|
In an effort to improve communications the district has created this format to provide people with a place to get answers to questions and to address rumors and inaccurate information that sometimes circulate through the community. NOT ALL QUESTIONS WILL BE ANSWERED. And, it may take some time to get answers to certain questions. For individual or private concerns, you should contact the school or district office by phone. We will not answer comments about specific individuals by name. However, for issues that we think impact a number of people in the community, we will provide a response on this page for all to see. Please submit your comments and/or questions in the white box on the right. Questions will be posted on this page for a couple of days, then moved to an archive page or deleted. Please check the archives on the right to see if a question on your topic has already been answered. Questions are
e-mailed to the district's public information office. The PI Officer
determines who could best answer the question and directs the question
to that person. Once, the PIO receives the answer it is posted (that
is why some responses take longer than others). GRAPEVINE QUESTIONS WILL NOT BE ANSWERED DURING THE RECESS.
Posted on December 23, 2008 Why are Shen teachers allowed to teach kids songs that mention God?
Per district regulation 8360: Performance material shall be diverse in nature (song lyrics, drama themes, staging, etc.), designed to reflect the pluralism of religious beliefs and cultures. Therefore, musical selections that include mention of God, may be included in a concert. Concerts should reflect the season and should reflect our various holiday traditions including classical music often heard this time of year.
Posted on December 23, 2008 What is the high school planning on doing about allowing students to watch the Obama Inauguration? Moreover, will any students with lunch periods, free periods, or study halls be allowed to go down to watch it?
There will be an assembly in West during the swearing in of the new president and for his speech. HSE students may attend during their social studies classes. In addition, several televisions around the school will be tuned to the inauguration.
Posted on December 23, 2008 Can a student not graduate if he/she is late to school on a regular basis...even if they are passing their classes?
A student would graduate after they serve whatever consequences have been assigned. These are typically detention and in-school suspension.
Posted on December 23, 2008 I am not sure if this is the place for it, but I was wondering- who runs the tri-building middle school art club and on what days does it meet? ( I am a student writing for the Gowana times and I need this information for an article)
All of the club information is posted on the Gowana web site. Mrs. Shea ( Koda ) is one of the advisors for the tri-building art club.
Posted on December 23, 2008 Why are elementary school students allowed to wait outside by themselves after the after-school activities? My child was when I was a few minutes late. What are the district rules on that? Are the kids still the responsibility of the school until the parents pick up?
Children should be kept in the building with the advisor or teacher. If a child was outside, please contact the principal.
Posted on December 23, 2008 What is the district's policy on cold weather clothing? In the elementary & middle schools, will a student's parents be spoken to if a child shows up to school day after day without a warm coat?
Yes at the elementary school, no at the middle and high school.
Posted on December 23, 2008 Besides the National Merit Scholarship, does your PSAT score help with any other scholarships?
Generally no, but some colleges may consider the score for admission or a scholarship.
Posted on December 23, 2008 With this new track system, Physical Education grades are very inconsistent!! Some teachers just give low grades and, within classes, two students who do everything the same can get 10 pts difference in grades. How are you going to make gym a more consistent grade?
Please see our grading protocol on the Physical Education web page. If you have further questions about grading, please contact your teacher.
Posted on December 23, 2008 Does Shenendehowa have a school dietician and if we do, how could we contact them?
Shen does not have a dietician.
Posted on December 23, 2008 Why do you have to be in accelerated math AND science in middle school, and why do you have to be in accelerated English AND social studies? What if your really good in one subject, but not the other?
Handling the Earth Science curriculum in eighth grade, which is our accelerated science course, is most effective if it is matched with advanced math. Earth Science requires a very strong understanding of math. As for English and Social Studies, the accelerated course of study is established to prepare the student for World Cult/World Lit, which is our accelerated course at the high school. It is heavily interdisciplinary, thus the course at middle level is preparation for that type of complex study.
Posted on December 23, 2008 What are the school's thoughts on letting the kids play outside in the snow? Should my kids bring boots/snow pants everyday, or if it's below a certain degree they don't go outside? Also, my kids go to a daycare after school, so I need to make sure they don't leave their winter stuff at their school.
We follow the suggested guidelines from our school physician--Children go outside if the temperature is 20 degrees F. or above. We try to take into account information regarding wind-chill if available. The temperature sometimes changes from the start of our recess periods to the final recess time so some grade levels may go outside and others stay inside. As for dress, we expect students to be prepared for outdoor recess daily. Students with boots, jackets and snow pants are able to play in areas of their own choosing (including the snow). Students w/o boots are expected to stay in shoveled areas (basketball court, wall ball court, sidewalk).
