Online scheduling for Virtual Parent Teacher conferences is now live. Please refer to your School Messenger notification for instructions on how to access the online scheduling site. Evening conferences will take place on Wednesday, December 2nd from 6:00-8:00 pm. Daytime conferences will take place on Friday, December 4th during school hours.
Friday, December 11, 2020
Make-Up Pictures & eLearners*
*Parents of eLearners- Please call the main office at 855-2171, if you would like to make an appointment to have your child's picture taken on this date.
Capital Project Information Meetings are being held at the following dates, times, and formats:
November 19, 2020 and December 9 at 7:00 P.M. Pawling High School Auditorium. Please pre-register by contacting the District Clerk, Peggy Generoso, generosom@pcsdny.org. This meeting will be socially distanced and masks will be required. Pawling High School is at 30 Wagner Road.
December 2, 2020 and December 14, 2020 7:30 P.M. Online at www.PawlingPublicRadio.org
October 6, 2020
Dear Pawling Students, Families, and Staff,
Allow me to begin by sharing that I am not writing to you in regard to any emergency, incident, specific concern raised, or even coronavirus. I am writing to you to enlist your support, whether you are a student, a staff member, or a parent/guardian, in helping to ensure that all of our students continue to learn and grow into responsible citizens in a civil, respectful and polite environment within our schools.
Over the past three years, our Board of Education has adopted goals for our district that include a commitment to civic engagement. Our teachers have gained expertise and experience in teaching students to engage in critical thinking, understand the perspectives and biases of all types of media and texts, consider the stories and histories presented, and the ones that may be missing or unheard. Given the current state of civil discourse in our country, I am grateful to our Board of Education for highlighting the value of civic engagement for our young citizens and the importance of their voices being engaged and heard as well as the capacity of our teachers to facilitate such discussion.
I write to share with you that our expectation is that students will use these tools to learn, to grow, to communicate, to evaluate and to understand. We will continue to work to ensure that while perspectives and ideas will be analyzed, challenged, and critically examined, the inherent humanity of all students and people must be protected from discrimination and denigration.
We have used our principles of safety, equity, diversity, and communication to navigate a tremendous common challenge in re-opening our schools. The community has been a critical partner in the success we have had so far and will be as we navigate challenges ahead. Those same principles must guide our traverse of a challenging time in the life of our community and nation. I ask you to join us in helping students to understand the responsibility we share as citizens to participate and engage in civic discourse politely, respectfully, and thoughtfully.
I thank each of you for your support of the school community we cultivate together.
Sincerely,
Kim Fontana
Superintendent of Schools
6 de octubre del 2020
Estimados Estudiantes, Familias y Personal de Pawling:
Permítanme comenzar compartiendo que no les escribo con respecto a ninguna emergencia, incidente, preocupación específica planteada o incluso el virus corona. Le escribo para obtener su apoyo, ya sea usted estudiante, miembro del personal o padre/tutor, para ayudar a garantizar que todos nuestros estudiantes continúen aprendiendo y se conviertan en ciudadanos responsables de manera civilizada, respetuosa y cortés en el ambiente de nuestras escuelas.
Durante los últimos tres años, nuestra Junta de Educación ha adoptado metas para nuestro Distrito que incluyen un compromiso con la participación cívica. Nuestros maestros han adquirido conocimientos y experiencia para enseñar a los estudiantes a participar en pensamiento crítico, comprender las perspectivas y sesgos de todo tipo de medios y textos, considerar los cuentos y las historias presentadas y las que no han sido reconocidas o no han sido escuchadas. Dado el estado actual del discurso civil en nuestro país, agradezco a nuestra Junta de Educación por resaltar el valor del compromiso cívico para nuestros jóvenes ciudadanos y la importancia de que sus voces sean comprometidas y escuchadas, así como la capacidad de nuestros maestros para facilitar tal discusión.
Le escribo para compartir con ustedes que nuestra expectativa es que los estudiantes usen estas herramientas para aprender, crecer, comunicar, evaluar y comprender. Continuaremos trabajando para asegurar que mientras las perspectivas e ideas sean analizadas, desafiadas y examinadas críticamente, la humanidad inherente de todos los estudiantes y personas debe ser protegida de discriminación y denigración.
Hemos utilizado nuestros principios de seguridad, equidad, diversidad y comunicación para navegar un tremendo desafío común al reabrir nuestras escuelas. La comunidad ha sido un socio fundamental en el éxito que hemos tenido hasta ahora y lo será mientras navegamos por los desafíos que tenemos por delante. Esos mismos principios deben guiar nuestra travesía por una época desafiante en la vida de nuestra comunidad y nación. Le pido que se una a nosotros para ayudar a los estudiantes a comprender la responsabilidad que compartimos como ciudadanos de participar y comprometerse en el discurso cívico de manera cortés, respetuosa y reflexiva.
