– John F. Kennedy

Hello Lebanon Staff and Families,

Please use this link to view a School Safety Letter from the Connecticut State Department of Education.

As the Governor and the Commissioners stated in their letter, the safety and well-being of children and everyone in our schools is our top priority. In addition to the School Safety and Security Plan we have in district, we have also dedicated time and resources to ongoing professional learning and further development of our protocols. Our safety plans and protocols are reviewed annually at the beginning of the school year and then practiced through coordinated drills scheduled at each school.

Thank you for your careful attention to this letter and for your continued support and cooperation to help keep our schools safe.

Best,
Superintendent Gonzalez

Since it is the fall season and the winter is approaching soon, it is important to recognize that there will be an increase in illnesses found at school. Please review this important information below about Influenza and COVID-19, including the symptoms, ways to protect yourself, how to reduce the spread, and school policy for when your child can return after testing positive for either of these.

Influenza, also known as the flu, is a contagious respiratory illness that infects the nose, throat, and lungs. Some symptoms of influenza include: Fever, cough, sore throat, runny nose, muscle or body aches, headaches, chills, fatigue, and/or GI symptoms (diarrhea and vomiting).

Coronavirus disease (COVID-19) is an infectious disease caused by the SARS-CoV-2 virus. Symptoms may begin anywhere from 2 to 14 days after being exposed to someone who is positive for COVID-19. Some symptoms include: fever or chills, cough, shortness of breath or difficulty breathing, fatigue, muscle or body aches, headache, new loss of taste or smell, sore throat, congestion or runny nose, nausea or vomiting, and diarrhea. However, this does not include all possible symptoms so it is imperative to monitor your child for any signs of illness. If these symptoms emerge, it is advised to have a COVID-19 test done. The most accurate COVID-19 test is a PCR, which is done by a medical professional. Antigen tests produce results within 15 to 30 minutes and these tests are often done at home. These tests are less reliable than a PCR, but can still detect COVID-19.

There are different ways that you can protect yourself from influenza and COVID-19 as well as to reduce the spread of them in both the community and school setting:

For Influenza:

• Avoid individuals who are positive for Influenza and/or have flu-like symptoms

• Cover your cough

• Wash your hands thoroughly with soap and water often (including before/after eating, after using the bathroom, after touching common surfaces, after blowing your nose, etc )

• Avoid touching your nose, eyes, and mouth

• Cleaning frequently touched surfaces often

• Getting the flu vaccine each year (recommended by the CDC but not required for any students except for those in the Lebanon Elementary School Preschool program)

For COVID-19:

• Wash your hands thoroughly with soap and water often (including before/after eating, after using the bathroom, after touching common surfaces, after blowing your nose, etc )

• Improving ventilation and filtration (includes opening windows and moving indoor activities to be outdoors, if possible)

• Avoid individuals who are positive for COVID-19 and/or have COVID-like symptoms

• Stay home if you are experiencing COVID-like symptoms and get tested for it

• Avoid crowded areas and keep a distance between yourself and others, if possible

• Wear a mask if you are positive for COVID-19 and/or have COVID-like symptoms (per CDC guidance, mask wearing is no longer required but is highly recommended)

• Stay up-to-date with COVID-19 vaccinations (recommendation per CDC guidance - students are not required to have a COVID-19 vaccine to be in school)

(Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 2024)

When Your Child Can Return to School After Testing Positive for Influenza and/or COVID-19:

• Fever free for at least 24 hours without being on any fever-reducing medication

• Symptoms are improving

• Mask wearing upon return is recommended but optional

If you are unsure whether your child should be returning to school based on their symptoms, please contact your child’s pediatrician and/or your child’s school nurse.

Thank you for all of your efforts to keep students and staff healthy in our schools!

At the October Board of Education meeting, our administrative team along with school-based coaches shared a Lebanon 2024-2025 data presentation. The slideshow highlights our district and school goals along with performance data from a variety of standardized assessments. In the presentation we included several tables and graphs that focus on student growth. Attached below are articles that are relevant to our district/school goals and focus on student growth.

