Dear Lurgio Families,
Parenting adolescents can be challenging in normal times, and the current pandemic has only made it more complex. As a school community, we are looking for new ways to help families navigate these new waters. In that spirit, we are looking to start a group composed of parents and school staff that will get together—virtually or in person—to discuss how to best support our students through these most challenging and uncertain times. We will delve into an array of issues including working on academic readiness and organization, developing social and emotional skills, and promoting positive, healthy habits. We’re happy to welcome anyone who is willing to share what’s been working, who is looking to learn from others, or who is just seeking to connect with other parents in a positive and productive forum. If you are interested in joining us, please contact Mrs. Fitzgerald in the main office at fitzgeraldb@sau25.net.
Best,
Ed Joyce
Parent Resources
K-8 Hybrid Calendar Daily Health Screening for Students
RAL Hybrid Parent Guide Quarantine Protocols/Flowchart
RAL Remote Parent Guide RAL Welcome & Orientation Video
Bedford Reopening Plan COVID-19 Schools Dashboard
Important Dates
Contact Tracing through NH DHHS
It has been the district’s experience lately that NH DHHS is very delayed in contacting families with contact tracing information, and as a result, it’s possible that students come to school without knowing they have been in close contact with a COVID positive person (and should be quarantining). Please know that if your child has been contact traced as a result of contact within school, you will be called by the school (most likely, Evelyn Chessie, our nurse) rather than wait for DHHS. However, if the contact happens outside of school, we will not know about it. My ask is that if your child tests positive, you contact the parents/guardians of any child who has been contact traced as a result of outside of school activities, so that the child can quarantine and/or get tested in a timely fashion. Hopefully, things will slow down soon at DHHS. Thank you!
Fall Parent Conferences
It’s that time again--fall parent conference season! I am writing today to give you a general overview for how we will be doing parent conferences this fall. It is important for you to know that parent conferences will take place virtually this year. This means you have the option of utilizing Google Meet or telephone conferences for these important meetings.
We were excited to see that so many families were able to view our virtual Open House presentation. While Open House was an early opportunity for families to learn more about our school and its staff, parent conferences are also an important piece of the home/school partnership. Conferences provide a dedicated block of time for parents and teachers to discuss a student’s academic progress and plan for future success.
Parent conferences will take place between Monday, November 9th and Friday, November 20th. Teachers will be reaching out via email no later than Wednesday, November 4th to share instructions about registering for conferences.
CogAT Testing
Each year, all Ross A. Lurgio Middle School students in Grade 7 take the Cognitive Abilities Test (CogAT). The CogAT assesses the level and pattern of cognitive development of students. The test measures general and specific reasoning abilities in three domains: verbal, quantitative, and nonverbal. These general abilities reflect the overall efficiency of cognitive processes and strategies that enable individuals to learn new tasks or to solve problems.
The results of these tests will be used by teachers to adapt instruction in ways that enhance student’s success in learning. Data gathered from these assessments will be included as one aspect of the multiple measures which help the staff make decisions regarding your child’s instructional needs.
Due to the pandemic, your student is scheduled to take the CogAT at home on a distance learning day during the first two weeks in November. Your child’s homeroom teacher will share the exact schedule. Ms. Rockwell, the enrichment coordinator, Mrs. Dennis, the digital learning specialist, Mrs. Manley, the technology support specialist, will be in charge of supporting students while they are taking their online assessment. Email updates will be sent next week with specific testing times and procedures.
RAL Extracurriculars Update
Are you looking to get involved in something here at Lurgio? Then be sure to listen to the daily announcements (print version), check out the RAL Latest News section of the Lurgio Website and your school email for more information about what is starting up. Here are three extracurriculars that are just starting: Lion’s Den School Newspaper, Lurgio FIRST Tech Challenge Robotics, and Technology Student Association (TSA)
Staying Safe Outside of School Hours
We know it isn’t always easy, but we are encouraging students to continue using mitigation strategies outside of school hours. This means that students should be wearing masks and maintaining distance when arriving to school, departing school, and attending after school activities and athletics. Let’s work together to keep everyone healthy, safe, learning, and playing.
From the School Health Office
Please click HERE for specific information on how Bedford and DHHS are working in concert to keep our students and staff healthy. This information includes school exclusion thresholds, testing sites, and an updated dismissal note.
Travel Reminder
As you begin to plan for Thanksgiving and the rest of the holiday season, please keep in mind the NH DHHS Travel Guidance, which the Bedford School District is following:
If a staff member or student travels outside of New England, do they need to self-quarantine for 14 days upon their return to New Hampshire?
Yes. The general recommendation from the NH DHHS General and Employee Travel Guidance is that those who have traveled outside of New England need to self-quarantine and self-monitor for COVID-19 symptoms for 14 days upon their return to New Hampshire. Exceptions to this recommendation can be made for “essential employees” or for staff who have to conduct “essential travel” as outlined in the public health guidance linked above, and the Universal Guidelines. Schools/districts should develop policies to address situations in which students may need to travel for child custody and/or education related purposes (e.g., visiting colleges). You can find a link to this document HERE (pg. 6).
Also, students cannot test out of quarantine with a negative COVID-19 test. They must complete the entire 14 days. Please take a look at our Quarantining Protocol/Flowchart for more information.
