Important Messages
From the office of the Superintendent
Translation of any message below:
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See the slideshow below for districtwide important messages from 2021.
Sent 12/21/20
Additional positive cases message
For all messages from 2020, see below.
Sent 12/18/20
Additional positive cases message
Sent 12/18/20
Food Service while students are virtual message
Sent 12/16/20
Remote learning 12/21,22,23 message
Sent 12/15/20
Additional positive cases message
Sent 12/14/20
Positive cases message
Sent 12/12/20
Positive cases message
Sent 12/11/20
After-hours / closure COVID reporting message
Sent 12/10/20
Positive cases message
Sent 12/9/20
Microcluster strategy message
Important Message From Ms. Konecny
New! Announcing Deer Park Schools COVID Reporting System for After School Hours
Dear Parents and Staff,
During school hours please report a positive test result to the building Principal and Nurse immediately.
This form is only intended for reporting a positive COVID-19 test result after school hours, weekends, or when schools are closed.
Click here to access the form:
Deer Park Schools COVID Reporting System for After School Hours
Regards,
Alicia Konecny
Assistant Superintendent for Pupil Personnel Services
Important Message From Ms. Konecny
December 11, 2020
Dear Parents, Staff, and Community Members:
Our district has received notification that two students at the Deer Park High School, three students at the Robert Frost Middle School, a student at the John F. Kennedy Intermediate School, and a staff member from May Moore Primary School have tested positive for COVID-19. Due to privacy laws, information regarding these individuals cannot be released.
Per our established protocol, which is based on guidance from the Centers for Disease Control, the New York State Department of Health and the Suffolk County Department of Health Services, we have taken the following steps:
We initiated our contact tracing protocols. Individuals who are considered close contacts are in the process of being notified by the School District and will be contacted by the Suffolk County Department of Health.
The buildings will remain open without disruption.
The buildings have been thoroughly cleaned and disinfected with special attention given to areas that may have been affected.
We will continue to adhere to our contract tracing protocols in order to mitigate any potential spread of this virus. Thank you for your continued support as we work together to keep our entire learning community safe.
Have a good weekend!
Regards,
Alicia Konecny
Assistant Superintendent for Pupil Personnel Services
Important Message From Ms. Konecny
December 10, 2020
Dear Parents, Staff, and Community Members:
Our district has received notification that a student from the Deer Park High School, a student from the Robert Frost Middle School, a staff member from the John F. Kennedy Intermediate School and a staff member from the May Moore Primary School have tested positive for COVID-19. Due to privacy laws, information regarding these individuals cannot be released.
Per our established protocol, which is based on guidance from the Centers for Disease Control, the New York State Department of Health and the Suffolk County Department of Health Services, we have taken the following steps:
We initiated our contact tracing protocols. Individuals who are considered close contacts are in the process of being notified by the School District and will be contacted by the Suffolk County Department of Health.
The buildings will remain open without disruption.
The buildings have been thoroughly cleaned and disinfected with special attention given to areas that may have been affected.
We will continue to adhere to our contract tracing protocols in order to mitigate any potential spread of this virus. Thank you for your continued support as we work together to keep our entire learning community safe.
Regards,
Alicia Konecny
Assistant Superintendent for Pupil Personnel Services
Important Message From Ms. Konecny
Good Morning Parents, Staff, and Community Members,
We are all aware of the uptick in cases throughout the community, Long Island, and NYS. Last week we notified you that Governor Cuomo has created a Micro-Cluster Strategy to deal with outbreaks in specific communities. This strategy uses metrics to create “hot spots” that are designated as Yellow, Orange, or Red Zones.
While Deer Park is not currently identified as a Yellow Zone, there are some important steps we can take now to prepare in the event it happens. According to NYS guidance, if an area becomes designated as a Yellow Zone, the district would be required to test 20% of the in-person staff and students in order to remain open. If you have not yet completed our willingess to test survey, you can do so here.
We have compiled a list of Frequently Asked Questions received from parents and staff members. You can find the answers to the FAQ's here.
