Hello,  

I have four very important updates for Pine Bush families about our reopening plans.

1.      Each school has developed a handbook for students and their families with details about what virtual instruction will look like when it begins on Sept. 8. Those handbooks are now posted on our website. They can be found under the “News and Announcements” section on the landing page for each school.  They can also be found on our new Return to Learn page that can be found by clicking on the first picture that cycles on our home page. That Return to Lean page has the plan we had to submit and update for the state, as well as a number of other useful links.

2.      To make sure all of our students have a Chromebook, we have created time slots next week (in the AM and PM hours) for pick up on Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday .  The link to schedule your appointment can be found here and on our website in the banner at the very top of the page.  The first time you use the pickatime software, you will need to create a username (your email address) and a password.  Then you can select a pick-up site – either PBHS or CVMS – and a time.  You can pick up Chromebooks for multiple children in your family at one time, but you will need to sign a Chromebook Agreement form for each of them.  The link to that form is here and just below the link to pickatime.  If you have the ability to print it out, you can bring your signed form at the time of pick up.  If you are unable to print it out, don’t worry, we will have blank forms for you to complete at each pick up site.  Still, we encourage you to download the form in order to read it in advance, so you know what you are signing and to understand your option to purchase insurance for the device.

3.      I previously announced the potential for childcare of school-aged children at least for the month of September. I’m thrilled to announce that the YMCA, the Boys & Girls Club and the Family Church will all three have childcare options for Pine Bush families. The Boys & Girls Club and the Family Church will continue to offer this service beyond September. Starting Monday, Aug. 31, once I get either the flyers that describe those options or the links for actual registration, we will place those on our Return to Learn page that I described to you above (see #1).  So be sure to keep going back to that page to check for them.

4.      Busing for students attending private schools and those students attending C-Tech programs at BOCES won’t begin until our first day of classes on Sept. 8.  Those families will receive a phone call later this week with specific bus information.  IEP students attending special placement schools will be getting calls starting tomorrow since they will be transported according to their school’s calendar. Please do not call the transportation department for info, as that only slows down our Transportation Director even more. He has been working overtime to create routes under a significantly tighter timeline than we usually have to complete this highly complex task.

As schools complete assigning students and teachers, principals will be communicating with their families later this week.  Teachers will also likely begin reaching out to students this week, so kids should begin to check their school email accounts. 

We are still in high gear getting everything ready for the school to start, and I am confident our staff will be ready and anxious to welcome everyone back when we finally do return to learn.

 Have a great day.

Tim O. Mains, Pine Bush Superintendent