Archive for October, 2016

A question about middle school interm reports- does the 1st quarter grade impact grade point average for final grade? Also does it impact ability to make honors list? Thanks

A.  No, only quarter grades count.

I know this has been asked before but the answer never seems to dig deep enough. Why is there such a discrepancy in field trips among the middle schools. Acadia 6th grade just went to Massachusetts. Gowana 6-1 went to Ellms Farm. Gowana 6-2 stayed at school and had a team day on campus. Hmmm. In 8th grade, Acadia goes to Washington, DC and their students also participate in the “8th grade field trip” to Great Escape, while Gowana students only go to Great Escape. What has to change so that the Gowana students (and assumingly Koda too) get to go on the same types of field trips? Skip Great Escape for 8th graders (since kids go there all the time on their own) and take them all to Washington DC! There is such an inequity in the field trips. If it’s up to the team teachers, then maybe it’s time to change them up or change up the rules so all kids benefit from the trips!

A. Please call your principal if you want to dig deeper.

Would any of the elementary schools accept Box Tops for Education that have expired? Thanks.

A. The company does not accept them, so we do not.

What does CAPS stand for?

A. Class Assistant Principals.

The parking lot at Orenda was recently reconfigured and the parking spots were made WAY TOO narrow in the row closest to the campus road. I work at Orenda and surprise, my front bumper was clipped last week. Parents park there before school to avoid reversing out of spots and zoom forward onto the campus road after dropping off. Also, they park at an angle to prevent a car parking next to them and take up two spots, helping them to shoot forward and taking up spots for employees attempting to park. Shouldn’t they be waiting in the designated parent drop off lane in the parking lot? Some parents are still pulling up in the far row and sending kids running through the parking lot and even across to the middle school. This holds up employees and on several occasions, school buses trying to get in line to unload, not to mention, it is incredibly irresponsible and dangerous. If a large vehicle, such as an SUV parks in the far row, there is no room to even open car doors and you can’t see to reverse out of a spot. This has created a dangerous situation in the lot and it should be reexamined. Thank you.

A. Thanks for the feedback.

What are the multipliers for honors, AP, and college level classes?

A. https://docs.google.com/document/d/1kJkfBHSI8LNqcRmw14_Sq7–0og5qicv-mi_HjIjM98/view

Why has teaching cursive writing been eliminated from the school curriculum?

A. We recognize there are many opinions about the value of cursive instruction as technology increasingly plays an important role in communication.  Shen has not intentionally eliminated cursive, however, cursive is not required as part of NYS learning standards.  We will be revisiting the topic of cursive writing, not for student mastery, but for the benefits […]

How do high schoolers get into the national honor society?

A. That information can be found here: http://shennhs.webs.com/

Can you post the rules for Halloween costumes at school? Masks? No masks?, makeup?, etc. Hearing a lot of different versions

A. Each school does things a little differently. Please contact the main office of your child’s school.

what is the world honor language society and how do i join

A.  Information about the World Languages Honor Society can be found here: https://www.shenet.org/who-can-apply-to-the-world-languages-honor-society-and-when/