Volume: 2020-2021 ● Number: 20 ● Lebanon, NH

January 22, 2021

Email: jdentremont@sau88.net
Website: https://lms.sau88.net/
Location: 3 Moulton Avenue, Lebanon, NH, USA
Phone: 603-448-3056
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/LMSLebNH/
Twitter: @LMSLebNH

Dear LMS Families,

We have had a good week in our transition back to the 5 day model. Transitions between models can be challenging and staff are talking this through and supporting students as needed. It will take us some more time to get back into established routines and we thank you for your patience on that front. Your continued emphasis with your children on our established protocols from home is greatly appreciated. An area of concern for us is students keeping their distance in hallways and walking in lines. Thank you for helping us reinforce the importance of these protocols.

If your child is particularly struggling with any of these changes or protocols, please be in touch with us. You can reach out to school counselors or any administrator.

Students were sent Student Council ballots this week and we are currently electing officers to the Student Council. A big thank you to Mrs. McFarland who leads this group who have been meeting remotely. It took us a bit to get this up and running this year and we are excited to see what our students come up with to help us celebrate our school and our spirit.

We want to thank the addition of some new parent substitutes who have come on board. We are grateful for these parents who have joined the subbing ranks to help meet the needs in the building.

As we move into next week, we will be transitioning from T2A to T2B. This means that students will shift their essential arts classes. It marks the midway point of our second term and the official halfway point of our year.

Have a nice weekend!

Regards,

John P. D'Entremont, Principal

We don't have anything new for this week.

A reminder to prepare your children for being outdoors in the cold - warm coats, hats, gloves and the appropriate footwear. I have seen lots of very cold students this week with very red ears and hands, wet shoes and socks!! If you need assistance with any winter items please let me know, we have resources available.

Please continue covid mitigation measures (masking, distancing, hand hygiene and avoiding large gatherings) when not in school as well as when in school. Community spread continues in our area and we want to make our best effort to limit community spread into our schools, especially as we’ve moved back into the 5-day in person model with more people in the building.

Vaccines

NH DHHS has shared their vaccine allocation plan (always subject to change): https://www.dhhs.nh.gov/dphs/cdcs/covid19/documents/covid19-vaccine-allocation-plan-summary.pdf

*** As of 8am this morning, people aged 65 and older were able to register to get a COVID-19 vaccine in the next phase of vaccination (1b). Those eligible can go to vaccines.nh.gov to register for an appointment. Vaccines for that group are scheduled to begin Jan. 26.

People with two or more high-risk medical conditions will also be eligible for a vaccine, and should reach out to their doctor.

We are currently in Phase 1a, moving to Phase 1b next week. The state is limited in their vaccine distribution by the number of vaccines the state receives weekly (approx. 17,000 doses). Currently, only the Pfizer and Moderna vaccines have been approved for use for those 16yo (Pfizer), 18yo (Moderna) and older, other vaccines are being developed and look promising. Research is continuing as to the efficacy of these vaccines against new circulating strains of SARS-CoV-2.

**Even after receiving 2 vaccines, we are still discouraged from non-essential travel, encouraged to avoid social gatherings and wear face masks when in public.

Quarantine Changes Related to COVID-19 Vaccination (1/11/21)

The following people do NOT need to quarantine after an unprotected exposure to a person with COVID-19, or travel outside of new England:

1. A person who is 14 days beyond the second dose of their COVID-19 vaccine (ie 14 days after full vaccination)

2. A person who is within 90 days of a prior SARS-CoV-2 infection diagnosed by PCR or antigen testing.

**People with prior infection should be vaccinated to provide the highest level of protection against COVID-19.

Regardless of prior infection or vaccination status, any person with new or unexplained symptoms of COVID-19 still needs to isolate, speak with their PCP and be evaluated for COVID-19 testing.

NH now giving Covid testing priority to students, teachers, school staff. Hospitals and outpatient practices across the state will now give appointments within 24 hours to school-community members who have Covid symptoms. In the Upper Valley, APD in Lebanon and Keady Family Practice in Claremont are participating in the effort.

I included a helpful visual for isolation and quarantine timelines for household members when there is a positive person in your household.