Le agradezco a cada uno de ustedes por su apoyo a los jóvenes que compartimos y a la comunidad escolar que cultivamos juntos.
Sinceramente,
Kim Fontana
Superintendente de Escuelas
Kim Fontana
Superintendente de Escuelas
Sincerely,
Superintendent of Schools
Dear Parents/Guardians of Pawling Central Middle School Students:
We continue to make progress in getting our students scheduled for the 2020-21 school year! You can expect your child’s schedule shortly, and I appreciate your patience as our counselors work tirelessly to finalize them.
The purpose of this letter is to provide you with important information about the first few days of school.
Listed below is our gradual re-entry schedule for students. While the first day of school for all students is Wednesday, September 9th, only our 5th graders will attend in-person. If your child is an e-learner (fully remote), they, too, start on Wednesday, September 9th, and they will do so remotely.
Why are we doing a gradual re-entry?
We have students gradually coming back for two primary reasons. The first reason is for our 5th graders to have dedicated time in our facility. Since they were not able to have an orientation this year, we would like to provide them with their own day to really understand how things work at Pawling Central Middle School. This way, they also get to know our faculty/staff a little better before the other grade levels are present.
Our second reason for a gradual re-entry is for us to test our protocols on a smaller scale. We will be examining our entry/exit protocols, lunch systems, recess rotations, and teacher/student schedules. We will have the time and space to assess all of these systems optimally, and we will make any adjustments necessary.
What does it mean for your child(ren) to start virtually?
Your child(ren) will follow their same daily schedule, but simply follow it virtually. They will receive an email from their Advisor between 7:05 am and 7:40 am each day they are virtual. Your child(ren) will need to reply to this email, prior to 7:40 am, indicating their attendance for the day. They will then log into a Google Meet with their first period teacher(s) at 7:40 am. At the start of each period, they will log into the next period’s Google Meet. Prior to Day 1 (September 9th), your child(ren) will receive information from their teachers which will outline this plan in more detail.
When your child(ren) would have had Lunch, Recess, and Mask Breaks while attending in person, they will still have those same breaks at home. Students are expected to be in attendance, virtually, from approximately 7:40 am to 1:30 pm, with the breaks noted above.
What more information can you expect from me in the coming weeks?
Your child’s schedule with a video description
Information from teachers regarding your child’s first day of school
The Student/Parent Handbook (including important protocols for drop-off, pick-up, notes, etc.) with a video description
Supply pick-up information for remote learners
With Gratitude,
Ms. Megan Gleason, Principal
Kindergarten Registration is now open. Registration forms are available on our district website in English and Spanish.
Answers to some questions from August’s broadcast on Pawling Public Radio (In English and Spanish):
Question/Comment: “I know for my middle schooler the children who will be in his pod is going to determine whether he returns or not to keep his social/emotional health the best it can be.”
You will not know which students are in your child’s pod before submitting your decision for remote or in-person. However, if there are some serious needs that you have regarding a supportive friend, please feel free to contact me and the school counselor and we will do everything we can to accommodate such requests. I would also like to take this opportunity to share how we plan to address the social-emotional needs of our students. Every day your child will have a 35 minute Advisory from 7:05 to 7:40 am. This time period will allow for a slow, gradual entry into the building as well as time to take care of housekeeping items such as attendance and daily lunch counts. This is also a time that we are devoting to social emotional learning (SEL). SEL will be designed, implemented, and taught by our mental health team, consisting of our school counselors, school psychologist, and a teacher who was hired to teach part of our SEL program. We are well aware of the fact that part of our academic program needs to include a well-designed plan for our students’ social emotional needs during the pandemic.
Question/Comment: “Will 5th graders be able to see the buildings before the 1st day of school?”
We are working on a virtual orientation, and we know it’s important for our 5th graders to get their own time in the building prior to other students entering.
Question/Comment: “Are supply lists updated for this school year?”
Yes, they are posted on our website by grade level as well as special area teacher supplies. We have minimized supply lists so that children do not have to carry heavy backpacks back and forth to school.
Question/Comment: “In middle school, how many teachers, on average, will enter the pod classroom daily?”
Approximately 8
Question/Comment: “Do you know if the middle school will still have 9 periods a day? For example, will a teacher rotate between rooms 9 times a day?”
No, we have shifted to a block schedule. They have the full academic program (ELA, S.S., Science, Math, Agriculture, Art, PE, Music, Musical Appreciation, World Language, Advanced classes, etc). Students will have 4 special areas classes every other day for 35 minutes. They will have their core classes for 35 minutes every other day and 70 minutes every other day.
