- Now that the BOE elections are over can we get the candidates to remove their signs surrounding the campus.
A. The district has nothing to do with campaign activities of prospective. It is up to the individual candidates.
Grapevine and PlainFacts Archives – District
Latest Grapevine and PlainFacts Posts - District:
- I’d like to offer a suggestion regarding school board candidates. I, as a taxpayer, parent, and employee of the district, am not interested in where someone attended college. I am far more interested in what they’ve done since then and what involvement they have in the town and community, i.e., PTA board member, community volunteering, personal experience within Shen. Going forward perhaps allow for 4 or 5 questions on significant topics affecting our students and community and have that in their bio’s as well. I know that my views, based on my personal and professional life experience has changed significantly since my college years. I also would like to encourage all the candidates to be sure to include support staff in your discussions and decision-making. They are an integral part of our students’ educations.
A. It is up to the candidate to campaign and communicate their positions with their potential constituents to serve on the Board of Education. The district is not obligated to provide any information on a candidate apart from name. For the past 30 years, Shenendehowa has used a standardized bio for every candidate that is […]
- How can I get a copy of my school tax receipt?
A. https://www.shenet.org/budget-finance/property-taxes/. From there, look on the right side: “look up tax bill.” You can use your last name OR street name to search. Or you can email greeamy@shenschools.org and she can mail it out to you.
- Why does SHEN-BYOD wifi need registration every time the device connected to the wifi either turns off or disconnects? I just am asking why it cannot be just able to connect automatically instead of doing the registration once manually and not needing to manually connect again.
A. Whenever a device is disconnected from SHEN-BYOD it must authenticate before reconnecting. We suggest saving your username/password to make it easier. With that said, each device must authenticate to connect to SHEN-BYOD.
- Why were campus roads closed for one day?
A. We must close the roads for a 24-hour period each year to maintain private road status.
- So I like to take advantage of the sidewalks and paths throughout the campus. Why is it that when there is a game on the soccer/lax fields across from Tesago, cars are allowed to park on the path behind the bleachers? Are these legal parking spots?
A. They are not legal spots…most recently, there have been barriers to separate the walkway.
- Some colleges have the ability to allow students to retain access to their college Google and Microsoft accounts. Why is Shen not able to allow seniors to maintain access to their Google accounts after graduating?
A. Our licensing agreements only covers current students and staff.
- Who would I need to talk to to find out what happens if the screen to my chrome book is broken? Also how much do I need to pay to replace it.
A. MS students take their Chromebook to the Chromebook Care Center for repairs. HS Students take damaged devices to the SHED (Student Helpdesk) for repairs. Approximate pricing for replacement parts are posted on the SHEN 1:1 Page.
- Hi, I am just wondering the reason why the new coming 6th graders next year get these very new advanced chromebooks. Personally, considering that the sixth graders here can’t even be trusted with playing games or not in class with THERE chromebooks, Why should these new 6th graders get touchscreen chromebooks?? I personally think its unfair and a little bit of waste of shen’s money. How does shen even afford new chromebooks every year?? I am just curious, Not protesting.
A. The district has established an obsolescence cycle that refreshes devices over time so all or most devices are not replaced all at once. Currently new devices are issued to incoming 6th and 9th graders. Six grade students use the same device for their middle school experience while 9th grades keep theirs through grade 12. […]
- when shen desktops and chromebooks get old does shen auction them off? if so where?
A. No, computers and Chromebooks are not auctioned at the end of their usable life. In most cases devices are returned to BOCES where they are wiped of all data and then made available to other schools or in most cases are recycled.
- How would a junior go about contacting IMS? There’s a slight issue that i want to discuss.
A. All of the district phone numbers are posted on the website: https://www.shenet.org/contact-us/
- Why is the use of a personal data plan for student’s phones banned? It is THEIR device, NOT shens.
A. Personal data plans are not filtered for content. Students may use the SHEN-BYOD WiFi network for personal devices while at school.
- Can the IMS department allow the addition of the “Password Checkup” extension offered by “google.com”? This extension would help students see if any of their passwords have been stolen. Link https://chrome.google.com/webstore/detail/password-checkup/pncabnpcffmalkkjpajodfhijclecjno
A. Staff can submit a helpdesk ticket requesting additional extensions that support instruction. All requests are reviewed for their educational merits and compliance with data security standards.
- Why are we blocked from using our personal email on our chromebooks?
A. To protect our students from predators and other threats Shen’s G-Suites domain is what’s considered a “walled garden.” As such student’s email communication are restricted to Shen staff and students. Furthermore, offs-site content filtering (required by law) is applied to a student’s shenschools.org account. If students were permitted to logon to Chromebooks using their […]
- With the flu being seen in various elementary school buildings throughout the district, why are communicable disease norices not being sent home by school nurses?
A. We do not send home notices about the flu. It is safe to assume that it is present in our schools every year…sometimes it is confirmed by a test, many times it is not.
- So, Shen has a Twitter, but it’s blocked on Shen’s Campus… The Shen BYOD denies access to personal cellular networks or plans and denies access to Virtual Private Networks. So there is no way to access Shen’s Twitter without breaking the BYOD policy. Could you at least unblock Shen’s Twitter? Or add a separate section regarding news on Shenet?