Nancy Pageau

npageau@sau88.net

603-727-9817 (direct line)

603-448-3056 (LMS)

Positive Cases - 5

Current Active Cases - 2

Students/Staff Currently Isolated/Quarantined - 6

Number of Students/Staff Tested (since September) - 217*

*Includes students/staff who have been tested multiple times.

Number of Students/Staff with Pending Test Results - 2

NH COVID-19 Schools Dashboard

Quarantine and Exposure/Travel Guidance

NH DHHS has updated quarantine guidelines in relation to exposure to COVID and travel. The following guidelines are specific to NH. The CDC, VT, and other state guidelines are different from NH. We will be following these NH guidelines going forward. Don’t hesitate to reach out with any questions related to this information (npageau@sau88.net).

• A person who is close contact to another person infectious with COVID-19 must stay home and away from public locations for 10 days starting from the last day of exposure to the infectious person.
• A person who has traveled outside of New England must stay home and away from public locations for 10 days starting from the last day of travel outside of New England. An exception exists for travel quarantine only: one can “test out” of the 10 day travel quarantine if they have a negative COVID PCR based test on day 7 or after of their quarantine, and remain without symptoms.
• ***NH DPHS does NOT recommend adopting the “test out” option in the CDC Quarantine Guidance(i.e. quarantine for 7 days and a negative test) for confirmed close contacts to a positive person. Currently, testing resources are not sufficiently available to adopt this approach, and risk of transmission is increased.

In all situations, you are still self monitoring for any symptoms until day 14. If you develop symptoms during this time period you need to test and follow the appropriate quarantine or isolation guidance.

• Isolation guidance for confirmed positive cases (12/3/20): https://www.dhhs.nh.gov/dphs/cdcs/covid19/documents/self-isolation-covid.pdf
• Quarantine guidance for exposure or travel (12/3/20): https://www.dhhs.nh.gov/dphs/cdcs/covid19/documents/self-quarantine-covid.pdf

NH COVID related information can be found on the nh.gov/covid19 website.

Common Questions:

Can I get a rapid COVID test instead of a PCR test?

One can get a rapid test if symptomatic. If one has no symptoms, then a PCR test should be done for accurate results.

Can I come to work/send my kids to school if someone in my house is getting a COVID test and waiting for results?

Yes. As long as you/they are asymptomatic, then you may come to work and the kids may come to school. If the individual in your house tests positive, then you would need to remain home.

How long do I need to stay home if I test positive for COVID?

You will need to remain home in isolation for 10 days since the start of your symptoms, or 10 days from the test collection date if you are asymptomatic. You can return to school on the 11th day.

Someone in my house tests positive for COVID. How long do I need to remain home?

You will remain home for 20 days (10 days for the person who tested positive, and then you are home an additional 10 days for your quarantine after the period of isolation ends).

If I test positive or someone else in my house tests positive, will DHHS contact me?

Because of the increase in positive COVID cases in NH, DHHS has said they will now contact cases related to schools with a “beginning” isolation or quarantine letter/notification. This may take a few days. Please follow the guidance given to you by your school nurse or PCP until such time as you are contacted by DHHS. NH DHHS will no longer be providing a “release from” isolation/quarantine letter. Please reach out to your PCP or myself with any questions related to either quarantine or isolation.

What is the definition of close contact?

Close contact is defined as being less than 6 feet from a positive COVID individual for a cumulative 10 minutes or more during the person’s infectious period. What is the infectious period? It is based on the 2 days before the person becomes symptomatic or 2 days before the test collection date if the person is asymptomatic.

Please continue to be in contact with your school nurse if your child is being tested for COVID-19 either due to symptoms or if they have been exposed to a person determined to have COVID. Please contact the school nurse for any positive test results.

People with COVID-19 have had a wide range of symptoms from mild symptoms to severe illness. Symptoms may appear anytime from 2-14 days after exposure to the virus. All of the following are symptoms of COVID-19:

• Fever(over 100.o F) or chills

• Cough

• Shortness of breath or difficulty breathing

• Fatigue

• Muscle or body aches

• Headache

• New loss of taste or smell

• Sore throat

• Congestion or runny nose

• Nausea or vomiting

• Diarrhea

In order for your child to return to school if they exhibit any of the symptoms listed above, they should either get a COVID PCR based test and produce a negative test result, OR choose to quarantine for 10 days since onset and improvement of symptoms.

