Grapevine

The Koda middle school graduation is scheduled for Tuesday, June 18th at 1:30. Why was this changed from an evening to an afternoon? Are siblings allowed to leave school and attend? Will they be exempt and recorded as an excused absent? My daughter has a regents exam at that time also. Thank you.
A. Acadia and Koda decided to move to the day similar to most elementary schools. Each student is allowed 2 guests due to space limitations. Excused absences are defined by N.Y.S. law, not the district.

During regents week for the late bus pickups, do students need a pass to get on the bus like the do for late buses on a typical school day? If so, where can students get a pass?
A. No.

If I am a junior and have my license, am I allowed to drive to school during regents week? I have to go to work immediately after most of my exams so this is important to know beforehand.
A. Yes.

Is there a schedule for AP class informational meetings? If so, when is the AP US History (APush) informational meeting?
A. The AP US History Summer Assignment meeting is Thursday, June 6, 2019 after school in Little Theater. We have combined the meeting with AP Chemistry to insure that students do not have to go between meetings.

Law states that school buses are to follow the same traffic laws as other vehicles and are NOT to stop the flow of traffic. Why then do buses stop traffic to let all other buses out in front of them? There are lines of cars and a bus will stop and let several buses go before them. That is blocking the flow of traffic is it not? I realize buses need to follow a schedule but they will not let cars out in front of them thus significantly blocking traffic. Bus drivers need to realize that others are also on time constraints – not just them. They need to keep traffic flowing smoothly and follow the laws.
A. Thanks for sharing…this is a concern we’ve addressed and will continue to address. Next time you see this, please email or call the director of transportation with the specific bus number, date and time so he can address the specific driver(s) instead of using the Grapevine forum as too much time would have gone […]

What are the consequences of a harmless senior prank such as a day where no one pushes in their chair?
A. It depends on where it fall in the code of conduct. If you have to ask, don’t do it.

Hello with the end of school year approaching we have some gently used backpacks (and other new school supplies) I looked to see if there was place you could donate them to the Bountiful Backpack program and it seems like the donations go through the Regional Food Bank for a monetary or food donation only – so thought I would reach out to you and see if there was another option to donate?
A. Yes, you can contact Becky Carman at 518-881-0611.

would you happen to have the emails of the dj’s at the senior prom? I would like to have a word with them
A. No.

I have a new proposal for the parking lot. You should build a parking garage on top of the parking lot. Yes, it would be ugly, but it would be efficient. we spent millions on the press box so we can spend millions on the parking lot. or if that is too much trouble, just pave over the area where everyone parks in the dirt (truck row) and tree row. Maybe even cut down the trees behind tree row and make more parking there too.
A. The press box did not cost even $1 million and it was paid for through fundraising.

why do you only answer questions from guys? This is classic shen: always favoring the football team. GIRLS WORK HARD TOO!
A. I have no way of knowing the gender of the person asking a question.

I have a very specific question for the person who answers questions on the grapevine: Where can I apply to be the person who replies to the questions?
A. You would apply to be a public information officer, but the position is currently occupied.

One of my friends chromebook was repaired twice and he had to pay for it but the chromebook was still broken I find it unfair that we kids are paying for something that chromecare is not properly fixing so he just doesnt fix it because hes tired of paying for it and also the part is the motherboard i belive because he cant use it without having it plugged in everytime he uses it.
A. Thanks for the feedback.

Hello. I am a senior here at Shen and I have read an article today that has left me with some concerns. I do not really want to reignite an old debate, but I feel that this is too important of a point to be ignored. Under recent policies, many of the HSE bathrooms are locked and mostly unavailable to prevent students from vaping. I understand the intent and purpose of these actions, though, as someone who does not vape, I can still think of a thousand reasons why this is a generally poorly executed idea, reasons which have been brought up by again and again by others before. However, an article I read mentioned a point that I hadn’t thought of, and that I haven’t seen brought up before (it may have been and I’m just not aware). I was reading an article that came across my newsfeed about the Parkland shooting in Florida last year that discussed the mistakes made by the school district that could have prevented some of what happened. One of these things sounded extremely similar to what Shen has done: locking bathrooms to prevent vaping. During the Parkland shooting, according to this article, students became stranded in the hallway. One reason for this was because the bathrooms were locked and they could not enter them in order to attempt to hide. One student was killed outside a locked bathroom. While hiding in a bathroom under such circumstances may not be the safest option, it is much better than being trapped in a hallway. If the bathrooms in that hallway during the Parkland shooting were unlocked, lives could have been saved. It could have given students a better chance at survival. I do not know if this point has been brought up before or if Shen has taken this into consideration when choosing to lock bathroom doors. I am graduating from Shen so soon these policies will have zero impact on me at all, but I could not read that article and not bring up this point, because I believe it is something that should be considered, as we should be learning from the mistakes of other schools where such tragedies occurred in order to further secure the safety of current and future Shen students.
A. Thanks for the feedback.

