GHS Welcome Back to the 2020-2021 School Year

Grade 8 Welcome

Dear 8th Grade Parents and Students,

I want to start by welcoming you all back to a new school year! I can’t tell you enough how excited I am to have the students back in the building and to be welcoming the eighth-grade students into the high school family. Last school year certainly presented challenges to all of us, but it is time to put that behind us and look forward to another exciting school year.

Over the summer, we have been working hard on adjusting our schedule to a hybrid format.

Students were broken into two groups.
Eighth-grade student groups were carefully structured to create a teaming structure.
Students that have selected 100% remote learning will have a remote team dedicated to their instruction.
Each group will come to school every other day and classes will meet for two consecutive days. This will ensure that students will have face-to-face instruction in each class.
Students will continue to be part of a team, and all eighth-grade teams will be located in one wing at GHS in order to replicate the usual house structure.
Half of the students on each team will attend school in person each day.
The days that your 8th grader is at GHS will start with a short homeroom period starting at 10:10 am which will be followed by an 8-period schedule that includes the same program of studies typically offered in 8th grade.
On the days that students are not in person at GHS, they will engage in remote learning activities planned and created by the same teachers they see on attendance days.
On remote days, students will be asked to follow their schedules and attendance will be taken each block.
The program of studies includes: English Language Arts/Reading, Math, Social Studies, Science, Music, Art, Technology, Family and Consumer Science, Health, World Language, and Physical Education. Additionally, some students may have Academic Intervention Services, Special Education Services, ENL Services, or take Band, Chorus, or Orchestra.

Grade 8 Sample Student Schedule

Time	A	B	C	D
10:10 – 11:36	ELA	ELA	Math	Math
11:43 – 1:34	Lunch/SS	Lunch/SS	Lunch/SS	Lunch/SS
1:41 – 2:19	PE/Tech	PE/Tech	PE/Tech	PE/Tech
2:19 – 2:57	Tutorial	Tutorial	Tutorial	Tutorial
3:04 – 3:42	Art/FACS/ Health/Music	Art/FACS/ Health/Music	Art/FACS/ Health/Music	Art/FACS/ Health/Music
3:42- 4:20	WLC	WLC	WLC	WLC
Group 1	In-Person	Remote	In-Person	Remote
Group 2	Remote	In-Person	Remote	In-Person

Students will be asked to complete a daily health screening each day before they come to school which includes a temperature check performed by parents.

The high school will be on a different bell schedule this school year due to the transportation schedule changes around the district. Bus drop-off time will be approximately at 10:00 A.M. and the homeroom will begin promptly at 10:10 a.m. Because large group gatherings are not allowed, we are asking that students move directly to their first block classes once they enter the building. Throughout the day, adults will monitor hallways to ensure student congregations are kept to a minimum. Students will be expected to be masked for the entire day except when they are eating lunch.

We have designed student movement patterns in the high school this year to limit congestion and to improve efficient movement around the building. During passing time, most hallways will be one way. We will utilize outdoor walkways including courtyards and the parking lot during the school day. This movement pattern will be used throughout the year including days when the weather is poor and during the winter months so students should be prepared for the weather conditions.

The first four days of school, Sept. 8 – 11, 2020:

Grades 10-12 will be fully remote during this week.
Grade 8:
- Tuesday, Sept. 8: Group 1 & Group 2 students follow their A-day schedule remotely.
- Wednesday, Sept. 9: Group 1 & Group 2 students follow their B-day schedule remotely.
- Thursday, Sept. 10:
  - Group 1 will be in-person and will follow their C-day schedule.
  - Group 2 will follow their C-day schedule remotely.
- Friday, Sept 11:
  - Group 2 will be in-person and will follow their D-day schedule.
  - Group 1 will follow their D-day schedule remotely.
Grade 9:
- Students will come to school on their group schedule.
- Group 1 will come on Tuesday, Sept. 8, and Thursday, Sept. 10.
- Group 2 will come on Wednesday, Sept. 9, and Friday, Sept. 11.
- Sept. 8th will be an A day schedule.
These days will be an opportunity for our new GHS students to walk their schedule and to meet their teachers before all students are back in the building.
When students are not in-person, we ask that students engage remotely.
We will follow a shortened schedule for all grades.
Students can still pick up meals before and after school these days. Any students qualifying for free/reduced lunch will receive their meals for free and paid students must pre-pay for their meals via SchoolCafe.

