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NIS Weekly News
Nantucket Intermediate School - June 15, 2020
Last Full Week of School
Dear Incredible NIS Families,
This week marks our last full week of the 2020-2021 school year, with only June 22nd and June 23rd to go next week. You have been the most amazing partners this school year as we've depended on you to support remote learning due to COVID-19 school closure. Thank you for checking your emails, reading all of the school communications sent home, waking your children and supporting them with getting online for virtual school, and helping them with assignment organization and completion. In addition you've been willing to provide us with feedback about how everything is going and meet with teachers to assist us with better supporting all of you throughout this entire closure. Wow! Today, we celebrate you, our amazing parents and caregivers!
This week our teachers and staff are working hard to keep students engaged in fun learning activities. Today NIS celebrates Flag Day by wearing red, white and blue and checking out the Specialists Padlet for Flag themed activities. Later this week NIS will have virtual field day! Watch for an email about what household supplies students should have ready to participate virtually in the activities. Teachers and counselors are also actively supporting our students with transitioning to the next grade level. They are meeting grade level teachers and asking questions about what to expect in the next school/grade level.
Summer Learning: While many of our students will engage in remote learning summer school, all students will have their Chromebooks for the summer and are invited to continue using the online resources to connect with friends and extend their learning. Also, several of our teachers worked hard to put books together for all students and we are preparing a special email with information about book pickup this week. These books are your child's to read and keep or read and swap with friends. Look for that email to come out early this week!
Grateful for all of your hard work during remote learning,
Evemarie McNeil, Principal mcneile@npsk.org
Donna Johnson, Assistant Principal johnsond@npsk.org
Nantucket Music and Dance Week June 15 - June 19
NIS Virtual Field Day! 6/19/20
Students will need the following items
2 items for place markers (ex: 2 shoes, 2 water bottles, or 2 toys, etc.)
1 coin
An oversized shirt, oversized pants (or shorts or skirt), and a hat
Search for items in your house that start with the following letters: LFTG! IE: Lego, Folder, Teacup, Gum
5 rolled up socks
1 laundry basket
3 paper airplanes - How to Fold a Paper Airplane
1 laundry basket
Summer Books! Come pick up on Friday!
Please enter through Backus Lane and drive around the NIS loop.
Happy summer reading!
Specialist Teachers' Learning Activities
Check back weekly for updated learning activities!
Please know each of our specialists have Parent and Student Connection hours too! 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
From the Desk of our School Nurse
Hello NIS Families/Caregivers!
Well another school year comes to an end and it was quite the year! A pandemic forcing the country to shut down and teachers/administration having to formulate a remote learning plan in a matter of days. They did it! I am in awe of them and thankful to be on their team. Please know that the Re-opening Committee is diligently working on what school will be like in the Fall. We are waiting on directives from the Commissioner, Governor, and local health departments. Of course our top priority is the student’s and staff’s health, safety and well being and will keep that at the forefront of the reopening plan.
A friendly reminder:
Massachusetts Department of Public Health Requirements for School Attendance
Mission: Promote the health, safety, and well-being of the school community and to foster an environment for academic success
Up-to-date immunization record
All children in kindergarten through grade 5 must have two (2) doses of MMR and 2 doses of varicella vaccines.
The minimal age for the last dose of IVP (polio) is on or after the fourth birthday.
Physical examination:
all children entering preschool and kindergarten
all children new to the school system
children entering the 4th grade
Nantucket Cottage Hospital is open for well visits. They are running a same-day appointments clinic this summer. You must call 508-825-1000 to make an appointment, there is NO walk in appointments. The hours for the same-day clinic are:
Monday-Friday 7:00 am to 5:00 pm Saturday - Sunday 8:00 am to 12:00pm
The hospital is still doing COVID-19 testing in the portico in front of the hospital. If you experience any signs or symptoms or come in close contact with a positive COVID-19 person, please get tested. No appointment necessary and no cost to you, just drive up.
