NIS Weekly News
Nantucket Intermediate School - May 11, 2020
Feedback, Feedback, Feedback!
Dear NIS Family Partners,
One thing we know for sure is just how important feedback is during this time of remote learning. Our teachers are working hard to provide students with a number of feedback opportunities throughout the week. Most feedback given is verbal during whole group, small group and one-to-one learning sessions. Teachers are also providing written feedback in the form of comments on work submitted. During the week of May 18th you will receive an informal NIS feedback document from your child's teacher about how they are engaging in the remote learning experiences provided so far. More about that next week!
We also need your feedback to make adjustments to the remote learning experience. Many thanks to those of you who have visited staff office hours, emailed or called staff, or found another way to communicate how it's going and what your student/family needs are for remote learning to be successful. At this point all classroom teachers have sent home surveys for you to fill out in order to gain your input into the NIS remote learning experience. Thank you so much for taking the time to respond!
Our specialist teachers also want to hear from you! Here are links to their survey in English and in Spanish:
NIS Specials Remote Learning Survey - English
NIS Specialistas Aprendizaje de Distancia Encuesta - Espanol
Your support with providing us with feedback is so appreciated!
Best regards,
Evemarie McNeil, Principal mcneile@npsk.org
Donna Johnson, Assistant Principal johnsond@npsk.org
Family Pick-up of Student Materials - Tuesday, May 12th!
5th grade: Taylor, Gottlieb, Lewis, Minichiello, O'Brien, Carlson
4th grade: Pignato, MacLellan, Knapp, Richardson
3rd grade: Holdgate, Mooney, Aloisi
Please enter through the Backus Lane driveway and enter the NIS pick-up/drop-off loop where we will deliver your student's belongings to you.
From the Desk of our School Nurse
Dear NIS Families,
May is Mental Health Awareness month and how appropriate is that for our circumstances right now. In one of the webinars I watched last week, Dr. Kristin Lee said, “There is no health without mental health.” This really resonated with me. It made me stop and think. Mental health is the “foundation” of one’s being. If the “foundation” is cracked or unstable, then how can the rest of one’s health be supported or maintained.
During these past weeks, we have lost our “normal” and faced numerous unthinkable challenges and are looking for our “new normal”. I don’t know about you, but this pandemic has tested my mental health in many ways. I have run the gamut from being traumatized to wanting to save the world, to living day by day doing my best. From what I’m reading, these feelings are all normal and for me they ebb and flow. So I have put a few things into my daily living that have helped me cope. They are:
Structure to my day, gives me a sense of control
Eating healthy, for the most part
Exercising daily, getting outside for fresh air
Limiting how much Covid updates I read/watch
Gratitude, there is always something to be thankful for
Staying connected with family and friends, social distancing of course
If you are in need of some support with your mental health, see Assistance For Families at the end of this Newsletter.
Until next time, stay healthy, stay strong ,and stay 6 feet apart,
Nancy Small RN
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.
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)
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
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
NIS Trimester II Report Cards Ready to View in ASPEN
Trimester II report cards are now ready to view in ASPEN. They will not be printed and mailed home. If you don’t know your ASPEN password please reach out to Katie Bedell, BedellK@npsk.org or Emily Murphy, Murphye@npsk.org. You will need this password to access your child’s report card in ASPEN. They are also willing to walk you through how to access the report card online.
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