DHMC Covid hotline (603) 650-1818. Hotline hours: Monday through Friday, 6:00 am to 6:00 pm; Saturday and Sunday, 8:00 am to 1:00 pm. This is for DHMC patients only (unless you are deemed a close contact to a positive case) and you do not need a referral from your Pediatrician before testing. Appointment only. https://www.dartmouth-hitchcock.org/patient-education/covid19-testing.html

Alice Peck Day- (603)-442-5665 Hotline hours 8:30am-4:00pm on weekdays. Official State testing site therefore will test anyone regardless if your doctor is at APD or if you do not have a doctor. Do not need a referral. Appointment only. Must live within the Community of Alice Peck Day. https://www.alicepeckday.org/services/covid19communitytesting/

We are here to help. Whether you have concerns that need to be addressed or just want to check-in with school, we are here for you.

We also can help with winter gear if a student is in need. Please reach out.

Here are some resources about parenting in the pandemic:

• Parenting in a Pandemic: Tips to Keep the Calm at Home
• Helping Children Cope with Changes Resulting from COVID-19
• Resources for Helping Kids and Parents Cope Amidst COVID-19

Listen Summer Camp Scholarship

Below is a link with information regarding the Listen Summer Camp Scholarship Program for students ages 6-14. Please read over the eligibility guidelines and if you are interested in having your child apply, please contact either LMS School Counselor, Carolynn Stockwell or Stephanie Allard. We will place you on the LMS referral list.

You will then need to contact Listen Services to make an interview appointment. Camp scholarships are available for both day camps and overnight camps. Interviews start February 15th and scholarships are awarded on a first come, first served basis. Please let us know soon if you are interested and feel free to reach out directly with any questions.

https://drive.google.com/file/d/1sM981mSl1qfswBslR0B1W_hE4DhBTRyu/view?usp=sharing

Carolynn Stockwell, 5/6

cstockwell@sau88.net

Stephanie Allard, 7/8

sallard@sau88.net

Elena VanZandt, Student Assistance Provider

evanzandt@sau88.net

Check out the latest library bitmoji classroom!

Please see details on the cover design contest below open to all students. Covers are due by January 29th.

If you have any questions about yearbook, please email Mr. Masi: dmasi@sau88.net.

Election results will be forthcoming!

The next full council meeting will be held Monday, January 25th time to be announced to members directly.

Questions, please contact Mrs. McFarland.

Remote Learners...if you have pictures of your remote learning, send them to lmsspirit@sau88.net. We will include them in the Scoop too!

The PTO is looking to put together a list of free and fun virtual resources for students for the upcoming February break. If you have a resource that you have used or know of that would appeal to middle schoolers, please let us know at lmspto@sau88.net. Or, if you would like to provide a zoom class or activity that our middle schoolers can attend, we are also looking for local virtual programming during that week, February 15-19. We hope having local talent or presentations will help students feel connected to their community during a time of so much unavoidable social distance! Again, please contact us at the email address above if you are interested in participating or have any ideas about who we might approach!

LMS PTO Virtual Meeting

When: Wed, February 3, 2021 , 7:00pm - 8:00pm

Location: https://zoom.us/j/94660181992?pwd=UElPek9IanV5YmQ3Wjc5R3hpeDF2Zz09

Meeting ID: 946 6018 1992
Passcode: 965891
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January 25th - Last Day of T2A Classes

January 26th - First Day of T2B Classes (we change essential arts classes)

February 1st - LMS T2A Progress Reports

February 3rd - LMS PTO Virtual Meeting 7PM

When: Wed, January 27 , 6:30pm - 10:30pm

Location: Lebanon Middle School, 3 Moulton Ave, Lebanon, NH 03766, USA

Please click this URL to join by Zoom. https://us02web.zoom.us/j/82118932233?pwd=WU5jcFFiMTFyRHlWTUlHQXZVUC9Sdz09

Deliberative Session/Annual Meeting, Saturday, January 30th, 2021, 9:00 am, LMS Gym

Note: The Deliberative Session will be streamed via Zoom. There will be no means of participation via Zoom. In order to participate in the meeting, community members must attend in person at LMS in the gym. Masks are required to be worn at all times.

**Snow Date for this meeting is Monday, February 1st, 6:00 pm, LMS Gym

(Please park in rear of building)

Please consider becoming a School District Officer.

