Executive Director's Corner Archive

 
September 2020
 
 
Dear NYOS Community,
 
I hope all of you have been enjoying the first week of Fall Break. On September 28th, we will provide all NYOS families with a Commitment Form asking you to indicate whether you want on-campus or at-home learning for your student(s).
 
In between now and September 28th, we wanted to share the following new resources with our families:
 
Expanded Campus Reopening Webpage
We know that there might be a lot to consider regarding on-campus vs. at-home learning before you complete our Commitment Form. In the meantime, you can visit this new expanded section of our website, which makes specific information within our “Plan to Reduce the Spread of COVID-19 at NYOS Charter School” document much easier to locate.
 
Updated Facilities & COVID-19 Dashboard
Included in the new expanded section of our website are details related to facility updates that have been made at NYOS and a COVID-19 Dashboard for NYOS. The dashboard contains positive case information, campus splits between at-home and on-campus instruction, and Austin-area COVID case data. Dashboard information will be updated weekly.
 
By completing the September 28th Commitment Form, your selected instruction preference will remain in effect for your student(s) through the end of the second quarter of the 20-21 school year, which is Thursday, December 17, 2020.
 
Regards,
Kathleen Zimmermann
Executive Director
 
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Estimada Comunidad de NYOS,


Espero que todos hayan disfrutado la primera semana de las vacaciones de otoño. El 28 de Septiembre, proporcionaremos a todas las familias de NYOS un Formulario de compromiso en el que se les pedirá que indiquen si desean aprendizaje en el campus o en el hogar para sus estudiantes.


Entre ahora y el 28 de Septiembre, queríamos compartir los siguientes recursos nuevos con nuestras familias:


Página web ampliada de reapertura del campus

Sabemos que puede haber mucho que considerar con respecto al aprendizaje en el campus versus al aprendizaje en el hogar antes de completar nuestro Formulario de compromiso. Mientras tanto, puede visitar esta nueva sección ampliada de nuestra página web, lo que hace que proporcionar información específica dentro de nuestro documento "Plan para reducir la propagación de COVID-19 en NYOS Charter School" sea mucho más fácil de localizar.

 

Instalaciones actualizadas y tablero COVID-19

En la nueva sección ampliada de nuestro sitio web se incluyen detalles relacionados con las actualizaciones de las instalaciones que se han realizado en NYOS y un Panel de control COVID-19 para NYOS. El tablero contiene información de caso positivos, divisiones del campus entre instrucción en el hogar y en el campus, y datos de casos de COVID del área de Austin. La información del tablero se actualizará semanalmente.


Al completar el formulario de compromiso del 28 de Septiembre, su preferencia de instrucción seleccionada permanecerá vigente para su (s) estudiante (s) hasta el final del segundo trimestre del año escolar 20-21, que es el Jueves 17 de Diciembre de 2020.


Sinceramente,

Kathleen Zimmermann

Directora Ejecutiva

 

 

July 2020
 
Dear NYOS community,
 
We are excited to begin school next week on July 27. While starting school remotely is unusual, our teachers and staff are working hard to create engaging lessons for students at home. To provide more details about what to expect regarding at-home learning, we created a document to help.  Click here to see the document.
 
If, after reading the document, you still have questions, complete this form to submit questions to us. We will address as many as we can during a virtual town hall meeting this Thursday between 5pm and 7pm. We will share details and a Zoom link to the meeting. For those of you who cannot make it, the meeting will be recorded.
 
Regards,
Kathleen Zimmermann
Executive Director 
 
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Estimada comunidad de NYOS,
 
Estamos emocionados de comenzar la escuela la próxima semana el 27 de julio. Empezando la escuela de forma remota es un poco inusual, pero nuestros maestros y personal están trabajando arduamente planificando lecciones interesantes para nuestros estudiantes en casa. Para proporcionar más detalles sobre qué esperar con respecto al aprendizaje en el hogar, creamos un documento para ayudar. Haga clic aquí para ver el documento.
 
Si después de leer el documento, aún tiene preguntas, complete este formulario para enviarnos sus preguntas. Nos dirigiremos a todas las preguntas que podamos contestar durante una reunión virtual de ayuntamiento el jueves entre las 5 p.m. y las 7 p.m. Compartiremos detalles y un enlace de Zoom para la reunión. Para aquellos de ustedes que no pueden asistir, se grabará la reunión. 
 
Gracias,
Kathleen Zimmermann
Directora Ejecutiva
 
 
July 2020

Dear NYOS families, 

Save the date for a Virtual Town Hall Meeting this Thursday, July 23 beginning at 5:00pm. NYOS administrators and PTA officers will share important information about the start of the 2020-2021 school year. The meeting agenda includes the following:

5:00-5:30 General Session (Executive Director Kathleen Zimmermann and PTA President Kelly Warren)
5:40-6:20 Elementary Session Grades PK-5 ( Elementary Principal Terry Berkenhoff)
6:20-7:00 Secondary Session Grades 6-12 (Secondary Principal Will Jaramillo)

Go here for the Zoom link for the Virtual Town Hall Meeting. Closed captioning will be provided for those who need it:

Or iPhone one-tap :
US: +13462487799,,86258393956#,,,,,,0#,,612559# 
or +12532158782,,86258393956#,,,,,,0#,,612559#

Or Telephone:
Dial(for higher quality, dial a number based on your current location):
US: +1 346 248 7799 or +1 253 215 8782 or +1 669 900 6833 or +1 929 205 6099 or +1 301 715 8592 or +1 312 626 6799

Webinar ID: 862 5839 3956
Passcode: 612559

See you Thursday,
Kathleen Zimmermann
Executive Director

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Estimadas familias de NYOS:

Reserve la fecha para una reunión virtual del Ayuntamiento este jueves 23 de julio a partir de las 5:00 p.m. Los administradores de NYOS y los oficiales de la PTA compartirán información importante sobre el inicio del año escolar 2020-2021. La agenda de la reunión incluye lo siguiente:

5:00-5:30 Sesión General (Directora Ejecutiva Kathleen Zimmermann y la Presidenta de la PTA Kelly Warren)
5:40-6:20 Sesión de Primaria Grados PK-5 (Director de Primaria Terry Berkenhoff)
6:20-7:00 Sesión secundaria Grados 6-12 (Director secundario Will Jaramillo)

