Nantucket Elementary School

Dear Families,

Happy March to all of you!! I hope you all enjoyed the Winter Break. I was lucky enough to be on a cruise in the Caribbean. Weather was mostly warm and sunny. It felt good to get away, relax, enjoy time with friends, and I read two books. I like to model what we ask children to do!!

March is an important learning and teaching month. We have so many days in school with little time off. This is so helpful for students to stay focused and build on their skills. We are very excited to welcome families to our Family Literacy and STEAM Night on Thursday, 3/13 from 4:30 - 6:00 pm at NES. This is always an exciting evening where children have the opportunities to play math, literacy, science, art games and more with their families. We will also have a spirit week (see the flyer below for ideas to go with each day) to build the excitement for one of our favorite nights!! We look forward to seeing you there!!

Also in March, the report cards will be shared with you. We post these in the Aspen portal and the students bring a hard copy of this report home on 3/28/25. It is very important for you to review this document and talk with your child about it. The goal that we hope all children strive for and attain is to have 3's and S's in all categories. This means they are performing on grade level. When you talk with your children about their grades, celebrate their efforts and successes and make a plan to improve the scores that need to go up. If you have difficulty understanding anything on the report card, please reach out to your child's teacher. Kim Albertson and I are also more than willing to help you understand these documents.

Finally, I met with a parent recently who asked that I share some of what we do to prepare for our fire and lockdown drills. In the case of a fire drill, the alarm goes off. Students line up at their classroom door and walk outside to their assigned space. They do this under the direction of their teacher. The teacher holds a sign up showing a red card (this means they need assistance of some sort) or a green card (they have all of their students accounted for, have followed all steps, and have no questions). Administrators and Office staff move about the property doing a check on each class and reporting through radios everyone's status. Fire Department members give administration the all clear, and we then let all students go back in the building to continue doing what they were doing. NFD schedules these drills and no one at the school is notified in advance. In the case of a lockdown drill, an announcement will come over the PA system that states we are in lockdown. This means that students will move to the assigned spot in the room to sit quietly. The teacher will be sure the door is locked, put the window cover up, turn off the lights, and go to the students. The police and fire department come to the school to do these drills with our staff. The officers partner up with administration and custodial staff to go to each classroom and check on the procedures. They will announce themselves, unlock the door, let children and staff know that the drill is ending, and then when all rooms have been checked there is an announcement stating that the drill is complete. Please know that all drills are practice. The routines for these have been rehearsed with the students before the drills take place.

LIP SYNC deadlines are looming!! Please be sure to turn in your sign up sheets before 3/28. See below for other deadlines. We can only have 20 groups and we are up to 13 groups already! We would love to get a few more groups!!

There is a lot here. Be sure to read the updates from our grade level teams and departments shared below. Lots of great things are happening!!

Thank you in advance for reading this and supporting our school!!

Best,

Kim Kubisch and Kim Albertson

Meri Lepore's Nurse's Corner

March is a long month of usually not nice weather; it is still very important for our children to spend time outdoors and play. Screen time is bad for us and even more so for children’s vision. Over time screen time will cause changes to our eyes. The more time children spend outdoors and playing the better. Screens are a constant in our life and can cause changes to your child’s vision long term. The days are longer so there is more time to spend outdoors after school. Please make sure your student is dressed for the weather!

This is a good time of year to start thinking about screen-free days or weeks. According to Dr.Jennifer Cross, a Pediatrician and developmental and behavioral pediatrics expert at New York-Presbyterian Komansky Children’s Hospital, “There is also evidence that children who watch a lot of television during the early elementary school years perform less well on reading tests and may show deficits in attention." Also, she noted effects of screen time can cause a decrease in melatonin which can delay sleep. The blue light from screens keeps our brains more alert and activated rather than preparing for sleep at night. Research has shown that children exposed to screens in the evening had shorter nighttime sleep. As we head into spring and the island awakens with activity, it is important to focus on making sure your child is getting enough playtime/activity and outdoor exposure, adequate sleep, and good nutrition to fuel their brain development.

An additional note - there is a spike of Norovirus in the northeast. Symptoms include diarrhea, vomiting, nausea and stomach pain. Make sure everyone in your home is washing their hands after using the bathroom and prior to preparing food. Norovirus is extremely contagious.