Openings include:

School Board Member, three, three-year term

District Clerk, one, one-year term

District Moderator, one, one-year term

District Treasurer, one, one-year term

For more information regarding requirements, please contact April Sanborn, School District Clerk @ amsnd@comcast.net. The filing period will begin at 9:00 am, Tuesday, January 26, and will end at 5:00 pm on Tuesday, February 9. All Declaration of Candidacy forms should be delivered to City Hall located at 51 North Park Street. Their new office hours are Monday through Thursday, 7:00 am to 5:00 pm.

Click the button below for the latest newsletters from our Superintendent. Other letters can be found on the District website.

If you have a student returning in person to LMS for the first time this year, please review the video tutorials to understand our processes and procedures while at school. We strongly encourage families to watch these together. Although some of our spaces now look a bit different than in the videos, we will still be using these procedures.

Here is the link to the Lebanon Middle School COVID Procedures. The button below titled LMS COVID Procedures takes you to the module and the LMS website too.

The school day begins at 7:45 - 7:50 AM.

The PikMyKid Check-in Health Screening is required each day. Students who do not complete the check-in before arriving will have to be screened at the door before entering the building. We continue to average 20-30 check-ins daily which is still slowing down the process. Please complete the check-in health screening before leaving home in the morning.

Students will be expected to arrive at the following times, as we stagger our arrival in order to process students into our building:

Bus Riders - 7:22 AM

Band/Chorus Students - 7:22 AM - Please follow directions from Ms. Garnham and Mr. Terry. If your child has a sibling that is not in the band or chorus, please drop them together at the same time.

Car drop offs need to plan to start at 7:30 AM or after. There is no early drop off.

Students should be sitting in a seat on the right side of the vehicle to exit on the sidewalk side. Students should also be prepared to get out before the car stops so they can do so quickly and the car line can keep moving.

If your child has to exit from the left side of the vehicle, please park and we will help them cross the crosswalk.

5th & 7th Grade Car Riders - Begins @ 7:30 AM

6th & 8th Grade Car Riders - Begins @ 7:38 AM

***If you have students in 5th and 8th for example you can choose the earlier or later time.***

Students will be dismissed at the following times:

Please park if your child is not along the curb when you enter the loop to keep the flow of traffic moving.

Bus Riders - 1:55 PM

5th & 7th Grade Car Riders Starting at 2 PM (please try not to arrive before 2PM)

6th & 8th Grade Car Riders 2:08 PM

***If you have students in 5th and 8th for example you can choose the earlier or later time.***

We have changed our School's PikMyKid settings. Parents can no longer change the default pick-up mode of their students. If you have a student who will be picked up by car permanently and not taking the bus for example, you will have to contact the school. To change your child's afternoon plans temporarily, use the calendar feature in order to delegate someone else to pick up for example.

Tutorials are found below in the Scoop.

All students are expected to attend school each day it is in session if they selected to be in school, and must be in Advisory by 7:45am for attendance.

All students arriving to Advisory after 7:45am will be considered late to school.

Parents must complete the PikMyKid App Check-In Health Survey each morning for each student to attend in person learning.

Parents must contact the school office each day their student (in person or fully remote) will be absent or late.

In person learners who have symptoms keeping them from in person learning, will be marked absent and do not need to access their teachers remotely. Our nurse will contact the family to discuss if COVID testing is necessary and what date the student may return to school.

All students who are called out absent for 1 to 2 days, for any reason, will be marked absent and do not need to access their teachers remotely. Student may make up missing work upon their return to school.

In person learners who are absent for 3 or more days due to illness or quarantine may learn remotely at their teachers’ discretion; however, they will continue to be marked absent.

Planned absences for all students must follow our student handbook attendance policy. In this case the student may learn remotely at their teachers’ discretion; however, they will be marked absent.

Extended Absences/Vacations

Parents/Guardians are discouraged from planning family vacations while school is in session. Please make plans that coincide with school vacations and holidays because it is difficult for students to make up classroom learning activities when a child is absent for an extended period of time. Permission is granted by an administrator, and a written request to the main office for a student’s work two weeks in advance is required. It is the student’s responsibility to notify teachers and collect assignments. It is the student’s responsibility to submit the completed assignments upon his/her return to school. Failure to obtain permission and to request work two weeks in advance will result in absences being unexcused.