A. It is not possible to whitelist an individual Twitter feed.
- how do you change a password on a chromebook?
A. At the logon screen of any middle or high school Chromebook click on the apps icon in the lower left corner and select Password Self Help Tool. If you have previously setup your profile you can answer a challenge question to reset your password. If you have not previously setup your profile you must […]
- If something is marked “late” in the portal, are points deducted automatically by the system? For example, I received a 100% on an assignment, but it said “late”. Is this assignment still a 100?
A. That is based upon how a teacher sets up their grade book. It is not necessarily automatic.
- Why do certain students require an aide to accompany them? Isn’t it really expensive? My son tells me there are some special-needs students who do absolutely nothing – no school work, yet we’re spending huge amounts of money on political correctness and mainstreaming.
A. Students with disabilities have the right to a free and appropriate education, just like your son. This is what is best for students AND required by federal and state laws. In order to have meaningful participation in school, some students require a high level of support. We constantly monitor and evaluate services for our […]
- At age 17, can a student attending Shenendehowa drop out without parental consent?
A. NYS Education Law states that a student must attend through the year which they turn 16. Parents are requested to sign the forms, however there is nothing the school can do if they reach that age and refuse to come to school
- Why does shen have to give me ais and take away my study hall when the study hall is more useful because i can do my work in there and can’t work in ais.
A. In general terms: Academic Intervention Services (AIS) are designed to learn skills needed for success in your current classes. A study hall is beneficial for completing work or studying. While both are important, they serve different functions. You are encouraged to have a conversation with your teacher or principal to discuss your schedule and how […]
- Is nicotine gum allowed for students with nicotine addictions?
A. If there is a prescription by a doctor and the gum is kept in the nurse’s office as per policy,
- It feels that the flags on campus are at half mast more often than not. Just out curiosity, is there someplace we can look to find out why the flags are flying low?
A. We lower flags based on notification from the Governor of New York.
- Who is the current President of the Board of Education?
A. https://www.shenet.org/board-of-education/
- I saw one post where a girl was thanking Shen HS for having free sanitary woman’s products, unlike the middle schools. However, you responded with “they are free at all levels”. No, they are not free at all levels. When I got my period in the middle schools if I didn’t have a quarter or my own items with me I would either ask around for a quarter or have to break a dollar in the lunchline, which they didn’t even let me do half the time. If you’re unaware the middle school sanitary products aren’t free, please educate yourself on this information.
A. Things change. A new law, effective July 1, 2018, requires all elementary and secondary public schools in New York State that serve students in any grade from six to twelve, to provide feminine hygiene products to students in school restrooms, at no cost.
- What is the curriculum for the Life Skills program at Shatekon?
A. The FSD curriculum is comprised of a variety of different programs and instructional approaches designed to meet the unique needs of students as they progress through a modified and adapted curriculum. Examples include, TouchMath, Equals Math, Reading Milestones, Reading A to Z, Unique Learning, etc.
- Is there any way to check archived Grapevine posts that happened earlier than the last one on the page?
A. Yes, through the Grapevine Archive links on the right-hand side of the page.
- Is there any way to print out report cards from previous years?
A. No, they are no longer available after the new year starts. If you need a prior year, you must contact your child’s school.
- How do I change the Email my SIS messages are going to? Every year I try to change it and it never gets done. I no longer have access to that old email account. Thank you.
A. You can do it on-line through the portal.
- What is the Responsive Schedule on the portal?
A. Responsive Schedule is a newer tool offered by IC to allow districts to offer one-time or short-term classes or classes that occur at other than regularly scheduled times. Shen does not use this tool as all of our classes/courses are developed on the regular main scheduling tool. Like many new features in IC, we do […]
- If situations regarding personnel are supposedly confidential, why does the grapevine allow posts involving teachers? There have been a few detailing situations that should have remained private.
A. “Situations” may or may not be confidential, that is why names are not used. Disciplinary actions are confidential other to say that discipline was carried out.
- Noticed that the high school (east) got new dispensers for feminine products this year!! Also noticed that they’re free now!! Really nice of Shen to provide this level of care for their students. Just wondering out of curiosity: who would be responsible for restocking the products, and when would they be restocked (as in, is there a schedule)?
A. The custodians in each building are responsible for the restocking of these dispensers.
- Can you ask for a specific team/teachers just because your sibling or older companion has had such a good experience with them? Please answer this.
A. You can ask, but that doesn’t mean that you will be able to be accommodated.
- Why do the schedules come out so late in the summer? Why don’t they come out in middle July?
A. Because we are still registering and disenrolling a large amount of students until the end of August.
- Do all students going into 10th grade need a physical exam? Or is it just the ones joining a sport?
A. NYSED requires a physical exam for new entrants and students in Grades Pre-K or K, 1, 3, 5, 7, 9 & 11; annually for interscholastic sports; and working papers as needed; or as required by the Committee on Special Education (CSE) or Committee on Pre-School Special education (CPSE).
- I was wondering what company Shen uses for the green drawstring totes…Captain youth and family services could really use some totes for the weekend lunch program they provide. Currently they use doubled up plastic bags.
A. We have licensed vendors for Shen items. You can find the participating companies at www.shenet.org/shen-shops
- I don’t understand. Previously you had said you did receive an IP address and then you said you didn’t. Then you said that you got a MAC address. What is true? Is this completely anonymous?