Due to the recent uptick in Measles cases recently in the United States, I wanted to share some information from our website. If your student is not vaccinated against Measles, please see your Doctor/Nurse Practitioner or Physician Assistant, to get them up to date on their immunizations. If your child is not vaccinated due to medical concerns or religious beliefs, if we had a case of Measles your student would be excluded from school from day 5 post exposure until day 21 post exposure.

Measles is a highly contagious viral respiratory disease that begins with a high fever, as much as 104 degrees F. Other symptoms include cough, runny nose, red eyes, and a rash. The rash consists of tiny, red spots that start at the head and spread to the rest of the body. Measles can be a dangerous disease for anyone, but especially for babies, young children, and those whose immune system is compromised. Complications from measles include ear infections, pneumonia, and encephalitis. Children younger than 5 years and adults over 20 years are more likely to suffer complications. Measles is spread through the air when an infected person coughs or sneezes. The virus can linger in the air or on a surface for up to 2 hours, so a person can become infected without direct contact with someone who has the measles. A person infected with measles is contagious for four days before the rash occurs until four days after the onset of the rash. Measles can be prevented with the MMR vaccine. This vaccine protects against not only measles, but also, mumps and rubella. The vaccine is very effective in preventing the spread of measles and very few cases have been reported in the U.S. In countries where people are not vaccinated, measles is still common and the disease spreads rapidly. Because it is extremely contagious, 90% of unvaccinated people in contact with an infected person will become ill with this virus.

Measles Vaccination: The CDC recommends that all children get two doses of MMR vaccine. The first dose is administered between 12 months and 15 months of age. The second dose is given between the 4th and 6th birthday. The second dose can be given earlier, as long as it is at least 28 days after the first dose.

Mandated requirements in the case of measles:

• For Case and Symptomatic Contacts - Exclude student/staff through 4 days after onset of rash. (Count the day of rash onset as day zero.)
• For asymptomatic contacts – If one case of measles appears: we must exclude susceptibles from work or classes from the 5th through the 21st day after their exposure. If multiple cases or continuous (two or more days) exposure: we must exclude susceptibles through the 21st day after rash onset in the last case.
• These restrictions remain even if the contact received immune globulin (IG).These mandates are in place to protect the health and well-being of all school and community members. As a public school we are required to follow these regulations and all children without two MMR vaccinations will be excluded from school if a case of measles is reported.

Meri Lepore RN, FNP-BC

School Nurse

Nantucket Elementary School

leporem@npsk.org

Counselor's Corner

Dear Families,

This month we would like to shine a spotlight on the power of self-talk and belly breathing in managing emotions and promoting resilience. The counseling team will be teaching the students how positive self-talk and breathing together can help them calm down, manage worry, and navigate disappointment.

Self-talk refers to the internal dialogue we have with ourselves, which can greatly influence our thoughts, feelings, and actions. By becoming aware of their self-talk patterns, students can learn to harness the power of positive thinking and self-compassion to cope with challenging situations.

Additionally, incorporating belly breathing can help students calm both their minds and bodies, making it easier for them to focus on positive self-talk and feel more in control of their emotions. By taking deep breaths in through the nose (smell the birthday cake) and slowly exhaling through the mouth (blow out the candles), our bodies relax creating more space for positive thoughts to come through.

Below are some other calming down strategies:

Coloring or Drawing: Creative activities can help children focus on something calming and get them to relax.

Mindful Listening: Encourage your child to sit quietly and listen to the sounds around them. This helps them tune into the present moment and relax.

Jumping Jacks or Stretching: A quick burst of physical activity can help release pent-up energy and focus the mind.

Yoga or Gentle Stretches: Simple yoga poses like the "cat-cow" or "child’s pose" can be great for calming down.

By combining these strategies with belly breathing, children can build their ability to self-regulate and calm down in challenging situations. It’s also helpful to practice these strategies regularly so they become more effective when needed. Look below for resources to practice and encourage positive self-talk with your children.