Question/Comment: “Will students be crossing over into other pods or cohorts?”
Students will cross with the other pod of their cohort during recess, and, at times, during certain classes (World Language is one example).
Question/Comment: “What is the start and end time for the middle school day?”
Students can begin to arrive at 7:05, and students will begin to be dismissed at 1:30.
Question/Comment: “Will remote students be asked to go into school for labs or other projects or any other reasons? Or will they have opportunities to participate in group activities in safe ways for them?”
No. Remote students will not be asked to come to school. They may connect virtually with other students.
Question/Comment: “Can Ms. Gleason explain why students in pods would need to be mixing with students in the cohort? We thought the purpose of the pod was to reduce peer interactions.”
Yes, it is to reduce peer interactions. Students never leave their cohort. For World Language and Recess, they will interact with the other pod in their cohort.
Question/Comment: “Will the students each have their own paint brushes, scissors, etc. for art class or will the items be sanitized between each class?”
Students will have their own supplies for each class. We will have a sanitizing protocol for any shared library books, math manipulatives, and/or science/lab supplies.
Question/Comment: “If the school goes remote - will the students stay remote with their homeroom teacher or blend?”
Yes. They will have their Advisor who will guide them through the remote program, if the school goes remote.
Question/Comment: “Will there be band and chorus?”
We will have a Music class in all grade levels. Grades 5 and 6 will have Music Appreciation as well. The Music class will be taught by our Band teachers and will incorporate both music study and instrumental music instruction. Most of the instrumental music instruction will take place through a virtual platform called Music First. When possible, though, there may be opportunities for your child to play his/her instrument outdoors. The Music Appreciation course will be taught by our chorus teacher. This course will be a combination of music study, and, at times (outdoors), it will incorporate choral instruction. Again, though, most of the choral instruction will take place virtually using the Music First software.
Question/Comment: “For 5th and 6th grade, is there 1 teacher for all subjects, for remote and in-school?”
No. We continue to be departmentalized, and students will have different teachers across the different content areas.
Question/Comment: “Will mask breaks only be outdoors?”
No, but we will aim to get them outdoors as often as possible. For the most part, they will be outdoors.
Question/Comment: “Will there be multiple entrances?”
Yes. Each grade will enter through a different door, and it will be the same for dismissal.
Pregunta/Comentario:
"Sé que, para mi hijo de la escuela intermedia, los niños que estarán en su grupo van a determinar si regresa o no para mantener su salud social/emocional lo mejor posible".
Usted no sabrá qué estudiantes están en el grupo de su hijo antes de enviar su decisión de forma remota o en persona. Sin embargo, si usted tiene alguna necesidad seria con respecto a un amigo que lo apoye, no dude en comunicarse conmigo y con el consejero de la escuela y haremos todo lo posible para satisfacer tales solicitudes. También me gustaría aprovechar esta oportunidad para compartir cómo planeamos abordar las necesidades socioemocionales de nuestros estudiantes. Todos los días, su hijo tendrá un Asesoramiento de 35 minutos de 7:05 a 7:40 am. Este período de tiempo permitirá una entrada lenta y gradual al edificio, así como tiempo para ocuparse de las tareas domésticas, tales como la asistencia y el recuento diario de almuerzos. Este es también un tiempo que estamos dedicando al aprendizaje socioemocional (SEL). SEL será diseñado, implementado y enseñado por nuestro equipo de salud mental, formado por nuestros consejeros escolares, psicólogo escolar y un maestro que fue contratado para enseñar parte de nuestro programa SEL. Somos conscientes del hecho de que parte de nuestro programa académico debe incluir un plan bien diseñado para las necesidades socioemocionales de nuestros estudiantes durante la pandemia.
Pregunta/Comentario: "¿Los estudiantes de 5to Grado podrán visitar los edificios antes del primer día de clases?"
Estamos trabajando en una orientación virtual y sabemos que es importante para nuestros estudiantes de 5to grado tener su propio tiempo en el edificio antes de que entren otros estudiantes.
Pregunta/Comentario: "¿Las listas de útiles escolares están actualizadas para este año escolar?"
Sí, las listas se publican en nuestra página web por nivel de grado, así como también un área especial para los maestros de áreas. Hemos minimizado las listas de suministros para que los niños no tengan que llevar mochilas pesadas de ida y vuelta a la escuela.
Pregunta/Comentario: “En la escuela intermedia, ¿cuántos maestros, en promedio, ingresarán al salón de clases diariamente?”
