Good evening Pine Bush parents and staff,

Chromebook distribution moved smoothly today, and we have Monday’s schedule completely full. We are currently scheduling into Tuesday. If you want to borrow a Chromebook, you must call or email us to make an appointment. We’re trying hard to get as many students online as possible. Today we provided meals for more than 700 children!

We do not believe that the governor’s new order to keep nonessential personnel home applies to our workers and volunteers who are making and distributing meals and instructional supplies.  They are essential.

Hard copies of high school and middle school instructional materials will be ready next Monday (March 23).  The high school materials will be available from 8 to 10 a.m. at the high school drive-through location, but only for those students who have already emailed Mr. Hopmayer and requested materials for the classes they are enrolled in. If you want your child to have those hard copy materials, you must email Mr. Hopmayer. But today’s emails will not be ready until Tuesday or Wednesday.  

Middle school materials will be available during the regular meal distribution times 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. – Crispell’s at PBHS and CVMS at CVMS

Last night I paid tribute to all of those people on the front lines who have been coming into work to distribute food and packets to parents at our drive through locations. Tonight, I want to give a shout out to people who been working just as hard, but behind the scenes – our teachers and administrators.

With very little warning our teachers jumped into high gear to produce instructional activities for their students, and in most instances got them prepared in both digital and hard copy formats. Many teachers have been responding this week to inquires that have been emailed to them by their students. Administrators have helped shoulder the burden felt by the copy center, and they have copied materials for those parents who either prefer the paper equivalent or who lack Internet access at home.  Our teachers and administrators are second to none, and they deserve tremendous kudos for all they have done to make instructional opportunities available to our students this week and next week.

Let me also say something about those materials.  When students are with us, our teachers help them to stay focused and engaged.  But of course, that is not the case now.  We can’t use that famous “teacher look,” or come to stand by their desk, or touch them lightly on the shoulder or the arm to help them get refocused.  So we need you to do that.  During this period of extended school closure, I’m asking all of our parents to make sure that their school-aged children are completing schoolwork every single weekday.  If your children are not opening their Chromebooks or attacking their packets, then they won’t be engaged in any learning. 

At this point I want us to start preparing, in case we are out beyond April 1st.  Next week, our instructional staff will begin to wrestle with the challenge of providing as much continuity of actual instruction as possible. Doing so remotely will not be ideal, but it also will not be impossible. After we’ve had a chance to think through this challenge, I’ll share the results of our thinking with you sometime next week.

Once again, I want to acknowledge the commitment and professionalism of our teachers and administrators. You have made it possible to keep our core business of learning running during this challenging set of events!  Thank you; thank you; thank you!

My next message will be coming to you late on Sunday afternoon.

Have a good night and a safe weekend.

Tim O. Mains, Pine Bush Superintendent