We understand that many of our students and teachers are struggling with technical difficulties trying to access Google Classroom and Zoom this morning. Apparently Google carried out a host of updates last night and as a result we have been advised to tell students and teachers to completely power down their devices and restart them. That should enable us to be back "up and running" with Google Classroom and Zoom. Thank you for your attention to this important matter and we apologize for the inconvenience!
As we prepare for winter weather and the inevitable “snow days” we deal with each year, it is important for students and families to know that we will not cancel school on those days, but instead we will move to remote instruction. We will follow the same process for making the decision when we have inclement weather and we will still communicate that decision with our families and employees as we have in the past. The difference this year is that while students will not report to school, we will still be in session just as we are on any other remote instruction day.
Please talk with your children about this change and emphasize the need to be prepared to learn from home on days when bad weather is in the forecast.
This week’s food pick-up for all families, grades Pre-K through 12, will take place at the entrance to the high school gymnasium TODAY, November 30, and THURSDAY, December 3, from 3:30 PM to 5:30 PM. This is a change from pick-ups previously held at Sinclairville Elementary. Additionally, any family with remote students can pick up academic materials Thursday from 3:30 PM – 5:30 PM. Elementary remote student material pick up will take place at the Sinclairville Elementary School and remote students in grades 6-12 can pick up their academic materials at the Middle/High School from 3:30 PM -5:30 PM Thursday.
Important message for students in grades 6-12:
We have recently been notified of three (3) positive cases of COVID19 from our faculty and staff who work at the middle/high school building. In light of these three cases, and the resulting staff members who are now in quarantine, we have decided to move to fully remote instruction from Monday, November 30th thru Friday, December 4 for all students in grades 6-12.
This move to remote instruction only applies to students who are in grades 6-12 who attend the middle/high school building. Sinclairville Elementary students (those in Pre-Kindergarten – 5th grade) are not impacted by these three COVID19 cases and will follow the regular red-blue hybrid schedule for attendance next week.
Ms. Gruber's and Ms. Thompson's classes completed a distance learning turkey disguise game (similar to guess who) today with a class in Long Island.
Key Club members created thank you notes/signs for workers at Heritage Village.
Reminder: Packed meals will be available for pick-up today at Sinclairville Elementary School between 3:30 PM - 5:30 PM. Please allow the buses to leave before lining up for pick-up. If you would like to sign up to receive meals, please call the Food Service Office at 962-8581 x1507.
Middle School Students are Thankful!
Thank you to the Chautauqua Cattaraugus Library System for sharing this information!
It's another beautiful day in The Valley!
Important information about Food Pick-Up and Academic Material Pick-Up: https://ensemble.e2ccb.org/Watch/Kj5n8YCx
Beginning Thursday, November 19, 2020, any family that wants to take advantage of free meals for students are being asked to pick that food up at Sinclairville Elementary School.
· Food pick-up time for this Thursday is from 3:00 PM–5:30 PM.
· Food pick-up time for next week will be on Monday, Nov. 23 from 3:30 PM-5:30 PM.
· Food pick-up time for Nov. 30 and beyond will be both Mondays and Thursdays from 3:30 PM-5:30 PM.
From now on, families who have fully remote students will also have to pick up their child’s academic materials. Remote students from SES and the Middle/High School should plan to make an academic pick-up this Thursday between the hours of 3:00 PM and 5:30 PM at Sinclairville Elementary School.
An important update from Mr. Leichner:
https://ensemble.e2ccb.org/Watch/e6L7Tmp5
All students, PreK-12, will be taught remotely on Friday, November 13, 2020. More information can be found in the video announcement from Mr. Leichner, posted previously.
An important message from Mr. Leichner can be found here:
https://ensemble.e2ccb.org/Watch/At85Xso3
The school has just been notified of a positive case of COVID-19 in a staff member in our middle/high school building. We are in touch with the Chautauqua County Department of Health and contact tracing has begun. If you have been exposed, the County will be in direct contact with you tomorrow.