Self Talk

https://fit.sanfordhealth.org/blog/top-10-resources-for-practicing-positive-self-talk

Belly Breathing

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K353fkHYMPs

Warmly,

Heidi Smith

Elementary School Counselor

smithh@npsk.org

Jenny Williams

Elementary School Counselor

williamsje@npsk.org

Madeleine Sybert

Elementary School Social Worker

sybertm@npsk.org

Prek Update

February was a short, but busy month. Each classroom completed an author study, we also learned about arctic animals, love and friendship as well as healthy choices. While we learned about healthy choices we were able to cook and try new foods! The NHA even came to teach us about Sailor's Valentines for our celebration day.

Kindergarten Update

Kindergarten is working on strengthening our reading powers to read both books that have patterns and books that have words they can sound out. Please continue to read each night with your child - both storybooks and asking students to read their on level texts. They have been working on reading short vowel CVC words - words like hat, mop, pet, kid. A way to practice this at home is to say a word in parts and ask students to blend them together as well as asking the child to do the breaking into parts. You could also have your child brainstorm words that would rhyme with a CVC word. In writing, students continue to write narratives across many pages. Students are encouraged to tell a beginning, middle, and end to tell who was there, what happened, where they were, and how they felt. Soon, we will begin informational writing with how-to books as well as animal reports. In math, students are working on addition and subtraction story problems. Students are practicing using objects, drawing a picture, and writing equations to solve the problems.

First Grade Update

First graders show so much growth this time of year! We have just started our opinion writing during Writer's Workshop. Kids are working in convincing the reader by stating all the reason why. Students are working on stating their opinions and adding supporting details. During Reader's Workshop, students are working on building their stamina, reading fluently, and trying different strategies to sound out more difficult words. During Social Studies we will be learning about charitable donations and buying and selling goods. Students have been reading subtraction story problems and using addition and unknown addends to solve problems. This month kids will begin learning about place value and finding groups of tens and ones in a two digit number.

Second Grade Update

Our second graders are diving into opinion writing. During this unit, students are learning to express their thoughts clearly by stating an opinion, giving reasons to support their thinking, and providing examples. They are practicing using linking words like because and for example to make their writing stronger. You can support your child by asking their opinion on simple topics, like their favorite book or food, and encouraging them to explain why. In math, we are continuing to work on mastering and building fluency with addition and subtraction facts up to 20. Fluency means being able to solve math facts quickly and accurately, without relying on counting strategies or tools. Regular practice at home with flashcards, number games, or quick mental math challenges can help strengthen these skills. Thank you!

Specialists' Update

News From the Art Room

The artists of Nantucket Elementary School created clay birds inspired by the work of Fernando Llort. Kindergarten students also began to learn about symmetry. We will be creating some space themed art to get us ready for our STEAM night. I hope to see everyone there!

I continue to add artwork to build virtual portfolios for each student on Artsonia. This our school’s link to join: https://www.artsonia.com/connect/2F9NDCKF I am excited for a lot of great creative work coming in March.

Greetings from the Science Labs

Ms. Jami and Ms. Tornovish were thrilled to launch MARCH MADNESS on our Science Lab website this month. Each day science labs and classrooms around the school will vote for the daily match up of STEM-tastic Trailblazers. We’ll widdle down our choices to the FINAL 2 and the entire school will choose a winner to celebrate the rest of March! Each trailblazer is featured on our website so be sure to visit!

As always, you’ll find our Science Newsletter here.

Peace, laughter, and lots of learning from the lab,

Ms. Jami & Miss Tornovish

News from Physical Education

News from the Gymnasium

From cookie monster tag to noodle tag, K-2 students are enjoying games in physical education. We are enjoying lots of movement while learning about good sportsmanship. Ask your child about his/her favorite game in physical education! Thank you for your continued support helping your child come to physical education prepared with sneakers, comfortable clothing (layers are best), and a positive attitude!

Sincerely,

Mrs. Beaudette

A note on music class

The second graders are diving back into rhythm challenges with the Conversational Solfege curriculum! They will be playing engaging games, such as "Poison Pattern," and refining their rhythmic skills by decoding rhythms by ear using syllables like Ta and Titi. It's an exciting time for them to develop a deeper understanding of rhythm in a fun and interactive way.

Meanwhile, the first graders and Kindergarteners are embarking on another adventure in Arioso Land, where singing becomes the way to communicate! This journey will take them to various "stores" around town, where they’ll practice proper manners and work on singing full sentences to strengthen both their vocal skills and social interactions.

Thank you for supporting your child's musical growth, and we look forward to sharing their progress!