Thank you for your continued support.
Warm Regards,
Alicia Konecny
Assistant Superintendent
Sent 12/8/20
Covid Updates message
Sent 12/4/20
Voluntary Testing Survey message
Important message from Mr. Cummings
Good Afternoon Parents, Staff, and Community Members,
As I write this update to you all, I am in disbelief that we are already completing our first week in December. At the same time, I am eternally grateful for the support of this great school community in helping us get to this point of the school year safely.
As I have mentioned several times, the protocols we have in place, have helped mitigate the spread of COVID-19 in schools. At the same time, we are all aware of the uptick in cases throughout the community, Long Island, and NYS. To that end, Governor Cuomo has created a Micro-Cluster Strategy to deal with outbreaks in specific communities. This strategy uses metrics to create “hot spots” that they designate as Yellow, Orange, or Red Zones.
While Deer Park is not currently identified as a Yellow Zone, nor do we appear to be on the immediate cusp of becoming one, there are some important steps we can take now to prepare for in the event it happens. According to NYS guidance, if an area becomes designated as a Yellow Zone, the district would be required to test 20% of the in-person staff and students in order to remain open. The testing is to be conducted over a two-week period, and if the test results indicate a lower percentage of positive than the Yellow Zone’s current rate, we can remain open.
This survey will help us assess the percentage of staff and students who would volunteer to be tested for COVID-19, if we are identified as a Yellow Zone. Your response to this survey is not binding. Those who indicate a willingness to be tested or have their child tested will receive a follow up Consent Form. Please be assured that this test will be administered by a trained member of our nursing staff, an EMT, or someone from the Suffolk County Dept of Health.
Thank you for your continued support.
Sincerely
Jim Cummings
Sent 12/1/20
Positive student at JFK message
Sent 11/30/20
Positive staff at RF, DPHS and within buildings and grounds dept. message
Sent 11/29
Update from the Superintendent message
Sent 11/29
Positive case at JQA message
Sent 11/27 28
Positive cases messages
Sent 11/22/20
Frost closed 11/23,34,35 message
Sent 11/19/20
NYS / Suffolk County DOH Updates message
November 19, 2020
Dear Parents, Staff, and Community Members,
As we approach Thanksgiving, I can’t help but feel thankful to be part of this wonderful community and school district. Together, we have worked so hard to get our schools opened and to keep them opened. Just 3 months ago, many people didn’t think that opening our schools safely was realistic. Not only were we able to safely open in the hybrid model, we were subsequently able to transition our elementary school children to 5 days/week. In addition, we were able to start adding different activities for our children, including virtual clubs and offseason sports workouts. I’m so proud of what we’ve been able to accomplish since August.
While we have had several isolated cases in our schools, our day to day precautions, combined with our contact tracing protocols, have prevented the virus from spreading in school. As a result, we have avoided any wide scale closures. What we are doing in school is undoubtedly working well.
While I trust that our protocols can continue to work in the schools, I am genuinely concerned about the upward trend in cases across NYS and Long Island. As you may be aware, NYS has created a COVID-19 Micro-Cluster Strategy. It is a strategy that uses testing metrics to identify varying levels of hot spots of COVID. As a result, an area can get designated as a yellow, orange or red zone. More details on this strategy can be found here. In short, eventually we may get to a point in time in which we either are directed to close, or directed to conduct testing in order to remain opened. I will be sending out further information and surveys in the upcoming days should we get to that point.
Over the next few weeks, I am aware that there will be a lot to celebrate. In addition to Thanksgiving and other upcoming holidays, our recent grads will all be returning from colleges from all across the country. It is important that you are aware of the recommended protocols that will keep our community safe throughout the upcoming weeks. Here are some links to a few:
In addition, I will continue to remind you if your child is ill or displaying symptoms, keep your child home from school. Here are some important resources to help you understand the criteria for whether or not it is safe to send your child to school:
I will never waiver from my belief that our kids are better off when they have in person access to our teachers, our staff, our programs, and our school buildings. However, we must be able to adhere to State and Federal safety regulations and testing metrics that allow us to remain opened.
