Annual Notifications
Annual Professional Performance Review (APPR)
New York State Education Law requires each classroom teacher and school principal to receive an Annual Professional Performance Review (APPR) that results in a composite effectiveness score and rating. All parents/guardians have the right to obtain the APPR quality ratings and composite effectiveness scores for their child’s current teacher(s) and principal(s) once they are available. To initiate this request, please contact the district office.
Asbestos/Pesticide Management Plan
Under state law, Canajoharie Central School is required to notify you that pesticide products may be used in school buildings throughout the year. Parents, guardians, and staff may request 48-hour advance written notification, including the date and place where the pesticide will be used, the name of the pesticide and its EPA registration number and who to contact for more information. To be placed on the list, call the director of facilities at 673-6347. In 1989, the Canajoharie Central School District submitted the district’s Asbestos Management Plan to the New York State Education Department. In accordance with the EPA Asbestos Hazard Emergency Response Act of 1987 (40 CFR Part 763), this memo is intended to fulfill annual notification, stating that the Asbestos Notification Plan for school building is available and kept on file at the district office.
Athletic Expectations
Student athletics provide an opportunity for learning beyond the classroom. The expectation is that our athletes are students first. To that end, the following requirements apply:
Athletes failing more than one subject must correct all failures following the issuance of report cards or five-week progress reports. (An incomplete for other than medical reasons will be considered a failure.) Athletes will be required to meet daily with a teacher of one of the failed subjects in order to participate in sports practice or competition until the athlete achieves a passing grade.
Athletes will not use tobacco, alcohol and illegal drugs.
All athletes are to abide by the curfew set in writing by their coach.
Athletes must attend all practice sessions unless absent from school for a legal reason or excuse in advance by the coach.
An athlete may not withdraw from a team without prior consultation with the coach and athletic coordinator.
Attendance Policy
Good attendance and success go hand in hand.
Students are expected to attend school every day. The following is a list of legal excuses for absences:
Personal illness
Death or illness in the immediate family
Observance of a religious holiday
Medical or dental appointments (Please schedule outside of school time, when possible.)
Quarantine
Impassable roads
Steps to follow when absent
Parents or guardians should call the school attendance desk (518) 673-6300 x 1046 before 10 a.m. on the day of absence.
An excuse should be sent with the student upon return, giving the student’s name, days of absence, reasons and parent/guardian signature.
Remember: when students are allowed to miss school for unnecessary reasons, they are getting the message that school is not really important.
Denial of School Credit for Excessive Absences
If a student is absent more than 20 times (10 for a semester course; 5 per quarter for Physical Education), he/she may be denied credit for courses. At a conference with the principal, the principal will decide if extenuating circumstances justify excessive absences, determine the conditions for the granting of credit, or deny credit for classes.
Body Mass Index
New York requires school districts to keep students’ height and weight data and to calculate students’ Body Mass Index (BMI) to check for underweight or overweight youngsters based on their height and weight. If surveyed by the NYSDOH, the district will share the number of pupils in each of six BMI categories based on students’ age and sex. If surveyed by the state, we will provide group data, not individual data. Parents may exclude their child’s data from group calculations by contacting the school nurse.
Child Abuse Hotline
If you suspect a child is being abused or maltreated (neglected), report it by calling 1-800-342-3720, a toll-free 24-hour hotline operated by the New York State Office of Children and Family Services. If you believe a child is in immediate danger, call 911 or your local police department. Information about reporting child abuse and maltreatment (neglect) is available online at Code of Conduct.
The Canajoharie Central School District Code of Conduct applies to all students, school personnel, parents and visitors when on school property, including buses and other school-owned vehicles, or when attending a school-sponsored function. Information regarding the district’s Code of Conduct is shared with students at the beginning of every school year and in student handbooks.
Disclosure to the Military
Pursuant to federal law, Canajoharie School District must disclose to military recruiters, upon request, the names, addresses and telephone numbers of high school students. Parents/guardians or students age 18 or older who do not want this information released to military recruiters should contact the district office.
Expectations at School Functions
Canajoharie Central School is fortunate to offer our students many different extracurricular activities. Students can participate in sports, music, drama, or club activities. Some activities include public events. Out of courtesy and respect for our student-athletes and performers, we ask you to observe proper etiquette. Please silence all cell phones and show your appreciation for our students with appropriate applause during performances, games and other events.
Nondiscrimination Policy/Equal Opportunity Policy
The Canajoharie School District/BOCES hereby advises students, parents, employees and the general public that it offers employment and educational opportunities, including career and technical education opportunities, without regard to race, color, national origin, sex or handicap. Grievance procedures are available to interested persons by contacting the person(s) listed on this page.
