District Updates - Coronavirus (Covid19)
District Updates
-
8/6/20 District Email
Dear Parents/Guardians,
In an effort to continually provide updated information and answers to commonly asked questions, we are providing a FAQ document for our school community. You can access this document by clicking here or visiting our website at www.msd.k12.ny.us. We intend to revisit these topics and vital issues as guidance and directives become available from both health and governmental agencies.
Sincerely,
The Massapequa School District -
8/5/20 District Email
Dear Parents/Guardians,
Since the release of the District's Reopening Plan, we have received many questions and inquiries ranging from the requirement of masks to the the possible option of Distance Learning. In order to respond to the numerous questions in the most efficient way possible we will be posting a FAQ (Frequently Asked Questions) document on the District website. It is anticipated that the FAQ sheet will be posted on 8/6/20.
In my letter dated, 7/31/20, parents were asked to complete a survey by August 7th if the option of total Distance Learning was being offered by the District. This deadline will be extended to FRIDAY, AUGUST 14th in order to provide time for parents to make an informed decision with information provided in the FAQ sheet.
Thank you for your patience and cooperation as we await news from the Governor's office as to how schools in our region will open in September. Please be assured that the health, safety and overall well-being of our students, staff, and community are the driving forces behind all decisions regarding the reopening of our schools.
Take care,
Lucille F. Iconis
Superintendent of Schools
-
7/31/20 - District Email Letter
-
7/6/20 - District Email Letter
District Letter - Reopening Parent Survey and Reentry Committee
-
7/1/20 - District Email
Update from Nassau County: Due to the impending inclement weather, we have made a very difficult call to postpone our Nassau County Large Food Distribution. The new date for the food distribution is now Thursday July 2 at the Nassau Coliseum from 2:30 pm to 6 pm. If you are in need of food please come to the Nassau Coliseum located at 1255 Hempstead Turnpike, Uniondale, NY.
Please ensure to wear a mask and practice social distancing. A personal shopping/rolling cart is strongly recommended, if not traveling by automobile. Community members traveling by automobile will be served via a “drive through” line. Food is while supplies last.
Please be advised that there will be a Nassau County food distribution on Wednesday, July 1st, from 2:30 pm to 6:00 pm. If you are in need of food please come to the Nassau Coliseum located at 1255 Hempstead Turnpike, Uniondale, NY.
Please ensure to wear a mask and practice social distancing. A personal shopping/rolling cart is strongly recommended, if not traveling by automobile. Community members traveling by automobile will be served via a “drive through” line. Food is while supplies last. -
5/26/20 - District Email
-
5/22/20 - District Email
Please be advised that the Board of Education approved a revision to the current 2019-2020 school district calendar, which changes the last day of school to Wednesday, June 17, 2020. This revision was enacted to account for the cancellation of April break, in accordance with the Governor’s NY State school shut-down.
-
5/19/20 - District Email
Important: Should you need to pick up medicine that is being stored in the Health Office of your child's school, we ask that you please report to the building between the hours of 10:00 AM and 1:00 PM on either Tuesday, May 26 or Thursday, May 28.
-
5/12/20 - District Email Letter
District Letter - Distance Learning Plan Update - Clarifications
-
5/11/20 - District Email Letter
-
5/7/20 - District Email
Please be advised that on Friday, May 8, 2020, at 12:30 pm, Island Harvest Food Bank is hosting a special food distribution of products produced in New York State to people in need in six communities impacted by the coronavirus on Long Island.
If you are a resident in need of food please come to the Westfield Sunrise Mall, One Sunrise Mall (off Sunrise Highway, between Carmans Road and Eastgate Road), Massapequa, NY 11758.
Please ensure to wear a mask, practice social distancing and bring a shopping bag.
This is an additional food distribution. Any food distribution currently be done by your school district is still occurring. Food is while supplies last. -
5/6/20 and 5/11/20 - Food Pantries
- St. Rose of Lima Chruch - Massapequa
- Massapequa Reformed Church - Massapequa
- Grace Church - Massapequa
- Our Lady of Lourdes - Massapequa
- St. Martins - Amityville
- Center Point Church - Massapequa
-
5/1/20 - District Email/Text
Early today, Governor Cuomo announced that schools in New York State will remain closed through the end of the 2019-20 academic year due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
The Massapequa School District recognizes this is an extremely difficult time for our school community. We will continue to discuss the impact of this closure and provide you with important information as it becomes available.
We hope you and your family continue to be healthy and safe during this health crisis.
