With the coronusvirus emergency in full swing, we are definitely in tumultuous times. We will be updating students and parents as we obtain new information and directives. Below is a link to Mr. Zielinski's updates along with a few good stories and upcoming events. Thank you very much for looking, and I hope you have a great day.
Tim Houseknecht, Principal
Coronavirus Updates
School districts' responses to the coronavirus crisis are evolving on a daily basis, and we are no different. Please check the page that Mr. Zielinski is managing, which includes daily updates when available. You can find the page linked directly from our announcements on our website at www.southseneca.org.
Athletics Update from Mrs. Mott
At this time all regional and state winter championship games have been indefinitely postponed.
At this moment how spring sports, practices and contests, are being conducted is being left up to school administrators in conjunction their local health departments. With this being said, I am strongly advising you to keep up with the sanitary and personal hygiene practices being recommended, hand washing, personal space, cleaning equipment after use etc...
No measures to postpone or suspend spring sports have been taken as of today at South Seneca.
There are many unanswered questions right now regarding the direction New York State is heading concerning this virus. Best practice in these situations is to stay vigilant, use common sense and seek out correct information from credible sources. I will keep you informed as the situation continues to develop. Please feel free to reach out to me if you have any questions.
Mrs. Mott's email address is hmott@southseneca.org.
A few interviews from Mr. Houseknecht's not so famous Youtube channel:
Get To KnowMr. David Turken
Click on the title for my talk with Mr. Turken. He's enjoying his time here, and he loves the community support.
Courageous Beauty - An After School GroupMrs. Kylie Allen describes her Courageous Beauty group for girls. We're happy to have her.
New from Khan Academy: Meditation Basics!
Khan Academy is a wonderful online tool for students. It started with math tutorials, and has grown exponentially from there. Below is a post from the academy's founder, Sal Khan. If you're not familiar with Khan Academy, it's worth a look. The tutorials are top notch and free for everyone.
From Khan Academy:
Do you sometimes feel stressed from juggling school, friends, family, and extracurricular activities? If so, don’t worry! You’re not alone. We’ve got you covered! Sal’s recorded a few short meditations to help you relax.
You may be wondering—what is meditation? Why should I do it? Meditation, a simple practice of mindfulness, can help you reduce stress and improve your focus. Watch this quick introduction to meditation from Sal.
When you’re ready to start meditating with Sal, check out these videos. They’re short—about 10 min or less—and introduce you to simple techniques you can use immediately.
Meditation doesn’t need to take a lot of time. Even a few minutes a day can be helpful. We hope these videos can help you manage your stress so you can do better at school or whatever you set your mind on. To stay updated about future meditation videos, subscribe to our YouTube channel.
Farm to School Newsletter
Check the latest Cornell Cooperative Extension newsletter. The Farm to School program is great for our kids! You can see the complete CCE website here.
From Mr. Green:
Green Energy Career Day
As some of you may already know, Ithaca has pledged to become Carbon-neutral community wide by 2030.
What this means, specifically for our students is that there will be high demand in this area for many middle skilled careers in the near future. Just to name a few, careers in plumbing, electricity, heating, ventilation & air conditioning are all anticpated to see a large demand for skilled workers. That being said, In preparation for this growing workforce, on March 25th TST BOCES will be hosting a Green Energy Career Day. The objective is to expose students to professionals working in these soon to be in demand trades. This event consists of a panel discussion followed by break out sessions aimed to inform students and to help them get a better understanding of who they are, how they got there & next steps they should be taking.
While currently enrolled TST BOCES students will be attending during their school day, all students interested are welcomed and encouraged to attend. I will have sign ups available for students next week, just wanted to put it on everyone's radar.
For more information on Ithaca's Green New Deal please visit: https://www.cityofithaca.org/642/Green-New-Deal
Sean Green
High School Guidance Counselor
The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) Now Accepting Applications for National Youth Preparedness Council
FEMA’s Individual and Community Preparedness Division (ICPD) is now accepting applications for the national Youth Preparedness Council, a group of students in grades 8 through 11 who are selected to support disaster preparedness and make a difference in their communities. This is an opportunity for young people to engage with FEMA on their perspectives, feedback, and opinions related to preparedness, to grow their leadership skills, and to support the resilience of their communities.
Youth Preparedness Council members hold two-year terms and are selected based on their involvement in extracurricular activities, their leadership experience, and any experience related to preparedness and emergency management.
The newly redesigned online application, which officially launched on January 27, 2020, is expected to enhance the experience for applicants and encourage more young people to apply. Students may complete their applications and submit online through March 8, 2020. Selected candidates will be notified in May 2020.
Interested students should apply online at https://community.fema.gov/applytoYPC.
For more information about the Youth Preparedness Council or other youth-focused preparedness initiatives contact FEMA-Prepare@fema.dhs.gov.
Office of State Assessment Releases Online Resources for Parents in Advance of the 2020 Grades 3-8 Assessments in English Language Arts (ELA) and Mathematics
- Several resources for parents have recently been made available on the NYSED website. These resources have been updated to reflect the most current guidance concerning the Spring 2020 Grades 3-8 Assessments in English Language Arts (ELA) and Mathematics.
- The Parent Resources include four documents: Things Every Parent Should Know About Student Participation in Statewide Assessments Under ESSA, Additional Things Every Stakeholder Should Know About Student Participation in Statewide Assessments Under ESSA, What Parents Need to Know, and the 2020 Parents FAQs About New York State’s Annual Grades 3-8 ELA and Math Tests
- The Parent Resources can be found at 2020 Parent Resources.
Another Great Musical on the Way!
