NIS Weekly News
Nantucket Intermediate School - June 22, 2020
NPS Remote Learning Parent Survey
We Love Our NIS Students, Staff & Families!
Dearest NIS Families,
It's time to say goodbye for the summer and so long to our lovely and lively fifth graders. There is great disappointment among our NIS staff that we didn't have more in person time with our students this school year, but we are especially sad that our time with our fifth graders was cut short. While our classroom teachers, specialist teachers, counselors, and other staff worked diligently to connect with all of our students, there was still this feeling of being cheated of all of the day to day and special learning experiences that can only happen when together in person.
Ms. Johnson and I want to publicly give a shoutout to the NIS staff - every single one of them - for all they did to adjust to remote learning and diligent work to engage with our students each and every day! They continuously learned how best to promote teaching and learning virtually and were willing to refine their work to make it easier for students and parents at home. They too extend their deep appreciation for all you did to promote and support remote learning in your homes. We all know it could not happen well without you!
NIS bids farewell to the following members of our staff who are choosing new adventures. We are grateful for their service to NIS and wish them nothing but the best!
Mrs. Anne LeMaitre: Mrs. LeMaitre will retire after this school year and a long, amazing career of serving our Nantucket students and families. She has made a difference in countless children's lives!
Ms. Elise Goeglein: Ms. Goeglein, our first NIS AP and Math Coach, will return to teaching in her home state of Arizona. She was intstrumental to our NIS school opening!
Mr. Matthew Richardson: Mr. Richardson, grade 4 teacher, will return to his hometown and teach 5th grade in neighboring North Andover. Mr. Richardson raised the bar for NIS particularly with technology use and parent communications.
Ms. Victoria Adams: Ms. Adams will follow her passion for clinical work here on island for the coming year as she pursues her private practice. We hope she's a frequent NIS visitor to say hello!
Ms. Sarah Dalzell: Ms. Dalzell, NIS IDSC TA, will realize her dream of being an IDSC teacher at NES in the fall. We are excited for her to have her own classroom within our district.
Ms. Teddi Cowden: Ms. Cowden, NIS TA, will venture off island to pursue her dream of having her own classroom. We wish Ms. Cowden great success!
NIS families, we just can't say thank you enough for all you have done during school closures and remote learning. Your partnership has never been more critical and your engagement was truly valued - each and every day!
Wishing you all a safe and happy summer - one with a lot less screen time!
All the best,
Evemarie McNeil, Principal mcneile@npsk.org
Donna Johnson, Assistant Principal johnsond@npsk.org
2019-2020 Art Work Update
Hello NIS families!
I know many of you are excited to see what your artists worked on this year before virtual learning began!
Since the fifth graders are moving up, they will be collecting their artwork on the 22nd during their scheduled time with their classes. I look forward to cheering them on that day as they move up while I hand back their beautiful artwork!
For our third and fourth graders, the plan is to return their work in September when we get back to school. Their work will be hung up around the building to celebrate their return and to bring joy and color to our building throughout the month! Their work will then be sent home for families to enjoy!!
Thank you!
Ms. Held
NIS Student Summer Book Club
Dear Parents and Caregivers,
NIS is excited to share that we will be supporting and facilitating book clubs this summer. In an effort to keep students reading and thinking, we have selected two books that we feel will continue to support efforts to counter racist socialization and racial bias. Children’s books are one of the most effective and practical tools for initiating these critical conversations, and can also be used to model what it means to resist and dismantle oppression. The two texts that have been selected for the books clubs this summer are:
Clean Getaway by Nic Stone
From Common Sense Media: When CLEAN GETAWAY begins, Scoob, an 11-year-old Black boy is in an RV with his white grandmother. She's invited him on a road trip. Scoob is grounded after being suspended from school, and his dad has canceled spring break plans. Traveling with G'ma is a welcome loophole. Scoob soon learns that G'ma has sold her house to buy the fancy Winnebago. They set off through the southern United States, often consulting G'ma's store of old maps and the Green Book, a guide African Americans used during the Jim Crow era to find lodging and eating places that would serve them. Scoob learns that they are following the route of an unfinished trip G'ma took with his grandfather back in the 1960s. Scoob appreciates that G'ma shares old photos and previously secret family stories as well as some lessons about history. But something is off and his grandmother is acting strange. She drinks alcohol, which he's never known her to do. She sometimes seems lost in thought and calls him by her husband's name. She dines and dashes. He thinks, though he can't be sure, that he caught her shoplifting at a jewelry store. When she throws away her phone as they make their way to the Mexican border, he really gets worried.
