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January 15, 2021
Lakeland Families,
Good evening. We have received notification of the following seven (7) positive cases. Due to the timing of when the individuals were last in school, contact tracing was not necessary.
Lincoln-Titus Elementary 1
Copper Beech Middle School 1
Lakeland High School 3
Walter Panas High School 2
We are excited to have our students back for hybrid learning on Tuesday, January 19! As you are planning to send your child back to school, please be reminded to send them with an extra mask and to be sure to fill out the screening form in the morning.
Be well, stay safe, and have a great weekend.
Brendan Lyons, Ed. D.
Superintendent
January 2021 Newsletter from your School Nurse (Versión en español)
Happy New Year! To keep our Lakeland Community healthy continue to avoid large gatherings, maintain social distancing, hand washing, and 
mask wearing.
As a reminder, please continue to contact your Principal and School Nurse immediately via phone call during the school day or email after hours if a student tests positive for COVID-19. Parents making prompt notification of positive test results have assisted the Administration in providing timely responses.
Please do not forget to send your child to school with their daily COVID-19 Screener slip which includes a temperature check at home. Screening slips Students exhibiting any COVID-19 symptoms or answering YES to any question on this form, must stay home. Please call in your student’s absence and contact their Health Care Provider for guidance. Keep in touch with your School Nurse regarding all absences including illness, being in close contact with someone with COVID-19, or testing positive for COVID-19.
For testing information call NYS COVID-19 hotline at 1-888-364-3065 NYS COVID-19 testing ....
PLEASE CLICK HERE TO READ ENTIRE NEWSLETTER
Versión en español
Lakeland Families,
Greetings and happy New Year! I hope that the winter break and holiday season provided you with an opportunity to have family time and get
some rest after a long fall and early winter. The start of a new calendar year traditionally provides an opportunity for reflection and renewed hope... PLEASE CLICK HERE TO READ ENTIRE LETTER
January 11, 2021
Lakeland Families,
Good evening. We have received notification of the following 19 positive cases since Friday evening. Due to the timing of when the individuals
were last in school, contact tracing was not necessary.
Benjamin Franklin Elementary 7
Copper Beech Middle School 2
George Washington Elementary 2
Lakeland High School 2
Van Cortlandtville Elementary 4
Walter Panas High School 2
We were pleased and grateful to hear that New York State is accelerating vaccinations for individuals in Group 1B, which includes our faculty and staff. Although this is great news, vaccinations will extend over the next several months due to availability and the requirement for two doses.
Professional Learning Community (PLC) Day
Please be reminded that this coming Wednesday, January 13, will be a modified schedule to support Professional Learning Community (PLC) work once a month (PLC dates below). Synchronous (live) student times will be limited to the morning as indicated in the schedule below. Teachers will check in with their classes and attendance will be taken for all students.
PLC Dates Remaining
February 10, March 10, April 14, May 12, and June 2
(In the event of a Weather-related Emergency Day and all buildings are closed, the PLC day will be moved to the next Wednesday we are in session.)
Synchronous (live) check-in times for January 13
Pre-K 9:00- 10:00 & 12:30-1:30
Elementary- 8:00-9:00
Middle School- 8:50-10:28
Period 1: 8:50 - 9:00
Period 2: 9:01 - 9:11
Period 3: 9:12 - 9:22
Period 4: 9:23 - 9:33
Period 5: 9:34 - 9:44
Period 6: 9:45 - 9:55
Period 7: 9:56 - 10:06
Period 8: 10:07 -10:17
Period 9: 10:18 -10:28
High School- 7:20-8:40
Period 1: 7:20 - 7:30
Period 2: 7:31 - 7:40
Period 3: 7:41 - 7:50
Period 4: 7:51 - 8:00
Period 5: 8:01 - 8:10
Period 6: 8:11 - 8:20
Period 7: 8:21 - 8:30
Period 8: 8:31 - 8:40
Be well and stay safe.
Brendan Lyons, Ed. D.
Superintendent of Schools
Parents and Guardians:
I wanted to provide an update to my communication from December 21st regarding the status of winter sports for the upcoming 2020-2021
school year. As communicated, the start for low-moderate risk sports (bowling, track, boys swimming and gymnastics) was postponed and scheduled to begin on January 11th. Currently, the Lakeland Central School District is still on a Holiday Pause through January 19th. Due to the current switch to remote learning and a continued increase in infection rates, out of an abundance of caution the Lakeland Central School District will now be postponing the start of bowling, track, boys swimming and gymnastics until TUESDAY, JANUARY 19TH. ...PLEASE CLICK HERE TO READ ENTIRE LETTER
Versión en español
Lakeland Families,
The Lakeland Board of Education unanimously approved their annual Board Goals on December 10, 2020. Significantly, the Board added a new goal this year focused specifically on the topic of equity. The decision to add this goal was the culmination of numerous discussions throughout the late summer and fall which involved the Board of Education as well as District Administration. These discussions centered on ensuring that ALL Lakeland students feel welcomed, valued, included, and physically and emotionally safe while in school. This goal also addresses the expectation that all New York State School Districts actively engage in this work through the New York State Culturally Responsive and Sustaining Education Framework.
