MS Parent Message September 11, 2020

Middle School Parent Message 

September 11, 2020

Good Afternoon:

For the first time that I can recall, we are not in session during the commemoration of September 11.  This year will be the 19th anniversary of the September 11th attacks.  We remember both the horror and the heroism of that fateful day and we treasure the memory of those we lost.

Student Schedules:  By now, you have probably noticed that student schedules are open on PowerSchool.  After logging into PowerSchool, if you select “My Schedule” from the menu, it will display which classes are first marking period/first semester when multiple classes are scheduled for the same period.  Every effort has been made to provide students with the courses they requested, but that is not always possible within the constraints of the master schedule.  With that in mind, if your child has any questions about their schedule, he/she should contact his/her counselor.

Beginning School:  School will begin for all students on September 14 remotely.  By now, students should have received emails from their teachers for all of their classes meeting during the first marking period.  These emails were sent to the student email account (see below for how to access email)

The emails will include dates and times for the initial class meeting.  It will also include directions for how to join the Google Classroom for that course.  It is important to join that Google Classroom before the first day of school.  Please note that periods 1-2, 3-4, 5-6, and 7-8 or 8-9 will meet on September 14.  The afternoon classes, period 9-10 or 10-11, 11-12 or 12-13, 14-15, and 16-17 will meet on September 15.  (Disregard the lunch period that is in the schedule listed in PowerSchool.  Hopefully there will be a point during the school year when we will resume full days and students will attend lunch in school.)

Classes will be held virtually according to this bell schedule (and it is the same bell schedule students will use when the hybrid students begin attending school in person).

If there are any questions about how to join a particular class, please contact that teacher directly via email.  Their email addresses can be found on PowerSchool.

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.  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.  

Ordering School Lunch for Pickup During Remote Learning: Students who are receiving instruction remotely, or their parents/guardians, may pick up meals (three to five meals at one time) for those days they are receiving remote instruction. *

As with the Spring 2020 meal distribution, the pick-up location is near the Middle School’s rear entrance (Middle School Door C-3 that leads into the teachers’ lounge). NB has established MONDAY through THURSDAY for pick up of meals for the remote learning days. Meals may be picked up between the hours of 12:15 PM and 1:15 PM at the Middle School entering via the Island Road entrance and taking the 1st left to go toward the back of the school (look for signage). For social distancing purposes, NB will limit the number of people entering the middle school facilities.

*We ask that you complete the Google Document below for Remote Learning Students to sign up for these meals for pick up on Monday thru Thursday.

https://docs.google.com/forms/...

Instructional Model:  Our Office of Academics created an introductory video for parents and students which explains the expectations during remote and hybrid instruction.   The link to the video can be found here.  It will also be posted in each Class of 20XX Google Classroom.  

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.

School Supplies:  The middle school supply list can be found on the web page at this link.  A few notable changes.  Students will not be issued lockers, but will be permitted to use their school bags during the school day.  Also, students will not be issued lockers for physical education class.  Accordingly, they should dress appropriately to participate in fitness activities, including appropriate footwear.

Clinical Corner:  Back-to-school season can be a chaotic time of year. With students getting back to classes in the time of COVID-19, it probably feels more stressful than ever. While the pandemic leaves many of us unsure of what will unfold in the 2020 academic year, there are still things parents can do to help ensure student success. Here are 5 ways parents can impact student success in school.  Please click below for the full article.

https://parentandteen.com/parent-involvement-school-success/

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: 

  1. Parent Consent Form and 

  2. Emergency Information & Trip/Activity Medical form. 

Here is a video tutorial on how to access your PowerSchool account.  If you cannot access your Parent Portal account, please contact your child’s counselor for assistance. Thank you!

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.  We are pleased to announce that we are one of the few schools in the area offering informal, intramural type competitions after school. Transportation will need to be provided to and from practices and inter-squad games. The start date for all middle school practices is September 21st, 2020. As a courtesy, our Boys/Girls Soccer, Field Hockey, and XC coaches have set up Zoom meetings for student-athletes and parents. Those meetings will be held on September 15th, 2020, at various times. Please see the 2020 - Middle School Student/Parent Zoom Meeting for links and password information to these various informational sessions. 

Students who want to participate will still need to complete the Sports Physical Packet.  Families may wish to consider community sports as an alternative, based on availability.  

 

Important Dates:

September 14 to September 25:  Remote Learning All Students

September 28: Beginning of Hybrid Learning @ 25>#/p###

October 7:  Staff Development Day/Early Dismissal of Students

October 12:  Staff Development Day/No School for Students

Have a good weekend.  We are looking forward to the start of school on Monday!                                 

Andrew Kearns, Ed.D.

Principal