To the parent who vented about the sub problem at Chango being unacceptable and the new librarian having to fill in, I have a solution. On Moe Rd., there is the Clifton Park-Halfmoon Library. Take your child there. The added bonus is that you can be there with your child and spend some quality time with him/her. You can make library time anytime you want from after school, to closing, and anytime they are open on weekends. They also have programming from time to time. Our taxes fund it, and it is a great resource!
A. Thanks for the feedback.

I want to try out for a HS sport next fall but I will still be in middle school. When are the physical dates for that?
A. The physical dates have just been posted on the athletic webpage and the district’s google calendar.

Will students currently in 8th grade keep thier current Chromebooks in to 9th grade or will be get new ones? The ones were currently have are old, slow, and very faulty.
A. No, you will not keep the same Chromebook from 8th to 9th grade.

Responding to the comment that suggested cutting World Cult/World Lit, that class is excellent, if you don’t like it you can take honors or AP. The class does what it was designed to do excellently, don’t be upset because you can’t manage the work.
A. Thanks for the feedback.

Why is it ok for a teacher to assign a packet almost every day in class and then sit at her desk listening to music while the students work on it? How is that teaching? Can we get a system where students review teachers and the results go directly to their boss?
A. If you have a concern, contact your principal.

how do i find out i have a summer assignment?
A. They are usually posted on the website or you can ask or email the teacher or academic administrator.

Is it okay for juniors and sophomores to park at the middle school or in the elementary school overflow lots and walk to school? You don’t need a permit there, do you?
A. No, it is not okay.

Who can I speak to regarding a teacher? She’s been terrorizing the students all year and has failed to grade any of our work. She also has been stealing points by going back and taking them away after the fact. Like weeks after it was graded. Several students have proof. She also spends every class talking about her dog and assigns is work without doing ANYTHING in her class. Her reviews online say she’s been doing this her whole career. How is she still here.
A. Talk with your principal.

That was a nice play on words. I didn’t say that he didn’t introduce, I said welcome. He did welcome every group by name except the teachers. The intentional exception was noted as a sign of lack of respect for the group. The teachers should be recognized even if the superintendent views them as the elephant in the room.
A. Sorry, I misspoke. While community and staff members are always welcome and encouraged to attend board meetings, the superintendent doesn’t typically extend a verbal welcome to audience members and didn’t do so at that meeting. He introduced people on the agenda: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NcTkfZO6ntQ

What do we do if teachers at the middle schools tell us their opinion about politics?
A. You can find the Board Policy here https://docs.google.com/document/d/1IYU6Dei8YLG8wyawzZ6dtQqj7ETafRtxSRlH8vdb8JQ/view. If you feel a teacher violated this policy, contact your principal.

When will applications for parking be sent out, the email that was sent out didn’t specify any kind of time line
A. A follow up communication will be provided to all students who qualify.

When will the new teachers that get hired be announced to the public?
A. New staff members are hired at various times. New hires are in the board of education agenda packets posted on the BOE web page.

It’s really pretty sad that the district continues to play dumb about why the teachers are wearing black and arriving in large groups at various activities. There are any number of union leaders within the district you can reach out to for comment. It’s disingenuous, disrespectful and disconcerting that you pretend otherwise. I believe the purpose of this blog is to “…get answer to questions and to address rumors.” So address the following rumor please. “The reason Shen teachers are showing up en masse and in black is because the district is not honoring their obligation per the current contract in terms of emergency days.”
A. Thank you for the clarification. The district has a different interpretation of the contract seeking to maximize instructional time for students. Contract disputes occur from time to time among all employee groups. The district abides by the clearly identified resolution process in Education Law and as stipulated in the contract.