Posted on December 23, 2008 If I forgot to send in the senior baby picture, would it be possible to bring it in now?
The Yearbook Club will accept 'Messages from Home' into January.
Posted on December 23, 2008 Why wasn't the high school east parking lot plowed out as students were let out on Friday? Kids were getting stuck and sliding all over campus. Usually the campus is plowed.
When we experience a snow fall during the day with parking lots full of cars it is difficult to clear the actual parking areas. The Grounds Department concentrates on roadways and drive lanes within parking lots in attempt to make it easier for cars to back out and leave during a snow situation. This is repeatedly done throughout the day. It is next to impossible for the parking areas themselves to be cleared while cars are still parked in the lots. When cars are out of the way the lots are totally cleared and salted.
Posted on December 23, 2008 Can your drive electric scooters to school?
Seriously? Technology and product development is oftentimes a few steps ahead of our policy development. At this point, there is no official policy on the use of electric scooters. However, you should know that we are not responsible for securing them and any damage done to them is the responsibility of the owner.
Posted on December 23, 2008 Can a middle schooler take the middle school bus if he takes an accelerated tech class in the morning when there is a delay?
Middle school students may ride the middle school bus on delay days when they normally come in early on high school buses for accelerated classes.
Posted on December 23, 2008 I have asked before, and will ask again, who is hiring, monitoring, and "checking" on substitute teachers? My student was again subject to a day with a substitute teacher notorious for disrespectful and demeaning behavior towards children. Who allows this to happen, and why?
When there is a concern about the performance of a substitute teacher, the human resource office has a formal written process by which a principal or academic administrator provides notification in writing of their recommendation that the substitute be excluded from the substitute list and reason for such. We suggest that if you have a specific concern about a substitute, he/she should contact the principal.
Posted on December 23, 2008 Why didn't Dr. Robinson request teachers to "hold" scheduled Monday tests after this weekends "traumatizing" ice storm. My home was dark, freezing and flooded. Studying for High School tests was impossible. Doesn't seem very community-minded.
The superintendent does not control every single detail of the district. You should contact your teacher or principal. We are sure that special accommodations would be considered.
Posted on December 23, 2008 Is the Diving Coach position opening next year a teaching position (meaning the coach must be a teacher)?
This has not been discussed at this point.
Posted on December 23, 2008 Is it possible to email counselors?
Yes. The e-mail addresses are the first four letters of the last name, first four of the first name @shenet.org.
Posted on December 23, 2008 When the pool opens, what will happen with students who cannot swim?
They will be taught to swim by a licensed swim instructor.
Posted on December 23, 2008 How do you determine what teacher a child is assigned to? It would be nice for all the kids in the same development/neighborhood to be in the same class together, since these are the kids they will see around the neighborhood.
The principal and staff members determine what class students are assigned to and try to create a balance for each class. Putting students from one neighborhood together in classes is not typically one of the objectives.
Posted on December 23, 2008 Who can I contact to learn more about the School District Nutrition Advisory Committee?
Our Wellness Committee has a sub-committee which is a nutrition sub committee. The committee is chaired by Becky Carman, academic administrator of health and physical education, and Lisa Ostrowsk, director of food services.
Posted on December 23, 2008 Why is it that music students must play Christmas songs each year? First of all, the Christmas songs we play usually seem like they are at a much lower level than we should be playing. Secondly, I don't feel like students who don't celebrate that holiday should be obligated to play songs for it at their concert. It is not a concert to entertain friends and family with Christmas joy. It is a show students put on to demonstrate what they have learned in the last month or two, and it should show how they are improving with their musical skills. So basically, in order to pass music, a student must play a song that goes against their religion.
Concert programs are diversely created to provide a balance of musical repertoire throughout the school year Please see your ensemble director with any specific concerns.
Posted on December 19, 2008 On the same note as the parent who reported lack of proper security at the schools... Every time I have gone to my child's school, not one person has ever asked me where I am going, made sure I signed in or greeted me. I could of just walked in and gone to a classroom without anyone knowing. This evidently a district problem that needs to be addressed not just an individual school issue.
