Volume: 2020-2021 ● Number: 25 ● Lebanon, NH

March 5, 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,

The weather was fluctuating this week like a yoyo going up and down. There were some beautiful sunny days and the days keep on getting longer. Our sledding hill glistens and is excitably fast.

This week, our Student Council began celebrating staff. Each week, different groups of staff members are celebrated by the Council. Council members deliver a bag of goodies on the morning a staff member is announced. This excellent addition by the Council has been well received by the staff. Thank you Student Council for your care of the staff!

We also had a staff meeting this past week to begin the discussions of celebrating this year and then reopening next year. We have much good work to do to celebrate 20-21 and plan for 21-22. As firm details emerge, we will share them with you.

As usual, there are many great things happening around LMS. Our classrooms and hallways are active and buzzing. Don't forget the transition to the third term is on March 15th. Next week, we have a number of staff joining virtual sessions at the New England League of Middle Schools 40th annual conference to continue their own learning.

We have many students who alternated between fully remote or in-person learning over the course of this year. LMS staff have been supportive and flexible, but these shifts have made planning and executing lessons challenging. As we begin the third term, we would like to have students remain either fully remote or in-person until the end of the school year. If you would like to make a change, please contact me early next week. Thank you for your understanding, and please reach out to me if you have questions.

Enjoy this week’s Scoop!

Regards,

John P. D'Entremont, Principal

Hello Eighth Grade Students and Families,

Although it is hard to believe, the time has arrived for our eighth graders to start thinking about High School. This is both an exciting time as well as a time where students may have questions about this process. This week Ms. VanZandt and I are going into advisories and talking to our students about the registration process to provide the necessary support for their success with registration for high school.

In order to help this process go smoothly for all our students, teachers will be putting their recommendations in this week for students' core subjects. The registration portal will be open to families on the evening of Wednesday, March 10th. Students will be able to log into PowerSchool and register for their classes. The High School would like this completed by Monday, March 15th.

Below is the link to the 2021-2022 program of studies and directions on how to register students for classes. Please feel free to email me with any questions.

Course Planning and Registration Process Entering 9th Grade

Class Registration Instructions for Students

2021-2022 Program of Studies- 9th Grade Edition

Friday, 3/12 Rainbows/ St Patrick Spirit

Friday, 3/26 Sports Teams Day

Parents/guardians must contact the school office. Please notify Ruth Keane at rkeane@sau88.net for all student absences, late arrivals, or dismissals (even if your child is learning remotely). If you call the school to report an absence, please call before 7:45am.

LMS uses PowerSchool for all student grades and attendance. Parents/guardians can access all of this information using a parent portal account. Did you know that Powerschool can notify you of your child's assignment status, grades, and class attendance? Here is a link to the PowerSchool Parent Portal Users Guide on our LMS webpage. If you need additional help, please contact Ruth Keane.

Student dismissal for car pick-up begins at 2PM.

5th & 7th Grade Car Riders Starting @ 2 PM

6th & 8th Grade Car Riders after 2:05 PM

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

As you are coming through the loop if your child is not outside quickly, please proceed to park and wait.

Please do not park on Moulton Avenue and ask your students to walk to your car. This is not helping the process and only creating more traffic. We want students leaving campus in cars unless they are identified walkers.

Governor Sununu announced yesterday that vaccinations for teachers/school staff will be starting next week with many different plans in place. That is good news for LSD! There is much discussion and information comparing the effectiveness of the new single dose Johnson & Johnson vaccine (72%) and the current Pfizer and Moderna vaccines (94-95%).

Most important to note is that all 3 vaccines have been proven to prevent hospitalizations and death. That is the ultimate vaccine goal! We know that coronaviruses have been around and will probably be around long term. If we can reduce the severity of any illness from these viruses, that is a win!

The recommendation remains that you take whatever vaccine becomes available to you and don’t wait for a specific vaccine.

NH DHHS Quarantine guidance:

A person is not required to quarantine after an unprotected exposure to a person with COVID-19 or after travel outside of New England if the person remains asymptomatic AND the exposure or travel occurred in a person who is either:

• 14 days or more beyond full vaccination (i.e., 14 days after receipt of the second dose of an mRNA vaccine, or 14 days after receipt of the single-dose Janssen (Johnson & Johnson) vaccine) – NH’s guidance for quarantine after full vaccination has no specified upper time limit

OR

• Within 90 days of a prior SARS-CoV-2 infection diagnosed by PCR or antigen testing

Any person with new or unexplained symptoms of COVID-19 needs to isolate, be evaluated and considered for COVID-19 testing (even if that person is fully vaccinated or was previously infected), especially if there was an identified exposure or travel in the 14 days prior to symptoms onset.

