Update as of August 20, 2021 – 4:00 p.m.
Dear Elmira City School District Families,
We are writing to share the latest details we have regarding school re-opening plans. The New York State Education Department released guidance on August 12 which restated many of the CDC guidelines. NYSDOH, NYSED and Chemung County Health Department continue to be our guiding agencies related to health and safety. As an ongoing practice, our District leadership continues to collaborate with local county health officials and surrounding school district superintendents. We are in regular consultation with our county partners to monitor community transmission, vaccination coverage, screening and testing in order to guide decisions. We’ve worked as a team, collaborated, and facilitated meetings and we plan to provide a consistent approach heading into the new school year.
We are anticipating guidance regarding masking from the Governor and NYSDOH and will consider this critical information before any decisions are made for the Elmira City School District. We will update our families as soon as we have these important details. This update, and future updates, will be published on this page.
What We Do Know, as of today, August 20, 2021:
• We plan to bring students back to five days of in-person instruction
• Our classrooms are being designed for 3’ social distancing
• Cleaning and disinfecting will continue to be a priority
• Masking is known to be a definite for all people riding a school bus (as stated above, we are anticipating guidance regarding masking in schools from the Governor and NYSDOH and will consider this critical information before any decisions are made for the Elmira City School District. We will update our families as soon as we have these important details)
• Afterschool programming will operate regularly and will follow the same health guidelines outlined for school days
• Free breakfast and lunch offerings continue as an available resource to all District families
The District is working hand-in-hand with health officials to ensure a safe, joyful and enriching return for all of our students this fall. All schools will safely serve every student in accordance with current CDC guidance.
Health and Safety Starts at Home
A healthy school environment really begins at home. Students should stay home when they feel sick. Families should be mindful of indications their children may exhibit COVID-19 symptoms and to seek testing when symptoms are present. The District will continue to ask families to complete a daily health screen
electronically through the StayWell app.
New Student Registration, Including Pre-K!
It’s not too late to register your child for school. Do you have a student turning four before December 1? Pre-K Registration for the 2021-2022, Class of 2035, is being accepted Online and In-person! Drop-off of paper copies in the secure drop-off located at District Administration (located at 430 W. Washington Ave).
>>click here to access registration information
Teacher Assignments
All schedules for all students and schools will be available in the coming weeks. If you do not receive a notification or have questions, please don’t hesitate to reach out to your student’s building principal. Need to contact the school? >>click here to access a full list of school contact information
Back-to-School Supply Lists
Our school principals have put together these suggested supply lists for back-to-school. Supply lists are now published on the District website, organized by school and grade level.
>>click here to access your student’s school supply list.
Fall Open House Schedule
Parents and students are invited to fall open houses. Join us to meet your student’s teacher, take a tour of the school and connect with your school family.
>>click here to access the Fall Open House schedule.
School Start and End Times
We can't wait to welcome our students to a new school year! To help families, we have published a list all of our school's start and end times for the upcoming school year. Join us for breakfast when doors open!
>>click here to access a full list of school start and end times.
Afterschool Programming
Increasing educational opportunities for children and youth requires us to rethink the traditional school day. The Elmira City School District, committed to the Community Schools model, utilizes innovative approaches that expand learning opportunities before, during, and after school, during the summer and/or by extending the school day and year.
>>click here to learn about grade-specific afterschool opportunities for your student(s).
Transportation Information
Information about transportation, including pick-up and drop-off times, bus stop location and bus number, will come out next week. Please stay tuned for these details.
Parent Portal
The Schooltool Parent Portal is one of many ways to keep in touch with your child's academic progress and is available to all parents in the Elmira City School District. The Parent Portal allows parents and legal guardians to view their child's class schedule, bus information, grades, assignments, attendance record, discipline history, and contact information from nearly any device that can access the Internet. New to Parent Portal? Stay connected.
>>click here to register for Parent Portal
Family and Student Resource Guide and Code of Conduct
Communication between school and home is a critical component for the success of our students. The Family and Student Resource Guide includes the 2021-22 District Calendar, School-specific Communication Flowcharts, District Code of Conduct and transportation policy.
>>click here to access the Family and Student Resource Guide
Community Schools | Roster of Student Services and Programs
We are committed to whole-child, whole-community development by removing barriers and delivering support services as a way to achieve academic excellence in an evolving community. The Elmira City School District partners with the community to integrate strong instructional programming with student-centered health services, after-school academic enrichment, mentoring, parent engagement, and more.
>>click here to read about our programs and download the Community Schools manual
As we have learned in the last months, decisions and plans are fluid and can change quickly. Our District leaders will continue to be in close contact with these agencies for guidance and protocol. If you have any questions or concerns, please don’t hesitate to reach out to your student’s building principal(s).
Thank you and be well,
Hillary J. Austin
Superintendent of Schools
Elmira City School District