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Issue 1: August-September 2020 - REVISED
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Dear Parents,
On behalf of the administration, faculty and staff, I again welcome you to the 2020-2021 school year. As you know, we will begin this year with virtual learning on Monday, August 31st. All students should join their homeroom through TEAMS by 7:50AM. A big thank you to the teachers and staff for their hard work this summer to prepare for the new block schedule and synchronous, distance learning format. We will have a modified bell schedule for the first week in order to accommodate our orientation programs. The first week schedule has been distributed to students through Schoology. Students will be assigned a lunch period by their 5th and 6th period teacher on the first, respective Garnet and Gray day.
All students should have picked up their textbooks and laptops this week in the gyms at their assigned times. Anyone who was unable to attend, should plan to pick up during one of the scheduled make-up times:
Monday, August 31st from 6:30am - 7:30am
Monday, August 31st from 3 - 5pm
Tuesday, September 1st from 3 - 5pm
This year will certainly be like no other we have experienced at the Big C. We will continue to communicate to our students and families on a regular basis as situations develop and information changes. I am confident that together, we will navigate the uncertainty of these unprecedented times and remain hopeful for the days when we can be together again. Wishing you all a peaceful, positive, healthy opening day! Stay well and take good care of yourself and each other.
Amy A. Meisinger, Ph.D.
Principal
Commitment to Social Justice at Conestoga
The beginning of a school year is usually an exciting time, filled with energy and excitement for all that the new year brings. This year's opening is historic in nature not only because we are beginning school virtually during a worldwide pandemic, but also during a time when we have become increasingly aware of the systemic racial injustices that continue to persist in our country. As principal, I recognize the pain that so many of us are experiencing around these events, particularly our students, staff, and families of color. As we prepare to embark on a new school year, as a school community, it is important to renew our commitment to social justice. We at Conestoga care deeply about the way racism, intolerance, and injustice affect the lives of all individuals, especially those in our school community. We are committed to cultivating a culture that seeks to understand each other, values each other and does not tolerate discrimination of any kind. As a district, we are committed to social justice teaching standards, and to that end, we encourage teachers and students to engage in conversations about the impact of current and historical events on us as individuals and as a community. Together, we believe that we can find ways to move forward in unity during this challenging time.
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Administrative and Counselor
Assignments 2020-21
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College Application Night
Attention All Seniors:
College Application Night (originally scheduled for September 24) will now be a virtual program. This program will teach seniors how to apply to college at Conestoga. It is a great way to learn more about the college application process. The recorded event will be pushed out to students during the opening weeks of school.
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Extended Experience Fall 2020 - COVID 19 PLAN
In an effort to offer students additional opportunities to meet Conestoga's EEPE 30-hour requirement, we have made exceptions to the program for this semester due to COVID-19 limitations. Students are still required to complete 30 hours during the Fall Semester in order to earn credit for the course.
Below are the guidelines to complete the EEPE hours either in an organized activity, gym, dance studio or at home. Please review the information below and select an activity in which you propose to complete the 30-hour requirement for this course. A survey on Schoology must be completed by September 11th in order to have your proposal completed and approved.
Steps for completion of EEPE course:
- Review, with the activities' supervisor, the requirement for the course.
- If the supervisor approves your plan, please complete the survey listed on Schoology under the EEPE course for the Fall semester.
- Once your submission has been completed, and approved, you may begin the activity that you have submitted for approval.
- If your submission is not approved, you will be contacted by email and asked to select an alternative activity.
- Use the attached activity log to keep track of your hours during the semester.
- Once you have completed the required 30-hour total, complete the EEPE Verification Form and submit it with the activity log through Schoology. The Verification Form and Activity Log must be submitted as a PDF on the due date provided.
Requirements:
- The experience will provide supervised instruction / physical activity.
- 30 hours will equal one semester's credit.
- Students will not be approved for more than one EEPE course for the Fall semester.
- Students may not change their EEPE approved activity once it has been approved.
