Mrs. Rand's Principal Update

We completed our first full week of school for the 2020-2021 school year! The administrative team along with our teachers and staff have had to be flexible as we navigate the "new normal" of school during a pandemic.

Once again I want to take a moment and brag on our kids! They have handled all of the new procedures with resiliency and have risen to the expectations that we have set to ensure everyone is safe.

Another THANK YOU to all of our teachers. In addition to teaching both virtual and in person classes, they are taking on extra responsibilities and filling in for their colleagues as substitutes when needed.

If your child is still having difficulties with their schedule, please email our school counselor at Shari.Carter@mnps.org.

Sincerely,

Mrs. Rand

Students will be dismissed at 12:25 of Friday, March 12.

MNPS Spring Break is March 15-19, 2021. Fourth Quarter begins on March 22, 2021.

Spring Break Meals for Families

During Spring Break, families will be able to pick up grab-and-go meals for multiple days from 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. Monday, March 15 (Meals for Mon. – Wed.) and Wednesday March 17 (Meals for Thurs –Sunday) at any of the following schools:

• Apollo Middle • Cane Ridge High • Cole Elementary • Dupont Elementary • H.G. Hill Middle • I.T. Creswell Middle • Lakeview Elementary • Madison Middle • McKissack Middle • Napier Elementary • John Overton High • Shwab Elementary • Stratford High • Two Rivers Middle • Wright Middle

MNPS has now approved for schools to begin physical conditioning for all sports. All sports conditioning will begin Monday March 22, 2021. This will be conditioning only, NOT competition between school teams. COVID protocols will always be in place and followed. Masks must always be worn, and social distancing must be maintained. This opportunity is open to in person and virtual students. Conditioning may be done virtually or in person, this will be the Coach’s discretion. Students may participate in conditioning for more than one sport. For example, if your child plays soccer and basketball, he or she can attend both conditioning days. Students' 5th – 8th grades may participate. In Person conditioning will begin at 4:15. Please be on time to pick your child up from in person after school conditioning at 5:30. Virtual conditioning times will be 4:45-5:30.

For students to participate, the following forms must be returned by both virtual and in person students participating in after school conditioning for ILMS:

• Physical Form Signed by Physician

• Concussion Form

• Sudden Cardiac Arrest Form

All virtual and in person physical form must be turned into Ms. Donaldson, the ILMS Athletic Director before a student must participate. If you have any questions, please reach out to Ms. Donaldson Lois.Donaldson@mnps.org.

To accommodate for the number of students who are in person and virtual, we are having to adjust the the Related Arts Schedule. All in person students will have Related Arts Classes on Monday, Wednesday and Friday. Virtual students will log into Related Arts classes on Tuesdays and Thursdays.

The exception to this change is Band students. All band students, virtual and in person will have Related Arts class everyday.

Standard School Attire (SSA)

When students return to school, the ILMS SSA Policy will be relaxed to accommodate families that have been adversely impacted by the pandemic. The ILMS SSA Policy is:

• Bottoms: Jeans (No Rips, Holes, or Exposed Skin) , Black, Khaki, Navy Blue, or Gray
• Shirts: Any color Polo style shirt, Litton Pridewear shirt anytime

Before and Aftercare Programs

ILMS is proud that the Martha O'Bryan Center will be offering FREE Before Care to all ILMS Families! Drop off opens at 6:45 a.m. Parents can enter the building around the back at the cafeteria entrance to sign in students for Before Care.

NAZA is offering FREE After Care to ILMS Families. After Care is from 4:00-7:00. NAZA supports the school's academic goals by offering tutoring, homework help, and enrichment.

Please click in the link below to sign up for Before Care and/or Aftercare.

Backpacks and Locker Policy

For the 2020-2021 school year, it is an expectation that students bring their laptop and charger to school each day, therefore, ILMS will be allowing students to bring backpacks to school. Students WILL ONLY HAVE TWO LOCKER BREAKS EACH DAY, AT THE BEGINNING AND END OF THE DAY. In the morning, students should put away coats or jackets and backpacks. Students should keep computers, lunches, and any supplies with them. Students may carry the ILMS string bags to keep smaller supplies throughout the day. At the end of the day, students can place all items, including computers into their backpacks to go home. ILMS will provide students the first string bag for free. Additional bags will be available for purchase. MNPS has purchased computer sleeves for each student to ensure computers are protected while students are mobile in the building.

