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NIS News - December 6, 2021
Nantucket Intermediate School
Telling Our NIS Story...
As our NIS school council meeting last week we had a great discussion about getting the NIS story out to not only our families, but our larger community. There are so many wonderful things happening in grades 3, 4 and 5 and we want to ensure everyone knows as their tax dollars and advocacy support our continued success as a school. We will do this through this newsletter, photos, and strategic use of social media to start. Other ideas included getting our local news sources involved in covering not only special events, but day-to-day teaching and learning. Your ideas and your experience as parents is most valuable to communicating our collective story too. Please don't hesitate to get involved even if it's simply by reaching out to share your experience. We hope to collectively highlight all of the "AMAZING" at NIS!
Busy weeks ahead:
Picture Retake Day Tomorrow 12/7.
Mark your calendars for 12/8 and 12/15 as both are half days of school. Parent/teacher conferences will be held on 12/15 so be sure to sign up for a time with your child's classroom teacher!
NIS Book Fair 12/13 - 12/17
Our December holiday break begins on Thursday, Dec. 23rd and students return to school on Monday, Jan. 3rd. If you are planning to extend this holiday break and your child will miss 5 or more days of school as a result, please reach out to our front office to set up a time to meet with me or Ms. Johnson. Extending vacations is not in the best interest of student learning, and thus we discuss the likely impact to your child.
Wishing you joy and merriment all month long!
Grateful for your partnership,
Evemarie McNeil, Principal
Donna Johnson, Assistant Principal
Gorgeous Grade 3 Tree at Whaling Museum!
Marvelous Math Measurement
A December Nantucket Tradition
Engaging in Science Investigations in Grade 5!
Vaccine News
Hello NIS Families,
Great News, the State is hosting a covid vaccine clinic for our community on Saturday December 18th for the first dose and Saturday January 8, 2022 for the second dose. This clinic is for ages 5 years old and up. Anyone needing their 1st, 2nd, or Pfizer booster are encouraged to attend. The clinic will be held in the Nantucket Elementary School cafeteria from 9:00 am - 2:00 pm. Please sign up using the link provided.
Right now our students are very vulnerable to the virus and need protection. Getting your student vaccinated will help protect them against getting covid, having a milder case if they do get covid, and keep them out of the hospital. If you have any questions or concerns, please reach out to me. Hope to see you at the clinic!!
Here is the CDC link for more information on the vaccine.
CDC vaccine for 5-12 year olds
Stay healthy,
Nancy Small, RN
NIS School Nurse
We are Hiring!
NIS Picture Retake Day - December 7th - 9:00 to 9:30 AM
Class of 2022 December Delight ~ This Saturday! Dec. 11th
Flyer below...
NHS Holiday Musical Dessert Cabaret ~ Monday, Dec. 13th
Intervention Services for Children on Nantucket
The Special Needs Advisory Council is partnering with the South Shore Autism Center to conduct a forum for island families on December 10th between 11am-3pm in the Nantucket High School conference room. This is a drop in event. Families and community members are invited to stop in to provide feedback on what kinds of services are needed on the island for children with autism and special needs. They will also be able to provide information regarding in-home therapies, parent training and social group skills.
This is a valuable opportunity to build partnerships and provide input into needed therapies. Please see the attached flyer. Please, feel free to contact me if you have any questions.
Kerry Ray
Director of Programming and Operations, Nantucket S.T.A.R.
508-325-5276
NPS Campus Master Plan - Years of Thoughtful Planning
MMA Look Up Program - Free for Students & Families!
MMA is thrilled to announce their new “Look Up” Program, launching in December 2021.
The MMA’s Look Up Program provides the opportunity for every student in the Nantucket school system to visit Loines Observatory and learn from professional astronomers. Each month, from December through May, the MMA will host a special version of their Open Night program geared towards children age five through eighteen. Students will be invited to attend the Look Up Program with their families entirely free-of-charge. When students arrive at Loines Observatory for the in-person component, they will receive a special Look Up shirt to celebrate their participation in this program.
The December schedule for the Look Up Program for 2021 is as follows:
Wednesday, December 8th, 6-7:30PM
Thursday, December 9th, 6-7:30PM
For more information checkout the Maria Mitchell Webpage at https://www.mariamitchell.org/
Previously Shared Information Below
No Student Drop Off on Surfside Road
Protocols for School COVID Testing
Dear NIS Families,
We are fortunate enough to be participating in the Test and Stay program which allows school close contacts to test daily (5-7 days) with the BinaxNow test (rapid covid antigen test) and stay in school with a negative test result and be asymptomatic. Students who are deemed close contacts to a positive case outside of the school setting, cannot participate in this program. They must use the protocols set by the Department of Education and the Department of Public Health. The reasoning for this is that school close contacts are less likely to become positive because of masking, social distancing and hand washing. We can control the school environment.
We are also participating in Symptomatic testing. This is another way to keep the students in school. So if your student comes to my office with a covid symptom and I have your signed consent, then I can use the BinaxNow test to help rule out covid.
There are links below for the protocols and close contacts.
My main objective is to keep my students safe, healthy, and in school. If you have not handed in the consent to test, please do so. Please reach out if you have further questions.
Stay healthy,
Nancy Small, RN
NIS School Nurse
Dept. of Education COVID-19 Flowchart Protocols (linked below)
Brrr....Cold Weather is Here
Bus News - Wait List Information
If your child still needs bus transportation, please email Ms. Emily Murphy and your child will be put on the bus waitlist. Once we hear anything we will be in contact with you. Here is Emily's email: murphye@npsk.org
Children are only permitted to ride the bus if their address is 1.5 miles or more away from the school.
No Birthday Food Treats Please
We would like to encourage you to donate a birthday book to your child's classroom library in honor of their birthday. Other acceptable ideas include bringing in a special pencil or decal for everyone in the class if that's preferred.
Thank you for not sending your child to school with food items for the class to celebrate their birthday.
NPS Vision, Mission and Core Values
NPS Vision Draft
We commit to provide equitable, inclusive, and challenging learning experiences where every student and adult feels seen, heard, valued, and respected.
NPS Mission Draft
Nantucket Public Schools, in partnership with a caring community, will create a dynamic and equitable learning environment which engages each of us to be inspired learners and responsible citizens, prepared to meet local and global challenges.
NPS Core Values Draft
Nantucket Public Schools values collaboration, communication, and reflection that supports:
Equitable access to multiple pathways for individual and collective success.
High expectations and a student-centered educational approach that integrates academic progress, extra-curricular participation, personal responsibility, and community involvement.
Inclusive and sustained family relationships that respect all cultures and the experiences each child brings to our schools.
Challenging ourselves to embrace and advocate for the needs of every student, adult, and family within our school community.
NPS Return to School Safety Protocols - updated 8/18/21
Nantucket Intermediate School
Email: mcneile@npsk.org
Website: www.npsk.org/NIS
Location: 30 Surfside Road, Nantucket, MA, USA
Phone: 508-228-7290
Facebook: facebook.com/NantucketIntermediateSchool
Twitter: @NISlearners