• January 15 Covid-19 Update

                                                                                                                                              Dear Homer Schools Community, I am writing to let you know that we have a Homer Elementary School staff member and a High School student who have tested positive for Covid-19.  We were notified of this earlier today and have worked with the Cortland County Health Department to identify the students and staff that will need to quarantine due to these two unrelated cases.   As a result of the two positive cases, 8 staff members, 14 Elementary and 18 High School students will need to quarantine.  Mr. VanEtten and Mr. Pasquerella have begun communicating with both the students and staff members affected.  New York State contact tracers will also be calling to provide additional details about the length of quarantine.     At this point, we are planning on a regular week of student attendance, Pre-K through Grade 12, for next week.  Please remember that because of the observance of Dr. Martin Luther King Day, there is no school on Monday, January 18th. Thank you and enjoy the weekend.  As always, thank you for entrusting our child’s education to us. S incerely, Thomas M. Turck Thomas M. Turck Superintendent of Schools

    Friday, Jan 15 2021

  • January 14 Covid-19 Update

                                                                                                                                                 Dear Homer Schools Community, I am writing to let you know that we have a Homer High School student who has tested positive for Covid-19.  We were notified of this earlier this afternoon and have worked with the Cortland County Health Department to identify the students and staff that will need to quarantine due to this positive case.   As a result, 4 staff members, and 32 High School students will need to quarantine.  Mr. Van Etten has begun communicating with both the students and staff members affected.  New York State contact tracers will also be calling to provide additional details about the length of quarantine.     This will not alter the High School student attendance schedule for tomorrow.  To recap, Pre-K through Grade 5, and Grade 9 through Grade 12 will run their regular schedule.  As I communicated yesterday, Grade 6 through Grade 8 will be virtual tomorrow, Friday, January 15th.      Take care and have a great evening.  S incerely, Thomas M. Turck Thomas M. Turck Superintendent of Schools

    Thursday, Jan 14 2021

  • January 13 Student Attendance Schedule Update

                                                                                                                                                            Dear Homer Schools Community, I am writing to let you update you on a couple of student attendance items that will be of interest…. Junior High Covid-19 Positive Case that will require virtual learning schedule We have a Homer Junior High School student who has tested positive for Covid-19.  We were notified of this earlier this afternoon and have worked with the Cortland County Health Department to identify the students and staff that will need to quarantine due to this positive case.   As a result, 15 Junior High staff members, 25 Junior High students and 2 High School students will need to quarantine.  Mrs. Schneider and Mr. VanEtten have begun communicating with both the students and staff members affected.  New York State contact tracers will also be calling to provide additional details about the length of quarantine.     This will alter the Junior High student attendance schedule for the remainder of the week.   We will be unable to staff the building on Thursday and Friday, January 14 - 15, therefore, the Junior High (Grades 6 through 8) will be totally virtual for the remainder of the week.   Pre-K through Grade 5, and Grade 9 through Grade 12 will maintain their regular student attendance schedule. We will reassess Junior High staffing on Friday to determine what the student attendance schedule will look like for next week.     January 29, 2021 Shortened Instructional Day On January, 29, 2021 we will have a scheduled Shortened Instructional Day.   It will be a totally virtual day Pre-K through Grade 12 .  Individual school buildings will communicate with families to outline the schedule and instructional scope of the day.  There will be no in-person learning on Friday, January 29th.  This includes students who would normally attend OCM BOCES programs.   If you have any questions about either of these items, please feel free to contact the appropriate school office.  Take care and thank you for your patience and understanding as we navigate these changing circumstances of operating schools during this unprecedented time.  S incerely, Thomas M. Turck Thomas M. Turck Superintendent of Schools