A. The system used for the old website provided an IP address. This website uses WordPress which does not. So it is anonymous. However…it could probably be traced by law enforcement if the need arose.
- If a student and their family decide that online schooling is a better fit for them, does Shen have or support any programs for online school? Also, do they have any options or programs for partial public/partial online schooling, where a student comes to school for certain classes or only certain days. Thank you.
A. Information about homeschooling can be found here: https://www.shenet.org/academics/home-instruction/
- Will Shen be setting aside classrooms at the high school for Ramadan prayers this year?
A. Shen never set aside classrooms for Ramadan prayers. Any student of any religion who needs privacy to fulfill a religious obligation will be provided space to do so based on the specific need. Contact the principal to set up.
- Hi, Im a proud Shen mom and have been very involved in my children’s academic lives. I’ve heard through some other various concerned parents, that there will be a personal laptop device given to all students in the coming school year. I would just like to say, I’ve done my own research on these google chromebook devices that my children have told me they use in the classroom. After some digging, I discovered starting prices of chromebooks for schools are $149! If we estimate that there is 3200 students in the high school level, and multiply that by 149 we get nearly half a million dollars!!!! This is horrifying, I am truly disgusted with the schools incompetence on how to spend money. This will definitely be brought up at the next Board meeting by me and my girls!
A. If you research the price of textbooks and you will understand just one of the many benefits of Chromebooks.
- We heard a rumor today that there was a new school already in the works to be built in the Halfmoon area; that would be ready for students in two years and that will be the start of all day Kindergarten. Is this rumor true? If so, when was the public going to be informed?
A. No. First of all, we don’t currently have land in Halfmoon. Second of all, to purchase land and build a school requires a public vote. Third of all, from the conception to the opening of a school is approximately a five-year timeline.
- How long do questions stay on teh grapevine? I was scrolling down looking for a answer to my question, but there was only say 23 responses. Looking for a friend. Thank you and hav e anice day.
A. Some go into the archives. Date specific questions get deleted after the date.
- Hello! I’d like to know what is the policy regarding each students individual Shenschools.org Email account. After they graduate, is there access to the email removed? What are the limits of what someone can write in the documents? I am writing a story using docs and its convenient to use my Shen schools gmail with the Chromebooks. Am I also able to get in trouble for having some adult themes (Non-Pornographic) in said story? Thank you!
A. Students and staff leaving the district may download their G-Suites data to an archive file. In compliance with Google’s G-Suites for education policy, student and staff accounts are disabled on or shortly after their date of departure.
- Who in my child’s school do I need to contact to opt them out of the State Tests.
A. Your child’s principal.
- Why does shen use sonicwall as a blocker? It always slows things down while we are waiting for it to respond,chrome os is a very light operating system and the sonicwall makes it run horribly because it almost never responds and is constantly sending data to the main server which in turn makes the chromebooks run like crao
A. School districts are mandated to provide content filtering. The SonicWall content filter is a robust enterprise solution that provides both on campus and off campus filtering for district devices. Slow responses are likely a result of WiFi signal strength or limited bandwidth when connected off campus. Significant latency while on campus should be reported […]
- Who is on the district-wide emergency response team?
A. It is made up of district officials, staff, board members, law enforcement, emergency responders, parents and students.
- It breaks my heart to ask, but will all grade levels be practicing shooting drills anytime soon?
A. In accordance with our Emergency Response protocols, buildings practice a myriad of drills. The active shooter demonstration by the Saratoga County Sheriff’s Department has been conducted in the past but not drilled. We are looking to review it and begin practicing it in the buildings.
- Why do we allow kids who have been suspended or expelled from other schools just come into Shen and ruin the experience for the rest of the students? If they were bad enough to get expelled from one school, what says they aren’t going to do it at our school, especially since I see kids get suspended and go right back to it when they get back like nothing happened.
A. Any resident student is eligible to attend school. As for prior disciplinary issues, those things are reviewed and handled accordingly.
- Ugh. Another weather event, and every other district is informing students of the plan. It’s 8 pm and literally every other district has called for a delay on 3/7. But Shen says nothing. Do you understand that parents need to plan for childcare? That children get anxious if we tell them we are keeping them home either way because they care about school and don’t want to miss important instruction? You work for us. Waiting til the last minute is unprofessional and wildly inconsiderate. How many times does this need to happen?
A. Shenendehowa has never called a snow day or delay the day before because things change. Our process for these days can be found here: https://www.shenet.org/about-us/public-informationcommunications/emergency-closings-delays-and-early-dismissal/
- Am I allowed to go to the chorus concert without being related to anyone singing? I want to watch my friends perform.
A. Yes, they are open to the public.
- How many snow days can we get a year ? Are we allowed to go over if nessasary ?
A. 180 days of instruction are required by N.Y.S. The number of emergency days revolves around that.
- Has Shen ever gotten a intruder with a weapon come into school?
A. There was a situation where a student entered the high school lobby with a weapon many years ago (late 1980s or early 1990s). The student was stopped by an administrator and no one was injured.
- I have two questions about excused abscenses. Are college visits and field trips excused abcenses. If so, are they shown on our transcript?
A. Yes to both. Absences are on a transcript but it does not distinguish between excused vs unexcused. It just lists “Days Absent” and “Days Tardy.”
