We have taken a turn toward colder weather, but that doesn't mean we have to be stuck inside. During the school day, we will continue to try to go outside for recess (and even snack/mask breaks), so please remind your children to bring a jacket to keep them warm. We have been very lucky so far with the temperature, but that won't last forever. Hat, mittens/gloves, boots, etc... are certainly recommended as we continue through the upcoming winter. Please remember that this year we do not have a lost and found, so please put student names on outerwear so we can return it to the right person.

JRB is scheduled to have our picture retakes on the following days:

Cohort A Students and any Fully Remote Students- Tuesday, December 8th

Cohort B Students and any Fully Remote Students- Thursday, December 10th

Next week marks the transition from Trimester 1 to Trimester 2. The transition will bring a few changes to students' online learning platforms.

Grades K-2

K-2 teachers will continue to use the same Seesaw classes created for Trimester 1, so your child will see no changes.

Grades 3-5

Teachers will create new Google Classroom classes for Trimester 2.

• On Monday, December 7th you will see a T2 Specials classroom that students should join and start using for their remote specials.
• On Wednesday, December 9th you will see a T2 classroom with the name of your child's homeroom teacher that students should join and start using.

The T1 Google Classrooms will be archived (disappear) the following week.

To join their new Google Classroom classes, students should:

1. Open the Classroom app.
2. Look on the dashboard (the first page that loads when you open the app) for the new class tiles.
3. Click on the "Join" button at the bottom of the tile for each new class.

Please reach out to the appropriate teacher if your child does not receive an invitation to join his/her homeroom or specials class.

Please remember to reach out to our school nurse at jflis@awrsd.org if you plan on leaving the state for travel. You can read all of the district travel guidelines here.

Remote learning and having your child(ren) learn at home can often present challenges and the need for support. We are hopeful that this document will provide strategies that are realistic to implement and resources that you are able to come back to when needed.

What you will find in this document:

• Basic tips for creating a learning environment at home

• Visual supports and schedules

• Simple reinforcement procedures to increase desired behaviors

• Transitions & Supports

• Responses to challenging behavior

• Where to access additional resources

Beginning with the 2020-2021 school year, influenza vaccine will be required for all students. Influenza vaccine is always important to receive to reduce the risk of getting sick with influenza, reduce the severity of disease if one does get sick (including the risk of hospitalization) due to influenza, as well as preventing the spread of influenza to others. During the COVID-19 pandemic, influenza vaccine will be especially critical to reduce the overall impact of respiratory illness on the population, protect vulnerable populations from severe illness, and decrease the overall burden on the healthcare system.

Which students need to receive influenza vaccine?

Students in Pre-Kindergarten – Grade 12 will be required to receive influenza vaccine for the current influenza season for school attendance unless they have a medical or religious exemption.

When do students need to receive influenza vaccine?

Students must receive influenza vaccine for the current season by December 31, 2020.

Will influenza vaccine be required every year or just for the 2020-2021 school year?

Influenza vaccine is now a required vaccine for school attendance and will be required as of December 31 for all students in Pre-Kindergarten through Grade 12 each school year.

If my school will be providing instruction remotely, will students still need to meet immunization requirements?

The school immunization requirements, including the requirement for seasonal influenza vaccine, apply to all Massachusetts students enrolled in Pre-Kindergarten through Grade 12, regardless of whether the district is providing instruction in-person, or using a hybrid or remote learning model.

Please forward the record of this immunization to the Health Office/Nurse at school.

Thank You.

Physicals are due. If your child has had a physical recently (since January 2020) please have a copy of the physical returned to school. If your child is in need of a physical, please contact your child’s doctor and make an appointment. If you are in need of a form, please contact me.

If your family is in need of support this holiday season, you can email jrbholiday@awrsd.org.

JRB is collaborating with several other community organizations through our Holiday Help Coordinator, Dorene Francis. Your family’s request for help is confidential. Please email by Friday, December 4th.

As we have previously mentioned, this year's report cards are going to feel a bit different. There will likely be more N/A's on the first term report card than you are used to seeing for a few reasons.

• We only see students on a limited basis (in-person days are half of a usual year).
• Our new math program introduces plenty of information across the first term, but that does not look for mastery of those skills until later in the year.

Thank you again for your understanding. If you have any more specific questions feel free to contact us.

Due to a variety of factors, we are welcoming three parents to the school council. The attachment below is a nomination form in order to be considered for election.

Email: nnorth@awrsd.org
Website: https://jrb.awrsd.org/
Phone: 978-827-5750