Klem South Penguin Press
February 2021
News from the Main Office
This month brings a few fabulous things to an all-of-a-sudden snowy winter! Our PTSA is collecting valentines for Webster nursing homes, we are collecting cans for our Souper Bowl for Webster food pantries, and we have created a month long calendar celebrating Black History Month. This newsletter has details about all of those things.
Thank you to our PTSA (you can still join!) for sponsoring our snowman contest. Everyone who participated is in the slideshow below! They are all awesome!
Some families have shared they are traveling out of state over break, which is February 15-19. Our district follows the NYS Guidelines, so please take note of those details.
On a personal note, it is a pleasure to be back and working with Dr. MacAdam! It is such a privilege to be substituting for Mrs. End and working with your children. We wish her and her husband the best with the future arrival of their twins!
Mrs. Erin Land, Acting Principal
From Mrs. Cole, KS School Nurse
Education Law requires all New York State (NYS) school students to have a health appraisal (physical examination) when they are a new student in a school district and when they enter Pre-K, Kindergarten, and grades 1, 3, 5, 7, 9, and 11.
Beginning on 1/31/21, physical examinations conducted on or after 1/31/21 for school must be documented on the NYS Required Health Examination form or an electronic health record equivalent form.
Below are links to the required form and instructions for the health care provider. They are also available on the district Health Office webpage. Please share these forms with your child’s health care provider. This typically is your child’s doctor, but also may be a nurse practitioner or a physician's assistant.
NYS Health Exam Form: http://www.p12.nysed.gov/sss/documents/health-exam-form.pdf
Instructions: http://www.p12.nysed.gov/sss/documents/directions-for-health-exam-form.pdf
If you have questions, please contact me at tracy_cole@webstercsd.org or (585) 872-4136.
Parent Teacher Conferences - March 2021
Parent Teacher Conferences to Span Four Days
Parent Teacher Conferences for Webster CSD students grades UPK-5 will take place over four days, March 11-12 and 18-19, for all remote and hybrid students.
On Thursdays, March 11 and 18, AM students will attend school during their regularly scheduled class time, while PM students will not meet for class and that time will be set aside for conferences. And on Fridays, March 12 and 19, the PM students will have class while the AM time will be set aside for conferences. This schedule also applies to remote learners.
This is a change to the original school calendar. One of Webster CSD’s Essential Skills is communication. We believe making time for parents and teachers to meet together is important. Information on how to have a conference with your child’s teacher (including your conference time) will come directly from the teacher and school. All conferences will be done remotely this year.
Transportation will run as usual when class is in session.
Kindergarten Virtual Orientation and Registration Open
Webster CSD kindergarten orientation and registration has gone remote!
If you have a child who will be 5 years old on or before December 1, 2021, that child is eligible for kindergarten enrollment for the 2021-22 school year. In lieu of traditional in-person orientation, Student Registration has a video for parents/guardians of incoming kindergarteners to watch at their leisure. It is designed to enable them to become familiar with the registration and entrance process. You may view it below.
Webster CSD is now accepting completed kindergarten registration packets for the 2021-22 school year. This link enables parents/guardians to complete a 100% online registration process. If you would like to print out and fill in the registration packet by hand, please complete the packet available at this link. You may upload and email the completed packet to wcsdschoolregistration@webstercsd.org. School registration is based on residency. Webster students attend the school assigned to their home address. Use the School Locator Tool
on the Student Registration website for placement information.
Please remember that the safest method to submit registration paperwork is online; however, the district understands that this is not a possibility for all parents/guardians. Packets are available for pick-up and drop-off at the Student Registration Office at Spry Middle School, 119 South Avenue, Webster, Door 2 (next to the main entrance). A secure drop box is located in the vestibule from 8am to 4pm. Please do not drop off any original documentation; only copies will be accepted. Social distancing requirements will be followed in order to ensure the health and safety of all parents, guardians, and staff members. Student Registration staff members will follow up with you via email or telephone.
Call or email Carla Watkins, district registrar, with any questions: 585-216-0029 or
Black History Month Calendar
During asynchronous at-home learning time, your child and family are invited to explore the Klem South Read-Aloud Calendar for Black History Month to enjoy listening to read-alouds and poetry throughout the month of February.
Supporting Mental Health in our Schools
"Relax! Your Kids are Not Falling Behind" By Matt Albert, Ed.D.
When the pandemic shuttered our schools, no group was more worried than parents. In speaking with teachers and education leaders from public schools, private schools, and charter schools, and from all grade levels, the message is clear: Relax. Your kids are not falling behind.
There are three main themes that emerged from my conversations.
1. What does being “behind” actually mean? Educators are confident they can catch kids up academically.
2. The top concern of every educator I spoke with was the social-emotional toll the coronavirus may have. Children need outlets for their emotions. Parents can provide this! Don’t worry so much, one K-8 principal said, “Don’t fight with your kid. Don’t stress. Teachers can fix academics. What they can’t fix is three months of despair.”
3. The education upheaval spares no student. Schools are going to make adjustments. They have to. Let's all take a breath. Our kids are not behind. There are lessons to be learned that will eclipse academics and will be with our kids for the rest of their lives.
If you would like to read the full article, here is a link:
Board of Education Launches New Web Page!
Be sure to visit your board of education’s newly designed WEB PAGE that will go live on Monday, February 5 at websterschools.org/board. The page was redesigned and expanded in an effort to rethink how we stay connected to the community and as a way to share who we are, our work, strategic planning, and frequently asked questions. Please visit us online (February 5) to find out more!
District Produces Podcast Series to Share Budget Development Information
While you’re visiting the board’s new web page, also be sure to check out the district’s new video podcast, Let’s Talk, One Webster, at District > District Budget. With the 2021-22 budget season upon us, Webster CSD is trying something new to inform and educate everyone about the district's budget development process. If you would like to submit a video question for future podcast episodes, please record a video of yourself asking the question on your smartphone (mp4 format) and email it to Krista_Grose@webstercsd.org. Thanks in advance for your participation!
Webster Food Service Offers Saturday Meals
Webster Food Service is now offering a Saturday breakfast and lunch option for all students!
Elementary students (grades K-5) will receive an extra meal when leaving school on Fridays, if you have not opted your child(ren) out of the meal service. To sign up for an extra meal for your secondary student (grades 6-12) to pick up either on Thursday or Friday after school, please email Mark_Balfour@webstercsd.org and include your child(ren)'s name and the name of their middle/high school.
About us
Email: erin_land@webstercsd.org
Website: www.websterschools.org/klemSouth
Location: 1025 Klem Road, Webster, NY, USA
Phone: 5858571320
Facebook: facebook.com/klemsouth
Twitter: @klemsouth