Vaya aquí para el enlace de Zoom para la Reunión Virtual del Ayuntamiento. Se proporcionarán subtítulos para quienes lo necesiten:

O iPhone con un toque:
US: +13462487799,,86258393956#,,,,,,0#,,612559# 
or +12532158782,,86258393956#,,,,,,0#,,612559#

O Telefono:
Marcar (para mayor calidad, marque un número basado en su ubicación actual):
US: +1 346 248 7799 or +1 253 215 8782 or +1 669 900 6833 or +1 929 205 6099 or +1 301 715 8592 or +1 312 626 6799

Seminario web ID: 862 5839 3956
Codigo: 612559

Hasta el jueves,
Kathleen Zimmermann
Directora Ejecutiva
 
July 2020
 
Dear NYOS Community,
 
Thank you to those of you who completed our parent survey last week. We requested the feedback to assist us with our initial planning for the 2020-2021 school year. We received 760 responses, with respondents choosing 100% At-Home Instruction for 2/3 of NYOS students and choosing 100% On-Site Instruction for 1/3 of NYOS students. 
 
On Tuesday (7/14), Austin Public Health released an order "School systems shall not re-open schools for on-campus, face-to-face instruction until after September 7, 2020." See the link to the notice here. 
 
In compliance with the public health order, NYOS will provide at-home instruction through September 7, 2020. We will continue to monitor the guidance of our local health authorities, the Department of State Health Services, and the Texas Education Agency and we will communicate any/all changes as they develop over the next few weeks. Keep in mind that there are many agencies involved in decision-making for schools and the guidance can change rapidly.  
 
We recognize that many of you counted on a return to school for your students. To that end, NYOS is partnering with Boys and Girls Clubs of Austin to provide support on campus each day for students in Kindergarten through 8th grades. If you are interested in this option for your student, click here to learn more. Families may also contact Kellie Paolillo for more information at [email protected].
 
NYOS will provide technology resources for families including Chromebooks, internet hot spots and the like. If you need technology resources, please complete this form. Technology pickup will be offered next week on Thursday (7/23), Friday (7/24), and Saturday (7/25). Parents/guardians must sign up to reserve a time for picking up technology. We will send a separate email with opportunities to sign up. 
 
 
J. Kathleen Zimmermann
Executive Director
NYOS Charter School
 
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Estimada comunidad de NYOS,
 
Gracias a quienes completaron nuestra encuesta para padres la semana pasada. Solicitamos los comentarios para ayudarnos con nuestra planificación inicial para el año escolar 2020-2021. Recibimos 760 respuestas, y los encuestados eligieron el 100% de instrucción en el hogar para 2/3 de los estudiantes de NYOS y el 100% de instrucción en el campus para 1/3 de los estudiantes de NYOS.
 
El martes (7/14), Salud Pública de Austin emitió una orden "Los sistemas escolares no volverán a abrir las escuelas para la instrucción presencial en el campus hasta después del 7 de septiembre de 2020". Vea el enlace al aviso aquí.
 
En cumplimiento de la orden de salud pública, NYOS proporcionará instrucción en el hogar hasta el 7 de septiembre de 2020. Continuaremos monitoreando la orientación de nuestras autoridades locales de salud, el Departamento de Servicios de Salud del Estado y la Agencia de Educación de Texas y comunicaremos cualquier / todos los cambios a medida que se desarrollen durante las próximas semanas. Tenga en cuenta que hay muchas agencias involucradas en la toma de decisiones para las escuelas y la orientación puede cambiar rápidamente.
 
Reconocemos que muchos de ustedes contaron con un regreso a la escuela para sus estudiantes. Con ese fin, NYOS se está asociando con el Club de Niños y Niñas de Austin para brindar apoyo en el campus todos los días a estudiantes de kinder a octavo grado. Si está interesado en esta opción para su estudiante, haga clic aquí para obtener más información. Las familias también pueden comunicarse con Kellie Paolillo para obtener más información en [email protected].
 
NYOS proporcionará recursos tecnológicos para familias que incluyen Chromebooks, puntos de acceso a Internet y más. Si necesita recursos tecnológicos, complete este formulario. La colección de tecnología se ofrecerá la próxima semana, el jueves (23 de julio), el viernes (24 de julio) y el sábado (25 de julio). Los padres / tutores deben registrarse para reservar un tiempo para recoger la tecnología. Le enviaremos un correo electrónico por separado con oportunidades para registrarse.
 
J. Kathleen Zimmermann
Directora Ejecutiva
NYOS Charter School
 
July 2020
 
Dear NYOS community,
 
On Monday, we communicated expectations about the start of school, using the most recent information available then. See that communication here. Tuesday afternoon, the Texas Education Agency (TEA) released directives and guidance for schools for the fall semester. The guidance has significant changes from the earlier communications. As such, NYOS will need to change some plans for re-opening. Here are some highlights of what to expect now for the fall semester:
 
  • An on-campus instruction option will be available for students in all grades PreK-12, five days per week. This is new. Boys and Girls Clubs will still offer an after-school program.
  • A remote instruction option will still be offered in all grades PreK-12, five days per week. If you want your student to learn from home, you can. 
  • NYOS will NOT offer a hybrid option with students on campus two days per week.  
  • The first three weeks of school (July 27th through August 14th) will be a transition period, with limited numbers of students on campus. First consideration will be given to families with parents working outside the home and students who need specialized instruction best done in person.  
 
Our near-term planning relies heavily on knowing how many students will want on-campus versus remote instruction. Please complete the new survey here by Sunday, July 12. You are not committing to a decision right now. NYOS will send a commitment form to each family in a separate communication during the week of July 13th. Even if you already completed a survey earlier this week, please complete this new one.
 
Please know that we remain committed to safety for our students, staff, and families. We want to keep you all safe as we move forward. We are adjusting our facilities and processes, obtaining personal protective equipment, and re-organizing operations to support the on-campus instruction option. 
 
Also, keep in mind that NYOS, as a public school, must comply with directives from state and local officials. As those directives change, NYOS has to change too. Thank you for your patience and flexibility as we work through these unprecedented times for TX schools.   
 
