The Colonial Times
September 15, 2020
What's Happening at Log...
Moving on, to say that the last five months have been surreal is a bit of an understatement. We've seen and been through a lot in our community, but fortunately, some things have started to return to normal.
While we would have liked to return to Log with all students, unfortunately that was not possible given the guidelines that had to be followed. We are, however, hopeful that a hybrid return is coming by the November 9th date the School Board set back in August.
That being said, the virtual start to the school year has gone remarkably well! Beginning on August 24th, we distributed 600 Chromebooks to our students, and our teachers set up virtual classrooms on Canvas and Google Meets. Being at the mercy of technology, almost anything under the sun could have gone wrong, but fortunately, it didn't! Students have been logging into their classes daily, and our teachers have universally said that the kids have been doing an amazing job! And while the technology has been a little glitchy at times, it has been very successfu overalll. Ultimately, virtual instruction cannot replace the experience that students get in person, but for now, it is working well, and as it was intended.
We hope that you had an enjoyable summer and were able to spend some quality time with your families. We're glad you're back, and we're happy to be back working with your children, even if it is just virtually for the time being!
Teaching Online
Fall Sports
In the meantime, a PIAA physical will need to be completed in order for eligibility to play. The physical can be completed by your child's primary care physician, Urgent Care, or Minute Clinics. Please be sure to update your immunization records for our school nurse as well, including a Tdap (given after age 10) and a Meningococcal immunization.
As always, academic eligibility requirements are in effect, so students must be passing all classes with regular attendance to be eligible to play sports.
From Our Counselors
Setting up a back-to-school sleep routine can be hard enough during a regular school year. With extra screen time and a long-standing distribution to our schedules, the impact of the coronavirus has made it even more difficult. Nonetheless, one could argue that it is important, now more than ever, to commit to regulating our sleep routines for ourselves and our students. One major study showed that 75% of teens do not get the recommended 8-10 hours of sleep. Additionally, a lack of sleep can have serious consequences. A more recent study showed sleep deficiency not only stunts our capacity to learn, but is also correlated with chronic illnesses like Alzheimer’s disease. It may be obvious that good sleep is beneficial, but how do we go about breaking negative sleep habits and getting our kids on board too? Well, it may not be an easy road, but here are some suggestions that may help your family make progress:
Talk to your kids about the negative effects of sleep deprivation on their health. Help make them aware of how they feel after a good night’s sleep versus a bad night. Invite your kids share their thoughts and make them a part of the conversation. If you have time, watch this video as a family together: Video: How Much Sleep Do you Need? And ask your student what he or she thinks.
Work with your student(s) to get tech devices out of the bedroom. This may be a major adjustment if your student uses their phone as an alarm clock or is accustomed to having it in his or her room. But there is good reason to “ban the blue.” 36% of teens self-reported that they wake up at least once a night and check their phone. In fact, one study showed that even if a person’s phone is shut off in the bedroom, they are more likely to have a distrubed sleep. Start small and ask your student to leave his or her phone in a designated spot (kitchen counter, hallway, etc.) for 2 out of the 5 weekday nights. Commit to joining your student in the challenge too!
Finally, exercise is a known protective factor against sleep disruption. John Hopkins recommends 30 mins of aerobic exercise 1 to 2 hours before bedtime. After exercise, our core body temperature drops, which induces sleepiness.
Cited Sources: 1. Setting a Sleep Routine for Back to School
From the Nurse
Welcome back!
I hope this new school year is starting off healthy and happy! Just a few reminders from the Nursing Office:
Please keep a look out for letters from the nursing office regarding missing immunizations.
The State of Pennsylvania requires:
6th graders to have a physical form completed by your pediatrician
7th graders to a dental form completed by your dentist
Completed immunization series are also mandated by the state. All 7th graders need a Tdap & Meningococcal immunization at the start of 7th grade. . Many parents have already been contacted by the Nursing office regarding outstanding vaccines. Please continue to follow up as soon as possible with your pediatrician.
Please feel free to call the Nursing office at (215) 441-6075, extension 14025, for any questions or concerns regarding the requirements above.
Remember, your School Nurse plays an important role in promoting your child’s health and wellness at school, in an effort to help them succeed in all aspects of their school day. Please maintain open communication regarding your child’s health and any changes that may occur throughout the year.
Anne Curtin, Log College Middle School Nurse
Certified School Nurse
215-441-6075 ex 14025
Fax # 215-394-0716
Attendance Procedures
Please be sure to turn in absence excuse notes within three (3) days of your child's return to school. Absences will remain unexcused until notes or turned in or if the three day window is exceeded. If your child has 10 or more cumulative days of absence, a doctor's note is required for all absences past 10 days.
Absence excuse notes can also be emailed to Log College at the following address:
For family trips during the school year, a Family Trip Request Form must be submitted to the Principal at least three (3) school days prior to your trip. All requests submitted less than three (3) days prior will be denied.
Log College Middle School
Log College Middle School opened in September 1967 as a Junior High School serving seventh and eighth grade students. The school is named after the original school in Warminster, “Log College” established in 1727 by William Tennent, one of the original trustees of Princeton University. The school’s mascot is the Colonial in honor of the first Log College.
Log College became a Middle School in 1991 educating sixth, seventh and eighth grade students. In 2000 the school was recognized by the US Department of Education as a National Blue Ribbon School. Log College currently serves approximately 600 sixth through eighth graders.
Website: https://www.centennialsd.org/Domain/327
Location: 730 North Norristown Road, Warminster, PA, USA
Phone: 215-441-6075
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Log-College-Middle-School-848189835317317/?scrlybrkr=980e1f2c
Twitter: @LogCollege_MS