Over the years, parent's walking into the building and not signing in has been a challenge. It is difficult when our parents do not follow the rules and choose not to stop into the main office first. Stop signs are clearly placed outside and within the building stating "All Visitors Must Report to the Main Office." There are also signs on the front door. Teachers and aides are asked to challenge anyone who walks in without a visitor’s badge. And, while it is not proper procedure, parents may sometimes go unquestioned because they are recognized. This fall, construction began on security vestibules for the on-campus elementary schools. This will require that all visitors are buzzed into the building for security purposes. It is a delicate balance between welcoming parents in the building while ensuring security.
Posted on December 19, 2008 Are high schoolers being let out early today?
No. In an effort to ensure that all students are home before 4 p.m., middle school students will be dismissed at 1 p.m. today (middle school is our latest dismissal). There will be no PM kindergarten and afternoon and evening activities are cancelled today.
Posted on December 19, 2008 I go to High School East and over the past few storms I have realized that the days we do come to school, the seniors are allowed to leave early so that they can drive home, why is it just that one grade gets to leave early and if its that serious, shouldn't the entire school be let out early if it's that bad out?
Dismissal times are consistent for all students. However, students who have early release have a different dismissal time in both good and bad weather. Perhaps these are the students you are seeing leaving early.
Posted on December 19, 2008 Every day 9th period I see seniors ripping out of the parking lot and burning out of the stop sign, what is being done to stop this? I know that kids of drive across get there parking pass taken away for a short period of time. Please answer before someone gets hurt!
Students who violate traffic laws while on campus will lose their parking privileges. When these are reported, consequences are given to students.
Posted on December 19, 2008 Is it true that there is a hiring freeze? I have sub'd for the district for two years and lately have received fewer and fewer calls. The whole point of subbing is the prospect of permanently being hired. Should I start to look elsewhere rather than waste more time on a list that is no longer being used? With no prospect of being put on full time?
Yes. There is a hiring freeze but we still need and use substitutes.
Posted on December 19, 2008 O.K....re: the teacher's and aides gifts.......why is it not more well known that the limit mandated on gifts is $75? Perhaps room mothers should be made aware of this......I never knew this and I have been a room mother/spearheaded gifts for many years. Thank you
I don't know, but it is Board of Education Policy 6110. Pursuant to Section 805-a of the General Municipal Law, he/she shall not, directly or indirectly, solicit any gift or accept or receive any gift having a value of seventy-five dollars ($75) or more, whether in the form of money, services, loan, travel, entertainment, hospitality, thing or promise, or any other form, under circumstances in which it could reasonably be inferred that the gift was intended or expected to influence him/her in the performance of official duties or was intended as a reward for any official action on his/her part
Posted on December 19, 2008 How come Shen cannot make up its mind about school delays, snow days, or even going home early while all other schools post their information usually the night before, I understand that Shen is a big district but I believe that Shen must/should be able to post their information the night before.
We don't make decisions based on a forecast from the night before because weather services have been wrong.
Posted on December 19, 2008 To whom should I contact
to make a submission/posting to Shenet.org.
E-mail the information to defekell@shenet.org.
Posted on December 19, 2008 Why does Shen spend money on private schools? They spend money busing the private school kids, to their private school even though they are not in Shen. And you stated on here that "Shenendehowa supplies many of those students with textbooks, transportation and support services." Why is that? If these private school students think that they can get a better education else where, then they should pay for it themselves. Shen shouldn't be taking the tab for students that don't go here. With the current budget crisis its idiotic to spend money on other schools. Shen should be spending that money on their own students, not others. That is ridiculous.
The statement says "By law, Shen supplies..." The reason it is the law is because the parents of private school students pay school taxes as well.
Posted on December 19, 2008 I thought that this was a place for answering the rumors and giving facts, but people are hearing the same rumors all the time, and the Grapevine is saying that they are not true. But some people are still hearing these rumors...
It is a place for two-way communication. We find out about potential concerns and what is being said throughout the community. People in the community can get information directly from us about things they have heard and make up their own minds.
Posted on December 18, 2008 I am a current student in High School East. I was wondering what is being done about the drug issue at Shen. It has gotten out of hand. It’s impossible to not know someone who either deals drugs or does drugs or does both. The kids even have the drugs with them during the day and smoke it after school. I already know more than three people that have had overdosed at school. I know that Shen has caught students this year and they have been suspended but what is really being done because it out of control. Thanks!
We deal with each student issue individually. We work closely with police agencies to minimize the potential for illegal drug use by our students. However, the best preventive measure right now is to provide specific information to administrators so that they can investigate these claims. The high school is also looking at better ways to utilize resources to provide preventative measures for our students and their families.
