Middle School Parent Message
September 2, 2020
Superintendent’s Message To NB Parents:
Dear Parent/Guardian:
I trust this letter finds all doing well and enjoying the last few days of summer. I am certain most would agree that this has been a summer to remember. During the months of July and August, NB administrators, faculty, and support staff are typically assessing and revising programs, exploring new technologies and teaching strategies, and preparing facilities for opening day. During the summer of 2020 our administrators and faculty have been charged with reinventing how instruction will be delivered during a pandemic while our facilities crew has been busy preparing facilities for opening day during a comprehensive construction project. It’s been quite the summer!
We have learned a lot this summer. In July, NB hosted two outdoor graduation ceremonies for the Class of 2020. We had approximately 950 students and parents participate in the two ceremonies and they were both safe and successful. Soon after, we opened our campus to summer athletic training and marching band practices. Students and faculty have been on campus and following specific guidelines which allowed for a safe and successful summer program. On Tuesday, September 8th, faculty will return to campus for four days of professional development. All students will begin instruction in a 100% remote model for the weeks of September 14th and September 21st. Each teacher will email students with directions to join their class, These emails will be sent by the end of the day Thursday, September 10th. On Monday, September 28th we welcome those students who selected the in-person instruction model as we implement the hybrid model of instruction at 25% capacity.
The upcoming school year will look like no other. The Board of Education and administration is prepared to carefully implement the guidelines outlined in NB’s Strategic Plan for a Safe and Successful School Year. Please review this information. Principal bulletins will continue to provide regular updates. Moreover, the construction project continues and during this school year students and faculty will be once again asked to balance school activities and construction progress. This is a very comprehensive project that will be ongoing throughout this school year. For more information, please go to the district’s web page dedicated to the construction project www.nbreferendum.com and follow @NBCSuper on Twitter and #NBHSConstruction.
Finally, please stay safe. Over this Labor Day weekend, it is important we all follow CDC guidelines. Our safe and successful return to in-person instruction depends on each family, each student. I am delighted for the 2020-2021 school year to begin. I would like to thank everyone for their continued patience, flexibility, and support. By working together, this Board, its administration, faculty, support staff, and community will continue to be successful, and our students will benefit.
Sincerely,
Cohort Assignments: Cohort assignments are now listed in PowerSchool. The assignments will be important once students begin attending school in the hybrid model the week of September 28. Students are divided up into cohorts A, B, C, D, and E. Students who are in cohort E have signed up for remote instruction through the first marking period.
For students who are signed up for the hybrid model, they will attend school based on the calendar at this link. Students will all “attend” school virtually, but students participating in the hybrid model will physically come to school on a rotating basis beginning September 28.
During the weeks of September 28 and October 5, the district will have 25% of the hybrid students physically attend school by turns. One cohort will attend at a time. This will introduce students back into the building gradually as well as to the social distancing and mask wearing protocols
Provided the return of students goes well, beginning the week of October 12, the district will have 50% of the hybrid students physically attend school on an alternating basis.
Again, all of this is outlined in the calendar.
At the conclusion of the first marking period, this will be reviewed with an eye toward gradually increasing student time in school.
Student schedules will be available on PowerSchool beginning the week of September 7.
Daily Bell Schedule: While we are remote and/or hybrid model, students will follow this bell schedule:
Student Email: Student emails will be an important method of communication as we begin the year remotely. All students have an nburlington.com email account. Returning students will log on the same as they did last year.
New students received log in information when they retrieved their chromebook last week. Directions for how to log onto student email can be found on the district Web Page www.nburlington.com in the “Live Feed” section. Directions for how to log on to student email can also be found on this video created by one of our teachers.
Student emails are through Outlook, not Gmail. Middle School students should find, once they have successfully logged into their email account messages from the media center specialist, Ms. Lauren Newman.
COVID-19 Information: As we approach the start of school in September, we remind everyone of the steps we can take to reduce the spread of COVID-19. Handouts with this information can be found on our website.
Opening of School Forms: The typical opening of school forms that had to be completed by hand are now available to complete through PowerSchool. Please log on to your Parent PowerSchool account and complete the two electronic annual forms:
Parent Consent Form and
Emergency Information & Trip/Activity Medical form.
Here is a video tutorial on how to access your Power School account. If you cannot access your Parent Portal account, please contact your child’s counselor for assistance. Thank you!
Start of School: As the district has planned for the start of school in September, the school web page has been the main place for information on the plans and what the upcoming school year will look like. If you have not done so already, be sure to check the web page, www.nburlington.com, for information and the latest updates.
Middle School Sports: Middle school sports will be scaled back as a result of the pandemic and, unfortunately, we will not be able to offer interscholastic competitions. While not certain, we are hopeful to be able to offer informal, intramural type competitions after school and transportation may need to be provided to and from. The tentative start date would be September 21.
Students who want to participate will still need to complete the sports physical packet that can be found here. Families may wish to consider community sports as an alternative, based on availability.
Important Dates:
September 14: First Day of School for ALL Students: REMOTE
September 28: First Day of Hybrid Schedule
Enjoy the Labor Day weekend!
Andrew Kearns, Ed.D.
Principal