Monthly District Newsletter
Monthly District Newsletters are HERE!
Check out the November 2024 edition of the Hudson City School District newsletter by scrolling below or by clicking here!
2024-25 Welcome Letter from Superintendent Dr. Juliette Pennyman
Click here for Dr. Pennyman’s Welcome Letter to the Hudson City School District Community for the 2024-25 school year.
Parent Portal
The Parent Portal is a computer-based online system that allows parents/guardians to view their child’s attendance, schedule, grades, progress reports and disciplinary referrals. Click here for more information about how to sign up or to log in to Parent Portal.
Absence Reporting Form
If your child is absent for ANY reason, please fill out a Reporting Student Absence Form to indicate the reason they are absent from in-person OR virtual school. Completed forms will remain confidential and be sent directly the school(s) your child(ren) attend(s):
- English Reporting Student Absence Form
- Arabic نموذج الإبلاغ عن غياب الطالب
- Bengali ছাত্র অনুপস্থিতি ফর্ম
- Spanish Formulario para reportar las ausencias del estudiante
The Hudson City School District remains committed to providing a safe learning environment and it is vitally important for the schools to have your child’s absence information on file due to the current COVID-19 safety protocols in place. We appreciate your cooperation and partnership in the interest of everyone’s health and safety. If you have any questions about the Reporting Student Absence Form, please contact your child’s principal at 518-828-4360.
Academics
Click here for information and resources about HCSD academics, including:
- Academic Intervention Services (AIS)
- Assessment calendars
- Curriculum outlines
- Parent guides
- Free online resources covering many topics to support your child’s learning
Breakfast & Lunch Menus
Click here for the cafeteria menus. All Hudson students in pre-kindergarten through Grade 12 are eligible to receive FREE school breakfast and lunch. Learn more on the Food Services webpage.
For additional food assistance, see this list of local no-cost food assistance resources available in our area. It includes local food pantry information, dates and times of operation, as well as food support programs within our schools.
Bullying Prevention & Reporting
To report a suspected bullying situation, please click here.
Get resources to help you address the topic of bullying with your children.
Learn more about the Dignity for All Students Act (DASA) and key definitions of bullying. This is a brief overview of the DASA and the Creating a Respectful and Open World for Natural Hair (CROWN) Act as well as the District’s obligations under those statutes.
Here is a family resource for Confronting COVID-19-Related Harassment in Schools.
Calendars
Individual school calendars are located on the respective school pages. Or, click here to view all the calendars together on the Calendar page.
Code of Conduct
Hudson City School District Code of Conduct Plain Language Summary – includes Student Rights and Responsibilities, Dress Code, Prohibited Student Conduct, Disciplinary Procedures, and Visitors to the Schools
A full copy of the Code of Conduct is available to any student, parent, guardian, employee, or community member upon request.
Covid-19 Resource Sheet
Click here to view a resource sheet from the New York State Department of Health in regard to mitigating Covid-19.
District Policies
Click here to see Board of Education policies.
Drop Off & Pick Up Procedures
Help ensure safe and smooth arrival/dismissal each day by following the drop off and pick up procedures for each school:
- Elementary School Drop Off/Pick Up
- Junior High School Drop Off/Pick Up
- Senior High School Drop Off/Pick Up
Faculty Pages
Some teachers maintain faculty pages with information related to their specific classes. Click here to view Faculty Pages.
Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA)
The Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA) affords parents and students over 18 years of age certain rights with respect to the student’s education records. Click here for district information regarding FERPA.
Food Assistance
Here is a list of no-cost food assistance resources available in our area. It includes local food pantry information, dates and times of operation, as well as food support programs within our schools.
Guide: Raising Digitally Responsible Youth: A Parent’s Guide – Safer Schools Together
Click here for an informative guide for parents/guardians on raising responsible, safe youth in a digital dominant society.
