NEW LEBANON SCHOOL
Weekly Updates
¿Necesita leer nuestro boletín en español?
Hello Bobcat Families! We are a day early in releasing our Weekly Updates as we kick off the Spring Break week. We hope you enjoy the holiday weekend, if you celebrate any of the holidays that occur this weekend, and have a safe week off of school. We will see you when we return on Monday, April 25th. Important updates are below!
COVID Alerts and Tracker
Families are strongly recommended to test their child on Sunday evening, April 24 before allowing them to return to school the next day. If you need an additional test kit, stop by the Havemeyer Building on Greenwich Avenue during the week. We have a limited supply to share. Also, please notify your school nurse on or before that evening if your child has either tested positive or has been exposed to a positive case of COVID. GPS will not update the COVID tracker or send Daily Health Alerts over the break so that our healthcare team can also enjoy a much needed break. For any questions about isolation and quarantine, please review the CDC COVID Quarantine Calculator.
Test to Treat
According to the Connecticut Department of Public Health, more than 40 “Test to Treat” sites are open in Connecticut, offering individuals an important way to rapidly access free treatment for COVID. Through the newly launched nationwide Test to Treat initiative, people can get tested and – if they are positive and treatments are appropriate for them – fill a prescription from a health care provider, all in one location. Connecticut currently has these Test to Treat sites, located at select pharmacies, urgent care centers, and federally qualified health centers.
Parent Workshops
Join an interactive workshop at the Town Hall Cone Room on the second floor on Monday, May 2 from 9:30 AM-11:30 AM or Wednesday, May 18 from 12:00 PM-2:00 PM, where staff will demonstrate and help you practice effective strategies you can apply right away at home to foster independence, responsibility and positive behaviors in your children. After this session, you will walk away with a clear understanding of the brain-mind-body-behavior connection, a set of effective strategies to avoid power struggles and prevent challenging behaviors, and research-based skills to help your children become more resilient and independent. For more information, please email Dr. Alina Boie at alina_agiurgioaeiboie@greenwich.k12.ct.us.
Community Service Awards - New Leb 5th Grade Student Council Presidents will be Recognized!
All are welcome to attend GPS’ annual Community Service Awards ceremony, scheduled for Monday, April 25 at 5:00 PM at GHS’ PAC. Highlights are expected to include award-winning representatives from all 15 schools, musical entertainment by the GHS Jazz Ensemble, a wonderful rendition of the Star-Spangled Banner by GHS students, and of course, the show-stopper, the creator of these awards, the amazing Dr. Ernie Fleishman.
Adult & Continuing Education
Greenwich Adult and Continuing Education Program is looking for creative and enthusiastic people to teach adult learners. If you have a special hobby or would like to propose a course, please contact Braulio Santiago, Coordinator of Adult and Continuing Education at braulio_santiago@greenwich.k12.ct.us. They are looking for an instructor to teach sewing, Mah Jongg, quilting, gardening, and dancing, to name a few. We are hoping to offer new and exciting classes in the fall. All classes are either held in the evening, in person at Greenwich High School, or online.
IRS Note
Our friends at the IRS have asked us to remind you that it is not too late for parents who have yet to file tax returns to claim the Child Tax Credit and/or the Recovery Rebate Credit, which is basically getting the third stimulus payment by filing a tax return. These refundable tax credits can still be claimed even after the filing season ends on April 18 by filing a tax return. Helpful information includes Publication 5534h on the Child Tax Credit and Publication 5486a on the Recovery Rebate Credit, especially for those parents/guardians who might not normally file tax returns, like senior citizens caring for their grandchildren and living off Social Security, or families receiving state assistance.
Spring & Bugs - Reminders from Nurse Nancy!
Spring and warmer temperatures mean new blooms and new bugs. During bath time please check your children's skin and scalp for ticks - especially if they have been in a wooded area. Clothing that has been worn in a wooded area should be removed upon entering the house and washed and dried before use again. When students are in a wooded area their shirts should be tucked in to their pants. A hat should be work and if wearing long pants, socks should go over the pants. If a tick is found on a student's body and is easy to remove, it should be removed. If it is embedded in their skin, their medical doctor should be called. Dog ticks are much larger and do not carry Lyme Disease but smaller deer tick females can carry Lyme Disease and the Department of Health Lab at Greenwich Town Hall can test them. If the tick is negative for Lyme Disease there is nothing to do. If the tick is positive for Lyme Disease your doctor must be notified immediately. People can become very ill from Lyme Disease, but this can be avoided by tick checking, removing the tick, getting it tested, and being in touch with your medical doctor. Thank you for your cooperation!
