Dear Gardner-Dickinson School families,

We want to inform you of an internet hoax called “The Momo Challenge” that while not real, can still be distressing to students.

The so-called Momo Challenge started as news reports of a new internet challenge that caused students to self-harm or commit suicide. There is little to no evidence that actually occurred.

However, while fact-checking organizations have largely debunked the Momo Challenge, a disturbing image associated with the hoax has spread on social media. (The image is actually an unrelated sculpture of a grinning figure with dark hair and bulging eyes created by a Japanese special effects company.)

We have alerted our faculty and staff about this and we are taking proactive steps to deter students from seeing the image or sharing false information about the hoax. We do not believe students are intentionally trying to frighten classmates; it is more a curiosity.

However, given the nature of the internet, it is difficult if not impossible to completely shield students from this unfortunate hoax. We recommend you talk to your child to reassure them in case they have heard about it or are concerned. Here are some talking points.

• If they have seen the image, tell them it is not real and cannot harm them.
• If they have heard about the Momo Challenge, tell them it is a story someone made up.
• Reassure them they are safe.
• Remind them that not everything they read online is true.

If you would like to learn more about the hoax, here is a flier from the National Online Safety.

Please also feel free to contact me if you have further concerns.

Sincerely,

Dr. Thomas Reardon
Superintendent of Schools

Gardner-Dickinson School is hosting a Literacy Fair Wednesday, Mar. 20 from 5:00 to 7:00 p.m.

All students are invited to participate by creating a project at home inspired by something they have read or have had read to them.

Here is a permission form with more info.

Please return by Friday, Mar. 8.

Dear Wynantskill UFSD families,

With winter weather upon us, Wynantskill UFSD would like to share with our community how we decide to delay or cancel school due to weather conditions.

First and foremost, please know our children’s safety is our first priority. While we always want our students here in school where they can learn and grow, we will not hesitate to cancel or delay school if we are concerned about the safety of our students.

When poor weather conditions are predicted, we communicate with county and town highway departments as well as our surrounding school districts before 5:00 a.m. to assess road conditions. Each district is different given their roads and terrain but talking with other districts early provides us with additional perspectives. Given the unpredictable nature of weather, particularly in the northeast, assessing road conditions can be difficult because it can change so quickly but we do our best knowing that we want to announce any delays or cancelations early to give parents time to make childcare arrangements. Fortunately, we have such a fantastic team of bus drivers who take every precaution to get children safe to school each day no matter the weather.

If you ever have a question or concern, please call me anytime.

Sincerely,

Dr. Thomas Reardon
Wynantskill UFSD
518-283-4600 ext. 14

In order to ensure a safe and orderly dismissal process, Gardner-Dickinson has recently adjusted its procedures for students who are being picked up from school. Please note that all students who are picked up (whether on a regular or occasional basis) will all follow the same protocol. The protocol is as follows:

• Parents will be buzzed into the school through the main entrance outer set of doors and will then sign their child out with Mrs. Fazioli in the vestibule. Parents will then wait in this area until the school day is over. Students will only be released to parents within the vestibule and not outside in front of the school.
• Mrs. Fazioli will be checking to make sure that the person picking up the child is on the list of approved adults to pick up that child. This list was generated when families filled out the “Student Information Sheet” on the first day of school. Please make sure that if there are any changes throughout the year, that you notify the school immediately.
• If Mrs. Fazioli does not recognize the person picking up a child, she will ask for them to show a photo ID that matches the name on the approved pick up list.
• A second aide will assist with the organization/effective release of your children from the school to the vestibule (this will prevent mass exiting of students, which can make the dismissal process chaotic and thus unsafe).

Thank you for your understanding and your support for our efforts to keep our children safe.

Parents interested in enrolling their children for the School Banking program can use this application or apply online.

The program begins Wednesday, Oct. 2 and runs the 1st and 3rd Wednesday of each month during breakfast/homeroom or during lunch/recess.

If your child already has an account, please contact Sharon Hillis in the Superintendent’s Office to be added to the list of school bankers.

School Banking is offered through CAP COM Federal Credit Union and is a great way to teach children about saving.

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