Lebanon Elementary School

10/25- PTA Bingo 6:00-8:00 pm

11/7- STEAM Night-6:00-7:00 pm

Lebanon Middle School

10/25- PTO Panther Den- 7:00-9:00 pm

Lyman Memorial High School

10/25- Open Mic Night 6:00 pm

District-

Parent Teacher Conferences November 1st (no school) and 4th (early release)

On October 2, Savvas consultant Becca Bright-Pugh hosted an engaging parent night for the LES community, focusing on the newly adopted Savvas MyView Literacy program for grades K-4. The informative session highlighted key components of the program. Through this event, families gained valuable insights into how they can support their children's literacy development at home, fostering a love of reading and reinforcing the skills acquired in the classroom -

The Savvas myView Literacy program aims to foster a love of reading and writing in elementary students through a comprehensive and interactive approach. The program offers various tools and resources to help parents support their children's literacy development at home. Here are some great suggestions of ways to learn best at home - Tips for Home

* Personalized learning experiences tailored to each child's reading level and interests

* Authentic literature and mentor texts to inspire growing readers and authors

* Integration of the science of reading and learning to ensure effective instruction

By actively engaging with the myView Literacy program and fostering a literacy-rich environment at home, you can help your child develop a strong foundation in reading and writing that will serve them well throughout their educational journey.

For LES families, please keep an eye out for parent letters sent home before each unit, providing valuable information to help support your child's learning. You can also access the stories from home by simply following the directions - Directions to Access Online

In addition, some grades may send home stories for you to enjoy reading together in the comfort of your home. As the Savvas MyView Literacy program emphasizes discourse and collaboration, you might notice blank pages in the student interactive books, which will be sent home at the end of the year. This is intentional, as these spaces are meant for students to share their thoughts, ideas, and responses to the literature and writing activities.

At LPS, we're committed to fostering strong connections between school and home, encouraging families to actively participate in their children's educational journey. Should you have any questions about the reading program, please don't hesitate to reach out to your child's classroom teacher or me. We're here to support you every step of the way.

October is National Principals Month. I am thankful that in Lebanon we have 4 great Principals taking care of students and leading our schools. Thank you Mrs. Scorso, Mr. Johnson, Mr. Apicelli, and Mrs. Mike for your hard work and dedication!

Local farmers and Lyman alumni visited Mrs. Ayer's "Nature and Animals" course to discuss the benefits and drawbacks of local farming. Students in the course are reading "Gaining Ground" by Forrest Pritchard, a book about a young man trying to make his family's farm successful. From left to right in the photo are CJ Pogmore (class of 2008) from Bluebird Hill Farm in Lebanon, Dan Fields (class of 2011) from Maple Leaf Farm in Hebron, and Phil Griffin (class of 2005) from Apis Verdi Farm in Lebanon. It was wonderful having local farmers talk about their experiences; especially since, like the author of the book, they did not plan on working on a farm but are now happy that they've chosen this career path.

The Ag Department recently embarked on an exciting adventure to the Big E, the largest event on the East Coast and the seventh largest fair in North America. Students wore their new Lebanon FFA t-shirts and participated in a picture scavenger hunt to capture memorable moments and unique attractions. The scavenger hunt had students interacting with agriculture exhibitors and presenters. Highlights of the photo tasks included:

• A picture with another FFA member from a different chapter

• A snapshot with the winning FFA landscaping exhibit

• A group photo in front of the butter sculpture
• A picture with a Lebanon Regional FFA member exhibiting their animal(s)

Students in the Turf Management class on October 2nd participated in a tour of Dodd Stadium's baseball field. While on the tour students learned about the equipment used to maintain the field and the overall care schedule the Field Manager goes through during the year

What an amazing fall sports season we have had at Lyman. Our girls cross country team won their division and the overall ECC Championship. Hazel DeLucia set a course record at the ECC Championship race and Hannah Bower won the JV Open race. The boys cross country and boys and girls soccer teams were also division champions! #BleedBlue

Our middle school students went on their first Project-O Connecticut River Connections program day of the year. Students had a great time participating in team building activities, exploring touch tanks to learn about adaptations of creatures in our local waters, and they participated in a scavenger hunt along the shoreline of the beautiful Project-O facilities in Groton. Another wonderful part of this program is the opportunity to participate in all of these activities with our partner school from Hartford.

