School Bus Drivers Needed

Wynantskill UFSD is looking for school bus drivers. Join our team of professional drivers. Benefits include:

  • Paid CDL training
  • Competitive salary
  • Part-time hours with full-time benefits
  • State retirement

If you or someone you know is interested, give us a call at (518) 283-4600.

USDA Extends Free Meals Waiver

The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) announced that it would extend flexibilities to allow free meals to continue to be available to all children throughout the entire 2020-2021 school year. Specifically, USDA’s move will enable school districts to continue to leverage the Summer Food Service Program (SFSP) and the Seamless Summer Option (SSO) to provide no-cost meals to all children, through June 30, 2021. Additionally, the move will permit districts to serve meals outside of the typically required group settings and meal times; waive meal pattern requirements, as necessary; and allow parents and guardians to pick-up meals for their children through June 30, 2021. AASA has engaged in this advocacy effort since the beginning of the pandemic and was proud to secure this victory for Superintendents and other school nutrition leaders.

Read the USDA’s Press Release

Lanyards Made with Love

The Bernard & Millie Duker Children’s Hospital at Albany Medical Center received a generous donation thanks to the hard work and compassion of a Gardner-Dickinson student.

First-grader Giada Pastore raised $400 for the Children’s Hospital and donated hand-made bracelets to patients.

Pastore made colorful mask lanyards for herself and her sister to use at school, and friends admired the lanyards. Pastore’s mother says friends began asking whether they could purchase one of Giada’s lanyards.

After discussing what could be done with the funds, Pastore quickly decided she would like to sell her lanyards and give all the money to children in hospitals for toys and coloring books.

Pastore’s mother posted about her decision on Instagram, and an overwhelming amount of orders came in to support Pastore’s efforts.

Lanyards were sold for $10-$15 each, and Pastore sold more than 20.

Pastore decided to donate hand-made bracelets to children in the hospital to brighten spirits. Each bracelet included words such as “brave” and “strong.”

Pastore says she loved making the lanyards and bracelets, but her favorite part of the process was hearing about all the wonderful things the Bernard & Millie Duker Children’s Hospital could do with her donation from Albany Medical Center staff.

 

Welcome Substitute Administrator Stoya

We have welcomed Substitute Administrator Susan Stoya to our District. Substitute Administrator Stoya has 34 years of education experience. She has worked in Amsterdam, Ballston Spa and Glens Falls School Districts as a special education and reading teacher, and as a school and district administrator. Since retiring in June 2017, she has worked with Troy CSD, Sage Colleges and the Capital Area School Development Association. Substitute Administrator Stoya says she is thrilled to be working with everyone in Wynantskill UFSD and is extremely proud of the teamwork within our District, allowing for successful school reopening. She is a proud mother of three young men and enjoys boating on Lake George, reading and swimming when she is not working. Let’s give Substitute Administrator Stoya a warm welcome to Wynantskill.

Wynantskill UFSD

Picture Day 2020

Picture Day 2020 Information

Picture day will be Tuesday, October 20. Students will line up outdoors, six feet apart, near the gym entrance. Photos will be taken inside the gym, one at a time. Every possible precaution will be taken to implement picture day safely. Lifetouch has implemented COVID-19 protocols to ensure the health and safety of school communities. Please review Lifetouch’s picture day safety video. If you do not wish for your student to have their picture taken this year, please email Superintendent Mary Yodis to opt out. Otherwise, your student’s photo will be taken.

Wynantskill UFSD

Letter About Changing to Remote Learning

Dear Families,

As you know, this school year presents schools and families with many challenges. We are committed to ensuring that our students receive a quality education whether they are attending in-person or remotely. Our district’s remote learning plan has been updated and is available on our website, www.wynantskillufsd.org. This plan will go into effect anytime we need to move to remote learning whether it is for days or weeks, or for the entire school, or for just one classroom or for individual students.

There may be times that a student may be ill, quarantined or awaiting a COVID-19 test, causing them to miss school. After you have notified School Nurse Tricia Gibbs at 518-283-4600 ext. 18, you may request that your child continue to participate in their classroom instruction through remote learning by emailing Mr. Peter Mesh at pmesh@wynantskillufsd.org.

Our remote learning option comes with the following requirements:

  • You certify that your household has stable internet access and devices equipped with internet capabilities for your child(ren) to access the remote instruction and coursework.
  • Your child will follow the District’s attendance policy and attend every day of virtual instruction, absent a valid legal excuse.
  • Your child must be logged in to virtual learning throughout the entire day, according to his/her class’ schedule, including having their web-camera on live and participating in their academic schedule as if they were receiving in-person instruction.
  • Your child must complete and submit all required coursework, as assigned by their teachers.
  • Your child must maintain adequate academic progress throughout their virtual learning, or your child will have to return to school.
  • Your child and anyone present during virtual instruction is prohibited from altering, reproducing, videotaping or audiotaping the virtual instruction, or utilizing the teacher’s or any other student’s image, likeness or voice, nor shall they publicly disseminate, reproduce, distribute, or otherwise publicize the virtual instruction on social media or any other platform.
  • If the District determines your child(ren) is not complying with these requirements, your child(ren) may be required to return to in-person instruction, as identified in the District’s Reopening Plan.

If you have any questions or concerns regarding this letter, please do not hesitate to contact me.

Thank you.

Dr. Mary Yodis
Superintendent of Schools