-
4/29/20 - Secondary Parent Email
At this time, our school district has created a Chromebook repair process directly with Dell using our existing extended-warranty/accidental coverage. If your child’s Chromebook is non-functional, we ask that you please visit www.msd.k12.ny.us/tech and select the "Grade 6-12 Student Chromebook Repair Request Form" for additional information and to start the process.
-
4/28/20 - Secondary Parent/Student Email/Text Letter
-
4/16/20 - District Email/Text
Earlier today, Governor Cuomo announced that 'New York State Pause,' the state's stay-at-home and social distancing plan, will extend until at least May 15th, in coordination with other states. Although the Governor has yet to issue an executive order, we are expecting that schools will remain closed until May 15th.
As always, we will continue to keep the community apprised of new information as it becomes available. We hope you and your family continue to be healthy and safe during this health crisis.
-
4/13/20 - District Email
We would like to take this opportunity to thank all of our students and parents for accessing our district instructional technology resources located at www.msd.k12.ny.us/tech. We hope this webpage continues to provide you with district resources, grade-level/subject availability, descriptions, log-in information for different devices, and links to tutorials. In addition, we continue to encourage you to complete our Student and Parent Support form located on this webpage for additional support with accessing any of our online resources.
For the past four weeks the district has responded to all Grade K-12 parent device requests and distributed Chromebooks while attempting to preserve the safety of our staff and community. Although we made every attempt possible to accomplish this, while meeting the needs of our students, we are no longer able to ensure their safety during this process. As such, the district will no longer be distributing any in-district devices and, as previously stated, not be repairing any in-home devices due to the health and safety of our staff, parents, and students. This continues to be our paramount concern during this pandemic.
As always, we thank you for supporting your child(ren) with our instructional technology during this time. As a reminder, if you need additional log-in and/or resource support, we ask that you please visit www.msd.k12.ny.us/tech and/or complete our Student and Parent Support form on this webpage.
Thank you for your ongoing support as we navigate these tumultuous times!
-
4/9/20 - NY Health Letter to Families
-
4/6/20 - District Email Letter
-
4/6/20 - District Email/Text
Earlier today, Governor Cuomo issued an Executive Order closing all schools through April 29, 2020. Pursuant to that order, the Massapequa Public Schools will be closed through April 29, 2020.
In addition, all June Regents exams have been cancelled by the NYS Board of Regents. We will continue to keep the community apprised of new information as it becomes available.
-
4/3/20 - District Email/Text Letter
-
3/31/20 - District Email Letter
-
Updated 3/30/20 - Childcare Information
-
3/28/20 - District Email/Text Letter
-
3/27/20 - District Email
The District was informed earlier today about an extended school closure as ordered by Governor Cuomo. At this point in time, we are conferring with legal counsel and awaiting further guidance from the State Education Department regarding the Governor’s order.
-
3/26/20 - Secondary Parent/Student Email
Dear Berner, Ames and MHS Students and Parents:
As we continue to abide by the necessary guidelines for health and safety, and our teachers engage remotely regarding their curriculum, we wanted to share with you our plans for the conclusion of the 3rd marking period. Our goal is to maintain our current grading policy while providing fair and reasonable accommodations, with no student’s grade being harmed by the mandated school closure. Students who had worked hard for a majority of the 3rd marking period prior to the mandated closure, should see the grade they earned posted for that marking period.
The 3rd Quarter Marking Period will be extended to Wednesday, April 8th. Teachers will determine a numeric grade utilizing their customary grading formula. Grades will reflect work, assignments, and assessments that were assigned up to and including Friday, March 13th (last day in session). As is customary, if warranted, students would be given the opportunity to make-up / submit missed work or assessments assigned on or prior to March 13th, remotely at this point, in a manner determined by the teacher.
Further guidance will be forthcoming regarding the 4th marking period.
Most importantly, we hope you and your family are healthy and safe throughout the remainder of this health crisis.
Sincerely,
Dr. Thomas J. Fasano
Assistant Superintendent for Curriculum and Instruction
-
3/23/20 - Elementary Parent Email Letter
-
3/21/20 - District Email Letter
-
3/20/20 - District Email
Summary of Email: Suspension for the remainder of the school year applies to the following New York State testing programs:
- New York State Grades 3-8 English Language Arts Test;
- New York State Grades 3-8 Mathematics Test;
- New York State Grade 4 Elementary-Level Science Test;
- New York State Grade 8 Intermediate-Level Science Test;
- New York State English as a Second Language Achievement Test (NYSESLAT) in Grades K-12; and
- New York State Alternate Assessment (NYSAA) for students with severe cognitive disabilities in Grades 3-8 and high school.
-
3/20/20 - District Email
As we all abide by the necessary guidelines in order to "flatten the curve," and navigate the issues of limited social interaction, we want to reach out and assure everyone that we are all in this together...and that we will all get through this.
