Dear Middleburgh school community:
During his daily briefing today, May 1, Gov. Cuomo announced New York State schools will be closed for the rest of the school year.
While we all agree on how valuable it would be to have schools reopen this year and wished there was an opportunity to return to school, we know the governor’s decision put public health first and foremost. There are social distancing challenges and complexities — in addition to many other issues — that would need to be addressed in a short period of time.
But, we are Middleburgh Knights… and as our name implies, we are competent, powerful and strong. We are living through a defining moment in our nation’s history and all of us — in one way or another — are survivors of people who successfully endured huge societal and/or personal and family challenges. We will get through this.
I want to again stress how much we appreciate your patience, flexibility, understanding and the sincere kindness shown to every Middleburgh faculty, staff and administrative member during these last seven weeks. All of us understand that in addition to the challenges – and, yes, successes — of remote academic instruction taking place every day, each of our students is missing out on different memorable milestones in their academic careers and personal lives.
That includes our Middleburgh parents and community, too. We know you all are the proud witnesses of these memorable moments. Whatever your family structure is, these accomplishments and achievements are part of a concerted, family/extended family effort of support.
Please know we continue to work on what we believe will be memorable recognition opportunities for the Class of 2020. While we are hopeful to have a commencement ceremony as we have done in past years, we can’t commit to that at this moment. We continue to look at ways of doing our very best to honor the Class of 2020, given the mandates we must operate under during this COVID-19 pandemic and will report back to you once those plans are finalized.
Additionally, I want to remind you about the district’s commitment to providing meals to identified families:
Information on breakfast and lunch for identified families
For COVID-19 health care workers, first responders and essential workers who need childcare assistance during this time:
Schoharie County child care information
Financial assistance information
Equally important, for anyone who feels they can benefit from mental health assistance during this time:
Social and emotional support information
Thank you again to everyone for your support. I have said this before and it bears repeating: Middleburgh’s faculty, staff and administrators are the gold standard of excellence in the education field. Their commitment to our students’ academic excellence is second to none. I appreciate all the support and understanding you’ve shown to them. The Board of Education and I join you in offering our utmost gratitude and thanks for what they are doing to maintain an academic instructional program that will keep your children in the forefront of student success.
I want to offer again my sincerest thanks to all of our parents, families and the entire Middleburgh school community for your support of our work. It really does continue to inspire us every day. And, none of this would be possible without the tenacity and grit of our students, who are persevering through these challenging times. They are also examples for others to follow and epitomize what it means to Knights: those who are strong and don’t give up.
We are all in this, together. Go Knights!
Sincerely,
Brian Dunn
Superintendent
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