As a result of this news, and out of an abundance of caution, the middle/high school will be closed tomorrow and Friday – November 12 and 13. All faculty and staff should plan to work remotely as well, unless you are contacted directly buy a supervisor.
Since the individual who tested positive has not been in the elementary school, we are only closing the middle/high school for the next two days to allow the contact tracing to be completed. Classes at Sinclairville Elementary will take place as usual and students in grades 6-12 should plan to attend remotely.
Food delivery this week will be delivered Tuesday, November 10th, due to there being no school on Wednesday, November 11th, in observance of Veteran's Day. Instructional materials will be delivered on Thursday, November 12th.
Members of the Key Club made cards to send to Veteran's for celebration of next week's Veteran's Day.
The CVCS Board of Education will hold its regular monthly meeting on Monday, November 9, 2020, starting at 7:00 PM in the M/HS Multi-Purpose Room. Social distancing will be enforced.
Students in Ms. Burns' Ag class were given a challenge - to build three tiers in 30 minutes with correct specs. The Ag kids did pretty well!
Packed meal menus for November can be found on our website: http://cassadagavalleycsdny.apptegy.us/o/cvcs/page/november-packed-meals-menus
Each month the menus for the month will be posted. On the homepage, select "Menu." Under "Food Service" the packed meals menu page will be an option. Additionally, daily menus served at school (Monday, Tuesday, Thursday and Friday) can be found on the website. Click on "Menu" then "Dining."
The daily menu can be found under "Dining" on the district's app, as well!
Childcare CARES 100% Tuition Scholarship Is Here
As part of the CARES funding, NYS has a new scholarship to cover childcare and help working parents go to their workplace. These scholarships, if approved, cover the period from the date application is submit to January 10, 2021. But hurry, apply before the funding runs out!
Eligibility Requirements:
*One Parent is an essential worker as per Executive Order or work for a school (teacher, bus driver, receptionist, etc.) or work outside the home (full- or part-time) work at least 20 hours a week
*You meet the income requirements below.
*Other parent/step-parent/guardian in the household is not available to care for the child.
Family Gross Household
Size Income (Maximum)
2 $51,270
3 $65,160
4 $78,600
5 $92,040
6 $105,480
Apply for the scholarship here:
https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSesvZbqvAM2t1P7HR-bvKXXBnrwlaGKGGWwycdFdmoRsfluJw/viewform
NOTICE OF SPECIAL MEETING
There will be a special workshop meeting of the CVCS Board of Education on Wed. 10/28/20, at 7 PM in the M/HS Multi-Purpose Room. The Board will discuss Board Goals for the 20-21 school year. Social distancing will be enforced.
Cassadaga Valley Central School is accepting applications through November 2, 2020, for a full-time Working Supervisor. Click here for a job description: https://5il.co/meqy
Click here for the application: https://www.cvcougars.org/o/cvcs/page/employment-opportunities--677
This is a reminder that tomorrow (Friday, 10/23) will be a regular day of school for all hybrid and full-remote students. Originally, an in-service day was scheduled, but this will be rescheduled for a date later in the school year.
Pictured are Key Clubbers Hayden Coucher-Hobbs and Kennedy Pattison assembling Halloween gift bags for Heritage Nursing home in Gerry.
Here's a quick tutorial on how to easily access the M/HS Morning Announcements:
https://5il.co/m61h
An important from Mr. Leichner:
https://ensemble.e2ccb.org/Watch/k6NGf7r5
Please take a moment to fill out this survey indicating your preference for your child's attendance for the next marking period. Please fill out one survey for each child by October 21, 2020.
https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSeyS2uZObdICJkkgRV_ikJlZamU7W1KBqAIvqOfY9kHckzzDA/viewform?gxids=7757&fbclid=IwAR1ppEwNgc60ymPZ3wvXehXnC06J2krA98uggiUdnYCUFldmt8F_2UHK3Co
Students and faculty support Key Club's "Pink the School" Day to support Breast Cancer Awareness.
Photo: Max Pingitore (student); Teachers Karen Schrader, Steve Helwig and Ronnette Riforgiat
A new drop box is now available for students and parents to return
completed assignments, books, and other school materials at the Middle/High School. This new drop box can be accessed during the school day, after-hours, or even on weekends. It is conveniently located at the back of the building, next to the Fitness Center entrance.