To these ends, and in support of this goal, I am pleased to announce that the District has expanded their relationship with Dr. Gess LeBlanc to assist in gathering feedback from our students and families using a focus group model as well as facilitating the creation and work of a District Equity, Diversity and Inclusion Team. Previously, Dr. LeBlanc has worked with students and staff at the Lakeland Copper Beech Middle School, focusing on student engagement and culturally responsive teaching practices.
Practically speaking, a limited number of parents/guardians will be able to participate in these virtual focus groups with Dr. LeBlanc. If you are interested in participating, please contact Dr. LeBlanc directly at gessleblanc@gmail.com. Focus group sessions will be approximately 45 minutes in length and occur in the evening. In addition, all faculty and staff, as well as students in grades 6-12 will have the opportunity to participate in an equity and inclusion survey later in the school year.
Using the four core elements of the New York State Framework as a backdrop (Welcoming and Affirming Environment, Inclusive Curriculum and Assessment, High Expectations and Rigorous Instruction, and Ongoing Professional Learning and Support), the District Equity, Diversity and Inclusion Team will examine Lakeland’s practices, policies, academic, attendance, discipline and other data points, as well as the results of the focus groups and student survey. Using this information, the team will make recommendations to the Board of Education for further action.
The Team will consist of 25-30 members representing a diverse cross section of our district and will include parents, students, teachers, support staff, administrators, and board members. Four 90 minute virtual meetings will be scheduled for the late afternoon or early evening beginning in February. If you or your child in grades 7-12 would be interested in being a member of the District Equity, Diversity and Inclusion Team, please complete a brief on-line application found here. Members will be chosen based on their application, availability, and the needs for a balanced and diverse group. A small committee composed of Dr. LeBlanc, a District parent, a School Board Member, teacher representative, and myself will review the applications and select the team members. There will be additional opportunities to participate in school level teams that will be formed for the 2021-2022 school year.
We look forward to hearing from you as we continue this important work in support of our students, families and community.
Sincerely,
Brendan Lyons, Ed. D.
Superintendent
ONCE THE SESSION IS OPEN TO THE PUBLIC: PLEASE CLICK HERE TO VIEW THE VIDEO LINK
December 4, 2020
Lakeland Families,
As the positive Covid cases in our surrounding community have risen, so too have the number of positive cases in our schools. I realize that for some, these notifications can be stressful and create anxiety. Please know that we send them in the spirit of transparency. It is our sincere hope that providing you with as much information as possible about how the virus is impacting our schools will help you understand how decisions are being made. Between yesterday and today, we have had several positive COVID cases and or contacts reported across multiple buildings and programs (Thomas Jefferson, Benjamin Franklin, Lincoln-Titus, Van Cortlandtville, Lakeland High School, Walter Panas, and Copper Beech Middle School as well as the Transportation and Maintenance Departments). In all but one case at Walter Panas, due to the individual’s being under prior quarantine or being on fully remote instruction, there was no need to contact trace and no impact to school operations. For Walter Panas, we were notified late last evening of a positive case in the A Cohort. Contact tracing was completed today.
As I have mentioned before, it may be necessary in the near future to switch some or all Lakeland Schools to remote learning. As this could happen at any time in the coming days, weeks or months families should be prepared to do so on short notice.
Based on feedback from our teachers and principals, as well as the demands of our current learning models, an adjustment is being made to several Flex Wednesdays (see dates below) to provide staff/faculty with time to collaborate and plan. Time for professional learning and collaboration is crucial for teachers in providing the best possible learning environment for our students.
Beginning next Wednesday, December 9, we will be shifting to a modified schedule to support Professional Learning Community (PLC) work once a month (PLC dates below). Synchronous (live) student times will be limited to the morning as indicated in the schedule below. Teachers will check in with their classes and attendance will be taken for all students.
PLC Dates
December 9, January 13, February 10, March 10, April 14, May 12, and June 2
(In the event of a Weather-related Emergency Day and all buildings are closed, the PLC day will be moved to the next Wednesday we are in session.)
Synchronous (live) check-in times
Pre-K 9:00- 10:00 & 12:30-1:30
Elementary- 8:00-9:00
Middle School- 8:50-10:28
Period 1: 8:50 - 9:00
Period 2: 9:01 - 9:11
Period 3: 9:12 - 9:22
Period 4: 9:23 - 9:33
Period 5: 9:34 - 9:44
Period 6: 9:45 - 9:55
Period 7: 9:56 - 10:06
Period 8: 10:07 -10:17
Period 9: 10:18 -10:28
High School- 7:20-8:40
Period 1: 7:20 - 7:30
Period 2: 7:31 - 7:40
Period 3: 7:41 - 7:50
Period 4: 7:51 - 8:00
Period 5: 8:01 - 8:10
Period 6: 8:11 - 8:20
Period 7: 8:21 - 8:30
Period 8: 8:31 - 8:40
Have a great weekend. Be well and stay safe.
Brendan Lyons, Ed.D.
Superintendent
CDC - Holiday Celebrations
DOH - A Healthy and Safe Halloween
