From the Principal's Pen
December 18, 2020
It Was a Wonderful Winter Wonderland!
There were so many amazing entries that it was impossible to choose winners - Mrs. Brush and I were so impressed with all of the incredibly creative displays! Enjoy the photos below of our entries.
Special thanks to Jill Ernst, Michele Tierney, Nicole Kenealy, and Le Ann Hinkle for their help in making this fun event happen!
Warmest Wishes,
Trish McGuire
MARK YOUR CALENDARS!
Upcoming Important Dates
*IMPORTANT NOTE: Boys and Girls Club and YWCA will be open. Family First and FLEX Eagle's Nest will be closed on 12/23*
Winter Recess - Thursday, December 24th - Friday, January 1st
School Reopens - Monday, January 4th
COVID-19 Testing and Winter Travel Information Q&A
COVID-19 Testing
Just a reminder that all children need to stay home if they have a pending COVID test regardless of the reason including travel or clearance to see relatives. Should your child be asymptomatic and have a positive result, coming to school will increase the time their classroom was exposed. A negative COVID test is needed to return to school.
WINTER TRAVEL INFORMATION Q&A
If I am traveling from an Affected State or an Affected Country to Connecticut, am I required to self-quarantine when I arrive in Connecticut?
Yes, you are required to self-quarantine when you arrive in Connecticut from an Affected State or an Affected Country if you were in such Affected State or such Affected Country for twenty-four (24) hours or longer within fourteen (14) days prior to arriving in Connecticut. When you do leave your designated self-quarantine location and when in public after your mandatory self-quarantine period, you are required to wear a face covering when in public and when a six-foot distance from others is unavoidable, unless you have a medical condition that prevents you from wearing one and you have written documentation that you are qualified for the exemption from a licensed medical provider, the Department of Developmental Services or other state agency that provides or supports services for people with emotional, intellectual or physical disabilities, or a person authorized by any such agency.
To whom does the Connecticut Travel Advisory apply?
The requirement to self-quarantine and complete the Travel Health Form is applicable to any traveler who has spent twenty-four (24) hours or longer in an Affected State or an Affected Country within ten (10) days prior to arriving in Connecticut but does not include an individual remaining in Connecticut for less than twenty-four (24) hours. These requirements are also applicable to Connecticut residents who are returning from a visit to an Affected State or an Affected Country.
Does the Connecticut Travel Advisory apply to Affected Travelers who are minors, i.e., under the age of 18?
Yes, the Connecticut Travel Advisory applies to all Affected Travelers, including Affected Travelers who are minors. Therefore, a minor (under age 18) who is an Affected Traveler is required to self-quarantine for a period of ten (10) days from the time he or she was last in the Affected State or the Affected Country, unless such traveler qualifies for an exemption from the requirement to self-quarantine. With respect to the Travel Health Form, any minor who is an Affected Traveler is required to individually complete and submit such form only when the minor is unaccompanied by an adult.
How long is the self-quarantine?
The Connecticut Travel Advisory requires visitors to Connecticut from Affected States or Affected Countries to self-quarantine for a period of fourteen (14) days from the time they were last in the Affected State or the Affected Country. If you board a plane in an Affected State or an Affected Country today, and land in Connecticut today, your fourteen (14) days begins today. If you are in Connecticut for a period less than fourteen (14) days, you should plan to be in self-quarantine throughout your visit. If you left an Affected State or an Affected Country and spent time in non-Affected States or non-Affected Countries prior to arriving in Connecticut, you start counting your fourteen (14) day period from the time you left the Affected State or Affected Country. Consequently, if only five (5) of those fourteen (14) days are spent in Connecticut, you will need to self-quarantine in Connecticut for those five (5) days.
Can travelers be tested for COVID-19 instead of self-quarantine?
Yes, an Affected Traveler is exempt from the self-quarantine requirement if the Affected Traveler:
(1) has had a test for COVID-19 in the seventy-two (72) hours prior to arrival in Connecticut or at any time following arrival in Connecticut,
(2) the result of such COVID-19 test is negative, and
(3) he or she has provided written proof of such negative test result to the Commissioner of Public Health via email to: DPH.COVID-Travel@ct.gov or via facsimile to: 860-326-0529. All test results submitted to DPH are confidential.
