NIS News - January 5, 2022
Nantucket Intermediate School
Prioritizing Health to Start New Year
Our start to the 2022 portion of our school year has been eventful with all things COVID related, and the snowfall resulting in a one hour school delay this week. With the rise in COVID cases, both our students and our staff have been impacted and we thank you all for your flexibility and understanding as we work hard to ensure learning for all students at the beginning of this new year.
During this school year we have felt the impact of hiring challenges as well as staff outs due to illness. Currently we have two full-time teaching assistant positions open and would love your help with filling these. We also are looking for regular daily subs and anticipate needing a couple of long-term subs later this school year. Please share this information with anyone you know who may be interested or reach out to me (mcneile@npsk.org) if you are interested in any one of these positions.
While the 2022-2023 hiring season has not started yet, we already anticipate several needed teacher positions for the coming school year. If you know of current educators seeking to work on Nantucket or new educators just finishing a college educator program have them reach out early to start the conversation about living and working on Nantucket.
Hopefully you all had a healthy and relaxing school break that included some fun with your special people! Check out Nancy Small's updated information below for the most recent health and safety protocols related to COVID.
Stay tuned for next week's update where we will once again share all of the teaching and learning highlights happening at NIS!
Happy 2022!
Evemarie McNeil, Principal
Donna Johnson, Assistant Principal
We are Hiring! Teaching Assistants Needed!
Vaccine News
Happy New Year NIS Families and Welcome Back!
I sincerely hope everyone got to enjoy the winter break and had a chance to rest and relax.
As many of you know we have adopted the newest CDC guidance for COVID-19 Quarantine and Isolation. Below you will find a helpful summary of COVID-19 scenarios to help guide decision making.
Your student tests POSITIVE for COVID-19:
Duration: Self-isolation for COVID-19 positive cases is a minimum of 5 days after symptom onset or after positive PCR or rapid antigen test, if asymptomatic.
Return to school: After 5 full days, return on day 6 and once they have:
Been without fever for 24 hours (and without taking fever-reducing medications); and experienced improvement in other symptoms.
Following the 5-day isolation period, individuals must mask for 5 additional days when around others.
Your student is fully vaccinated and is a close contact AND is asymptomatic:
They are exempt from any quarantine or testing requirements and can remain in school however we do encourage students who have been exposed to obtain either a PCR or rapid antigen test on day 5 post-exposure and continue to monitor for any symptom development.
Your student is partially vaccinated/unvaccinated and is an IN-SCHOOL close contact AND is asymptomatic
Participate in Test and Stay: 5 days from the date of exposure with daily rapid antigen testing through the school nursing office.
Return to School: Close contacts can remain in school and do not have to quarantine, as long as they:
Are asymptomatic
Wear masks in school at all times, other than when eating or drinking.
When these individuals cannot be masked (i.e., when eating or drinking) they should maintain 3 feet of distance from other individuals to the extent feasible.
Take a rapid antigen test on each school day and receive a negative result. If the individual remains negative, they can stay in school.
Conduct active monitoring for symptoms through day 10, and self-isolate at home if symptoms develop.
Choose not to participate in Test & Stay:
Quarantine is at least 5 days from the date of exposure
Return to School: After 5 days, returning on day 6, provided that they remain asymptomatic, and Conduct active monitoring for symptoms through day 10, self-isolate if symptoms develop, and adhere to strict mask use for an additional 5 days.
Your student is partially vaccinated/unvaccinated and is an OUT-OF-SCHOOL close contact:
Please have your child quarantine at home away from the positive individual for a minimum of 5 full days, returning to school on day 6 post-exposure if student remains asymptomatic
Encouraged to obtain a rapid antigen or PCR test prior to return to school.
Monitor for any symptom development
Should symptoms develop post-exposure, please obtain a PCR or rapid antigen test (or repeat rapid or PCR testing if already done so prior to symptom development)
Symptom Development:
If symptoms of COVID-19 or other illness develop at ANY TIME, please remain at home, isolate regardless of vaccination status and notify your building nurse.
Return to School: Individuals may return to school after they:
Have received a negative PCR or antigen test result for COVID-19.
So long as the individual is not a close contact, if a medical professional makes an alternative diagnosis for the COVID-19-like symptoms, the individual may use this recommendation (e.g., for influenza or strep pharyngitis) in lieu of a PCR test or antigen test.
Have improvement in symptoms and have been without fever for at least 24 hours without the use of fever-reducing medications.
Symptoms include but are not limited to:
Fever (100.0° Fahrenheit or higher), chills• Difficulty breathing or shortness of breath • New loss of taste or smell • Muscle aches or body aches • Cough (not due to other known cause, such as chronic cough) • Sore throat, when in combination with other symptoms • Nausea, vomiting, or diarrhea when in combination with other symptoms • Headache when in combination with other symptoms • Fatigue, when in combination with other symptoms • Nasal congestion or runny nose (not due to other known causes, such as allergies) when in combination with other symptoms
Just a reminder that there is another vaccine clinic on Saturday January 8th from 9-2 pm in the NES cafeteria. Below is the link to sign up. If your student was scheduled to get a vaccine, but was deemed a close contact and is in quarantine, please do not come to the clinic on Saturday. You will have to reschedule your student’s appointment at the vaccine clinic on January 29th. The link for that clinic will be posted after Saturday January 8th. Also, please cancel your student’s appointment on the 8th so that it will open up another spot for someone else.
Keep safe and healthy,
Nancy Small RN
NIS School Nurse
NPS Campus Master Plan - Years of Thoughtful Planning
Upcoming Events/Important Dates
* January 17th - No School - Martin Luther King Jr. Day
* January 18th - School Committee Meeting 6:00 PM
* January 19th - SNAC Meeting 6:00 PM
* January 19th & 20th - Kindergarten Registration
* January 20th - NO NIS Multicultural Night (Postponed due to COVID)
* January 24th - NIS School Council Meeting - 3:00 PM
* January 26th - Half day of school - Teacher Professional Development
Previously Shared Information Below
NIS School Improvement Plan
No Student Drop Off on Surfside Road
Brrr....Cold Weather is Here
No Birthday Food Treats Please
We would like to encourage you to donate a birthday book to your child's classroom library in honor of their birthday. Other acceptable ideas include bringing in a special pencil or decal for everyone in the class if that's preferred.
Thank you for not sending your child to school with food items for the class to celebrate their birthday.
NPS Vision, Mission and Core Values
NPS Vision Draft
We commit to provide equitable, inclusive, and challenging learning experiences where every student and adult feels seen, heard, valued, and respected.
NPS Mission Draft
Nantucket Public Schools, in partnership with a caring community, will create a dynamic and equitable learning environment which engages each of us to be inspired learners and responsible citizens, prepared to meet local and global challenges.
NPS Core Values Draft
Nantucket Public Schools values collaboration, communication, and reflection that supports:
Equitable access to multiple pathways for individual and collective success.
High expectations and a student-centered educational approach that integrates academic progress, extra-curricular participation, personal responsibility, and community involvement.
Inclusive and sustained family relationships that respect all cultures and the experiences each child brings to our schools.
Challenging ourselves to embrace and advocate for the needs of every student, adult, and family within our school community.
NPS Return to School Safety Protocols - updated 8/18/21
Nantucket Intermediate School
Email: mcneile@npsk.org
Website: www.npsk.org/NIS
Location: 30 Surfside Road, Nantucket, MA, USA
Phone: 508-228-7290
Facebook: facebook.com/NantucketIntermediateSchool
Twitter: @NISlearners