Message from Principal Zadoorian
This guide is a quick reference for the most important information that parents and guardians need for the upcoming school year. Please do not hesitate to reach out to me or the middle school main office if you or your children need assistance throughout the year. I look forward to working and learning with you and your children this year.
Dave Zadoorian
Middle School Principal
518-853-4747 ext. 4246
dzadoorian@ffcsd.org
- Related: School Supply Lists
Start to the Year: Hybrid Learning Model & Rotating Schedule
FFCS will reopen for the 2020-21 school year using the hybrid learning model. Students will alternate between in-person learning and structured remote learning based on a rotating schedule. The following schedule will be replicated on a monthly basis. We will notify families as soon as possible if there are any changes. These schedules will be detailed on the calendar of the district’s homepage so families can easily check who is expected to report for in-person or remote learning on any given day. Please note, Life Skills and ELL students will attend school daily under hybrid/modified learning.
The first day of the school year for grades 5-8 will be Wednesday, Sept. 9. However, students in grades 5-6 will learn remotely this week and should not report to school until Sept. 14. Fifth and sixth grade teachers will be reaching out to families and students with information about this prior to Sept 9. Students in grades 7-8 will learn on site for Sept. 9-11.
Grades 5-6
- SEPT 9-11: Remote learning. Students in grades 5-6 will not report to school this week.
- SEPT 14-OCT 2: In-person learning.
- OCT. 5-9: Remote learning.
Grades 7-8
- SEPT 9-11: In-person learning.
- SEPT 14-OCT 2: Remote learning.
- OCT 5-9: In-person learning.
Fonda-Fultonville Middle School Day
- 7:45 – 8 a.m. Bus drop-off, parent drop off and walkers welcomed
- 7:55 a.m. – 8:02 a.m. Homeroom
- 8:05 a.m. – 2:29 p.m. Instructional Day
- 2:29 p.m. Bus Dismissal, Parent Pick Up and Walker Dismissal
If you choose to drive your child to school or if they will walk to school, please note that parents and walkers will be welcome no earlier than 7:45 a.m.
Mandatory Use of Protective Personal Equipment
Parents are encouraged to send their children to school with a filled water bottle and clean face covering. Face coverings will be available at school and on the bus if needed. Students and staff will be expected to follow all safety protocols, including wearing face coverings indoors and outside when social distancing (six or twelve feet depending on the activity) is not possible or when an acceptable barrier is not in place. This pertains to traveling around the school and at all times on buses. Face coverings are strongly recommended by the NYSDOH at all times. Face coverings are required to be worn by all individuals at all times except for meals and at times determined by staff and administration when social distancing is occurring. Students who are unable to medically tolerate a face covering will not be required to wear one. Face coverings will be provided to students, if needed.
As you prepare for your child’s return to school this fall, please talk to them about the importance of wearing a face covering at school and on the bus.
Cohorts & Designated Personal Workspace
Students in grades 5-8 will be assigned to a group known as a “cohort” that will remain in one classroom/cluster throughout the school day. This will reduce movement from group to group and allow for social distancing to occur so that students do not have to wear a face covering all day. Each student will be provided a desk or table assignment to serve as their designated personal workspace for the entire day. Enhanced cleaning routines have been developed to allow for the regular disinfection of high touch surfaces such as desks, chairs and door knobs.
Teachers will rotate from class-to-class for core instruction (ELA, math, science, social studies) and will utilize Chromebooks, Google Meet and other technology to receive their special area (music, art, library, health, home and careers, technology) classes. Students will leave their main classroom for PE, band lessons, AIS reading or math, resource room or accelerated math.
Classrooms have been reconfigured to meet health and safety guidelines. Desks will be spaced 6-feet apart and face the front of the classroom. This will reduce the need for students to wear face coverings during instruction.
