Dear Herricks School District Community,

Happy Thursday! I hope this email finds you all doing well and everyone is having a wonderful week and enjoying the fall weather. It has been a busy couple of weeks here in Herricks with a number of important events for our families including PTA Meetings in each building, Back To School Night events at each school, and other various district-wide events. Your presence and engagement highlight the importance of a strong home-school partnership, which is key to student success. Studies show that students attending schools where there is a strong home-school connection are more likely to achieve academic success and personal growth. Let’s continue working together to ensure the best possible outcomes for our children!

Over the last couple of weeks, I have also enjoyed my visits to each school and the opportunities to interact and learn with our students and staff. Whether watching a group of ninth graders solve algebraic equations or listening to a group of first graders practice their critical thinking and creative innovation by “thinking outside of the box,” I continue to be impressed with the meaningful and impactful learning experiences unfolding in our district. Our collective work is very much anchored in our Portrait of a Graduate and actively nurturing the 6 C’s outlined in the POG. In fact, this week at one of our elementary schools, all of our students participated in a Portrait of a Graduate Pep Rally where students engaged in activities that helped promote the 6 C’s. All in all, it has been a wonderful start to the school year!

Health Update

As we officially kick off the fall season, we will be dealing with various illnesses including the common cold, the flu (click here for more information), Covid, and other illnesses. To that end, we want to share some important reminders to promote a healthy and safe environment in our schools:

  • If your child is sick, please keep them home until they are fever free for at least 24 hours and their symptoms are improving.

    • If your child exhibits flu or Covid symptoms, you are encouraged to keep them home and have them tested as these viruses are highly contagious.  

  • Wash hands frequently for at least 20 seconds with soap and water.

  • Cough/sneeze into a tissue or upper shirt sleeve covering the mouth and nose.

  • Avoid touching the eyes, nose and mouth.

Safety Update

As we continue to prioritize the safety and well-being of our students, staff and families, I implore everyone to adhere to the traffic laws and regulations during drop-off and pick-up times at each of our schools. Over the last several weeks a number of concerning incidents have been reported about cars parking illegally, cars making illegal U-Turns during the busy arrival period, and cars creating traffic and congestion in the neighborhoods surrounding our schools because they want to avoid following the standard pick-up and drop-off protocols. Please understand that this is a pervasive issue and impacts each of our schools as evidenced by the following examples: 

  • Cars have blocked the driveway of the firehouse by Denton Avenue School, which is a significant safety hazard that could impact the well-being of many community members.

  • Cars have cut off the buses at the Middle School during dismissal and drop-off. Additionally, other cars continue violating the traffic regulations near the pond, creating unnecessary safety risks for our students and families. 

  • Cars have created congestion and blocked driveways in Hamilton Park (adjacent to the high school) because they wanted to avoid adhering to the high school drop-off and pick-up protocols. 

These actions are incredibly dangerous because they put our students, staff and families at risk. Please be aware that the local authorities have been informed of these issues and have been ticketing cars. Moving forward, please follow all the traffic rules and regulations near each of our schools, so we can safely get all of our students to and from school. 

Thank you for your attention to these important reminders. Your partnership and cooperation are critical factors to ensure the well-being and safety of our students, staff and families. 

 Other Important Updates

  • FLYERS: As you know, community information can be found under the FLYERS tab on the homepage of the district website. For example, you can learn more about the Community Fund Dinner Dance or the local Little League opportunities by clicking here where you can see the latest community updates!

  • VIDEO UPDATES: If you missed any of the Herricks’ Happenings Video Updates, click here to find the video.

  • BOARD NOTES: Click here to view the Board Notes for all of our Board of Education Meetings.

  • IMPORTANT DATES:

    • Our next Board of Education Meeting will take place on Thursday, September 26, 2024 (TONIGHT) at the Community Center at 7:30pm - please join us! 

    • Schools are closed on Thursday, October 3rd and Friday, October 4th. 

Thank you so much for taking the time to review this information - I value and appreciate your partnership and engagement.  

 

Have a wonderful rest of the week! 


Sincerely,

Dr. Tony Sinanis
Superintendent of Schools
Herricks School District 
#WeAreHerricks
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