On Monday, September 14, we will begin the in-person teaching for all students. Group 1 will start the rotation and that Monday, Sept. 14 will be a B day.

Lunch times will be later than normal due to the later start time. Students will eat lunch during block 2 and students will eat in their classrooms. We will be running four lunch modules with the first lunch module beginning at 11:43 and the last starting at 12:59. It is important that students eat well before coming to school since lunches are later than normal. Students will pre-order their lunches using the Schoolcafe system. A la carte snack items will still be available for purchase in the cafeteria.

Below is the 2020-2021 Student Handbook which contains our Student Code of Conduct. The Code of Conduct is also available on the district website. Building specific regulations will be shared with the students on the opening day of school during homeroom. This information is provided in accordance with New York State Regulations and because we believe it is important for all students to be aware of their rights and responsibilities. It is important for parents and students to understand that when students are engaged in remote learning, the high school code of conduct is in effect. Dress code and behavior should be consistent with what is expected during a day of school.

Students will not be issued locker assignments this school year which will require students to use a backpack for personal items. We will not ask students to carry textbooks back and forth to school. Since Chromebooks will be used daily, it is important that students charge their devices every night.

We look forward to seeing everyone back at Guilderland High School. It is going to be a great year!

Sincerely,

Michael Piscitelli
Guilderland High School Principal

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Grade 9 Welcome

Dear 9th Grade Parents and Students,

I want to start by welcoming you all back to a new school year! I can’t tell you enough how excited I am to have the students back in the building and to be welcoming the ninth and eighth-grade students into the GHS family. Last school year certainly presented challenges to all of us, but it is time to put that behind us and look forward to another exciting school year.

Over the summer, we worked hard on adjusting our schedule to a hybrid format. Students were broken into two groups. The first criteria for group selection was household, but most students were grouped based on their last name.

Group 1 is composed of last names starting with A-K
Group 2 is composed of last names L-Z.

Eighth-grade students were broken into groups differently to maintain a teaming structure. For grades 9-12, students that have elected for 100% remote learning are still attached to their classes and will follow their group schedule. They will be expected to engage in face-to-face learning with their group members. Each group will come to school every other day and classes will meet for two consecutive days. This will ensure that students will have face-to-face instruction in each class. When students are not in school, they will engage in remote learning. Students will be asked to follow their schedules and to engage with these classes during their scheduled class times. Attendance will be taken each block for in-person and remote students.

Grades 9-12 Sample Student Schedule

Week 1

	Monday	Tuesday	Wednesday	Thursday	Friday
Letter Day	A	B	C	D	B
Block 1 10:10 – 11:36	Algebra 1	Algebra 1	English 9	English 9	Algebra 1
Block 2 11:43 – 1:34	Biology	Biology	Biology	PE	Biology
Block 3 1:41 – 2:57	Global 9	Global 9	Study Hall	Study Hall	Global 9
Block 4 3:04 – 4:20	Studio Art	Studio Art	Spanish	Spanish	Studio Art
Group 1	In-Person	Remote	In-Person	Remote	In-Person
Group 2	Remote	In-Person	Remote	In-Person	Remote

Week 2

	Monday	Tuesday	Wednesday	Thursday	Friday
Letter Day	A	D	C	A	B
Block 1 10:10 – 11:36	Algebra 1	English 9	English 9	Algebra 1	Algebra 1
Block 2 11:43 – 1:34	Biology	PE	Biology	Biology	Biology
Block 3 1:41 – 2:57	Global 9	Study Hall	Study Hall	Global 9	Global 9
Block 4 3:04 – 4:20	Studio Art	Spanish	Spanish	Studio Art	Studio Art
Group 1	Remote	In-Person	Remote	In-Person	Remote
Group 2	In-Person	Remote	In-Person	Remote	In-Person

Students will be asked to complete a daily health screening each day before they come to school which includes a temperature check performed by parents.

The high school will be on a different bell schedule this school year due to the transportation schedule changes around the district. Bus drop-off time will be approximately at 10:00 a.m. and the homeroom will begin promptly at 10:10 a.m. Because large group gatherings are not allowed, we are asking that students move directly to their first block classes once they enter the building. Throughout the day, adults will monitor hallways to ensure student congregations are kept to a minimum. Students will be expected to be masked for the entire day except when they are eating lunch.

