Dear Stillwater Community,

I hope you are all doing well. I know many of you have questions that are unanswered at this time. I want to assure you that we are working on many things behind the scenes and as you know, things change by the day. Each day I attend a virtual meeting with all 31 WSWHE BOCES superintendents, school attorneys and our District Superintendent Jim Dexter. In those meetings, we discuss the many questions that you have and we work to problem solve each day. I will not capture all of them here, but the topics listed below will surely resonate. Please hold tight and we will be sure to get you as many answers as we can. So much is dependent on the virus containment timeline.

Well what about…

• The governor’s timeline vs. our local timeline? 
• Spring break; how does it fit into the equation? 
• Regents courses? 
• Grading?
• Prom?
• Graduation?

Each day there are more topics and problems to address. We are all working together to do the best that we can at this time. Again, I will provide more updates as I get new information. I truly appreciate your patience.

Online Advanced Placement Exams

The College Board, which administers Advanced Placement (AP) exams nationwide, has announced that it will conduct online exams for the 2019-20 school year. The exam content will only cover material taught through early March. 

This will ensure that students currently enrolled in an AP course and who pass the course will still receive college credit. 

The AP tests will be administered as 45-minute online free-response exams at home. Students will be able to take the streamlined exams on any device they have access to—computer, tablet or smartphone, according to The College Board. Taking a photo of handwritten work will also be an option.

Beginning this week, students and teachers can attend free, live AP review courses, delivered by AP teachers from across the country. These mobile-friendly classes are:

• Designed to be used alongside work that may be given by schools.
• Will be recorded and available on-demand so teachers and students can access them any time.
• Will focus on reviewing the skills and concepts from the first 75% of the course. 

Students in need of mobile tools or connectivity can contact The College Board. If you need any additional information and course-specific exam information, please read more here.

Social/Emotional Resources

I want to remind you that we have many people in our district who can and want to help you. If you are in need, please don’t hesitate to reach out. On our district website, we have created a page with social/emotional resources for you to take a look at, if you wish, during this difficult time. Next week, we will begin sharing “Wellness Wednesday” videos with the community, so please be on the lookout for those. “Wellness Wednesday” is a districtwide initiative to promote a healthy mind and body. Remember, we are here to help and serve you and your well-being matters to us.

#StillwaterSmiles

Please remember to share what you’re up to at home or outside on social media and use #StillwaterSmiles. We’d love to continue to spread some joy and positivity. Plus, I know we have a lot of creative community members, so let’s see what you’ve got! 

As always, if you have any questions, please reach out. I will do my best to answer them. I appreciate all of your support. We have a very special community here in Stillwater. I am so glad to be a part of it.

Sincerely,

Patricia Morris
Superintendent of Schools