Welcome to the 2021-22 School Year!

Our first day of school is Thursday, September 9!

More than any other year, our students, families and staff have done an outstanding job working together to stay connected and keep the learning going this summer. SOCSD is ready for the 2021-22 school year and we can’t wait to have all our students back full-time and in-person on September 9! To view our video in Spanish, visit our SOCSD Communications YouTube channel.

Please note: Due to changes in New York State Department of Health guidance regarding indoor masking released after the conclusion of our summer programs, universal indoor masking in P-12 schools is mandatory once again for all students, staff and visitors over age 2, regardless of vaccination status.

2021-22 Back to School COVID-19 Guidance

View Dr. Pritchard’s August 30, 2021 Back-to-School Update here for information regarding indoor masking and social distancing.

SOCSD Health & Safety Protocol: 2021-22
SOCSD COVID-19 Reporting
SOCSD Contact Tracing Protocols

NYSDOH: Commissioner’s Determination on Indoor Masking (August 27, 2021)
NYSED: Forthcoming Back to School Health and Safety Guidance (August 10, 2021)
SOCSD: Back-to-School Planning (August 3, 2021)
NYSED: CDC & AAP Guidance on School Opening 2021-22 (July 29, 2021)
CDC: Guidance for COVID-19 Prevention in K-12 Schools

Back to School General Information

View our Parent Guide to Back to School: 2021-22 here.

Buttons linked to back to school information, including summer reading resources and summer assignments (for select TZHS courses only), are posted on our school homepages and can be accessed directly via the links below:

• WOS: https://blogs.socsd.org/wos/back-to-school/
• CLE: https://blogs.socsd.org/cle/back-to-school
• SOMS: https://blogs.socsd.org/soms/back-to-school/
• TZHS: https://blogs.socsd.org/tzhs/back-to-school/

Communications

Our District uses a variety of tools to communicate with our families, staff and community:

• SchoolMessenger: This email and robocall system is used to share important information regarding school programs, services and news. Parents/guardians of current students and staff are automatically subscribed at the start of each school year. Not receiving emails from your child’s school or from the District? Contact your child’s school directly.
• Google Calendars: School events, holidays, Board of Education meetings and other key dates are posted on our District and school Google calendars, which are displayed on the District and building homepages. For information on how to subscribe to updates and sync calendars with mobile devices, view the Google Calendar Quick Reference.
• Web and Social Media:
  • Web: www.socsd.org
    • District notices and District/community events are posted on the e-Backpack webpage.
    • Annual notifications are posted on the Annual Notifications webpage.
  • Facebook: @SouthOrangetownCSD | @SOCSDFEC | @TZHSCounseling
  • Instagram: @SouthOrangetownCSD | @Tappan_Zee_HS | @soms_strong | @CottageLaneES | @WOSnews | @TZeeAthletics
  • YouTube: SOCSD Communications | SOCSD Events | TZHS Counseling
  • Twitter: @SouthOrangetown | @Tappan_Zee_HS | @SOMS_News | @CottageLaneES | @WOSnews | @TZeeAthletics
• School Communications Information:
  • WOS: https://blogs.socsd.org/wos/school-communications/
  • CLE: https://blogs.socsd.org/cle/school-communications/
  • SOMS: https://blogs.socsd.org/soms/school-communications/
  • TZHS: https://blogs.socsd.org/tzhs/school-communications/

Food Service

While all South Orangetown K-12 students will continue to receive school breakfast and lunch at no charge through the 2021-22 school year, families who believe that their children may be eligible are strongly encouraged to submit an application for free/reduced price meal status. More information here. Menus are posted on the Food Service webpage.

School Physical Requirements

New York State law requires a health examination for all students entering the school district for the first time AND when entering pre-kindergarten or kindergarten, 1st, 3rd, 5th, 7th, 9th and 11th grades. Physicals completed within 365 days prior to the first day of school are acceptable.

Please read the following requirements carefully:

• The examination must be completed by a NY/NJ state licensed physician, physician assistant or nurse practitioner.
• A dental certificate which indicates your child has been seen by a dentist or dental hygienist is requested at the same time.
• A copy of the NYSED Student Health Examination Form must be provided to the school by December 31, 2021 from when your child first starts school and when your child starts kindergarten, 1st, 3rd, 5th, 7th, 9th and 11th grades. Please note that the NYSED Student Health Examination Form or its electronic health record equivalent MUST be used for al physicals completed on or after January 31, 2021. No other forms are acceptable.
• Links to the NY SED Student Health Examination Form and dental certificateforms  are posted on the For Parents page of our school district website, under Forms.

Parents are encouraged to make copies of the completed forms for their own records before sending them to the School Nurse’s Office. Forms may be faxed to the appropriate school:

WOS: Riva Fisher, RN | Tel: 845-680-1304 | Fax: 845-680-1920
CLE: Karen Fitzgibbons, RN | Tel: 845-680-1508 | Fax: 845-680-1957
SOMS: Margaret Keane, RN | Tel: 845-680-1130 | Fax: 845-680-1911
TZHS: Patricia Shalvey, RN | Tel: 845-680-1647 | Fax: 845-680-1960

Transportation Deadlines

Local childcare providers will be continuing and/or resuming before and after school programs for the 2021-2022 school year. Please contact childcare providers directly regarding program information and registration.

• If busing to or from an alternate site is needed, be sure to submit the Alternate Site Request Form (English| Español) no later than July 15 to [email protected]. The Alternate Site Request Form must be completed and submitted each year that a student requires transportation to or from an alternate site.
• William O. Schaefer Elementary School parents/guardians: All SOCSD students in grades K-2 are required to have an adult with them when they board the school bus each morning and get off the bus in the afternoon. WOS students will be released only to adults listed on the Bus Designee Form which must be submitted by August 15 to [email protected]. View the WOS Bus Designee Form (English | Español).

Bus assignments for the 2021-22 school year will be mailed the week of August 30.