RBS Principal’s Notes
September 4, 2020
All in all it was a great week at RBS! We had a little bump in the road at the start of the week, but everyone handled it with cool heads, common sense and grace. Thank you! Please remember that we’re just getting started with our year, and in addition to classroom and school protocols, community building, assessments (informal and formal) and instruction, we have the added responsibility of teaching our students about our mitigation protocols…and this takes time, modeling and practice. Teachers are working very hard to get all of this into their day, and we’ll get into a familiar rhythm soon enough.
Reminder…there is NO SCHOOL on Monday, September 7th (Labor Day) or Tuesday, September 8th (NH Primary Election). We will see our Group A students (A-K) in school on Wednesday, September 9th.
Parent Resources
K-8 Hybrid Calendar Daily Health Screening for Students
RBS Hybrid Parent Guide Quarantine Protocols/Flowchart
RBS Remote Parent Guide RBS Welcome & Orientation Video
Bedford Reopening Plan COVID-19 Schools Dashboard – NEW
Monthly Friday Schedule
September 11: Group A (A-K)
September 18: Group B (L-Z)
September 25: Group A (A-K)
October 2: Group B (L-Z)
IN THE NEWS:
Open House
In lieu of our annual Open House, our teachers will be providing a virtual Open House on Friday, September 25th. The goal is to inform parents of what’s going on in the classroom, expectations and other information. In addition, there will be a mechanism for you to ask your child’s teacher questions, and he/she will get back to you in a timely manner. Your child’s teacher will be in touch with you to let you know what format to expect (video, slideshow, Google Meet, etc.). In addition, I will send home one document containing Open House videos or slideshows from our specialists as well as Mr. Munsey and me.
Travel Reminder
As we enter the long Labor Day weekend, please keep in mind the NH DHHS Travel Regulations, which the Bedford School District is following:
NH residents...traveling to/from areas outside of New England...need to self-quarantine for the first 14 days.…(starting from the last day of their travel outside of New England). This recommendation is irrespective of the mode of transportation for travel.
Also, students cannot test out of quarantine with a negative COVID-19 test. They must complete the entire 14 days. Please take a look at our Quarantining Protocol/Flowchart for more information.
In order to ensure the health and safety of our students and staff, it is essential that we adhere to the policies and procedures outlined in our Hybrid plan.
Hybrid Quarantining Protocol for Absences
Quarantined students will be marked absent on the days they are scheduled to be in-school (A-K or L-Z) and present on their scheduled Distance Learning days, provided that they are able to do the work that the teacher has assigned.
Anti-Bullying Partnership Agreement
Please keep an eye out for a document going home with your child next week about bullying. The District Bullying Task Force developed a Partnership Agreement among students, teachers, and families to better understand and address student conflict, and what is and is not considered bullying. We are asking all families to read, discuss, and sign this document to help ensure a happy, safe, and nurturing environment for all. Please click HERE if you would like an electronic copy of that agreement.
In addition to the above agreement, teachers will be having a discussion with students about expectations and following "the Golden Rule" of treating everyone the way they would want to be treated.
Tips for Remote and Distance Learning
Our counselor, Mrs. Blaine, has created a helpful resource for parents/guardians to use with their children while they are learning at home through Remote or Distance Learning. You can find it HERE.
Distance Learning Support
This is a reminder about the Distance Learning Support that is outlined in our Hybrid Parent Guide (linked above):
- Distance Learning Support: During Distance Learning days, parents or students can contact a designated staff member to answer curriculum and instruction questions.
- Please email your questions by 9:00 AM. That person will investigate the solution and respond to the parent/guardian in a timely manner.
- Kindergarten:
- Andrea Nettleship (Mrs. Zimmerman’s Class) nettleshipa@sau25.net
- Michelle MacDonald (Mrs. Sanclemente’s Class) macdonaldm@sau25.net
- Grade 1: Alicia DeLage delagea@sau25.net
- Grade 2: Karen Coffey coffeyk@sau25.net
- Grade 3: Stephanie Maglio maglios@sau25.net
- Grade 4: Carolyn Boulanger boulangerc@sau25.net
Morning Announcements for Distance Learning & Remote Students
I would like for Distance Learning and Remote students to have access to in-school Morning Announcements. I feel like it better connects them to the school as well as provides some routine to their "home" days. I will be live streaming it using a Google Meet invitation that teachers will embed into their Google Classroom doc. It will take place each day at approximately 8:05 AM. It is not required and there’s nothing for parents to do. This is just an FYI.
BSD Food Service Announcement
Food Service has received a formal waiver from the USDA to provide FREE breakfast and lunch to all children ages 2-18 in the community through December 31, 2020. Meals will be offered at each school when students are on site and at the drive through pick-up located at the high school gym entrance for Distance & Remote learning students. Please continue to pre-order lunch through: https://www.sendmoneytoschool.com/. Monthly menus can be found on the district Food Service website. Breakfast is available at MIS, RAL & BHS in the morning and at the drive through pick-up service. Please contact Emily Murphy, Director of School Nutrition with any questions, murphye@bedfordnhk12.net.
PTG News and Information
BACK TO SCHOOL GREETINGS FROM THE PTG! As we embark on a very unique school year, the PTG is dedicated to embracing its challenges while continuing to cherish and celebrate past traditions. Let's make it another great year for our students, staff and families!
SUPPORT THE PTG: Although our funding for programming and enrichment opportunities may look different this year, we will be working directly with the district to focus on what the classroom, teacher/staff, student and school needs are based on the current environment.