Health Office:
NYSED Parent Dashboard
The New York State Education Department (NYSED) has developed a Parent Dashboard to increase transparency and make information about school performance and other school-level data easier for parents and the public to access. The Parent Dashboard offers information on all public schools including charter schools. We invite parents and other stakeholders to explore the Parent Dashboard and then provide feedback via an online feedback survey available in 17 languages. NYSED will use this feedback to identify the data that is most useful to parents and the public and to make improvements to the website.
Online Resources
Parents/guardians now have free access to dozens of online resources covering many topics to support their child’s learning. Learn how to get a free account here.
See this “on demand” webinar series for free webinars about keeping children safe online, supporting English Language Learners and more.
Additional Resources:
- My Life is Worth Living videos for Students/Families: Discusses perspectives of trauma from bullying, physical/verbal/substance abuse, LGBTQ+, body image, suicide and more.
- Parent Guidance: On-demand access to training videos for parenting and other mental health issues. (For a fee, it can provide Parent Coaching on various issues).
Public Relations Use of Directory Information
In order to publicize student accomplishments or specific educational programs, school officials may occasionally release directory information for use in school district publications, on district websites/social media pages, or to the media for public relations purposes. Examples include: sharing student names and grade levels to publish honor rolls or other recognition lists; sharing student photographs and courses of study to highlight projects or academic programs. We will never distribute private information such as addresses or phone numbers.
Click here to learn more about this exception to FERPA and the types of directory information we might share to publicize student accomplishments. Parents/guardians who object to the release of their child’s name, grade level, photograph, etc. should notify their child’s building principal in writing on or before October 1 in any school year.
Rights for Students with Uncertain Housing
If your family is in a temporary or inadequate living situation due to a loss of housing, your child might be eligible for certain educational rights and services under the McKinney-Vento Act. See the brochures below for more information about McKinney-Vento rights and supports:
- Supporting the Education of Children and Youth Experiencing Homelessness
- What You Need to Know to Help Your Child in School: A Guide for Parents, Guardians, and Caregivers
If you need assistance, please use this referral form. Your responses will be confidential and sent directly to our McKinney-Vento Coordinator.
School Cancellation Procedures/Parent Emergency Notification
Hudson-Winter-Weather-Information-2022-23
The Superintendent has the authority to close school. Information will be provided to parents, guardians or persons in parental relation to the students in the event of schools closings, emergency incident or an early dismissal through the use of local and regional radio and TV stations. In addition, the District will utilize the automated call notification procedure.
For weather-related closings, we recommend using phone, text or email alerts. Local news websites will also have school closure information that updates frequently:
If you would like more information, please contact the Superintendent’s Office at 518-828-4360, ext. 2101.
School Emergencies/Drills
We strive to provide a safe and secure learning environment for all students and staff. In a school emergency or drill, your cooperation and understanding will help to ensure the safety and security of your child.
Learn more about the different types of safety drills and what you should do in the event your child contacts you during a school-related emergency or practice drill.
Supply Lists
School supply lists are posted under the appropriate school’s webpage. Visit the Montgomery C. Smith Elementary School page for the K-5 supply lists. Visit the Hudson Junior High School page for the Grades 6-8 supply lists. High school students will find out what supplies they need on the first day of classes.
Visitor Management System
All visitors are required to show photo identification before entering our schools during regular school hours (effective November 26, 2018). Each visitor will be screened using our new School Gate Guardian visitor management system, which performs a simple background check. Click here to learn more about School Gate Guardian.
Water Testing
In accordance with New York State law (S.8158/A.10740), the Hudson City School District routinely tests water in all school buildings for lead contamination and makes the results publicly available. Please visit our Water Testing webpage for more information about recent testing.
Other Notifications
Click here for other Annual Notifications for parents/guardians such as Body Mass Index Reporting, Parent’s Bill of Rights for Data Privacy and Security, Pesticide Notification, Request for Teacher Scores/Ratings and more.