The Pulse of the Pride

Lyme School Friends,

It is hard to believe that the school year is fast approaching already. 2023-2024 is just around the corner! Staff have started to return to their classrooms and the excitement is already building for this academic year.

We will be ready!

As we finished up school last year, we had a number of ongoing projects that would be rolled out this year. This newsletter is chock full of great information including details about our 5 day schedule, our brand new student information system called ALMA, and even an invite to a get to know the PTO.

The next newsletter will hit your inbox on August 25th with any additional details for the start of school!

Our first day of school is August 30th!

As always, please feel free to reach out to us if you have any questions. Have a wonderful remainder of August!

Regards,

John P. D'Entremont, Principal

Dates:

8/30 - First Day of School

9/4 - No School

9/19 - School Picture Day

9/20 - School Picture Day Rain Date if needed

9/21 - MS Hike

10/3 - School Picture Re-takes

10/31 - Lyme School Flu Clinic Tentative Date

Here is our suggested school supplies list:

For All Students -

• We recommend a water bottle and backpack labeled with the student name for all students.
• Colored Pencils
• Markers
• Scissors

K - None

1st Grade - None

2nd Grade - None

3rd Grade -

4th Grade -

5th Grade -

6th - 8th Grades -

On our first day of school, we will be doing a similar routine to last year. Please bring your students to the path from the parking lot to our soccer field. Teachers will be waiting on the field where students will greet them and their classmates. Parents/Guardians will congregate on the playground along the path and watch our 8th graders parade into the building followed by Kindergarten through 7th graders at 8:00 AM. Parents/Guardians and community members will wait for all to pass and then go around to meet all grades at the front of the school for the traditional 8th grade bell ringing (please refrain from walking through the school). We hope you will join us! After the bell ringing, all students will enter the school with their advisors and teachers to commence their first day.

If it is raining, all students will report to the gym on the first morning and middle school students will come out of the building for the bell ringing a little past 8AM and then reenter the school afterwards.

This year, we are shifting to a consistent five day schedule for students, staff, and families. The school has run 5 day schedules in the past.

What does this mean for our lower schoolers K-5?

Lower schoolers can expect a similar schedule to last year in that they will have long academic blocks for math and ELA every day. Their specials will fall on specific days all year. Students will know which day of the week they have art, design lab, library, music, and PE because it will always be the same.

What does this mean for our middle schoolers 6-8?

Middle schoolers will have shorter blocks and see all of their teachers every day. Their classes will rotate each day, for example, a child may have math first period on Monday but the class will shift to second period on Tuesday and then third period on Wednesday. Students will have electives on certain days and call back on certain days. The schedule overall will be more predictable and consistent for the students.

This year, we will be using ALMA as our student information system. This is a significant shift from PowerSchool and much training and learning happened last year as we set up our system. It was also a significant cost savings for our District.

Alma is a secure, easy-to-use online system that brings important school information and tools together in one place. We expect this to save time and make it easier for all.

In addition to educator tools, Alma offers a parent and student dashboard to help the student’s support system stay informed and on track with their learning. Alma provides access to:

• School Calendar

• Staff Directory

• Class Rosters

• Attendance History

• Assignments

• Grades

• Locker, Bus and Student ID information

You can also email teachers and school staff through Alma, so you never have to search for their contact information. If you have more than one child enrolled at our school, you will be able to access each student’s information with a single login!

On Monday, August 14th, you will receive an email from notifications@getalma.com. This is an email from the ALMA system to activate your account and set up your password. Please do this so you can access the ALMA system.

Please double check your contact information and let us know if you have any changes.

If you are interested in the web app for your mobile device, we have included those instructions below as well for your convenience.

If you have trouble, please reach out to Amanda Perry or John D'Entremont. We have included a simple accessing guide below.

EMERGENCY ALERT TEST - We will be conducting an emergency alert test from ALMA on Monday, August 21st in the morning. ALMA is also replacing Blackboard Connect. ALMA will send an emergency alert to a user's preferred channel (text message or phone call) AND a copy is sent to your email address. We only use emergency alerting in such a case as closing school for inclement weather. If for some reason you do not receive this emergency alert test, please contact Amanda Perry in the office.

For a number of years, we have had 1st through 4th grade have their library program across the street while our kindergarten students have had their library program at school. 5th through 8th graders' library and research skills have been embedded into their content courses at school.

This year, all grades will have a similar experience with all library classes being held at the school. This is an important shift for consistency. Ms. Neuroth and Mrs. Russell have been collaborating since my arrival at the Lyme School and work well together. I believe this is the best path forward for our library program at this time and students will still continue to go across the street when needed and appropriate. Mrs. Russell and the public library is a big part of our program and we will continue to collaborate on events and funding children's books.