Together in Safety and Learning,
Mrs. Michaelson & Mrs. Eisenstein
UPCOMING SMARTER BALANCED ASSESSMENTS (SBA) 3RD - 5TH GRADE FAMILIES PLEASE READ BELOW...
We strive to ensure that your child—and all Greenwich Public School students—receive an education that prepares them to thrive in a global economy and in civic life. That’s why Connecticut has adopted challenging academic standards, including the Connecticut Core Standards in mathematics and language arts, as well as the Next Generation Science Standards (NGSS). We expect that all our students will attain a firm grounding in mathematics, language arts, and science by the time they graduate from high school, preparing them to succeed in the future. Our teachers and administrators are committed to working together to support students with excellent instruction and resources to meet these new expectations.
With these statewide learning goals, Connecticut needs ways to measure student progress. Assessments are like academic checkups; they help teachers and parents see where students are, compared with where they need to be. The results can reveal subject areas where a student is excelling and subject areas where a student needs extra help. The state requires assessments in the subject areas of english language arts and mathematics using the Smarter Balanced Assessment at the elementary and middle school levels, and in Grade 11 using the SAT, which can also be used as a college entrance exam. The state also requires assessments in science in Grades 5, 8, and 11, using the NGSS Assessments.
The Smarter Balanced Assessments and NGSS (Science) Assessments will take place on:
3rd Grade: May 10th and May 11th (ELA), May 17th, 18th, 19th, & 20th (Math)
4th Grade: May 10th and May 11th (ELA), May 17th, 18th, 19th, & 20th (Math)
5th Grade: May 3rd and 4th (NGSS/Science), May 10th and May 11th (ELA), May 17th, 18th, 19th, & 20th (Math)
Makeup testing will occur as needed for individual students.
The Smarter Balanced and NGSS Assessments are both administered on digital devices. These assessments are designed to measure skills in reading comprehension, writing, mathematics, and real-world science using questions that require students to demonstrate that they truly understand the content. In all these statewide assessments, additional supports are available for students with special needs, as determined by an individualized education program (IEP) or 504 Plan.
To find resources specifically for parents and guardians, including ways to help your child with the new standards at home, please visit CTCoreStandards.org/ or https://www.nextgenscience.org/
parentguides/. For more information about assessment in Greenwich Public Schools, please visit https://www.greenwichschools.org/teaching-learning/assessments
Sincerely,
Alexandra Michaelson
Principal, New Lebanon School
Nos esforzamos en garantizar que su hijo—y todos los estudiantes de las escuelas públicas de Greenwich —reciban una educación que los prepare para prosperar en una economía global y en la vida cívica. Es por eso que Connecticut ha adoptado exigentes estándares académicos, incluyendo los Estándares Fundamentales de Connecticut en matemáticas y artes de lenguaje, así como los Estándares de Ciencias de la Próxima Generación (Next Generation Science Standards -NGSS). Nuestra expectativa es que todos nuestros estudiantes logren tener cimientos firmes en las matemáticas, las artes del lenguaje, y las ciencias cuando se gradúen de la escuela secundaria, preparándolos para tener éxito en el futuro. Nuestros maestros y administradores se han comprometido a colaborar para apoyar a los estudiantes con excelentes instrucción y excelentes recursos para satisfacer estas nuevas expectativas.
Con estas metas de aprendizaje aplicándose por todo el estado, Connecticut necesita maneras de medir el progreso de los estudiantes. Las evaluaciones son como el equivalente académico de las revisiones médicas; ayudan a los maestros y a los padres a ver dónde están los estudiantes en comparación con dónde necesitan estar. Los resultados pueden revelar áreas de materias donde el estudiante se está luciendo y áreas de materias donde el estudiante necesita ayuda extra. El estado requiere evaluaciones en las materias de artes de la lengua inglesa y en las matemáticas utilizando la Smarter Balanced Assessment (Evaluación Equilibrada Smarter) a nivel de la escuela elemental y media, y en el grado 11, utilizando la Prueba de Aptitud Académica (Scholastic Aptitude Test - SAT), que puede también utilizarse como examen de admisión a la universidad. El estado requiere también evaluaciones de ciencias en los grados 5, 8, y 11, utilizando las Evaluaciones NGSS.