- The EEPE course requirements may be completed at only one site.
- Activities that span the first and second semester are assigned and applied to either the spring or fall semester.
- The following Conestoga Club teams are considered as EEPE: Spring Crew, Squash, Rugby, Ice Hockey. Varsity, JV and JVA sports are considered a "Team Sport", which is a separate course.
- EEPE is NOT A Team Sport. Team Sport is NOT an EEPE. Team Sport and EEPE are two (2) separate courses
- The Application Survey must be submitted through Schoology by September 11th in order to be considered for approval. If the survey is not completed / approved by the assigned due date, senior students will be placed in a physical education class and underclass students will have the course dropped from their schedules.
Exceptions for the Fall Semester only:
- The physical activity may be completed at home and supervised by a parent or guardian.
- Students will be permitted to submit a physical activity for approval that could include: timed running activities, yoga completed in the home, weight lifting in a home gym, etc.
- An EEPE Application Form cannot be submitted. Students must complete the EEPE Fall Semester Approval Survey through Schoology in order to have their supervised activity approved.
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A Note from the Attendance Office
- During the 2020-2021 School Year, all Conestoga studentsmust post to their Homeroom Schoology folder no later than 9:30 each morning to register their attendance.
If your child is going to miss school or is going to be late you must:
- Send an email to [email protected] or a written note within 3 days of your child's absence/ lateness with a valid reason.
- If you send a note without a valid reason (listed below), then the absence or lateness will remain unexcused.
- If you email with a valid reason for the absence/lateness before 9:30 a.m. on the day of the absence/lateness, you will not receive phone calls, emails or texts. If you do not send an email before 9:30 a.m. then you can respond to the automated email you receive.
- You do not need to call prior to your child's absence. You only need to send an email or a note for their return.
What to include in your emails/notes:
- FULL NAME OF YOUR CHILD
- GRADE
- VALID REASON (listed below)
If you receive a phone call, email, or text that your child is absent, and you believe it is in error, please contact the attendance office as soon as possible by emailing [email protected].
Excused Absences and Tardies Reasons:
1. Personal illness
2. Family Emergency
3. Death of a Family Member
4. Medical or Dental Appointments
5. Authorized School Activities
6. Educational Travel with Prior Approval
7. Pre-approved Religious Instruction (limit 36 hours per year)
8. Bona Fide Religious Holiday
9. Tutorial Instruction in a field not offered in the District's curricula
10. Attending Court Hearings related to involvement with the County Children and Youth Agency or Juvenile Probation Office
11. When the student is required to leave school for the purposes of attending court hearings related to their involvement with the county children and youth agency or juvenile probation office
12. If the student is absent due to participation in a project sponsored by an organization that is eligible to apply for a grant under the Pennsylvania Agricultural Fair Act
13. If a student is dismissed from school during school hours for health-related reasons by a certified school nurse, registered nurse, licensed practical nurse or a school administrator or designee employed by the District.
14. For the purpose of obtaining professional health care or therapy service rendered by a licensed practitioner of the healing arts in any state, commonwealth or territory.
15. If a student whose parent or legal guardian has been called to duty for, is on leave from, or is immediately returned from deployment to a combat zone or combat support posting, with regard to school attendance, tests and extra-curricular or co-curricular activities, at the discretion of the Superintendent or designee, no penalties shall be imposed for absences of up to five (5) days.
16. Where the Superintendent has approved an attendance plan necessitated by rare and extraordinary circumstances. In this context, "rare" means typically no more than 1 or 2 per year District-wide and "extraordinary circumstances" means the student is engaged in a profession or activity at a nationally recognized level.
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Emergency Card, Registration Form and Media Consent Form
New this year, we are asking parents/guardians to complete three forms virtually instead of on paper:
- Emergency Contact Form
- Registration Form
- Media Consent Form
All three of these forms are available to be completed on the PowerSchool parent portal https://powerschool.tesd.net. Once logged in, please click on "TESD Forms" on the left side of the site.