Blended by Sharon Draper
From sharondraper.com: Eleven-year-old Isabella lives in two worlds. She’s a double-backpack-carrying child of divorce, so she lives with her mom one week, and her dad the next. In addition, she’s bi-racial, and she sees herself as the caramel swirl milkshake that resulted from her mom’s vanilla and her dad’s chocolate ice cream. Izzy is an accomplished pianist, and as she practices for a crucial recital, the black keys and the white keys of her life combine to create an unexpected symphony of race, terror, and finally peace.
How the Book Clubs will work:
Talk to your child if they would like to participate and about which book they would like to read. Complete the Book Club Interest Survey
Parents and caregivers - consider hosting or facilitating a book club! We will provide you information and suggestions to use.
Use the Padlet for information about places that you could meet and ways to engage with other kids. Clean Getaway Padlet
Please indicate if you are interested by completing this short survey: Book Club Interest Survey
Clean Getaway by Nic Stone
Blended by Sharon M. Draper
NIS Summer Book Club 2020
Specialist Teachers' Learning Activities
Just email the specialist teacher you want to connect with to learn when the are available virtually.
Art - Heldj@npsk.org
Library - myerso@npsk.org
Music - sheppards@npsk.org
Physical education - gardnerg@npsk.org
Spanish - nashz@npsk.org
SEL - see counselor information above
Enrichment - baskettf@npsk.org
School Counselor Summer Information
School Counselor Summer Office Hours
Wednesdays: 8:00 - 2:30 PM
During the summer one of our school counselors or social worker will be working at NIS each Wednesday. Students, caregivers, parents, and families may call NIS requesting to speak to the counselor working. You can also email the counselor(s) to set up an appointment.
Mr. Aaron Peckham peckhama@npsk.org
Ms. Alexandra Rosenberg rosenberga@npsk.org
Chromebooks & Summer
Parents and students:
As you might imagine, we have been having many conversations about how best to handle the Chromebooks this summer and going into next school year. Administration, with input from the Technology department, has decided to allow students to keep their Chromebooks over the summer in hopes of addressing further learning opportunities and equity issues. That being said, many grades normally get newer Chromebooks before September. The Tech staff will work with families to upgrade and/or swap out the Chromebooks over the summer.
In order to receive the new device or continue to use any device beyond August 1, families must log onto the Aspen Family Portal (https://www.npsk.org/domain/1321) and verify the student information. You may begin doing this at any time. If you are not able to complete the verification by August 1, the Chromebook will be disabled.
For all grades:
If you do not want to use your Chromebook over the summer, you may drop off the Chromebooks at any time at the front entrance of Nantucket Intermediate School. The closest parking lot is accessed from Backus Lane off Surfside Rd.
If your Chromebook needs repair, please tape a note on it and drop it off at the entrance of NIS.
If you have multiple Chromebooks, please drop off whichever one you are not using at the entrance to NIS.
For grades K-11 (as of June 1):
You will need to verify the student information by August 1 to continue using your Chromebook.
Grades 5 and 8, normally you would be provided with a new Chromebook as you enter 6th and 9th grade, but due to Covid, we may not be able to get them in time.
Mifi devices:
Families with mifi devices are welcome to keep them if you need them.
If you no longer need the device, please drop it off at the entrance to NIS.
If you have any questions, please let us know. (https://www.npsk.org/cms/module/selectsurvey/TakeSurvey.aspx?SurveyID=103)
Have a wonderful summer! Keep learning and enjoying our beautiful island.
Jenn Erichsen
Director of Technology
508-228-7280 ext 1213
School Supplies Through EduKit for 2020-2021
ORDER BY JUNE 30, 2020 FOR BEST PRICING AND FREE SHIPPING.
Nantucket Intermediate School offers the EduKit program as a convenient option for busy families to order school supplies for the 2020/2021 year. EduKits include the supplies approved by your school. Click on this link to order: NIS EduKits
UPDATE: Due to high demand of Clorox/Lysol brand disinfecting wipes, Edukit is no longer able to provide us with what we originally included in the kits. Instead, they have worked diligently so that we have a replacement. These new wipes are a 50 count and contain 75% alcohol content for rapid sterilization and kill 99.99% of germs.
For the 3rd and 4th grade kits, the original wipes were a 35 count, so this means more wipes at no additional cost! For the 5th grade kits, they originally contained 75 wipes, this deficient from 75 to 50 wipes this means that there is $2.00 per 5th grade kit that us as a school will be able to purchase additional supplies from their warehouse to supplement the 5th grade boxes.
2020 Summer Reading Program at Nantucket Atheneum
Happy summer everyone!
