Deer Families
Deer Hill School News . February 11, 2022
Dear Deer Hill Families,
Safe. Respectful. Responsible. The Skipper Creed shapes expectations for Deer Hill students and has guided us through many operational changes as we've navigated the last couple of years. We called up on it again this week when Deer Hill became mask optional, and it came through. Students and staff made the transition so smoothly and with thought given to not only what is best for them, but with an understanding of the responsibility that comes with being respectful of the feelings and safety of others.
When we return from February break, social distancing measures will be removed as we continue our operational shift to a more endemic approach to Covid. Here are a few Need to Knows of how that will look at Deer Hill:
- On Friday, February 18 we will hold an all-school Zoom with students to review expectations as we make changes to our routines at Deer Hill. During our first week back after break, we will hold in person grade level assemblies (a first in two years!) to reinforce these expectations.
- When we return from break, we will resume gym in the gym (I never want to breathe the word "gymeteria" again!). Lunch will resume in the cafeteria. For the foreseeable future we will continue with a split lunch schedule where half of the grade eats while the other plays. Once we live our new routine for a bit, we will revisit. If we determine that we're going to stick with this model for the long term, we'll consider shaking up the lunch groupings to allow students new opportunities to play with friends from other classes.
- During lunch, we will have a nut-free table for students where this is an identified need. We will also have a table (dubbed the "quaran-table") for students who have returned from quarantine and must eat 3 feet apart from others for a short period.
- Teachers will be able to reconfigure their classrooms in ways that allow for increased student interaction, small group work, etc. We have additional furniture (small group tables, etc.) which is currently stored on a trailer. These pieces will be returned to classrooms at a later date.
Additionally, I will be joining the PSO for a roundtable discussion today (2/11) at noon via Zoom to answer any questions about these changes as well as questions about our MCAS assessments in the spring. Please check your PSO email for the Zoom link.
A considerable amount of planning goes into operational changes such as these. We are excited about these next steps, and ask for your patience, understanding and recognition of multiple perspectives as we move forward with the Skipper Creed as our touchstone.
All the best,
Alexandra L. Sullivan
Principal, Deer Hill School
P.S. Our next newsletter will be published two weeks after break on March 11, 2022.
P.P.S. Follow me on Twitter @DeerHillSchool for ongoing info and joy throughout the week.
Need to Knows
- Valentine's Day is Monday! Many classes are celebrating with Valentine exchanges. Please remember that no candy may be included in any valentines nor may food be part of any classroom events or celebrations.
- The Read-a-Thon is coming! The PSO has been carefully planning a monthlong event to celebrate reading at Deer Hill and Osgood. Please look for PSO communications and future Deer Hill newsletters for more details.
- Attendance is an important component of school success. Aside from the impacts of Covid-related absences, we are struggling in this area right now. Thank you for making a renewed effort to ensure that your children are at school daily when their health permits it. I have previously shared our missed work practices around vacation absences. This can be referenced in our Deer Hill handbook (linked above) on page 12. Voluntary absences cause a ripple effect in student performance and social emotional development that often extends beyond the days missed.
Keeping the Joy (happenings at Deer Hill)
- On February 1, the Deer Hill 5th graders watched an in-person Theatre Espresso performance of "Justice at War: The Story of the Japanese Internment Camps". This event, sponsored by the PSO curriculum enrichment program, had strong curricular ties to 5th grade social studies standards and asked students to consider important questions such as What responsibility does the government have to citizens and non-citizens during times of war or national emergency?, What role does ethnicity or social class play in the administration of social justice?, and Do the constitutional powers of the executive branch supercede those of the judicial branch during wartime?
- Happy Lunar New Year! It's the Year of the Tiger. Ms. Augustine, an ESP at Deer Hill, took time to visit a few 5th grade classes to share her Vietnamese heritage and traditions from Lunar New Year celebrations.
- Reading Rovers continues to be a big part of our Deer Hill commitment to community engagement, social emotional learning, and literacy. We love our weekly visits and appreciate our partnership with the Cohasset Working Dogs Foundation!
- Band and chorus are in full swing at Deer Hill. Mr. DeWaal has begun practices with the full 4th grade band and full 5th grade band each week. Mrs. Lewis has launched our grade 3-5 chorus as well. See the save the date information below for our upcoming all school concerts.
Deer Hill Dates
PSO Staff Appreciation Luncheon: 2.17.22
February Break, no school: 2.21.22-2.25.22
Safe Harbor Ambassadors: Samantha Skunk presentation (grade 3): 3.4.22
Virtual field trip: New England Aquarium penguin encounter (grade 3): 3.10.22
Deer Hill School Council: 3.10.22, 4:00 in the DH library
All Schools Chorus Concert (grades 3-12) @Deer Hill: 3.15.22
All Schools Band Concert (grades 4-12) @CHS: 3.16.22
Term 2 ends: 3.17.22
Half day professional development: 3.17.22, 1:15 (lunch is served)
Full day professional development, no school: 3.18.22
Term 2 progress reports published in Aspen: 3.25.22
Flyers of Interest
Deer Hill School
Alexandra L. Sullivan, Principal
Email: alsullivan@cohassetk12.org
Website: https://www.cohassetk12.org/
Location: 208 Sohier St., Cohasset, MA, USA
Phone: 781-383-6115
Twitter: @DeerHillSchool