NES Update
Monday, September 20, 2021
Dear Families,
We hope all is well!! We have had another terrific week of learning, building our classroom communities, and establishing and practicing our common school routines.
We will have our NES Open House on Monday, 9/27 from 5:30 - 7:30 pm. This is the night for parents to come in and meet the classroom teacher, see the classroom, learn about all the things that will happen over the course of the year for your child in the classroom and in the grade. This is not the night for individual conferences, instead it is the night to build the parent partnerships with your child's teacher. There will be no meeting in the gym. Rather, please come to school with a mask on and report to your child's classroom.
We also want to repeat the information that school lunches are once again free for all students for the whole year. You do not need to send money in or put money on your child's account. Each morning the homeroom teacher takes attendance and counts the number of students who want a school lunch. The teachers take that lunch count and shares it with our food service department. Kindergarten lunches are delivered to each classroom, and lunches for the first and second graders are passed out in the cafe each day. Linda Peterson is the Food Service Director for NPS. She shared this information in an email to all families before school started. Yet, I have recently been asked the question about lunch costs a few times, so it bares repeating.
Please remember to turn in the consent forms for your child to participate in antigen testing at NES. This year our school will be participating in the BinaxNow testing program offered through the State. The BinaxNow is a rapid antigen test that is done by a nasal swab. This test will only be administered if your child is having COVID symptoms or they are deemed to be a close contact. If the test comes back negative, the child can stay in school. If it comes back positive, they must leave school and get a PCR test at NCH. A consent form has gone home with your student. It is very important that you complete the form and return it as soon as possible. The consent allows our nurses to administer the BinaxNow test. If we have no consent, then your student cannot participate.
As always, if your student is sick please keep them home.
Below is a link about the testing, but feel free to contact our nurses at this number 508-228-7290 ext. 2107 or the emails below.
Jessica Douglas
(Substitute nurse through 11/20/21)
Meri Lepore
(Returning 12/1/21)
The bus situation continues to be challenging. Each day the bus situation is being tweaked. We are hopeful we will continue to refine this and allow for more students to take the bus. We are so thankful for your continued patience and understanding. If your child is still in need of bussing, please contact Jane Melville at 508 228 7290 ext 2104. She can put you on the official waiting list. Remember, you must live 1.5 miles or further away from the school.
We are also grateful to those of you who have chosen alternative ways to get to school. Please be advised if you drive your children to school, you may only drive into the Backus Road lot for parking or to access the drive through loops for student drop off. Surfside Road lot and the First Way lot are staff only parking. Please do not drop students off in these lots. It is simply not safe.
Thank you in advance for all of your efforts to help prepare your students for school. We want you to be partners with us in this most important journey of supporting your child for success. To that end, please be sure to be on the lookout for information sent from the school through backpacks or email. Your child's teacher will be asking you to join their messaging system - REMIND. This is a great tool we use for you to send and receive messages from your child's teacher.
Know that Mrs. Kimberly Albertson, Assistant Principal, and myself are always available to support you. Feel free to call the school to set up appointments, call to speak with us, email us, or catch us outside in the morning and/or afternoon. We love feedback and want you to feel comfortable reaching out to us as needed! The staff is so ready for your children! The classrooms are all set up! Our floors and spaces are all shined up and welcoming. This is the most wonderful time of year!! See you next week!!
Warmly,
Kim Kubisch and Kim Albertson
Upcoming Events
SAVE THE DATES!!
- Half Day Dismissal 11:50 pm 9/22/21
- NES Open House 9/27/215:30 - 7:30 pm
- NES School Pictures 9/29/21
- 10/9 and 10/16 - Children's Beach - A free puppet show and art project will be presented at Children’s Beach at 10 am. Rain date the Sunday the 10/10 and 10/17. Griffin Saves His Tree is a book published by the Land Council and created by Maria Zodda. Appropriate for ages 4-10 the runs about 20 min and the art project 15. Learn about our wonderful elms and laugh as Elvira the Elm introduces you to her many tree friends who have been on island for over 100 years. Elvira lives at the Five Corners so you might have seen her already. See at Children’s Beach for a fun time.
Please review this information below.
Nantucket Public Schools has it's most updated Safety Protocols shared with this link -
https://docs.google.com/document/d/1wZp0MkpY7QEnj8diRVLt9Ek1aPlvuI2sgszsoBVIobI/edit?usp=sharing
Please be sure to review the Home Screening survey with children at home before they come to school each morning. It is very important to not send children to school with any illness or with medications ingested to reduce symptoms.
Great link for supporting healthy habits!
https://www.nasn.org/nasn/nasn-resources/practice-topics/covid19/nasn-return-to-school-video-series