Thursday, July 16, 2020—The COVID-19 pandemic and the closing of school buildings resulted in significant changes to our traditional face-to-face model of instruction as we transitioned to distance learning. We recognize that these changes impacted our students, families, teachers, and staff in many different ways. As a result, Science Academies of New York has created a brief survey to gain feedback from our families regarding the fall and potential reopening of school buildings.

This survey is critical, and we value the feedback from all our community members. Please fill this out by Friday, July 24th. 

Click Here to Submit Survey

Friday, June 26, 2020—SANY Chromebooks were lent to families at the start of distance learning to ensure all students had access to a computer. In order to continue to serve our students over the summer months and ensure every family has access to technology, SANY will wait until Governor Cuomo announces that schools can reopen to coordinate the pick up of the SANY Chromebooks.

If you are not planning on returning to a SANY school in the fall, please reach out to This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. to coordinate a time to drop-off your SANY Chromebook. We ask that all students treat their Chromebooks with respect, and ensure the device stays in proper working condition. Thank you, all, and have a great summer.

Tuesday, June 9, 2020—SANY Families, Governor Cuomo announced that all summer school programs in New York State will be moved online. If your child is required to attend summer school, you will be notified directly. Additionally, all SANY schools will continue to follow their original calendar for the end of school. The last day of school for Syracuse Academy of Science students is Thursday, June 25. We ask that all our SANY Atoms continue to follow social-distancing best practices. If you have any questions or concerns, you can reach out to your building dean. 

Friday, May 8, 2020—To accommodate the Memorial Day School Closure, the Grab&Go Meal Service schedule will be adjusted as follows Friday, 5/22 - We will serve Friday and Monday meals Monday, 5/25 - Closed for Memorial Day Tuesday, 5/26 - Serve Tuesday meals Wednesday, 5/27 - Serve Wednesday and Thursday meals Friday, 5/28 - Serve Friday meals

Friday, May 1, 2020—Today, Governor Cuomo announced that all schools in New York State will be closed for the rest of the academic year. This decision was made to help slow the spread of the coronavirus pandemic in the state.

What this means for your Atom

• We will continue to offer meals at our Grab & Go Meal Locations
• We will continue to utilize our distance learning strategy to keep your scholar engaged with their academics during this uncertain time

In addition, due to the coronavirus pandemic, the New York State Board of Regents has canceled the August Regents. In the interim, we ask that all our SANY Atoms follow social-distancing best practices. If you have any questions or concerns, you can reach out to your building dean. 

Thursday, April 16, 2020—Governor Cuomo has announced that NY Pause will remain in effect until May 15. The Science Academies of New York will remain closed until May 15, 2020.  This includes all extra-curricular activities. Stay safe and healthy, Atoms.

Thursday, April 9, 2020—The State Education Department announced the cancellation of the June 2020 administration of Regents Exams and released guidance on modifications to requirements for students to graduate and earn their high school diplomas, credentials, and endorsements.

Regents Exams and Diploma Requirements

The COVID-19 emergency has evolved rapidly, leading to uncertainty as to when regular in-school classroom instruction will be able to resume throughout the state and whether students will be adequately prepared to take the Regents examinations. As a result, the Board of Regents and Department have cancelled the June 2020 administration of the NYS High School Regents Examination Program.

Because of this, the Department has modified the requirements that students must meet in order to earn high school diplomas, credentials, and endorsements. These modifications apply to all students enrolled in grades 7-12 during the 2019-20 school year who were intending to participate in one or more of the June 2020 Regents Examinations.

Students who, during the June 2020 examination period would have taken one or more Regents examinations, will be exempted from passing the assessments in order to be issued a diploma.  To qualify for the exemption, students must meet one of the following eligibility requirements:

• The student is currently enrolled in a course of study culminating in a Regents examination and will have earned credit in such course of study by the end of the 2019-20 school year; or
• The student is in grade 7, is enrolled in a course of study culminating in a Regents examination and will have passed such course of study by the end of the 2019-20 school year; or
• The student is currently enrolled in a course of study culminating in a Regents examination and has failed to earn credit by the end of the school year. Such student returns for summer instruction to make up the failed course and earn the course credit and is subsequently granted diploma credit in August 2020; or
• The student was previously enrolled in the course of study leading to an applicable Regents examination, has achieved course credit, and has not yet passed the associated Regents examination but intended to take the test in June 2020 to achieve a passing score.

Full Article

Answers to your Regents Exams Questions

Q: Am I going to take any Regents exams this June?
A: No, the Regents exams have been cancelled for June 2020.

Q: I am taking a Regents bound class, will I be exempt from the Regents exam?
A: Yes, you will be exempt from taking the Regents exam, as long as you pass (or have passed) the course.

Q: I am taking a Regents bound class, will this exemption replace one of my graduation requirements?
A: Yes, every regents bound class you are taking, and pass, will fulfill the graduation requirement for that Regents exam.

Q: I was thinking of making up/retaking my Regents exams from previous years' classes. Will that exam also be a part of this exemption?
A: Yes, those tests will also be exempted, as long as you passed the class.

