Milnes Memo
November 25, 2020
Wishing all of our Milnes Families Wonderful Thanksgiving!
Each year at Thanksgiving, we think about all of the things we are thankful for. I am thankful to be a part of the wonderful Milnes School community. This is a community full of understanding, caring and kindness. I want to wish all of you a very happy and healthy Thanksgiving surrounded by those you love. We will see you back on Monday, November 30th with the Gray (B) Cohort.
Warmly,
Mrs. Stephanie Primavera
Principal, Milnes School
Letters From the Superintendent
November 24, 2020
Dear Fair Lawn Community,
In the best interest of our students, teachers, and staff, I am announcing with a heavy heart that all Fair Lawn Public Schools will shift back to fully-remote learning beginning Monday, December 7 until Friday, January 15. 2021. We anticipate all students returning to a hybrid instructional schedule on Tuesday, January 19, 2021. I take no pleasure in bringing you this difficult decision, but after consultation with Fair Lawn’s Health Department and our Fair Lawn Board of Education Members, we must mitigate the spread of soaring COVID-19 infections.
As of today, New Jersey reported a staggering 3,592 more coronavirus cases, and hospitalizations rose for the 24th consecutive day. The state’s seven-day average for new positive cases rose above 4,000 on seven of the last 11 days, the first time this ever happened during the pandemic. Governor Phil Murphy commented on these troubling statistics and said, “We’re now back at the place we haven’t seen in many months.”
In many counties throughout New Jersey, the spread of COVID-19 transmission is at a High level (Orange) according to the state Department of Health’s COVID-19 Activity Level Report and the number of infections continue to skyrocket.
Although we plan to switch to all remote on December 7th, should Bergen County elevate our current level from Orange to Red, our schools will have to switch to all remote sooner, as per the New Jersey Department of Health and New Jersey Department of Education.
As you are well aware from my previous communications, we have not been immune here in Fair Lawn. In the last month, 6 out of 10 schools in Fair Lawn have already switched to all-remote instruction due to multiple positive COVID test results.
Coupled with these factors, the upcoming Thanksgiving holiday will include more gatherings and travel, thereby increasing the risk of transmission of COVID-19 infection. Looking ahead, should your child receive a positive COVID test result during the Thanksgiving break, please contact your building principal immediately. This information will give us valuable time to discuss with our local health department to plan for next steps.
Please note that while we are fully remote, we will return to the full day of virtual live instruction we implemented in September and early October.
Communications will be forthcoming from your child’s building principal during remote learning. Please note our remote instruction is TEMPORARY, and we will continue to monitor the state/county data and return to a hybrid schedule on January 19, 2021, as long as the data supports a safe return.
Wishing you a truly meaningful and safe Thanksgiving.
Sincerely,
Nicholas J. Norcia, Superintendent of Schools
November 23, 2020
Dear Fair Lawn Community,
As a district and community, we have been working together for the past eight months to do our part to slow the spread of the virus. I am proud of our progress since we’ve implemented our hybrid schedule six weeks ago and how we as a community are dealing with COVID, but the pandemic is still here and numbers are increasing daily.
As stated in my letters to you the past few weeks, we have been working closely with the Fair Lawn Health Department to monitor all cases in the Fair Lawn Schools. All individuals with confirmed COVID-19 cases have fully recovered and have resumed their normal activities or are still quarantining. As a district, we have taken the necessary steps as directed by the Fair Lawn Department of Health and CDC to mitigate the spread of the coronavirus.
That said, the spread of COVID-19 is increasing across the country and in surrounding school districts. As I am sure you are aware, many schools in Bergen County and across the state have halted in-person instruction and gone fully remote. For week ending November 14, The NJ Department of Health’s COVID-19 Activity Level Index (CALI) increased to High (orange) from a Moderate Risk (yellow), indicating we are at a high-risk category for COVID-19 transmission. Coupled with this is the arrival of the seasonal winter colds, allergies, and the flu. I cannot stress this enough:
- If your child is feeling unwell, please keep them home.