The district has reconfigured/modified space within the schools. Some areas of the school will be closed. Spaces where people gather, including entryways and hallways, will be restricted to ensure social distancing. The use of lockers and student storage areas will be restricted. Students will be encouraged to use backpacks. They should not carry an unreasonable number of books or materials throughout the day. Students will not change their clothing for physical education classes, as locker rooms will be closed.
Foot traffic will be restricted to one-way by using tape on the floors or signs with arrows in the hallways. The district will post signage and distance markers denoting spaces of 6-feet in commonly used areas, and in areas where lines commonly form or people may congregate (libraries, classrooms, health office, main office, etc.)
Arrival Procedures
Health screenings will be conducted each morning before coming to school for all members of the school community. Faculty, staff and students will take their temperatures prior to coming to school. They must also complete an online one-question form that asks whether they have a fever. Students must have their temperature taken and their form must be completed prior to boarding the bus or arriving at school. A link for this form will be emailed each morning to make this as convenient as possible for families.
Students will enter school through an assigned door. Students should enter through the door number that corresponds with their homeroom teacher’s name. The doorways are all labeled with signage that include numbers and homeroom teachers’ names. Staff will be positioned outside with signage on the first couple of days to help students go to the correct entry door and their homeroom. To see the list of door assignments by homeroom, use this Google Doc.
Dismissal Procedures
All school community members are required to wear a face covering during dismissal. Teachers will dismiss students in a staggered rotation beginning at 2:29. Students will proceed directly to their bus, parent/guardian vehicle or begin walking home.
Parents will be asked to stay in their vehicles. If you arrive prior to the time of dismissal, remain in your vehicle until your child has boarded. Once your child has entered your vehicle, we ask that you safely exit campus, being mindful of all buses and other vehicles.
Technology & Remote Learning
All students in grades 5-12 will have a district-provided Chromebook to be used both at home and school. Students who were identified in a survey with follow up communication will be provided with a district-provided Wifi hotspot to the extent practicable.
Teachers will assign students activities/lessons to complete in Google Classroom. Live learning will occur with teachers as much as possible as students move through their daily schedule period by period remotely. There will also be other opportunities to interact live with their teachers at different times throughout the school day.
Remote Learning Support Center has been created to assist with tech questions that families may have. This support center can be found on the district website and contains frequently asked questions, tutorials, as well as an email address and phone number that can be used to request further assistance.
Grading & Assessments
There will no longer be a pass/fail system for grading. Grading will return to our traditional number based system at all school buildings under all learning models, and all assignments will be graded as appropriate. Grading and assessments help teachers and administrators determine student’s strengths and needs. District assessments will be implemented during the school year. Information on state testing will be shared with students and families when it is finalized by the state.
Attendance
In order for students to be successful, it is important that they attend their classes whether in-person or remote. It is a requirement under the NYSED guidance that attendance is taken daily whether in-person or remote. When participating in remote instruction, teachers will take daily attendance based on students’ online engagement and whether they log in during remote live Google Meet sessions. If a student is sick and unable to attend their remote learning classes, an excuse or doctor’s note should be sent to the school office via email or fax, just as they would during in-person learning. Send notes to fax number 518-853-4498. If a student is not logged in during these live sessions or engaging in our on-line platform they will be marked absent. During in-person learning, attendance will be taken as normal.
Bus rules
- A mask must be worn at all times while riding, entering and exiting the school bus, unless prior approval by the district because of a medical condition or disability.
- No eating or drinking is allowed.
- Students must remain in their assigned seat at all times.
- Members of the same household will sit together.
- Students must ride the same bus to and from school once routes have been established.
- Bus changes will not be permitted due to seating capacity limitations.
Food service procedures
- One meal choice will be provided for students who purchase their meals at school. Meals will be individually wrapped.
- Parents can order their child’s breakfast and lunch online in the morning.
- Students will eat lunch in their cluster/classroom location.
- Meal accounts must be maintained throughout the week/month through MySchoolBucks.
- Meal deliveries will be available for those participating in remote learning upon registration/sign up. More information will be shared with families about this process on the school website and through email.