ACS Updates for 1-3-22

Dr. Ryan Pacatte

January 3, 2022

To: Avon School Community

From: Avon School District

Date: January 3, 2022

Re: Updates for the Coming Week: COVID-19 and Avon Facilities

The purpose of this memorandum is to pass along information regarding key updates.  The memo contains updates for COVID as well as Avon Facilities Planning.  As a reminder, Friday January 7th is a scheduled late arrival day.  More information will be sent from building principals. 

COVID-19 INFORMATION

Test Kits from Governor Hochul’s Office

  • We were provided with 944 test kits.  There are two home tests in each kit.  These are intended to help families.  You are not required to take or use the test kit.  

  • Our plan is to distribute the kits to families who wish to have them.  There is a maximum of one kit per student.  Any tests that are not picked up will be used in our testing program at ACS.  This will be helpful b/c each “Test to Stay” participant requires the use of 3 tests in a 7 day period.  

  • If you are interested in receiving the test kits for your students, then please complete THIS SURVEY.  A drive through test pick up system will occur tomorrow evening, January 4, between 5-6 PM.  Additional information is contained in the survey.

ACS Diagnostic COVID Testing 

  • As a reminder, testing is available as a diagnostic/response test. If you or your child would like a rapid shallow nasal swab diagnostic COVID test, please send an email to covid.testing@avoncsd.org. You will then receive a Google form to choose a time to be tested along with the consent form and intake form that will need to be completed prior to the test. If you have any questions please contact Michelle Burke at mburke@avoncsd.org.

  • Test results take approximately 15 minutes.  We notify you regarding positive results only. 

  • Please do not 'walk in' for a test. Tests can be scheduled quickly by reaching out to Michelle Burke as detailed above.   A simple email will get you a test scheduled quickly.

  • Beginning today,  we welcome a new LPN to the Avon Nursing team for the remainder of the year. She will manage the bulk of our COVID testing. 

  • Testing SCHEDULE for January 3-7: Monday, Wednesday, & Thursday, 8:00 am-3:00 pm   

Update on LCDOH Moderna Vaccine Booster Clinic 

Topic

Relevant Information

Impact at Avon

Moderna Booster Vaccine Clinic at ACS

ACS is hosting a Moderna Booster Clinic on Friday January 7th from 9-11 am at the Middle School

  • January 7th is a planned late arrival day for students

  • This will be a Moderna Booster Clinic for individuals who are fully vaccinated

  • Participants must be over the age of 18

  • Participants must be registered via the county’s vaccine link HERE  

  • Participants must complete the following required forms and bring them to the clinic: COVID-19 Vaccine Consent Form and the     Registration Form

There will be minimal impact on teaching and learning at Avon based on the timing and location. 

 

AVON FACILITIES PLANNING

At ACS, we are extremely proud to have advanced our strategic planning efforts.  The comprehensive needs assessment completed last fall involved family surveys, student surveys, staff surveys, stakeholder interviews, and multiple focus groups.  The collaborative analysis of all of the stakeholder feedback led to three collective areas of focus: promoting individual learning pathways and career preparation, enhancing social emotional learning and cultural awareness, and creating a culture of innovation.  Each building created school improvement plans intended to advance these goals.  

Further, the feedback collected in the strategic planning process will also be utilized in our facilities planning efforts.  In addition to building on the comprehensive needs assessment, we have gathered additional feedback though the following efforts:

  • Reviewed our building condition materials with our architect;

  • Conducted walkthroughs of our own buildings with our architects and construction management team;

  • Administered additional surveys focused on facilities with students, staff, and families;

  • Identified a Facilities Planning Team to review data and gather additional perspectives;

  • Reviewed initial data with both the leadership team and Facilities Planning Team;

  • Conducted visitations to other schools; and

  • Held an initial meeting with staff members.

As the facilities planning process continues, we want to make sure that people are aware of the upcoming events.   

  • First of Three Community Forums-The first forum will take place Wednesday, January 5th from 5:30-7 PM.    If interested in attending either virtually or in person,  then please use THIS LINK to register.  Additional information will be sent tomorrow with directions for participating.

  • Additional Community Forums will be held on January 19th & February 9th from 5:30-7 PM.

  • A second staff meeting will be held on January 19th from 3-5 PM.  The location is TBD.