GOWANDA Superintendent Dr. Robert Anderson said the Gowanda Central School district is examining the possibility of returning students to in-person instruct
jdagostino@observertoday.com
GOWANDA There is still no timeline for a return to in-person learning at Gowanda Central School.
Dr. Robert Anderson, superintendent, in a statement issued to the media stressed caution before brining students back to buildings. “Returning students to in-person instruction to the greatest extent possible has been and will continue to be the number two goal of reopening with safety No. 1,” he said. “Throughout the school year, I have also repeatedly shared that this organization and individuals need to be prepared for pivoting between these three instructional models. It should be to no one’s surprise that discussions about bringing students back to in-person instruction are happening at any point of time.”
The OBSERVERâs View
Jan 19, 2021
It’s an idea that is all about the dogs and in the Gowanda Central School district it appears as though there could be many barking their support.
A proposal for a therapy dog in the district was led by Gowanda Elementary School’s social worker, Carmen Muscarella, and school resource officer, Ben Shields, during a recent meeting earlier this month.
“This is something that’s really exciting,” Muscarella said. “I have thought about this and researched this for probably a good eight years. Over the last couple years I’ve been contemplating it.”
Some of the benefits for having a therapy dog at school include improved academics, increased attendance rates, an improved overall school climate, an increased motivation and incentive. Muscarella also noted that having a dog in a school can also teach empathy to students, which can be difficult to teach otherwise.
adolce@observertoday.com
Bush Elementary School in Jamestown has previously utilized a German shepherd therapy service dog to alleviate anxiety of students. Members of the Gowanda Central School Board discussed the benefits of bringing in a therapy dog to the school.
GOWANDA The benefits of utilizing a therapy dog at Gowanda Central School was discussed by school board members at a recent meeting.
The proposal was led by Gowanda Elementary School’s social worker, Carmen Muscarella, and school resource officer, Ben Shields.
“This is something that’s really exciting,” Muscarella said. “I have thought about this and researched this for probably a good eight years. Over the last couple years I’ve been contemplating it.”
Dec 23, 2020
GOWANDA Concerns over community spread of COVID-19 has led the Gowanda Central School district to again delay a return of its hybrid model this time until the middle of January.
In a letter to the district community, Superintendent Dr. Robert Anderson notes positivity rates of 6% or more in both Erie and Cattaraugus counties. In addition, as of Monday, there were five staff members and two students either positive, isolated or quarantined due to COVID-19. “These numbers are low and manageable, but that is with limited or no school contact,” Anderson said.
He also citied continued significant community spread of COVID-19 that will prevent adequate school staffing levels for any model of in-person instruction. “Tentatively, the district is targeted to reopen for hybrid instruction on Tuesday, Jan. 19, 2021. Moving this date from the original target date of January 4, 2021 will allow the holiday aftermath to settle, keeping the daily instructional routine consi