In closing, and to dispel any rumors that may be circulating in the community, there are no plans to preemptively shut Deer Park Schools after Thanksgiving. I will continue to work closely with all stakeholders to ensure that our protocols are followed so we can keep our students and staff safe while in school. Unfortunately, because of the numbers and the NYS Micro-Cluster Strategy, as mentioned above, we may have no choice but to close for a period of time or to conduct testing in order to remain opened.
In return, I am asking each of you to please adhere to all protocols outside of schools in order to help us remain opened.
Sincerely
James Cummings
Superintendent
Sent 11/19/20
Student positive at DPHS and JQA message
Sent 11/13/20
Positive cases in Deer Park message
Sent 11/9/20
JQA open tomorrow 11/10/20 message
Sent 11/8/20
JQA Closed 11/9/20
Sent 11/8/20
Positive student at DPHS message
Sent 11/5/20
Safe travel for students and staff message
Important Message From Ms. Konecny
Governor Cuomo recently signed an Executive Order updating the New York State COVID-19 Travel Advisory and quarantine guidelines. As these new guidelines may impact our students and their families, especially around the upcoming holiday season, we wanted to make sure to share the update with you. The new protocol is effective beginning Wednesday, November 4th.
All travelers coming to New York State (NYS) from areas beyond the border states (NJ, CT, PA, MA, VT), or from a country designated under a CDC level 2 (moderate risk) or 3 (high-risk) COVID-19 travel health notice, must quarantine for 14 days from the last day in a non-border state or another country, unless the travelers meet certain criteria. Travelers may exit the quarantine, and return to work/school, prior to 14 days if:
After being in an area beyond border states, for more than 24 hours:
Must have a negative COVID-19 test within 72 hours of departing for NYS from that state; and
Must fill out the traveler form upon entry and submit a copy of the confirmation page to the district; and
Must quarantine upon arrival in NYS a minimum of 3 days, measured from the time of arrival; and
Must have another COVID-19 test on day 4, with a negative result.
After being in an area beyond border states, for less than 24 hours:
Testing prior to arrival in NYS not required.
Quarantine upon arrival in NYS not required.
Must fill out the traveler form upon entry and submit a copy of the confirmation page to the district; and
Must take a COVID-19 test on day 4, after arrival in NYS, with a negative result.
Travelers from states that are contiguous with New York will continue to be exempt from the travel advisory; however, they must continue to fill out the Traveler Health Form when entering or re-entering New York State.
The travel guidelines require all New Yorkers, as well as those visiting from out of state, to take personal responsibility for compliance in the best interest of public health and safety. As we head into the holiday season, please make sure that you and your family are following these guidelines so we can continue to keep our students, families and community safe and healthy.
Regards,
Alicia Konecny
Assistant Superintendent for Pupil Personnel Services
Sent 10/25/20
Staff members at MM / JFK message
Sent 10/25/20
Health Questionnaire Updates message
Important Message from Ms. Konecny
Dear Parents/Guardians of Students,
As part of our health and safety protocol we have revised our screening procedures at the Elementary level. Procedure will remain the same at the Secondary level.
ELEMENTARY SCHOOL PROCEDURES: JQA, JFK and May Moore Schools
Beginning on October 19, 2020, the Elementary Schools will discontinue the use of the electronic screening questionnaire and will begin using a paper screening questionnaire. One pad of screening questionnaires will be sent home with each student.
On the first day of each school week the paper screener must be completed for each student and signed by a parent or guardian.
The paper screener should be sent in with each student and will be checked by a staff member upon arrival at school.
Upon arrival at school the student’s screener will be checked and temperature taken.
If the screener is complete and each question is answered “No” the student will proceed to class.
If a screening question can be answered “Yes” the student must be kept home. This is absolutely necessary to keep the entire school community safe and healthy.
If a student is sent into school with a screening question marked “Yes” the student will be brought to the nurse’s office and await pickup from a parent.
