Spry Newsletter
November 13th, 2020
Principal News
Hello Spry families,
I want to thank you for raising such remarkable children. We had many students write cards to veterans and kindness cards this week. It was so nice to see so many cards written for both events. The veterans and active duty service members, I personally delivered them to on Veteran’s Day were very appreciative of the kind thoughts and words. Several staff and students who received a kindness card were very happy with the kind words they received. Kindness does matter and Spry MS students really demonstrated the power of positivity and kindness.
For consistency with asynchronous learning, all Spry MS staff will be posting their asynchronous assignments no later than 9:00am of that day. Monday, November 16th Quarter 2 will begin. Quarter 1 grades will be in IC by November 24th. If you would like a printed copy mailed to you, please let me know.
As you are well aware, we are in the yellow zone and are required to test 20% of our students and staff. At Spry, we have staff members trained and finalizing the procedures we will be doing to administer the tests. We will begin testing the week of 11/16/20. As Carm has stated in his letter, you will need to opt in or out if you want your child/ren to be tested or not. We will not test your child/ren if you have not opted them in for testing. Attached are pictures that will help assist you in opting them in or out. Again, we will only test students who have been opted in.
Link for IC directions for opting in or out of testing
Have a nice weekend!
Jackie Saunders
Interim Principal
Important Dates
Nov. 13 End of Quarter 1 - Report Cards Available 11/24 on Portal
Nov. 19/20 Yearbook Club Pictures
Nov. 25-27 Thanksgiving Recess NO School K-12
SUPERINTENDENT NEWS
November 13, 2020
1:00 p.m.
Dear Webster CSD Parents/Guardians,
I had a follow-up conversation late yesterday with Monroe County Commissioner of Public Health Dr. Michael Mendoza and area superintendents.
All school districts designated as yellow zones must engage in mandatory testing for 20% of our in-person students and staff members. Following are updates from Dr. Mendoza related to COVID-19 testing in our district, which begins on Monday, November 16:
- As of last night, Dr. Mendoza reported that there were 300 new cases reported yesterday in Monroe County and our overall positivity rate is now above 4%. Luckily, he does not see that tripping us into the orange zone just yet (there are other factors involved in that move up from the yellow zone). Why does that matter to us? Because a shift to orange zone status automatically moves impacted districts to 100% remote learning.
- NO student will be tested without parent/guardian consent. We need all parents to either opt in or out of COVID-19 testing; it’s important that we hear from all of you regarding your choice for your child(ren) ASAP. Parents can opt in or out of testing using the Infinite Campus (IC) Parent Portal. Once logged in, click the SURVEY link in the middle of the page and complete the survey (one survey per student):
If you have never logged into the portal or need assistance in doing so, please contact ICPortal@webstercsd.org immediately.
- I know there have been questions about the actual test that districts will be using. It is incredibly simple, and many of our older students (grades 6-12) can self-administer. Please watch the BRIEF VIDEO below of my experience with the test (and two of my friends, a 1st grader and an 8th grader).
- Test results are confidential and will be read within 15 minutes. You will be emailed early in the week notifying you if your student has been selected for testing that week. You will also be emailed after the test is complete to alert that the results are now visible in the IC Parent Portal.
- If a student or staff member tests positive, they will immediately be isolated and sent home. Parents/guardians can opt for a follow-up test at their pediatrician, but Dr. Mendoza is certain that the positives from this rapid nasal test are truly indicative of someone with COVID-19.
- Parents cannot take the rapid test in place of their child. Dr. Mendoza does feel that eventually the testing should be expanded beyond schools to the general population, but our region is just not ready for that yet. He is very confident that we'll be able to drive down our positivity rate after a few weeks of in-school testing.
- Staff members are being trained today and this weekend to administer the tests to our students whose parents/guardians opt them in for testing.
- What happens if we run out of students to test, because so many families are opting out? Well, we'll cross that bridge when we get there, but our hope is that we'll have enough students to at least get through two to three full weeks of testing and hopefully, by that time, we'll be out of the yellow zone.
I will continue to share more information as we are updated by NYS and Dr. Mendoza. Thank you for your continued patience.
Sincerely and gratefully,
Carmen Gumina
Superintendent of Schools
Veterans Day Cards
care
Congratulations to Yarko R. Hailey K. and Gianna P. for being recognized as the Spry Monthly CARE Award recipients. These students were recognized for their accomplishments by Mrs. Wilson, Mrs Wyant and Mrs. Falbo. A special thanks goes out to Webster Hots for sponsoring our monthly award and providing each student with a gift certificate to be used at the restaurant. Finally, the Spry CARE Committee would like to take a second to congratulate all of the students that have received a CARE card from a Spry Staff member over the course of the past month. Keep up the great work!
Spry Library OPENING MONDAY
Yearbook Club Picture Schedule Nov. 19/20 during Homeroom
Honor Roll
Honor Roll 85-89
High Honor Roll 90-94
High Honor Roll w/ Distinction 95-100
Honor Roll Cards will be mailed at the end of November.
News from the Board of education
School 17 Donations
After School Clubs/Activities/Support
Ski Club 2021
Spry Snowsports Club
Things you should know
Dates – Any night, beginning in mid December to mid March
Transportation - Parents drive their child to Bristol, NO bus will be provided
Purchasing information - Purchase lift tickets, rental and lessons on-line www.bristolmountain.com
Once there, click on SHOP, then group login:
Club name is WEBSPRYHS
Club password is WEB429
You will see either a day pass or a twilight pass
Choose the option that works BEST for your family.
To avoid a price increase, purchase pass by November 15th
At Bristol….
Parents are in charge of their own children/others that they drive down. There will NOT be an advisor from school there.
