Dear NIS families,

Our third week of school is coming to a close just as the fall season starts. Students are getting very comfortable in all of their learning spaces, making new friends, finding old friends and learning all of the expectations across school settings. This week, classroom and grade level rules were collaboratively created so be sure to ask your child what those are and how they show these. It's important that our students know what these look like, sound like and feel like in the classroom, at specials, at lunch and at recess. We use reinforcing and reminding language to support their success throughout our school setting.

We are very excited to welcome you to our NIS Open House event on Tuesday, September 27th. This is truly an "open house" style event, so please come anytime between 5:30 and 7:00 to give yourself enough time before our event ends at 7:30 PM. The children will likely guide you on a tour of their classrooms and school while teachers share important information about their settings and how you can partner with us this school year.

The bus situation continues to be a struggle, but one that the superintendent and the bus company continue to work on diligently. We are so grateful for your patience and understanding. We are also wondering if as parents, you would want the schools to help families facilitate carpooling by neighborhood to alleviate some of the long bus rides. We are thinking out of the box to try to find solutions for getting all students to school on time and to eliminate extra long bus rides.

Thank you for reading through his newsletter. You will find some great information including some upcoming dates/events.

Happy autumn!

Evemarie McNeil, Principal

mcneile@npsk.org

Donna Johnson, Assistant Principal

johnsond@npsk.org

Welcome back to school. It’s great to see all the students' smiling faces.

This year we have a new covid policy and I will be doing symptomatic covid testing only.

Like last year, I will need your consent in order to test your student in school. Here is the link to the consent forms and to the protocol.

Covid Protocol and Covid testing Consents

We are also seeing a spread of Hand Foot and Mouth disease. Mainly the cases have been in the other school and not our school, fortunately. Here is a link to the letter sent out:

HFM letter

As the students start to settle into their classes and routines, I will begin doing the mandatory screenings for all students. Third grade has vision and hearing. Fourth grade has vision, height and weight. Fifth grade has vision and then in the spring scoliosis screenings. I will most likely start in October. If your student wears glasses, please make sure they are wearing them at school. I will also need the glasses for their vision screening as well.

Take Care and Stay Healthy!

Nancy Small RN

NIS School Nurse

smalln@npsk.org

We still have two openings for teaching assistants for this school year working with our most special students. This role could be right for you if you love working with children, have a willingness to learn, are collaborative and patient. Great benefits package! Great hours for parents with children in school!

Interested? Reach out to Evemarie McNeil, Principal at mcneile@npsk.org

* Tuesday, Sept. 27th - NIS Open House 5:30 - 7:30

* Wednesday, Sept. 28th - Half day of school - 12:00 Dismissal

* Tuesday, Oct. 4th - School Committee Meeting - 6:00 PM

* Friday, Oct. 7th - No School - Professional Development day

* Monday, Oct. 10th - No School - Indigenous People's Day

* Wednesday, Oct. 12th - FONPS Meeting - 6:00 PM (NIS)

* Thursday, Oct. 13th - NIS School Photos - NEW DATE!

* Thursday, Oct. 13th - NIS School Council Meeting - 3:00 PM

* Friday, Oct. 14th - NIS Principal's Coffee - 8:00 AM

* Friday, Oct. 14th - ML PAC Meeting - 6:00 PM

* Tuesday, Oct. 18th - School Committee Meeting - 6:00 PM

* Wednesday, Oct. 19th - Half day of school - 12:00 Dismissal

* Saturday, Oct. 22nd - NHS Homecoming - Go Whalers!

* Tuesday, Oct. 25th - NIS STEM Night - 5:30 - 6:30 PM

* Saturday, Oct. 29th - NHS Island Cup Football Game

** We do not celebrate Halloween at NIS (Monday, Oct. 31st)

At NIS students are NOT ALLOWED to bring in food items to celebrate their birthday with their class. This was instituted pre-COVID due to the number of children with food allergies and due to our responsibility with promoting healthy bodies. You wouldn't believe the number of cupcakes that would come into the school each year!

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.

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.

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