CVCS is accepting applications through October 16, 2020, for the following positions:
Secondary Special Education Teacher (Grades 6-12)
Bus Drivers
Application information can be found at: https://www.cvcougars.org/o/cvcs/page/employment-opportunities--677
The Cassadaga Valley Central School District Board of Education will hold its regular monthly meeting on Tuesday, October 13, 2020, starting at 7:00 PM in the M/HS Multi-Purpose Room. Social distancing will be enforced.
Just a short time ago a CO2 sensor indicator light went off in our Middle/High School building. That notification required us to evacuate the building until the local fire department could come and give us clearance to re-enter. We immediately called all M/HS parents to notify them of the evacuation. All students in grades 6-12 were outside for about 10 minutes while the fire department arrived, cleared the building and granted us re-entry. We are now all back in the building, everything is safe and we are finishing out a normal school day. Thank you and have a great weekend!
Reminder: School will be closed Monday, October 12.
Available now at SES - a new box for drop off of materials 24/7, school days after 9am, and anytime weekends!
Check out our M/HS Students of the Month!
https://sites.google.com/cvcougars.org/guidance-counseling-office/middlehigh-school-student-of-the-month
Update on Pandemic Electronic Benefit Transfer:
https://ensemble.e2ccb.org/Watch/Mn8j2F5B
Tomorrow, October 7, we will be having a Dairy, Protein and Produce distribution from 11 AM - 1 PM or until gone.
All soccer games vs. Olean (both today and tomorrow) are postponed.
Middle/High School 5-week progress reports:
Tuesday, 10/13 -- reports sent home for Red Group students
Thursday, 10/15 -- reports sent home for Blue Group students
Thursday, 10/15 -- reports mailed home for full-remote students
Questions? Contact the M/HS Guidance Office.
Pink out the School for Breast Cancer Awareness, sponsored by Key Club - Friday, October 9 for Blue Group; Tuesday, October 13 for Red Group!
Important Update from Mr. Leichner:
https://ensemble.e2ccb.org/Watch/a7Y2Nep8
After reviewing our previously announced change for Red Group attendance on Wednesday, October 14, we are reversing that decision. Instead, Wednesday, October 14 will NOT be an in-person attendance day for the Red Group. It will be like every other Wednesday and will be a remote instruction day for everyone. There is no school on Columbus Day - Monday, October 12 – and we will make up that absence for the Red Group at a later date.
Tomorrow (Friday, October 2) is our annual Go Home Early drill. New York State requires all school districts to hold an annual “Go Home Early” drill to ensure that students and staff know what to do in case an emergency requires school grounds to be cleared at a time other than our regular dismissal time. Both school buildings will dismiss 15 minutes earlier than their regular dismissal tomorrow. Those who pick their children up from school will follow the same procedure, just 15 minutes earlier than normal.
The public libraries in our area are working together and collaborating with the Cassadaga Valley Central School District to provide the best services they can to support our district families. By completing this survey, parents will help each of the libraries in our district to make plans for programs and resources to assist our students. To complete this survey: https://forms.gle/F8rRiLhjm996Gr3o6
Cassadaga Valley Central School is accepting applications through October 7, 2020, for the following positions:
Part-time Cleaner (5.5 hours/day - 10 months/year)
Substitute Cleaners
Elementary Special Education Teacher
Substitute Teachers
Application information can be found at: http://cassadagavalleycsdny.apptegy.us/o/cvcs/page/employment-opportunities--677
Purchase your 2020-21 Middle/High School yearbook by Friday (10/2) for the lowest price of the school year! Cost for Middle School is $16.20 and High School is $59.40 (these prices include tax). Yearbooks can be purchased at www.jostens.com or a check (made out to Valley View 2021) or cash can be given to Mrs. Bennink in Room 125.