All fully vaccinated, or previously infected, persons should continue to follow currently recommended mitigation measures, including: wearing face masks, social distancing, avoiding social/group gatherings, limiting non-essential travel, etc.

Once again, a reminder for students to be prepared for outdoor activities during recess or breaks to reduce the number of minor injuries seen daily in the nurse's office.

Please reach out with any questions you may have.

The OLD NEWS, FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS & COVID HOTLINES information has been moved to the OLD NEWS SECTION at the end of the Scoop in case you still need to reference.

Nancy Pageau

npageau@sau88.net

603-727-9817 (direct line)

603-448-3056 (LMS)

Positive Cases - 5

Current Active Cases - 0

Students/Staff Currently Isolated/Quarantined - 6

Number of Students/Staff Tested (since September) - 264*

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

Number of Students/Staff with Pending Test Results - 1

NH COVID-19 Schools Dashboard

Carolynn Stockwell, 5/6

cstockwell@sau88.net

Stephanie Allard, 7/8

sallard@sau88.net

Elena VanZandt, Student Assistance Provider

evanzandt@sau88.net

Hello Eighth Grade Students and Families,

Although it is hard to believe, the time has arrived for our eighth graders to start thinking about High School. This is both an exciting time as well as a time where students may have questions about this process. This week Ms. VanZandt and I are going into advisories and talking to our students about the registration process to provide the necessary support for their success with registration for high school.

In order to help this process go smoothly for all our students, teachers will be putting their recommendations in this week for students' core subjects. The registration portal will be open to families on the evening of Wednesday, March 10th. Students will be able to log into PowerSchool and register for their classes. The High School would like this completed by Monday, March 15th.

Below is the link to the 2021-2022 program of studies and directions on how to register students for classes. Please feel free to email me with any questions.

Course Planning and Registration Process Entering 9th Grade

Class Registration Instructions for Students

2021-2022 Program of Studies- 9th Grade Edition

Just a reminder that OVERDUE notices are sent via email directly to students. If a student has an email from LMS Library they should read the email promptly. There are many books overdue, so please take a few minutes to remind your student to put them in backpacks and return them as soon as possible. Bills will be going out again soon. Thank you!

The 2021 LMS Baseball and Softball season is officially a go! There will be COVID-19 protocols to be followed which will be announced at a later date. Any 7th or 8th grader interested in playing either sport this year please be sure to sign up NOW via FamilyID HERE.

We are still looking for students who might be interested in helping with the yearbook. If you are interested, please reach out to Mr. Masi.

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

Next Meetings:

Monday, 2/8 Exec. Council Meeting 2:30

Monday, 2/22 Full Council Meeting 2:30

Students... Do you have a teacher/ staff member who has helped you during your time at LMS? Maybe a teacher who has made learning fun? A staff member who always brightens your day? Complete this Google Form to let me know how much you appreciate them! (You can remain anonymous if you choose to do so, just state that in the Name box) The student council will be doing something with them so please complete the form as soon as possible.

https://forms.gle/8Nk2GAR414d3vNx37

March Spirit Days:

Friday, 3/12 Rainbows/ St Patrick Spirit

Friday, 3/26 Sports Teams Day

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!

Don't forget to vote March 9th!

When: Wed, April 7 , 7:00pm - 8:00pm

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

Meeting ID: 946 6018 1992
Passcode: 965891
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Meeting ID: 946 6018 1992
Passcode: 965891

March 12th - Trimester 2 Ends

March 15th - T3A Begins - New Essential Arts

Link to the recorded Lebanon Candidates Night Event below.

City-Wide Voting, Tuesday, March 9, polls are open from 7 am until 7 pm. Three Polling Places: Ward 1: Kilton Library, Ward 2: United Methodist Church, Ward 3: NEW LOCATION - City Hall. Need to find your Ward? https://lebanonnh.gov/582/Find-Your-Ward-by-Street-Name

SAMPLE-SCHOOL-BALLOT

When: Mon, March 15 , 6:30pm

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

In-person, and Zoom: Please click this URL to join. https://us02web.zoom.us/j/82190670453?pwd=NEFUTG1aUVJZM29oRldMR055Yi85dz09
Passcode: 804043

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

Nothing for this week!

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.

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

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/

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 after 2:05 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