If a student arrives without a completed screening questionnaire, the student will be directed to a supervised waiting area while the school contacts the student’s parent/guardian. Students will not be sent to class without a completed screening questionnaire.
SECONDARY SCHOOL PROCEDURES : Robert Frost and Deer Park High School
Secondary students must still complete the weekly questionnaire via the links provided for each of your children attending school in-person.
The questionnaire consists of your email address, the student’s name and 4 questions related to recent travel, exposure, testing and symptoms.
Based upon how you respond you will get a “green light” for your child to attend school or a “red light” asking you not to send your child to school and to call the attendance office.
If your child attends on Monday and Tuesday please fill out the questionnaire on Monday morning before the student boards the bus or arrives at school. *If school is closed on Monday please complete the form on Tuesday morning.
If your child attends Thursday, Friday please fill out the questionnaire on Thursday morning before the student boards the bus or arrives at school..
If your child attends Monday, Tuesday and Thursday, Friday it is only necessary to fill it out on Monday morning before the student boards the bus or arrives at school.
Click here for Robert Frost's Health Questionnaire
Click here for DPHS's Health Questionnaire
If your child is fully virtual please disregard the questionnaire entirely.
Please don’t forget to click submit when you are done!
**If your child’s health status or the status of someone in your household changes please do not send your child to school and contact the attendance office. If your child has been tested and is awaiting results please do not send your child to school and contact the health office.
Thank you for helping us do our part in keeping the health and safety of your child and everyone in our learning community a top priority.
Regards,
Alicia Konecny
Assistant Superintendent
Sent 10/23/20
MM will reopen 10/26/20 message
Sent 10/22/20
May Moore Closed 10/23/20 message
Sent 10/22/20
Frost is Open 10/22/20 message
Sent 10/20/20
JQA Closed 10/20/20 Message
Sent 10/19/20
JFK will be open 10/20/20 Message
Sent 10/18/20
JFK Closed 10/19 Message
Sent 10/13/20
Free Meals for the entire 2020-21 school year message
Sent 10/7/20
Can my child go to school today? Message
Important Message from Ms. Konecny
October 7, 2020
Dear Parents and Guardians,
The New York State Department of Health (NYSDOH) has released a Pre-K to Grade 12 COVID-19 Toolkit. As we move through the year you may find yourself asking either of these two questions, “Can my child go to school today?” or “My child has COVID-19 symptoms. When can they go back to school?” You may find the answers to these questions on two very important attachments contained here. Please keep these handy for future reference.
Can My Child Go To School Today?
My Child Has Covid-19 Symptoms. When Can They Go Back To School?
For everyone’s safety, if your child is sick or ill with any of the following symptoms (temperature greater than or equal to 100.0 degrees, feverish or has chills, cough, loss of taste or smell, fatigue/feeling of tiredness, sore throat, shortness of breath or trouble breathing, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, muscle pain or body aches, headaches, nasal congestion or runny nose) it is imperative that you KEEP YOUR CHILD HOME FROM SCHOOL. Your child should be assessed by their healthcare provider (HCP).
You can find the Return to School Guidelines here. This document must be completed by your healthcare provider (HCP) and submitted prior to your child’s return to school.
These documents can also be found on our district website (www.deerparkschools.org) by clicking on the Parents/Students tab and then clicking on School Health Office Information.
If your child is awaiting test results you must KEEP YOUR CHILD HOME FROM SCHOOL and they must stay in isolation until the test results are back and are negative or if positive, the local health department has released your child from isolation. If you have any questions please reach out to your school nurse.
Lastly, we are entering flu season. You can find information on the seasonal flu here:
If we continue to work together we can help our students and learning community remain safe.
Thank you for your understanding and cooperation.
Be Well,
Alicia Konecny
Assistant Superintendent for Pupil Personnel Services
Sent 10/6/20
JQA Student Message
Sent 9/25/20
DOH Updates
Important message from Mr. Cummings
Good Afternoon Parents, Staff, and Community Members,
As I mentioned earlier this week, the Department of Health has been working with the schools to streamline the process in the event of a positive COVID case in a school.
