Stamford Central Ready to Open the Doors Sept 3

A Yondr Pouch will be used to store students' cell phones during the day at SCS and Charlotte Valley Central. They are a patented pouch and unlocking base that provides a standardized system for all students, each receiving an assigned pouch for the school year.

STAMFORD –   There are at least three new faces joining the Stamford Central School community as the faculty, staff and administration prepare for the start of classes on Wednesday, Sept. 3. Teachers will report on Aug. 28 and Sept. 2 for conference days. 

Ms. Jackie Frederick is the new pre-K-12 principal and brings a very exciting and furry companion to her position, her trained facility dog, Murphy. Murphy is a one-year-old Labrador Retriever, who has been trained to provide emotional support, to encourage student well-being and to help promote a positive school climate. According to the research, facility dogs can help reduce stress, improve social connections and support learning. 

In her letter to the community, Frederick stated she is looking forward to getting to know the students, families and staff and welcomes everyone's thoughts and feedback as the new school year begins."As the new PK-12 principal at Stamford Central School, I'm thrilled to be joining such a committed and caring school community. I look forward to working together to ensure our students continue to grow academically, socially and emotionally in a safe and supportive environment.," stated Fredericks.

Parents were invited to an ice cream social on Tuesday to meet Ms. Fredericks and Murphy, just prior to a second parent/student forum regarding the Governor’s Cell Phone Ban.  Superintendent Dr. Glen Huot said parents provided a lot of good input and indicated they were very supportive of the initiative.

Dr. Huot said, “The kids are very excited about the new principal the therapy dog program she is bringing to SCS.”

Also joining the school community are Kaitlyn "Katie" Gott as the secondary mathematics teacher and Brian Marcus, instrumental music teacher. 

In his letter to the community, Dr. Huot said the district is following the Governor's mandate to no longer use or display Indigenous names, mascots or logos. This fall, the district will be focusing on establishing a new mascot by working collaboratively with the school community. The process will be inclusive by taking input from students, staff, families, alumni and community members.

All districts this year are dealing with the Governor's mandate that bans cell phones and other “Internet enabled devices" from use by students during the school day. The school's policy also prohibits access to text-message-based phone during the school day because they have been inappropriately used during emergency situations in the past. However, Internet-enabled devices belonging to the school district are excluded from this new law. The school day is defined as the entirety of the instructional day, including instructional and non-instruction times, such as lunch and recess. Students will be prohibited from using smartphones, cell phones etc, from 7:45 a.m. to 3 p.m..

The legislation provides for ways to contact students during the instructional day, through the principal's office, the main office or the nurse's office. Medical condition monitoring or alerts are not included in the ban. Students will store internet-enabled devices during the school day in school-issued secure pouches/containers, called Yondr Pouches. Students are prohibited from unlocking the phone pouch/container with any unauthorized unlocking device. Students must have Stamford personnel unlock the pouch/container or students must use a school district unlocking device.

The good news for all school districts is that the funding for the CROP programs has been released and there will be no change in the after school program for this school year.

“We are fully staffed during this challenging nationwide and statewide teacher shortage and are excited about the coming school year,” said Dr. Huot.