Archive for February, 2018

I heard that there is no possibility of installing metal detectors because it would not be “feasible” getting 10,000 students in & out, that it is only possible in places like prisons, & that they only provide a “false sense of security.” This simply does not make any sense to me – concerts, professional sport competitions, & airports all take these types of measures with far more people coming in & out. I also don’t understand how it would restrict outdoor activities like recess or gym – all it would entail is for students to have to walk through it each time they entered the building. Lastly, it would not necessarily be about preventing harm to students on their way into the building (that is not where most of these mass shooting have taken place) but in preventing somebody from entering the building with a gun! This just seems like the bare minimum step to take which other schools have already taken. PLEASE we NEED to do everything we can to keep our students safe!

A. No one has said that there is no possibility, just that it has been discussed with law enforcement and deemed that it is not feasible at this point. Any time an event occurs, the District Safety Team meets and discusses options that can be applied based on what we have learned from the most […]

Please tell me what the school district is doing or plans on doing in the near future to enhance security at the schools in light of this recent mass shooting…& the many others that have come before it. Thank you

Shenendehowa’s District-wide Emergency Response Team, constantly reviews our current practices related to school safety. This team includes board members, students, teachers, administrators, parents, school safety personnel, law enforcement and first responders. After an event such as this one, the team typically holds a special meeting to discuss what can be learned, changed or enhanced. As […]

Does Shen have a School Resource Officer? If so, how often are they on the main campus or at any of the off-campus schools? Thank you.

A. No. The district did many years ago when it was provided by the N.Y.S. Police. However, that program was dismantled a few years ago. The district currently has 24/7 security personnel and a good working relationship with both the Saratoga County Sheriff’s Department and the N.Y.S. Police.

Where does Shen stand on student planned walkout and protest thats planned for April as apart of the March for Our Lives / #NeverAgain movement?

A.  A group of high school students are working with the district administration to talk about ways to ensure that opportunities for students to advocate for safe schools can be provided in a safe and supervised environment. It is still in the preliminary stages. Once there is  a plan, information will go out to students […]

Hi! In this time where racism is a big conversation, sports team names and iconography have come up here and there. As a Shen alum, I of course thought about my school’s sports team the Plainsmen. I was just wondering if there were plans or at least a conversation happening about changing the name to something not based on native americans? If not, how could we start the conversation?

A. Plainsmen are all of the people who roam the plains…it does not refer to a specific nationality.

What were the requirements for a sophomore to receive a letter inviting them to the ShenNext Medicine informational meeting?

A.  Individuals eligible for the ShenNext meeting must be in the top 10% of their class

Is there a girls golf team/club at shen? If so, for which grades ? Thanks!

A.  No. Girls Golf is not offered as a sport within Section 2.

Do effort and conduct grades appear on a students transcript or mid year report?

A. No.

What had Shen done about flu prevention?

A. See our health webpage on ways to help prevent the spread of flu: https://www.shenet.org/departments-services/safety-health-and-wellness/health-services/

What is Shens grading policy? specifically the idea of middle schoolers having the ability to re do all testing as they wish? or is that a myth? what is the homework grading policy> is the the hour limitation still in action? is Shen reconsidering anything about their grading policy, due, to many of the changes in the grading policies that are flooding around us. Thanks, sorry this question is a longer one.

A. https://docs.google.com/document/d/1YGZmV941vTJFlMZOPmgaiLuapvfI6QT-TbTYQkgS4Po/view