The following link provides access to a document that has been made available to Districts to use as discussion points when planning for the reopeningof  schools.

Re-Entry Planning Guidance Document

Maintaining Confidentiality with Online Lessons and Services
The District expects that neither parents nor students will intentionally breach the confidentiality of any service that is delivered online. For example, online lessons or Google Meet sessions conducted by teachers cannot be rebroadcast for any reason without the teacher’s knowledge and/or permission. This also applies to taking screenshots or making recordings of online conferences, meetings, or services. If a parent or student intentionally breaches confidentiality, this could be a basis for disciplinary action. We have a responsibility and obligation to respectfully share this with you since this has become the ‘new temporary normal’ for public education.  We would like to remind parents and students that the District Code of Conduct, Technology Acceptable Use Policy, and all other relevant District policies and procedures will still apply in this environment. 

Continuity of Learning Guide for Parents

Teachers and administrators have been working on the Continuity of Learning for your children which started with a review of material beginning on March 16 and officially began with providing students with new lessons on April 3.  The District has created the Continuity of Learning Guide for Parents which provides important information regarding learning opportunities for all students. The document contains information on how instruction will be delivered, appropriate uses of technology, services for students, and important contact information.

Updated: May 18, 2020:

Transportation Forms

Governor Cuomo’s Executive Order 202.15 explicitly extended the deadline for all public school districts to accept all parental requests for transportation to charter and nonpublic schools (including daycare forms) through May 9th, 2020.  

While the deadline may be extended again, we are still and will continue to accept transportation requests through May 9, 2020. As of May 18, 2020, no additional extension has been provided.

The NJHS application was due yesterday. However, given these unprecedented circumstances, we are extending the deadline to submit applications. Students can continue to submit applications(either online or drop off at VW) until April 4th. Applicants who submit late should include a short statement with the application on the circumstances behind the lateness. That statement would give us the context for the latenesses and provide the Faculty Council with valuable information in regards to decision making.

#ICYMI: Due to Governor Cuomo’s State Order, there is no public access to WCSD school campuses, including playgrounds. Thank you for your understanding.

Links to Support Students During a Crisis

https://childmind.org/article/supporting-kids-during-the-covid-19-crisis/

https://www.consumerreports.org/coronavirus/home-with-kids-during-cornavirus-outbreak/

https://store.samhsa.gov/system/files/sma14-4885.pdf

Use of School Grounds

We would like to notify the public that our school campuses are closed.  This includes the track and fields, as well as all playground equipment. We kindly ask that you avoid campus use altogether.  Once our campuses open back up for public use, we will let everyone know.

Please click on this link to review the memos released by NYSED regarding the cancelation of state tests for grades 3-8.

Click here to review the NYSED memo on canceling the NYS June 2020 Regents exams.

Click here to review the NYSED memo on canceling the NYS August 2020 Regents.

The Closing of Schools

Click here to read the Executive Order from Governor Cuomo closing schools for the remainder of the school year.

Chromebook Distribution

The Wappingers Central School District is developing plans to make Chromebooks available for the students who have indicated that they do not have a device to access schoolwork remotely from home. The District will provide one Chromebook per household for the duration of the school closure for those who qualify. For families requesting a Chromebook, please complete the Student Chromebook Request form. You can also call your child’s school and request assistance for a Chromebook. In the event that you receive a voicemail, please leave your message and we will be sure to return your call.  Families will be contacted with a scheduled date and time when the devices are ready for pickup.  More details and additional instructions about this program will be shared next week.

Student and Parent Access to Buildings 

As a reminder, due to State and County restrictions, we are unable to allow parents and students access to school buildings. When these restrictions change, we will reevaluate this matter. Please note that registration is closed and all appointments, including kindergarten registration, will be rescheduled. Committee on Special Education (CSE), Committee on Preschool Education ( CPSE), and 504 meetings are canceled until further notice and will be rescheduled.  

