NIS Weekly News
Nantucket Intermediate School - May 3, 2021
We Appreciate Our NIS Staff!!!
Dear NIS families,
Today marks the beginning of staff appreciation week! Each week we write a staff update including a reflection often centered around teaching and learning. This week our reflection attempted to capture just how amazing our staff is and how hard they are working. Here is an excerpt from that reflection that hopefully encourages you to recognize all that makes our staff so special!
"Wow! Once again (through evaluation) we have this incredible opportunity to recognize the complexities of your unique roles and the immeasurable challenge this school year has added to your workload. Whether you are a TA, teacher, therapist, SEL team member, facilities team member, school nurse, front office staff, tech staff or food service provider you have been asked to engage in a tremendous amount of new learning and logistics training to not only do your job, but reinvent your job and reprioritize your professional responsibilities. Not one single role in our NIS family escaped this 20-21 COVID inspired reality! Despite all of the challenges, the uncertainty, the angst, and the blood, sweat and tears every single one of you kept putting one foot in front of the other and showed up for our kids and each other."
We are celebrating our staff with coffee and pastry today, lunch on Wednesday, and little surprises the rest of the week. More heartfelt than that are often the notes of gratitude, especially those received from students and families. Please consider having your child write a note of thanks to all of the special NIS staff in their life this year.
Thank you for recognizing just what an incredible school year it has been and how hard our NIS staff have worked. Your support of our staff this year is truly appreciated too!
Kindest regards,
Evemarie McNeil, Principal & Donna Johnson, Assistant Principal
Sewer Project - Traffic Delays Possible
SEWER PROJECT UPDATES
This week's update includes:
5/2 - 5/7 • Sunday thru Thursday: Complete installation of force main pipeline to Miacomet Ave. Continue gravity sewer installation on Surfside Road, progressing north towards Backus Lane • Friday: Trench paving
Here is a link to visit for the project webpage that has very detailed information. They will regularly be updating this project webpage (weekly).
Important Student Drop Off Information
Students are to be dropped off for school using the entrance off of Backus lane only. Using the surfside road entrance poses a safety issue for students, therefore should not be used in the morning to drop students off.
Thank you for your understanding and cooperation.
Spring Newsletters from Our Social/Emotional Learning Team
School Counselor Spring 2021 SMORE Ms. Rachel Foulkes & Mr. Aaron Peckham
Social Worker Spring 2021 SMORE Ms. Emily Sybert
Upcoming Children's Clothing Drive
Contact Tracing
In the event there is community spread in a classroom, it is most likely that the entire classroom would have to go to remote learning for a period of time. This would be communicated to those impacted as soon as possible.
NIS Nurse Notes: Nancy Small, RN
Hello Families!
It sure is great to have a full house again. Our students have been doing so well following the rules of wearing a mask, social distancing, and hand washing. I feel our protocols will keep us all safe and healthy. As I stated last week, it is allergy season and allergies and covid have very similar symptoms. With that being said, if your student has a documented history of allergies and takes medicine for them, please let me know. Your physician can fax or email me stating the history of allergies. Having this information will allow your student to stay in school and not have to get tested for covid if they present to me with any symptoms.
Please keep safe and healthy,
Nancy Small RN
NIS Safety Protocols - Revised
Healthy Bodies Support Healthy Minds
We know that children's birthdays are special and that they want to share their special day with the class. This year especially, and going forward students should not bring in food items to share with the class (cupcakes, cookies, chips etc.). Most of you have been so supportive with adhering to this change in support of healthy student bodies.
If your child desires to share something with classmates for their birthday consider any one of the following: special pencils, stickers, painted shell or drawing(s). Another idea is to purchase a book for the classroom or school library in honor of your child's birthday. This is a lasting way to celebrate!
MCAS Testing at NIS
Tentative Testing Dates:
May 11 - Gr. 3 ELA
May 13 - Gr. 4 ELA
May 18 - Gr. 5 ELA
May 20 - Gr. 3 Math
May 25 - Gr. 4 Math
May 27 - Gr. 5 Math
June 3 - Gr. 5 STE
Here is a link for more information about MCAS testing: MCAS Resources for Parents/Guardians
For 2021, students will only take one session for each subject area test.
MCAS Subject Area Test for Grades 3–8
Recommended Testing Times *All tests are untimed
ELA
2 to 2 ½ hours
Mathematics
1 ½ hours
STE for Students in Grade 5
1 ¼ to 1 ½ hours
COVID-19 Travel Advisory - Still in effect
As of Monday, March 22, all visitors entering Massachusetts, including returning residents, are advised to quarantine for 10 days upon their arrival. Travelers in the following categories are exempt from this quarantine advisory:
- Travelers who have received a negative COVID-19 result on a test administered not more than 72 hours prior to their arrival in Massachusetts. Travelers may also test out of the quarantine advisory after arrival in Massachusetts, as long as they quarantine until receiving a negative test result.
- Anyone who is entering Massachusetts for fewer than 24 hours
- Anyone who is returning to Massachusetts after being out of the State for fewer than 24 hours
- Workers who enter Massachusetts to perform critical infrastructure functions (as specified by the Federal Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency) during required commuting to or from work and while at work.
- Travelers who are fully vaccinated (i.e. who have received two doses of either the Moderna or Pfizer COVID-19 vaccines OR who have received a single dose of the Johnson & Johnson vaccine, 14 days or more ago) and who do not have symptoms.
All travelers are encouraged to consult and follow the CDC’s guidelines and requirements for travel.
May NPS Calendar
Here are some specific family engagement opportunities:
Thursday, May 13th
*NIS School Council 3pm
*NIS Principal’s Coffee 5:30pm
*EL PAC Meeting 6:30pm
Tuesday, May 25th
*Superintendent’s Coffee 5:30pm
Schoology Support for Parents/Caregivers
Our NIS in house Schoology trainers are Grade 5 teacher Taylor O'Brien and Library Teacher Olivia Myers who have both expressed their availability to parents for Schoology questions. Here is their contact information:
Taylor O'Brien: Obrient@npsk.org
Olivia Myers: myerso@npsk.org
Please see attachments below for more information in English and Spanish.
Free and Reduced Lunch News
Even though meals are free to all, families who are Directly Certified or Approved via a paper application for Free or Reduced lunch can use their letter for:
- Reduced electricity costs through National Grid
- Reduced internet through Comcast Xfinity
- May also qualify for Food Pantry or Nantucket Housing & Fuel Assistance
Please contact the Central Registrar Sarah Erichsen if you have questions by calling 508-228-7285 x1149 or emailing erichsens@npsk.org.
NIS School Improvement Plan 20-21
NIS Return to School Safety Protocols
NIS Family Handbook 2020-2021
- English: NIS Family Handbook 2020 - 2021
- Espanol: NIS Familia Manual 2020-2021
For NPS District Information
Be sure to check the www.npsk.org website for specific District communications and updates.
Nantucket Intermediate School
Email: mcneile@npsk.org
Website: https://www.npsk.org/NIS
Location: 30 Surfside Road, Nantucket, MA, USA
Phone: 508-228-7290
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/nantucketintermediateschool/
Twitter: @NISlearners