If you have any questions, please feel free to email me:
WCSD Equity and Diversity Webpage
WCSD Equity and Diversity Webpage -
https://www.websterschools.org/districtpage.cfm?pageid=1874
Hispanic Heritage Committee site -
https://sites.google.com/webstercsd.org/hhc/home?authuser=0
Includes a calendar with live links for community events (virtual, asynchronous)
Link directly to the calendar - https://sites.google.com/webstercsd.org/hhc/events/calendar?authuser=0
Washington DC Trip-7th Grade Students
Attention 7th grade parents and guardians:
We are currently fundraising for the Class of 2026 8th Grade Washington, D.C. trip. Our first fundraiser is 'Crazy About Cookies'. Last week, students were provided with catalogs and order forms. If you wish to participate, please remember that all orders are due on Monday, November 9th or Tuesday, November 10th. Students can drop off order forms in person to the White House Office. Remote families may drop off orders at the Main Entrance of Spry. Please call the White House Office, 216-0096, with any questions.
Attendance
PTSA
WebsterPTSA.org/Join (join/renew),
WebsterPTSA.org/eNews (newsletter sub)
WebsterPTSA.org/Social (social media links by building)
Reminder PTSA is a very important group please consider joining!
PTSA World Kindness Day / Chalk the Sidewalks / spry kindness cards
Spry Kindness Cards
ptsa spirit wear sale for the holidays
IMPORTANT DOCUMENTS
HOMEWORK HELP
Math Lab
Math Lab is OPEN virtually
Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, Friday from 11:00 to 2:00
Monday evening from 7:00 to 8:00
Wednesday from 9:00 to 11:00
You can visit for one question, get your homework checked or we can work on your classwork or homework together.
Mrs. Hunt
Math Lab google classroom for students who want to use the math lab.
The code is: s7czkn3.
Jostens' Yearbooks
Here is the link: https://images.jostens.com/415603996
Good Afternoon Partner in Positive Youth Development!
As the autumn leaves continue to fall, our programming starts to ratchet up available events for our youth. The next available event is the annual Intergenerational Fall Clean-up on Saturday, November 14th. In an effort to practice safe social distancing we will be welcoming groups of volunteers in different time slots beginning at 9am.
The annual Intergenerational Fall Clean-up is coming November 14th!
This is a great opportunity for youth to serve our community and gain needed service hours as we help housebound seniors rake leaves and clear their yards of fall debris. Groups are welcome to join and serve together, or meet new youth from around the community and work together helping those in need. We will meet at Monroe Community Hospital at 9 am and then go into the community to help our registered seniors. We will also provide a FREE shirt, refreshments, and the necessary tools for the job.
Have your youth register to volunteer at: tinyurl.com/MonroeCountyFallCleanUp
Please contact me if you have any questions by email at haliradecker@monroecounty.gov, or by phone at 753-6953. Thank you for your time and cooperation!
Hali R. Radecker | YAR & Special Events Coordinator | RMCYB
435 East Henrietta Road, 3rd Floor-Faith Wing
Rochester, New York 14620
585-753-6953
Make sure your Chromebook is working and ready!
The Chromebook Repair Center will reopen at Webster Schroeder High School in the main entrance vestibule on:
Tuesday, September 8th
Hours will be
Monday 7:30-3:30
Tuesday 7:30-3:30
Wednesday 11:00-7:00
Thursday 7:30-3:30
Friday 8:00- 2:00
Families may also call 265-6400, extension 2 for device support
Spry Chromebook Assistance
Students may come down Periods 1,4,5,6 to Sam Bell in Tech room 120.
Chromebook policy prohibits loaners being given to students who forget their Chromebooks at home or do not charge the battery. Loaners are provided for students whose Chromebook is physically damaged, lost or not functioning properly. For those students with dead batteries, there are several chargers on site for their use, but they have to leave their Chromebook for at least two class periods to charge.
F.I.R.E.
Equity and diversity are catching F.I.R.E. in the Webster community!
Families Igniting Racial Equity (F.I.R.E.) is a vibrant, parent-led organization whose mission is to build a racially- and economically-just community. Spearheaded by the school district, the group includes members from throughout our community -- parents, concerned family members, and allies passionate about One Webster!
Watch district social media for upcoming meeting notices. For further information on being a part of this growing organization, please contact Terry McCarthy, Webster CSD Director of Humanities, at terrance_mccarthy@webstercsd.org or (585) 216-0080.
Together we can help Webster blaze a trail in creating a more equitable and inclusive community!
F.I.R.E. meetings for 2020-21. These will occur virtually.
Here is the schedule -
9/15, 10/20, 11/17, 12/15, 1/19, 2/23, 3/16, 4/20, 5/11, 6/15
All meetings will run from 6:30-8:00.
You can email Terry McCarthy if you would like info about FIRE and/or would like to be on our distribution list.
Early Dismissal
• If you need to leave school early, an email (Preferably) from your parent or guardian must be sent to your house office prior to first period. Notes are still allowed, but discouraged to avoid crowding in the House Offices to start the day. You will be given a formal "school excuse" to leave, and your parent must sign you out at the front entrance.
• If you return to school, you must report back to the front entrance and get a pass to class.
• Only the School Nurse can excuse a student early from school due to illness. Students leaving school because of illness must be picked up from the Main Entrance by a parent or guardian.
• No one is allowed to leave during the school day without signing “out”. Any pupil leaving without permission will be considered truant. Parents and Police will be notified.
• Transportation to and from school is provided by school bus, parent, or guardian listed in Infinite Campus ONLY.
Safe Schools Helpline
Safe Schools Helpline Link
Follow Spry Links
Twitter: Webster Spry MS (@SpryMS Warriors)
Webpage: http://www.websterschools.org/spry
Morning Show: http://www.websterschools.org/districtpage.cfm?pageid=1321