We are writing to clarify our website’s district calendar. 

There has been some confusion surrounding an entry on our website’s district calendar. The calendar previously read that our last day of school (June 24) would be an early dismissal day. That entry has since been removed; June 24 will be a full day of school for all grades.

While it was originally planned to be an early dismissal day, the district used this time to push back the start of the 2020-21 school year in September and therefore must make up for this time. 

We apologize for any confusion.

After meeting with regional superintendents and county Department of Health officials, the
District will be implementing temporary mask adjustments in anticipation of the expected heat
and humidity tomorrow and of additional guidance from the New York State Department of
Health (NYSDOH).

On Monday, we will provide teachers and staff with the discretion to extend mask breaks in
class while students are seated. Mask wearing can be relaxed outside during recess and
physical education while following all other COVID-19 mitigation protocols including physical
distancing. Please continue to follow all COVID-19 mitigation protocols, including social
distancing, handwashing, and the wearing of masks on buses as these have worked throughout
the school year and have allowed us to maintain our schools and offices open.

Our district is aware of the letter that the NYS Commissioner of Health Dr. Zucker sent to the
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) Director Dr. Rochelle Walensky last Friday
regarding new COVID-19 guidance for the wearing of masks in schools across NYS. While Dr.
Zucker’s intent has already been publicized in various media outlets; these changes have not
been formally communicated to school districts. Over the weekend, we received an email from
the New York State Education Department clarifying that the intent of this letter was to obtain
a response from the CDC regarding differing standards for summer camps and schools.

At this time, we are awaiting official guidance from the New York State Department of Health
or the State Education Department on mask changes. We will inform the Wynantskill
community when official guidance is received. The school district will review and evaluate the
guidance before considering or making any changes to its COVID-19 mask protocols.

The health and safety of our students and staff remains our top priority as we prepare to finish
one school year and plan for another. We thank you for your patience as we await formal
guidance that will allow us to make any permanent changes to the mask protocols.

School Closed

Memorial Day Weekend

FRIDAY, MAY 28

MONDAY, MAY 31

TUESDAY, JUNE 1

ENJOY A LONG HOLIDAY WEEKEND AND REMEMBER TO THANK A VETERAN!!

The State recently adopted the CDC’s Interim Public Health Recommendations for Fully Vaccinated People for most business and public settings. This guidance states that fully vaccinated individuals may resume activities without wearing masks or physical distancing, except where required by federal, state, local, tribal, or territorial laws, rules and regulations, including local business and workplace guidance. 

However, the State has required all pre-K to 12 schools to follow the existing COVID-19 health guidelines until more New Yorkers are fully vaccinated, which means all individuals in schools, on school property and on school buses must continue to wear masks whether or not they are fully vaccinated. This new guidance also applies to public transit, homeless shelters, correctional facilities, nursing homes and healthcare settings.

We thank you for your continued cooperation and understanding.

Gardner-Dickinson Families,

In March, we shared that the New York State Education Department submitted a waiver to the United States Department of Education that would not require New York districts to administer state assessments due to circumstances surrounding the ongoing pandemic. That waiver has not been granted, so Gardner-Dickinson must move forward with its scheduled dates to administer state assessments.

On Tuesday, June 8th, in-person students in grades 4 and 8 will be taking the New York State Science Test. Only the written, first session of the assessment will be administered this school year. Grade 4 will begin at 9 a.m. and Grade 8 will begin at 9:30 a.m.

Tips for testing:

• Get a full night’s rest before testing
• Eat a healthy breakfast the morning of
• Have a relaxing night before testing

If you have any questions regarding state assessments, please do not hesitate to contact me.

Sincerely,

Suzann Cornell
Gardner-Dickinson Principal
scornell@wynantskillufsd.org
518-283-4600

Tick exposure can occur year-round, but ticks are most active during warmer months (April-September).

Before You Go Outdoors

• Know where to expect ticks. Ticks live in grassy, brushy, or wooded areas, or even on animals. Spending time outside walking your dog, camping, gardening, or hunting could bring you in close contact with ticks. Many people get ticks in their own yard or neighborhood.
• Treat clothing and gear with products containing 0.5% permethrin. Permethrin can be used to treat boots, clothing and camping gear and remain protective through several washings. Alternatively, you can buy permethrin-treated clothing and gear.
• Use Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)-registered insect repellents containing DEET, picaridin, IR3535, Oil of Lemon Eucalyptus (OLE), para-menthane-diol (PMD), or 2-undecanone. EPA’s helpful search tool
• Avoid Contact with Ticks
  • Avoid wooded and brushy areas with high grass and leaf litter.
  • Walk in the center of trails.

After You Come Indoors

Check your clothing for ticks. Ticks may be carried into the house on clothing. Any ticks that are found should be removed. Tumble dry clothes in a dryer on high heat for 10 minutes to kill ticks on dry clothing after you come indoors. If the clothes are damp, additional time may be needed. If the clothes require washing first, hot water is recommended. Cold and medium temperature water will not kill ticks.

Examine gear and pets. Ticks can ride into the home on clothing and pets, then attach to a person later, so carefully examine pets, coats, and daypacks.

Shower soon after being outdoors. Showering within two hours of coming indoors has been shown to reduce your risk of getting Lyme disease and may be effective in reducing the risk of other tick borne diseases. Showering may help wash off unattached ticks and it is a good opportunity to do a tick check.

Check your body for ticks after being outdoors. Conduct a full body check upon return from potentially tick-infested areas, including your own backyard. Use a hand-held or full-length mirror to view all parts of your body. Check these parts of your body and your child’s body for ticks:

• Under the arms
• In and around the ears
• Inside belly button
• Back of the knees
• In and around the hair
• Between the legs
• Around the waist

The district has two unused snow days for the 2020-21 academic year. We will now have two additional days off this spring for snow give-back days. The district will be closed Friday, May 28 and Tuesday, June 1. 

We hope our families will enjoy the extended Memorial Day weekend!