While there is no guarantee that we won’t get positive cases, the procedures that we have, both in the building (6 feet and masks) and through the Department of Health in regards to contact tracing, are designed to limit the potential spread.
In the event of a positive case in our schools, we would keep any proximate contacts to the case home until the Department of Health reviewed the case. A proximate contact would be anyone in the class or on the bus of the person who tested positive. The time frame to be considered a proximate contact is 48 hours from the onset of symptoms or from the date of the test if asymptomatic. The Department of Health would then identify potential close contacts who would then need to quarantine for 14 days.
Today, I was notified by the Department of Health that we had 2 reported positive cases:
One was a staff member at Robert Frost, who was last in the building on September 11, and was asymptomatic until just a few days ago. While this staff member will remain out until the mandatory quarantine period is over, because of when the staff member was last in school, there is no need for any staff or students to isolate or quarantine.
The other case was a HS student who was last in the building on Friday, September 18. The student was asymptomatic, is still asymptomatic, and took a test voluntarily yesterday. While this student is now subject to Department of Health mandated quarantine, because the student was asymptomatic when last in school and only tested positive within the last day, there is no need for any other staff or students to isolate or quarantine.
As long as we keep working together, we can keep each other safe. I continue to remind everyone, that if you are feeling any symptoms, or, If you were knowingly in contact with a person who tested positive, or, If you have been tested and are awaiting test results, you must stay home.
In school, we continue to maintain social distancing protocols, including all student desks 6 feet apart, and we will continue to ensure that staff and students are wearing masks.
Thank you and have a wonderful 3 day weekend.
Sincerely
Jim Cummings
Sent 9/23/20
HS Closure 9/24,25
Sent 9/21/20
HS Closure 9/22
Sent 9/20/20
HS Closure 9/21 message
Sent 9/13/20
Weekly Health Questionnaire
Dear Parents/Guardians of Students,
As part of our health and safety protocol we are requesting that you complete a brief weekly health questionnaire for each of your children attending school in-person.
The questionnaire consists of your email address, the student’s name and 4 questions related to recent travel, exposure, testing and symptoms.
Based upon how you respond you will get a “green light” for your child to attend school or a “red light” asking you not to send your child to school and to call the attendance office.
If your child attends on Monday and Tuesday please fill out the questionnaire on Monday morning before the student boards the bus or arrives at school. *If school is closed on Monday please complete the form on Tuesday morning.
If your child attends Thursday, Friday please fill out the questionnaire on Thursday morning before the student boards the bus or arrives at school..
If your child attends Monday, Tuesday and Thursday, Friday it is only necessary to fill it out on Monday morning before the student boards the bus or arrives at school.
Click here for May Moore's Health Questionnaire
Click here for JQA's Health Questionnaire
Click here for JFK's Health Questionnaire
Click here for Robert Frost's Health Questionnaire
Click here for DPHS's Health Questionnaire
If your child is fully virtual please disregard the questionnaire entirely.
Please don’t forget to click submit when you are done!
**If your child’s health status or the status of someone in your household changes please do not send your child to school and contact the attendance office.
Thank you for helping us do our part in keeping the health and safety of your child and everyone in our learning community a top priority.
Regards,
Alicia Konecny
Assistant Superintendent
Sent 9/8/20
Free Meals (Breakfast and Lunch)
Sent 9/4/20
Reopening Info
Important message from Mr. Cummings
September 4, 2020
Dear Parents, Staff, and Community Members,
For the past 6 months, I have been sending our regular updates about the status of our schools during the COVID-19 crisis. While it seems like an eternity ago that I sent out the announcement about schools physically closing the doors, It is with both tremendous excitement and anxiousness that I can finally write in my update that we will see your children next week!!