    Wednesday, Jan 13 2021

  • January 11, 2021 Covid-19 Update

    Dear Homer Schools Community, I am writing to let you know that we have a Homer Intermediate School staff member who has tested positive for Covid-19. We were notified of this earlier today and have worked with the Cortland County Health Department to identify the students and staff that will need to quarantine due to this positive case. As a result, 9 Intermediate School students will need to quarantine.  Mrs. Falls has contacted the students and staff member affected. New York State contact tracers will also be calling to provide additional details about the length of quarantine. This will not alter the regular student attendance schedule for the remainder of the week.  I will update you if anything occurs to cause a change in that plan. Thank you for your patience and understanding as we navigate these changing circumstances of operating schools during this unprecedented time. Take care and have a good evening. Sincerely, Thomas M. Turck Thomas M. Turck Superintendent of Schools

    Tuesday, Jan 12 2021

  • December 19 Covid-19 Update

                                                                                                                                Dear Homer Schools Community, I am writing to let you know that we have an Intermediate School staff member who has tested positive for Covid-19.  We have helped the Cortland County Health Department to determine the scope of the students and staff that will need to quarantine.   As a result, 5 staff members and 28 Homer Intermediate students will need to quarantine.  The district has begun communicating with both the students and staff members affected.  New York State contact tracers will also be calling to provide additional details.     This latest case will not alter the student attendance schedule for next week.  Pre-K – Grade 12 students will continue with their regular schedule. High School students who attend BOCES programs have been contacted by Mr. VanEtten to outline their attendance schedule for next week.   Take care and thank you for entrusting your child’s education to us.  S incerely, Thomas M. Turck Thomas M. Turck Superintendent of Schools

    Saturday, Dec 19 2020

  • Student Engagement Focus Groups

    Good afternoon, We would like to invite you to participate in a focus group this coming Wednesday evening for our District’s Student Engagement Committee. We are actively looking for feedback on our instructional models, and want to hear your thoughts! There are three questions that we will be asking on the Google Meet: What helps your child learn best? In what ways can the school help you support your child’s learning? What would you like to see your child’s teachers/school do more of? The times for each school are listed below as are the links for connecting to the Google Meets. 5:30 PM - 6:00 PM Elementary School Families https://meet.google.com/toy-jric-kdt 6:00 PM - 6:30 PM High School Families https://meet.google.com/zmd-pizf-egi 6:30 PM - 7:00 PM Junior High Families https://meet.google.com/oaj-pkca-pqe 7:00 PM - 7:30 PM Intermediate School Families https://meet.google.com/otx-pkdy-hkb Sincerely, Theodore W. Love Student Engagement Committee Facilitator

    Monday, Dec 14 2020

  • December 14 Student Attendance Schedule

                                                                                                                                                        Dear Homer Schools Community, I am writing to let you know that we will be able to return to our regular student attendance schedule tomorrow, December 15, 2020, for all students except for Grades 3 through Grade 5, who will return to their regular schedule on December 16th.   We are able to staff our transportation department to allow for in-person instruction.    To repeat, Pre-K through Grade 2 and Grade 6 through Grade 12 will return to their regular schedule on Tuesday, December 15th.  Grade 3 through Grade 5 will learn virtually tomorrow and return to their regular schedule on Wednesday.           Thank you for your understanding and thank you for entrusting your child’s education to us.  S incerely, Thomas M. Turck Thomas M. Turck Superintendent of Schools

    Monday, Dec 14 2020

  • December 13 Student Attendance Update

                                                                                                                                Dear Homer Schools Community, I am writing to let you know that we have had circumstances change earlier today and will need to go to a virtual learning day on Monday, December 14, 2020.  I have been made aware that we do not have enough bus drivers to transport students to school.   Pre-Kindergarten through Grade 12 will have a virtual day of instruction on Monday.  At this point, we are planning to return to in-person learning on Tuesday, December 15th for Pre-K through Grade 2 and Grade 6 through Grade 12.  We had already planned to have Grade 3 through Grade 5 students learning virtually on Monday and Tuesday.        I recognize the inconvenience that this change causes for you and would not make this decision if there was any other option.  I will communicate with you tomorrow to provide an update on the student attendance schedule for the remainder of the week. Take care and thank you for entrusting your child’s education to us.  S incerely, Thomas M. Turck Thomas M. Turck Superintendent of Schools

    Sunday, Dec 13 2020