Aproximadamente: 8
Pregunta/Comentario: “¿Sabe si la escuela intermedia todavía tendrá 9 períodos por día? Por ejemplo, ¿rotará un profesor de salón a salón 9 veces al día? "
No, hemos cambiado a un horario en bloque. Ellos tienen el programa académico completo (ELA, SS, Ciencias, Matemáticas, Agricultura, Arte, Educación Física, Música, Apreciación Musical, Idiomas del Mundo, Clases Avanzadas, etc.). Los estudiantes tendrán 4 clases de áreas especiales cada dos días durante 35 minutos. Ellos tendrán sus clases principales durante 35 minutos cada dos días y 70 minutos cada dos días.
Pregunta/Comentario: "¿Los estudiantes pasarán a otros grupos o equipos?"
Los estudiantes se cruzarán con el otro grupo de su equipo durante el recreo y, a veces, durante ciertas clases (el Idioma Mundial es un ejemplo).
Pregunta/Comentario: "¿Cuál es la hora de apertura y finalización del día de la escuela intermedia?"
Los estudiantes pueden comenzar a llegar a las 7:05am y los estudiantes comenzarán a salir a la 1:30pm.
Pregunta/Comentario: “¿Se les pedirá a los estudiantes remotos que vayan a la escuela para laboratorios u otros proyectos o por cualquier otra razón? ¿O tendrán oportunidades de participar en actividades grupales de manera segura para ellos? "
No. No se les pedirá a los estudiantes remotos que vengan a la escuela. Ellos pueden conectarse virtualmente con otros estudiantes.
Pregunta/Comentario: “¿Puede la Srta. Gleason explicar por qué los estudiantes en grupos tendrían que mezclarse con los estudiantes del equipo? Pensamos que el propósito del grupo era reducir las interacciones entre compañeros”
Sí, es para reducir las interacciones entre compañeros. Los estudiantes nunca abandonan su grupo. Para Idiomas del Mundo y recreo, ellos interactuarán con el otro grupo de su equipo.
Pregunta/Comentario: “¿Cada estudiante tendrá sus propios pinceles, tijeras, etc. para la clase de arte o se desinfectarán los artículos entre cada clase?”
Los estudiantes tendrán sus propios útiles para cada clase. Tendremos un protocolo de desinfección para los libros compartidos de la biblioteca, manipulativos matemáticos y/o útiles de ciencia/laboratorio.
Pregunta/Comentario: "Si la escuela se vuelve remota, ¿los estudiantes permanecerán alejados de su maestro de aula o se mezclarán?"
Si. Ellos tendrán su Asesor que los guiará a través del programa remoto, si la escuela se vuelve remota.
Pregunta/Comentario: "¿Habrá banda y coro?"
Tendremos una clase de música en todos los grados. Los grados 5 y 6 también tendrán Apreciación Musical. La clase de Música será impartida por nuestros maestros de Banda e incorporará tanto el estudio de música como la instrucción de música instrumental. La mayor parte de la instrucción de música instrumental se llevará a cabo a través de una plataforma virtual llamada Music First. Sin embargo, cuando sea posible, puede haber oportunidades para que su hijo toque su instrumento al aire libre. El curso de Apreciación Musical será impartido por nuestro maestro de coro. Este curso será una combinación de estudio de música y, a veces (al aire libre), incorporará instrucción coral. Una vez más, sin embargo, la mayor parte de la instrucción coral se llevará a cabo virtualmente utilizando el software Music First.
Pregunta/Comentario: "Para el 5to y 6to grado, ¿hay un maestro para todas las materias, para el remoto y en la escuela?"
No. Seguimos estando departamentalizados y los estudiantes tendrán diferentes maestros en las diferentes áreas de contenido.
Pregunta/Comentario: "¿El descanso de la mascarilla solo serán al aire libre?"
No, pero nuestro objetivo es sacarlos al aire libre con la mayor frecuencia posible. En su mayor parte, será al aire libre.
Pregunta/Comentario: "¿Habrá varias entradas?"
Si. Cada grado entrará por una puerta diferente, y esta será la misma para la salida.
Pregunta/Comentario: "Si eliges la opción completamente remota en el nivel de la escuela intermedia, ¿un maestro de la Escuela Intermedia de Pawling les enseñará a los estudiantes?"
Si. Si bien estos planes evolucionan continuamente, nosotros hemos podido asegurar maestros de Pawling para nuestros estudiantes remotos.
Question/Comment: “If you choose the fully remote option at the middle school level, will the students be taught by a Pawling Middle School teacher?”
Yes. While these plans are continuously evolving, we have been able to secure Pawling teachers for our remote students.
7:00 PM Pawling HS Auditorium at 30 Wagner Road. Please pre-register by email to generosom@pcsdny.org (this mtg will be socially distanced, masks are required)
7:30 PM - Informational online meeting through Pawling Public Radio, www.PawlingPublicRadio.org
