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 three books. I like to model what we ask children to do!! The most challenging part of the trip was my return. I was scheduled to fly out of Florida in the early afternoon on Sunday. I did what all smart Nantucket residents do, and I had multiple plans in place for getting back to Nantucket (slow boat Sunday night and the 6:10 am ferry Monday morning). Thank goodness I did have those plans in place! Our flight was delayed more than 6 times. We left Florida at 11:20 pm. We were flying into Logan, so we had that addition travel required to get to Hyannis. The most important thing is we made it home safely, and we were all at work on Monday, albeit sleep deprived for sure!! And, this coming weekend is when we turn the clocks ahead one hour. I will need lots of sleep time this weekend to get caught up. Yet, turning the clock ahead will give us more daylight in the evening, and that will make it all worth it!

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 Math and Literacy Night on Thursday, 3/14 from 4:30 - 6:00 pm at NES. This is always an exciting evening where children have the opportunities to play math and literacy games with their families. We will have t-shirts for all students and staff! Students should come to school on Thursday wearing something on top that they can change or put the new black t-shirt over. We will also have a spirit week to get ready for our fun night. See the instructions for Spirit Week below.

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 3/29/24. 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.

Another thing to take note of on the report card is the student's attendance numbers. If your child has missed 15 or more days, they are heading into the attendance of 90% or less. That percentage, 90% or less starts to represent the level of poor attendance. This is where we are worried and the child automatically has less chances for success. I sincerely hope we are at the end of the extended vacations. No matter what work a child takes away with them, they cannot make up for the instruction that they will miss.

LIP SYNC deadlines are looming!! Please be sure to turn in your sign up sheets before 3/22. See below for other deadlines. We can only have 20 groups and we are up to 12 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. National Screen-Free week is May 6-12, 2024. Although, you can practice Screen-Free weeks anytime you want with your family. 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.

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 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 in managing emotions and promoting resilience. The counseling team will be teaching the students about how positive self-talk 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.

Below are some strategies that can be used for managing emotions with self-talk.

• Calming Down: A simple relaxation technique, such as deep breathing or visualization, to use when feeling overwhelmed or anxious. We encourage the students to practice positive affirmations, such as “I am calm and capable,” to reassure themselves during stressful moments.
• Managing Worry: Help your child to recognize when their self-talk becomes negative or fear-driven. Encourage them to challenge irrational thoughts by asking themselves, “Is this worry based on facts or assumptions?” Teach them to reframe negative thoughts into more realistic and empowering statements, such as “I can handle this situation one step at a time.”
  
• Navigate Disappointment: Disappointments are a natural part of life, but how we respond to them can greatly impact our resilience. We encourage the students to practice self-compassion by reminding themselves that it’s okay to feel disappointed and that setbacks are opportunities for growth. Encourage your children to focus on what they can control and to approach challenges with a positive mindset.
  
• Incorporate self-talk techniques into the Zones of Regulation framework: Reinforce positive self-talk to maintain the green zone state, such as “I am calm and focused,” or “I can handle whatever comes my way.” Self-talk can also be used as a tool to help during challenging times and when one is in the red zone, such as “I need to cool down and I can do this by taking a few deep breaths.” This can help enhance students’ emotional regulation skills and promote self-awareness.
  

Teaching self-talk equips students with life-long skills that extend beyond the classroom. The ability to manage one’s thoughts and emotions is invaluable in navigating personal relationships, pursuing career goals, and maintaining well-being throughout life. Look below for resources to practice and encourage positive self-talk with your children.

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

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. We welcomed Mrs. Lee back from her maternity leave before vacation! 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 as well as create an obstacle course in our cluster! We also had Mr. Fox do a grade level read aloud for Valentine's Day and the NHA came to teach us about Sailor's Valentines.

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. 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. In math students have begun 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. 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. In science, we are finishing up our unit on sound. 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.

Second Grade Update

This month second graders are learning about measurement. Measurement is a skill that we will use for our whole lives so it’s very important to learn how to do it correctly! During class discussions, we will brainstorm measurement tools and real life examples of when we or someone we know has measured something. We even ask ourselves why don’t carpenters carry wooden rulers on jobsites? What tool do they use that is more helpful and easily carried around? Are there other jobs where you need to measure daily? Our new unit focuses on many skills including learning how to properly measure an object and comparing lengths. We will learn how to measure in inches and centimeters. We will explore the difference between the two units of measurement. Another important skill will be understanding that it takes more inches than feet. The same is true for centimeters and meters. For example, a bookshelf is about 36 inches. However, if you measure in feet the same bookshelf would be 3 feet long. At home, encourage your child to practice measuring household objects. Also, talk about times when you use measuring tools at work or home.

Specialists' Update

The gym has been filled with lots of positive energy and fun thanks to all of your awesome children! From noodle tag to color tag to pizza tag, your children are enjoying playing games in physical education! We are learning about the importance of following the rules of games while being a good friend throughout! Your children are very physically active throughout their lesson and so please help your child come prepared with comfortable clothes (layers are best so your child isn’t too hot in long sleeves or a sweatshirt, for example), sneakers, and a water bottle on their physical education day!

We have been learning a lot in science. Kindergarteners have been exploring different weather and are starting a new unit on force and motion. This week students worked together to explore push and pull and made marble runs. In first grade students are finishing up their unit on sound. We’ve made a few different instruments including a kazoo and now a banjo. Students understand that vibration causes sound. Second graders are learning about landforms and maps. They will be making their own maps out of different materials. To celebrate math and literacy night, next week all students will be building pirate ships out of materials of their choosing and seeing if it will float and how much weight it can hold.

First and second graders spent a week learning about the influential women in music to celebrate Women’s History Month, and will continue to level up their singing and rhythmic skills with Conversational solfege as new challenges are introduced. Kindergarten is halfway through the second unit of The First Steps in Music program showing me that singing, dancing, and playing instruments is becoming second nature!

Multilingual Learner Update

We celebrated our hard work during the ACCESS test with a sweet treat in the cafeteria. It was wonderful to have all of the students together so they could connect with friends in different grades.

Our study of animals and their habitats continues in each grade. Second graders are doing research projects and finding fascinating animal facts. First graders are working hard on independently writing about animals and their features. Kindergarteners are practicing the skill of retelling familiar stories as well as identifying the features of different animals. Be sure to ask about animal facts at home, they will have so much to tell you!

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. You will need to sign in as well.
• 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 - we are starting to see some students with higher absence numbers. 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