Posted on December 18, 2008 Several times I have had issues signing on to the Parent Portal. Although I have entered the correct name and password, it does not let me on. However, no where in the information listed on this website is a link or contact information to who you can go to for help. An email link to report problems should be added. Most of the time I am only able to look at the portal during non-school hours. Can you tell me specifically who I should contact and give me a phone number or email?
The portal application documentation for parents (which each parent receives) includes a phone number to call if you experience any difficulty (881-0665). In addition, on the log in page, before you sign in, is a welcome statement with a phone number for parents to call with questions or problems about the portal. We were having problems with our web server last week but that issue has been solved. If you are still unable to log in, you either are not using the correct user name or password, or both; or you have entered something incorrectly and you were disabled after three attempts.
Posted on December 18, 2008 Why is our GPA not put on the portal? Also is there any chance for us to see our past report cards on the portal? Last, why aren't teachers being made to use the portal? Its very difficult to monitor grades when some teachers are not putting our grades up. I am not saying P.E. teachers but I think Math, Social Studies, Science, English, and Electives teachers should put up grades. Thanks
The report card sent home (it is a custom report card for Shen) four times a year has the GPA for the quarter on it. The report card viewable in the portal (the system default) is not able to display the GPA for the quarter. The district has been told that at some point in the future it may be able to display the custom report which will include the GPA for the current quarter. The portal is only able to be active for the current year, so that is why you are unable to see report cards from prior years. We have made a request to Infinite Campus for this type of feature to be included in future versions of the program. Currently the district does not require teachers to use the electronic grade book necessary to view grades on the portal. However, you can contact your child’s teacher(s) and request academic information via the telephone or email. Please call the school and ask for the teacher’s extension to speak with them or leave a voice message. Teachers can also be contacted from the portal by clicking on the “schedule” tab and click on the teacher’s name and the email will pop up addressed to the teacher you wish to contact.
Posted on December 18, 2008 Does the high school have SAT prep classes or tutors available to help students preparing to take the SATs in the spring?
The Community Education Office (881-0444) offers SAT prep courses.
Posted on December 18, 2008 My family attended the HS East Choral Concert this week. It was beautiful!! I was disappointed to see that the 2 songs with Christmas in the title were written as XMas. Is there a policy the district has against using the true name of the holiday in their programs?
No, there is no policy against the use of the word Christmas. This concern will be shared with the music department staff.
Posted on December 18, 2008 Will the testing and passing scores for Young Scholars program this year be the same as last year? If not, what will be different?
For the current year, the tests will be given and scored by BOCES and the cut scores will remain the same.
Posted on December 18, 2008 Here's another accelerated elementary math question - why are the kids getting "acc" on their report card not a grade (such as a 4, since they are working beyond "grade level)? How will the grades that the teacher gave in the report card comment section be recorded on their "permanent record?"
The report card is a part of the permanent record file. It is understood that a child in accelerated is performing past grade level. The grades in the comment section explain how the child is performing in the above grade level class.
Posted on December 18, 2008 If your child was not in Young Scholars in Elementary school, what are the options for middle school enrichment (I believe the program offered is Socratic Forum) consideration?
The middle school program is called Critical Inquiry and we are currently developing the criteria for admission for next year. Qualifying as a young scholar in elementary does not automatically qualify a student for admission.
Posted on December 18, 2008 What happened to Arongen's sign??
The sign was created in 1992 of wood, the weather and elements took its toll and a piece fell off. The district is in the process of getting it fixed.
Posted on December 18, 2008 How would I go about posing a complaint about security in one of the schools. Yesterday I walked in to both Chango elementary AND Gowana middle school and was stopped by no one to show identification or to sign in and state my business for being in the school. My sons was waiting for me at the office, I walked in no one asked for ID and WE walked out of the office without any one asking a single question. How can this be, when an adult can walk into a school and be stopped by no one and take a child a leave! Please tell me something other than policy of what the person is suppose to do when entering the school. A person who is not suppose to be there is NOT going to follow policy. This is unacceptable on all levels. My child's safety is at hand.
You should talk directly with the principals.
Posted on December 18, 2008 I've heard about this MST class and how it is finally bringing the real-deal kind of thinking to the education process. Why is it that there is only one of these classes?
More and more we are transitioning to interdisciplinary, project-based courses. This started years back with World Cult/Lit in the liberal arts and now with MST in the technical sciences.
