March 19, 2021

 

Griffin Memorial School News

March 19, 2021 Dear GMS Families,                                                                                                  Well this weekend we can finally put Winter behind us as we welcome in Spring. Each day will have more sunlight, warmth, and possibility. I don't know about you, but what Spring brings seems even more poignant this year. Here is to a season of hope, change, renewal, warmth, and possibility.         It is also time to offer you the opportunity to switch your child's mode of instruction. At previous times we have asked that you make a commitment for a certain length of time. This will be the last formal survey we will send out, so there is no end time to the commitment. This survey will indicate a switch in delivery mode beginning on March 29. After that date, we will still be able to accommodate a switch, however we will handle it on a case by case basis, by communicating with administration. If you would like to switch modes on March 29th, we ask that you complete the survey below. Learning Mode Change Survey Be Well, Be Safe, and Be Curious, Dan Mitchell, Principal Maura Clinton- Jones, Assistant Principal Upcoming Dates GMS News Weekly COVID Numbers Currently we have Five positive cases associated with the school community.  We continue to monitor the situation and will communicate out when necessary.  A message from our Student Council Please support the GMS Student Council Pet Supply Drive running from Monday, March 22 through Friday, April 2. All donations will benefit the Animal Rescue League of NH and the Manchester Animal Shelter. See the flyer below for more information. Thank you in advance for your support! Flyer A message from Mrs. Seabrook I have completed hearing screens on the KG, 1st and 3rd graders for in person students. If there are students in remote learning whose parents would like them to have a hearing screen, please email me @ sseabrook@litchfieldsd.org. We can set up a time for your student to come into GMS. Girls on the Run  Attention 3rd and 4th graders! Registration is now open for girls on the run! The season starts the week of April 5th. Girls on the run is a physical activity-based youth development program designed to enhance girls’ social, emotional and physical skills. We will meet on Mondays and Thursdays at GMS from 3-430. We will end the season with a 5k celebration! We will be following covid guidelines. Register online at https://www.girlsontherunnh.org/Our-Locations Please click HERE for more information. News from the SAU/ Superintendent Friday, March 19, 2020 An Update on Vaccines, Travel Quarantines and Close Contact Tracing Vaccines - We have recently entered Vaccination Phase 2A, which provides all K-12 educators and staff with access to a COVID-19 vaccine.  To make vaccination efficient for our staff, we have partnered with Chief Fraitzel from Litchfield Fire and Rescue to bring Walgreens to CHS on 3/27 for a closed pod clinic for our staff.  In addition, there is a regional clinic the same weekend and staff can register on their own through the new state website.  This means that every Litchfield staff member has the opportunity to be fully immunized by May 1st.  Therefore, as we return from April vacation, we know that our staff will be at a much lower risk of COVID-19 transmission.  This is great news for our school community. Travel Quarantines - The State of NH has issued new guidance on travel quarantines.  While they continue to caution that travel is still risky for transmission of COVID-19 including new variants, they also have lifted the quarantine period after travel outside of New England.  Therefore, effective on May 3rd, we will no longer require staff or students to quarantine after travel within the US.  This does not apply to international travel, and all travelers are advised to be tested for COVID-19 five days after returning to home.  Please note that we will continue to offer blended synchronous learning for the remainder of this school year.  Any family with travel concerns may coordinate in advance with school principals for remote learning. Close Contact Tracing - After scientifically studying quarantine practices and COVID transmission in public schools, the CDC has reduced the definition of “close contact” when determining which staff or students need to quarantine after exposure.  The new guidance reduces spacing from 6 feet to 3 feet while maintaining the 10 minute standard of time.  We have applied this new standard to exposures that took place this week, and have been able to invite some students and staff back to in-person learning.  Please note that the 3-6 foot zone REQUIRES proper masking protocols if quarantining is to be avoided.  Students who frequently remove masks when within 3-6 feet of others will be required to quarantine if exposed.  When masks are removed (eating lunch, etc.), the 6 foot physical distancing standard remains in effect. As I’ve said before, the light is at the end of the tunnel!  Please keep your guard up as spring arrives and all of the positive changes take place. Be Well & Stay Strong!  Mike Jette, Superintendent of Schools News from the PTO CELEBRATE SPRING SATURDAY, MARCH 20, 2021 ENJOY the spring day! How will you kick start Spring? Share a photo with us for a chance to win one of our 6 spring prizes. Please submit photos by the end of day 3/20/21.  Photos can be submitted to ptonhgms@gmail.com *please note submissions will be shared on the PTO Facebook Page. VIRTUAL GUIDED ART CLASS WITH MRS. STARRETT Wednesday, March 31, 2021. The GMS PTO is pleased to bring a Virtual Art Class with Mrs. Starrett on March 30, 2021 at 4:30pm. Registration is required by March 24, 2021.   