Superintendent's Letter

Dear Students, Staff, Families, and Community Members,

As part of my responsibilities, I really enjoy spending time in the schools and this week I had the opportunity to spend time at Hanover Street School and Mount Lebanon Elementary School. In both schools, I saw students engaged in math, reading, spelling, and music activities. It was a wonderful experience to see our Pre-kindergarten through fourth-grade students actively engaged in learning, asking questions, and fully enjoying their time at school. At MLS, I participated in a fire drill and was impressed by the way it was organized and structured. The staff and students did a great job of exiting the building, following the route, and returning to school. I look forward to the time when we can invite parents, volunteers, and visitors back to our schools so that you will have the opportunity to see first-hand all the amazing activities that take place there.

A reminder that schools are closed this coming Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday for Thanksgiving Break. I hope you have a wonderful Thanksgiving!

Newsletter Topics:

· Lebanon School Board Update-LHS Track and Renovation Project

· COVID Update and Vaccination Clinic for Children and Adults on December 4th

· COVID Staff and Student Volunteer Pool Testing Information

Lebanon School Board Update- LHS Track and Renovation Project

The Lebanon High School Track Fundraising Committee is continuing to meet regularly. We are planning to raise $300,000 for the project and construction of a new LHS track is slated for this summer with a completion date in mid-September.

On Wednesday, November 10th, the Board approved renovations to Lebanon High School including a new front entrance, student lobby, and band room. To keep the total cost of the project down, the Board decided not to do the site work related to the HSS/LHS parking lot at this time.

Due to the scale of both the HSS and LHS renovation projects, a warrant article for a bond vote will be put forward to voters this March. We encourage community members to participate in School Board meetings and to vote in March.

COVID Update

Statewide, the number of COVID cases is increasing. Whether inside of school or outside of school safety precautions such as masking and physical distancing will help limit transmission in the community. We are also encouraging individuals to be vaccinated if possible.

We continue to encourage staff members and children to participate in volunteer COVID testing in school. We had several students who were asymptomatic test positive for COVID via pool testing. These cases may not have been noticed and the potential for transmission to staff, students, families, and community members might have been higher if COVID had not been detected via pool testing. We are doing our best to put as many layers in place as possible to help mitigate the transmission of COVID and keep our schools open.

We greatly appreciate it when parents let us know that their child has symptoms, will be tested for COVID, and inform us if the results are positive or negative. The only way we can mitigate transmission is to keep an open line of communication between our families and schools and take appropriate steps to keep our staff, students, families, and community members safe.

Vaccination Clinic for Children Ages Five and Older and Adults- Saturday, December 4th at HSS/LHS

The Upper Valley Regional Public Health Network and DHMC vaccination clinic for children ages five and older and adults on Saturday, November 13 went very well. Over 700 children were vaccinated and several hundred booster shots were given on that day.

The next clinic will be held on Saturday, December 4th at the LHS/HSS campus.

The vaccination clinic will be open to the public beginning at 8:00 am on Saturday, December 4th. To participate, individuals should sign up through New Hampshire Vaccine and Immunization Network Interface (VINI).

Voluntary Pooled COVID Testing Information

To sign up your PreKindergarten-12th grade child, 17 years old or younger, for voluntary COVID testing please use this link.

For staff and students who are 18 years or older please use this link to sign up for voluntary testing.

When prompted please use the following access codes:

· Hanover Street School: 532H6E

· Lebanon Middle School: 81ZM9C

· Mount Lebanon Elementary School: XHBBGP

· Lebanon High School: KLFZAN

Pre-Kindergarten through 12th-grade parents will need to complete a separate form for each child participating in voluntary COVID testing.

In Closing

Please know that we appreciate your patience, understanding, and support as we navigate through this school year. If you have any questions, do not hesitate to contact me.

Dr. Joanne Roberts

The Lebanon School District, in partnership with the community, is committed to providing a challenging, positive, and safe learning environment that CARES:

• Cultivates curiosity and collaboration
• Achieves academic excellence
• Respects and values diversity
• Encourages responsible citizenship
• Supports the needs of every learner

Upcoming School Board Meeting:

Lebanon School District Annual Budget Meeting- Saturday, November 20, 2021 8:00 am LMS Cafeteria

Lebanon School Board Regular Meeting- Wednesday, December 8, 2021, 6:30 pm LMS Cafeteria

Please visit the SAU #88 website for further information.

Link to Board Agendas and Minutes

Website: www.sau88.net
Location: 20 Seminary Hill Road, West Lebanon, NH, USA
Phone: 603-795-8500