Nucleic acid tests (e.g., reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR), polymerase chain reaction (PCR), nucleic acid amplification (NAA), and transcription-mediated assay (TMA) tests) are the only acceptable testing option. If a test was obtained in the seventy-two (72) hours prior to arrival in Connecticut, or following arrival in Connecticut, and such Affected Traveler has not yet received his or her test results, such traveler shall remain in self-quarantine in Connecticut until a negative test result is submitted to the Commissioner. If the test result is positive and the traveler is asymptomatic, he or she shall self-isolate for ten (10) days from the date of the test; if symptomatic, he or she should seek medical assistance. Travelers who test positive for COVID-19 prior to traveling to Connecticut should delay such travel and consult with a medical professional. All Affected Travelers are required to complete the Travel Health Form.
What tests are acceptable for the testing option?
Nucleic acid tests (e.g., reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR), polymerase chain reaction (PCR), nucleic acid amplification (NAA), and transcription-mediated assay (TMA) tests) are the only acceptable testing option. Neither rapid antigen tests nor antibody tests for COVID-19 satisfy the testing requirement for the testing exemption.
For more information please visit: https://portal.ct.gov/coronavirus/travel
Winter and Holiday Read-Alouds
A Wish to Be a Christmas Tree by Colleen Monroe, Read by Mitch Albom
Sneezy the Snowman by Maureen Wright and Stephen Gilpin
Olive the Other Reindeer by Vivian Walsh
Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer
How to Catch a Snowman by Adam Wallace and Andy Elkerton
The Snowy Day by Ezra Jack Keats
Winnie in Winter by Valerie Thomas and Korky Paul
One Winter's Day by M. Christina Butler
Virtual Parent Chats
Dr. Fabian Boie
Behavior Support Team
Ms. Jessica McEvily
Behavior Support Team
Dr. Alina Boie
Behavior Support Team
During these challenging times, please join us for a virtual “Parent Video Chat” facilitated by one of our GPS psychologists. Connect virtually with other parents in our community and learn effective strategies to manage personal stress and discuss relevant topics. You can join at any point during a session and stay for as long as you can. We are here to answer questions and provide support.
Themes:
December - Coping with Anxiety and Stress Management
January - Fostering Resilience at Home
Elementary School Parents
Tuesday, December 22 at 7pm
Friday, January 8th at 11 am
Monday, January 11 at 7pm
Secondary School Parents
Tuesday, January 5th at 7pm
Wednesday, January 20th at 7pm
Friday, January 29th at 10 am
Elementary & Secondary Parents in Spanish
Tuesday, January 26th at 7pm
Directions
In order to join this session, you will have to access the Google Meet Conference link shared with you. You can choose to open our camera or not. Once you join, please mute your microphone to avoid background noises. You can turn it on when asking a question or use the chat function to ask questions or make comments. Presenters will share with you additional resources and links after the session is over.
Google Meet Link for all meetings: meet.google.com/arm-hbjd-yvy
Don't Forget to Show Your JC Spirit!
It's the perfect time to shop for holiday gifts - there is a 25% off sitewide sale!
If you are looking for some new Spirit Wear, families, staff, and teachers may order whatever they like. There are masks, stadium seats, blankets, and other fun accessories as well as clothing. You can customize the logos, colors, etc. (within select choices). There are no minimums. The company will produce and ship directly and Julian Curtiss will receive a 12% commission. Hopefully easy for all! Click below to see all of our fun, new JC Spirit Wear!
¿Necesita leer nuestro boletín en español?
¿Necesita leer nuestro boletín en español? Haga clic en cualquier parte de este correo electrónico, desplácese hasta la parte inferior y haga clic en traducir. Luego, seleccione español, y el boletín debería aparecer en español. ¡Gracias!
Please follow Mrs. McGuire and Mrs. Brush on Twitter
@JCSPrincipal and @JCSEaglesAP
Mrs. Trish McGuire - Principal
Email: trish_mcguire@greenwich.k12.ct.us
Website: www.greenwichschools.org/jcs
Location: 180 East Elm Street, Greenwich, CT, USA
Phone: (203) 869-1896
Twitter: @jcsprincipal