New Period Attendance – In an effort to improve communications, LMS teachers now have the ability to take class attendance each period via Powerschool for all students. Students will be notified if they are marked absent. Parents will be notified if they have created a parent portal account in Powerschool. This should help parents/guardians monitor attendance for their remote learners.

It is important to note that an in person learner, who is at school, could be marked absent for a class for a variety of reasons (early dismissal, student services, counseling, etc.).

Breakfast and Lunch

Students will be able to purchase breakfast or lunch ahead of time. More details to come soon as to how students will order meals ahead.

• Breakfast $1.75
• Lunch $3.15

Reduced price tentatively for breakfast is $0 and lunch is $.40.

Food service along with everything else looks a little different this year. In the morning, students may not enter the building early to get and eat breakfast. There will be a daily offering with a cereal option for the students to choose from between 7:25 and 7:40. Students, regardless of grade, should enter the front doors of the school in the morning and the students should go directly into the cafeteria and pick up and eat their breakfast. Breakfast will not be available once the school day begins at 7:45. There will not be a breakfast break period this year. Remember that a reduced pay student receives a free breakfast.

At lunch there will be two options available at lunch every day. A daily offering and an option that will be consistent for the week. We are also offering a breakfast and a lunch for remote learning days. A cohort students can order meals for Tuesday and Wednesday at Monday lunch and again on Thursday for Friday. B cohort students can order meals for Wednesday and Thursday at lunch on Tuesday and again on Friday for Monday. The meals will be available for pickup at the end of the day and the student will pick up the meals on the way out at dismissal time.

Just a reminder, Free and Reduced applications must be filled out every year. You can apply on line at https://www.lunchapplication.com/ or you can get the application on the district’s website. Applications are also available at the main office.

Dennis Samuel

Food Service Director

Fresh Picks Café

Each day when your child(ren) come to school, they will be required to complete the health screening before coming to school. This will be through the PikMyKid app (more information to follow).

It is imperative that students do stay home if they are sick or have COVID-19 symptoms (COVID symptoms). Students should not come to school if they are not feeling well or have any of the following symptoms:

• Fever or chills
• Cough
• Shortness of breath or difficulty breathing
• Fatigue
• Muscle or body aches
• Headache
• New loss of taste or smell
• Sore throat
• Congestion or runny nose
• Nausea or vomiting
• Diarrhea

Students should have a water bottle and can use the bottle filling stations throughout the day.

Every student needs a backpack every day to carry their materials for the day.

Students also need to bring their chromebook to school every day they are in person. Parents/Guardians need to help students remember their device and help make sure it is charged. Students need to be reminded to be careful with their chromebooks to avoid breaking them. If you are having trouble with the Chromebook, email techsupport@sau88.net.

Students need their chromebooks every day they are at school! We continue to encourage students to take care of their machines and very much appreciate your help with this. We want to keep our machines in good working order at all times. We can troubleshoot functioning but we can't just replace due to breakage.

Please help your students with the following:

• Charging chromebooks every night.
• Making sure chromebook and charger get into backpack each night to and from school.
• Cleaning chromebook daily.
• Emphasizing taking care of your machine.
• Remembering passwords.

Need technology help?

Tech Support Hotline number: (603) 790-8501

This phone line will be open from 8am-4pm M-F. After hours, please leave a message and we will return your call.

Tech Support Hotline email: techsupport@sau88.net

OUR MISSION STATEMENT

The Lebanon Middle School community challenges and supports all learners in a

rigorous, stimulating, and developmentally appropriate environment.

To achieve our mission, we strive to foster curiosity, lifelong learning, and global citizenship while encouraging individual aptitudes, interests, and talents by underscoring our core values of LMS PRIDE:

Leadership

Motivation

Spirit

Perseverance

Respect

Integrity

Dependability

Excellence

John P. D’Entremont, Principal

Kim Ezen, Assistant Principal

Synthia Liska, Student Services Administrator

Brett Franklin, Director of Athletics & Co-Curriculars

Email: jdentremont@sau88.net
Website: lms.sau88.net
Location: 3 Moulton Avenue, Lebanon, NH, USA
Phone: 603-448-3056
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/LMSLebNH
Twitter: @LMSLebNH