- Why doesn’t Shen have a longer december break like other schools across the country and instead have no february break? I would much rather prefer a longer dec break.
A. Shenendehowa’s breaks are similar to all schools in New York State.
- Why can’t we see our grades on the portal before the quarter ends. I think this would be the most important time to see our grades so we can bring up our average and ask any remaining questions we have. Thanks for your time.
A. That is the time that teachers are finalizing grades for the report card.
- Why does shen have to provide transportation for students attending private schools?
A. Because they pay school taxes too and it is the law.
- 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.
- 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 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/
- Can we PLEASE visit the idea of metal detectors and/or armed guards at the entrances of Shen schools? How many more tragedies will it take for us to become pro-active as it relates to on campus school violence?
A. Getting 10,000 students and their backpacks through metal detectors each morning is simply not feasible. How would we protect the students waiting in line to go through the metal detector? Plus, according to law enforcement, it only provides a false sense of security. Using metal detectors only works if you were to operate schools […]
- Is shen going to start active shooter drills? What are other precautions the school could take to make sure a school shooting doesn’t happen?
A. The district already has those drills. A letter went out to parents/guardians about the precautions the district takes. This is also posted on the website under breaking news.
- I would like to offer a suggestion. When you mail out the kindergarten registration packet, can Shen please add a list of the available kindergarten wrap programs that offer childcare in the district? Some parents need to work and this would be helpful for us to have, since the district only offers a half day kindergarten program. Thank you
A. The district does not maintain a list of daycare centers, and cannot make recommendations or endorsements regarding businesses in the area. Since this list is ever-changing, a google search of “Clifton Park daycare” or similar, will give you a current list to get started.
- If Skano has confirmed cases of the flu among students and staff, why has a notice not been shared building wide for all staff and with families?
A. We don’t typically send out notices when the flu is confirmed in school. During flu season, it is assumed that flu will be present in our schools. Many people who have it do not actually go to the doctor and get tested for it.
- What is the mascot’s name?
A. It doesn’t have one.
- How cold does it have to be to delay or cancel school?
A. Many factors go into the decision to close school. It is not simply based on how cold or how many inches of snow is expected. https://www.shenet.org/about-us/public-informationcommunications/emergency-closings-delays-and-early-dismissal/
- My son’s replacement Chromebook was of inferior quality than his original Chromebook. Can you explain why this is? Cost cuts?
A. Students are provided fully functional loaner devices while broken/missing Chromebooks are addressed. Devices that cannot be repaired or are lost/stolen are replaced with the same model the student was originally assigned in the 1:1.
- Can we request to un-do a “Blocked by the administrator?” I used to go on pinterest for images because the images on google were not safe, but now I have the risk of seeing something inappropriate on google. Thank you.
A. Only staff members can submit a request to remove content filters.
- Is the pool open to the public?
A. The community education program coordinates times in which people can sign up for classes in the pool. Due to the extent that the pool is used for student programs and swim team events/programs, we do not have open swim. For further information please visit our website at: https://www.shenet.org/about-us/shen-aquatics-center/
- if you dont want to swim in 8th grade will it bring your average down? Also why do we have to swim?
A. Swimming is part of the physical education curriculum and has been since we opened the pool in 2007. PE is not part of your overall average. See the website for questions about the Aquatics Program: https://www.shenet.org/about-us/shen-aquatics-center/
- Hi, I just wanted to report that the school’s wifi severely drains my phone battery. I used my phone all weekend and it drained at a rate of 10% an hour but when I arrive at school at 7 and check it again at 8 it has deteriorated 35% in an hour. I hope the school can do something to combat this issue
A. Your phone is most likely NOT actually connecting to SHEN-BYOD and trying to access the Internet with your data plan. Due to poor cell signal strength this will drain the battery quickly. Please follow the instructions here to fully connect to SHEN-BYOD.
- If you have pulled a muscle in your back, are you able to bring a cane to school?
A. If a student has an injury and it requires crutches, walker, cane or a wheelchair, there must be a doctors note stating that.
- do the bus drivers have to “crossers first”. This policy slows the operations down significantly.
A. Crossing a student first before others get off the bus is not a district policy, it is a New State Education Department regulation which requires school bus drivers to make sure students who need to cross get off the bus first and crossed.
- My little sister always complains to me about how cold it is outside for recess, and I would like to know what the minimum temperature is that the kids are allowed outside. The district always wonders why the kids are getting colds, or even the flu, and this is obviously the reason. There should at least be an option for indoor-recess, because I don’t want the children getting sick and missing school, all because of a problem the school started! -A concerned older sister
A. Outside recess is cancelled on days when the air temperature/wind chill factor is 20 degrees. Bad weather does not cause colds or flu. They are caused by viruses that are more likely to linger inside.
- What are the requirements for a snow day? And what are the requirements for a delay? Just wondering.
A. The decision is made based on a number of factors: https://www.shenet.org/about-us/public-informationcommunications/emergency-closings-delays-and-early-dismissal/
- Why are staff sites and other things like the library and food service menus web “pages” not directly on shenet.org, instead of on their own Google Sites Page?
A. Any site or part of a site that is managed by a district employee other than the webmaster are done in Google Sites or another platform.