Our district has planned for a reopening that is unlike any other we’ve ever experienced. While I know that some decisions have been unpopular, or maybe frustrating, I promise you that for each decision that was made, the health and safety of our students, staff, and community was the main driving force. Each decision we made had an impact on so many other things, so while something might seem easy or logical on the surface, the domino effect it has may make it impossible or unrealistic to do.
As we prepare to reopen on Tuesday, I am giving you my commitment that the entire staff in our district will continue to work tirelessly to make this work. I have been saying that more than ever, this is the year in which no decision is final. We will be constantly reevaluating, revamping, and adapting, in an effort to better serve our children and our community.
Before I wish you all a wonderful final weekend of summer, I have a few reminders:
School will physically open on Tuesday for any student on the Gray cohort. The gray cohort will report to school again on Wednesday. The maroon cohort will report on Thursday and Friday. Our school calendar will be continually updated, and Gray/Maroon cohort days will be noted on it. In addition, for the secondary schools, A/B days will be noted as well. You can find the updated calendar here: https://link.zixcentral.com/u/19db622e/GKCrUsPu6hG7WantYFsSiw?u=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.deerparkschools.org%2FAssets%2Fdocuments%2F090320_2020-2021_DPCAL.pdf
Masks must be worn at all times except while eating or while taking a designated mask break. Please check out this website about children and masks: https://link.zixcentral.com/u/d8527998/BLOsUsPu6hGZNantYFsSiw?u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.healthychildren.org%2FEnglish%2Fhealth-issues%2Fconditions%2FCOVID-19%2FPages%2FCloth-Face-Coverings-for-Children-During-COVID-19.aspx Also, please read the American Academy of Pediatrics top 10 questions about masks: https://link.zixcentral.com/u/7097ae16/6vCwUsPu6hGO9antYFsSiw?u=https%3A%2F%2Fdrive.google.com%2Ffile%2Fd%2F1ZY2fOzK7KYK0FaJWqasro5zAhkBCcIYB%2Fview%3Fusp%3Dsharing.
Please make sure that your child has a mask that he/she is comfortable wearing. In the event you don't have one, each building will have them on hand, but it is better for them to use one that they are comfortable with.
As per our reopening document, we will be doing temperature checks for the students upon entering the building. Please do not send your child to school if he/she has a fever, or is exhibiting any symptoms of COVID-19, as found on the CDC website: https://link.zixcentral.com/u/6ff8ea7c/YC6yUsPu6hGO9antYFsSiw?u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.cdc.gov%2Fcoronavirus%2F2019-ncov%2Fsymptoms-testing%2Fsymptoms.html
You will be receiving a weekly email from Mrs. Konecny, Assistant Superintendent, which contains a weekly health questionnaire that must be completed for students who are physically attending school.
Please make sure that you are regularly checking our website: www.deerparkschools.org for updates.
Later today, parents of middle and high school students will be sent directions on how to access the Infinite Campus parent portal. If you have trouble with that, or for other technology questions, you can email helpdesk@deerparkschools.org or call (631)274-4380 during regular business hours.
You will be getting updates from each building principal over the next few days, so continue to check your email.
I hope everyone has a safe and wonderful Labor Day weekend. As I’ve said many times, I understand that everyone has their own individual opinion on reopening, and I respect each and every one of them. If we continue to work together, while understanding and respecting that we may all be at different comfort levels, this reopening can happen safely and effectively.
I am sure that I speak for the entire faculty when I say that we cannot wait to see the kids on Tuesday!!!
Sincerely
James Cummings
Superintendent
Sent 9/2/20
Weekly Health Form for Families
Sent 8/28/20
School Calendar
Sent 8/10/20
Reopening Update
Important message from Mr. Cummings
Good Afternoon Parents, Staff, and Community Members:
I hope by now, everyone is recovered from the storm last week. On Friday, Governor Cuomo announced that schools can open and that individual school districts should determine in what manner they open.