Each student returning in person will be assigned a locker. Locker assignments will take in consideration social distancing and will limit opportunities for students to gather in groups.

Dismissal Procedures

Each student that will return to school in-person will be assigned a number. Each family will be provided a placard with the number their child has been assigned. The placard should be displayed clearly in the windshield of any vehicle that will be picking up their child for dismissal. School officials will need to be able to clearly see the number. School officials will call student numbers inside of the school building for dismissal. This procedure ensures social distancing guidelines are being followed. If you are in need of a car placard, please email Lisa.French@mnps.org with your child's First and Last Name and Grade.

Due to COVID Protocols, ILMS had to revise our arrival and dismissal car rider procedures to ensure that social distance is maintained. We also need to ensure that traffic flow is safe and orderly.

Arrival

Before the 8:40 bell, parents can pull into the center lane and wait to release their child until the school doors are open. After 8:40, parents should pull all the way down the center lane so that we can move several cares for drop off at the same time. We are asking parents not to park on the public street and wait for school doors to open. You can now pull into the center lane and wait there. In addition, we have received complaints from our neighbors about this practice. ILMS wants to be a good neighbor in the community.

Dismissal

At dismissal, the first lane is used for buses only, until a school official opens the lane for cars. When directed by a school official, cars can begin filling up the lane on the soccer side and the middle lane. Once all buses have left, the school side lanes will be filled. Please have your school placard visible with the student(s) name and number. As lanes are filled, we are calling student names inside so that they can be ready to be dismissed once all cars are stopped in the lanes. Students will stand on the sidewalk close to their car and wait for the whistle to sound before being released to their car. Once all students have been loaded into their car, the lanes will be released.

GREAT NEWS! All ILMS students can eat breakfast and lunch for free! It is important that all of our families take advantage of this. In order for breakfast and lunch to remain free, the majority of our students have to eat. Breakfast begins at 8:40 every morning! When students enter the building, they can go straight to the cafeteria to eat.

Thanks to our School Counselor, Ms. Carter, and our School Social Worker, Ms. Pheiffer, our students will be engaged in four educational sessions to cope with Mental Health Awareness on Thursday, March 11.The four sessions are:

• Social Justice/Cultural Awareness
• Stress Management/Coping,
• Time Management
• Organizational skills

It is our goal for our students to gain valuable tips and advice on maintaining a healthy mental awareness while balancing the demands of virtual or in person school.

Any 5th or 6th grade student has the opportunity to attend the GREAT Summer Camp sponsored by the Metro Nashville Police Department. Please review the application and documents below.

All 5th and 6th graders interested in going to camp will need to have all pages filled out and signed by parent/guardian and returned to SRO Ramsey. Please contact the main office for a paper copy of the application. For questions about GREAT Camp email Officer Ramsey at Michieal.Ramsey@nashville.gov.

Any family that is in need of a new device can make an appointment to exchange your device using the link below. This laptop exchange is only for those students who HAVE NOT received a new student computer. If your computer still has the Global Protect feature installed on it, you need a new device and should book an appointment. Laptop Exchange Appointment Link

It is an expectation that students log into their synchronous classes, on Monday, Wednesday,

and Friday and their PLT Classes every day! As a reminder 5th and 6th grade PLT classes are

from 12:00-12:50 daily and 7th and 8th grade PLT classes are from 11:05-12:00. Please email any excuse notes to LittonMSAttendence@mnps.org or contact Lisa.French@mnps.org.

The mission of Isaac Litton Middle School is to be the first choice STEM community school by providing opportunities for every student to obtain knowledge, skills, and character to excel and compete effectively in an ever-changing world.

Isaac Litton Shared Vision: All children, unique in their own needs, can learn to be good productive citizens and successful individuals. Educator and support personnel will demonstrate professionalism while implementing instructional strategies and practices. Parents and community, as active participants in the school, will serve as vital contributors in the educational process of all children.

Our Commitment: Being Prepared, Reflective, Innovative, Data-driven, and Engaged in ensuring SUCCESS for all students!

Email: Chara.Rand@mnps.org
Website: https://schools.mnps.org/isaac-litton-middle-prep
Location: Isaac Litton Middle School, Hedgewood Drive, Nashville, TN, USA
Phone: (615) 262-6700
Facebook: facebook.com/IsaacLittonPTSO
Twitter: @RandChara