Posted on December 18, 2008 Why is school in session Dec 22 and 23 when neighboring districts (W-H, Sara, Mech, BS) are closed. Wouldn't it be a cost-saving measure to not have to heat all the buildings those two days? Shen already exceeds the number of days funded by State aid.
Different school districts have different holidays off from school, (i.e. Shen had not school on the day before Thanksgiving and Yom Kippur). In the event we do not use all of our snow days, we provide extra days for Memorial Day. Also, in terms of state aid, the number of days is not part of the formula that determines state aid to school districts.
Posted on December 18, 2008 With the upcoming expected budget cuts for the 2009-2010 school year, why is it that the school district thinks that it is okay to sacrifice things for the students that they service? Why are classes, field trips, and clubs being cut? Also, why are you holding a hiring freeze? I think that it is dangerous and unjust to have special education children without the aides deemed necessary in their IEP's and to have 1 aide supervising more than 1 class on a playground during recess. Why does the district think that this is okay for the children's education and safety? And, why aren't the administrators willing to give up their raises next year to help save costs? Teachers and aides are being told that they have to do that, it is only fair that this is done across the board. Why do administrators think that this policy should not apply to them as well?
The preservation of programs to student is and will always be our primary goal. The unprecedented times dictate that we look at all categories of expenses, seeking first to save in areas that will have the least impact on the provision of a quality education to students. This will be a very deliberate and comprehensive resolution that will yield both cost savings and efficiency. Nobody is being told that they have to give up raises; all employee groups are being asked to look at ways to save money so that we can help preserve jobs and programs.
Posted on December 18, 2008 Why aren't their any people of African American decent working in the Shenendehowa high school? Includes (monitors, teachers, aids and librarians).
We seek to hire a diverse workforce, and strongly urge people to apply.
Posted on December 18, 2008 I heard there was a drug bust in the back of High School East. I also heard that it was not even high school kids, it was college kids. Is this true?
No. Some young adults (not Shen students) were questioned by police as to their possible involvement in some vandalism that took place on campus.
Posted on December 18, 2008 When are sign ups for the next session of drivers ed. And where can I find more information?
Go to the Community Education on the website for info about drivers ed.
Posted on December 18, 2008 What is the date for the Alumni Night? I graduated last year and still have not received any info via mail?!?
Monday, December 22. There will be an alumni discussion panel from 2-2:40 p.m. in the high school east auditorium . Following the panel discussion, there will be an alumni reception from 3-4p.m. in the high school east satellite cafeteria.
Posted on December 18, 2008 Is there any plan to have an emergency alert system for parents, to either text, email or call when school is closed, or there is an early release, or any other emergency requiring prompt notification of parents?
We are in the piloting phase right now. We have the ability to email those parents who have portal accounts about different topics. There is a “voice“ option through the telephone, but it is very slow (based on the number of lines the district can use to dial out of). We tested it and unfortunately it took too many hours to get the message out.
Posted on December 18, 2008 Should a home room mother be asking for an exact amount of money toward a teacher gift? I think it should be up to the parents in the class to give an amount they are comfortable with...$10 seems excessive for a class of 22 for a teacher and aid.
No, parents are not obliged to participate in a group gift and in fact, the staff members' are put in a difficult position when a gift (even from a group of students) is more than $75 (the limit allowed under board of education policy).
Posted on December 18, 2008 I was wondering if the school is looking into the pictures of Shen athletes drinking at someone's house that were posted on Facebook?
We don't typically surf social networks. A specific site would have to be brought to our attention.
Posted on December 18, 2008 How come the report cards on the parent portal for Middle & High School don't look like the report cards the children bring home? The overall average and if they made the honor roll are missing. One of my son's grades was changed on the report card after it was sent home, so now I don't know his new overall average and if he now qualifies for the honor roll.
The district has a customized report card for each level (elementary, middle and high school). At the present time the portal does not support the customized report cards which is why you see the information in a different format (referred to as the “Canned” report card which comes with the system).
Posted on December 18, 2008 My daughter is a second grader at Shatekon. She has only been to the computer lab 3 times so far this year. What happened to the Computer classes? Why aren't the students attending classes regularly?
Please contact your child's teacher to inquire about this or feel free to contact the Shatekon principal.
Posted on December 18, 2008 Who is allowed into the pit orchestra for the high schools?
The pit orchestra is primarily comprised of high school musicians selected from the band and orchestra.
Posted on December 18, 2008 Is there a Shen Pen e-mail address that the editors can be contacted at for suggestions?
