The Middle Scoop

Volume: 2020-2021 ● Number: 11 ● Lebanon, NH

October 30, 2020

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,

I apologize I have been unable to get the Scoop out on Fridays lately.

We have had a busy first week of the 5 day in person model. There are over 350 students attending school in person. We have over 100 students fully remote. Our staff continues to work tirelessly to serve all of our students in our new instructional model. I know they are stretched, tired, and doing the best they can. It was a long week for both students and staff. There were smiles. There were tears. We persevered.

Students that had to shift schedules this week due to our shift to 5 day in person have acclimated to their new classes, advisors, and teams. This was a difficult transition for some, and we are supporting all students with these challenging transitions that are out of their control.

Each day, our ability to follow routines and our new normal gets a little better. It is important that families discuss our procedures and the importance of following the precautions we are taking at LMS. We appreciate the reinforcement of mask wearing, distancing, and hand hygiene at home. We also appreciate your completion of the daily health screening. Some students have arrived at school and have said to those checking them in that their temperatures are not being taken at home. We are asking for your cooperation following all of these important guidelines to keep us all healthy.

We finished the halfway point of the first trimester on October 19th. Normally, we would complete progress reports and comments for all classes at that point. Unfortunately, this coincided with the transition from the A/B hybrid model to the 5 day in person model. The essential arts teachers ended their classes and students shifted to new classes, so parents/guardians will see a final grade and comment for those classes in PowerSchool. For classes that did not shift, families can see up to the minute information in PowerSchool, and grades and comments will be completed at the end of the trimester in December. If you have a concern with a specific class, I urge you to reach out to the teacher directly.

Don't forget to set those clocks back an hour on Sunday. Have a safe and Happy Halloween weekend!

Regards,

John P. D'Entremont, Principal

Most recent newsletters were October 30th and October 29th and include information on the following:

• 2 Hour Delays & Snow Days
• Other Possible School Closings
• Waiver for DHMC to Expedite COVID-19 Testing
• Updated Bus Schedule

Click the button below for the latest newsletters from our Superintendent:

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

The PikMyKid Check-in Health Screening is required each day and Friday was our best day of students completing screenings. Students who do not complete the check-in before arriving will have to be screened at the door before entering the building. We average 20-30 check-ins daily which is 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 need to stagger our arrival in order to process students into our building:

Bus Riders - 7:22 AM

Band/Chorus Students - Please follow the directions from Ms. Garnham and Mr. Terry sent this week. If your child has a sibling that is not in the band or chorus, please drop them together at the same time. Band/Chorus will start on Tuesday morning.

Car drop offs should not start until 7:30. There is no early drop off. Arriving before 7:30 only slows down drop off. We discussed with students this week being ready to exit the car and exiting on the sidewalk side. 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.***

An Updated bus list was created based on ridership this week. Please look at this new bus route schedule.

Normally, it takes 6 minutes to dismiss the entire school. It is taking us 20 minutes and we are trying to do it in 15 minutes and keep distance as well as stagger.

Your patience is appreciated to keep everyone safe. Having your students cross the street to pick them up as a walker is not advised or recommended. In fact, it just slows things down. Walkers are the last students dismissed.

Students will be dismissed at the following times.

We ask that you 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

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.***

All families should check the PikMyKid app to ensure you have the right plans for the end of each school day and ensure you have properly delegated or changed plans as needed. Tutorials are found in the old news and announcements section of the Scoop.

Chorus will be meeting in person next week! If your child is interested in being a part of the chorus, please have them email me at ygarnham@sau88.net to join the google classroom. I'm so excited to get started!

Students participated in the NH SAS Interim Benchmark Assessments last week. Some students were not able to finish in the allotted time. Arrangements will be made to finish these assessments in the next few weeks. This will conclude our required assessments for the start of this year.

The first week back in school for 5 full days has gone fairly well. We still have students come to school without their health screenings completed causing delays in getting them into the building. Parental help with completing the screening before they leave the house in the morning would be greatly appreciated.