- Do you know the person who writes each question on this Grapevine? Or is it all anonymous. Also, do you answer every single question?
A. It is anonymous. Most questions are answered. Questions that identify a specific student or staff member will not be answered. When multiple questions come in about the same topic, only one of the questions is answered. Questions with profanity are not answered.
- When my 1st Chromebook suffered an issue and had to be replaced, I was given a Chromebook that was of cheaper quality and performance. The CPU was a Pentium in my original and my replacement got a Celeron. This made my 17-year-old clunkers click along at least 3 times faster. Why is this
A. While 1:1 Chromebooks are being repaired we provide loaner devices. The loaners are fully functional devices, just not the same model. After 1:1 Chromebooks are repaired they are returned to the student.
- Do you change some of our comments? I realized that I sent something a while ago, and the question you posted was completely different from what I asked and was missing important parts of it.
A. Your question may have been asked by someone else. The only time we change the comments is if you name someone.
- Hi I really need an answer to this so please choose to answer this! I am in middle school and got a referral for a unfair reason and I was threatened that it will “stay on my permanent record”. So i’m wondering if colleges will see this middle school referral and if my life is ruined because i was being a kid for once in my life.
A. Colleges do not see referrals. Your discipline records are confidential, protected under the Family Education Rights and Privacy Act.
- A question was recently posted asking for a list of all of the gender identities taught to Shen students. The response given by the district failed to list these identities. Please provide this list, as well as informing parents at what age this information is taught.
A. In accordance with the Dignity for All Students act and policy 7555, students are taught about sexual identity and gender. In covering these topics these are the following terms covered: The following are the vocabulary words discussed in classes: Gender, Gender Expression, Transgender, Biological Sex, Gender Fluidity, Gender Role, Sexual Orientation, Gender Identity, Gender […]
- You have stated that parents are not automatically notified if a student confides they feel they are transgender to a shen employee. What is the process shen follows in making this determination? Does Shen work with the Pride Center out of Albany? Has this group been invited into Shen classrooms? Does Shen use their gender identity information material in anyway? Please post the gender identity material currently taught to shen students. Every parent should be able to view this material on your webpage. Seems odd that you won’t publicly post the gender identity material you are teaching children.
A. Each individual situation is different and requires specific attention to the student’s needs. The district strongly encourages parent involvement and we would encourage the student to involve their parent/caregiver. As for what is taught, in accordance with the Dignity for all Students Act students are taught about sexual identity and gender. The vocabulary words […]
- Why does the district allow marginal students from other school districts to go to school at Shen , (especially with prior misconduct history who move into local apartment complexes)and use up precious resources of students who need an assist, especially at the high school level. I also hear “through the grapevine” that they are supplying drugs. This issue needs to be addressed.
A. We don’t. Only resident students can attend Shen schools. Furthermore, we support all students to realize their greatest potential.
- When lockdowns occur, why aren’t we allowed to barricade the door? This is one of the only places I know who doesn’t allow this. For instance, whenever I see news about a shooting in a crowded place, people barricade doors to prevent mass casualty events. I can understand the quiet policy but since nobody would be in the halls, it would be impossible to know the whereabouts.
A. These are the recommendations from highly trained law enforcement and risk-service professionals.
- Are the students allowed to use the camera on the Chromebook outside of school?
A. Yes, for school-related work.
- Why was the district calendar changed so that the Veteran’s Day Holiday and the Parent Conference Days are now separate? They have always been linked as three days in the past.
A. The district had to re-assign the parent teacher conference days to 11/14 and 11/15 in order to meet the minimum requirement for the number of hours of instruction per week required by NYSED.
- If a student checks their personal email on the chromebook outside of school, is what they send and/or view still monitored?
A. 1:1 Chromebooks are issued for instructional purposes only. Student may only use their protected school issued email address on the device. Internet traffic on 1:1 Chromebooks is filtered both on and off campus.
- Besides verbal abuse by whoever is near you, what is the punishment for not participating in the Pledge of Allegiance?
A. There is no punishment. Students cannot be required to say the Pledge of Allegiance and they should not be verbally abused for not doing so. That could actually be subject to discipline under the Code of Conduct.
- Where did the name plainsmen originate?
A. Loosely translated, Shenendehowa means Great Plains in the Mohawk/Iroquois language. Plainsmen are people who lived on the plains.
- can we have the name and position of the person who runs the grapevine? as a public employee we deserve to know
A. Kelly DeFeciani, Public Information Officer.
- If a student feels they are transgender or gender fluid and confide this to a Shen employee what is Shen’s policy on what happens next? Is the district mandated to notify parents? Is the student referred to the contracted counselors who now work on shen campus?
A. School personnel want to ensure that all students feel safe in the school environment. Information that is shared with school personnel is confidential unless there is a safety concern. School employees may recommend further counseling to assist students in meeting their needs.
- Are teachers and/or students permitted to dress up for Halloween?
A. That is a building-based decision. Ask your principal.
- Has the district ever considered contracting out to one of the pharmacy chains to hold a flu shot clinic for the students? It could be done during PE classes. I’m just curious as to how many students actually get an annual flu shot. This may help parents and guardians who either can’t afford the shot or don’t have time to take their child to get it. May also cut down on illness and absences.
