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BACK to Grapevine HOME | Shen HOME ELEMENTARY SCHOOL TOPICS
Posted on April 22, 2008 Does the district have a policy (or can this practice be reviewed) regarding major elementary school projects being given for homework right before school breaks and being due the day students return to school?
There is no specific policies pertaining to projects. It is encouraged that the parent communicate with the teacher and the principal. The district is also planning to develop a comprehensive homework policy. Your concern will be taken under advisement as we do so.
Posted on April 10, 2008 Does Okte provide any foreign language instruction? If so, what students may participate? Do any of the elementary schools offer foreign language?
Currently, none of our elementary schools offer foreign language instruction.
Posted on April 10, 2008 Why doesn't Shen offer kindergarten screening during the spring of the previous school year like other districts? The meeting in August with student and teacher before the start of school is too late and lacking. This would help parents decide if there child is ready, especially one with possible learning disabilities and whether a parent should consider a Pre-K program.
We actually did screen last year at three of our schools using a national screening process and we found that the number of children who were identified as possibly needing intervention was no more accurate than our own screening in September. If an entering kindergarten child has learning disabilities, the child may be better served in school where there are resources available for instruction. If a parent has concerns about a child, please call the Deputy Superintendent's office at 881-0640 to go over expectations and concerns regarding entrance to kindergarten.
Posted on April 10, 2008 Is the Dec. 1 cutoff date for kindergarten established by the district or by the state?
The December 1 cut off date is established by the district in accordance with state guidelines. Since kindergarten is not mandated in New York State, guidelines are in place to help inform school boards in order to set district policy.
Posted on April 10, 2008 When do you plan to change the Math and Language Arts textbook series for the Elementary schools? Would it be possible to have a parent survey, public discussion, or focus groups to get input from parents on that?
The English Language Arts textbooks were just fully implemented a year and half ago. The elementary math program, including texts, will be reviewed next year. Currently teams of educators review textbooks prior to making a recommendation to the Board. Certainly, there is nothing to prevent us from surveying parents or instituting a focus group.
Posted on April 8, 2008 Out of curiosity what is the expected enrollment of the incoming '08 Kindergarten class at Shen? I realize that things are likely to change between now and when school actually starts. I'm just looking for an estimate.
As of right now, 800.
Posted on March 31, 2008 Will foreign languages (particularly French) be offered at elementary school level any time in the future?
The goal is to eventually offer LOTE courses at the elementary level. This however will not be for several more years. In the meantime, the matter is being studied very carefully.
Posted on March 28, 2008 I had heard that there is an extended day kindergarten for children who need extra help. Is this true and if so who determines what children are eligible?
Extended day kindergarten is an Academic Intervention Service is run differently at our different schools. The service provides extra support for kindergarten children who need the help. In some cases that is provided within the kindergarten day, in some cases it is provided immediately after school and in three pilot schools it happens two days a week in 2.5 hour blocks. All of the schools have designated similar amounts of Academic Intervention Services staffing to the EDK Programs. Children eligible for EDK are identified by classroom teachers based on their performance on the Early Literacy Profile and classroom observations.
Posted on March 27, 2008 My child's birthday is Dec 14th. The cut off for kindergarten is turning 5 by December 1st of that current school year. Is there an exam they can take to see if they are "kindergarten ready" instead of waiting a whole year? Why isn't it based on calendar year?
There is a process. Contact Deputy Superintendent at 881-0600 Ext. 68200 for details about the formal evaluation process. The December 1 cutoff date has been in place for decades (and is the same date as many neighboring districts and districts throughout NYS). Generally, children any younger are simply not ready to begin kindergarten in terms of social, intellectual and other attributes.
Posted on March 26, 2008 I see the new middle school boundaries map. Is there an elementary boundary map available on the website? From an old one I have, it looks like Arongen and Orenda will be broken into multiple middle schools while all the other elementary school students will travel with their classmates to one middle school?
Click here for the Elementary boundaries map.
Posted on March 18, 2008 Who should I contact regarding the cut off date of Dec. 1 for kindergarten eligibility possibly being moved to Sept.? I have a 2-year-old and I am trying to decide whether to start preschool next year or hold her until the following year.
