Dear NIS Families,

As we move from what often feels like the longest month of the year, January, into the much shorter month of February, we have several exciting and important events happening in our NIS community.

We are thrilled to welcome our new General Music Teacher, Mr. McGeehan, to NIS this week! He brings many years of experience teaching music in Chicago, and we are excited for our students to learn from him. We hope you have an opportunity to meet him and hear from your child(ren) about the engaging music experiences he is bringing to our classrooms.

A few key upcoming events:

• Family Night Event – Our second and largest Family Night will take place on Thursday, February 13th, from 5:30–6:30 p.m. There will be a variety of fun and interactive activities for you and your child to enjoy together.
• Half Day for Students – Wednesday, February 12th
• No School – Presidents’ Day – Monday, February 17th
• NIS Ensembles Concert – Our first performance of the school year will be on Wednesday, February 19th, from 6:30–7:30 p.m. We look forward to seeing our chorus, orchestra, and band students showcase their hard work and talent!
• Winter Break – February 24th–28th

As we look ahead to spring, I want to remind families about MCAS testing. The full schedule was emailed earlier in January for your reference and is also below for your review. Please make every effort to have your child in attendance on testing days and support them by ensuring they get a good night’s rest and a healthy breakfast, either at home or in our cafeteria. While make-up testing is available, students perform best when they can test with their peers on the scheduled days.

Finally, as we approach Valentine’s Day, we encourage students to use this occasion as a way to express kindness, inclusivity, and caring for others. At this age, it’s a wonderful opportunity to reinforce the values of friendship, respect, and community. Thank you for your ongoing support in helping us foster a school culture where every child feels valued and included.

Warm Regards,

Ms. Becky Janda
NIS Principal

Message Regarding NES Staff Parking Lot:

• The parking lot off of First Way, located behind the NES school, is for staff use only.
• All parking spaces are assigned to staff or students at NHS.
• Parents and guardians should not use this lot for any reason, including drop-off, pick-up, or parking.
• This area is not a designated drive-through, and there are no available spaces for non-permitted vehicles.
• For the safety of all students and to maintain an orderly arrival and dismissal process, we kindly ask that you avoid entering this lot.

• Thank you for your cooperation and for setting a positive example for our school community.

Reminder Message Regarding NIS Lots:

Thank you to all those who have been ensuring that the Backus Lane lot in spaces marked in yellow as "Staff" and numbered have been left open for our NIS staff. We have noticed a significant improvement and our staff are extremely grateful to be able to park in their spots and be present for our students.

In addition this is another friendly reminder that the Surfside Road NIS parking lot is designated for NIS staff only, and the circle is reserved exclusively for buses (families should not be using that entrance for drop-off or pick-up during school hours.)

We appreciate your cooperation in keeping these safety procedures and parking spots available for NIS staff so they can be present and ready to support our students each day.

Thank you for your continued understanding and partnership!

All visitors must check in at the front entryway upon arrival at the school.

During school hours, visitors are required to present an ID for a visitors badge. You may not enter the school without a valid form of ID and a visitor's sticker.

February 12 - Early Release at 12pm

February 13 - Multicultural Literacy Night - 5:30pm - 6:30pm

February 17 - No School - President's Day

February 19- NIS Ensembles Concert 6:30 pm

February 24 - 28 - No School - Winter Break

March 12 - Early Release at 12pm

March 21 - Trimester 2 Ends

March 28 - NIS Report Cards Posted in Aspen / Sent home in backpacks

Save the Date for Multicultural Literacy Night on Thursday, Feb. 13th from 5:30-6:30 PM

Have you ever wanted to see what Irish step dancing is all about? Maybe you have wanted to learn about the Bulgarian and Macedonian tradition of making a Martenitsa and make one of your own? Or perhaps you’d like to learn to fold origami, a Japanese paper-folding cultural practice, or make a mini-piñata, which is part of many Hispanic and Latino cultures? Maybe you just want to move and groove with your peers during our dance party to music from all around the globe!

On Thursday, February 13, 2025 you will have the chance to do all of these things and more! At the NIS Multicultural Literacy Night there will be many opportunities for crafts, projects, exploring stories and books, and learning more about cultures from all around the world.

We hope you will join us here on February 13, 2025 from 5:30-6:30 p.m. There will be activities and fun for the whole family!

For more information about the upcoming Family Night please make sure to click on the update from our Reading Specialist below.

The SEL team has put together a summer camp document to share with families all the information they may need for local summer camps.

Celebrating a birthday is such an exciting day for our students and we want them to be and feel special on their celebration day. However, at NIS families and students are encouraged not to bring in sweet food items to celebrate their birthday with their class. There are some great alternatives to bringing in sweets that may contain allergens or abundant amounts of sugar. We would like to encourage you to donate a birthday book to your child's classroom library in honor of their birthday. Other fun ideas include bringing in a special pencil, a healthy treat like a fruit tray or a sticker for everyone in the class.

In addition families and students cannot bring in balloons or other large items to celebrate.

NPS Vision Draft

We commit to provide equitable, inclusive, and challenging learning experiences where every student and adult feels seen, heard, valued, and respected.

NPS Mission Draft

Nantucket Public Schools, in partnership with a caring community, will create a dynamic and equitable learning environment which engages each of us to be inspired learners and responsible citizens, prepared to meet local and global challenges.

NPS Core Values Draft

Nantucket Public Schools values collaboration, communication, and reflection that supports:

• Equitable access to multiple pathways for individual and collective success.

• High expectations and a student-centered educational approach that integrates academic progress, extra-curricular participation, personal responsibility, and community involvement.

• Inclusive and sustained family relationships that respect all cultures and the experiences each child brings to our schools.

• Challenging ourselves to embrace and advocate for the needs of every student, adult, and family within our school community.

30 Surfside Road

Nantucket, MA 02554

Telephone: 508-228-7290

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