Google Classroom instructional guidance
The City School District of Albany is pleased to formally present Google Classroom instruction for all of our students beginning Monday, April 6.
Using an online learning platform like Google Classroom will be a new adventure for many of us! The information that follows is an introduction to online learning for students and families to capture frequently asked questions.
How does my student access Google Classroom?
Please follow these links see attached document to provide direction to access Google Classroom
How many hours per week are students expected to be actively engaged with online learning?
- Grades K-2: Seven hours total per week that includes 2.5 hours of new instruction in ELA and Math, 1 hour of new instruction in Social Studies and Science, and 1.5 hours of guidance and support inside of the hour instructional block each day, as well as 2 hours per week for learning in special areas (Art, Music, Physical Education and Library)
- Grades 3-5: Seven hours total per week that includes 4 hours of new instruction in ELA and Math, 1 hour of new instruction in Science and Social Studies, and 2 hours for special areas (Art, Music, Physical Education and Library)
- Grades 6-8: Two hours each per week for ELA, Math, Science, Social Studies and World Language, and one hour per week for each of the other subject areas
- Grades 9-12: Three hours per week for core areas (ELA, Math, Science, Social Studies and World Language) and two hours per week for each of the other subject areas
What will online learning look like for students?
Students will have multiple opportunities each week to engage with each classroom teacher. During the instructional period and secondary office hours, students will:
- Spend time learning new material ,
- Watch video lessons
- Participate in class discussions
- Complete assigned work and activities
- Access teacher office hours for support and guidance on the new learning
Follow these links for schedules for students at each level:
Chromebook distribution to students
The district distributed more than 800 Chromebooks to students Wednesday in our efforts to assist families with computer access at home while schools are closed due to COVID-19.
This week's device pickup will continue Thursday. It is the first step in this process and is serving families identified through the district’s phone survey last week.
As we move forward in our efforts to provide devices for even more families who lack computer access at home, our faculty and staff will be continuing to reach out to families to assess computer access at home. This will allow us to continue to identify additional needs as we build a plan for distributing devices to these families as soon as possible.
In addition to a heartfelt thank you to our staff who have helped make this week’s initial distribution possible, we would also like to thank our community partners at The College of Saint Rose, CDTA and CDPHP for their donations of 2,200 bags to help with the Chromebook distribution.
We appreciate everyone’s support, patience and understanding as we continue to work through these challenging times.
Free WiFi opportunities
We would like to provide these reminders about WiFi access for Albany families.
- The City of Albany has partnered with FirstLight Fiber to offer Albany FreeNet, a free high-speed WiFi service. Any WiFi-enabled device – laptops, smart phones, PDAs, etc. – can connect to the network wirelessly wherever there is coverage. For more information, including a coverage map, you can visit Albany FreeNet.
- WiFi at all Albany Public Library branches and two city parks (near Lincoln Park pool and Washington Park playhouse and skate park) remain turned on, so you can access them if you are in close proximity to those locations.
- Spectrum is offering free Internet access to Capital Region households during the COVID-19 closure. The 60-day offer includes free WiFi access and is only available to households that aren't already Spectrum customers. Other restrictions may apply. Call 844-488-8395 to enroll. Installation fees are also being waived.
- Spectrum also has an online map to help you find free WiFi locations nearest to you.
- You also can check out this ABC News article about what companies are doing to increase WiFi and Internet hotspot access:
Be counted for Albany in the 2020 Census – from home!
This is an important reminder that in spite of the closures and significant precautions in place due to COVID-19, the 2020 U.S. Census is underway. The Census Bureau is carefully monitoring the situation and follows the guidance of federal, state and local health authorities.
The most important thing you can do is respond online, by phone, or by mail when you receive your invitation. Responding now will minimize the need for Census Bureau workers to be out in communities following up. Help your community – and help the Census Bureau adhere to social-distancing guidelines – by responding online to the 2020 Census.
Do your part. Stay home. Get counted.
OCFS childcare survey
The New York State Office of Children and Family Services is asking parents, guardians and caregivers who are in need of childcare to complete a Parent Need for Childcare survey.
Based on the information collected in this survey, OCFS may be able to help families find the childcare program to meet their needs. It may be a challenge to find childcare due to COVID-19-related closures. However, OCFS is trying its best to support families to find high-quality childcare programs.
The OCFS website also has several resources available.
YMCA childcare partnership
A reminder that the district is partnering with the YMCA to offer childcare services for health and emergency-response personnel. The YMCA is administering and staffing the program, which operates from 7 a.m.-6 p.m. daily at the following six schools:
- Arbor Hill Elementary School, 1 Arbor Drive
- Eagle Point Elementary School, 1044 Western Ave.
- Giffen Memorial Elementary School, 274 South Pearl St.
- New Scotland Elementary School, 369 New Scotland Ave.
- Schuyler Achievement Academy, 676 Clinton Ave.
- Sheridan Preparatory Academy, 400 Sheridan Ave.
The program has a limited capacity, with a maximum of 30 children per school (three classrooms with 10 children). The YMCA is staffing each room with two employees.
Online registration is available. Health and emergency personnel needing childcare are also welcome to call the YMCA at (518) 869-3500.
Picking up medications at school
A reminder that in the event of an emergency, parents and guardians who need to pick up medication that is currently stored at school can contact Health Services Coordinator Suzanne McCarthy to schedule a time to pick up the medication.
Parents and guardians can contact the health services coordinator at (518) 475-6730 or smccarthy@albany.k12.ny.us. They should be sure to include their child’s name and school, and the best phone number where they can be reached. The health services coordinator will contact them to make arrangements to pick up medications.
