Principal's Weekly
Dr. Beth N. Choquette
Bridge Street School
2 Parsons Street
Northampton, Massachusetts 01060
413-587-1460 (phone) 413-587-1474 (fax)
Dr. Beth N. Choquette, Principal bchoquette@northamtpon-k12.us
Elizabeth Peterson, Administrative Assistant epeterson@northampton-k12.us
Jordan Celino, Secretary jcelino@northampton-k12.us
Nora DeJasu, Head Teacher ndejasu@northampton-k12.us
Translation of the Principal's Weekly
At the top of the weekly email, there's a link that reads "View it in your browser," click that and it takes you to the post on a webpage.
Scroll to the bottom where there's a black menu bar and pick the option that says "Translate."
Select the language you would like it translated in and it will then translate it on the webpage.
Traducción del semanario del director
Le gustaría traducir esta carta de noticias? Aquí están los pasos para traducirlo:
En la parte superior del correo electrónico semanal, hay un enlace que dice "Verlo en su navegador", haga clic en eso y lo llevará a la publicación en una página web.
Desplázate hacia la parte inferior donde hay una barra de menú negra y elige la opción que dice "Traducir".
Seleccione el idioma en el que desea traducirlo y luego lo traducirá en la página web.
A Message from Principal Choquette
Good afternoon, I hope you you had a splendid weekend. We are so excited to welcome our 2nd and 3rd graders back to in-person learning tomorrow. It will be very important for all 2nd and 3rd grade students and caregivers to review the video and logistics information below. Students should not arrive to school before 8:40 am. and will be dismissed at 3:00 p.m. Please remember to send in-person students to school with their Chromebooks and chargers each day that they are in school along with a water bottle as students will not be able to use the water bubblers only the water filling stations. Finally, all students and caregivers should do the family and student daily health checklist before coming to school each day.
Report cards for grades 2-5 students were mailed home on Friday. 1st grade student report cards will be mailed on December 18th.
There will be no in-person learning or synchronous learning for 4th and 5th grade students on December 22nd and 23rd. All 4th and 5th grade instruction will be asynchronous on those two days in order for teachers to prepare their classrooms for the return of in-person 4th and 5th grade students on January 4th. This includes students who are currently receiving instruction/services in-person.
Parking is always difficult around Bridge Street School. Caregivers are allowed to park on the Lampron Park side of Parsons Street for 5 or so minutes for the purposes of pick-up and drop off. You will notice the orange cones just beyond the bus loop. Please do not park there as the buses can not get out of the bus loop if there is a car there. Also, for safety reasons, students should not be picked up or dropped off on the other side of the median strip along the bus loop. At no point should a student walk across the bus loop or in between the buses. Thank you for helping to keep our kids safe!
We have an updated calendar that just came out last week from the Superintendent's office. Please get discard of any previous calendars you have. The most up-to-date calendar is attached below.
Please keep in mind the importance of wearing masks, keeping 6 feet of social distancing, the restrictions on travel, and the restrictions on gatherings during this season of hope and joy. Also, please remember those who are struggling during this season. Let's always remember to be kind, take care of each other, and help others if you can.
Thank you and have a wonderful week.
Hybrid Learning for 2nd and 3rd Grade Caregivers
Hello 2nd and 3rd Grade Caregivers,
I wanted to let you know that we have figured out which hybrid classes will be here on Mondays and Tuesdays, and which classes will be here on Thursdays and Fridays. I realize that these days may not be what you had originally hoped for, and I so hope you can work things out in your families. I did my best to have siblings on the same day as well as students who are in caregiver pods on the same day. A priority was also to keep your child with their current teacher.
Thank you for your ongoing patience and support during these challenging times.
2nd Grade Nagle/Copperansky will be hybrid (in-person) on Monday and Tuesday.
2nd Grade Bunnell will be hybrid (in-person) on Thursday and Friday.
3rd Grade Thacker will be hybrid (in-person) on Monday and Tuesday.
3rd Grade Junno will be hybrid (in-person) on Thursday and Friday.
Mrs. Ruyffelaert will be the 3rd grade district remote teacher. Her in person students have been moved to either Ms. Thacker or Ms. Junno's classrooms. Mrs. Ruyffelaert's remote students will join the district remote third grade class so they can remain with her.
If you have not had a chance to watch our video for the return to school, you can see it here at this link: https://youtu.be/KA-9Kr4PtH8 To translate the video into a different language, please follow these steps.
How to Translate Video
Step One: Click on the video link below.
