Weekly Hot Topics:
● Martin Luther King, Jr. Day of Service will be celebrated next Monday, January 18th. While what we will be able to do this year will be different from our Day of Service activities at Nishuane in the past, we will continue to emphasize the important work of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. and the importance of service to our community throughout class lessons and in our morning announcements toward the end of this week and start of next as well. At Nishuane School, we have created these attached slide https://docs.google.com/presentation/d/1iasqKzDBHhMMMuO2_pIbGAQxm2MTCf6e6LEsFZM7Ams/present?slide=id.gb05b2ce1fd_0_14 which include:
○ various community and virtual events you and your children may attend
○ Create Your Own Poster Activity
○ Our Nishuane Send Us Your Service! Please send us a picture of your child and family in your service to nishuane.school@gmail.com. We will be creating a slideshow to share with our school community during our
○ MLK Jr. Read-In: To honor Dr. Martin Luther King, we will be having a school-wide "read-in" on Wednesday, January 20th. At 10am, all classes will listen to or watch a story in connection to Dr. King's bravery, commitment to justice, and compassion.
○ Also see this resource shared by our PTA for Martin Luther King Jr. Celebration with Illustrator Bryan Collier. Information: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/martin-luther-king-jr-celebration-with-illustrator-bryan-collier-tickets-135741246723
● Healthy Mind, Healthy Bodies: The Healthy Bodies, Healthy Minds committee invites you to join us for our first 2021 hike this SUNDAY, JANUARY 17TH at 11AM! The hike is nearby at Mills Reservation. Please meet us at 11am in the Mills Reservation Parking lot at 31 Normal Ave in Cedar Grove.
Reminders:
January 25th is fast approaching! On January 25th, we will begin the Hybrid/Remote Schedule to accommodate both children who will continue to learn remotely and those who will return to school for Hybrid Instruction (Mounties & Bulldogs groups).
● Our Nishuane Building Reopening Planning Guide for Families for Hybrid/Remote Learning, originally sent in November, is a great source of information to plan for this hybrid/remote learning.
● We would like to welcome all families to join us this Thursday evening where we will speak to points for the hybrid return to the building, the new schedule for hybrid/remote instruction and other details which we hope will be helpful. We will speak at our PTA meeting so you can use link below!
● For students returning to hybrid instruction, In addition to any items requested by your child’s classroom teacher, please send your child to school with the following:
○ Headphones
○ Extra masks in their backpacks
○ Baggies for clean and dirty masks
● Please remember a few points about (also can be found in the guide)
○ Please practice the appropriate way to wear a mask with your child. You can show this quick video made by one of our own Occupational Therapists Stephanie Peters!
○ Arrival/Dismissal: Due to the shortened length of the day and arrival procedures, if a child, any student arriving at school after 10:00am shall do remote learning for the day. Also, if a student needs to leave school early, the student should have a remote learning day.
○ Snacks: NO Nuts will be allowed at all in consideration of allergies. Adherence to our district Food Regulation will remain in effect. Please send snacks that do not require a utensil. Please note that sporks and spoons will not be provided.
○ Visitors: Excluding MPS and MPS contracted employees, there will be no visitors in the building. All parent/guardian meetings will be virtual. We will not be accepting any items that grown-ups wish to drop off late
○ If your child will participate in hybrid instruction and is or has been in a location that requires quarantine upon return, please contact our Nurse, Anne Ndungu (andungu@montclair.k12.nj.us or 973-509-4236) immediately and she will share with you the appropriate return to school date for your child.
● Any families wishing to change their child to hybrid instruction for Cycle 3 shall notify me no later than February 26th.
● Reminder that the re-entry health and safety contract is open on Genesis for parents/caregivers of students who will be participating in hybrid learning. Immunizations and physical exams for K and new students must be complete and on file in the nurse’s office for all students, fully remote and hybrid. Medical action plans and medication forms must be submitted to the school nurse asap for all hybrid students. Please contact our nurse, Anne Ndungu (andungu@montclair.k12.nj.us or 973-509-4236) with any questions.
● Please contact our nurse, Anne Ndungu (andungu@montclair.k12.nj.us or 973-509-4236) if your child or a household member has tested positive for COVID.
In November I shared that our amazing PTA generously purchased two large tents to support outdoor space on High Street at Nishuane School.
Today, we would like to share a HUGE shout out to our wonderful custodial staff, Kym Raison, Wade Stokes, Adam Concepcion, and Patrick Sterling for putting up one of the large tents we will have for outdoor breaks, snacks, lessons, etc on High Street! THANK YOU!!
Nurse’s Note:
Please click here to read the Nurse’s January Note.