Summer Street School Family Updates
January 4, 2021
Letter from the Principal
Dear Families,
I hope your holiday celebrations were fun and festive. After the Thanksgiving debacle, my sister and I did not celebrate together but we did trade our traditional dishes, delivering them to each other's and my mom's house and then meeting over Zoom. It wasn't ideal and we tried to make up for the lack of connection with long family walks with the two households. My children grew up five minutes from their aunt's house, with the four cousins running between the two houses every day. I'm glad our families could connect in small ways in this strange time!
One of the funnier memories I have of Christmas is of my mother on Christmas morning muttering to herself, "Where is...? Where did I put that...?" She went to great lengths to hide our presents and, unfortunately, she often forgot at least one present. It would turn up in the next few months, sometimes wrapped and sometimes not. It upset her. As a child, I tried to tell her that this wasn't a problem because I loved it. Finding the missing present in an otherwise ordinary day was like getting a second surprise Christmas. As parents, we put extraordinary pressure on ourselves to be perfect.I don't think children want or need perfect parents because children's ability to see the positive aspects of their lives is extraordinary.
Though we are participating in the remote learning model this week, I want to remind you that when we return to in-person learning, we will be going out if the weather is warmer than 30 degrees and it isn't raining. Please help the children to remember their snow pants and boots if they want to play in the snow. I'm excited that we will finally be able to use the snow shovels and snowshoes that you so generously purchased last year through the Race for Education and PTO funds.
I added an article below that focuses on the small wins parents have had this past year with their children. Wins, large and small, will be my focus as well as we all cope with the winter months ahead.
Sincerely,
Karen
WEEK 1
Upcoming Dates: Please note the change in schedule because the cohort days have changed.
January 4-8 will be remote for all students, except Cohort A and preschool students.
Report Card Timeline
Due to the later start to the school year, the administrative team at the elementary level has decided to adjust the school terms and report cards associated with the school terms. This year, the parent conferences will serve as the first reporting of student progress and achievement. The second term will end on January 15 and report cards will be sent on January 29. There will be progress reports sent to families on March 31st. The final report cards will be mailed to families on June 24th.
Travel Policy
If a student travels outside of the approved lower-risk states by the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, either of the following two conditions must be met before a student can return to the school building:
1. Produce a negative COVID-19 test result from a test that is administered on the 5th day after arrival back into the state of Massachusetts. The result of this test must be given to Toni Rebelo, the COVID Liaison, before returning to the building. (The COVID-19 test must be the PCR test. We do not accept the rapid antigen test)
2. Quarantine for 14 days from the date of arrival back into the state of Massachusetts.
Example:
Travel to high risk state: Nov 1 - Nov 5
COVID-19 Test: 5 days AFTER arrival = Nov 10
Return to School: Receipt of the negative test result must be confirmed by Toni Rebelo before the start of the school day. Students with tests received mid-day will be eligible to return to school the following day.
Notes from the Nurse
Flu shot update
The Lynnfield Board of Health in conjunction with the Lynnfield Public School Nurses, have been fortunate enough to be able to offer two Children's Flu Clinic over the last four weeks This has been done as State public health officials require that influenza immunization will be required for all children 6 months of age or older who are attending Massachusetts child care, pre-school, kindergarten, K-12, and colleges and universities. The new vaccine requirement is an important step to reduce flu-related illness and the overall impact of respiratory illness during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Students will be expected to have received a flu vaccine by February 26, 2020 for the 2020-2021 influenza season, unless either a medical or religious exemption is provided. Also exempted are K-12 students who are home-schooled and higher education students who are completely off-campus and engaged in remote learning only. This new flu immunization requirement to enter school in January is in addition to existing vaccine requirements for all those attending child care, preschool, K-12, and colleges and universities in Massachusetts. Elementary and secondary students in districts and schools that are using a remote education model are not exempt.
If your child has received their influenza shot, please forward a copy of the note from your doctor to your student's school.
Technology
The response time is within 24-48 hours. Thank you!