• April 12 Covid-19 Update

                                                                                                                                                         Dear Homer Schools Community, I am writing to let you know that we have a Homer Elementary School student who has tested positive for Covid-19.  We have worked with the Cortland County Health Department to identify the people that will need to quarantine due to this positive case.   As a result, 19 Elementary School students and 3 staff members will need to quarantine.  Mr. Pasquerella has communicated with all of the students and staff affected.  New York State contact tracers will also be calling to provide additional details about the length of quarantine.     This will not alter our student attendance schedule for tomorrow.  Pre-K through Grade 12 will run their regular schedule.    Take care and thank you for entrusting our child’s education to us. S incerely, Thomas M. Turck Thomas M. Turck Superintendent of Schools

    Monday, Apr 12 2021

  • 30-Week District Update

                                                                                                                                                                       Dear Homer Schools Community, I am writing to give you updates on items of interest as we prepare to welcome back the majority of our students to five days of in-person learning for the fourth quarter on Monday, April 19th .  As you know, for the remainder of the school year, we will offer only a five-day in-person learning model or a five-day at-home learning model.    Social Distancing In following state and local guidance, social distancing has been reduced from six (6) to three (3) feet, with masks.  This is the change that has allowed us to welcome all students back to in-person learning.  Physical Education, Chorus and Band have been reduced from twelve (12) to six (6) feet between students.  We will continue to enforce the guidelines to ensure the health and safety of students and staff.  Masks Mask use will be in effect as it has been all year.  Your child’s school and bus will continue to have extra masks on hand for students who need them.  Mask breaks will be conducted in accordance with CDC and State Department of Health guidelines. Lunches Maintaining the proper amount of social distancing will be a priority in each building.  Building principals will be communicating with families next week to outline what food service will look like in their individual building. Transportation Thank you for responding to our student learning model survey that included a question about district transportation. All students who have requested district transportation have been accommodated.  If your child’s transportation plan has changed, you will be receiving a communication from the school early next week.   We will continue to have one student per seat with the exception of children residing in the same household.  When necessary, these students will be seated together.  Local guidelines also allow for students who ride the bus for less than 15 minutes to be seated together, but we have not had to plan for that on the majority of our bus routes.  To help with the timely pickup of students, please have your child at their assigned location to be picked up.  Parking lots/Driveways Please expect heavier traffic in the driveways and parking lots due to the increase in students being dropped off and picked up.  High School students who drive should plan to arrive earlier than usual due to the anticipated increase in traffic.  To help with the orderly flow of traffic, please follow the direction of the personnel who will be assisting us outside during drop off and pick up at each building. Absences In-person students who are absent due to an unexcused or illegal absence (see student handbook) will not be able to log in remotely from home.  Students who show symptoms and get tested for COVID-19 will likely need to quarantine until test results are returned.  Under those circumstances, students will be able to log in remotely.  Teachers will admit them into their Google Classrooms for the duration of the quarantine. Students who are quarantined or isolated due to COVID-19 will be considered remote students for the duration of the quarantine or isolation period only.  Please remember that students who get tested must submit negative test results to the school nurse prior to returning.   Grade Level Movement Pre-Kindergarten students will be returning to Homer Elementary School on Monday, April 19th.  Mr. Pasquerella will be communicating with families of Pre-Kindergarten students to share everything that they will need to know to make the transition a smooth one.   Second grade students will remain at Homer Intermediate School through the end of the school year. Five Day At-Home Learners At-Home Learners will be admitted to the classroom Google Meet links from their teachers.  Students who are quarantined or isolated due to COVID-19 will be considered virtual students for the duration of the quarantine or isolation period only. Five Day In-Person Learners Students who have selected to be in-person will not be able to log in remotely from home at any time unless they are quarantined or isolated due to COVID-19, and/or for an extended excused or legal absence. (See student handbook) We are excited to be making this transition as it demonstrates a move toward a greater sense of normalcy.  If you have any questions, please feel free to contact your child’s building principal.  Take care and thank you for entrusting your child’s education to us.   S incerely, Thomas M. Turck Thomas M. Turck Superintendent of Schools

    Friday, Apr 09 2021

  • April 8 Covid-19 Update

                                                                                                                                                             Dear Homer Schools Community, I am writing to let you know that we have a Homer staff member who has tested positive for Covid-19.  We have worked with the Cortland County Health Department to identify the people that will need to quarantine due to this positive case.   As a result, 15 Kindergarten through Grade 5 students and 21 Grade 6 through Grade 12 students will need to quarantine.  Each building principal has begun communicating with all of the students affected.  New York State contact tracers will also be calling to provide additional details about the length of quarantine.     This will not alter our student attendance schedule for tomorrow.  Pre-K through Grade 12 will run their regular schedule.    Take care and thank you for entrusting our child’s education to us. S incerely, Thomas M. Turck Thomas M. Turck Superintendent of Schools