Step Two: Turn Closed Caption icon on at the bottom right side of video (it looks like a small box with the letters CC in it.)
Step Three: Click on Settings icon at the bottom right side of video (it looks like a little wheel).
Step Four: Select Subtitle language and play video.
Important Information from the Health Department
Emergency Rental Assistance for Northampton Families
Walking School Bus
Due to no participating in the Walking School Bus last week, it will not run this week. The WSB will resume on December 14th. Please see the information below if you are interested in signing up.
Important Information from Nurse Jessica
Travel
If you are planning on traveling out of state for the upcoming holiday, please be aware of the state travel order put in place by Governor Baker. If you travel to ANY state that is restricted, you must have a Covid-19 test (PCR preferably) done either before leaving the state you traveled to (within 72 hours before leaving) or upon return to Massachusetts. Until you produce a negative test result, you must quarantine for 14 days. There is no exception to this mandate.
New Flu Vaccine Mandate
Social Justice Corner
School Improvement Plan
Zoom Winter Improv Sessions!
Winter Session of Zoom Improv Registration: https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/WinterZoomImprov
We are offering a Winter Session of Zoom Improv classes for students in grades 1 – 8. The classes will start the week of January 4 and run for 10 weeks, ending the week of March 15 (no classes the week of February 15 for Northampton public school vacation).
If you'd like to go right to the registration form, please click here . For more information about the Winter Session of Zoom Improv, see below. Feel free to forward this e-mail to other families who you think might be interested (families with students in grades 1-8) - this program is open to students in Western Massachusetts and beyond.
Each class will meet once a week in the afternoon via Zoom and will be taught by either Heidi Haas, Nora Kaye or Rosie Tabachnick (Nora and Rosie are NHS alumni and have been doing improv with Heidi for YEARS!).
Classes will be assigned based on the TENTATIVE schedule below:
Mon @ 3:30pm / 3rd & 4th graders
Tue @ 3:30pm / 5th & 6th graders
Wed @ 3:30pm / 7th & 8th graders
Thu @ 3:30pm / 1st & 2nd graders
There will be a sliding scale for payment, from $0 to $150. We don’t want anyone to be excluded from this experience. We know these are hard times and we want to help by offering this opportunity at the level you can afford, including a 100% scholarship. No questions will be asked about your payment amount. If you are able and willing to contribute more than the full amount to help support the scholarships we’ll be providing, that would be much appreciated.
How to register your student for the Winter Session of Zoom Improv:
Step 1 – Complete the registration form for your student. The amount you’re able/willing to pay will be asked on the registration form - sliding scale with $0 as an option (100% scholarship).
Step 2 – You will receive an e-mail confirming the day/time of the class your student has been assigned (classes will be assigned based on grade) by December 24. Your student’s participation in their assigned class will be confirmed upon receipt of payment via Venmo or check (or your reply to the e-mail to confirm participation in the case of no payment/100% scholarship). Payment instructions will be provided in the e-mail.
Step 3 – The Zoom info and rules/instructions for your student’s class will be e-mailed to you once payment is received (or upon confirmation e-mail from you if you requested a 100% scholarship on the registration form).
Space is limited and registrations will be confirmed on a first come, first served basis.
If you have any questions, please contact Heidi Haas at Heidi_Haas@comcast.net or Kate Cardoso at katecardoso@comcast.net.
A Message Regarding Meal Services for Remote and In-Person Learning
All meals (both in school and at sites) are free for the entire school year!
The USDA has extended Free Meals for Kids until 6/30/2021. The NPS Food Service Department is committed to providing all students with free nutritious and nourishing food that will support them both in school and at home.
All in-person learners will be offered a healthy breakfast and lunch every school day at no cost in a safe environment.
Beginning Wednesday 12/2, seven days’ worth of grab and go meals can be picked up at the following locations and times:
· Hampshire Heights 11-12pm
· Florence Heights 11-12pm
· Meadowbrook Apartments 11-12pm
· 236 Pleasant Street 11-12pm
· Northampton High School round-about from 4-5pm
All meal pick-up services and in-school meal services are provided in a contact-less and safe manner. If you have any questions or concerns, please call the food service office at (413) 587-1487
Racial Equity and Learning (REAL)
Check out the facebook page for Northampton’s Racial Equity and Learning (REAL) group to find updates regarding local events, organizations showing up for kids and families, and other equity-focused resources. https://www.facebook.com/REALNoho.
From Ms. Lilly
BSS Art Corner
Technology
Caregiver Trainings
http://www.northamptonschools.org/project/Caregiver-technology-trainings/