There are no plans to move the kindergarten eligibility date - the policy currently states "a child must attain 4 years of age on or before December 1 of the year prior to entering school."
Posted on March 18, 2008 I was informed by a parent that a student at Okte brought a knife to school and made a threat to another student. I was also informed that the student was not suspended. Why is that? Why is the policy not the same district-wide?
No knife was seen or found but the incident was under investigation. The policy is the same district-wide, but there is also enough flexibility to allow for administrators to consider all circumstances and use their best judgment.
Posted on March 18, 2008 When is the 5th grade class at Shatekon going to receive the DARE program that all 5th grade students in the district get? It is March and it has not yet begun?
DARE is completely provided, controlled and decided upon by the Saratoga County Sheriffs Department. The district is aggressively lobbying to not only have the program available at Shatekon, but to also to have it remain at the other elementary schools for the coming year. This is, unfortunately, one decision that is out of our hands.
Posted on March 18, 2008 Why am I able to walk through an unlocked door at my child's elementary school? I don't understand why Shen doesn't have a buzzer system at all of their buildings---most school districts have been doing this for years.
Plans are in place to implement buzzer systems in the coming years, as well as add more surveillance cameras. In the meantime, visitors are directed to check-in at the main office, a failure to do so could result in a charge of criminal trespassing.
Posted on March 18, 2008 Skano Elementary has just implemented a detention policy for students at the school. While I totally agree with the detention, why is it the parents responsibility to get the kids to school by 7:30 a.m. and not the teachers staying after hours for the discipline?
This matter should be addressed directly with the building principal. A copy of your concerned will be forwarded.
Posted on March 18, 2008 Is it true that within the next year or so gr. K-1 will have to have dental check ups before entering school...like with immunizations?
According to the New York Statewide School Health Services Center the law regarding dental certificates takes effect on September 1, 2008. We are still waiting for guidance from the State Education Department as well as the Department of Health for information/clarification about the following: -Grade levels requiring dental certificates -A standardized form for use by school districts -A listing of dentists who can see children who need free or reduced cost care
Posted on March 11, 2008 How come the report cards for elementary school children don't have a numerical percentage grading scale (i.e. 90%) for academic subjects? I know a 3 means meeting grade level standards, but it is vague.
The elementary report card goes beyond merely presenting a grade for academic subjects. It provides parents with specific progress in various skill or content areas. Further, the specific comments from teachers provide additional indications of student progress. At the elementary level, the focus is on mastery of specific skills and content in relation to specific grade level benchmarks versus a grade that is typically used more as a relative comparison to a student's performance group.
Posted on March 11, 2008 I heard that a 5th-grade student at Shatekon brought either a gun or a knife to school on the bus and made threats. Is this true, why weren't parents notified?
It is not true. There was a student at Shatekon who did violate school rules and was disciplined according to the code of conduct. However there was no weapon on the bus.
Posted on March 6, 2008 The Skano library and computer lab are centrally located in the building, but I hear there is talk of moving it down to the end of the intermediate wing for "consistency." Why would we move the library?
If or when a decision is made to move or reconfigure it will be to create a more integrated library media center. While "consistency" among our elementary buildings is important and a goal of the district, an enhanced library media center is the predominant determinate focusing on services to students.
Posted on March 6, 2008 Due to the weather, AM Kindergarten has missed 4 more classroom days than PM. Will these days be made up? Why can't we alternate who goes in on a delay.
At the end of March, the district will review the schedule for school days and determine how to have AM kindergarten students make up some of those days. The district does not have the same regulatory requirement to make up days for kindergarten as it does for grades 1-5. However, the goal is to maximize opportunities for all students to be in school.
Posted on March 6, 2008 When we will see some evaluation of the elementary school redistricting? The number of students in my daughters class went from 20 to 26 which is totally unmanageable.
There will not be a published document regarding the redistricting efforts. The district has however realized tremendous balance in enrollments across all eight elementary buildings. Further, as anticipated, there is greater equity in class size averages, with some buildings and grade levels seeing increases and some seeing decreases. Throughout the year, families move in and out of the district and new students are enrolled weekly at all grade levels. It is not unusual, however, for one school or grade level to experience a larger than expected number of new students.
