Letter to Families & Staff; 11-05-2021

Dear Families,

This letter contains important information from our district about: In-Person School Events, Pre-k through Grade 8 Parent Conferences, Upcoming Important Dates, COVID-19 Protocol Reminders, Information About the Flu, and Winter Sports.

All the information in this letter, from past letters and more, can be found on our website

In-Person School Events:  Over these opening months of school we have been able to safely adapt, come together again, and hold events for our students and community! As you may have seen, we held a concert, sporting events, student recognition awards, Board of Education meetings, and other events in person. Unless there are changes in directives from the Department of Health or State Education Department, we will continue to adapt and hold other in-person public events such as parent conferences, theater performances, student dances, proms, and graduation. Safety protocols may look a little different for each event based on the setting and circumstances. Sometimes attendance may be limited in order to ensure adequate social distancing. But we are dedicated to supporting our students’ academic, athletic, and social success, all while limiting possible exposure and keeping our schools open.

Pre-k through Grade 8 Parent Conferences: Tuesday, November 30th will be a half-day for students in Pre-Kindergarten through grade 8 so that families can participate in parent conferences. The conferences this year will be held virtually and in person, at the discretion of the family. If families choose to attend in person, they will be required to wear masks and stay 6 feet away from staff. We are also requesting that only those necessary for the meeting attend. More information will be coming out in the following weeks from your student’s building regarding these conferences. 

Upcoming Important Dates

  • Thursday, November 11: Veterans Day - No School

  • Friday, November 12: End of the first marking period for MS/HS and end of the first trimester for PK-5

  • Wed., November 24 - Fri., November 26: Thanksgiving Break - No School

  • Tuesday, November 30: Parent Conferences, early dismissal for students PK - grade 8.

COVID-19 Protocol Reminders: You can find the most up-to-date COVID-19 protocols for RCS on our website here, including information about student work when in quarantine. We created the COVID-19 Illness, Isolation, and Quarantine Guidance Charts to help families understand this guidance. Please remember that if a student or staff member is sick, they should not come to school/work that day. You can access the NYS Department of Health guide to exposure and contact tracing here

Information About the Flu: As the days grow colder, and we spend more time inside, students, staff, and families have a higher chance of contracting the flu. Although the current COVID-19 preventative measures help contain the spread of the flu, it is important that we all do our part to keep our community healthy. We have provided families with resources on how to prevent and combat the flu on our health service page here

Winter Sports: We sent home information regarding winter sports registration to qualifying grades via email, you can find that information on our website here. Registration is now open for all winter sports. The in-school winter sports physicals for students who cannot be seen by their Doctor were originally scheduled for Tuesday, November 9th, and have been moved to Friday, November 12th. To make an appointment, contact your student’s nurse.

Good luck to all of our teams in sectionals this week, Cross Country, Football, and Girls Swimming & Diving! A big congratulations to the rest of our teams for a fantastic season! This weekend the Varsity Football team will be having their first playoff game at Glens Fall, the game is pre-paid digital tickets only. We appreciate your support for our students and staff. If you have any questions about anything covered in the letter, please reach out to your student’s building for clarification. Thank you and have a great weekend,

Brian Bailey, Ed.D. 

Superintendent of Schools