A. We have looked into this in the past however due to the size of our district and logistics, it would be very difficult to coordinate.
- Is there a cap on how many kids at this district can be classified as having disabilities? It seems very difficult to get any assistance for kids that need it at this district. What’s going on?
A. In order for a student to be identified as having a learning disability, the student must first receive systematic, targeted interventions to remediate specific academic skill deficits (Response to Intervention-RTI). Once appropriate interventions have been tried and a student continues to demonstrate academic gaps, the student must undergo a full evaluation by the Committee […]
- Is resource class required if you have an IEP?
A. When a student has an IEP at least one special education service is required. Resource room is one of the services that may be recommended depending on the needs of the student. Resource room is not required for every student with an IEP. However, if the CSE has determined that this is the only […]
- how can you view attachments in your inbox on the messages part of the portal?
A. You can’t. Attachments go to the recipient’s email address. Attachments are not included in the process inbox record of correspondence.
- i forgot my shen campus portal password, i am a student, how do i reset/ figure it out
A. Questions about Portal passwords can be found here: https://www.shenet.org/parentstudent-portal/
- I have the parent portal on my phone how can my son get his own o his phone.
A. You need to download the Infinite Campus app on his phone and log in.
- How many years do board of education members serve? Is it a paid position?
A. Three years without pay.
- Would it be possible to notify the Shenendehowa staff and community why campus flags are lowered to half staff? Thank you.
A. We lower flags based on notification from the Governor of New York.
- Why can’t we have chats an send emails to freinds on our chomebooks? I know that it is schools property, but some kids need to socialize more that can’t or are not allowed to use phones. Thank you
A. Because that is not the intended purpose of the Chromebooks. The purpose is to enhance your education.
- Can a teacher issue lunch detention if a student doesn’t turn in a homework assignment? Can a teache issue a lunch detention if a question out of many isn’t done or complete? Can a teacher withhold acess to a graded homework assignment because a student didn’t finish xsomething in class?
A. Teachers work to support students with their learning. This means providing students with opportunities for learning and sometimes means holding students responsible to complete work designed to support their learning. I encourage you to contact your child’s teacher directly to discuss this further and if the issue remains unresolved you are encouraged to contact […]
- What grade is evolution in science class taught in Shen?
A. It is part of New York State Science Standards and is taught in life science courses (Science 7 & Biology). There is some minor crossover in Earth Science when they cover the age of the earth & scientific evidence used to make that determination.
- If I am 18, am I allowed to call myself in sick or for any excused absence?
A. No, if you live with your parents/guardian.
- Do you have to pay to get into Shensational?
A. No, it is free.
- Are teachers allowed to share their political views and choices with students/ classes? I have a teacher that consistently bashes trump directly and indirectly and I find it quite inappropriate and it makes me feel uncomfortable.
A. Please see BOE Policy 6193: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1IYU6Dei8YLG8wyawzZ6dtQqj7ETafRtxSRlH8vdb8JQ/view
- Can high school teachers fix the grades in the portal after the quarter has ended? If so, when are they able to? A teacher had an error with a grade from quarter 2 and has yet to fix it. Thanks!
A. The error can be fixed. Please notify the teacher and your child’s counselor of the mistake.
- How come my parents pay thousands upon thousands upon thousands of dollars every year in school taxes, yet I, as a responsible high school student, am not allowed to use the colored ink in the computer lab without really special permission from a teacher?
A. Your parents pay taxes to support your education. The district has a responsibility to all taxpayers to contain costs.
- For the Infinite Campus App, what’s our District ID?
A. That’s been answered before. If you search on “District ID” you would find it here: https://www.shenet.org/what-is-the-district-id-for-the-mobile-parent-portal/
- What’s the district’s policy on the amount of time teachers give students to prepare for a quiz/test? Also does the district have a policy on teachers letting parents know when a quiz/test is going to take place?
A. Teachers typically give students a day (or sometimes more) notice of a quiz and usually a few days notice for a test. There is no policy related to this issue as it varies based on how long students have been studying the topic and many other factors such as a teacher’s judgment about when […]
- What is the total number of eligible district voters?
A. We estimate between 51,000 and 55,000.
- Can campus patrol arrest you?
A. No, but they can call the police to arrest you if you are breaking the law.
- What is the school’s policy on head lice? If the nurse finds lice in a child’s hair are they sent home and rechecked before entering school? Is the class notified that a student in the class has lice? I’ve heard that students have lice and are sent back to class. If this is the case how can you be sure to stop the spread of lice. I realize lice does not spread disease but to treat lice you must submit your child to a pesticide, which is not something a parent wants their child to be exposed to. The “super lice” you have to get prescription with is a heavier dose.
A. The District has a protocol we follow. We are currently evaluating the protocol as a result of what the Center for Disease says is best practice. Here are the Pediculosis Nursing Procedures: Upon notification by a parent of a case of pediculosis, the school nurse should explain to parent of the need to bring student […]
- What is a referral?
A. Written documentation of a behavioral infraction of the code of conduct.
- Can I elect to keep my child home if there is a two hour delay due to the weather?
A. Parents always have the right to keep their children home, but it is an unexcused absence.
- I do not want my child taking art for the 3rd and 4th quarter. Is there away I can opt him out. Its unnecessary!