Does Shen offer any plant related or botany clubs/classes? And when can you take them?
A. Please check out our course Progressions on the Shen’s Academic Page: https://www.shenet.org/academics/ and the link to our clubs and activities: https://www.shenet.org/shen-high-school/clubs-extracurricular-activities/

So why is the global regents exam so much earlier than the others at H.S.E (6/3, ) while other exams are mid June?
A. The Global History & Geography II Regents exam is a new exam. After students have taken the test, the New York State Education Department goes through six steps to determine the cut, or passing score for a new Regents exam. This process takes until late June.

Does the girls golf team start this year in 2019? what seasons? Do we have to tryout? How do I get the information?
A. We are starting a girls golf program for Fall 2019. Contact the athletics department.

Hello, I am a girl with short hair and one day i wore a baggy sweatshirt and long basketball shorts to school and went to the bathroom and a monitor dress coded me because apparently someone made an assumption that I’m a guy. The monitor said I can’t wear them because it makes others think I’m a boy making people uncomfortable. I didn’t see this anywhere in the dress code, am I able to wear said attire?
A. I am not really sure what dress coded means. However, what you were wearing by your description is not against the dress code. Please talk with your principal.

I am a senior that attended the Senior Prom and would first like to say thank you to everyone who played a role in planning the event. The night was very well planned and organized, but the cost of the ticket was not reflected in the food or the DJ. As you know, the day of Prom can be hectic for most, so the lack of quality food for dinner was a disappointment.
A. Thanks for the feedback.

Why are elementary school teachers allowed to have parties in their classrooms during lunch times? The meals served do not meet nutritional guidelines and the cafeterias are losing reimbursement money and profit.
A. If you have a concern, please contact your principal.

Will the 8th grade latin students have a speaking exam?
A. Yes. It is only worth 10% of the total final exam score and it is very different from the modern language exams (shorter and less complex).

Are all the questions that are put in answered?
A. For the most part.

I heard that next year that the finals would not be on a half day and that if would be a full day and kids would not get to go home early. Is this true because if it is then shen needs to keep finals a half day because it is very stressful on kids and if it is a full day then it would not be mentally healthy for the kids taking the finals.
A. Next year’s calendar is posted here: https://www.shenet.org/about-us/events-calendar/

Why on Earth does Shen not have a page dedicated to students who passed during their years at Shen? They die, you might mourn for a week but then it’s gone. They’re forgotten and it’s sick. There should be a photograph and brief description for each passed person since Shen’s opening.
A. We don’t have that information and that is not the purpose of the website.

On the Thursday before Memorial Day weekend, why did teachers at HSE stand outside until 7:35 and wear all black? This does not send a good message to students.
A. As best as we can surmise, some teachers, in their capacity as union members, were merely displaying solidarity. It is not uncommon as unions engage in collective bargaining negotiations.

When will the 2019 Senior Awards link be listed on Shen HS website?
A. It was posted last week.

How/when will seniors find out if they are eligible to receive the medal for graduation for a 95%+ overall gpa?
A. Students will be called down to the principal’s office.

If i am a 8th grader at shen, Am I allowed to go to senior prom if the person is a senior who is taking me?
A. No, you must be high school age.

Is there gonna be karaoke in the little theatre on the last day of school like past years? (beside last year because of library renovations) If you do not know could you direct me to someone who may know
A. No karaoke. The Little Theater is undergoing renovations beginning the last week of school.

A thought regarding the turnout for the budget vote and school board elections. While it may not always be practical, when there is a spare snow day forego classes and extracurricular activities on voting day rather than extending the holiday weekend. Traffic in and around the campus may be a deterrent to voting.
A. Thanks for the suggestion.

On the way to school the day of the lock out, my bus driver scared all of the students. She told us HSE and HSW are in a lock down so lots of police would be present. I am unsure whether or not there was a lock down at the highschools, but from what I heard, there was only a shelter inplace. So, my question is, does the Shen Transportation Department have to know the saftey drill titles and meanings?
A. We are sorry for the scare. Transportation department personnel do know the safety drills terminology…your driver misspoke.

How long does Shen keep their desktops and Chromebooks?
A. This depends. Typically PC’s remain in service for five years. Chromebooks are typically in circulation for four years. In some cases these times can be extended as long as the devices are supported with operating system security updates.