Sincerely,
Kathleen Zimmermann
Executive Director
NYOS Charter School
 
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Estimada comunidad de NYOS,
 
El lunes, comunicamos las expectativas sobre el comienzo de la escuela, utilizando la información más reciente disponible en ese momento. Vea esa comunicación aquí. El martes por la tarde, la Agencia de Educación de Texas (TEA) publicó directivas y orientación para las escuelas para el semestre de otoño. La guía tiene cambios significativos de las comunicaciones anteriores. Como tal, NYOS necesitará cambiar algunos planes para la reapertura. Aquí hay algunos puntos destacados de lo que puede esperar ahora para el semestre de otoño:
 
  • Una opción de instrucción en el campus estará disponible para estudiantes en todos los grados PreK-12, cinco días por semana. Esto es nuevo. El club de niños y niñas seguirá disponible después de escuela.
  • Todavía se ofrecerá una opción de instrucción remota en todos los grados PreK-12, cinco días por semana. Si quiere que su estudiante aprenda desde casa, puede hacerlo.
  • NYOS NO ofrecerá una opción híbrida con los estudiantes en el campus dos días por semana.
  • Las primeras tres semanas de clases (del 27 de julio al 14 de agosto) serán un período de transición, con un número limitado de estudiantes en el campus. La primera consideración se dará a las familias con padres que trabajan fuera del hogar y a los estudiantes que necesitan una instrucción especializada mejor realizada en persona.
 
Nuestra planificación a corto plazo depende en gran medida de saber cuántos estudiantes querrán instrucción en el campus versus instrucción remota. Complete la encuesta aquí antes del domingo 12 de julio. No se está comprometiendo a tomar una decisión en este momento. NYOS enviará un formulario de compromiso a cada familia en una comunicación separada durante la semana del 13 de julio. Incluso si ya completó una encuesta a principios de esta semana, por favor complete esta nueva encuesta.
 
Tenga en cuenta que seguimos comprometidos con la seguridad de nuestros estudiantes, personal y familias. Queremos mantenerlos a todos seguros a medida que avanzamos. Estamos ajustando nuestras instalaciones y procesos, obteniendo equipo de protección personal y reorganizando las operaciones para apoyar la opción de instrucción en el campus.
 
Además, tenga en cuenta que NYOS, como escuela pública, debe cumplir con las directivas de los funcionarios estatales y locales. A medida que cambian esas directivas, NYOS también tiene que cambiar. Gracias por su paciencia y flexibilidad mientras trabajamos en estos tiempos sin precedentes para las escuelas de TX.
 
Sinceramente,
Kathleen Zimmermann
Directora Ejecutiva
NYOS Charter School
 
July 2020
 
Dear NYOS Community,
 
I hope you are staying well and active this summer. NYOS administrators and I have been working each week to interpret the latest guidelines for schools in an effort to make plans for NYOS' own start of school on July 27th. We are working with the Texas Education Agency, the Centers for Disease Control, and local health authorities. We are also incorporating the valuable input provided by our NYOS families and staff members. We promised to share information with you today, July 6th. Here is what we know so far.
 
Grades PreK-6   
NYOS is exploring three options for instruction. The first option will be all at-home learning. Families who do not wish to send their students to school will be able to keep them home. NYOS teachers will provide remote instruction for these students Monday through Friday.  
 
The second option is a hybrid of on-campus and off-campus. In this option, students would primarily be grouped into cohorts by last name or family affiliation. Students in Cohort A would attend school on campus Mondays and Wednesdays. Students in Cohort B would attend school on campus Tuesdays and Thursdays. On the remaining days, teachers would provide remote instruction. The third option will be all on-campus learning with instruction on campus 5 days per week. First consideration will be given to families with parents working outside the home.
 
Keep in mind that for any instruction on campus, NYOS will consider the following:
 
  • Changes to the schedule to limit interaction among classes/student groups and movement around campus
  • Staff and students (grades 4 and up) wearing face masks daily in the classroom
  • Daily temperature screenings for students and staff
  • Frequent disinfecting of surfaces in classrooms, common areas, and play equipment
  • Wearing of clear face shields for teachers and staff
  • Reducing class sizes and increasing distance within classrooms 
 
Grades 7-12
Given the nature of class schedules and frequent movement around campus during passing periods for our older students, NYOS is considering at-home learning for students in 7th-12th grades. NYOS teachers will provide instruction remotely Monday through Friday. Students in these grades will not come to campus, with the exception of those students who need to be on campus for evaluation, individualized instruction, or specialized instruction to sustain IEPs or 504 plans. 
 
In all options, Friday will remain a 1/2 day for students. Teachers will use Friday afternoons to wrap up the week, meet with teammates and plan instruction as they would normally do. 
 
Opportunity for daily instruction on campus
We recognize that some families may want students to be on campus all five days to accommodate parent work schedules or other challenges of at-home learning. To that end, NYOS is partnering with the Boys and Girls Clubs to provide support on campus each day for students in grades K-8. BCG is hosting a daily program on campus for children of essential workers at NYOS this summer, so we have experience with this idea. We are still working through the details. We would like to hear from you if you think you may be interested. Please see the attached flyer for more information about BGC. 
 
Changes from Spring 2020
The Texas Education Agency (TEA) has given guidance for at-home learning beginning in the fall semester that is somewhat different from guidance in the spring of 2020. Starting in the fall semester, the TEA will require at least 90% attendance in each class. Since students may not be on campus, attendance will be measured by daily engagement instead of physical presence. Examples of engagement include: 
 
• Daily progress in the Learning Management System (LMS)
• Daily progress via teacher-student interactions
• Completion/Turn-in of assignments from student to teacher  
 
Daily engagement will be required. Students will be counted absent if they do not engage daily in one of the methods provided to them.   
 
Additionally, NYOS will return to formal grading policies for the fall semester for all 6th-12th grade students to comply with TEA guidelines. Grades will be calculated into student's GPAs. An option for Pass/Incomplete will not be available starting in the fall semester.  
 
Summer Activities
NYOS hosted summer school remotely in June. We are also actively preparing for the beginning of the fall semester on July 27th. NYOS' facilities team is procuring Personal Protective Equipment for community members on campus, erecting plexiglass barriers across both campuses in high-traffic areas, and completing daily cleaning and disinfecting. NYOS' janitorial vendor is installing more paper towel dispensers, obtaining extra cleaning equipment and sanitizers and creating cleaning plans for the fall semester. Groups of people on campus are limited to 10 per room. 
 