Many parents in our community are struggling with the decision of what to do with their children in September. In order to help you plan, I wanted to inform you of a few important items that may impact your decision:
Deer Park UFSD will open on September 8 using the 2-day hybrid model for all students. The exception to the 2 day model will be for those special ed classrooms in which, because of IEP’s, have a ratio of 6:1, 8:1, or 12:1. Those classes will meet on 4 days/week (M,T,TH,F). While we felt strongly about exploring the 4 day model in order to get kids in school more, given the contact tracing requirements, the daily screening requirements, and in an effort to limit the number of people in the building on each day, this is more prudent at this time. Certainly, as we move forward, if we know our procedures are working, and we can do so safely, our goal is to get the kids in the building more.
The deadline to complete the survey to opt for full “virtual learning” will be extended until this Friday. I want parents to feel comfortable making a decision and not feel rushed. Information on the full virtual option can be found on page 62-63 of our reopening plan found here. As we continue to develop our full virtual option, we will release that information.
We are setting up a few informational forums with times/dates to be released shortly. One forum in particular will be for special education, as we are aware there are many questions regarding that topic. Additional virtual forums will be set up to address different topics.
While the reopening document contained answers to the questions we got the night of our reopening presentation. We understandably continue to get questions. This week, we will be posting an FAQ document on our website that we will be regularly updating.
In the meantime, we are responding to parent phone calls and emails as quickly as we can, and will post new information to the web page as we have it.
I understand that this is such a stressful time for parents, as I am going through it with my own children. Please know that while we want for all the children to be in school every day, we first need to make sure that we can do so by keeping our children, staff, and community safe.
Sincerely
Mr. Cummings
Sent
8/7/20
Reopening / Transportation Opt Out
Important message from Mr. Cummings
Dear Staff, Parents, and Community
I hope everyone is safe after Tuesday’s storm. We lost power at a few of our buildings, but we’re back up and running. I would like to update you on a few important topics. First, if you have not yet seen the presentation from last week regarding our reopening plan, it can be found here:
Comprehensive Reopening Plan Document
In addition, you can view a more complete and comprehensive version of our plan here:
This document should provide you with answers to any of the questions that were unanswered during the presentation. In addition, as we get closer to opening, we will continue to provide updates to specific school procedures. So while this document is comprehensive, I consider it somewhat fluid as we continue to adapt to changes and updated guidance.
With the governor announcing today that schools can reopen in September, we are now evaluating which plan can be implemented. We will announce late next week which model we will open with. Please see the information in the rest of this document that will help us solidify our plans.
Option for Full Virtual (Deadline, Monday, August 10 at 11:59 PM)
We have already received requests for those parents who wish to “opt” for their child(ren) to receive their education in a fully virtual capacity regardless of the Governor’s decision. If you have not done so yet, and wish to, please use the form on this link:
Opt Out for Transportation (Please complete by Wednesday, August 12 at 11:59 PM)
Many parents have expressed a concern about transportation. Social distancing requirements significantly decrease the capacity of our buses. In an effort to help us plan more efficiently, and not reserve a seat that will go unused, we are asking parents, if they wish, to opt out of transportation through and including December. If you wish to do so, please click this link:
If you opt out of transportation, and your circumstances change, we will ask for some time to be able to accommodate your request.
We are trying to provide the best options possible for all families and appreciate your cooperation as we work together to get school reopened safely.
Thank you all for your patience, understanding, and trust.
Sincerely
James Cummings
Superintendent
7/30/20
Full Distance Learning Plan Option
Sent 7/24/20
Survey / Board of Ed Meeting
Sent 7/10/20
Reopening Survey
6/8/20
Budget Vote Update
6/7/20
Community Update
6/4/20
Free /Reduced Lunch Program Update
Return your form by 6/15 (Correction from the date within the message 6/19)
5/29/20
Important Updates
School Year Status
Budget Vote
5/15/20
Senior Sendoff / Graduation Update
5/8/20
Budget Vote Update
5/1/2020
School closure update
4/20/20
Meals for all message
4/17/20
School Closure update message
4/8/20
Meal service / Child care / Health Insurance Info message
4/6/20
Regents cancelled, school closure message
4/2/20
New update message
3/30/20
Child care message
Sent 3/27/20
School closure update message
3/26/20
Update message
3/20/20
Additional update message
3/20/20
Message from Jay Murphy, District Administrator for Instructional Technology
Should your family be without an online learning device. Please come down between the hours of 3pm-5pm on Friday March 20th.