Warmly,

Teacher Kinsman

News from the Library

Hello Families!

I hope everyone had a relaxing and enjoyable winter break! We've been hard at work in the library, diving deeper into our nonfiction unit. So far, we've explored fascinating animals, their habitats, diets, and much more! One of the fun activities we've done is learn about Venn diagrams, where we compared two different animals we read about.

Looking ahead, we're excited to explore new resources like PebbleGo, Gale in Context, and Merge Cubes! These tools will help us continue our learning journey in exciting ways.

As always, please remind your child to keep track of their library books and return them on their library day. We appreciate your continued support in helping our library thrive!

Thank you!

Kindest Regards,

Mrs. Dew

Multilingual Learner Update

English Language Learners in grades K,1 and 2 completed their annual ACCESS testing on February 13,2025. The students were proud of their hard work , and had an ice cream party celebration in the NES cafeteria.

Important Information - (Previously Shared)

• Any visitors to our school need to share their identification with the front office staff in exchange for a visitor's badge.
• There will be no charge for lunches again this year. However, all families should complete the free and reduced lunch forms that were sent home with teacher assignment letters.
• There can be no changes to a child's dismissal plan after 1:00 pm. Be sure your children know what they are doing each day after school.

Attendance - It is very important that you notify your child's teacher or call the front office if your child is going to be absent. You can send a message to your child's teacher through REMIND or call the front office to leave a message regarding your child's absence at (508) 228 - 7290 ext, 3. If your child needs to miss 5 or more consecutive days, you must make an appointment with the principal well in advance of upcoming absence. The NES Parent Handbook has been posted on the NES website (www.npsk.org, click on schools, click on Nantucket Elementary School). Please review the important section on attendance. Retention in the current grade level is a possibility if a child has excessive absences. Children being in school each day is a necessity.

Driving and Parking on the NES/NIS campus

We have had several concerns shared regarding safety of students as they enter and exit the school recently. These concerns have been regarding parent drivers not following safety rules. These are listed below for your reference. We appreciate all of your anticipated efforts and required patience.

• NES will open in the morning at 7:35am. Students who are walking, biking or getting dropped off should go right to the doors (front one or the Kindergarten one) to come in and make their morning choice. Prek students line up outside in the front of the school.
• If parents wish to escort their child to the door, they must park their car in the Backus Lane parking lot ONLY.
• The parking lot off of First Way, behind the school is for staff only.
• All of the parking spots are assigned to staff or students at NHS.
• Parents and Guardians should not use that lot for any reason.
• This is a terrible place for students to be dropped off, this is not a drive through, and there is nowhere for any non permitted driver to park.
• Again, please stop driving in this lot. We are asking you to be a model for all children in the morning and the afternoon.
• Drive through drop off in the morning is permitted at the K and NES/NIS side entrances. This means parents stay in their car, and a staff member will open the passenger side door to help your child exit safely. Then, the car continues driving out the exit. This is for all students.
• Drive through pick up in the afternoon is permitted for all students grades 2-5 in the large circle between NES and NIS. This means parents stay in their car, and a staff member will oversee students entering cars. Then, the car continues driving out the exit.
• K and 1 students are met by parents at the back K entrance. Students will be standing in their assigned class lines.
• The circles and driveways on campus ARE NOT PARKING SPACES. An adult driver must stay in the car while waiting for students to exit or enter the car.
• At dismissal, all parents will continue to wait outside for students to dismiss from their teachers (kindergarten circle for kindergarten and first grade students, outside of the front door for second grade students).
• In the event of inclement weather (severe snow or rain), kindergarten and first grade students will be dismissed out the kindergarten and cafeteria doors to parents outside and second grade students will be dismissed out the gymnasium doors to parents outside.
• Drivers may not pull into the bus loop to pick-up their children EVER.

Remind App is a wonderful tool for both educators and families! We know this. We know our teachers love being able to communicate with the whole class as well as individually. We know that you, the parents, love this tool too! It is wonderful that this tool allows us to communicate in multiple languages. One caution for us to share is that teachers may not be able to respond to messages you send during the school day. They are teaching and not hanging onto their phones. You may not get a reply until after school dismisses.

Website: www.npsk.org
Location: 30 Surfside Road, Nantucket, MA 02554, USA
Phone: 508 228 - 7290