Principal's Notes 4/29/20

Message of the Month
Kindness Counts- Empathy

Important Dates

• April 30- May 1 - Spring Vacation (New Dates)
• May 8- Spirit Day - Disney Day
• May 8 - Placement Information due to Ms. Hogdgon
• May 25 - Memorial Day Observed – No School
• June 9 - Last Day of School

Click HERE for a message from Mr. Schappler

Family Resources:MEM Remote Learning Parent Guide
BSD Remote Learning Website
Executive Functioning Parent Resource
Supporting Kids During the Coronavirus Crisis

Spirit Day

There is no Remote Spirit Day this week.  Our next scheduled day is Friday, May 8th.  Disney Day!  

Helping Students Connect with Each Other
We're hearing more and more that our students are looking for opportunities for socialization. Since the purpose of our Google Meets continue to be academic and Google Meet is a tool for teachers to utilize but not a requirement, we'd like to share the contact information for other parents within your child's grade level. If you'd like to participate, please share your contact information with this form.

Library Books Return – MAY 8, 2020
We will be collecting MEM library books from families on Friday, May 8th. Mrs. Schwartz has outlined the procedure HERE. If your library books are at school please don't worry, we will collect those when we clean out desks and cubbies. 

 

Integrated Arts (Grades 1-4)

Please remember that Integrated Arts classes (art, library, music and physical education) are required classes (and are graded in grades 3 and 4 as having met expectations by their participation). Students need to be checking in for attendance on their “special days” and participating in the lessons/assignments. If you have any questions, please contact the teacher(s) directly.
Art: Mrs. Westlund westlundm@sau25.net

Library: Mrs. Schwartz schwartze@sau25.net

Music: Ms. Magoon magoonc@sau25.net
Physical Education: Mr. Vitagliano vitaglianom@sau25.net

New MEM Blog
Welcome to MEM Boredom Busters, a new blog as we do this crazy thing called "remote learning"! Click HERE to access. 

Reminders

Bedford Presbyterian Church COVID-19 Resources
George Reese from the Bedford Presbyterian Church and Bedford Food Pantry reached out to us offering resources to our community. 

These include:

• A dedicated COVID-19 Fund to provide assistance to community programs and individuals
• Helping Hands Outreach Ministry, that can provide necessary urgent home repairs to people that are unable to afford or perform them themselves.
• Bedford Presbyterian Church also houses the Bedford Community Food Pantry, which is open every Saturday from 9am-1pm. (603) 867-1445

Placement

Even though we are working remotely, we are starting to think about placement for 2020/21.  Please read THIS LETTER, which outlines the process.

Google Meet Uses
Some of our teachers are using Google Meet as a platform to interact with their students.  You, as a parent, will be notified if this is happening.  We have heard that some students are setting these "Meets" up for a social gathering.  Please continue to monitor these invitations as you would any other playdate for your child. Student accounts are only to be used for school purposes. Email accounts are only for teacher to student or student to teacher communication and should only be used if the teacher has instructed students to use email. Thank you.

School Offices

All physical buildings in the BSD are closed to the public. Employees will be working remotely. If you need to get in touch with someone at the school, please call our main line 603-627-1776 and leave a message. Messages will be returned within 24-36 hours. Email is the most efficient method of contacting the schools.

Attendance
Attendance will be taken daily.  It is our expectation that students will be working each day on the assignments prepared by their teachers.  If we see students did not do any work on a particular day they may be marked absent.  If a student is sick or unable to complete any work for the day you should call the attendance line and report the absence as usual.  
603-627-1776

Wellness Team is here for you
Memorial School's Wellness Team consists of our School Nurse, School Counselor, Social Worker, Assessment Specialist and Assistant Principal. Throughout the school year, we've met to support students in a variety of ways. As we transition to Remote Learning, please feel free to reach out to us individually or as a group if needs arise. Please let us know if you have concerns about emotional and behavioral support, school supplies, access to food, illness and any other needs for additional resources or support. We will continue to be here for you! 

- Anna Cook (School Nurse), Christine Hodgdon (School Counselor), Katelyn LeBlanc (School Social Worker), Beth Purcell (Assistant Principal) 

Breakfast and Lunch other Food Options (Updated)

The Bedford School District Food Service Department continues providing grab-n-go breakfast and lunch for all students in the community at no charge. This will continue during Aril vacation as well.  Pick up will be available 9am-12pm at the High School gymnasium entrance.

PLEASE fill out the Food Service Meal Order Form (Link is below). Deadline for pre ordering is 2pm the previous day. Please know that pre-ordering is a must in order to ensure you have meals.

https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSefPlzhEtEz3Dx5eu9p0yK_zziRbCtnlsy-fc4AWcoB1idnjw/viewform?usp=sf_link

Contact Emily Murphy at murphye@bedfordnhk12.net for any questions or concerns.

For additional meal and food support the Bedford Community Food Pantry has extended their hours from 9am-12pm. Click HERE for more information.