Schedule and Calendar 
NYOS is not planning to change the start date of school. We do not feel that we will have substantially different guidance later in the year. Keeping the start date, even if we have to start remotely, preserves the opportunity to provide additional instruction to those students who need it most during already-scheduled breaks. If NYOS has to make up days lost for school closure, we may consider other options that bring us up to the TEA requirement of 75,600 minutes. 
 
Parent Commitment
Per TEA guidance, NYOS will ask parents to commit to an instructional model approximately two weeks before school starts. Be on the lookout for another communication with options. The option you choose will be in place for the first nine-weeks grading period.
 
We want to hear from you! The numbers of positive COVID-19 cases have increased quite a bit since we sent out the parent survey in June. We know that some of you may have a different perspective on returning to school. Click here to provide your thoughts through Friday July 9.  
 
Vaya aquí para compartir sus pensamientos antes de este viernes 10 de julio. Una traducción al español de este correo electrónico estará disponible mañana.
 
During the week of July 13th, we will ask for a commitment for each student to a specific instructional design method. You will receive a separate communication with a commitment form attached. 
 
J. Kathleen Zimmermann
Executive Director
NYOS Charter School

 

June 2020 

 

Dear NYOS Community,
 
As we head into the summer, we want to update you on NYOS’ plans for returning to school for the fall semester.
 
The start date for NYOS staff remains July 14, 2020. The start date for NYOS students remains July 27th, 2020. See the NYOS calendar here. We expect that some students will need additional instruction to make up for learning gaps that developed in the spring. When planning for the fall semester, please note that your student may be invited to Saturday school and/or intersession lessons during Fall break. 
 
Reopening will be an exercise in flexibility for our staff, students, and families. We hope that all students will be able to return to campus for the fall semester. However, we expect that we will need a hybrid approach at least to begin. Of course, it is also possible that we would return to fully-remote instruction if COVID-19 cases spike in Central Texas again.
 
Leander ISD put together a very thoughtful diagram of the continuum of options schools are likely to face in the 2020-2021 school year. When reading this infographic, replace August with July for NYOS since our calendar starts earlier than LISD. 
 
Leander ISD Diagram
Source: Leander ISD
 
Deciding on where NYOS lands on this continuum will depend on state and local orders, guidance from health and school officials, input from the NYOS community, and resources available for safe implementation. Remember that NYOS will make its own decisions regarding reopening campuses. We do consider surrounding schools districts’ plans in the process, but we will make our own determination.
 
We want to hear from you about our reopening plans. Click here to share your thoughts, ideas, and even fears with us. This is a community effort. More input makes our planning better so please take a moment soon.
 
NYOS’ teams are working through the summer on planning, procuring resources, training and gathering information to determine where we will fall on this continuum. We expect to make a decision by July 6th.
 
Thanks to all of you for your resilience since March. We know it has been a trying time mentally, physically, and emotionally. We appreciate you and hope to see you back on campus. 
 
If you need a smile, check out the NYOS graduation ceremony video. NYOS Seniors along with family and staff gathered to watch together drive-in movie style on May 29. It was a joyful, special evening.   
 
J. Kathleen Zimmermann
Executive Director
NYOS Charter School
 
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Estimada comunidad de NYOS,


A medida que empieza el verano, queremos informarles sobre los planes de NYOS para regresar a la escuela para el semestre de otoño.


La fecha de inicio para el personal de NYOS sigue siendo el 14 de julio de 2020. La fecha de inicio para los estudiantes de NYOS sigue siendo el 27 de julio de 2020. Vea el calendario de NYOS aquí. Esperamos que algunos estudiantes necesiten instrucción adicional para compensar cualquier necesidad de aprendizaje que se desarrolló en la primavera. Cuando planifique el semestre de otoño, tenga en cuenta que su estudiante puede ser invitado a la escuela de los sábados y/o lecciones entre sesiones durante las vacaciones de otoño.


La reapertura será un ejercicio de flexibilidad para nuestro personal, estudiantes y familias. Esperamos que todos los estudiantes puedan regresar al campus para el semestre de otoño. Sin embargo, esperamos que necesitemos un método híbrido (virtual y en persona) al menos para comenzar. Por supuesto, también es posible que regresemos a la instrucción totalmente virtual si los casos de COVID-19 aumentan nuevamente en el centro de Texas.


Leander ISD creó ​​un diagrama muy detallado del continuo de opciones que las escuelas probablemente enfrentarán en el año escolar 2020-2021. Al leer esta infografía, reemplace agosto con julio para NYOS ya que nuestro calendario comienza antes que LISD.

 

Leander ISD Diagram

 Origen: Leander ISD

 

Decidir dónde está NYOS en este continuo dependerá de las órdenes estatales y locales, la orientación de los funcionarios de salud y escolares, los aportes de la comunidad de NYOS y los recursos disponibles para una implementación segura. Recuerde que NYOS tomará sus propias decisiones con respecto a la reapertura de los campus. Consideramos los planes de los otros distritos escolares locales en el proceso, pero tomaremos nuestra propia determinación.

 

Queremos saber de usted acerca de nuestros planes de reapertura. Haga clic aquí para compartir sus pensamientos, ideas e incluso miedos con nosotros. Este es un esfuerzo comunitario. Más información mejora nuestra planificación, así que tómese un momento tan pronto como sea posible para llenar el formulario.

 

Los equipos de NYOS están trabajando durante el verano en la planificación, la adquisición de recursos, la capacitación y la recopilación de información para determinar dónde nos encontraremos en este continuo. Esperamos tomar una decisión antes del 6 de julio.

 

Gracias a todos por su resiliencia desde marzo. Sabemos que ha sido un momento difícil mental, físico y emocional. Los apreciamos y esperamos verlos de vuelta en el campus.

 

Si necesita sonreir, mire el video de la ceremonia de graduación de NYOS. Los Seniors de NYOS junto con sus familias y el personal se reunieron para ver este video al estilo autocinema el 29 de mayo. Fue una noche alegre y especial.

 

Kathleen Zimmermann

Directora ejecutiva

NYOS Charter School

 
 
June 2020
 

Dear NYOS Community,

 

The recent tragic loss of Ahmaud Arbery, Breonna Taylor, George Floyd and Mike Ramos has left many shaken, despairing, scared, angry, and frustrated by the fact that our black and brown families continue to suffer such grave injustice. Why, since these issues came to light so long ago, does this still happen? Why has the US made so little progress? 

