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NIS News - Week One a Success!
Nantucket Intermediate School
Students & Staff Happy to be Together
This was such a positive week of school! The energy was so warm, fun, and welcoming as everyone cherished being together in-person for the start of our school year. Our classrooms have been focused on building communities of learners who care for and respect one another. Routines and rituals are being introduced, children and teachers are engaging in a lot of get-to-know-you activities, and hopes and dreams for the school year are being shared. Yes, our school days are off to a wonderful start!
Our bus driver shortage continues to be a challenge. It was very heartwarming to learn about all of the parents who are helping one another out by offering carpooling to neighboring children. What an amazing show of understanding and support! As a district, we continue to work to solve our current dilemma and hope all is fully resolved in the coming weeks.
We have some exciting news about the NIS Chorus and Band program below open to all fourth and fifth graders. You can also read about our NO FOOD for birthdays reminder as well as our outreach for library volunteers. Information about Binex COVID testing at school will be sent home and is described below.
Thank you for all you have done to make this such a successful start to the 21-22 school year!!!
Your partners in education,
Evemarie McNeil, Principal
Donna Johnson, Assistant Principal
Arrival Time: 7:35 AM - 7:45 AM
Breakfast and Lunch are FREE again this school year!
Dismissal: 2:15 PM - 2:20 PM
1) A bus rider (must live more than 1.5 miles from school)
2) A walker or bike rider - has your permission to leave from school independently
3) Parent Pick-up - you're child will wait for you to pick them up
4) Going to Boys & Girls Club - Your child will walk with school adults directly to the Club without leaving the line. If you want your child to walk to the club independently, please note them as a "walker".
Use ONLY Backus Lane for car drop-off and pick-up
Bus News
Due to having fewer buses in operation, any student living within 1.5 miles of Nantucket Intermediate School will not be eligible to ride the school bus. There is a waiting list of students desiring bus transportation.
We greatly appreciate your patience as we work to ensure all students are able to get to school. You have been amazing with supporting one another with transporting students to NIS too!
Library Volunteers Wanted!!!
Ms. Jennison will be working on Tuesdays, Wednesdays, Thursdays and Friday mornings. She will need some assistance with helping students to check out library books and with shelving returned books. If you are interested in helping out in our library on a regular basis please reach out to Ms. Jennison at jennisonj@npsk.org or Ms. McNeil at mcneile@npsk.org.
(All regular volunteers must be vaccinated and complete a CORI)
No Birthday Food Treats Please
We would like to encourage you to donate a birthday book to your child's classroom library in honor of their birthday. Other acceptable ideas include bringing in a special pencil or decal for everyone in the class if that's preferred.
Thank you for not sending your child to school with food items for the class to celebrate their birthday.
NIS Band and Chorus News
BinaxNow Testing Program
Dear NIS Families,
Welcome to the 2021-2022 school year. It was so nice to see all the students back in our school. They were so excited to be here as well.
The main goal we all want this year is to keep the students safe, healthy and in school. This year our school will be participating in the BinaxNow testing program offered through the State. The BinaxNow is a rapid antigen test that is done by a nasal swab. We will be using the BinaxNow for symptomatic testing and the Test and Stay program. If your student has mild symptoms, the BinaxNow will be used as a tool to help determine if your student can stay in school or go for further testing. The Test and Stay program is used when your student is deemed a close contact from someone positive in school. The BinaxNow test will be administered in school for 5-7 days and as long as the test is negative and your student is asymptomatic, then he/she can stay in school instead of having to quarantine at home. The Test and Stay program will be used for school close contacts only. If your student was exposed outside of the school setting, then he/she would follow the DPH guidelines for quarantine. A consent form will be going home with your student. It is very important that you complete the form and return it as soon as possible. The consent allows me to administer the BinaxNow test. If I have no consent, then your student cannot participate.
As always, if your student is sick please keep them home.
Below is a link about the testing, but please contact me at smalln@npsk.org if you have any questions.
Stay healthy,
Nancy Small, RN
NIS School Nurse
Check out School Social Worker Emily Sybert's Newsletter
Masks Required
NPS Return to School Safety Protocols - updated 8/18/21
Aspen Annual Verification
Parents please complete the Annual Verification through the Aspen parent portal. Instructions on how to do so, is linked below.
Free and Reduced Lunch Applications
NPS Vision, Mission and Core Values
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.
Joint School Council Meeting on September 16th, 3:00 PM
2021 - 2022 NIS School Council Members
Parent Representatives:
Meg Browers: megbrowers@gmail.com
Annie Kay Rose: roseanniekay@yahoo.com
Erin Carson: nantucketerin@gmail.com
Community Representative:
Didi Coyle: didi.coyle@gmail.com
NIS School Representatives:
Kara Carlson: carlsonk@npsk.org
Eddie Wilkin: wilkine@npsk.org
Evemarie McNeil: mcneile@npsk.org
Nantucket Intermediate School
Email: mcneile@npsk.org
Website: www.npsk.org/NIS
Location: 30 Surfside Road, Nantucket, MA, USA
Phone: 508-228-7290
Facebook: facebook.com/NantucketIntermediateSchool
Twitter: @NISlearners