Friday, August 27, 2021

Principal's Notes 8/27/21

Message of the Month

Be Safe - (Safe body-safe words-safe student behavior)

We had an excellent start to our school year.  It is always great to see the building full of students and hear about their summer adventures.  


Important Dates
  • August 30 – First Day of Pre-School for our BEEP Students
  • September 6- No School in observance of Labor Day
  • September 8- Picture Day
  • September 9- Picture Day Two
  • September 10-Community Conversations with Superintendent Fournier
  • September 14-Open House (Details to follow)
  • September 24 - Meet the Principals Event

Principal/Parent Communication
As my primary form of communication you will receiving an email and text link to Principal’s Notes, each Friday afternoon. This will include Important Dates for upcoming events, informational news, and action items (highlighted in yellow). I appreciate you reviewing these weekly and taking care of any action items highlighted.

Dismissal
I want you all to be aware that for the first few weeks of school we call our kindergarten and first grade students to the gym prior to the older kids in order to line everyone up and and develop routines. Because of this busses may be delayed 10-15 minutes, however, we feel it is worth the delay as it provides our younger students with a better sense of security and understanding during a somewhat hectic time of day. Thank you for your understanding and patience with this temporary procedure. 

Drop off and Pick up
For Drop Off- We realize this can be a difficult time with traffic backing up. Please look for the adults directing traffic as we will do our best to move cars through as timely as possible. Elementary students are dropped off using the front circle and BEEP students are dropped off in the back near the playground area.  
For Pick Up- Our preschool students will be brought out to cars in front of the building by adults on duty. As for the rest of you picking up your children we ask that you form 2 lines in our front circle and wait for your students to be brought out to you.  Please have their name in the passenger window to speed up the process.  Once the parking lot is full please line up in the church driveway instead of stacking cars on Old Bedford Road.
Thank you!

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. 

Anti-Bullying Partnership Agreement
Please keep an eye out for a document coming home with your children this week about bullying. Last year’s 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.

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. 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.

Strings Program is coming back to Memorial
If you child is interested in learning how to play the violin, viola, or cello, The Manchester School of Music will be offering classes here at Memorial School. Click HERE for more information.

BHS Basketball Clinic:
Calling all basketball players! The Bedford High School girl’s and boy’s basketball teams are hosting clinics for Bedford students in grades 3-8. The two-day clinic will be held on 9/12 and 9/19 in the BHS gymnasium. Registration is $50. Please click HERE for more information. 

Kinship Support (From our District Social Worker)
Support for families involved with Adoption, Foster Care, DCYF, or Legal Guardianship. Waypoint has many services available. Click HERE for more information.

Classroom Support
We are sharing to let you know about classroom programs at Memorial School that will enrich your child’s learning experience throughout year. Teacher resources are continually reviewed and organized to allow for the most comprehensive program for students. During instructional portions of the day, a special educator may be working alongside and in conjunction with your child’s classroom teacher. The help can be in the classroom, and at times, outside the general classroom setting. This type of approach is referred to as a Team Instruction model.
Together, these teachers bring to the classroom a broad range of expertise in all subject areas. This approach allows us the flexibility to work with students in small groups or individually as needed. Typically, both teachers will work within the classroom with students, but may work outside the classroom when appropriate.

We anticipate an exciting year of educational challenge and growth for all!

BACK TO SCHOOL GREETINGS FROM THE PTG! We look forward to a new school year full of fantastic programs and events for our students, staff and families.

SUPPORT THE PTG: Through our Support Drive, 100% of your donation goes directly to the schools and students of Bedford. Consider supporting 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).

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.

COMMUNITY CONVERSATION with Superintendent Fournier: Hosted by the PTG, Superintendent Mike Fournier invites you for “Conversation & Coffee” on Friday, September 10th, 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. Click HERE to sign up.

MEET THE PRINCIPALS EVENT SEPTEMBER 24TH: You are invited to meet the Principals from all six schools at our annual "Meet the Principals" event on Friday, September 24th from 9:30 - 10:30 a.m. It will also 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. 22 for the Q&A session that follows the presentation to bedfordnhptg@gmail.com.

Tuesday, August 24, 2021

Principal's Notes 8/24/21



 Important Dates

  • August 25  Meet and Greet Grades K-4 
  • August 26 – First Day of School
  • August 30 – First Day of Pre-School for our BEEP Students


Start of School Information

It's time!  We are very excited to have our students back in the building!  I am sending important information prior to our first day on Thursday, August 26th outlining some highlights from the district’s Reopening Plan (below) as well as some items specific to Memorial.  

  • Staff and students may elect to wear masks, but are not required to do so.

  • It is recommended that unvaccinated individuals wear masks while indoors.

  • Masks are required on school buses.

  • Morning recess (7:30-8:00) will return.

  • Student drop will go back to 7:30-8:00 AM. (In front of the building)

  • Parent pick up will follow the same procedure as last year. (Please see below)


Please be looking for my Principal’s Notes each Friday afternoon.


Parent Resources

BSD Reopening Plan 2021/22

Start of School Letter--Preventing COVID

COVID-19 Schools Dashboard



IN THE NEWS:

Reminder from the Health Office Re: Allergy Symptoms

If your child has seasonal allergies, please get a note from your child’s physician for Mrs. Cook to keep on file for this school year.  Please keep in mind that DHHS recommends COVID testing for any new or unexplained symptoms, and our school district follows that recommendation.  I know it may be frustrating, but please understand that Mrs. Cook is doing her job.  PLEASE be kind and respectful to her.


Guest Riders on Buses

I want to let families know the district’s decision about riding on a bus that’s not your child’s assigned route.  Busing for child care will be allowed.  Busing for playdates, birthday parties and organizations (DI, Boy Scouts, Girl Scouts, etc.) will not be allowed.  If your child does have a child care situation, please provide their teacher with a note containing the details.


School Lunches
School lunches will, again this year, be offered free of charge for all students who would like.  Parents will still have the option of having their child bring a lunch from home if desired.

REMINDERS:

Meet and Greet

Please join us on Wednesday, August 25th for Meet and Greet (grades K – 4).  In order to help alleviate the crowding  and help with the limited parking, we are breaking the visitation down into 2 time slots (similar to Open House).  Please feel free to come at any time during your time slot.  The schedule is as follows:

  • A-K (last name of students):  1:00-1:45 PM

  • L-Z (last name students):  2:00-2:45 PM

*If you have a blended family, please feel free to attend only 1 session.

School Hours

Our school hours are 8:00 AM – 2:20 PM (grades 1 – 4), and 8:00 AM – 10:40 AM (AM Kindergarten & AM K+); 11:40 AM – 2:20 PM (PM Kindergarten & PM K+).

 

Drop Off & Pick Up Procedures

Drop Off (7:30 AM - 8:00 AM):

Starting at 7:30 AM, parents/guardians will drop off their children at the front circle (as you’ve typically done).  Children will need to exit their vehicles on the passenger side.  Staff members will be present to help direct traffic and guide children into the building. 


Pick-Up (2:20 PM) 

By 2:20 PM, students will be in the cafeteria and ready to be dismissed to their parents/guardians' vehicles out the cafeteria doors. Parents/guardians will proceed to the loop in the front of the building.  Staff members will be present to help direct traffic and dismiss children.  Children will need to enter their vehicles on the passenger side.  Each vehicle should have a clearly labelled and visible sign with the first and last name(s) of the child(ren) being picked up, and parents/guardians must be prepared to show identification until duty people are familiar with you.

*Please have your children practice exiting and entering your vehicle independently.     


Thank you,

Phil Schappler

Principal