To our faculty, staff and administrators who have been working on everything from preparing alternative learning activities and resources to engage with their students, to distributing lunches to those in need, we thank you for your effort and spirit of collaboration. We know you continue to focus on the needs of students and families while you look to address the needs of your own.To our families and care-takers, we want to assure you that we are available to address your questions and concerns. We have, and will continue to provide you with communication and resources regarding how to support yourselves and your children through these challenging weeks. We will also keep you informed as we receive guidance regarding the school calendar, AP and Regents assessments, and anything else that comes our way. Continue to check the District Website for a complete chronology of communications thus far. The learning resources and activities that have been posted are NOT mandatory, nor is there any need to stress over deadlines. They are not being graded. They are the first phase of instructional outreach to provide our students the opportunity to engage in some meaningful, relevant activity related to school. Similarly, as teachers reach out to their students, the goal is to maintain some semblance of continuity of learning, balancing the need for student engagement with the practical circumstances, and the stressors that exist. There can be learning and structured activity without stress or grades...especially now.
To our students, we want you to know that your teachers, your principals and counselors are available and will be reaching out to you. We all miss you, and are looking for creative ways to maintain to the best of our ability, given the calendar and circumstances, some of the things you are looking forward to...moving-up, proms and graduation ceremonies. We hope you are taking the time to relax, truly communicate with those in your home who care for you, and stay engaged with your teachers and counselors as they reach out to you. Take the time to read, write, draw, paint, play, create music and appreciate your talents...and what you miss most about school. Think how great it will be when this all passes and you actually have school and work to attend to!
Again, please feel free to reach out to any one of us via email, and continue to check the District website for updated information. We appreciate everyone's patience, collaboration and community support as we work through this together.
-
3/19/20 - District Email/Text
As the District noted in communication sent on 3/16 and 3/18, we are initiating alternative learning opportunities that will allow students to first access resources and learning activities, and subsequently engage starting Monday, March 23rd with their teachers.
At this time, we direct you to the District’s website, www.msd.k12.ny.us, to access these resources by clicking on our “District Learning Activities” website diamond.
Important: Should you need to pick up medication that is being stored in the Health Office of your child’s school, we ask that you please report to the building between the hours of 10:00 AM and 1:00 PM on either Tuesday, March 24th or Thursday, March 26th.
Until further notice, our buildings are not open to students nor parents for any other reason.
We will continue to keep you updated as information becomes available and circumstances warrant.
-
3/18/20 - Parent Email Letters
-
3/17/20 - District Email (Sent only to families that qualify)
The District sent an informational email directly to families that qualify. If you have any questions, please complete the contact form in the footer of our webpage.
-
3/17/20 - District Email/Text
Last night, Governor Cuomo issued an Executive Order closing all schools through and including April 1, 2020. Pursuant to that order, the Massapequa Public Schools will be closed through and including April 1, 2020.
We will continue to keep the community apprised of new information as it becomes available. -
3/16/20 - District Email
This is an update on the District’s next steps regarding the school closure ordered by the Nassau County Executive.
Please review the information below as we are committed to providing our students with resources and learning experiences during this unprecedented time.
- ONLINE RESOURCES - There are various online learning platforms located at www.msd.k12.ny.us/tech that support and reinforce a variety of skills and concepts. This webpage provides students and parents with resource names, grade-level/subject availability, descriptions, log-in information, and links to tutorials.
- SPECIFIC LEARNING ACTIVITIES - At this time, our building and curriculum leadership teams are developing elementary grade-specific and secondary course-specific activities for parents and students. Our plan is to have these additional activities published on our website by the end of the week.
- SPECIAL EDUCATION - All Committee on Special Education meetings scheduled for this week are cancelled and will be rescheduled for a later date. Additional information will be shared later in the week regarding next week’s meetings.
As you know, this is a fluid situation, and we are committed to our students. We will be sure to communicate additional direction for continuing instruction for our students as it becomes available.
-
3/15/20 - District Email
This communication contains the most updated information and replaces all prior correspondence.
At the direction of the Nassau County Executive, Laura Curran, all Nassau County schools are required to close to students for two weeks. As such, the Massapequa Public Schools will be CLOSED beginning on Monday, March 16th through Friday, March 27th. During this time, All school buildings are CLOSED to students Transportation will NOT be provided to any programs including out-of-district placements We will continue to update the community with information as it becomes available. Thank you and stay safe.
Additional Resources
-
Talking to Children About COVID-19 (Coronavirus)
-
Nassau County Department of Health
-
New York State Department of Health (Coronavirus Hotline: 1-888-364-3065)