Lebanon Public Schools actively seeks to assist children and families by locating, identifying, and referring children from birth to age 22 who require special education and related services. If you are concerned about a child's development, you are encouraged to contact Lebanon Elementary School to receive information about Early Childhood Screenings.

If the child is younger than 3 years of age, you may choose instead to contact the Connecticut Birth to Three System at 1-800-505-7000.

If you have any questions regarding this process, please contact 860-642-5636.

Sabena Escott, MSW sabena.escott@lebanonct.org

Lyman Memorial High School Social Worker and District Family Care Coordinator

With legislation over the summer, a family care coordinator has been added to the growing number of mental health staff that CT recognizes will further support our children and families in the school setting. The family care coordinator role already encompasses what our Lebanon school district mental health teams provide for students and families. Providing students with access to mental health resources within the community and bringing mental health services to students inside of the school has always been a priority in our district. Please reach out if there are any specific mental health topics, community programs, therapeutic referrals or town programs and resources that you would like to know more about. Below are a few programs and resources for students and families.

Lebanon Social Services Office offers a variety of services to Lebanon children, adults, and seniors. Social Services Administrator Shelly Ashcom works with federal, state, and local organizations to provide assistance to Lebanon residents in need. Town of Lebanon Social Services

*The use of the resources/programs in this section are not required by LPS to be used by parents/guardians. They are recommendations only.*

Call or text a trained crisis counselor to talk:

• 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline. They’re free and available 24/7:
  Call or text 988 or chat 988lifeline.org

• Trevor Project (crisis intervention & suicide prevention for the LGBTQ community): 1-866-488-7386 or Text 678678

• Crisis Text Line: text CTL to 741741

NIMH offers brochures and fact sheets on mental health disorders and related topics for children, adolescents and their families. Printed materials can be ordered free of charge. Brochures and fact sheets in English and Spanish.

Housing and Homeless Services can be accessed through Coordinated Access Networks (CAN). Persons are prioritized for housing services based on an assessment to be completed after calling 211.

Housing and Homeless Services

Lebanon Public Schools is now in the App Store. On your phones, in the "app store" you can search Lebanon Public Schools and you should see our logo. Please install as another way to get notifications and news from our school district.

Scan these QR Codes and be brought to our Lebanon Public Schools webpage or the Superintendent Instagram page!

The Lebanon Public Schools, in partnership with families and the community, will prepare students to be contributing members of a diverse global society. We will provide a safe, nurturing, rigorous, and student-centered learning environment.

The school community of Lebanon is committed to the mission of honoring and celebrating the diversity of our students, our community, and our nation. We strive to guide our students to conscious, deliberate, individual and collective actions that cultivate the respect of all races, religions, and social backgrounds. Our school community endeavors to produce graduates who are equipped with a greater understanding of the concepts of diversity, equity, and inclusion.

The Lebanon Board of Education, in compliance with federal and state law, affirms its policy of equal educational opportunity for all students and equal employment opportunity for all persons. It is the policy of the District to promote nondiscrimination and an environment free of harassment and the District does not discriminate on the basis of race, religion, color, national origin, ancestry, alienage, sex, sexual orientation, marital status, age, disability, pregnancy, genetic information, gender identity or expression, veteran status or any other category protected under state or federal law in the admission or access to, or treatment or employment in, its program or activities. The District also provides equal access to the Boy Scouts and other designated youth groups and is specifically required by Title IX not to discriminate on the basis of sex in its programs and activities. The District shall make reasonable accommodations for individuals with identified physical and mental impairments that constitute disabilities, consistent with federal and state statutes and regulations.

The following person has been designated to handle inquires regarding Title IX sex discrimination policies: Dawn DeLia, Title IX Coordinator, 891 Exeter Road, Lebanon, CT; 860-642-5764

The following person has been designated to handle inquiries regarding other non-discrimination policies: Dawn DeLia, 504/ADA Coordinator, 891 Exeter Road, Lebanon, CT; 860-642-5764

Email: andrew.gonzalez@lebanonct.org
Website: https://www.lebanonct.org/
Location: 891 Exeter Road, Lebanon, CT, USA
Phone: 860-642-5637