    Thursday, Apr 08 2021

  • April 8 District Update

                                                                                                                                 Dear Homer Schools Families,   I am writing to let you know that I placed all district buildings in a lockout at 11:40 a.m. today.   I did this after being notified by law enforcement that there was a dangerous person in the area driving a vehicle and being pursued by police.   When our schools are placed in a lockout situation, no one is allowed in or out of our buildings.   All students and staff who are outside at the time of the lockout are brought back inside.  Folks are able to move about the buildings and instruction continues for the duration of the lockout. The lockout was lifted at 12:35 p.m. when we received word that the person had left the area and we could return to normal operation.  Thanks to our entire district team for their professionalism in dealing with this issue.     Thank you and have a great afternoon.   Sincerely,   Thomas M. Turck   Thomas M. Turck Superintendent of Schools

    Thursday, Apr 08 2021

  • April is Wellness Month!

                                                                                                                           Wellness Month April 2021 Homer staff, students, and their families are invited to participate in virtual Wellness Month at 6:30 p.m. every Wednesday throughout April.   Please see the flyer below for additional information about health and wellness topics and presenters. Google Meet Link: www.homercentral.org/wellnessmonth

    Tuesday, Apr 06 2021

  • Mandatory Fourth Quarter Learning Survey!

                                                                                                                                 Dear Homer Schools Families, I am sending a reminder that the Family Learning model survey must be filled out for every student to help us plan for the option of five days of in-person learning later in April.   We will be finalizing plans for the remainder of the year next week.  If you haven’t already done so, please complete one survey for each of your children below….   https://forms.gle/94vqvXt5z5aegEmg6 Thank you for completing the survey.  More information about our planning will be coming in the days ahead.  Have a great holiday weekend.   Sincerely,   Thomas M. Turck Thomas M. Turck Superintendent of Schools

    Friday, Apr 02 2021

  • Homer Shakespearean Society presents How to Survive ...

    After many weeks of hard work, dedication, and most of all fun, it is the Homer Shakespearean Society's honor and pleasure to present its very first virtual production, Don Zolidis's How  to Survive a Shakespeare Play ! Feel free to share the link with friends, family, and neighbors! Enjoy the show! - Ms. Valerie Cleland, Director, Mr. Michael Massenzio, Director of Photography, and Mr. Kim Hubbard, Assistant Director. Our show will go premiere @ 8:00 PM, Friday, March 26, 2021 www.homercentral.org/shake2021 The Shakespearean Society is currently accepting donations! Thank you for your support! Please mail your donations to: Attention: Val Cleland Homer Shakespearean Society 80 South West St Homer, NY 13077

    Friday, Mar 26 2021

  • March 25 District Update

         Dear Homer Schools Community, I am writing to give you updates on items of interest as we head into our Spring Recess next week.   Mandatory Learning Model Survey is Due! A reminder that a Learning Model Survey must be filled out for each Homer Schools child in grades K-12 by Monday, March 29th.  More than 830 surveys have already been returned! We are planning for a transition to five day per week learning models later in April.  The link for the survey was sent in a ParentSquare message yesterday and can also be found here:   https://forms.gle/94vqvXt5z5aegEmg6  New York State Testing Information The New York State Education Department has recently announced plans for the State testing program. Some key points are: Grades 3-8 ELA and Math and the 4th and 8th grade Science exams will only be one day of testing.  Participating in testing is not required for Home Learners. If your child is a home learner and you would like them to take the test, please contact your child’s Principal. Grades 3-8 ELA test will be administered on April 20th. Grades 3-8 Math test will be administered on May 5th. Grade 4 and 8 Science tests will be administered on June 7th. Regents will be offered to students, but are not required for graduation. Students who pass a course will be given credit for passing the Regents. The State will offer students the opportunity to take the ELA, Algebra I, Earth Science, and Living Environment Regents exams. Students who choose to take the Regents will have their score included in their transcript regardless of their score. New York State Travel Advisory Change For anyone traveling over the Spring Recess, Governor Cuomo has announced that domestic travelers will no longer be required to quarantine after entering New York from another U.S. State or U.S. Territory starting April 1st.  Mandatory quarantine remains in effect for international travelers. All travelers must continue to fill out the Traveler Health Form. Individuals should continue strict adherence to all safety guidelines to stop the spread - wearing masks, socially distancing and avoiding gatherings while traveling Covid-19 Positive Case A Homer High School student has tested positive for Covid-19.  We have worked with the Cortland County Health Department to identify the people that will need to quarantine due to this positive case.   As a result, 19 High School students will need to quarantine.  The High School staff has begun communicating with the students affected.  New York State contact tracers will also be calling to provide additional details about the length of quarantine.  There will be no change to the student attendance schedule for tomorrow as a result of this latest positive case.     S incerely,   Thomas M. Turck                                                                                   Thomas M. Turck Superintendent of Schools

    Thursday, Mar 25 2021