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NIS Weekly News
Nantucket Intermediate School - Nov. 4 - Nov. 13, 2020
COVID and School
While it's true that our NIS community does have community members who have tested positive, there has not been any community spread through our school. We are not surprised by this given all of the diligence with the safety protocols we have in place: physical distancing, mask wearing, and hand washing/sanitizing. Thank you for all you are doing at home to limit social gatherings, support hand washing and your student's mask wearing. Speaking of mask wearing, we appreciate all you are doing to ensure your child's mask covers both the nose and the mouth and is comfortable so your child isn't likely to remove it except during mask breaks.
So, what happens when a positive case is identified?
Sara Brooks, our school COVID officer nurse, reaches out to me and together we reach out to any staff who may have had the opportunity to be a close contact (within 6 feet for 15 cummulative minutes within 24 hours). After a comprehensive discussion happens with them about staff and student interactions that could possibly be close contacts, decisions are made with regard to whom should be followed up with next. Close contacts must quarantine for 14 days whether student or staff regardless of their own positive or negative test results. Due to privacy laws, staff and students are NOT allowed to know who the student or staff member testing positive is, but our seating charts (students have assigned seats) shared with Sara and Nancy, our school nurse, are most helpful to determining student close contacts when shared with contact tracers. If your child is determined to be a close contact, you will be called.
What if there is a positive case in my household?
Household members, who are deemed close contacts, should quarantine for 14 days.
What if my child tests positive? Do I need to tell the school?
Information is power! If you are willing to share this information with our school nurse, please do. She will maintain the confidentiality of your child and be able to follow up on any possible close contacts with the assistance of Sara Brooks and the contact tracers.
Thank you so much for entrusting us with your children. We are doing our very best to keep them physically safe while we also tend to their academic learning and social/emotional well being.
With great appreciation,
Evemarie McNeil, Principal & Donna Johnson, Assistant Principal
Professional Development for Staff
- Data Day - we spent time looking at student MAP assessment data to make informed decisions about teaching and learning moving forward. This assessment is new to us at NIS and we are just realizing it's comprehensive value!
- Supporting Staff Self-Care - Many community partners supported us with engaging our staff in various self care activities. Many thanks to the following organizations/providers: Dharma Yoga, Linda Loring, Nantucket Conservation Foundation, Nantucket Disc Golf, Nantucket Culinary Center, Nantucket Artists Association, and Candice Tetrault - Life Coach.
- Social Emotional Learning - we first learned about the DESSA Universal Screener which we will be implementing with students this month to assess social/emotional competency and inform our work to enhance our SEL programming. Then, we continued our professional development work to build a trauma sensitive school.
School Pictures Nov. 6th and 9th
Friday November 6 - Cohorts A & C
Cohort D Friday between 2:30 and 3:30 PM at NIS.
Monday November 9 - Cohorts A & B
Picture Day ID: EVT4JN9Q8
*Please know that students will not be physically grouped for a class photo this year. Individual photos will be taken and used to create class composites.
NO SCHOOL WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 11TH - VETERANS DAY
NIS Virtual Open House - Thursday, November 12th
* Next week teachers will be sending out a special Virtual Open House Playlist unique to their class.
* Playlists will include presentations and/or other information from administration, classroom teachers, specialists, ESL teachers, special education teachers, counselors, and support staff.
* Google Meet and Zoom links will be shared with you for Question and Answer sessions with classroom teachers and others. These are opportunities to learn more about the 2020-2021 school experience. These are not opportunities to ask about your child's performance though. Please reach out to you child's teachers anytime with questions, compliments or concerns.
Please Charge Chromebooks Each Night - Thank You!
Breakfast & Lunch Information
Breakfast and lunch will be available at no cost to any child who needs a breakfast or a lunch regardless of free/reduced status for the entire school year. Breakfasts is available for all who need a breakfast. No need to pre-order. The food truck is available Monday - Friday for meal pickup from 9:30am - 11:30am at NHS for remote learners.
District and NIS Return to School Safety Protocols
NPS Return to School Protocols - Fall 2020
Draft NIS Family Handbook 2020-2021
- English: draft NIS Family Handbook 2020 - 2021
- Espanol: NIS Familia Manual 2020-2021
Tech Help Desk Access en Espanol
Video # 1
Steps for TECH HELP DESK REQUEST/Pasos para SOLICITAR AYUDA TÉCNICA
Loom | Free Screen & Video Recording Software — Watch Video
COVID-19 Travel Order
Effective August 1, 2020, all visitors and returning residents entering Massachusetts must follow new travel orders. The Commonwealth has made great progress to slow the spread of COVID-19 and gradually re-open the economy, and all visitors have a responsibility to help us keep transmission levels as low as possible.
All visitors entering Massachusetts, including returning residents, who do not meet an exemption, are required to:
- Complete the Massachusetts Travel Form prior to arrival, unless you are visiting from a lower-risk state designated by the Department of Public Health.
- Quarantine for 14 days or produce a negative COVID-19 test result that has been administered up to 72-hours prior to your arrival in Massachusetts.
If your COVID-19 test result has not been received prior to arrival, visitors, and residents must quarantine until they receive a negative test result.
Failure to comply may result in a $500 fine per day.
Please find more information, including the list of lower-risk states, exemptions, business guidance and other details at https://www.mass.gov/info-details/covid-19-travel-order
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