Welcome Back

Please note the "Cell Phone and Personal Electronics Policy" in the Student Handbook is currently being updated. Our new protocol will align with New York State Education Law 2803 which mandates that schools prohibit the use of non-school owned internet-enabled personal devices (such as smartphones, smartwatches, tablets, or other similar technology) during the instructional day—except in specific, approved circumstances. We will send a notice via ParentSquare once this has been updated prior to the start of the new school year.

Student schedules will be accessible in SchoolTool 8/15. Please take the time to review your student’s schedule. In order to set up your account, please follow the instructions located on this webpage: Gananda.org/Parents/SchoolTool Login.

If you believe there is a missing course or mistake, please submit an Add Drop Form. The Add Drop Process is described in this document. Please be aware that there still might be some minor shifting over these next few weeks as we await Summer School results and complete our final review to balance rosters as much as possible. Here is a link to current elective options.

Please note that we will be utilizing Schoology as our learning management system where teachers will have class resources, assignments and grades for students.

If you have concerns about your student's schedule, please submit an Add Drop Form. The Add Drop Process is described in this document. Here is a link to current elective options.

Also, please keep in mind that any schedule change requests that reduce a student's schedule below 6.5 credits for grades 9-11 or 5.5 credits for grade 12, will only be approved under special circumstances (CSE/504 recommendation, medically documented needs, work-based learning opportunities, etc.)

If you have further questions, please contact your student’s counselor:

• Mrs. Kelleher (kkelleher@gananda.org)

• Mrs. Marang (amarang@gananda.org)

You can also click on the buttons below that will take you directly to the Instructional Calendar and Daily Schedules.

Dismissal time is 2:24 pm - half day dismissal time is 10:56 am.

Based on the Gananda Transportation Request Form submitted by each student's family, route information will be sent out via ParentSquare by August 22nd. Once received, if you have questions about bus routes, bus numbers or pick up and drop off times, you can contact the Transportation Department at 315-986-4278.

Freshmen Orientation is Thursday, August 21 at 1:00. Invites were sent on ParentSquare - families and students are asked to RSVP by August 18th.

In addition, there is a District Wide Open House on Wednesday, August 27th from 5 pm - 7 pm. Students and families will be able to visit all schools and meet teachers and staff. The HS will distribute school supplies at that time.

Emergency Contact Forms will be sent via ParentSquare. Please review the emergency contact form and respond with changes as soon as possible.

Other forms will also be posted through ParentSquare. These include:

• Parent/Student Handbook Sign-Off
• Publishing Rights Release and Electronic Access Form

Student parking spots will be assigned this year - students must submit their forms prior to school. The form is linked here and can also be picked up in the Main Office. Once it is filled out, you can take a picture and email it to us or drop it off.

Laptops will be in each student’s first block class on the first day of school.

Students entering 12th grade need to have their meningococcal vaccine or a scheduled appointment with their physician by 9/22/25 to prevent exclusion from school.

9th and 11th graders need a NYS mandated physical.

Medications (over the counter or prescription) cannot be given out without a note from the doctor. Please use the OTC Medication Form or Permission to Administer Medication Form found on our website.

Any student registering for sports needs to have a physical dated within 1 year from the start of practices to participate. Outdated, unsigned or missing forms will prevent your student from trying out.

All medical forms can be found under the Health Services & Information part of the HS website, or you can click the button at the bottom of this section.

If you have any questions, please email the school nurse at lhall@gananda.org.

Our building therapy dogs, Bear, Sadie and Piper, will be returning. Students and staff are excited to have them visiting throughout each school week.

Per our BOE policies, any therapy dog must be current on all vaccinations, be healthy and be accredited by Therapy Dogs International, having passed strict testing.

If you have any questions or concerns, please contact the main office.

We have partnered with Inter-State Studio/SLR Photo for school pictures again this year. They will be at our school on Wednesday, September 10th to photograph our students and staff.

You may go online to view package options and pre-order your packages by going to the link below and using the code provided. You can pre-order or send cash or check with your student on picture day. Paper fliers will be available in the main office when school starts.

Website: www.inter-state.com/order

Order Code:0209EBA

Please call the Inter-State Studio Office at 585-310-7781 with any questions.

Please be sure to take the time to review the Student Handbook and Code of Conduct prior to the start of school. These documents have important information regarding academic requirements, offerings, behavior expectations and other procedures.

Practice begins on August 18th.

Any student registering for sports needs to have a physical dated within 1 year from the start of practices to participate. Outdated, unsigned or missing forms will prevent your student from being approved to play.

For more information and to register, please go to Family ID by clicking on the button below, or going to Departments-Athletics from the Gananda Central School District website.

If you have not received an invitation to join ParentSquare from your students school, please contact the main office of their building.

A new student scanning system will be installed on buses the first week of school which utilizes RFID cards to alleviate prior issues with barcode scanning. Student scanning on the buses is crucial to ensuring all students are on the correct bus and accounted for in the event of an emergency. New student ID cards will be handed out the first week of school and will be the only ID cards distributed during the school year. Due to the increased cost of obtaining them, replacement cards may incur a fee.

With the switch to RFID, cards will no longer be able to be scanned via cellular device. Parents/students will be able to continue tracking the bus through a new app which transportation will release details on once the new scanners are installed.

Absences need to be reported to the school health office by the parent/guardian of the student. This may be done so online by completing this form.

Respectfully,

Dr. Christopher J. Whipple, Principal

cwhipple@gananda.org

Mrs. Nickie Mereness, Assistant Principal

nmereness@gananda.org

(315) 986-3521, 8, 3154