April 1, 2020, 9am
Good Morning-
I want to thank all of you for your patience as we continue to adjust to this new life we are living. School is just one of things on our minds these days, but I wanted to provide you with some important updates.
First, we simply do not know when or if students will be returning to school. The information we are working with right now is that we are out of school until April 15th, unless we are given further direction. We are planning for any eventuality,
Next week is the traditional spring break week, but the New York State Education Department as well as the Governors' office has directed that each school must provide for "continuity of instruction", food availability, and childcare options.
In response to that directive, as well as also finishing the third quarter in an equitable way, we have created a plan. The grade that students had on March 13th, will be their third quarter grade, unless they complete material that improves their grade before the end of the third quarter, which is April 17th. Next week, teachers will NOT provide new content, review, or material. It will be a time for students to make up work if they choose, and catch a breather.
I will send another message about how the fourth quarter will progress once we have a better idea of how much longer we will be out of school. New material will be delivered during this time.
Our meal program will continue this week as normal. Next week, we will provide breakfast and lunch from Monday through Thursday. There will be no dinner service next week.
As we are all adjusting to our new lives, it is important to create a balance for your children and yourselves, but we need to also move their education forward. The strength of our continued partnership will pull us all through this.
Thank you for your support, and as always, if you have any questions, please let me know.
Chris
Christopher R. Brown, Ph.D.
Superintendent of Schools
March 27, 2020, 4pm
Good Afternoon-
This is your Friday afternoon Covid-19 update. First, we had a very successful week in food service. We provided over 3,000 breakfasts and lunches, and roughly 1,600 dinner meals. Thank you to our food service workers and volunteers for providing such a needed service.
Governor Cuomo announced today that schools will remain out of session until April 15th, at which time, he will re-evaluate.
School construction is now considered non-essential. We will let you know what impact this will have on our Capital Project timeline, once we know when construction can begin again.
Thank you for listening to and reading all of the information we continue to send out, it is much appreciated. Enjoy the weekend and goodnight.
Chris
Christopher R. Brown, Ph.D.
Superintendent of Schools
March 26, 2020, 11am
Good Morning-
A reminder that we have breakfast and lunch pick up at the HS, Monday through Friday from 11:30AM-1PM. We also have dinner pick up at the HS, on Tuesdays and Thursdays from 4:30PM-6PM. These pickups are open to Whitman residents who currently have children in school. Thanks to all who are making the meal opportunity possible.
If your child is having technology issues, please call 585-337-0719. If anyone would like to donate unused Verizon MIFI units, please call 585-337-0719 to arrange for pickup or drop-off. We can use the units with our own government account to provide WIFI to students who do not have it.
We consider ourselves to still be in the transition process between students being at school every day, to students being at home every day. We are trying to strike a work load and home life balance, understanding that everyone is dealing with a different situation. As far as we are concerned, mental and physical health, personal needs, family needs, and connections come before school work. That being said, we are going to need to continue to move forward with school work as best you can. Our teachers have been asked to use the program Schoology as well as email to get information out about assignments. They are also using other forms of technology to connect with students. Please see the very bottom of this message for Schoolofy information. Students who do not have Internet access are being given assignment through alternate methods.Pyramid.png
Right now, I do not have a firm return date to school, nor do we know the official status of spring break. Governor Cuomo would like schools back in session April 1, the department of health would like them back in session April 14th, and President Trump would like them opened by Easter. Once we know which date we are to follow, and once we are given direction as to how spring break will be counted, I will let you know.
Thank you, and have a great rest of the day.
Chris
Christopher R. Brown, Ph.D.
Superintendent of Schools
Friday, 3/20/2020
Good Afternoon-
I wanted to provide you with a Friday, March 20th, COVID update. We handed out or delivered 650 breakfast and lunch packs today to students and families in our community. I would like to give a huge thank you to all of our employees and volunteers who assisted. Our food service distribution process will be deemed "essential", so grab and go breakfast/lunch Monday through Friday next week, from 11:30AM-1PM will continue, and we will have grab and go dinners from 4:30PM-6PM Tuesday and Thursday. Also on Tuesday, we will have boxes and bags of non-perishable foods for Whitman families. That pickup will coincide with the dinner pick up time of 4:30-6PM. More details will follow next week.
Parents and Students should continue to check their Schoology accounts for information from their teachers. We have ordered 20 Verizon MIFI units for students who do not have the Internet at home. They are currently back ordered but will be made available when they arrive. If you do not have Internet access, you will still receive information and communication from teachers as you have been.
Grade 3-8 assessments have been canceled for this year. We do not have information as of yet regarding Regents Exams, Gemini, or AP exams.
Thank you for being a resilient community. That being said, this is a time of anxiety for all of us. We all need to catch our breath over the weekend, figure out what our family, work, and personal needs are moving forward, and hit the ground running (or in our homes), On Monday. Please remember that I am here for you 24/7 at cbrown@mwcsd.org or 585-554-4848 x1800 or x1805.
Thank you and I will update you with more information as it becomes available.
Monday, 3/16/2020, 8pm
Good Evening-
I want to personally thank all of you who were able to make it tonight to gather work, clean out lockers, and pick up last minute items. While I was very proud of the efforts of our staff to have everything so organized, I was sad to say goodbye to students, not knowing when I will see them again.
As a reminder, there is no school tomorrow, but the buildings will be open from eight until noon if you did not get a chance to pick up items tonight. We will arrange delivery at a later date for any items that remain.
We still plan to begin our grab and go breakfast and lunch process on Friday. Pick up times will be 11:30-1PM at each of our buildings. Food will be available for all family members. A dinner grab and go will begin on Monday, March 23rd, if we are permitted. More information about dinner service will be sent out at the end of the week, including times of operation.
I met families tonight who have already lost employment due to COVID-19, and others who are unable to get to the grab and go sites. We will have free and reduced lunch forms at our sites to be taken and filled out if you think you will need it when the students return. Please call Carla Woolston at 1-585-554-4848 x1802 if you need the grab and go breakfast and lunch delivered. We will do our best to make that happen.
Many of you are under a great deal of stress. We are here to help you in any way that we can. Thank you, and I will send another message toward the end of the week, or sooner if necessary.
Chris
Christopher R. Brown, Ph.D.
Superintendent of Schools
Monday, 3/16/2020 1:16pm
Good Afternoon-
Based on the content of Governor Cuomo's most recent press conference, as well as the most recent update from the Centers for Disease Control, Marcus Whitman students will NOT be reporting to school tomorrow. I do apologize, but this decision is basically out of my hands.
If you would like to pick up personal belongings, work, medicine for your child(ren)(students may come by themselves except for medicine pick up), the buildings will be open and staffed from 3PM-7PM today, and 8AM-noon tomorrow, if we are allowed to have the buildings open tomorrow. I will make a "Robocall" regarding building access at 7:30AM tomorrow.
As of right now, the"grab and go" meal distribution plan will proceed as scheduled beginning Friday. I will be updating you via "Robocall", email, and social media throughout the week.
These are unprecedented times, and I appreciate your patience and understanding.
Thank you.
Chris
Christopher R. Brown, Ph.D.
Superintendent of Schools