Students will work on a floral arrangement to bring in Spring. Supplies will be provided.  Space is limited and spots will be assigned on a first-come, first-serve basis.  Register today here: https://forms.gle/NnmpTFGYjWAjLHWr9 News from the Community The Girl Scouts of the Green and White Mountains have a few events coming up in the local area. Animal Dance Party Let’s Get Moving Repeated News and Announcements A Note from Mrs. Seabrook The children are having tons of fun playing at recess, either in or out of the snow. As a result, their masks are getting quite wet and often need replacing after recess.  If possible could each student have an extra mask in their backpack to provide a replacement if necessary after recess? I do have paper masks here, but children are always more comfortable in their own masks. Thank you in advance for your cooperation. Child Find Litchfield School District will be hosting our annual "Child Find Program"  Wednesday  March 17, 2021 from 12:00 PM- 2:00 PM. This program is open to all Litchfield residents regardless of enrollment at GMS. If your child is between the ages of 2 1/2 to 5 years 11 months, and you have concerns about their development, vision, hearing, coordination or speech, please reach out to Courtney Beach  to schedule an appointment by calling 603-424-5931 x 1120 or emailing cbeach@litchfieldsd.org. From the Learning Commons I am excited to announce that the Litchfield School District now has the SORA app available to all students.  This is a library of ebooks and audiobooks that can be borrowed from any computer, tablet or Smartphone. I have included a couple of videos to get you started. SORA overview Parent Information If you search using Litchfield's zip code (03052), you can add two collections to the Litchfield School District one:  NH State Library and NH Schools Shared Digital Collection.  Please help your children to be able to take advantage of these book borrowing opportunities.  They could find the SORA app in their Google apps as well and will need to log on using their Litchfield School District Google account.  If you have any questions, please let me know by contacting me at mprevelturmel@litchfieldsd.org. Enjoy! Melina Prevel-Turmel A Message for Families This past year has certainly presented many challenges that may be difficult for adults and this can be even more true for children. Although we may work hard to insulate our children from troubling events happening in our world, they are perceptive and can be impacted by things they do not fully understand. The National Association of School Psychologists offers the following tips on Helping Your Child Cope with Challenging Events. If you would like any additional support for your family, the following resources are available: Jennifer Hayes, GMS School Counselor (424-5931 x1106) Marie Polichronopoulos, GMS School Psychologist (424-5931 x1160) Waypoint Family Services (603-518-4000) LifeStance Health (603-883-0005) NH Substance Misuse & Addiction Helpline (1-844-711-4357) Crisis Text Line (Text 741741) If you or a family member is showing any of the Warning Signs of Suicide, please get help as soon as possible by calling the Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 1-800-273-8255 or Crisis Text Line (Text 741741). Absence Reporting Email The GMS office now has a dedicated email address to use to report your child tardy or absent:  GMSabsences@litchfieldsd.org. You can also find it on the Griffin Memorial School homepage, on the top, left side under “ABSENCES”. When you send an email please include the following information:                 *Child’s first and last name                 *Teacher                 *Reason for absence If you would prefer to leave a voicemail message when your child is absent or tardy you are still welcome to call 424-5931 and then hit “6” when you hear the automated message. Please remember to include the above information in the voice message. Please note that when you email or leave a voice message saying that your child “will be out” then the absence is recorded as unexcused. Please tell us the reason for the absence so it is documented correctly. Don't forget to join the GMS SEL classroom with Mrs. Hayes and Ms. Poli.  Click the link  to join  https://classroom.google.com/c/MTQyODg4MjYzNDIy?cjc=333dr33 End 68 Hours of Hunger Litchfield Schools are pleased to inform you about a free, confidential food program which provides students with meals from Friday after school until they return on Monday morning. The program is sponsored by “End 68 Hours of Hunger,” a local, private food program whose mission is to help families feed their children over the weekends. If meeting the weekend nutritional needs of your child is challenging at this time, we would like to help meet that need. All food is non-perishable as well as easy to prepare and we do our best to accommodate food allergies when necessary. Guaranteeing your child’s confidential participation in the program is also a top priority. For additional information or to sign up, please contact Jennifer Hayes, GMS School Counselor, at 424-5931 x1106 or jhayes@litchfieldsd.org. Powerschool Parent Portal This summer we switched our Student Information System to Powerschool. As part of Powerschool, you are able to access the Parent Portal in the Unified Classroom feature of this system. Please follow the link below to set up you parent portal account. Please contact the main office if you have an issues creating an account. For Parents - Directions for Parent Access

229 Charles Bancroft Hwy. Litchfield, NH 03052 (603) 424-5931 Past Editions of the GMS School News can be found at: https://griffinnhnews.blogspot.com/