We know these may be trying economic times for many people so we ask if you are interested and able, please support the PTG by making a donation via PayPal by clicking HERE or by checks made out to Bedford PTG (turn into your child’s school or mail to PO Box 10077 Bedford, NH). Through our Support Drive, 100% of your donation goes directly to the schools and students of Bedford.
LOOKING TO VOLUNTEER: We will have information about volunteering for Bedford Schools in the upcoming weeks. Links to a Volunteer Google Form for each school will be available at that time. You will need to fill this form out in order to hear about volunteer opportunities at the schools or district wide. Currently, some schools are looking to fill open school coordinator level roles.
PTG VOLUNTEER OPPORTUNITIES AT RBS:
We are looking for volunteers for the following roles listed below. If you are interested in volunteering please reach out to our Volunteer Coordinator, Emily Tolson emily8675309@gmail.com.
PTG Support Coordinator
Gift Wrap & More Coordinator
Grandparents & Seniors Day Coordinator
It’s a G.A.S. Coordinator
COMMUNITY CONVERSATION with Superintendent Fournier: Hosted by the PTG, Superintendent Mike Fournier invites you for a “Community Conversation” on Friday, September 11th, 9:30 a.m. at the SAU Building. This will be a small, informal gathering to discuss Bedford School District happenings. Questions and comments are encouraged. You must RSVP to attend. Seating is limited (adhering to social distancing guidelines) and masks are required. Click HERE to sign up.
MEET THE PRINCIPALS EVENT SEPTEMBER 25TH: You are invited to watch the Principals from all six schools at our annual "Meet the Principals" event on Friday, September 25th from 9:30 - 10:30 a.m. It will be broadcast live on BCTV. This is a great opportunity to hear what each school has in store for the year. Please email questions before Sept. 23 for the Q&A session that follows the presentation to bedfordnhptg@gmail.com.
REMINDERS:
Quarantining Information
If your child attended the sports camp that has been in the news lately for having a number of positive COVID-19 cases (such as the ones in the Bedford School District), and you received notification that he/she may have been exposed to the virus, OR if your child has been exposed to the virus in any situation, it’s imperative that you follow our protocol of quarantining for 14 days after the last day of exposure. Quarantining is required even if your child has received a negative test result.
In order to ensure the health and safety of our students and staff, it’s essential that we adhere to the policies and procedures in our Hybrid plan. If you have any questions, please contact our school nurse, Michele Ouellette.
Sickness/Quarantine Protocol
Please adhere to this FLOWCHART for protocols for sickness/symptoms of COVID-19. As I mentioned in a previous email: Please be prepared for children to be sent home if they are ill or display any symptoms of COVID-19. We ask that you display patience with our school nurse during these instances. In order for schools to stay open, it is imperative that we follow these protocols.
If your child typically suffers from season allergies and is seen by an allergist/doctor, please provide a doctor’s note to our nurse, Mrs. Ouellette. Please contact her with any questions.
RBS Picture Day – September 9th & 10th
- Group A Students (A-K) on Wednesday, Sept. 9th.
- Remote A-K Students: 11-1PM
- Group B Students (L-Z) on Thursday, Sept. 10th.
- Remote L-Z Students: 11-1PM
- Flyers will go home today (A-K) and Tuesday (L-Z).
- Flyers for Remote students are available in our vestibule for parents/guardians to pick up. You will receive more details from your child’s teacher
- Updated protocols from Geskus
- Informational Flyer
*Even if you will not be purchasing pictures, we will take your child’s picture (free of charge) because we use them each year in their cumulative folder as well as for their class picture (composite).
Strings Program
Our Strings Program will be held remotely this year via Zoom. If you are interested in having your child participate, please click on THIS FLYER for more information.
Parent Pick-Up
Please be sure to have a CLEARLY labeled sign with both the first name AND last name of the child(ren) you will be picking up at dismissal. Doing so saves a lot of time and helps our dismissal process run much smoother.
Infosnap
If you have not already done so, please take a few minutes to complete the Infosnap process. If you do not have the email with the link/snapcode that was sent to you this summer, please contact the school office.
Automated Attendance Call
Again this year, families in the Bedford School District will receive a phone call confirming their child's absence via our "School Messenger" system. Once we have taken attendance, a message will be generated confirming your child's absence. This year, it will also include Distance Learning and Remote students. The elementary calls will go out at approximately 9:30 AM, McKelvie and Lurgio will go out at 10:30 AM and the BHS at 11:00 AM. If this call comes to you in error, please contact the Main Office, so that we can correct the attendance report.
NH Tackles Hunger Virtual Food Drive
Over the next month, residents of NH, businesses, schools and more will make monetary donations via LINK, and any funds that are collected for your assigned school will be credited to your Food Bank (Bedford Food Pantry) account at the conclusion of the drive. We will notify you then as to how much money was donated to your program via the high school.
Girl Scouts
This group is typically at our Meet and Greet, so in lieu of that, we are allowing this information to be sent home via Principal’s Notes.
UPCOMING EVENTS:
September 7 – Labor Day Observance – NO SCHOOL
September 8 – State Primary Election – NO SCHOOL
September 9 – RBS School Pictures Group A (A-K) *including Remote students
September 10 – RBS School Pictures Group B (L-Z) *including Remote students
September 18-20 – Rosh Hashana
September 25 – PTG Coffee with the Principals (9:30 AM)
September 25 – Virtual Open House Videos/Slideshows Sent Home
September 27-28 – Yom Kippur
October 12 – Columbus Day Observance – NO SCHOOL
October 30 – End of Quarter 1
October 31 – Happy Halloween!
November 3 – Presidential Election – NO SCHOOL
November 6 – Report Cards Released (Grades 2-4)
November 11 – Veterans’ Day Observance – NO SCHOOL
November 25-27 – Thanksgiving Break