 

In this moment of merging crises, NYOS stands in solidarity with every one of our community members. We stand alongside the individuals who work for justice and equity. We stand with our students, families, and staff who are personally impacted by these threats against their well-being. 

 

As we could not ignore the COVID-19 crisis, neither can we ignore the crisis of systemic racial injustice. The impact of it all lives among us now and pervades our future. How we respond and act now will determine the extent and type of the impact our school can have. Our school values provide the important "why" to all that we do at NYOS.  One in particular stands out for me - Respect and dignity for all. Recognizing human dignity means that we accept people for who they are while, as educators, challenging them to be even better. 

 

More than ever, we want to encourage open dialogue, emotional wellness, and civic engagement. To that end, we are opening up an opportunity to voice your feelings about everything that is going on right now. Send your thoughts through this form. Your input will help to inform changes to our educational program and actions in the coming weeks and school years.  

 

See here for an article that may help with age appropriate conversations with students.

See here for more information about tolerance with resources for educators and others.

 

With gratitude for all of you,

 

J. Kathleen Zimmermann

Executive Director

NYOS Charter School

 

-------------------------------------------

 

Estimada comunidad de NYOS,

 

La reciente y trágica pérdida de Ahmaud Arbery, Breonna Taylor, George Floyd y Mike Ramos, ha dejado a muchos conmocionados, desesperados, asustados, enojados y frustrados por el hecho de que nuestras familias negras y de color continúan sufriendo injusticias tan graves. ¿Por qué, dado que estos problemas salieron a la luz hace tanto tiempo, esto todavía sucede? ¿Por qué en los Estados Unidos se ha hecho tan poco progreso?

En este momento de fusión de crisis, NYOS se solidariza con cada uno de los miembros de nuestra comunidad. Estamos junto a las personas que trabajan por la justicia y la equidad. Apoyamos a nuestros estudiantes, familias y personal que se ven personalmente afectados por estas amenazas contra su bienestar.

 

Como no podemos ignorar la crisis de COVID-19, tampoco podemos ignorar la crisis de la injusticia racial sistémica. El impacto de todo esto vive entre nosotros ahora e impregna nuestro futuro. La forma en que respondamos y actuemos ahora determinará el alcance y el tipo de impacto que nuestra escuela puede tener. Nuestros valores escolares brindan el importante "por qué" a todo lo que hacemos en NYOS. Uno en particular se destaca para mí: Respeto y dignidad para todos. Reconocer la dignidad humana significa que aceptamos a las personas por lo que son mientras, como educadores, los desafiamos a ser aún mejores.

 

Más que nunca, queremos fomentar el diálogo abierto, el bienestar emocional y el compromiso cívico. Con ese fin, estamos brindandole la oportunidad para expresar sus sentimientos sobre todo lo que está sucediendo en este momento. Envíe sus pensamientos a través de este formulario. Su contribución ayudará a informar cambios en nuestro programa educativo y acciones en las próximas semanas y años escolares.

 

Vea aquí un artículo que puede ayudarle con conversaciones apropiadas para su edad con los estudiantes.

Consulte aquí para obtener más información sobre la tolerancia con recursos para educadores y otras personas.

 

Con gratitud por todos ustedes,

 
J. Kathleen Zimmermann

Directora ejecutiva

NYOS Charter School

 
April 2020
 
Dear NYOS Community,
 
Thanks for all of your efforts to keep our students learning at home. Governor Abbott announced today that school campus facilities will remain closed to students through the end of the school year. We are disappointed not to have school on campus again, especially for our Seniors. We are working on alternative plans for graduation later in the summer so that graduates can celebrate together. 
 
From now until the end of the school year, at-home learning continues! You should expect to have at-home lessons through May 28th, the last day of school. 
 
Keep up the good work at home and please let us know how we can support you. NYOS has Chromebooks, hot spots and other instructional resources that you can use at home. Please let your teacher know what you need. You can access many resources on NYOS' At Home Learning webpage. https://www.nyos.org/apps/pages/athomelearning
 
Take care and have a good weekend,
 
Kathleen Zimmermann
Executive Director
 
----------
 
Estimada Comunidad de NYOS,
 
Gracias por todos sus esfuerzos para mantener a nuestros estudiantes aprendiendo en casa. El gobernador Abbott anunció hoy que las instalaciones del campus escolar permanecerán cerradas para los estudiantes hasta el final del año escolar. Estamos decepcionados de no tener escuela nuevamente en el campus, especialmente para nuestros estudiantes de último año. Estamos trabajando en planes alternativos para la graduación más adelante en el verano para que los graduados puedan celebrar juntos.
 
¡Desde ahora hasta el final del año escolar, el aprendizaje en el hogar continúa! Debe esperar tener clases en casa hasta el 28 de mayo, el último día de clases.
 
Sigan con el buen trabajo en casa y háganos saber cómo podemos apoyarlo. NYOS tiene Chromebooks, puntos de acceso y otros recursos de instrucción que puede usar en casa. Por favor, hágale saber a su maestro lo que necesita. Puede acceder a muchos recursos en la página web de Aprendizaje en el hogar de NYOS.
 
Cuídense y que tengan un buen fin de semana,
 
Kathleen Zimmermann
Directora Ejecutiva

 

April 2020

 

Dear NYOS Community,
 
Texas Governor Greg Abbott extended the temporary closure of all schools, including NYOS, to in-person attendance until May 4, 2020. As we planned, NYOS will start its at home learning program on April 6th. We will continue at home learning until at least May 4th, per the Governor's order. 
 
On Monday, we happily welcomed back NYOS teachers and staff. It was good to see everyone, even if just through Google Hangouts and Zoom! We spent Monday and Tuesday working together on at home learning plans for all students. That work will continue throughout this week. Don't be surprised if you or your students hear from teachers this week, testing technology use, sharing expectations, and saying hello.
 
Please check out NYOS resources online for Elementary and Secondary programs.
 
Thanks for your support and patience through this ever-changing information. We appreciate you and we miss you.    
 