A. Art is a required discipline both by state regulation and by Shenendehowa’s Program of Studies. Our program seat time meets the minimum requirement.
- Is there a dress code for teachers? It looks like Casual Friday found 4 more friends.
A. According to the district’s Code of Conduct: For the purpose of this Code, appropriate dress for staff members is defined as giving proper attention to personal cleanliness and clothing that is professional, safe and does not disrupt, distract or otherwise interfere with the educational process. Staff members are expected to model appropriate dress and decorum, […]
- May I ask why there is an “I’m not a robot” requirement before posting a comment?
A. Because we were getting a lot of spam mail.
- Is there any way the schedule can be left open when the portal closes for grading updates? While I try very hard to not make doctors appointments durning the school day sometimes it can’t be helped. The schedule was closed so I had no idea if it was an A or B day.
A. Unfortunately, no. Several of the components are tied to grading…such as the classes a student attends.
- What is the point in classes such as art and general music? Especially for general music, if children do not want to be in chorus, band, or orchestra, they most likely would not want to take a music course. All the courses do is hurt my child’s average and it is ridiculous because personally, I have never used music a single day in my career. If there is some sort of way to not do these courses could you please say it? Thank you and have a great day!
A. Thanks for sharing your concern. We respect and understand that each student is different and while art or music may be one child’s favorite class, social studies or technology may be another child’s favorite. Art and music are required courses. The study of all disciplines (i.e., math, social studies, art, technology, music, science, English) […]
- I know that Shen schools have emergency drills for the students, faculty and staff to practice what they need to do. But my kids now tell me that there are no drills during lunch periods and they haven’t had any instruction on what to do for a lock down etc. during lunch. My question is are the kids and staff instructed on what to do during an emergency during there lunch period?
A. Schools provide instruction on what to do and we do hold emergency drills during lunch.
- Which of the Shenedehowa schools have won the national blue ribbon of excellent from the U.S. DOE and for what years?
A. Tesago in 2013, Arongen 1991 and Gowana when it was a junior high.
- Do comments and questions on grapevine get forwarded to the department in question? For example, did the physical education department receive the complaint that High Schoolers went outside when it snowed?
A. Yes, all comments and questions are forwarded. And when we get multiple comments on a topic, they are forwarded to the person responsible even though we don’t continue to post them all.
- how much of the orchestra grade will be practicing?
A. The orchestra grade is based on preparedness and participation. Practicing is a part of the preparation necessary to successfully participate. Students who spend time practicing are generally more successful because the act of practicing makes a student more prepared.
- Is there a policy regarding weather and outside gym? My daughter is at HS West and they went outside while it was snowing. My daughter has long thick hair and it was drenched when she came in from class.
A. We follow the same guidelines as NYSPHSAA for athletic contests and practices for wind chill and heat index. Students are always reminded to dress for the weather if they go outside.
- What Internet Service Provider does Shen use?
A. FirstLight
- 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 […]
- What is Shen going to do about the class sizes getting bigger and bigger every year there’s no room in any of the school as is now and I don’t see it getting better.
A. To the contrary, our overall enrollment is actually flat. Further, the K-5 enrollment has been trending down.
- Where does the school of excellence designation for Shen come from? Is it from an accreditation? Or is it a tagline created by the district itself? If it’s an accreditation, where does that come from, i.e. who issues it, what are the standards, and when and how is the accreditation audited for continued validity? Thanks.
A. The U.S. Department of Education has the Blue Ribbon School of Excellence Award. For more informatin go to their website. “Committed to Excellence” that is the mantra of the school district.
- I was wondering if instead of just advertising on the new sign when the football games were, we could advertise every game/match/meet that’s going on at Shen that week. There are other sports than just football.
A. We don’t advertise all of the football games. Events posted on the signs are events with a broad community appeal taken from the district calendar. We could not possible post every single game, meet, musical concert, fundraising activity, etc.
- Hello, does Shen have any involvement in environmental conservation efforts? The school would be a great way to raise awareness for the next generation, and as such, would it be possible to raise awareness this November 28? On that day, it was six months since Harambe was shot, and I think to raise awareness about this endangered species, the silverback gorilla, we could have a moment of silence on that day.
A. The district has an Environmental Committee that is focused more on energy conservation but not endangered species. I don’t know of a club within the district that specifically focuses on that.
- Given the new posters encouraging against swearing, what is Shen’s actual view on swearing? Why limit our use of drastic words that properly express our thoughts and emotions?
A. We are trying to prepare you to live and work in a civil society.
- Is it possible to see your child’s NY state test? Not just the results. Thank you.
A. Yes, parents may request to see portions of their child’s NYS assessment. Please contact your child’s principal to make arrangements.
- Teachers are forcing my daughter to stand for the pledge and that is against her rights. Is something being done about this?
A. Talk to your child’s teacher or principal
- How do I access previous year’s grades for my student? I use the parent portal and cannot locate them. I have also looked using my pc and the infinite campus to no avail. Where are these locate? Thank you
A. You can’t use the portal to see prior year grades. The portal is a live year view only. The new school year begins in July, so the new calendar becomes active then.
- I just went to pay my tax bill online and find it interesting that it will cost me 3% , plus a one time fee of $0.50 to do so. It costs me less to pay my bill a month late with a 2% penalty than it does to pay on time on line. Why exactly is that? Afterall I am saving everyone time, paper, gasoline and money transferring the funds rather than doing it in person.