Location: the rear of the High School near the track
Please drive-thru the rear lot to pick up a loaner Chromebook.
3/19/20
Important update message
Sent
3/18/20
Update message
Important message from Mr. Cummings
Dear Parents, Staff, and Community Members
I wanted to take a moment to thank you all for your trust and patience over the past 2 weeks as well as to give you some updates. We are certainly in an unprecedented situation that is affecting each of us in a different way. As you know, on Sunday, I informed you of a two week closing for all Suffolk County schools. The latest information on school closings is from Governor Cuomo. He has mandated that all NY schools are closed until April 1, 2020.
It is important for you all know that the Deer Park School District is 100% committed to continuing to serve this community in so many ways as we get through this crisis together. Over the past few days, we've had a staff planning day to help prepare us for a potential closure, set up grab & go meals for qualified families, distributed Chromebooks to those who need, and have established a day care in order to assist our first responders and healthcare workers who are on the front lines of this crises. We are also aware that the needs may change as this situation continues to evolve, and we will continue to adjust.
While nothing can replace the effectiveness of daily instruction and interaction between Deer Park's staff and students, our staff is committed to maintaining educational continuity for their students. Most teachers and administrators have already reached out to the students in some fashion, and they are attempting to be as innovative, engaging, and consistent as possible. I will ask for your patience in this area as well, as we all know this is not the optimum learning environment, and it is new territory for many; at least on a full-time basis.
I implore you all to help us get through this together, and heed the advice of the CDC, NYSDOH, and the SCDOH. Most importantly, in addition to practicing good handwashing techniques, is to practice social distancing, and to limit gatherings to less than 10 people. Having 4 children myself, including a HS senior, I understand fully what these students are going though, and how difficult this is for them. Nevertheless, we need stress to our children how important these recommendations are.
In addition to the links to the health departments in the previous paragraph, I would like to point out some in-district resources:
We have created a dedicated Coronavirus link on the DP website. This page has all district announcements regarding this situation as well as important district and community links. We will be updating it daily. It can be found here: https://link.zixcentral.com/u/fbaa9de2/XA7FFUJp6hG75fDQhnsoMg?u=https%3A%2F%2Fsites.google.com%2Fview%2Fdeerparkinformation%2Fhome
If you have technology questions, please contact our IT department at helpdesk@deerparkschools.org.
If you have questions about the grab & go meal plan, or the SCOPE daycare program, contact Ms. Konecny at konecny.al@deerparkschools.org
If you have specific questions about your child's building or class, please contact the principal or teacher via email.
If you're not sure who to contact, feel free to reach out to me at cummings.j@deerparkschools.org
Lastly, I promise you that we will get through this by working together as a community. I speak for the entire Deer Park School District faculty when I say that we miss the children dearly, and cannot wait for the day that we can reopen the schools and see them again. In the meantime, be well, be safe, and be good to each other.
Sincerely
Jim Cummings
Superintendent
3/17/20
Message from Jay Murphy, District Administrator for Instructional Technology
Should your family be without an online learning device. Please come down between the hours of 10am-12pm on Friday March 20th.
Location: the rear of the High School near the track
Please drive-thru the rear lot to pick up a loaner Chromebook.
Sent 3/17/20
Child care message
Sent 3/16/20
School closure message
Sent
3/16/20
School breakfast and lunch service message
Sent 3/15/20
School closure message
Sent 3/14/20
School closure message
Sent 3/12/20
School closure message
Sent 3/11/20
Field trip message
Sent
3/9/20
Department of health guidance message
Sent
3/6/20
District cleaning message
Sent
3/2/20
Taking precautions message
Sent 12/4/20
Survey Update message