Inquiries regarding this nondiscrimination policy may be directed to:
Title IX Coordinator: Nick Fitzgerald, Superintendent of Schools, 136 Scholastic Way, Canajoharie, N.Y. 13317, (518) 673-6302.
Section 504 Coordinator: Nick Fitzgerald, Superintendent of Schools, 136 Scholastic Way, Canajoharie, N.Y. 13317, (518) 673-6302.
Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA)
Districts must annually notify parents and students over 18 (“eligible students”) of the following rights under FERPA (also known as the “Buckley Amendment”):
Parents/eligible students have the right to inspect and review the student’s education records.
Parents/eligible students have the right to request that a school correct records which the parent/student believes to be inaccurate or misleading.
Schools must have written permission from the parent/eligible student in order to release any info from the student’s education record, except when allowed without consent under FERPA (including to other school district officials with a legitimate educational interest).
The notification must include:
The procedure to inspect records & request amendment;
Who constitutes a school official and what constitutes a legitimate educational interest (one of the allowable disclosure exceptions); and
The right of parents to file a complaint with the Family Policy Compliance Office.
The notification method is left up to the district.
All students enrolled in the Canajoharie Central School District, regardless of family income, can receive free breakfast and lunch during the 2018-19 school year as the district is now part of the federal Community Eligibility Provision (CEP).
Students who wish to receive free meals simply report to their building’s cafeteria. No application is required in the first year of the CEP.
Grade Promotion and Placement Policy
Decisions about student promotion and placement guided by recommendations of teachers and staff members, past academic performance, and parent/guardian input. Past academic performance refers to a variety of indicators of student achievement and growth. Promotion and placement decisions are not based solely on student performance on New York state assessments in grades 3-8 English language arts or mathematics. The district’s promotion and placement policy was adopted by the board of education following a review by the district administration.
Health Information Privacy
We are required by law to maintain the privacy and security of your protected health information.
We will let you know promptly if a breach occurs that may have compromised the privacy or security of your information.
We must follow the duties and privacy practices described in this notice and give you a copy of it.
We will not use or share your information other than as described here unless you tell us we can in writing. If you tell us we can, you may change your mind at any time. Let us know in writing if you change your mind.
For more information see: www.hhs.gov/ocr/privacy/hipaa/understanding/consumers/noticepp.html.
Homeless Student Policy
The New York State Technical and Education Assistance Center for Homeless Students (NYS-TEACHS) provides materials on its website that schools can use to provide information about educational services for homeless students:
Idling School Buses on School Grounds
State law requires school districts to take steps to minimize the idling of the engines of school buses and other school vehicles on school grounds. While students are boarding and departing school buses, the engine should be turned off. Students should be instructed about the importance of getting on and off buses in an orderly and efficient fashion to minimize loading and offloading time. Bus engines should also be off while parked at sporting events and other school activities. Exceptions to this “no idling” policy can be made in cases of emergency, mechanical issues or for necessary heating.
Immunizations
As required by New York State, effective Sept. 1, 2016, the below immunization schedule must be followed for children in grades K-12 entering/enrolled in public schools. For more detailed information, visit health.ny.gov.
Please contact your child’s physician or your school nurse with questions.
Required immunizations:
3-4 doses Polio (IPV/OPV)
2 doses MMR (Measles, Mumps, Rubella)
1-2 doses Varicella (chickenpox)
3-5 doses DTap, DPT, Tdap (Diphtheria, Tetanus and Pertussis)
1 dose Tdap (Tetanus, Diphtheria and Pertussis) *Note: Required only for students enrolling grades 6-12 who have not previously received a Tdap at 7 years of age or older.
2-3 doses Hepatitis B
1-2 doses Meningococcal conjugate vaccine (MenACWY) *Note: New requirement for students entering grades 7 and 12.
Meal Charge Policy
Although payment for school meals is typically due at the time of the sale (through a prepaid balance, cash or some other means), the Canajoharie Central School District recognizes that at times, students are unable to make this payment for a variety of reasons. The Canajoharie Central School District has established a school meal charge policy to provide clear information about how these situations will be handled, including steps designed to avoid any embarrassment of children.
Nondiscrimination Policy/Equal Opportunity Policy
The Canajoharie Central School District does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, creed, disability, sex, sexual orientation, marital status, age, military status, or any other protected status in its educational programs, employment or any other activities*. Further, it is unlawful for an employer to retaliate against any individual because that person filed a complaint, opposed any unlawful practice, or testified or assisted in an investigation or proceeding. Any inquiries and complaints regarding non-discrimination in the district may be referred to Nick Fitzgerald at nick.fitzgerald@canjo.org.