3er grado: 10 y 11 de mayo (ELA), 17, 18, 19 y 20 de mayo (Matemáticas)
4to grado: 10 y 11 de mayo (ELA), 17, 18, 19 y 20 de mayo (Matemáticas)
5to grado: 3 y 4 de mayo (NGSS/Ciencia), 10 y 11 de mayo (ELA), 17, 18, 19 y 20 de mayo (Matemáticas)
Las pruebas de recuperación se realizarán según sea necesario para estudiantes individuales.
Tanto las Evaluaciones Equilibradas Smarter como las NGSS se administran con dispotivos digitales. Estas evaluaciones están diseñadas para medir destrezas de comprensión de lectura, de escritura, de matemáticas, y de ciencias en la vida real utilizando preguntas que requieren que los estudiantes demuestren que verdaderamente entienden el contenido. En todas estas evaluaciones, administradas por todo el estado, hay disponibles apoyos adicionales para los estudiantes con necesidades especiales, según lo determinen sus programas educativos individualizados (Individualized Education Programs - IEP’s) o Planes 504.
Para encontrar recursos específicamente útiles para padres y tutores, incluyendo maneras de ayudar a su hijo con los nuevos estándares en casa, visite CTCoreStandards.org/ o https://www.nextgenscience.org/parentguides/. Para mayor información acerca de los exámenes administrados por todo el estado en de las escuelas públicas de Greenwich, https://www.greenwichschools.org/teaching-learning/assessments
Atentamente,
Alexandra Michaelson
Directora, New Lebanon School
WHAT IS YOUR PLAN THIS SUMMER?
LOOKING FOR SUMMER RESOURCES? CHECK OUT OUR NEW LEBANON SCHOOL SUMMER GUIDE BELOW CREATED BY MS. JENNA WILSON, SOCIAL WORKER!
Important Upcoming Dates
April 18th - 22nd: NO SCHOOL, Spring Break
Monday, April 25th, 5pm: Community Service Awards @ GHS honoring two 5th Graders!
Thursday, April 28th, 7pm: BOE Meeting (Distinguished Teachers Recognition)
Thursday, May 5th, 4:30pm: 2022 Distinguished Teachers Awards Ceremony
May 19, 7pm: Addams Family Play at New Lebanon Gym
Saturday, May 21st at 4pm - 6pm: Spring/Spaghetti Dinner!
May 23 - 27: Scholastic Book Fair
Friday, June 10th (New Leb Bus Loop, rain plan in gym) - IB Exhibition
Friday, June 17th (Rain Date Tuesday, June 21st) - Field Day
Wednesday, June 22nd, 9am (Rain Date Thursday, June 23rd at 11am) - 5th Grade Graduation
Friday, June 24th: Last Day of School, Early Release Day
Effective Ways to Foster Independence and Responsibility in Children - A Parent Workshop
Please see below the details for the upcoming parent workshops. You may also visit the updated the GPS webpage that has the SEL events (https://www.greenwichschools.org/teaching-learning/social-emotional-learning-events)
Join us for an interactive workshop where we will demonstrate and help you practice effective strategies you can apply right away at home to foster independence, responsibility and positive behaviors in your children.
After this session you will walk away with:
o A clear understanding of the brain-mind-body-behavior connection.
o A set of effective strategies to avoid power struggles and prevent challenging behaviors.
o Research-based skills to help your children become more resilient and independent.
Space is limited to 15 participants! Registration is on a first come, first served basis! Reserve your spot TODAY!
When
Monday, May 2, 2022
9:30 am - 11:30 am
Wednesday, May 18, 2022
12:00pm-2:00pm
Location for both events -Town Hall Cone Room, 2nd Floor
BUILDING ONE COMMUNITY - FREE RESOURCES
April Byram Shubert Library Calendar
Listening Community's Spring Session
The Listening Community's the next session will run from April 27 through June 1. Meets occur during the fall, winter, and spring for a six-week cycle and are held on Wednesdays at Greenwich Town Hall. Parents/guardians have the option of attending the morning session from 9:30-10:30 AM or the evening session from 6:30-7:30 PM.
For those that prefer, the evening session will offer participants the option to stream if they cannot attend in person. You can also find more information through the Listening Community newsletter.
Support Greenwich Resident Sam Buck for Mismatched Day!
WHAT IS FOR LUNCH NEXT WEEK? ¿QUÉ HAY PARA ALMUERZAR LA PRÓXIMA SEMANA?
The GPS monthly menu can always be found here: https://www.greenwichschools.org/departments/food-services/menus-and-meal-prices