Can World Culture/World Literature be taken out of the curriculum? It is seriously unfitting for the tenth grade curriculum. It does not prepare students consistently for the Global Regents, and frankly knowing art history will do little benefit to us in the future unless we want to have a career in art. Not to mention how the coursework is much too immense to be considered just and honors class. So please, take Cult/Lit out of the curriculum, or at least offer it as a 12th grade class rather than a 10th grade one.
A. The description of World Culture/ World Literature includes the study of art history for awareness when students select the course. It is an optional course for 10th graders who believe they are ready for rigorous study and over the years many students who have taken the course have found it to be very valuable. […]

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.

If Shen has 5 snow days every year, and we only used one this year, why do we only get one snow day back? Where do the other 3 snow days go?
A. The days of work are predicated on various collective bargaining contracts. Teachers for instance are expected to work between 183-186 days per year. Similarly, building level administrators work 10 months plus 21 days in the summer. The superintendent and other district level administrators work 12 months. Some CSEA staff members only work while schools […]

First and foremost, taxpayers need to know who sets and approves the Superintendent’s salary. Second, how can this Superintendent feel he is far above doing what is right and most certainly agreed upon through a signed contract….not to have Thursday, May 23rd as NO SCHOOL? Now it will have to be litigated ($$$$) and when found to be in the teacher’s favor, OVERTIME will have to be paid out! Someone has gotten too big for themselves here and makes everyone wonder, if he reneges this portion of a contract what will stop him at any other? Teachers deserve better (you’ve already stripped them of having control of their classrooms and let the parents call the shots) and maybe the taxpayers who vote need to become better informed when they check boxes or pull levers for school board and budget!
A. All decisions made by the superintendent or members of the administrative team are based on either Board of Education policies, NYS Education Laws and Regulations, or collective bargaining contract stipulations. Like with most decisions, people have a right to varied interpretations. However, the goal is to always act with fidelity to ensure we are […]

Who do I take to about raising the buses speed limit on the highway from 55mph to 65mph..these buses going 55 cause a lot of slowdowns and near accidents..not good
A. Bus speed limit of 55 MPH is set by New York State Vehicle and Traffic Law (8 NYCRR 156.3 e6). The speed limit is designed for the safety of the passengers.

If I haven’t risen the morning bus all year will the bus still stop at my stop during regents week
A. If it is a scheduled stop, but you should be out there before the bus arrives.

Does anyone watch the High School West students when they are outside for gym? I was worked in a Gowana room that faced the HSW on Thursday, May 30th , and the actions of the girls outside were ridiculous. A group of 5-6 girls tried to catch the geese and chased them around the field yelling with their arms. This continued for around 10 minutes. Not only was it extremely distracting, it was disrespectful to the students and teachers trying to work, and the birds as well.
A. When students go outside for physical education, they are under the supervision of the physical education teacher. If you have a concern, please contact the principal.

When, specifically, did the teacher’s contract expire?
A. Contracts don’t expire, they stay in place until a new contract is negotiated. All contracts are posted on our human resources page.

Why can’t Johnny 2 phones perform at the freshman football game at halftime it’s not like 2-5 minutes of a song is going to hurt anyone?
A. We don’t have outside performers at football games.

Why has my first grader at Chango come home yet again NOT having gone to library because the newly hired librarian was assigned to teach another class due to a sub shortage? My child, like many, looks forward to getting a new library book each week and I am quite sure his teacher depends on that library time to plan. Shen ought to problem solve and diagnose the sub system disease and not just treat the symptoms with Band-aids. Our kids are losing out and that’s unacceptable.
A. Please contact the school principal to share your concerns. While we have more than 200 substitutes on the list, sometimes there is still a shortage. At that time, other instructional staff are needed to cover the classroom assignments.

Is it true that the superintendent welcomed everyone to the board meeting except the 100 teachers in attendance?
A. Audience members have never been introduced at board meetings. The only people who are introduced are those scheduled on the agenda.

In light of the incident with the yearbook and Colorguard, I just want to say that I also am a parent of a child in the program. As much as it is unfortunate that this mistake happened I will not be aligned with how much this was completely blown out of proportion. If people would just take a moment to breathe and have a rational conversation with those in charge this could have been resolved without all the social media drama. I want to extend my appreciation to Mr. Davidson for his apology and resolution- it’s not like he hasn’t had a lot on his plate with the new library. I have never felt that Shen has ever shunned or not given Colorguard recognition it’s ridiculous that some think so.
A. Thank you for your feedback. Putting that yearbook together is an enormous task. While it was unfortunate, mistakes happen.