Take care,
 
Kathleen Zimmermann
Executive Director
 
 
March 2020
 
Dear NYOS Community,
 
Happy Friday, everyone. I hope that you have found some things to appreciate in this new time called “shelter in place” in Central Texas, such as nice weather and extra time with family. As promised on Tuesday, here are some updates from school.
 
Just this evening, the NYOS School Board approved an emergency resolution that enables at-home learning for students and paying NYOS employees through this unprecedented time, among other things. Thank you to those of you who attended the virtual meeting. Also, report cards were mailed today. Please look for those next week.
 
We continue to monitor daily state and local guidance regarding COVID-19. For now, NYOS is still planning to resume instruction for students on April 6th.
 
Until then, NYOS staff will be engaged in a number of preparations. Notably, we will…
  • provide resources for you to keep your students learning at home
  • continue work to transition lessons and services for at-home delivery
  • distribute technological and other instructional resources to families who need them
  • set up a process for students to pick up articles left in lockers or classrooms
  • test technologies and protocols for connecting with you and your students
  • reach out to families whose students receive services to discuss at-home learning
 
Effective at-home learning works best when households have internet service for computers and tablets. If your service is sporadic or nonexistent, please check with your cell phone provider. In response to school closures for COVID-19, cell phone service providers like AT&T, Verizon, TMobile and others are adding FREE extra bandwidth for mobile hotspot use, which may make any smartphone a hotspot. 
 
Some of you have asked about NYOS’ construction project next door at Lamar. I am pleased to say that timelines for new construction remain unchanged. We are proceeding as planned to break ground this spring and open new space next summer. 
 
We are excited to “see” all of our staff members next week. Stay tuned for more information in the next few days.
   
Take care,
 
Kathleen Zimmermann
Executive Director

 

March 2020

 

Dear NYOS community,
 
We hope that you are taking care in these unprecedented times. Please know that we are thinking about you and hoping that each of you is well, or as well as can be, under the circumstances. Here are a few updates from NYOS.
 
In keeping with City of Austin and Travis County orders, we will close the NYOS campuses to students until at least April 13th. That seems like a long time from now. Not to worry, we will begin instruction before then! NYOS administrators have been working on plans to provide remote instruction and services for all learners. 
 
We have also been working to get the necessary instructional materials, devices, and access for those who need them. If you have not yet completed the technology survey, please do so now:
 
Survey link (English)
 
Survey link (Spanish)
 
Despite the unprecedented and ever-changing situation, we are confident that NYOS has full support from our governmental partners, including the Texas Education Agency, Texas Department of Agriculture, Texas Attorney General's Office, FEMA, and local officials. They are working very hard to create opportunities for Texas schools to keep serving our students. In daily calls with the TEA, I hear and feel that these groups are pulling together to do what is best for kids and it gives me reassurance.  
 
We will be back in touch with more updates on Friday with details about distribution of technology and instructional materials, and plans for the week of March 30. Senior students and parents, expect a separate update with more information about graduation and related matters. Briefly, the state of Texas is allowing flexibility with previously-defined graduation standards. We will work with each of you to get what you need by graduation time. 
 
We appreciate everyone's patience and understanding as we work through the daily updates from the TEA.
 
Please try to enjoy the rest of your Spring Break and remember that self-care is very important! The city and county orders don't mean you have to stay inside. Get some fresh air, exercise and sleep. Also, check out a short video from Amy Elms. I promise it will brighten your spirits!  
 
Best,
Kathleen Zimmermann
Executive Director
 
March 2020
 
Dear NYOS community,
 
I hope you are having a restful Spring Break. Throughout the weekend and today, I have continued to closely monitor the COVID-19 outbreak. In order to keep our NYOS and wider Central Texas communities safe, and based on guidance from the CDC, the Texas Education Agency and local officials, we have decided to close the NYOS campuses to students through Friday, April 3, 2020. NYOS students will not have classes the week of March 30th. All extracurricular activities planned for that week are also cancelled. We want to ensure the safety of our entire community and to help to reduce the spread of the virus.
 
NYOS staff members will be working during the week of March 30th-April 4th. We will use the time to train and plan for the weeks ahead together. Please do not drop off students on campus, as staff members may be working remotely and we cannot guarantee supervision.
 
We are planning to resume instruction on Monday, April 6, but will announce additional delays if necessary based on the direction from local, state and federal officials. Instruction may be provided remotely. As such, we are working through plans to provide technology and food resources to NYOS families in need. We will be in touch in a later communication to gather information about what you may need at home.
 
Please note that STAAR and End of Course testing, originally scheduled to begin April 7, has been canceled by the state. 
 
Please check your email regularly during Spring Break. The situation is very fluid, with rapid new developments. We appreciate your patience and understanding as we work to support our students, families and staff members. NYOS will provide updates with additional information as we are able.
 
Take care,
 
Kathleen Zimmermann
Executive Director
 
----------------------------------
 
Estimada Comunidad de NYOS,
 
Espero que tengan unas vacaciones de primavera relajantes. Durante el fin de semana y hoy, he continuada de monitorear de cerca la epidemia de COVID-19. Para mantener nuestra comunidad de NYOS y de todo el centro de Texas seguros, y basado en las recomendaciones del CDC, la Agencia de Educación de Texas y los representantes locales, hemos decidido cerrar las escuelas de NYOS a los estudiantes hasta el viernes 3 de abril de 2020. Los estudiantes de NYOS no tendrán clases la semana del 30 de marzo. Todas las actividades extracurriculares planificadas para esa semana también han sido canceladas. Queremos garantizar la seguridad de toda nuestra comunidad y ayudar a disminuir la propagación del virus.
 
Los miembros del personal de NYOS estarán trabajando durante la semana del 30 de marzo al 4 de abril. Usaremos el tiempo para entrenar y planificar las próximas semanas juntos. Por favor no deje a su estudiante en la escuela ya que los miembros del personal pueden estar trabajando de forma remota y no podemos garantizar la supervisión.
 
Estamos planeando de continuar con la instrucción el lunes 6 de abril, pero anunciaremos retrasos adicionales si es necesario según las instrucciones de los representates locales, estatales y federales. La instrucción se puede proporcionar de forma remota. Como tal, estamos trabajando a través de planes para proporcionar tecnología y recursos alimenticios a las familias en necesidad de NYOS. Estaremos en contacto en una comunicación posterior para recopilar información sobre lo que pueda necesitar en el hogar.
 