The first four days of school, Sept. 8 – 11, 2020:

We are going to be remote only for grades 10-12.
For grade 9, we are going to ask students to come to school on their group schedule.
Group 1 will come on Tuesday and Thursday.
Group 2 will come on Wednesday and Friday.
September 8th will be an A day schedule.
These days will be an opportunity for our new GHS students to walk their schedule and to meet their teachers before all students are back in the building.
When students are not in-person, we ask that students engage remotely.
We will follow a shortened schedule for all grades.
Students can still pick up meals before and after school these days. Any students qualifying for free/reduced lunch will receive their meals for
free and paid students must pre-pay for their meals via SchoolCafe.

On Monday, Sept. 14, we will begin the in-person teaching for all students. Group 1 will start the rotation and this Monday will be a B day.

Please take a look at the GHS 2020-2021 Student Handbook which contains our Student Code of Conduct. The Code of Conduct is also available on the district website. Building specific regulations will be shared with the students on the opening day of school during homeroom. This information is provided in accordance with New York State Regulations and because we believe it is important for all students to be aware of their rights and responsibilities. It is important for parents and students to understand that when students are engaged in remote learning, the high school code of conduct is in effect. Dress code and behavior should be consistent with what is expected during a day of school.

A permission form for early dismissal and late arrival, for seniors only, can be submitted through the following link: Early Release – Later Arrival Permission Form. To be eligible for this privilege on the first day of school, the permission form must be submitted by a parent/guardian and returned to the Counseling Center before the first day of school. Otherwise, seniors will have to wait for processing.

Students will not be issued locker assignments this school year which will require students to use a backpack for personal items. We will not ask students to carry textbooks back and forth to school. Since Chromebooks
will be used daily, it is important that students charge their devices every night.

Parking applications are available online and at the school store. Parking applications and payment are due back to the school store within the first two weeks of school. Space is limited.

We look forward to seeing everyone back at Guilderland High School. It is going to be a great year!

Sincerely,

Michael Piscitelli
Guilderland High School Principal

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GHS Daily Bell Schedule for Sept. 8 – 11,2020

Grades 10-12 will be on remote instruction this week
Grade 8 will follow their group schedule per the schedule below:
- Tuesday, Sept. 8: Group 1 & Group 2 students follow their A-day schedule remotely.
- Wednesday, Sept. 9: Group 1 & Group 2 students follow their B-day schedule remotely.
- Thursday, Sept. 10: Group 1 will be in-person and will follow their C-day schedule; Group 2 will follow their C-day schedule remotely.
- Friday, Sept 11: Group 2 will be in-person and will follow their D-day schedule; Group 1 will follow their D-day schedule remotely.
Grade 9 will follow their group schedule and will have in-person instruction per the schedule below:
- Group 1: In-Person on Sept. 8 and Sept. 10. Remote on Sept. 9 and Sept. 11
- Group 2: In-Person on Sept. 9 and Sept. 11. Remote on Sept. 8 and Sept. 10

Student Day

10:05 a.m. – Five-minute warning for Block 1
10:08 a.m. – Two-minute warning for Block 1

Block 1: 10:10 – 10:46
Block 2: 10:51 – 11:27
Block 3: 11:32 – 12:08
Block 4: 12:13 – 12:49

No Activity Period

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GHS Daily Bell Schedule Starting September 14, 2020

Student Day

10:05 a.m. – Five-minute warning for Homeroom
10:08 a.m. – Two-minute warning for Homeroom
Homeroom: 10:10 – 10:20
Block 1: 10:20 – 11:36
Block 2: 11:43* – 1:34* Bells will be rung to signal ONLY the beginning and end of Block #2.
- Lunch Mod #1: 11:43 – 12:15
- Lunch Mod #2: 12:13 – 12:45
- Lunch Mod #3: 12:43 – 1:15
- Lunch Mod #4: 1:02 – 1:34
Block 3: 1:41 – 2:57
Block4: 3:04 – 4:20

No Activity Period

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GHS 2020-21 Student Handbook

Download and print the GHS 2020-21 Student Handbook.

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