Are teachers allowed to assign work during the school day with a 5:00 same day deadline? Students have obligations to sports and jobs after school. This is high school, not college, and students attend classes for a full school day. Being told to find a different time during the school day to complete the work is not an acceptable solution. Does the teacher expect that students skip eating lunch, don’t attend another class, skip after school athletic practices or miss after school work in order to meet the 5:00 deadline?
A. What you describe is not typical. Students are busy, have many demands on their time, and work at different paces. Was the assignment actually given in class to be completed by the end of class and the teacher extended the deadline for you to 5pm? I encourage you to discuss this with your teacher […]

Do any of the clubs in high school go to Disney world/Disneyland?
A. Not unless there is a competition there.

How long is the graduation expected to last?
A. It typically takes about two hours.

Hi, I was wondering if the girls golf team got approved in the budget vote on May 21.
A. Yes, it did.

My car suffered significant suspension damage due to the roads on campus, should I turn my repair bill into the main office for compensation?
A. Sorry, that is not how it works.

The lady who works at the front desk each morning at HSE is extremely pleasant. She is always smiling and greeting the students as they walk in. Even if it’s a Monday. Her attitude is very infectious and is a great, impactful way to start my day. I think every staff member should use her as an example to try and spread more positive vibes.
A. We agree. Thanks for the feedback.

Why were the teachers standing outside the building all dressed in black?
A. As best as we can surmise, some teachers, in their capacity as union members, were merely displaying solidarity. It is not uncommon as unions engage in collective bargaining negotiations.

i saw a few comments about shen looking at different scheduling options. i understand that it’s hard to know, but does this mean the district will be changing the 9 period high school/middle school schedule? Will it change BOTH the HS and MS schedule? is it at all likely/ possible?
A. No decision have been made, it is still exploratory. The committee is looking at scheduling options for grades 6-12.

What is Dr Robinson’s daily schedule like? Is there somewhere where we can see his public schedule/events? How often is he at schools vs at the district offices?
A. If you would like to see his schedule, feel free to make an appointment with him.

how does shen handle all the chromebooks and other electronics no longer in use? previously you mentioned that the 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”. e-waste is a huge environmental problem that affects the entire world, and in most cases, the devices are not disposed of properly which leads to countless environmental issues. can you elaborate on how the devices are recycled? where does the e-waste go and how is it handled? thank you
A. That would be a question for BOCES.

what sports qualify you for a varsity letter? JV letter? and your graduation year numbers? I have heard some JV sports don’t get letters and only freshman sports get the graduation year numbers. Do modified sports get anything? Can you buy them somewhere if you don’t receive them even when you are on a school team?
A. All sports are afforded the same in regards to letters, inserts, numerals, etc…the issue is that some sports have freshmen levels and some sports do not. Varsity athletes receive a letter the 1st year they are on the team and an insert every subsequent year. JV athletes receive a jv letter the 1st year […]

i am a junior, looking to take AP bio as a senior. I find it very frustrating that i have to take physics in order to take this class. I have no interest in physics whatsoever, and quite frankly i see it as a waste of my time, I checked, and physics isn’t even a new york state requirement to graduate high school so I don’t really see why I have to waste my time, and take up time in my schedule that could be used for extra curricular classes. please fix this.
A. Please make an appointment to discuss this with the Academic Administrator for Science at high school east.

High School West has a Black and Latino achievers club but does not have a white or asain achievers club. So how come racism is ok but only when its towards whites and asains. I want this immediately fixed.
A. The Black and Latino Achievers Program is a college and career readiness program sponsored by the Capital District YMCA, not high school west. Locally, meetings are held at the Southern Saratoga YMCA; please reach out to the YMCA with your questions or for more information.

For the High School West lunchroom, why are there only two bathroom passes available for boys and three for girls?
A. Thanks for bringing this to our attention; we will make sure there are three passes for both restrooms.

There are rumors that there will be a lockdown at the middle school with simulated gunshots, is this true?
A. No.

Due to a recent issue with overheating of a kiln in the middle school, and resultant evacuation of students, I am wondering if ALL kilns in our schools will be inspected for safety. From what I understand there are quite a few. Who oversees the safety of these kilns? Are they cleaned and inspected yearly? Nobody seems to know. Thank you for any info you can provide.
A. To our knowledge, there was not an issue with a kiln overheating. There was an issue with baking ceramics in a toaster oven. However, the teachers that use them, monitor them. When there is an apparent issue we bring professionals in to examine.