The District has created a special phone extension that will accept voicemail where you will be able to ask questions or request information.  We have set up this account to notify key staff that you have left a message and wish a call back. That phone number is 845-298-5000 extension 40411.  You can also send general email requests to wcsd.comments@wcsdny.org.

Updated on March 20, 2020

Advanced Placement (AP) Exam Administration

The CollegeBoard announced that for the 2019-20 exam administration only, students will be able to take a 45-minute online exam at home.  Prior to the exam, the CollegeBoard is pledging to provide free, live AP review courses, delivered by AP teachers from across the country.  This is new information for us to continue to review, but we are excited by the opportunity to ensure our AP students are able to continue their work in a manner that is sanctioned by the CollegeBoard.  For additional information, please refer to the CollegeBoard website.  We will share information as to when the online exams will be administered and what the online AP instruction will entail once it becomes available. 

Advanced Placement Testing and Deadlines

The health and safety of students and educators is our top priority.  We’re closely monitoring the updates and guidance about the coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and other leading health organizations. On Friday, we launched a web page on AP Central to provide information about flexible testing options for schools experiencing substantial disruption or closure and guidance for schools that plan to maintain AP instruction while students are at home.    The website is https://apcentral.collegeboard.org/about-ap/news-changes/coronavirus-update.

The AP Program is developing resources to help schools support student learning during extended closures, as well as a solution that would allow students to test at home, depending on the situation in May. Additional information will be posted by March 20.

We will announce portfolio submission deadline extensions for AP 2-D Art and Design, 3-D Art and Design, Computer Science Principles, Drawing, Research, and Seminar courses by March 20.

SAT Testing

https://www.collegeboard.org/releases/2020/college-board-cancels-may-sat-response-coronavirus

In response to the rapidly evolving situation around the coronavirus (COVID-19), the College Board is canceling the May 2, 2020, SAT administration. Makeup exams for the March 14 administration (scheduled March 28) are also canceled. Registered students will receive refunds.

The College Board will provide future additional SAT testing opportunities for students as soon as feasible in place of canceled administrations. We’ll be as flexible as possible to give students the best chance to show their skills and stay on the path to college. We have not yet canceled the June 6, 2020, SAT administration and will continue to assess its status with the health and safety of students and educators as our top priority.

To help students keep their college readiness skills sharp when many schools are closed, the College Board and Khan Academy will continue to provide free resources online, including full-length practice tests and personalized learning tools at khanacademy.org/sat. 

In the coming days, the College Board will share additional information and details directly with registered students and test centers. A webpage with regularly posted information about the impact of the virus on the SAT can be found here.  

Click here to read the article from the Poughkeepsie Journal.

Or read below.

Schools around Dutchess County closed for at least two weeks on Monday. For thousands of local students enrolled in meal-assistance programs, that also created a hurdle in obtaining food.

But, several local restaurants are stepping up to assist students that depended on school meals. And, others can let the Journal know about their service so more students can get involved.

As of Monday, about 25 people had signed up for the Mamma Musetti's free lunch program. The Wappingers Falls café is offering several sandwich options, along with fruit, chips and a juice box.

"We just want to make sure every kid is fed and has what they need to get by," she said.

Sinapi's Pizza in Wappinger is also hosting a lunch program. Those interested can call the restaurant at 845-214-0996 and ask for Luigi or Peter Sinapi.

And Publick House 23 in Pleasant Valley is offering free bagged lunches to students impacted by school closures in the Pleasant Valley area.

There are other restaurants helping out, and the Journal would like to help connect them with students in need.

Restaurants and businesses offering a free meal program for students can send information to newsroom@poughkeepsiejournal.com and gwilson@poughkeepsiejournal.com to be published online and in print.

Geoffrey Wilson: gwilson@poughkeepsiejournal.com; 845-437-4882; Twitter: @GeoffWilson_

Orders can be made by calling 845-297-9365.