Pittsford School Start Date Change
Dear Communities of Hillsdale County,
We want to inform you of a change in the upcoming school year start date. Hillsdale County schools’ Common Calendar was set for students to return August 19th to in-person learning but will be changed to begin after Labor Day on Tuesday, September 8th.
As our schools’ superintendents have been working with staff and collaboratively with each other in preparation for our opening, we have realized that we need more time to make sure all of our schools are prepared for our staff and students with adequate safety equipment, training for staff, and other requirements mandated by our Governor.
We have found that personal protective equipment (PPE) that is required is hard to get in a timely manner: Some of our items have been backordered. We are working collaboratively with our vendors, the Branch-Hillsdale-St. Joseph Community Health Agency, Hillsdale Hospital, and the Hillsdale County Community Foundation to secure equipment needed for students and staff to return safely. All schools are also finalizing their reopening school plan that will be adopted by each school’s Board of Education. Each school in our county has to meet the minimum requirements set in the Governor's order and have it listed in a plan that will be submitted to the state prior to opening. The superintendents feel this extra time will allow staff to be prepared on new safety guidelines in our plans and get our supplies in to start the school year.
We know this change can impact a family and it wasn't made without many long conversations. If you have any questions please contact your local district. Your district will release a calendar soon as they may vary slightly from district-to-district. Please note that winter and spring breaks will remain as previously scheduled on the common calendar.
Sincerely,
Hillsdale County Superintendents
A Letter from the Superintendent to Pittsford Families
August 3, 2020

Hello Wildcat Families!
As our committee continues to develop our Back to School Plan for this fall, we wanted to provide you with an update. Please keep in mind that we are still working our way through the plan based on current Executive Orders and law which could both change suddenly and force us to modify our plans. We anticipate we will have our finalized Back to School Plan by next week. This school year is sure to require flexibility as we all work through an ever-changing environment. Our goal is to create the best plan we can which will allow for a high-quality education while keeping our students and staff safe.
Student Learning: Governor Whitmer’s Executive Order 2020-142 provides a structure to support all schools in Michigan as they plan for a return of pre-K-12 education in the fall. Under the order, school districts must adopt a COVID-19 Preparedness and Response Plan laying out how they will cope with the disease across the various phases of the Michigan Safe Start Plan. One of the directions given to us by the Governor is to create a system, which allows for a quick shift from in-person instruction to online instruction in case our region is moved to Phase 1-3. We are also aware for many families, there is a desire to utilize a remote format at this time. Therefore, we are going to offer two options: in-person and remote. Our teachers will work to create their lessons so that, regardless of which option chosen, students will be receiving a similar curriculum. If we are still in Phase 4 or Phase 5, we will offer both the remote and in-person instruction.
Unknowns: Like you, we are also wondering what is going to happen over the next few weeks. Will the current orders change? Will the legislature change the rules regarding online learning, pupil accounting, instructional hour requirements, seat-time requirements, and more? The good news is most of the policy/legal issues should be resolved soon, which will give us enough time to be ready for our first day of school.
On behalf of our committee, thank you for your patience and understanding as we work through this complicated process. As more of our requirements become clarified and our plan develops more, we will share those details with you.
Please take a moment to complete the following survey by August 10th to help us better prepare for the upcoming school year.
https://docs.google.com/forms/d/1AB44uVw_yFoYm-7sUo9dnW3yd3YdoRIC2PVjGMfOCJM/edit?ts=5f249bc7
Thank you,
Deanna Edens
Superintendent
August Board Meeting Date Changed
The Board of Education Meeting that was scheduled for August 17, 2020 has been rescheduled and will be held on August 10, 2020.
Pittsford Area Schools Re-Entry/Back to School Plan (7/15/20)
To the Pittsford School Community: The link below will take you to the plan developed by the county schools and the Hillsdale ISD. Please read it carefully. Our collective and unwavering commitment is to put the needs of our students and staff above all else. We value collaboration as a necessary driver for advancing student learning and school safety in Hillsdale County.
Dear Parent or Guardians:
As we conclude what has been a rewarding, yet unprecedented school year, I want to thank you for your partnership in the journey we have gone through together! In my twenty-five years in education I cannot remember a time where parents had to juggle so many responsibilities with their families, including taking on an educational role at times! Thank you for all that you have done and thank you for your patience as we navigated the waters of remote learning.
So where do we go from here? We obviously don’t know the scenario we will be faced with in the Fall of 2020, but please know this: we will provide a quality education for your child no matter what your preference, no matter what the guidelines, no matter the situation! While we prefer to begin the school year 100% in person, we know that we must have a robust customized remote learning plan should you, the parent, prefer it or should the circumstances require it.