Parents’ Bill of Rights for Data Privacy and Security
The Canajoharie School District is committed to ensuring student privacy in accordance with local, state and federal regulations and district policies. To this end and pursuant to U.S. Department of Education (DOE) regulations (Education Law §2-d), the district is providing the following Parents’ Bill of Rights for Data Privacy and Security:
A student’s personally identifiable information cannot be sold or released for any commercial or marketing purposes.
Parents/guardians have the right to inspect and review the complete contents of their child’s education record, including any student data maintained by the Canajoharie School District.
State and federal laws protect the confidentiality of personally identifiable information, and safeguards associated with industry standards and best practices, including but not limited to, encryption, firewalls and password protection, must be in place when data is stored or transferred.
A complete list of all student data elements collected by the state is available for public review in an Excel file.
Parents/guardians may also obtain a copy of this list by writing to the:
Office of Information & Reporting Services
New York State Education Department
Room 863 EBA, 89 Washington Avenue, Albany, NY 12234.
Parents/guardians have the right to have complaints about possible breaches of student data addressed. Complaints should be directed to the district office.
Prescription and Non-prescription Pain Relievers
State law requires drugs of any kind, even aspirin, to be administered by the school nurse only with written notes from both the student’s doctor and parent/guardian.
Teacher Qualifications
Under the Every Student Succeeds Act, parents/guardians have the right to know the professional qualifications of their child’s classroom teachers, including:
Whether a teacher has state certification for the grade levels and subjects he or she is teaching;
The teacher’s baccalaureate degree major and any other certifications or degrees; and
Whether their child receives services from paraprofessionals and, if so, their qualifications.
Parents/guardians may request their child’s classroom teacher’s professional qualifications by contacting the district office.
Release of Student Directory Information
Consistent with the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA), the district has designated certain categories of personally identifiable student information that it may release without prior written consent. This is known as “directory information.” The purpose of doing this is to enable student activities and accomplishments to be publicized and for the creation of publications such as the annual yearbook, programs for graduations, concerts and other special events, sports activity sheets and honor roll or recognition lists. Achievements are typically publicized on the school website, and through school district social media, releases to the local media and official district publications. Directory information can also be disclosed to outside organizations without a parent’s prior written consent. Outside organizations include, but are not limited to, companies that manufacture class rings or publish yearbooks.
If you do not want any or all of these types of information released pertaining to your child without your prior written consent, please send this request in writing to the child’s building principal.
While the district will honor the request of any parent who has submitted written notification opting their child out of the release of directory information, the district is not responsible for media that cover news happenings, sporting events, or other school events that are open to the public, such as plays and musical performances.
School Closings
When schools must be closed for an emergency or because of snow or road conditions, an official announcement will be made over various area radio and television stations and will be posted on the district website.
Closing announcements will also be made using our phone notification system. School may be closed for up to three days without adding days to the school calendar.
If there are less than three closings, vacation days will be added in May or June.
If more than the allotted snow days are used, the days will be made up during spring break beginning April 21.
Student Information
In accordance with The No Child Left Behind Act of 2001 and The National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2002, the school district routinely discloses names, addresses and telephone numbers of juniors and seniors to military recruiters upon request, unless a parent requests such information not be disclosed without their written consent.
Typically, the disclosed information includes names, addresses, and telephone numbers. If parents do not wish this information be released, they should send a letter to the school principal.
Student Privacy
Under the Protection of Pupil Rights Amendment [PPRA], districts must notify parents and students:
Parents have the right to inspect student surveys concerning one or more of the eight protected areas of student information. Access must be granted within a reasonable amount of time after the request and before administration of the survey.
Parents can opt out their child out of the administration of any such survey, activities that involve the collection/disclosure of a student’s personal information for marketing purposes and any non-emergency, invasive physical exam or screening except for hearing, vision and scoliosis screenings or as permitted or required by state law.
Of the specific or approximate dates during the school year when survey activities are scheduled.
Parents must be notified “directly, such as through US mail or email,” at least annually (at the beginning of the school year) and “after any substantive change in privacy policies.” For surveys and activities scheduled after the school year starts, parents must be provided reasonable notification of the planned activities and surveys.
Schools must get prior written parental consent before students are required to submit to surveys that are funded by Department of Education funds and that contains questions about one or more of the eight protected areas.
Visiting School
Every day is open house at Canajoharie Central School. Parents are welcome to visit whenever they feel necessary.
To ensure proper time and attention are given to visits, and interruption of instruction is avoided, please call ahead for an appointment.