Q: Will these exemptions come automatically? Do I have to take any action?
A: Currently, the belief is that the Guidance Dept. and Administration will handle this. We will notify you if we need further action from you.

Q: What will happen if I do not pass the Regents bound class this year?
A: You will need to take a summer school class and pass the requirement in order to be exempt from the Regents requirement. If you do not pass the class by August, you will not be exempted from taking the Regents exam.

Q: Do I need to complete 1200 minutes lab requirements for science courses?
A: No, they are also waived for the current science courses you are taking.

Q: If I did not complete my lab hours in the previous years, am I now eligible for the exemption?
A: No, if you are not currently enrolled in a science course with a lab, this exemption will not be applicable for you.

If you have additional questions, you can reach out to the following contacts

Ms. Pamela Smith, High School Dean, This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Mrs. Cathy Bartelli, School Counselor, This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Mr. Michael Oz, College Counselor, This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Ms. Connie Wheeler, Guidance Administrative Assistant, This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Wednesday, April 8, 2020—As we work through these challenging times together, NY State of Health is committed to ensuring access to affordable, quality health insurance for all New Yorkers so they can get the care they need during this state of emergency. With the recent closure of businesses across the state, many New Yorkers are at risk of losing their health insurance coverage as a result of COVID-19. Many are likely to be eligible for health coverage with financial assistance through NY State of Health due to their loss of coverage and income.

NY State of Health opened a Special Enrollment Period last month for people who are uninsured, and the Marketplace has started an awareness campaign to let people know that NY State of Health is there as a safety net in difficult times like these. New Yorkers who are without health insurance should apply now through NY State of Health. If you lost employer coverage, you must apply within 60 days of losing that coverage. Because of a loss of income, New Yorkers may also be eligible for Medicaid, the Essential Plan, Child Health Plus, or subsidized Qualified Health Plan coverage.

Thousands of assistors are ready throughout the state to help consumers enroll by phone. NY State of Health is committed to helping New Yorkers get the coverage they need so they can get the care they need. Visit us at: www.nystateofhealth.ny.gov and let us help you find a health care plan that works for you. If you have additional questions you can contact the Marketplace directly at 518-486-9102 or This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..

Monday, April 6, 2020—SANY Families, Today, Governor Cuomo announced that all schools and non-essential businesses in New York State will be closed until April 29th. This decision was made to help slow the spread of the coronavirus pandemic in the state.

What this means for your Atom
- We will continue to offer meals at our Grab & Go Meal Locations
- We will continue to utilize our distance learning strategy to keep your scholar engaged with their academics during this uncertain time

In addition, due to the coronavirus pandemic, the New York State Board of Regents has canceled the June Regents. Specifics for how this will affect your scholar will be released in the coming days. In the interim, we ask that all our SANY Atoms follow social-distancing best practices. If you have any questions or concerns, you can reach out to your building dean.

Wednesday, April 1, 2020—Amid the ongoing COVID-19 public health crisis, SANY remains committed to providing students with equitable learning opportunities and access to healthy meals while school is closed.

As you are aware, Gov. Andrew Cuomo recently directed an extension to prior plans, meaning schools are to remain closed until at least April 15. During this extension, districts are expected to provide continuity of learning and food service to students and childcare for its essential workers. Because the extended executive order encompasses the district’s upcoming Spring Recess, which was previously scheduled for April 6-10, SANY’s academic calendar has been amended by executive order so that staff members can continue to support students with remote learning opportunities and food distribution during this timeframe. Instruction will continue Monday, April 6th through Thursday, April 9th. There will be no instruction, and both students and staff will not be expected to report on Friday, April 10. Distance learning will resume Monday, April 13th.

Learning
Our staff will continue to provide and support students with remote instruction during our previously scheduled "Spring Break" given this new guidance -- Students and staff will continue their distance learning in the same capacity we have been with live office hours via Zoom, Google Classroom, and Class Dojo. If you have any questions in regards to online education, please get in touch with your building dean. You can access the SANY Online Learning Portal for valuable school-specific links via http://onlineeducation.sany.org/

Nutrition
We will continue to offer Grab & Go Meals for the week during our scheduled pick-up days at the Syracuse Academy of Science High School location. The address is 1001 Park Avenue. On Monday, meals will be provided for Monday and Tuesday; on Wednesday, meals will be provided for Wednesday and Thursday; and on Friday, meals will be provided for that day.

While the loss of planned vacation time would not be welcome news during a typical school year, we recognize that this is anything but a typical school year. Since the health, safety and education of students remain the district’s top priorities, the governor’s commitment to maintaining the continuity of learning, food service and child care is understandable.  

We recognize that this is a stressful and challenging situation. We’re here to support you through it, and know that you are managing many personal and professional responsibilities. We would like to remind you of something that we often tell our students: All we can do is our best. We’ll get through this together.

Thank you all for your continued patience, understanding and support.

Sincerely,

Dr. Tolga Hayali
Superintendent SANY Charter Schools