Packed meal pickup will be tomorrow (Wednesday) between 11:00AM - 1:00 PM at SES. Families scheduled for meal delivery should expect them between 10:30 AM - 1:30 PM. If families can not be home to receive the meals, please leave a cooler out with a note to leave the food in the cooler.
Students and staff are excited to have Moxy, the baby ostrich, with us! Moxy was hatched recently in Ms. Burns' classroom.
The federal program that provided protein, dairy and produce boxes over the summer has ended. If we get notification that we will once again be receiving these boxes, we will post it to let everyone know.
The District is currently accepting applications for a Clerk II (Typist), Teacher Aides and Bus Drivers. Information can be found at https://www.cvcougars.org/o/cvcs/page/employment-opportunities--677
Protein and dairy boxes will be available for pickup today at the Fitness Center entrance from 11 AM - 1 PM.
Just a reminder that, just like it will be every Wednesday, for those that have requested meals, they will be available today for pickup at the Elementary School from 11 AM - 1 PM. If you requested meals but did not sign up for pickup, they will be delivered today. If you have not yet requested meals for this year, please call the Food Service Office at 962-8581 ext. 1507.
Cassadaga Valley Central School District is participating in the Community Eligibility Provision (CEP). Continuing this year, all students attending classes within Cassadaga Valley Central School District will receive a breakfast/lunch daily at no charge regardless of household income. This is a significant benefit to the students and families in our district.
Over the past few years, we have been aggressively seeking out federal grants and aid (such as CEP) in order to provide our students with additional resources. Many of these federal programs require us to provide additional information that we have not traditionally collected in the past. Please fill out the forms that were sent to all households earlier this week.
By completing these forms, you will provide us with information needed to complete federal grant applications. If you could please complete the forms and send them back in the enclosed self-addressed stamped envelope by Friday, October 16, 2020 so that we can pursue further grants. Thank you.
FAQ for Middle/High School can be found here:
https://5il.co/kyz6
A welcome message for SES students and parents from Mr. Gilevski!
https://drive.google.com/file/d/1W6RqBYQjpJjl1tsoURRcvkwhAmPi7LH5/view?usp=sharing
As a part of our ongoing effort to maintain health and safety protocols, we are asking that any member of the public who wants to attend a school board meeting to sign up in advance. We will no longer be conducting our meetings via Zoom so should you plan to attend, please complete this form:
https://forms.gle/Ln4fv94UtxbQjJC9A
This procedure will allow us to anticipate how many people will be in attendance so that we are sure we can maintain appropriate social distancing during our public meetings.
Middle/High School students may pick up their Chromebooks from the main office from 8:00 AM - 4:00 PM, Monday - Friday. Please call the main office (716) 962-8581 with any questions.
Cassadaga Valley Central School is accepting applications for the following positions:
Full-time Clerk II (Typist) – 12 month
Teacher Aides – 10 month
Full-time Bus Driver – 12 month
A non-teaching application, to be completed and returned to the District by September 21, 2020, can be found on our website – https://www.cvcougars.org/o/cvcs/page/employment-opportunities--677
The dates of the community food distribution have been changed to avoid traffic back ups while students are in the building.
They will held from 11 AM - 1 PM (or until gone) on the following dates:
Wednesday, September 9th
Wednesday, September 16th
M/HS Morning Announcements for 9/8/20: https://5il.co/kpcx
School will be totally remote learning this week, September 8-11. Red Group will begin September 14. Blue Group will begin September 17. This week, packed breakfasts and lunches for the week will be available for pickup today at SES from 11 AM - 1 PM. If parents haven't done so already, please complete the Food Service Survey (link available on our website).
PreK Virtual Orientation Video can be viewed here:
https://zoom.us/rec/share/114Fn0uXr8zK-o-lQOrYF1OFTqGbDA1KETVoRMGxD5O6IBV1QkjVpdqI-ilFcorC.rCEVqzZF_o9wC_eG
Passcode: D&8V2MWs
This is an update on the incident that resulted in the fire department reporting to the Middle/High School building this afternoon. An electronic device (stored in a plastic tote) that is designed to generate a "flash" for musical stage productions overheated and discharged in a classroom on the second floor. It was not in the chemistry lab and while the storage container was damaged, there was no damage to the classroom. No one was in the room and no one was injured. The building was evacuated so the fire department could clear the facility and we are back at work and in the building now. Thank you for your concern - all is well!
