NES WEEKLY UPDATE
MONDAY SEPTEMBER 20, 2020
Latest Information
Good evening,
Thank you! Thank you! Thank you!
The shift to all remote, before we even got started with our Hybrid learning plan, was tricky for everyone. Our staff did a beautiful job making the switch, and we are so grateful for your support and partnership. Your efforts have been necessary for our success with our students. We apologize for any tech issues you may have experienced. If your child is having trouble with a device, email NPS-Tech at npstech@npsk.org. They will assist you in fixing a device, providing a loaner, or switching out your device.
I have thoroughly loved seeing so many of your children online last week! They are the reason for our work. Their presence was so uplifting for all of us. They were engaged, happy, and seemed excited about being back to school. It is important for you to know that we will be building to more synchronous (online sessions) learning and adding to the asynchronous (work that students do independently) learning. Our primary focus in the beginning is all about building a community, supporting technology use, sharing safety information to reassure students, and attending to any of their social and emotional needs. It was also a challenge for us at NES to think about screen time for children. We know it is not in the best interest of children to spend significant amounts of time on screen. Developmentally, this is not the way we want students to learn. However, this is our option for now. So, our staff is building this time up gradually. The schedules of instruction, for this remote school time period, will include (and will extend soon):
- 90 minutes of synchronous time - this is online time with the teacher. This time will start with a morning meeting for 30 minutes. There will be other small group times shared to total 90 minutes. We will be increasing this time through the two weeks.
- If your child receives special education services, they will have another scheduled online time.
- If your child receives English Learning services, they will have another scheduled online time.
- Our specials classes will be happening at least twice synchronously this week.
- There will be a list of asynchronous tasks for students to complete independently. This is work that is assigned to children that they may have heard about during their online time, but they must do this independently. This independent work will be added up to equal a school days equivalent of 6.5 hours (with lunch and recess scheduled by you).
It is important for you to know that we will not be having any school online for students on Wednesday, 9/23 this week. This is a full day assigned for professional development for all staff. We will continue to work on improving our instructional planning for this Covid-19 time. Children can be working on any asynchronous work they have, reading, writing, or practicing math facts.
We are very hopeful that we will start our hybrid plan on October1st. This is a Thursday. We will plan to meet in person with our students in Cohorts A and C. On October 2nd, we will have in person learning for students in Cohorts A and C again. On Monday and Tuesday, October 5th and 6th, students in Cohorts A and B will be in person in school. The health metrics will hopefully allow this to happen. We are keeping close watch and contact with DPH.
I recognize that this is a lot to manage. This is not easy for any of us, and we understand that for you, too. It is so important to work together to support the students. We need you. You will want to set a schedule you can live with in your homes or the settings where your children will be. You decide when they are completing school work, when they are eating lunch, when they are doing recess, etc. They will need to join their online synchronous times. They will need a place to complete their work. They will need to share their work completed with the teacher. The classroom teachers will be supporting you in helping to clarify these expectations.
We will also be working to share information with you to assist you in helping students access things online. All of this will take time. Please reach out to your child's teacher should you have questions. Please know that remote learning is required. There will be attendance taken for all students each day. We will be moving to more rigorous work in remote this year compared to this past spring.
When we can finally come back into school for in person learning, please keep in mind that the children will be lining up outside the school. PreK and second grade will be lining up in front of the main entrance to NES. First Grade will line up by the cafeteria doors and Kindergarten will line up outside the kindergarten door. We will have line spaces for each class. Teachers will be coming outside to pick up their students and take them into the building safely and maintaining 6 feet distances. It is important for you to know that there will be no before school supervision, and breakfast buddies is also not available at this time. I share this with you because it is important that no student arrive at school much before 7:45. There will be no adults outside to supervise students. We will be blocking off the Kindergarten circle. No one can drive through there, but the cross campus drive will be open.
Our mantra at NES is patience, grace, and kindness. We are modeling this, practicing this, and providing it to each other regularly. You have shared this with us and we are so grateful. We need you and your partnership, along with your patience, grace, and kindness!
Best,
Kimberly Kubisch, Principal NES
Parent/Community Advisory Committee
Dr. Hallett has convened a group of community and NPS parent members to meet weekly to discuss all re-entering information. Should you have any questions or concerns feel free to email them. They will share your ideas with the entire committee. Our next meeting will be held on 9/22. Here is the link for the Frequently Asked Questions document.
https://docs.google.com/document/d/1nAYvRtpntrrEcIshDwGEqFziyXIZqJZtJhxMsdX7-WE/edit?usp=sharing
Members to Contact
Rocky (Anthony) Fox
Nantucket native, business owner, substitute
Vanessa Rendeiro
NES bilingual parent
Jean Witt
NES/SNAC parent
Micajah (Wiley) Mastriano
NES parent
ABOUT NES
Principal
Kimberly F. Albertson
Assistant Principal
Email: kubischk@npsk.org
Website: www.npsk.org
Location: 30 Surfside Road, Nantucket, MA, USA
Phone: 508 228 7290
Covid - 19 Relief fund through Immigration Resource Center
If you need a helping hand through this difficult time, please click on the link below!!
Traveling to and From Massachusetts
Remember to be mindful of any travel you may have planned for August. You will be required to follow the regulations that went into effect on 8/1. These include:
All visitors and Massachusetts residents returning home — including students returning to campuses this fall — must fill out a “Massachusetts Travel Form” and quarantine for 14 days. People can also text MATraveler to 888-777.
Exemptions include travelers from lower-risk states and people who can show a negative COVID-19 test administered no more than 72 hours prior to arriving in the Bay State. The current low-risk states are New York, New Jersey, Connecticut, Maine, Rhode Island, Vermont, New Hampshire and Hawaii.
People must remain in quarantine until they receive negative test results, except for when going to get their test.
Failure to comply can result in a $500 fine per day.
Exceptions include people passing through or commuting across state lines for work, military personnel, critical infrastructure workers, and people seeking or receiving medical treatment.