Posted on March 5, 2008 Why are elementary students in grades 3-5 expected to learn an entire year of math by the first week of March for the NYS math test? Why aren't these tests given at the end of the school year?
N.Y.S. Department of Education determines the dates for state testing. The curriculum for a particular grade is based on the state's timeframe. In other words, the math curriculum for a particular year operates on a March-to-March timeframe. The math instruction after the March assessment begins to teach topics and strands that are going to be a part of future assessments. It is also important to mention that the tests also based upon cumulative skills learned over time in the grades leading up to a test as well.
Posted on March 5, 2008 There is word going around that Shen currently has procedures for acceleration in Math only, not any other subject for kids in grades K-3. Is this true?
Sort of. There is whole grade acceleration and acceleration in math. However, the needs of higher level learners in other subjects are addressed through differentiated instruction within the classroom.
Posted on February 29, 2008 Can parents drive their children to the elementary school of their choice? For example, if we moved midyear and did not want our child to have to switch schools.
Posted on February 29, 2008 My elementary school schedules only one Open House night during which all grade levels make their presentations? I have consistently been unable to attend all of the presentations for my elementary level children, as they are scheduled at the same time! Does the district have a policy regarding Open House scheduling.
Posted on February 29, 2008 What is the protocol when an elementary student speaks with the school psychologist, does the conversation stay between them or does the principal or others get told of what was said?
Posted on February 29, 2008 How will I know if my child is ready for kindergarten? Do you test children?
Posted on February 15, 2008 Why are parents not informed when elementary kids have substitutes in classes, the kids don't even know their names?
Whenever long-term substitutes are in classrooms, parents should be notified. Otherwise, we don't. It is expected that all substitutes introduce themselves to students at the beginning of a class period.
Posted on February 15, 2008 My child does not wish to have his/her birthday announced on the morning announcements? What can be done so it is not announced?
Contact your child's principal.
Posted on February 15, 2008 What is the district's policy about elementary students opening their report card?
There is no Board of Education policy that governs whether or not elementary students can open their report card.
Posted on February 15, 2008 Has there been a confirmed case of whooping cough in one of the elementary schools? How do I best protect my child from it?
Yes, there was a case at Orenda Elementary School and a letter did go home with students and the N.Y.S. Department of Health was notified. Our typical procedure when we receive notice of confirmed cases of Pertussis, is to send letters home with the student at the elementary level and post it on the website. The letter provides information of how best to protect your child from it.
Posted on February 14, 2008 When will elementary parents be notified if their child is in need of attending summer school? What determines if a child should be a candidate for summer school? What happens if a child is recommended and the parent doesn't want the child to attend?
Summer Academy is an academic intervention services program for elementary school children. It runs for three weeks (mornings only) in late summer. Children who are recommended for this program are not mandated to attend (parents can opt out). Parents of children recommended for Summer Academy will be notified in April. Children are recommended by their teachers based on requirements for academic intervention services.
Posted on February 5, 2008 What is the protocol regarding AIS (Academic Intervention Services)? How and when are parents notified as to their child being in the AIS program?
Parents should receive a letter from their child's principal in advance of receiving AIS. The letter is standard procedure. Being below a level 3 in reading is one of the criteria for academic intervention services in first grade. If you were not notified, you should contact your child's principal to discuss.
Posted on February 4, 2008 There are rumors flying around that the district is going to stop allowing field trips during the school day. Is that true?
Field trips play a valuable role and there is no plan to stop allowing them during the school day. The district is looking at the cost concerns expressed from some parents as well as the policies and guidelines for field trips.
Posted on February 6, 2008 Who is the new principal at Tesago and when will it officially be announced?
The new principal at Tesago was appointed by the Board of Education on February 5. His name is Greg Pace. For more information, see the breaking news section on the homepage.
Posted on February 5, 2008 How do you decide if a child is enrolled in AM or PM kindergarten? Are neighborhoods grouped together in the same session? I think you should be more accommodating to parents and they should have a say in which session their child attends.