- If you or someone in your household tests positive for COVID-19, please keep your children home from school.
- Please fill out the Genesis Health Screening daily.
- Many COVID-19 symptoms are similar to seasonal allergies, please do not assume and check with your physician.
- If you are unsure and would like further guidance, please call your schools nurse or principal.
- As your children walk home from school, please encourage them to wear masks, while walking with friends.
As we approach the Thanksgiving Recess from Nov. 26-29, I ask that you follow New Jersey’s Travel Advisory and adhere to out-of-state travel restrictions, follow the CDC’s indoor gathering regulations and Gov. Murphy’s new executive order announced on Nov. 16 that retightened restrictions to limit the number of those gathering indoors from 25 to 10. As we all readjust our Thanksgiving plans, know that this will not be a normal holiday season, nor will it be a normal school year.
We are all feeling the pandemic fatigue and with the upcoming holiday season right around the corner, we cannot let our guard down. We thank you for your support and ask that when on school property, you continue to social distance and wear masks, even after school hours.
Wishing all of you a wonderful and safe Thanksgiving break!
Sincerely,
Nicholas J. Norcia, Superintendent of Schools
Grab and Go School Lunch
We are excited to have school lunch back in our elementary school buildings. We will have Grab and Go school lunches and breakfasts distributed to students in their classrooms as they dismiss for the day beginning Wednesday, November 18.
Each package will contain a prepackaged cold lunch and a cold breakfast with both meals meeting the nutritional requirements of the National School Lunch Program. If your child has dietary restrictions, the menus will be posted on the district’s Nutrislice Interactive Menu daily for your review.
Hot meals and multiple days’ meals will continue to be available for pick up at Memorial Middle School for all children between 7:30 a.m. and 1:30 p.m. on school days including days your student has remote learning.
These meals are provided for free through the district’s participation in the National School Lunch Program.
Care Plus Parent Workshop Series
Our School is Proud to Support The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society this Year!
Milnes School is proud to support the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society (LLS this school year through the Hero Squad community service learning program!
LLS is a global leader in the fight against cancer. The LLS mission is to cure leukemia, lymphoma, Hodgkin's disease and myeloma, and improve the quality of life of patients and their families. LLS funds lifesaving blood cancer research around the world, has invested nearly $1.3 billion in the most pioneering science worldwide since 1949, provides free information and support services, and is the voice for all blood cancer patients seeking access to quality, affordable, coordinated care.
The LLS Hero Squad program inspires students to support a vision of a world without cancer. To learn more about LLS and their life-saving work, visit lls.org. If you know someone that can benefit from personalized disease treatment or support information, please refer them to a dedicated Information Specialist at 800.955.4572.
More information to come as we get ready for our Hero Squad Kick-Off on February 1, 2021!
Cohort Calendar
No Shave November - Spirit Day
Nia Celebrating Diwali - The Festival of Lights
Maya's Fort Sisterhood
Attendance
ATTENDANCE and START TIME
- School begins at 8:35am. Attendance will be taken during homeroom and throughout the day during live sessions. Please be sure your child’s first and last name is displayed when entering the Zoom classroom. If your child is going to be late, absent or leaving early on any school day from remote learning, please use your Parent Portal on Genesis under the attendance tab to notify the school or you may call the school's main office at 201-794-5550 option 2. Please do not email your teacher directly.
Art Class
Tuesday SEL Days
Beginning next week, every other Tuesday from 2:25-3:00 pm, our students will have the opportunity to select an activity from the Social Emotional Learning Choice Boards which will be provided by the classroom teachers. These SEL Choice Boards will consist of mindfulness activities tied to our social-emotional learning standards.
SEL Tuesdays:
11/17 2:25-3:00pm
12/1 2:25-3:00pm
12/15 2:25-3:00pm
Teachers will not be on Zoom at these times.
More information and the choice boards will be shared by classroom teachers.
4th Grade Bike to School Permission Form
Lunch Information
Care Plus Mental Health Resources
Class code: jnvhqnf
By joining the Google Classroom, you will have access to a variety of mental health resources and support. Care Plus will be updating the classroom regularly so resources can continue to address relevant topics and concerns.