A plan that resembles what we teach in person and when we teach it so that kids have a similar experience in either delivery model. One that provides a great deal of student-teacher interaction and support, and one that allows the parent to return to being the parent and the school re-assuming the major role of educating every student.
We have teams working on our in person re-entry to school and remote learning instruction. In addition, we are preparing for facilities that are safer than at any previous time. We will be ready to begin next August 19, 2020.
A survey will be sent out following this letter that will provide Pittsford Area Schools and our county with some very important information regarding both the experience your student(s) have just completed and what you are thinking at this point in time in regards to the Fall of 2020 learning preferences for your child. Please know this survey is confidential. The data will provide good information as we plan to meet your needs for next school year.
Things appear to be changing rapidly with each week that passes. I assure you that we will be ready to provide the top-notch education you have come to expect from Pittsford Area Schools.
Again, thank you for your continued partnership. We look forward to an exceptional 2020-2021 school year!
Educationally,
Deanna Edens
Superintendent
Pittsford Area Schools
Below is a letter from the Hillsdale ISD and an opportunity to take their survey regarding the 2020-21 school year
| Hillsdale County School Re-entry Parents Survey Spring 2020
|
| The COVID-19 pandemic is an unprecedented moment in our history, including students and schools. Almost overnight schools have had to revamp their entire instructional delivery model. The purpose of this countywide survey is to not only understand the impact the pandemic has had on students’ experiences, but also how to best serve students moving forward. Please fill out the survey for ONLY ONE child attending a Hillsdale County School. If you would like to complete the survey for any of your other children, you may do so by completing the survey again. To note, the information collected is anonymous. After question number 2 you may skip any question you do not wish to answer. The survey should take no more than 5 to 10 minutes to complete. Thank you for your time and input. The survey will close on June 29th 5 pm. Respectfully, Hillsdale County ISD Superintendent Troy Reehl and your local school Superintendents |
Kindergarten Roundup
Welcome Little Wildcats!
Link to Order the Senior 2020 Composite Photo
School Closure Information
This space will be used to post information about the school closing, our continuing learning efforts, food distribution, cancellations and changes, and any other information that is pertinent. Scroll down to see all ongoing announcements
Alumni meeting 2020 Cancelled: Due to the current circumstances, we regret to inform all interested parties that the alumni meeting for 2020 has been cancelled. The classes of 1960, 1970, 1980 and 1995 will be honored at the meeting in 2021.
Attention Pittsford Seniors and Their Families: In this FREE resource students, parents, and others can upload a video shout-out to say thanks, farewell or any other message they wish to share. Pictures can also be uploaded as a tribute to the student's success as well. You can find all of your schools listed at this website: https://www.fox47news.com/grad
Here is a link to instructions for uploading your picture or video to the Fox site
Thank you for your ongoing patience, and for the many ways in which our community continues to come together in support of our students, our teachers, and our schools as we navigate new territory, and for the ways in which our community has rallied to support those in need, and those on the front lines of addressing the public health crisis. Our thoughts also remain with everyone personally impacted by loss of loved ones, as COVID-19 takes its toll on our community. We are likewise mindful of the fact that we are all grieving “normalcy” along with our won unique losses during this time.
Governor Whitmer issued Executive Order 2020-35 (COVID-19), a comprehensive order that effectively closes all K-12 Michigan schools for the remainder of the 2019-20 school year as a result of the coronavirus pandemic. Pittsford Area Schools remains vigilant in monitoring the ongoing guidance provided by the state and local health and education officials, and in sharing timely and accurate information as it becomes available.
Pittsford Area Schools has launched the Pittsford Area Schools Continuity of Learning Plan, which will begin on Monday, April 20, 2020. Thank you for your partnership as we work together with our students, staff, families and community to promote the learning, safety, health and well-being of all. (please click the link to the Continuity of Learning Plan above to learn more.
Take care and be well,
Deanna Edens, Superintendent
Tuesdays and Thursdays at the following locations:
3:00 Osseo Township Building
3:00 Frontier Church
3:00 Waldron Schools Parking Lot
6:00 Behind Feed Mill in Pittsford
Please call the transportation department at 517-523-3481 ext. 123 if you need home delivery. Please leave your telephone number, address and number of students in the household.
Employment Opportunities
Position: Secondary Science Teacher (DX or DI Endorsement)
For the entire job posting, Click Here
Substitute Bus Drivers Needed
Pittsford Area Schools is in need of Sub Bus Drivers for the 2019/2020 school year. If interested please contact Jessica Rebeck at (517) 523-3481 x 123.
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