A. We offer the option of paying taxes by credit card as convenience to our taxpayers. However, the credit card companies assess a fee to those who use this option. The fee is not paid to the district, it is paid directly to the credit card company.
- Has anyone notable ever graduated from this school?
A. Every graduate is notable.
- I am looking for tutoring services especially in Math within the district, we are on subsidized lunch program. Any help is appreciated. Thanks!
A. I am sorry, but we don’t keep or provide a list of paid tutoring services.
- What’s read 180?
A. Read 180 is a specialized reading program for students who require specialized instruction beyond the District’s core reading program. More information about the program can be found following the link below: http://www.hmhco.com/products/read-180/family/
- Where would it be possible to obtain a map of one of the schools?
A. You may be able to get one in the main office.
- Do we have a school district foundation?
A. Yes, the Shenendehowa Educational Foundation: https://shenedfoundation.wpcomstaging.com/
- I am not receiving Shen’s SIS messages anymore. Who should I contact to make sure the school has my correct email address?
A. Contact your child’s school: the main office at Elementary School, or the counseling center at Middle or High School. If you have a parent portal account, you may also submit updates to parent/guardian emails and phone numbers through the portal.
- Can 11th graders participate in the Inventors competition at Shenendehowa or is it just for middle schoolers?
A. The Shen Inventors Program is a PTA enrichment program. The NYS Invention Convention is for students K-8.
- Why are schedules already out? And I’ve found that a lot of them have many mistakes (wrong classes, empty periods, etc.)
A. The district rolled to next year’s calendar and during that transition people could see incomplete schedules for a short period of time until the transition was completed.
- When is homecoming 2016?
A. 2016-17 dates are on the website calendar at: https://sites.google.com/a/shenschools.org/shen-calendar-of-events/
- I graduated from Shen last year, and my shenschools gmail account has since been disabled. How can I have this reactivated? I have important files on my drive, and we were not notified beforehand that our accounts would be removed.
A. Sorry, but it can not be reactivated. A student’s shenschools account is disabled when no longer a student at Shen.
- What will Shen do to further protect the safety of our children? I know some schools have placed metal detectors, I was wondering if we will be implementing metal detectors in the future?
A. Over the years, Shenendehowa has implemented a number of initiatives to improve safety including ID badges, buzz-in systems, video surveillance, drills and much more. There are no plans to implement metal detectors.
- Why does Shen stress athletics so much? For example, spending thousands of dollars on a weight room but cutting art classes?
A. We have never cut art classes, the 2016-17 budget specifically focuses on art classes and supplies.
- I’ve been told that IMS can see into our phones and watch everything they do on the computers… Can they really, or is it just a scare tactic?
A. Users that connect to the district wireless network are subject to acceptable use standards. Internet traffic is filtered to protect everyone. Aside from internet traffic while connected to the districts WiFi network, the district does not have access to any other data/activity on a user’s personal device.
- Are the computers and computer networks at Shenendehowa secure? I’m a taxpayer and a parent. I don’t want my child’s information stolen and sold to pedophiles online.
A. The computer network is secured using up to date hardware, software and best practices. Securing the districts systems is a constant effort and a job that is taken very seriously.
- Could you give any suggestions or point a parent in the right direction as to where I might be able to find a math tutor for my child??
A. Sorry, but we do not refer tutors.
- Is being on the school board a paid job?
A. No, they serve without compensation.
- Say someone had to go to summer school for a class, would we be able to take the class online or not?
A. No. The only online course offered during the summer is health.
- Over the past year I’ve noticed that many students struggle with mental health issues. Is counseling doing anything to assist in this or encourage students to seek help?
A. Yes, the district offers a wide variety of services. https://www.shenet.org/departments-services/safety-health-and-wellness/health-services/
- How can I change my password for the parent / student portal? I didn’t see a change password link. Thank you.
A. Students need to see the computer lab aide in their school. Parents need to call the portal hotline.
- I have a teacher that has taken pictures of my class in the middle of class on their personal cellphone more than once, should this be a concern?
A. No. Many teachers are taking pictures of all the exciting things happening in the classroom and sending them to the public information officer to post on the website.
- Can someone have a therapy dog in school, if they have severe anxiety and panic attacks? What are the requirements?
A. No, we only allow dogs due to defined and specific ADA requirements….per policy and legal stipulations.
- Besides teaching time management, is there any help available for high school or middle school students with anxiety issues? Many students struggle with the same problems, but are not taken seriously by the school.
A. There are plenty of resources. Please speak with your counselor to find out what best meets your needs..
- Why isn’t there a traffic light at the high school entrance off Moe road? Every person I talk to, parents and staff alike, feel Is it very dangerous and like the HS parking lot, it’s only a matter of time till someone gets hurt.
A. We do not have the authority to install a traffic light on a state, county or town road.
- Why do public schools budgets have to pay for the busing of students to non-public (non Shen schools)? This comes out of taxpayer money for families that choose not to go to Shen schools. That’s over $100,000 is expenses. Why wouldn’t this fall on the family that chooses to go to a private school? Thank you.
A. Because it is the law. While some families send their children to private school, they still pay property and income taxes that fund public schools.