A 6th Grade Virtual Orientation, packed full of information, can be viewed here for all incoming 6th graders and their parents:
https://ensemble.e2ccb.org/Watch/w7TWd8r5
Tech Device Distribution for Students - September 2 and 3, from 3 - 7 PM. Devices will be distributed in the bus loop at SES for Grades K-5 and in the bus loop at the M/HS for Grades 6-12. *Bring photo ID.
There will be a Special Meeting of the CVCS Board of Education on Monday, 8/31/20, starting at 7:00 PM. This will be immediately followed by a special Workshop Meeting, where the Board will work on their goals for the 2020-2021 school year. The public may attend via Zoom using the following link:
https://zoom.us/j/99384189113?pwd=MnFjM2tXS0FVNkN3dEZ4U0szbHdWdz09
Meeting ID: 993 8418 9113
Passcode: 500204
Due to there being no electric in the building, the Board meeting scheduled for tonight (8/27/20) has been postponed until Monday, 8/31/20, at 7:00 PM. A new Zoom link will be posted on Monday.
UPK Orientation Zoom Meeting:
Time: Sep 2, 2020 01:00 PM Eastern Time (US and Canada)
https://zoom.us/j/95674085605?pwd=VGQ2ZWN0aEUxbGZyS1pzZ0VsREZBZz09
Meeting ID: 956 7408 5605
Passcode: 105367
CVCS will continue to provide free breakfast and lunch to students during the 2020-2021 school year. Packed meals will be available for students on Wednesdays for the days they are scheduled to attend remotely from home. Parents or Guardians must sign their child up to receive meals. Please complete this survey by September 2, 2020, regarding meals for your child(ren):
https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLScYaj07ZaDH3O8weDqXhGwIDCnO8F43zxL9xqKZtoAzek8uNA/viewform?vc=0&c=0&w=1&flr=0
Video update from Mr. Leichner: https://ensemble.e2ccb.org/Watch/i3YRy5m7
Parents, please use this link to access a survey regarding your intentions for your child's education this fall. Please complete the survey, once for each child in your household of school age.
https://docs.google.com/forms/d/1W1K39cGFEPm149BmBKazKyLuJkzieTkWOZuW6K5ONWw/edit?ts=5f3e9fe2
M/HS Supplies Lists: https://5il.co/jrsm
School supplies lists for SES students can be found here: https://www.cvcougars.org/o/cvcs/page/2020-21-supply-lists
Facebook Live Events for Parents
Food distribution this month:
Dairy/Protein: August 3, 10, 17 and 24, 11 AM - 1 PM (or until gone)
Produce: August 12 and 16, 11 AM - 1 PM and 4 PM - 6 PM (or until gone)
All can be picked up by the entrance to the Fitness Center.
There will be a Board of Education meeting on Monday, August 10, 2020. A special Workshop meeting will begin at 6 PM, to be followed by the regularly scheduled monthly meeting, beginning at 7 PM. The public may attend via Zoom at the following link:
https://zoom.us/j/96896132940
Update on reopening of school from Mr. Leichner: https://youtu.be/SeI8MiUeTWI
As you are aware, our district has completed and submitted our return to school plans to the New York State Department of Education. Throughout this process we have worked within the parameters and the guidance documents provided by the New York State Department of Health and the New York State Department of Education. Our administrative team and our reopening task force will continue to use the appropriate guidance documents, as well as the results of our recent parent survey, to guide us in our reentry plans. It is important to note that while we submitted our plan on July 31st, we will continue to make adjustments to that plan throughout the month of August and into the fall as we fully expect the parameters to be changed as more information becomes available. This was very complicated work, with numerous variables beyond our control, yet we believe we have created a plan that addresses the safety, academic, and social-emotional needs of our students and families. Here is the link to the plan that has been submitted:
https://www.cvcougars.org/o/cvcs/page/reopening-plan-and-information
Pandemic Electronic Benefits Transfer (P-EBT) is a new crisis response nutrition program activated as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic. Pandemic-EBT food benefits will be issued automatically to families whose children received free or reduced-price meals at school through the federal lunch program. This includes all students at Cassadaga Valley Central School since free meals are provided for all students. Each child will receive $420 on a new or existing EBT card that can be used like a bank debit card to purchase food from participating stores. Cards cannot be given to another person or household to use. However, families who wish to donate their benefit can buy food and donate it to a food pantry. Please check with local food pantries to see what items are needed. Learn more at: hungersolutionsny.org/pebt
Parents - please complete this Return to School survey.