Yes. You can contact Shen Pen editors at theshenpen@gmail.com and write the word "comment" or "question" in the subject line. Be advised that the e-mail account is student run and therefore read by the students.
Posted on December 18, 2008 Are there guidelines/ limits as to how many field trips are allowed each year? The Karigon 3rd graders have 9 on the calendar (so far). Families are constantly sending in money. It seems there could be a little more discretion in these tough times. Are that many trips really necessary?
We are in the process of discussing the district-wide policy on field trips. As a side note, Karigon third graders do not have 9 field trips scheduled. The third graders have gone on 3 field trips all curriculum related. They might walk to the commons in the spring for a picnic.
Posted on December 18, 2008 My son came home telling me about a knife being brought to school I expect an explanation.
When we believe an event is a health or safety issue, we notify parents by sending home and letter and/or posting it on our website. You should contact your principal directly to discuss what you were told by your child.
Posted on December 18, 2008 Are parents going to be given an opportunity to provide input in budget discussions, especially when the possibility of programs being cut is discussed?
The business meetings of the board of education held in February and March are used for budget development and there is an opportunity for public comment. You can also e-mail the board and the superintendent at boe@shenet.org. There is also opportunity to talk to the superintendent at the Community Conversations.
Posted on December 18, 2008 Can you please explain which field trips are paid by the school district vs. PTA vs. parents?
The PTA and parents fund most of the field trips. However, the district does budget a limited amount of funds for educationally sound field trips.
Posted on December 18, 2008 I heard it's cheaper to send all Shen student's to private school, than it is to go to Shen? How much does it cost the taxpayer's to send each student to Shen?
The average residential tax bill is less than $5,000. I am not sure how much it costs to send a child to private school, However, it is important to keep in mind that those tax dollars also support private school …by law, Shenendehowa supplies many of those students with textbooks, transportation and support services.
Posted on December 18, 2008 Is there a better system for before & after care and summer "camp"? I understand you have a partnership with the YMCA but what about those that do not have a YMCA membership? I would like my kids to be able to participate in some of these activities but cannot since we do not have a membership.
You would need to talk to the YMCA about that.
Posted on December 18, 2008 Why are only students on Shen sports teams allowed to take a game day in gym, and not local teams [such as the town]?
New York State regulations for physical education specifically state that all students must attend and participate in physical education classes. (http://www.emsc.nysed.gov/ciai/pe/peqa.html) Students participating in a Shenendehowa sponsored athletic program may opt to take a game day exemption from physical education class. However, it is important to note that game day exemptions will be phased out after the 2008-2009 school year. This is the current criteria: Students are only allowed to take one day off per week. The exemption day must occur on the same day of the athletic contest. The student must stay with the class and assist the teacher as necessary.
Posted on December 11, 2008 What is the policy for grading tests in the elementary schools? Should the teacher give a grade either a % or a 1-4 or is it acceptable to show the answers that are wrong and expect the parents to figure out the score. Please list the range for the 1-4 scoring system.
The 1-4 scale is based on Learning Standards and not percentages. Questions about teacher grading are best directed to the specific teacher and/or the building administrator.
Posted on December 11, 2008 My child attends Karigon where the day begins at 8:05. Our bus does not get to our home in Halfmoon until 7:50. The children are the last to arrive at school and are often late on a day with no weather or road problems. I have talked to personnel in the transportation department and to people in our school office. They do not seem at all concerned. My son often does not complete his morning work due to the fact that he is so often late. What can be done to correct this problem?
This specific matter should be directed to the Director or Transportation who will investigate further.
Posted on December 11, 2008 Its kind of sad that Shen doesn't allow students to smoke on campus but in the mornings some times I notice the bus drivers smoking cigarettes on the side of their bus thinking no one see's this, Can someone make them aware that they cant not smoke either?
Smoking is not allowed on campus. Specifics on this matter should be directed to the transportation director who will investigate further.
Posted on December 11, 2008 How can are coaches chosen, and is there anything the team members can do to get a new and just one?
If a student athlete has a concern with a coach, please contact the Athletic Director.
Posted on December 11, 2008 I heard the rumor that the hockey team isn't sponsored by Shen also, but if they are part of the Athletic Department then why does the team need to pay for their own ice time and other things. I talked to a player and he said that they pay $500 at the beginning and end of the season just to be on the team. If this is true then they wouldn't be considered part of the school's teams.
As mentioned in an earlier reply, Shen Hockey is part of the athletic program. Because the cost of renting ice time is extremely high ($195 per hour), the district and booster club have split the cost.
