose child or children may experience chronic health conditions or seasonal allergies, and would encourage you to reach out to Mrs. Laura Finnan (High School Nurse) or Mrs. Kelly VandeSande (Elementary School Nurse) if you want to talk through any health-related questions.
Free Breakfast and Lunch Offerings:
Thanks to a federal waiver, we are able to offer free breakfast and lunch each day to all interested NCS students through the end of the calendar year. Our Food Service Department does an incredible job, and I would encourage you to have your son or daughter take advantage of the free meals.
Learning Portal:
Because of all the changes that have come with reopening this fall, we have had to significantly increase the amount of communication between home and school. Since this can be difficult to manage—especially for parents with more than one child—I would encourage you to take advantage of our Learning Portal (click here). The website is a single point of access for information on individual teachers, grade levels, technology support, previous NCS communications, etc. and we hope it helps families navigate the days and weeks ahead.
Patience and Partnership:
Finally, I want to emphasize how much your trust has meant throughout the reopening process. We have been overwhelmed by support and encouragement, and we are honored to be working with your sons and daughters. We know that there will be bumps and hiccups as we move further into fall, but we hope you know how much your patience and partnership means to our Big Green family.
Wishing you continued good health and a relaxing weekend.
Matt
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