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Student Information Verification Sheets &
2020-21 Online Directory
Student Information Verification Sheets were included in the CHS Summer Packet which was sent electronically on Monday, August 24th. Please be sure to complete the Verification Sheet for each student by Tuesday, September 1st.
The information that you see on your Student Verification Sheet is what will appear in the Conestoga Directory. The directory will be made available the week of September 7th. You will be able to select what information, if any, you would like included in the directory.
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Attention Class of 2021
Senior portraits for the Class of 2021 FINAL DATES AT CONESTOGA: SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 5, 12, 19, 26. THERE WILL BE NO OTHER DATES SCHEDULED.
Information about scheduling an appointment will be mailed to your home by the studio. To contact the studio, log on to http://www.ouryear.com/ school code 87046 or call 1-800-OUR-YEAR™ (687-9327) or email [email protected].
The yearbook staff does not schedule your appointment.
If you have not had a picture taken during one of the scheduled sessions and would like to appear in the yearbook, you must go to the studio in Bensalem, PA for a session. All pictures must be taken by October 31 in order to appear in the yearbook.
Once your pictures have been taken, the studio will send you proofs. Follow their directions to select a picture for the yearbook.
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Class Parent Organizations
Class Parent Organizations
Each class at Conestoga has a Parent Chairperson and meets monthly with Administrators and Counselors to get updated on what is happening at school. This is a wonderful opportunity to get information and have questions answered. We will begin with virtual parent meetings this year, links to join the meetings will be emailed to you by the class chairperson.
Class of 2024
First Meeting Date: Tuesday, September 15, 9:30 am
Class of 2023
First Meeting Date: Thursday, September 17, 9:30 am
Class of 2022
First Meeting Date: Tuesday, September 22, 9:30 am
Link to Meeting:
Class of 2021 First Meeting Date: Thursday, September 24, 9:30 am
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T&E Care School Meal Assistance Program
Tredyffrin & Easttown Care is a local non-profit that helps families in our community in a variety of ways. Because effective learning is best done on a full stomach, T&E Care supports families in the T/E School District who meet certain income criteria with a school meal assistance program. Families who are approved for free or reduced lunch assistance are not eligible to apply for our program as well. Click here for more details on the acceptance criteria.
If your family could use a little extra help with breakfast and/or lunch assistance and you feel you might fit the criteria explained in the application, please contact your child's counselor for a copy of the application. You can also go to T&E Care's website to download the application (address below). There is no deadline to apply - your child can join this program at any time during the school year. Assuming funds permit, the assistance of $35/mo/student for elementary students, $45/mo/student for middle school students, and $55/mo/student for CHS students will be offered by T&E Care during the 2020/2021 school year.
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ARCH
ARCH invites you to a presentation, Coping During Covid, on September 30th at 7:00pm. Parents will learn coping strategies for managing stress and anxiety, and how to help our children through these uncertain times.
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2020-2021 School District Calendar Information
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Sports Schedules/Announcements
To provide the most current updated sports information on a given day or changes that may occur regarding adverse weather conditions/cancellations or for some other reason, the Athletic Department has implemented the following for your convenience:
- For updated announcements, please refer to the CHS website. On the top bar-scroll to Athletics then Announcements under the Athletic tab.
- If you would like to receive e-mail/text alerts regarding any type of sports announcements/changes, you will need to register at digitalsports.com. Please refer to CHS website. On the top bar-scroll to Athletics then Schedules/Alerts under the Athletic tab to review the step-by-step directions.
Please feel free to contact the Athletic Department at 610-240-1024 with any questions or visit the Athletic Website.
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Upcoming Events
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EVENT
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DATE
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TIME
| LOCATION | | First Day of School | 8/31/20 | 7:50 am | CHS | | NO SCHOOL - Labor Day | 9/7/20 |
| SCHOOL CLOSED | | NO SCHOOL - Yom Kippur | 9/28/20 |
| SCHOOL CLOSED |
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