Please make sure your child is dressed appropriately for the weather. NO, the LMS nurse does NOT have extra clothing for when your child falls in the mud when they are outside for recess or a mask break (Can you imagine how many different clothing sizes I’d have to stock?). YES, they will be going outside as much as possible all year long. Believe me, they need to get outside! You know your children best, if you think they might need extra clothing, please pack it in their bag. If you need help supplying any clothing, please contact the nurse.

Do you need help with Food?

• The Food Pantry at Listen is open for drop - ins Monday - Friday from 10 - 4 PM. You can also call them at 448 - 4553.

• The Haven, located in VT, is open to NH residents as well. People can visit The Haven once a month for food supplies. The Food Pantry is open Monday - Friday from 9 AM - 3 PM. Should you have questions, please contact: 802 - 295 - 6500 or gro.nevahyellavreppu@ofni

Illness

COVID - 19 has many possible symptoms, and in order to keep our students and staff safe, I need your help and support. If your child has any of the following symptoms, please keep him or her home AND contact your medical provider:

• 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

Based on guidance from the NH Department of Public Health and the New Hampshire School Nurse Association, in order for your child to return to school if they exhibit any of the symptoms listed above, they should either get a COVID test and produce a negative test result, or choose to quarantine for 10 days since onset and improvement of symptoms. We all have a responsibility to help keep our community safe.

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/

Is it the FLU? A COLD? COVID-19?

In order to know . . . get tested. Be sure to get a Flu Shot. Flu symptoms are similar to COVID-19 symptoms. The NH Department of Public Health recommends that if you have any flu or COVID like symptoms that you get tested for both. Please report results to the nurse when appropriate.

Travel

As a reminder, and following the NH DHHS guidelines, if your child travels outside of NE(outside NH, ME, CT, MA, RI, VT) your child MUST self-quarantine for 14 days from the last day of travel. Please call the School and Nurse to report travel outside of NE

Nancy Pageau

npageau@sau88.net

603-727-9817 (direct line)

603-448-3056 (LMS)

Having concerns about your child at this time? Is your student struggling to stay on task? Things not going well? Reach out to the School Counselors for help. They are always happy to assist.

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 news from the LMS Library! A new book review! Find out what's happening in library world! And what is lurking in the library?

While no decisions have been made on whether or not there will be a Winter sports season, registration is now open for 7-8th grade Girls and Boys Basketball and 5-8th grade co-ed Nordic Skiing. To register, please click here.

We would like to thank Mr. Campfield for his service to the LMS community as Athletics & Co-Curricular Director. For the last three years, Mr. Campfield has done a wonderful job representing and serving our school. We will miss you, Mr. Campfield!

Friday was Star Wars theme day and of course we were heading into Halloween weekend.

Check out this week's...Masks of LMS...

Since we no longer can have snack and lunches in classrooms, we are using our gym and other rooms on the first floor.

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

Please join us at our next PTO meeting on Wednesday, November 4th at 7pm (Zoom details below). We will be discussing the transition back to 5 day in-person, our teacher appreciation efforts, possible virtual fundraising, and a number of other important topics, so we hope to see you there!

When: Wed, November 4 , 7:00pm - 8:00pm

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

Meeting ID: 946 6018 1992
Passcode: 965891
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November 7th - PTO Meeting at 7PM

November 12th - No School Veteran's Day

November 25th - November 29th - School Closed

School Board Meeting

Date: Nov 11
Time: 6:30 PM - 10:30 PM
Location: Lebanon Middle School, 3 Moulton Ave, Lebanon, NH 03766, USA

No one could have predicted that the bottom would fall out of the world and our lives seemingly overnight. Now parents have been laid off, or still working but from the home. Schools have been closed, and children sent home to learn online without their friends or routines. Now, one day seems to roll right into the next as we navigate this new world of masks, gloves, coolers at the end of the driveway, no structure, and no time (or space) to call our own! Many parents have been left feeling depleted and defeated, as their best just hasn’t seemed to be good enough.

Please join us as presenter Kimberly Quinn discusses what it means to be a “good enough” parent during a crisis and learn some practical strategies for regaining control and reducing anxious and fear-based thinking.

Tuesday, November 10 th , 6 - 7:30pm

To register and receive the Zoom link, please email TiaH@the-family-place.org

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.

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

Justin Campfield, 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