Posted on December 11, 2008 What is Shen athletic policy with respect to covering the cost of sports that are held off-site. i.e. the cost of ski team passes, the cost of hockey ice time, the cost of pool time at UAlbany? Thx
The athletic department budget can not cover all these costs. For example, with regards to Alpine Skiing, the athletic department pays for transportation costs (roughly $250/ day) for all skiers to be transported to West Mountain but does not pay for lift tickets.
Posted on December 11, 2008 Are high school students allowed to add another elective for the 2nd semester, if they no longer would like a study hall?
Yes, if there is room in the class and any prerequisites have been met. Please talk to your school counselor as soon as possible.
Posted on December 11, 2008 Why was my check returned and my order not taken for Shen spirit appeal at Gowana school? My child simply said the homeroom teacher tried to hand in and it was not accepted.
The spirit sale was conducted by the PTA. The order may have been turned in after the due date. You should contact the PTA directly .
Posted on December 11, 2008 How do you find places to do community service for middle school kids? Thanks
Several community service opportunities are available through school clubs including student council, community club, FCCLA, and SADD. The middle school clubs are listed on the middle school home pages on the website.
Posted on December 11, 2008 Why aren't there any mirrors in the girls bathrooms in Gowana? There used to be. Will they be replaced?
There are mirrors in the bathrooms. If a replacement is needed, the custodian will complete a work order to replace it.
Posted on December 11, 2008 My son has math 4th period and almost every Friday they have a test. Usually the test is what they have learned during the week and it takes the whole period. He has told me that not only him, but other students usually take a few minutes after the 4th period bell to finish up the test. He also told me that he also gets a pass from his math teacher to his next period teacher (French) telling his French teacher that he had an excuse to be late. So then why does on the parent portal does it say a "T" for tardy in attendance? It wasn't like he did have a pass or anything was hanging in the hallways taking to people. He had a real reason to be late.
He is "officially" tardy for that class, but it is an "excused" tardy.
Posted on December 11, 2008 I am thinking about a future career path as becoming an administrator, but i don't know much about the job. What do the administrators do?
Contact the superintendent's office and ask for the Commitment to Excellence brochure. It lists the job responsibilities of each administrator in the district.
Posted on December 11, 2008 What is Shen's policy on bringing cell phones to school?
Click here for the DEFINITION for Electronic devices as outlined in our code of conduct.
Posted on December 11, 2008 Are we switching to 4 day school weeks?
Not at this time. However, it is being discussed at the state level.
Posted on December 11, 2008 Are sixth graders allowed on elementary buses?
No. If 6th graders need to come in early they need to ride the high school bus that services their neighborhood. They will be dropped off or transferred to the middle school before 8:00.
Posted on December 11, 2008 Is there a reason why the middle school is receiving Smartboards and pools and the high schools aren't receiving anything?
The high school received the same number of interactive whiteboards in our pilot program as the middle school. Each level received two in different departments. There is a whiteboard in High School West in a math classroom and in High School East in a Foreign Language classroom. There are also whiteboards in the Math Science and Technology Academy classrooms at East, although these interactive boards are not a part of our pilot. The Middle School has an interactive whiteboard in a Math classroom and in an English classroom. There is a board in a fourth grade classroom and also in a music classroom at the elementary level. As for the pool, the site at the Middle School complex was selected because it was deemed the best building location by the architects. It is intended to serve the entire student body and the community.
Posted on December 11, 2008 Is the MST program going on next year?
Yes, pending student enrollment.
Posted on December 11, 2008 What are the requirements for Critical Inquiry class? Are kids that qualified for the Young Scholars automatically qualify for Critical Inquiry class?
We are developing a scoring rubric for entrance into Critical Inquiry. Some students who are currently in Young Scholars will doubtless test in, but not necessarily all. In addition, participation in Young Scholars is not a prerequisite for gaining admission to Critical Inquiry.
Posted on December 11, 2008 In what grades are kids required to write in cursive?
That is an excellent question and one we are beginning to review as it seems that there are different expectations. Typically introduction to cursive begins in third grade, but with the technology expanding, it seems to be less of a focus than in previous eras. We will be examining the entire issue beginning in the second semester.