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 will Shen take the Chromebooks back for the High School?
A. This will be communicated by the principal’s office.

Why is there two handicap parking only signs up in the grass at change?
A. The signs are moved for maintenance of the parking lot—and then restored to the proper locations. The signs are not in place during the winter months due to the need to plow snow.

Is there a way that the class of 2023 when they go into highschool and get new computers is there anyway that they could possibly keep the chromebooks they had before and have all the school stuff and sonicwall deleted and given to them as a personal computer for them to own and keep
A. Sorry, those devices will still be used by the district in other locations. On the bright side, you will have a nice new device in September.

The bus drivers need to be trained better, and even if they are a sub, they should know which street to go down. Recently, we were standing out in the cold for almost an hour, and when the bus finally came, we were taking wrong turns every 10 seconds.
A. Thanks for the feedback.

I sent this in before and i havent seen an answer… Is there a reason why the girls bathroom supply of feminine products is not being refilled? I get that kids will take them and throw them away, but there are some people who need them because they A.cant afford them, B. dont have them with them, and many toher reasons. I get having the sign to go to the school nurse once in a while when there is non left, but since the new dispencer of femine products was put in place, there has been that sign to go to the nurse.Students and faculty use the dispenser and there has been none in the ALL middle school girls bathrooms longer than I remember.
A. We were having a problem with students opening them and throwing them on the floor and stuffing down toilets. We always maintain feminine supplies in our Nurse’s Office but will continue to add supplies in our bathrooms.

Please fill in the deep potholes behind the buses at HSE. When I’m leaving the parking lot each day, its like off-roading. We’re aware of the significant work that will be done this summer but in the meantime, a few bags of sand and blacktop material would help. Thanks.
A. They are in the process of fixing potholes.

What is being done about the middle school student wearing black face to school ? It doesn’t matter if he is in special ed. It’s so inappropriate to let this go on !! The news should be notified!
A. No one know seems to know what you are referring to.

After reading next year’s budget plan. I had noticed the fact that repairs for Arongen’s roof is listed however repairs for the floor in one of the tech rooms for high school east was not mentioned. What is the current situation for this repair?
A. Yes, it has been fixed.

Has Shen considered purchasing Tesla buses?
A. Shen transportation is always evaluating the various fuel/electric powered school buses and will continue to do so. Currently Tesla does not offer school buses. There are other electric powered school buses but their cost is too prohibitive at this point. We will continue to monitor the market forces and make decisions accordingly.

When do students that have art in the art show get their art back?
A. Artwork at the annual show is picked up by students at the closing reception or returned in the days following by the art teacher. If the art is on exhibit in a different show you’ll have to ask the art teacher directly because the dates for each are different.

I think not being able to bring water into your study halls is really dumb and shouldn’t be implemented along with not allowing you to charge your chromebooks during school even if you have your own charger because maybe you accidently unplugged it or you were so drowsy that you didn’t know it wasn’t in an outlet and I think it is very inhumane that we should get punished for not having a charged chromebook.
A. Thanks for the feedback.

So very sad to see my girls look at their yearbook and NOT see their activity recognized! This is horrible. The Shen Colorguard is a Nationally recognized program. In 2015 the Shen guard performed at the Barclay Center, Air Canada Center with artists like Nelly Furtado and David Byrne. The documentary of this show (for which our students are in) has won many awards at the TriBeca Film Festival and other film festivals across the country. The same guard WON their division at World Championships in 2016. From then on they have been finalist in the elite high school level that only 25 other high school guards in the country are admitted to. Meaning they are the best of the best. Not to mention all of the previous years accomplishments which are too numerous to mention. Oh, let’s add in all the State Championships to the list as well. To have them overlooked in this yearbook is unacceptable! They deserve recognition! So disappointed in the yearbook committee and for the lack of oversight.
A. This was sent to the Colorguard advisor and asked that it be shared with the Colorguard community: To the SHEN Colorguard Community: My name is Steve Davidson and I am the Librarian at Shenenedehowa High School East and the new Yearbook Club Advisor. I am writing to give a sincere apology for the omission […]