https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLScs2fKOpZ5qaP-0MDH-5iB_4tHKLqPiJ-n5EIXzRqo65p41Og/viewform
Here is an important video update from Mr. Leichner regarding the district's Return to School survey.
https://ensemble.e2ccb.org/Watch/k3CZq9y6
With regards to the food distributions,
we only get 45 dairy/protein boxes delivered to us. We will be setting up a new pick up policy starting next week. If there is a line, each person in line can get 1 box of each and then get back in line to receive additional boxes.
For the produce boxes, the district receives 250 boxes every other week, so we will handle this pick up differently.
Both programs are grant funded, so there’s little the District can do about the amount it receives. We are grateful for all donations we receive from Farms to Families and from Feed more WNY.
The next food distributions are as follows: dairy and protein on Monday, July 20th (11 AM - 1 PM) and produce on Wednesday, July 29th (11 AM - 1 PM and 4 PM - 6 PM). All will take place near the Fitness Center entrance to the Middle/High School Building.
77,998 - That is how many meals our team packed and delivered during the school closure (March - June)! A big shout out to the Food Service staff, Teacher Aides, Buildings/Grounds/Custodial staff, and Transportation staff for a job very well done! The hard work and dedication of everyone that was involved is appreciated not only by the District, but by the many families that were impacted, as well.
A special movie for the Class of 2020:
https://ensemble.e2ccb.org/Watch/r6B5Syf9
Recently, Coach Crandall wanted to make sure even though the season couldn't be played, the senior girls were recognized and sent off with memories of being a Lady Cougar, including a small jar containing dirt from the softball field.
Barnes & Noble is giving away a free book to any student in grades 1-6 who reads 8 books this summer! Check out the elementary library page for more info!
https://sites.google.com/cvcougars.org/seslibrary/home
More members of the Class of 2020 receiving their hand-delivered caps, gowns, etc.!
Members of the faculty and staff had the great opportunity to hand deliver caps, gowns, etc. to the members of the Class of 2020!
Mrs. Brautigam made this video for her class this year:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b2UwJ3S_wy0&feature=youtu.be
Check out Mrs. Zappie's video for her class! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eAfv9spcGyg
The virtual art show is now available for viewing! https://docs.google.com/presentation/d/e/2PACX-1vRJV5_DJQLXVgGPecJe-mzcEAihUbW8f6ObOH5L1Zq3Ks3F7KJK2IjLCZogl3i39EGPfP5rPWbYJfbR/pub?start=true&loop=true&delayms=3000&slide=id.p
While the teachers are working hard for our students, preparing virtual lessons and conducting various online sessions, in their down time they do some interesting things! For this week's Friday Fun Day, MS/HS students will be sent a link via their school email to see what else our teachers have been up to, aside from class work! Here are a few "teasers."
Mr. Beichner, Mr. Hammond, and Mr. Cole took 29 CVCS students to STEM Wars at JCC today. The Cougars placed 1st and 2nd in the Rube Goldberg competition, 2nd and 3rd in the Prepared Video competition, and 2nd in the On-site Video competition. Congratulations!
Today the 6th grade math classes practiced plotting points on the coordinate grid with a life-size model created on the classroom floor. Students were given a Harry Potter themed task card that included a coordinate that they had to correctly plot, using themselves as the "dot".
In Grade 7 Family and Consumer Sciences, students completed hand sewing their felt monsters and were excited to make an edible version of their monster.
