Wynantskill UFSD would like to let families know that all students are now eligible for free school meals due to the USDA extending its free summer meals program.

The USDA recently announced it was extending the program until December 31, or until available funding expires, to help ensure children have access to school meals during the COVID-19 pandemic.

As a result, students who purchase breakfast or lunch at school will not be charged. Student account balances will be maintained until the USDA funding expires.

Families who may qualify for the Free and Reduced Price Meal Program are also encouraged to submit applications for the 2020-21 school year. Families who qualify can continue to receive meals at no charge through the end of the school year. Please contact Lori Audi at laudi@wynantskillufsd.org or 518-283-4600 ext. 22 for an application or questions.

Gardner-Dickinson School will hold Virtual Back-to-School Open Houses Monday, September 28 through Friday, October 2.

We will share information about how families can join the Open Houses virtually as soon as details are finalized.

Thank you.

We would like to share with families that the use of gaiters or face shields are not recommended by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Their effectiveness in preventing the transmission of COVID-19 is unknown at this time and is being evaluated. Students may wear a face shield in addition to a mask if they choose.

If families have children who can not wear a mask and can only wear a gaiter or face shield, please contact Superintendent Dr. Mary Yodis at 518-283-4600 ext. 10 so we can make accommodations.

Cloth face masks or face coverings that cover the nose and mouth and fit the face snuggly are recommended. The district has disposable facemasks for students who need them.

Read our Face Mask and Cloth Face Covering Protocols here.

Dear families,

To help ensure the health and safety of all our students, Gardner-Dickinson School is now a peanut and tree nut free school due to the serious allergic reactions many children experience.

We understand this may be a challenge for families but with the increased safety measures due to COVID-19, with students eating at their classroom desks, we need to ensure a safe environment for our students.

Please avoid sending food in with your children that contain any of the following:

• Almond
• Beechnut
• Brazil nut
• Bush nut
• Butternut
• Cashew
• Chestnut
• Coconut
• Filbert
• Ginko nut
• Hazelnut
• Hickory nut
• Lichee nut
• Macadamia nut
• Nangai nut
• Pecan
• Peanut
• Pine nut
• Pistachio
• Shea nut
• Walnut

Again, we apologize for any inconvenience but food allergies are a serious and potentially life-threatening medical condition. One in 13 children in the United States has a food allergy. Every three minutes, a food allergy reaction sends someone to the emergency room in the United States. Please help us create a positive school environment for our students where they feel safe.

If your child has a food-related allergy or sensitivity, please make sure to let School Nurse Tricia Gibbs know by calling 518-283-4600 ext. 3. Ms. Gibbs can also answer any questions you may have.

Thank you.

Dr. Mary Yodis, Superintendent

Tricia Gibbs, School Nurse

The Board of Education is pleased to announce that it has selected Dr. Mary Yodis to be the next district Superintendent. Dr. Yodis was appointed at a September 9 Board meeting.

While the Board met several great candidates in its search process, Dr. Yodis’ leadership, organization and financial skills during the summer preparing to reopen school in September, along with the work she has done for the past eight years as school principal and the love she has for students and the community, made her the clear choice.

“Dr. Yodis has poured her heart and soul into our school and district for the last eight years, thinking about only what is best for our students. We couldn’t be more excited that she is taking the next step to lead the district,” said Board President Andrew Lanesey.

Before coming to Wynantskill UFSD, Dr. Yodis served as principal at Cairo-Durham CSD for two years and was a special education teacher in grades 1-6 for 10 years at North Colonie CSD. Dr. Yodis has a Bachelor of Science in Elementary Education and Psychology, a Master’s of Science in Reading and Special Education, Advanced Graduate Degree in School and District Leadership and a Doctorate in Educational Leadership.

Dr. Yodis will begin a search to fill the Principal position in the near future.

“It has been an absolute pleasure serving as building principal at Gardner-Dickinson for the last eight years. Building relationships with the students, faculty, staff and community has become more than a job, but a part of my family. I am honored to have been chosen to lead the district in the role as Superintendent and look forward to continuing to make Gardner-Dickinson a great school for our community’s children,” said Dr. Yodis.