What is good with that lock out the other day? I find it rather ridiculous and uninformed that this lock down went into effect. First of all who mistakes an umbrella for a firearm, is there anybody that misinformed? Well obviously. Second I will guarantee that if this man had been white this never would have happened, he would have been allowed to conduct his business as usual. I find the very fact that the school went into a lock out as an offense on civil liberty and a racially charged statement.
A. It was a lock out which is different from a lock down. A lock out is basically a precaution and it simply means that no one is going outside. If the police thought to be a credible threat, all schools would have been locked down and, more than likely, the campus roads would have […]

Does shen’s superintendent make over $300,000 as reported in this article https://dailygazette.com/article/2019/05/16/shenendehowa-leader-set-to-make-300k-as-school-administrator-pay-continues-to-rise?
A. No. The Gazette is reporting his total compensation package. Nobody thinks of this as their salary, most people don’t even know what their total compensation package is. Total compensation is everything the organization provides an employee in exchange for working. It includes base salary, employer-paid portions of health/dental/vision/life insurance, retirement benefits, educational benefits, employee […]

So why are students and staff not receiving this thursday off? We only used 1 emergency day which would mean we rightfully have thursday and friday off, i also heard that teachers can only work a certain amount of paid days, which would mean they aren’t getting payed for teaching this thursday.
A. School will be in session and teachers will get paid. The goal is to always maximize days of instruction for students.

How long have the teachers been working without a contract?
A. Teachers do not work without a contract. The contract with benefits and step raises stays in place until a new contract is negotiated.

When are students getting their yearbooks this year?
A. It depends on what school you are in. You could ask the office staff.

I noticed a group of teachers outside of Shen’s district office today, Monday, May 20. Can you tell me why they were there?
A. Best to ask them, I don’t want to make any assumptions.

I feel the name “Grapevine” is highly inappropriate as the name of a High School forum. The implications of wine and revelry derived from this name feel EXTREMELY out of place for such a high class establishment as the Shenendehowa Central School District. I am DISGUSTED such a putrid and improper title is what we use to represent ourselves. The district should be UTTERLY ASHAMED. Please, on behalf of Shenendehowa’s image, reconsider the name of this forum.
A. It is the Grapevine, not the Grape wine.

Subject: Grapevine Submission Form I would like to say thank you for helping my peers and I. Some of these are really stupid, yes, but you take them calmly and sometimes make your responses humorous. Reading the ‘Grape Vine” makes my day ten times better! Thank you!
A. You are welcome.

Hello, I was wondering where I would be able to find the full list of all Shen policies.
A. https://www.shenet.org/board-of-education/board-of-education-policy-manual/

how do i (a student at HSE) go about getting a new chromebook charger to replace the one i lost?
A. Go to the SHED.

FYI – we just got the Gowana Invitation and it says graduation is June 18th at 6:30pm. (students need to be there at 6pm). This response says 6/14 at 6pm… Q.Will Gowana be holding an 8th grade awards night in addition to “graduation?” I remember quite a few years back this was a separate event…at least I think it was! lol Will there be a Gowana 8th grade awards night? Thanks! A. There is only one event – Gowana Moving Up Ceremony – June 14 – 6:00pm in HSE
A. The Moving Up Ceremony is the 18th, there is only 1 event!

At the Underclassmen Awards night, one of the BOE members (ask anyone and they’ll know who I’m talking about) has a daughter and when her daughter’s friends were being called up, she hugged them while everyone else got a simple handshake. It made me, and probably others, feel like my/our rewards isn’t as notable as others, even if I got the same award as them.
A. As volunteers, BOE members work tirelessly on behalf of all students. They are not required to be present at awards ceremonies, doing so only because they appreciate and want to celebrate the achievement of students. It is not a shun of anyone for a member to hug their child.

only are we getting home probably 10 minutes later than we need to, it is often raining like today or very cold. Waiting inside is not an option because the bus is so far back in the port you cannot tell which is which before it is too late. After months the students on the bus have lost understanding for the department. We are bus 421
A. The transportation department is experiencing an extreme shortage of school bus drivers. We are doing our best to meet the needs of all of our students. Thank you for your patience and understanding.

I understand filling a big bus in the morning with 15-35 students but how does the district justify wasting the fuel on sending a large bus for 1 special ed child? Doesn’t seem efficient
A. There many ways of distinguishing efficiency. We run more than 600 routes daily. Sometimes it is more efficient for us to use a bus that is already out on the road instead of sending another bus especially in the this day and age of extreme school bus driver shortage.

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.

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