Shen is a mobile community with many families moving in and out or within the district throughout the school year and during the summer. The number of kindergarten students registered varies from year to year, as well as the numbers from various neighborhoods across the district. Assignment to AM/PM kindergarten ultimately depends on the number of classes in each school and the need to balance enrollment within those classes. Neighborhoods are typically grouped together for transportation efficiency. It is our intent to treat each student and family as fairly as possible, therefore we cannot make exceptions for some and not for others.
Posted on February 5, 2008 If a student is absent from school due to a family trip, is it considered an unexcused absence? What does this mean for the student?
If a student is absent because he/she is on a family trip, it is considered an unexcused absence. We strongly discourage vacations while school is in session.
Posted on February 5, 2008 Is it true that kindergarteners will going forward will not have snack in the middle of their class anymore? If it is, why is this?
It is not a district policy. That would be a classroom-by-classroom decision.
Posted on February 5, 2008 I heard that the district did not allow SAGE (Shenendehowa Advocates for Gifted Education) to distribute Saturday Scholars information in the schools. Why not?
Distribution of the information was delayed because we needed to determine what to do because of a new policy regarding sending home information with students related to outside activities (not run by the school). In the meantime, we posted it on the website and the parent portal while we sought clarification. This new policy is a result of teachers and parent concerns about what and how much outside information was going home with students. It was becoming more difficult to determine what items were school/class related and what were not. We will help spread the word about activities through links on our website and a bulletin board/announcement area in each elementary school. Saturday Scholars was not singled out, this is the policy for all groups.
Posted on February 5, 2008 Why did some Shenendehowa elementary schools refuse to distribute information pertaining to youth organizations for their students? Specifically, information related to Cub Scouting organizations in the fall. Is this a district decision or a local school decision? Why can some information related to outside activities be distributed and not others?
This new policy is a result of concerns about what and how much outside information was going home with students. It was becoming more difficult to determine what items were school/class related and what were not. We will help spread the word about activities through links on our website and a bulletin board/announcement area in each elementary school. Cub Scouts was not singled out.
Posted on February 5, 2008 Just yesterday I received promotional materials from the Albany River Rats via both of my elementary school children. Can you please clarify the policy regarding the distribution of information in school?
Unless it was a fundraiser or an activity night sponsored by the PTA, a school club, student government, etc. it should not have gone home in your child's back pack. If it was none of those, you should contact your child's principal.
Posted on February 4, 2008 I heard that Shen no longer has the land to build another elementary school. This is creating problems, especially with the start of full day kindergarten. Is Shen going to have full day kindergarten before 2010 when the state mandates it?
Point 1: The Shenendehowa campus is at capacity. The district is in the process of looking at possibilities for acquiring land in Halfmoon to accommodate future growth projected particularly in the eastern part of the district. Point 2: The state is not mandating full-day kindergarten by 2010. At this point, it is a proposal from the Board of Regents but it would still require legislative approval. Point 3: At this point, the district has discussed full-day kindergarten but we simply do not have the space. We would need approximately 18-20 additional classrooms to accommodate a full-day program. Most schools who have implemented it are experiencing enrollment decline. That is not the case here.
Posted on February 4, 2008 If Shen cannot accommodate full-day kindergarten, what will they do when all the 1/2 day children go to full day for first grade?
First grade is already full day. Each elementary school capacity is based on approximately 2-3 classrooms for kindergarten and 4-6 classrooms for grades 1-5.
Posted on February 4, 2008 Is it true that another elementary school building is being proposed?
No. We just opened Shatekon, the district's eighth elementary school. The district is in the process of looking at possibilities for acquiring land in Halfmoon for future use if needed.
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Archives Projects during holidays Foreign language instruction Kindergarten screening Cut-off for kindergarten eligibility Elementary textbooks Kindergarten enrollment Languages at the elementary level EDK Kindergarten age cut off Elementary boundaries Kindergarten eligibility Okte rumor DARE Buzzers at entrances Detention at Skano Dental certificates Elementary report cards Rumor at Shatekon Skano library AM kindergarten Redistricting NYS Math test Elementary acceleration Driving students to school of choice Elementary open house Protocol for psychologists Kindergarten readiness Substitutes Birthdays on morning announcements Elementary report card Pertussis Summer school for elementary children AIS Field trips New principal at Tesago AM/PM kindergarten decisions Absence for family trip Sending flyers home in school • Building more elementary schools
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