Tenga en cuenta que las pruebas estatales de STAAR y de Fin de Curso, originalmente programadas para comenzar el 7 de abril, han sido canceladas por el estado.
 
Por favor revise su correo electrónico regularmente durante las vacaciones de primavera. La situación es muy fluida, con nuevos desarrollos rápidos. Agradecemos su paciencia y comprensión mientras trabajamos para apoyar a nuestros estudiantes, familias y miembros del personal. NYOS proporcionará actualizaciones con información adicional como sea posible.
 
Atentamente,
 
Kathleen Zimmermann
Executive Director
 
June 2019
 

Hello everyone,


Welcome to our new NYOS Charter School website! We hope you find it useful and easy to navigate to important information. We welcome your feedback.


Much has been happening at NYOS Charter School lately. I compiled a few important updates below.


Property

I am excited to share some details about important projects at NYOS. As you know, we purchased the property next door at Lamar to construct new facilities. The goal was to create a permanent home for our PreK-3rd graders and put everyone together on one campus. The NYOS School Board and I hired a project manager and architect in the 18-19 school year to get the project started. We have spent countless hours educating our partners on what is important to NYOS and our unique educational model. The preliminary drawings show facilities that will not only serve but uplift NYOS instruction and extracurriculars across all grades. Plus, there will be plenty of parking for all AND a much improved pickup and dropoff queue!


As you might guess, constructing facilities in Austin is expensive. In order to build and maintain a new campus, we must add approximately 800 more students over the next 6 years. If construction proceeds as expected, in the summer of 2021 we will add approximately 300 new students by adding sections to each of Kindergarten, 2nd, 4th, and 6th grades. Note that NYOS would add sections, not change the student/teacher ratio. Right now, most classes have 18 students per teacher. All of the plans keep that ratio intact. We recognize that small class sizes are the reason that many of you joined the NYOS family so we want to preserve those.


Recent Accolades

NYOS won a silver award from US News and World Report high school rankings with a score of 95.5 out of 100.

Children at Risk ranked NYOS in the Top 10 Secondary campuses in Central Texas for the 9th straight year.

NYOS also won Austin Family Magazine's Reader's Favorite Award for Best Austin Charter School (again)!  

     

New Campus Administrators

NYOS welcomes Will Jaramillo as the new Secondary Principal for 6-12th grades. Will joins us from Round Rock High School. He earned his Bachelor’s Degree from St. Edwards University and his Masters in Education from Harvard University. Will also speaks fluent Spanish. Will started working with NYOS in the spring and joined us full-time in June.


We also welcome Samantha Gladwell to her new role as Elementary Assistant Principal. Samantha joined NYOS as a teacher in 2012. She was promoted through various roles during her time with NYOS. Samantha earned her Bachelor’s degree from the University of San Diego and her Masters degree from Lamar University.


Legislation

Governor Greg Abbott recently signed into law House Bill 3. HB3 provides additional funding for public schools across Texas, including charter schools. State estimates show NYOS receiving between $400-$600 more per student for the 2019-2020 school year. Much of the increase will go to raising teacher salaries. We are thankful to the state legislators for recognizing the need to improve teacher compensation and for giving public schools the funds to do so.


Advocacy work by charter leaders like me, charter parents, and the Texas Charter Schools Association helped us to defeat a number of anti-charter bills this session. Thank you very much to those of you who sent an email, visited in person or testified on behalf of charter schools. It takes every voice to keep NYOS and Texas charter schools thriving.     


Thanks for reading, everyone!


Kathleen Zimmermann

Executive Director

NYOS Charter School

 

November 2017

 

After the long summer, we all welcome cooler temperatures at NYOS. The whitetop, field and playground don’t feel quite so stifling now that autumn has arrived.

 

We celebrated a true legislative win for charter schools this summer. In August, the Texas legislature passed House Bill 21. The school finance bill included up to $60 million for charter school facilities financing - for the FIRST TIME EVER!! We expect it will make up about $150 of the $1,400 difference that currently exists between funding for a NYOS student versus funding for an AISD student. The funding is available starting in the 2018-2019 school year. NYOS can use the funds to pay rent, utilities and loan payments for land and buildings. It’s a baby step but we are all thrilled about the win.  

 

NYOS also celebrated two promotions within the administrative team. Please help me to congratulate Joey Thompson on his promotion to Director of Operations. Joey oversees IT, Maintenance, Food Services and compliance. We also promoted Hweilu Chen to Director of Finance. Hweilu oversees Accounting, Human Resources, Student Data, Development and Community Outreach.

 

In addition to working through NYOS organizational changes and the start of the school year, I spent lots of time at the Capitol this summer advocating for facilities funding and charter schools. You can see a little bit of this work here. Thank you to those of you who wrote letters or emails, participated in a rally or visited an elected official. Your work paid off in a historic win for facilities financing!

 

This fall, work with the Texas Charter Schools Association keeps me busy. I serve as the Member Council Chair and a Board member of TCSA. I am also helping the TCSA find a replacement for outgoing Executive Director David Dunn.

 

Don’t forget that NYOS Football, Cheer, Cross Country, Basketball and Volleyball are all now practicing and playing hard. You can support our athletes by attending games and meets. Be sure to wear your navy blue and silver NYOS swag. Go Jags!

 

J. Kathleen Zimmermann

Executive Director

NYOS Charter School

June 2017

 

As the school year concluded at the end of May, I was glad once again to be part of the amazing community that is NYOS Charter School. The students continue to inspire and encourage me and others at NYOS to do our best work.

 

The end of May also brought to a close the 2017 Texas state legislative session. NYOS worked closely with the Texas Charter Schools Association to advocate for charter school priorities. The legislature successfully passed two significant priorities, Senate Bill 1480 and House Bill 2442. 

 

  • SB 1480 directly advances the strategic objective of increasing the number of students enrolled in Texas charter schools. It will provide an estimated additional $3 billion in capacity to the Permanent School Fund (PSF) to guarantee the financing of public charter schools. This means more high quality public charter school seats for Texas students and millions of dollars in savings for public charter schools. Should NYOS qualify for the PSF guarantee, it would mean significant savings for financing the new property on Lamar Blvd.