Have a healthy summer. Get out there and enjoy Nantucket's many beaches. Try hiking the trails, fishing, or go geocaching, but please remember to use sunscreen. Tell my students I miss them and I'll see them in the Fall.
Until next time, stay healthy, stay strong and be kind,
Nancy Small RN
Office Hours:
Ms. Nancy Small available daily to answer your medical questions Monday through Friday, 10:00 AM - 12:00 PM. Start with an email to smalln@npsk.org and Ms. Small will email or call you back.
School Counselor Information
School Counselor Office Hours
Monday: Miss. Adams from 10am to 12pm
Tuesday: Mr. Peckham from 10am to 12pm
Wednesday: Miss. Adams from 10am to 12pm
Thursday: Mr.Peckham from 10am to 12pm
Friday: Miss Adams and Mr. Peckham from 10am to 12pm.
Students, caregivers, parents, and families may call in to either School Counselor at those times. If these times do not work for you please contact the School Counselors to Schedule an appointment.
Ms. Adams: 774-333-2017 adamsv@npsk.org
Zoom Meeting: zoom.us/j/952032798 Password: NISRULES
Mr. Peckham: 508-348-9332 peckhama@npsk.org
Zoom Meeting: zoom.us/j/6919371321 Password: NISRULES
Want to reach our Social Worker? Here is her contact information:
Ms. Alexandra Rosenberg: 508-257-1783 rosenberga@npsk.org
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.
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.
Behavioral Support Offered to Families
Dear Families,
These are challenging times for our students and we recognize that feelings of sadness or anxiety may present themselves as behavioral challenges at home. If you are looking for additional support and strategies to address your child’s behavior during remote learning time please reach out to me during office hours noted below. I am also available by phone appointment. Also included is the link to my BCBA newsletter that includes additional information, resources, strategies etc. to address behavior.
Best regards,
Laura Stanley, MS, BCBA, LABA
District Behavior Analyst
Nantucket Public Schools
Phone: 508-228-7290 ext 4226
E-mail: stanleyl@npsk.org
BCBA Behavior Newsletter https://www.smore.com/wuh54
Parent Office Hours:
Monday and Wednesday, 12:30-1:00
Zoom ID: 960 679 983
Password: bcba1234
Tuesday and Thursday, 10:00-10:45
Zoom ID: 880 409 252
Password: bcba1234
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)
For NPS District Information
Be sure to check the www.npsk.org website for specific District communications and updates.
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
Information About Special Needs Advisory Council Attached Below...
Reminder about Netiquette and How You Can Help
We have seen some new challenges that online learning can bring pertaining to "Netiquette". We understand that remote learning and stay at home orders have likely increased screen time for your children. At NIS, we are truly grateful that we are able to connect with students and families through the digital platforms Meet and Zoom. While we are confident that most students are using the technology appropriately, we are getting word from some teachers that students may need some additional support from home to ensure that technology is being used appropriately. The following “Netiquette” has been shared with students and we would greatly appreciate if you could support your child at home with practicing the following suggestions and expectations:
Determine a time to turn screens off. Ensure that children do not have access to technology during the night time hours when they should be getting sleep. If students need to contact their teachers, set aside time first thing in the morning or at the end of the “school day” to send questions or to share their great work.
We understand that some children are using Google Hangouts Meet to connect with their friends. While we understand the need for this contact, we ask that students do not use the teacher’s meeting address to socialize. Under adult supervision, kids can create their own Meet links to connect with friends. We expect that this is done only after their school work is done for the day.
Please remind your child, that while we are not in the building, teachers and administrators still can access a student’s Chromebook screen and history via GoGuardian. Students are expected to adhere to the NPS Technology Acceptable Use Policies at all times when using the NPS network and devices.
Please remind your child that they are expected to dress appropriately when meeting live with their class and/or teacher. While comfortable clothing is appropriate, students should ensure that they are adhering to the NIS dress code and sufficiently covered up when using Zoom and Google Meet.
We encourage you to reach out to your child’s teachers, the NPS Technology Department or the NIS administrators if you have any questions or need additional support.
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