March 25 COVID-19 Update

Dear Pelham Parents and Community Members,

As we push into week two of our distance learning plan, our administrative team is continuing discussions about how we can evolve and enhance experiences for all learners. To that end here are some helpful tips from lessons learned over the first few days:

• Students should mute microphones when they first enter the virtual office hours and take turns speaking as directed by their teacher. Remember to mute again once they have spoken!

• When office hours end, please make sure that children leave the call.

• The District's Code of Conduct and the Acceptable Use Policy for technology are in effect during these sessions. For example parents should monitor and reinforce use of appropriate language by students, especially when using chat features.

• Students are expected to join virtual office hours as scheduled to help support completion of assignments. Students and parents should email teachers if they need additional support outside of office hours.

• While parents may need to facilitate their younger children's access to the meetings, virtual office hours are intended for teachers to interact with students only. We ask that parents not log on themselves or participate in the session. 

• Out of respect for the privacy of our students and teachers and integrity for the learning process, parents and/or students should not post photos/videos of these sessions to social media. 

Parents are encouraged to reach out to their child(ren)'s teachers with questions regarding their classes. You may also reference the "Whom Should I Ask" page located under the "Parents" tab on each school website to see who is the best contact for specific questions/concerns. If you are unable to resolve issues at the building level, you can also use the following contacts for questions about a particular subject as listed below:

• Questions related to instruction, distance learning, technology, etc. - Dr. Steven Garcia, Asst. Superintendent for Curriculum, Instruction and Personnel, sgarcia@pelhamschools.org

• Questions related to special education, counseling and health services - Julia Chung, Asst. Superintendent for Pupil Personnel Services, jchung@pelhamschools.org

• Questions related to buildings, facilities, and free and reduced price meal program - Jim Hricay, Asst. Superintendent for Business, jhricay@pelhamschools.org

• Questions related to communications, email blasts, etc. - Alex Wolff, Public Information Officer, awolff@pelhamschools.org

I continue to be impressed by the commitment and dedication of our team and thank everyone for their efforts to make the best of our new normal and ensure our students continue to grow as learners. 

Sincerely,

Cheryl H. Champ
Superintendent of Schools

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Social Distancing Guidelines

• Stay home as much as possible, even if you feel healthy
• Refrain from congregating in groups and maintain a distance of at least 6 feet between yourself and others
• Refrain from social gatherings, playdates and sleepovers with friends
• Do not visit public playgrounds
• Use caution when visiting grocery stores/pharmacies and consider delivery services for food and groceries.

Contact Information for Social Workers and Student Assistance Counselor

Our social workers and student assistance counselor continue to be available to support those who are experiencing hardships and need assistance. Please feel free to contact: 

• Kristin Quintano, Social Worker, 914-738-3434 x1295
• Sharon Charles, Social Worker, 914-738-8190 x1218
• Kelley-Anne Lonergan, Student Assistance Counselor, 914-738-8182

Information on Community Organizations Offering Assistance 

Additionally, organizations such as Pelham Together, the Junior League of Pelham and our faith community have offered their assistance with those families with a variety of needs, including food, child care, and other demands of day-to-day life. The Pelham Civic Association is also available for families that have fallen on hard times due to this pandemic. Please feel free to reach out in confidentiality for potential assistance to Richard Davidian, Vice President, Community programs at Richard.Davidian1@gmail.com (914-552-0872) or Dr. Stan Trocchia, Chairman, Good Neighbors program Goodneighbors@pelhamcivics.org.