 

  • HB 2442 protects the funding of about 110 public charter school campuses, including NYOS, that enroll nearly 21,000 students. During the 84th Legislative Session in 2015, the legislature passed a law with the unintended consequence of reducing the funding for public charter schools with unique programs, often serving vulnerable student populations. With the passage of HB 2442, the funding of these schools is safeguarded.

 

We had hoped the legislature would make a difference to the $1,400 gap in facilities funding between charter schools and traditional public schools. While this top legislative priority was not achieved, it went further in the legislative process than any prior session.

 

The legislature may take up other bills that impact charters in the special session called for July 2017. Any bill that adds funds to public schools in Texas will benefit NYOS, too. We are watching carefully to see if we can expect additional funding next school year.

 

Best wishes to all for a relaxing and peaceful summer break. I look forward to welcoming everyone back in July.

 

Kathleen Zimmermann

Executive Director

NYOS Charter School

March, 2017 

 

Dear NYOS Community, 

Did you know that NYOS is governed by a School Board whose members include four parents, four teachers and five Community members?  School Board members meet once per month to discuss and vote on matters for the school.  Agenda items can include school policies, budgets, legislation, goal-setting, student outcomes and other important topics.  We hope you will join us at upcoming NYOS Board meetings on March 9, April 20, and May 11.  All meetings are at 6:00pm in the Kramer campus library at 1605 Kramer Lane. 

Elections for the NYOS School Board are coming up in May 2017.  Parents and teachers serve two-year terms.  Community members serve one-year terms.  The School Board is specifically looking for people with skills in commercial property development, finance or accounting, real estate, connections within state and local governments, and legal skill.  If you possess these skills or have a friend/colleague who does, encourage them to reach out and learn more.  I am happy to talk more about the roles.  Existing Board members can also share their experiences on the Board. 

Topics for the 2017-2018 school year will focus on developing the new property next door at 12309 N Lamar Blvd.  The School Board will also be working through any new laws affecting charter schools from the current legislative session. 

NYOS holds Board elections in May, so be sure to let me know pretty soon if you are interested.  I can be reached by phone at (512)583-6967 ext. 374 or [email protected].

 

Regards,

Kathleen Zimmermann

Executive Director

NYOS Charter School

January, 2017

Happy 2017 everyone,

We at NYOS Charter School start the spring semester gearing up for graduation and spring testing.  We also welcome Texas state legislators back to Austin.  Several bills in the 2017 session may impact Texas charter schools.  SB457 filed by Senator Donna Campbell of New Braunfels proposes facilities funding for charter schools.  The bill, if passed, would provide approximately $700 per student per year to help pay for charter school facilities.  At NYOS, that would mean $672,000 added annually to our budget starting in the 2017-2018 school year.  SB6, also known as the “Bathroom bill” may provide clarity to schools on facilities for transgendered students.  Other bills seek to remedy language regarding the calculation of time from days to minutes and the new A-F school accountability ratings system.  One prospective bill may also offer extra funding in exchange for meeting more stringent academic and discipline requirements.  It is worth noting that any proposed state budget amendments that increase funding for public schools benefit NYOS too.   

To help pass legislation beneficial to charter schools, I meet regularly with legislators to promote charter school initiatives.  Most times, I work in conjunction with the Texas Charter Schools Association. In fact, on Tuesday January 24th, I am testifying to the TX Senate Education Committee regarding facilities funding for charter schools.  You can be sure that I will thank Senator Campbell for filing SB457.  Having that extra $762,000 each year means NYOS could build out our new property on Lamar more quickly and with more amenities – a direct positive effect on our school.

NYOS needs YOU as voters to help.  Please remember that all participation is voluntary.  If you are interested, here are a few ways to get involved.

  1. Attend the Charter School Town Hall at KIPP Austin Comunidad (8004 Cameron Road) on Feb 1 at 6:00pm.  All Senators and Representatives from Central Texas are invited to learn about charter schools in this area.  They are especially excited to meet you, VOTERS.  We are hoping for a good turnout of parents and staff supporters from NYOS.  Childcare and food will be provided. 
  2. Sign up for Voter Voice.  Voter Voice is an easy way to keep up-to-date with legislative activities and tell your legislator how you feel about issues.  Voter Voice creates easy-to-use, pre-populated emails.  With just a couple of clicks, you can send an email to your legislator.  Emails can be customized too if you want to share a personal story.  Sign up here: http://www.txcharterschools.org/speak-out/start-here/
  3. Attend the Charter School rally on the Capitol Steps on April 26, 2017.  Charter school supporters from all across Texas converge at the Capitol on this day.  In 2015, NYOS’ own Tiffany Bradley (parent) made a compelling speech to the crowd.  Lieutenant Governor Patrick and Governor Abbott also made speeches in support of charter schools.
  4. Connect with other Charter School advocates on Facebook and Twitter.  Click here for links and more ways to follow the movement.  http://www.txcharterschools.org/speak-out/

YOU can make a difference for the 960 students at NYOS and the 230,000+ charter school students in Texas.  Please take a minute and sign up now.  Thank you in advance for supporting NYOS.

Sincerely,

Kathleen Zimmermann

Executive Director

NYOS Charter School

 

November 2016

 

Dear NYOS Community,

 

Welcome to the November 2016 edition of the NYOS Executive Director’s Corner! We remain very excited about the potential of the new property purchased this summer. See the diagram below to get a sense of location and scale. This fall, I am working diligently to find partners to help us build a campus that meets our current needs and looks ahead to opportunities. Most importantly, we want a campus project to preserve what makes NYOS stand out among public schools in Austin, namely small class sizes, a strong feeling of community, and hands-on learning experiences.

Congratulations to the Fall Festival committee and all volunteers. They put together a wonderful community event at the Kramer campus with fun activities like a dunk tank, haunted house, and inflatable slides. The Fall Festival raised more than $10,000 to help NYOS!

 

In my 8th year at NYOS, I have special appreciation for those who support NYOS’ mission, dedicating their time, talent and treasure to our special community. Wayne Alldredge, NYOS Athletic Director and Head Football coach, exemplifies this idea. He spends endless hours throughout the year supporting our teams, schedules, and coaches, mentoring student athletes, and even mowing the practice field in the Texas heat! Now, THAT is dedication.

THANK YOU, WAYNE!!   

 

Sincerely,

J. Kathleen Zimmermann

Executive Director  

NYOS Charter School