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.

School Nurse Tricia Gibbs would like to remind families that all students entering 6th grade and who are age 11 need to have a Tdap vaccination before school begins. If your child is not yet 11, they have until their 11th birthday to receive the vaccination.

All students entering 7th grade need to have a Meningococcal vaccination before school begins regardless of age.

These are New York State requirements. Please submit all vaccination records as soon as possible.

If you have any questions, please contact Ms. Gibbs at tgibbs@wynantskillufsd.org or 518-283-4600 ext. 18. Thank you.

Food Service Director Lori Audi would like to encourage families to please fill out a Free and Reduced Price Lunch application.

Information about income eligibility is available here.

Please contact Ms. Audi at laudi@wynantskillufsd.org for an application.

Hello Families and Students,

First and foremost, I want to welcome you back to Gardner-Dickinson for a brand-new school year!!! I am really looking forward to meeting you all and working together.

I wanted to share an announcement concerning the Gardner-Dickinson band program. After reviewing the NYS Health and Safety Guidelines, as well as the National Association for Music Education Guidelines, the Band program (Band Rehearsals and Band Lessons) will be discontinued temporarily until further notice. My goal is to reevaluate the circumstances and the guidelines during the upcoming months, in hopes that we can possibly continue the program in the Spring semester. This was an incredibly difficult decision to make, but the health and safety of our students and faculty is our first priority, and that must come first.

If you are currently renting an instrument, I am allowing you to make the decision whether or not you would like to hang on to your instrument and continue practicing at home, or if you would like to return your instrument. I highly recommend you hang on to your instruments and continue practicing if you are able, this way if the program can restart in the Spring, you are already set with your instrument. However, I cannot guarantee that the program will restart in the Spring, and I understand that these are financially difficult times, so if it will be more beneficial for you to return your instrument for the time being, that is completely up to you.

If you would like to continue practicing your instrument, I would be more than happy to provide you with resources. I have several different workbooks and music that I would be happy to share with you so that you can continue working with your instrument.

Once I have reevaluated the NYS Health and Safety Guidelines and the National Association for Music Guidelines, I will be sure to post a follow up announcement as to when the band will be restarting on the school website, as well as make an announcement to all of the General Music Classes. If you would like any resources, or if you have any questions or concerns, please do not hesitate to contact me. You can reach me at kgordon@wynantskillufsd.org and I will be sure to respond as promptly as possible.

Sincerely,

Kristin Gordon
Music Director

Families will not have to buy school supplies this year as the district, PTA and a group of parents purchased them for our students.

This will help ease the financial burden for families during the economic hardship created by the COVID-19 shutdown and make it safer for our students who will have their own supplies, eliminating any need to share items.

Every student will have their own tool case or pencil bag filled with pencils, erasers, pens, markers, colored pencils, highlighters, scissors, paints, brushes and other items. Students will also have all supplies listed by their grade level teachers such as paper, notebooks and calculators.

Each student will also receive a new pair of headphones for their exclusive use throughout the year with their Chromebooks. The district purchased an additional 115 Chromebooks for student use this year. Laptop computers equipped with web cameras and WiFi capability were also purchased for each teacher.

“Thank you to the parents who raised the concern about families having to buy so many school supplies this year and the PTA for their support. Together great things happen for kids!” said Principal/Interim Superintendent Dr. Mary Yodis.