Posted on December 11, 2008 I drop my son off at a morning program to catch a bus to a shuttle bus to Skano. The bus is scheduled to arrive at morning program at 7:25am and is the bus' first stop. Today, the bus arrived at 7:10am and is known for being at least 10 minutes early. With three kids, I can't possibly be there 20-30 minutes early just so my kid doesn't miss the bus. Likewise, I can't wait another 30 minutes for Skano to accept drop off students. If the bus says it will be there at a given time, be there! I understand a couple of minutes in either direction, but 15?!?! What gives?
Bus schedule inconsistencies should be reported to the transportation department so that they can be investigated and corrected.
Posted on December 11, 2008 Is it true that the seniors will not go on the annual senior trip to the Great Escape this year?
The annual trip you are speaking about is a physics trip for those students taking the course. The high school administration is evaluating the relevance to the Regents curriculum of such a trip and has not ruled out continuing this field trip.
Posted on December 11, 2008 Why can't we wear hoods in the high schools? I have heard that we cannot because they can't identify us.
It makes it difficult for staff to identify students who wear hoods. Hoods also allow students the opportunity to conceal something that should not be brought into school.
Posted on December 11, 2008 I have been told it is possible for kids to apply for free field trips based on a financial need basis. I was shocked to be told the district will pay for kids to go on foreign language trips out of the country. If that is so, this policy needs to be revisited in these economic times. That is a luxury. I don't mind sending a kid to a museum with my tax money but France is a bit much.
No, the district does not pay for foreign trips. On one or two occasions in the past, the trip advisors and parents have helped students put together fund raising opportunities to support the cost of the trip and reduce the burden on families.
Posted on December 5, 2008 What are the rules regarding tryouts for a team if a student at the time of tryouts has a cast?
These situations, where a student is not able to try-out because of injury, are dealt with on a case by case basis. You should contact the coach of the sport or the Director of Athletics.
Posted on December 5, 2008 When is the date for Financial Aid Information night? I know it's around December but I don't know the date. Thanks
Monday, December 15 at 7:00pm in the Little Theater.
Posted on December 5, 2008 Can I fix any mistakes on the parent portal or do you have to go to the office to do that?
The portal reflects the most up to date information on a student or a parent in the system. If a grade or attendance mark is incorrect you need to contact the school (teacher, counselor or attendance office). If your address, phone number or email has changed you need to notify the school in writing and the change will be made at that time.
Posted on December 5, 2008 These new gym "courses" are confusing me. I know what course I signed up for but half way through we stopped doing what we were supposed to do, and are just going into the weight room every day. Was there a change in the curriculum that I didn't know of or is my coach just not doing what they are supposed to be doing?
If the student was in speedball, track 4, due to the weather we had to go into the weight room. Weather and facilities may facilitate a change in an activity
Posted on December 5, 2008 Are 6th graders that are in Critical Inquiry automatically in advanced reading, advanced ELA, and advanced social studies in 7th grade?
There is a set of criteria for admission to the accelerated programs in seventh and eight grade. Some students who are currently in Critical Inquiry may qualify, others may not. It is not sufficient to be in Critical Inquiry; a student must perform at a certain level on several benchmarks. If you have questions about the criteria, you may contact the ELA Academic Administrator or the Academic Administrator for Social Studies.
Posted on December 5, 2008 Why are free periods being taken away for next year and the following years to come?
They are not being taken away.
Posted on December 5, 2008 Another question about morning messages. You say it is on the portal. After clicking the student's name to scroll to the bottom at "School Notices". I have only seen one message (which is still there) from September (Open house thank you) and it hasn't changed. How often is this updated?
The high school principal updates this every Monday.
Posted on December 5, 2008 Could the newsletters from the counseling center be distributed to the 11th graders as well as some of the scholarships apply to them as well. I wasn't even aware there was such a newsletter until a 12th grader filled me in.
Scholarship information is put in newsletters throughout the year. More become available later in the school year for juniors. Thus far, there have been only two scholarship opportunities available to juniors and they were advertised over the morning announcements as well as on the TVs. Please note that all newsletters are posted on the Counseling Center web page as well.
Posted on December 5, 2008 When do students who took the PSAT get their scores?
The PSAT results are available 6-8 weeks after the test date (Oct. 18). Counselors will distribute the individual students results soon after they are received.
Posted on December 5, 2008 Why are the cheerleaders not bused to practice at Tesago for practice?
Shuttles are provided to the appropriate schools and are scheduled through the athletic dept.
Posted on December 5, 2008 Why can't parents pull up all reports cards from previous High School years?
Currently there is no multi-year (historical) view available on the portal.
Posted on December 5, 2008 Are college courses |
