Nov. 13 district updates

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Parent-Teacher Conference Day on Nov. 25

A reminder that fall parent-teacher conferences are coming up on Wednesday, Nov. 25. There will be no school for students that day to allow teachers to have these important conversations with parents and guardians.

All parent-teacher conferences this year will be held virtually through Google Meet due to COVID-19.

If you have not already scheduled a time to meet with your teacher, please do so. The home-school partnership is critical to every student’s success – this year more than ever. Parent-teacher conferences are an excellent way to foster those relationships for student success.


State extends immunization deadline for virtual students

The New York State Department of Health has extended the timeframe for virtual students to obtain the required immunizations for the current school year. Students learning remotely now have through Dec. 11 to get the required immunizations. 

As a condition of attending remote learning activities during this 30-day grace period, parents and guardians of virtual students must submit an affidavit acknowledging intention to obtain the appropriate vaccinations prior to the Dec. 11 deadline. 

Students whose families do not provide proof of all required immunizations by Dec. 11 will not be allowed to attend school virtually or in-person after that date until they are in compliance with all required immunizations.

Please note that, as in past school years, schools must continue to prohibit any student from attending school in-person if the school has not received evidence of all required vaccinations within 14 days from the first day of admission.


Winter weather information sources

The City School District of Albany uses a variety of communication tools to share information about school closings or delays. These tools include:

  • This website
  • Numerous media outlets, including all local TV stations, several radio stations and the Times Union website via the School Closings Network
  • Our district Facebook and Twitter pages
  • School News Notifier
    • For SNN, please be sure that your cell phone and email information is updated and correct, or you will not receive these messages
  • School Messenger text messaging option
    • Please note that this is an “opt-in” communication tool. If you would like to receive School Messenger text alerts, text “Y” or “YES” to 67587
    • Your cell phone number must be on file in schooltool. If you need to add or change a cell number in your file, you can contact the main office at your child’s school

We also urge everyone to rely on multiple sources of information about school closings and delays in case any single tool is disabled by the weather or technology problems.


Help children stay warm this winter

There's still time to help keep our kids warm this winter. 

Monday is the last day to make a donation to the 2020 Cash for Coats drive, an annual effort to raise money to buy new winter coats and accessories for City School District of Albany students. The program has supplied district students with more than 8,000 coats in the past dozen years.

COVID-19 has made this year a difficult one for all of us, and our most vulnerable families feel it the most. Every dollar you donate to Cash for Coats is welcome and will go toward buying a new coat or hats and gloves for a deserving student. Here's how you can help.


Daily COVID-19 Student Screener reminder

A reminder that if your student is attending school in-person we ask that you complete the Student COVID-19 Screener each morning before school and take each student’s temperature.

The screener is quick and easy to complete. Login with your student’s district network credentials. If you answer “yes” to any of the questions, or if a student has a temperature above 100°F, the student is required to stay home from school.

Please contact your school if the student is required to stay home.

You also can use this instructional video if you have questions about how to use the Student COVID-19 Screener.