This summer may be the most important summer for your children to develop a habit of reading at least 20 minutes per day. The Atheneum is excited to be able to offer a fun and interactive way that may help inspire them. Beanstack is an online program and app that enables readers of all ages to register in seconds as individuals or a family. Participants earn virtual badges as they reach certain milestones. I strongly encourage you to sign up! It is easy! Begin by clicking here nantucketatheneum.beanstack.org
We have also created a Weezie Library for Children FB page serving youth from birth through age 18. This will be the primary way we will communicate with our patrons during this time. We’ll offer Grab-and-Go programming, downloadable activities, Story Walks, LIVE performances, breaking library news, and much more. We hope you will join us. FB The Weezie Library for Children
All of us at the library miss our patrons. Please feel free to call us with questions or requests (or to say “hello”) 508-228-1110 x103, we’d love to hear from you. While the library is not open yet, we are offering curbside pick-up and will be at the desk M-F 10-2 for the time being.
Have a wonderful summer. I hope we’re all back together again soon.
Stay safe and well,
Leslie Malcolm
For NPS District Information
Be sure to check the www.npsk.org website for specific District communications and updates.
Virtual Learning Tips for Caregivers
NPS Mental Health Resources Page
District counselors and social workers have shared so many amazing resources with families so we decided to consolidate all of their rich information onto the NEW Mental Health Resources page of our website.
It is located under the Parents & Students top tab of the District Website, under Remote Home Learning Resources.
Assistance for Families
Nantucket Food-Fuel-Rental Assistance --- https://www.assistnantucket.org
Nantucket Culinary Center is offering buy one give one for their family meals. If you are interested in purchasing a meal click here: https://nantucketculinary.com
If you are in need of a free meal please click here: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSc9ozRLWoaXIJ3aiSxp7AayARfyhIm3pifmEJ2W5iHfcrkz0A/viewform
Health Resources:
Fairwinds - https://www.fairwindscenter.org/fairwinds-corona-response/
Free drop-in Zoom support meetings:
Groups 5:00 – 6:00 p.m.
How: Click on this zoom link to join any meeting: https://zoom.us/j/994360705
Groups 4:00-5:00 p.m. (individual Zoom log-ins, see below)
Mondays: From 4-5 p.m. Un grupo de apoyo gratuito en español:
El Grupo Creando Calmate ayuda a lidiar con la ansiedad y el estrés
Creating Calm Support Group in Spanish. Zoom link: https://zoom.us/j/712149785Thursdays: From 4-5 p.m. Teen Recovery Group offering support and answers to teens ages 14-21 in a non-judgmental, open forum. Zoom link: https://zoom.us/j/790603392
Gosnold- Teletherapy support and Mobile Crisis (877) 784-6273.
A Safe Place - 508- 228-2111 https://www.asafeplacenantucket.org
Nantucket Cottage Hospital -- Still open for same day appointments. Call ahead as they are working to keep potential Covid-19 patients separated from the general patient population. 508-825-1000
Utility Services COVID-19 response:
Wannacomet Water Company
No late fees, penalties or interest will be charged at this time: https://www.wannacomet.org
National Grid
Payment options and support services : https://www.nationalgridus.com/MA-Home/Default.aspx
Comcast: Will not disconnect internet for nonpayment (and other assistance plans) Contact directly for more information: https://corporate.comcast.com/covid-19
Verizon: Contact for specific offers of assistance: https://www.verizon.com/about/news/verizon-helps-eliminate-worry
Emergency Child Care:
Emergency drop-in child care programs are opening to provide emergency, back-up, drop-in child care for vulnerable families and members of essential workforces who have no other option. Parents and guardians working from home are not a priority for emergency child care. Likewise, if you have alternate child care, such as friends or family, you should not contact these programs. (from https://eeclead.force.com/apex/EEC_ChildCareEmergencyFAQParents)
Nantucket Locations: (See chart below)
Nantucket Intermediate School
Email: mcneile@npsk.org
Website: https://www.npsk.org/NIS
Location: 30 Surfside Road, Nantucket, MA, USA
Phone: 508-228-7290
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/nantucketintermediateschool/
Twitter: @NISlearners
Nantucket Antheneum Information to Support You!
Hello everyone!
- The Atheneum can now look up your library card number. If If you've lost your card (or need to sign up for one), please send us an email and we'll get you set up. info@nantucketatheneum.org
- We've created a YouTube channel with instructions on how to easily set up your desktop or mobile device to download ebooks, audiobooks, stream movies, read magazines, learn a new language or take a class. There is something up there for everyone in the family, all you need is your library card and pin number (usually the last 4 digits of your card #).
- Nantucket Atheneum Digital Library
- Visit our homepage for further staff-curated educational links, resources and booklists to inspire you or sign up for an online class using our calendar.
- Nantucket Atheneum
Both pages will continue to evolve as we add more. Please stay safe and well. Hopefully, we'll all be back together soon.
Kind regards,
Leslie Malcolm