6th - 8th Grade ELA - Jennifer Fox is a NH native; she grew up in Nashua and lived in Hollis for most of her adult life. She taught at Hollis-Brookline Middle School for ten years, starting in the Special Education department prior to teaching eighth-grade English for nine years. Ms. Fox is a mother to two adult children, Sydney and Jack, who live in San Diego and Seattle, respectively. In her free time, Ms. Fox enjoys many hobbies such as mountain climbing, traveling, reading, baking, and attending theater productions. She is thrilled to join the Lyme School community!

6th - 8th Grade Math - Becci Chase moves to us from up north. She taught at Woodsville High School last year and Haverhill Cooperative Middle School before that. She considers herself a lifelong math learner who has taught math to students in grades 2 through 12. Ms. Chase worked with some of our students during our summer program this summer and is excited to be joining the Lyme School community!

Director of Facilities - Craig Tetley joins our school as the new facilities director. Mr. Tetley is moving south to Lyme from SAU 23 after 15 years in their maintenance. He started several weeks ago and has already met a number of folks. He is glad to be joining the Lyme School community!

The Lyme School Apparel Store has a variety of apparel and accessories all customizable with a variety of school logos. The Lyme School PTO earns 12% of all sales. Thank you for supporting our school and go Lions! #LYMESCHOOLROCKS

This is next school year's academic calendar if for some reason you do not have it. This calendar marks our vacations/holidays for the school year.

Kati Miller RN BSN: Mon, Tues, Thurs, Fri

Matthew Greenway RN BSN: alternating Weds and coverage as needed

Celeste McCool RN BSN: alternating Weds and coverage as needed

Lyme School Community,

Welcome returning and new students and families to the 2023-2024 school year. Please refer to the following information from the Nursing Health Office.

Additional School Nurse information can be found on the Lyme School website under the Student Support tab.

Staffing:

The Nurse's office is staffed Monday-Friday by a Registered Nurse. Please email nurse@lymeschool.org and/or call the Main Office 795-2125 if your child is absent from school due to illness or injury.

Duties include Nursing care, Health Screening, Medication administration, First Aid, Emergency care, Individualized Health Planning, Health Education, and collaborative work with families, teachers, special education services, our guidance counselor and behavioral coach.

Kati Miller RN BSN: Mon, Tues, Thurs, Fri

Matthew Greenway RN BSN: Wednesday/as needed coverage

Celeste McCool RN BSN: Wednesday/as needed coverage

Medication Administration:

If your child requires emergency medications (epipen, inhaler, etc.) to be kept securely in the Nurse's office, please contact nurse@lymeschool.org to set up a time to deliver the medication along with an updated allergy or asthma action plan from your child's Healthcare Provider.

Returning students need an updated allergy or asthma action plan at the start of each school year.

For daily medication administration, please complete and return the forms below with your child's Healthcare provider.

All medications need to be dropped off before the first day of school and important forms are below:

https://core-docs.s3.amazonaws.com/documents/asset/uploaded_file/142283/Authorization_for_Medication_Administration_Form.pdf

https://core-docs.s3.amazonaws.com/documents/asset/uploaded_file/142284/Medication_or_Procedure_Order_Form.pdf

Student Influenza Vaccine Clinic:

The Flu Clinic for students will be held this year at Lyme School on Tuesday, October 31 2023 during the school day. Registration forms will be provided as we get closer to this date.

COVID-19 Information:

Please review the provided links regarding COVID-19 recommendations from the Center for Disease Control (CDC):

• Individuals who are experiencing symptoms or have tested positive for COVID-19 should isolate at home and follow CDC's recommendations Isolation and Precautions for People with COVID-19

• What to do if you were Exposed to COVID-19

The Lyme School Nurse's office is here to support you and your child and to promote healthy outcomes for students and staff.

Please contact me with any questions or concerns you or your student may have regarding the upcoming school year.

We look forward to a new school year and appreciate your cooperation.

Kati Miller RN BSN

• School Directory
• Artist in Residence Program – Volunteers arrange for an artist to work with students in all grades. This hands-on program brings visual, musical, and movement programming from outside the school to engage students.
• Box Tops – Support the PTO by scanning your receipts.
• Lyme School Garden – Installed and maintained by volunteers, the garden beds provide an opportunity for teachers to expand their classrooms outdoors.

• Boo-Hoo Woo-Hoo Breakfast – Join us for coffee and pastries as we discuss first day jitters and joys.
• Teacher/Staff Appreciation Luncheons – Parent volunteers sign up to provide homemade lunches for staff during conference weeks.
• Giving Tree – School families provide gifts for classrooms and for those in need.

Will take place on August 24, 2023 at the School.

Topic: Lyme School Board Meeting

Time: This is a recurring meeting Meet anytime

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OUR VALUES

● Fairness ● Acceptance of Others ● Integrity ● Responsibility

● Perseverance ● Individuality ● Compassion ● Courage

John P. D'Entremont, Principal

Elise Foxall, Academic Director

Geoff Tomlinson, Student Services Director