November Birthdays
Abigail 4C, Delilah 4C, Farida 4C, Ranasinghe 4SP, Jaya 2W, William 1L, Corinne 4S, Ellie 2CO, Shira 4S, Hailey 2W, Eshpreet 4SH, Izumi KP, Ayushi 3L, Sergio KP, Arkady 4SH, Alexander 2CO, Aria KH, Jazelle 1LO, Katarine 2CO, Veronica 2R, Daria KH, Durrah 4C, Nessa 4SH, Ryan 4SP, Ryan 1LO, Lily KA, Rebecca 3L, April 2S, Daria 3G, Elizabeth 2R, Justin KH, Michael KH
Spirit Days
PTA Welcome and Information
Dear Milnes Families,
I would like to take this opportunity to welcome all of you to the 2020-2021. The purpose of the PTA is to support the faculty, staff, parents, and especially our students.
In order for the PTA to be effective, we need the support and involvement of the parents of our students. The first way to show your support is to become a member of the Milnes PTA. The second way to show your support will be to participate in the events and programs that we have planned throughout the year. You may choose to be a committee chair, committee member, or volunteer. If you are interested in joining a committee, please click this link: https://forms.gle/f8ucXELtwGAcMhfC9. Whatever level of participation you choose, your time and involvement will be greatly appreciated. Many parents feel that they cannot participate in the PTA because they cannot come to meetings or be at school during the day. Whether you have 30 minutes or a couple of hours, your ideas, your time, and your talents are truly needed. The PTA welcomes you to join our meetings to voice your concerns and contribute your ideas to better our school. Please click this link to become a member of the PTA: https://hbmilnespta.memberhub.store/
Our best form of communication is through email. Please follow the attached directions to begin receiving notifications and staying informed.
We would like to thank you in advance for your support. If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact me. I look forward to meeting you all!
Thank you,
Anamari Servis
PTA President
H.B. Milnes Elementary School
Virtual Holiday Shop
Card My Yard Fundraiser
Ways to Stay Informed at Milnes
Welcome to H.B. Milnes Elementary School! You will find that this is a very special place, with a lot of things going on to enrich you and your child’s elementary school experience! In order to stay informed, we encourage you to take note of the list below. These are the most popular and best ways to keep track of all that is going on in our wonderful school. We hope you find it helpful and take full advantage of what is being offered here, at Milnes! We look forward to working with you throughout the years!
Websites:
The Milnes Website: https://milnes.fairlawnschools.org/
The PTA Website: http://hbmilnes.my-pta.org/
Facebook:
H.B. Milnes PTA: https://www.facebook.com/groups/294348713915540/
Kindergarten Class/Milnes Class of 2025: https://www.facebook.com/groups/175286953807897/
1st Grade Class/ Milnes Class of 2024: https://www.facebook.com/groups/340425060215050
2nd Grade Class/ Milnes Class of 2023: https://www.facebook.com/groups/175286953807897
3rd Grade Class/ Milnes Class of 2022: https://www.facebook.com/groups/Milnes2022
4th Grade Class/Milnes Class of 2021: https://www.facebook.com/groups/330050644014975
PTA Remind Texts:
Kindergarten: Text @milnes2025 to the number 81010
1st grade: Text @milnes2024 to the number 81010
2nd grade: Text @milnes2023 to the number 81010
3rd grade: Text @milnes2022 to the number 81010
4th grade: Text @milnes2021 to the number 81010
Kindness Corner
-William Arthur Ward
Coming Up
November
November 10th - December 1st - Virtual Holiday Shop
November 25th - Early Dismissal
November 26th & 27th - No School
Henry B. Milnes Elementary School
Website: https://milnes.fairlawnschools.org/
Location: 8-01 Philip Street, Fair Lawn, NJ, USA
Phone: 201-794-5550
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/FairLawnPublicSchoolDistrict
Twitter: @HenryBMilnes