In order to ensure the health and safety of our students and staff, it is essential that we adhere to the policies and procedures outlined in our Hybrid plan.
Updated Band and Chorus Information
The Band and Chorus are continuing to hold their rehearsals virtually through Google Meet.
Band Schedule
Concert Band meets Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday from 4:30-5:00 p.m.
Jazz Band meets Friday from 5:00 - 5:30 p.m.
Chorus Schedule
Students can check the Chorus Google Classroom for their assigned Group):
On A-K in person (L-Z Remote) Days:
10:25 - 11:10 - Group 1
11:10 - 11:55 - Group 2
12:40 - 1:25 - Group 3
1:25 - 2:10 - Group 4
2:10 - 2:55 - Group 5
On L-Z in person (A-K Remote) Days:
1:25 - 2:10 - Group 6
3:00 - 3:45 - Group 7
The Band and Chorus have a combined (optional) Friday Fun Meet every Friday afternoon from 4:30 - 5:00 p.m.
FERPA and Remote Instruction
Please remember that when students are in Google Meets receiving instruction with other students on the Meet, they are in a virtual classroom. This means that all student information is protected by the Family Educational Right to Privacy Act (FERPA). Please know that parent or sibling observations of these virtual classrooms are inappropriate and violate FERPA. We ask that you try to provide your students receiving remote instruction with privacy measures to protect their peers. This could mean a separate space in the house or headphones so that other members of your family do not overhear protected information.
Anti-Bullying
Each year we ask that parents talk with their children about conflict and bullying. As a school district, we are committed to fostering safe learning environments and resolving student conflict, and your help in these matters is essential. This three-pronged approach—the schools partnering with parents to support students—is one of the hallmarks of our great district.
Please click here to review the information and discuss it with your child.
Flu Shots - and Bedford's Response to Symptoms
If a student receives a flu shot and develops mild symptoms (muscle aches, low fever, etc.,) is it ok to accept a doctor’s note to explain the new symptoms?
This must be a case-by-case decision. We cannot be certain if symptoms are due to COVID-19 without testing. It is reasonable to associate symptoms with recent vaccine administration if your child usually has symptoms after vaccination; however, this is not certain. In circumstances where it is not clear whether a person’s symptoms are new and unexplained, and in the absence of documentation to explain chronic or recurring symptoms, DPHS recommends exclusion through testing for COVID-19.
BSD Food Service
Food Service has received a formal waiver from the USDA to provide FREE breakfast and lunch to all children ages 2-18 in the community through December 31, 2020. Meals will be offered at each school when students are on site and at the drive through pick-up located at the high school gym entrance for distance & remote learning students. Please continue to pre-order lunch through: https://www.sendmoneytoschool.
Breakfast is being offered every morning in the RAL cafeteria from 7:30-9. Students don't miss out! Come down to the cafe and grab a healthy, nutritious breakfast to start your school day!
COVID-19 Positive Test Protocols
Please see the following information from the New Hampshire Department of Health and Human Services and New Hampshire Department of Education regarding procedures that take place if a member of our school community tests positive for COVID-19.
Athletics Corner
Winter Sports
Please view this letter regarding the upcoming Lurgio winter sports season.
Enrichment Corner
Are you looking for a challenge? Do you have an interest or hobby you would like to explore in more depth? Let Ms. Rockwell, our enrichment coordinator, help! Check out her website below for more information about the enrichment opportunities offered at Lurgio. Just click on the “enrichment opportunities” tab and fill out the application to get started.
Note: If you are interested in exploring some things on your own, check out the “resources” tab on the website.
National Contests
Interested in doing historical research on a topic of your choosing and getting involved in National History Day? Learn more about National History Day on the website and sign up to learn more.
Is chemistry more your thing? Check out the You Be The Chemist Challenge!
All information can be found at the Lurgio Enrichment Corner.
Hybrid Instruction Corner
Hybrid Schedule Calendar
We know that the new hybrid schedule can be confusing at times. In general, students with last names A-K come to school on Mondays, Wednesdays, and alternating Fridays. Students with last names L-Z come to school on Tuesdays, Thursdays, and alternating Fridays. Here is a handy color-coded district calendar for kindergarten through grade 8 to help your family plan in advance.
Distance Learning Days
On Distance Learning Days, hybrid students should be engaged in different types of work assigned by their teachers on their in-person days. Students are not expected to sit in front of a computer screen for 6.5 hours, but they will be expected to complete tasks to create a bridge between their in-person days. Google Classroom is a resource for students to check assignments and tasks when they are working independently. Teachers are not immediately available to answer questions or work synchronously with students because they are instructing students in person every day. Teachers will answer questions via email if and when they are available.
Remote Instruction Corner
Google Meet Expectations:
We strive to provide the best possible education and support for our students, while maintaining the privacy within each home. We are respectfully requesting that, if possible, when your child meets in small groups or one-to-one with an educator, that those meetings take place in a public part of your home. We thank you for your consideration as we continue to support students in productive and engaging experiences.
Please find the Google Meet Expectations in the link.
Guidance Corner
The Food Pantry at Bedford Presbyterian Church provides our school with free weekend lunch bags for students who are facing hunger or food insecurity. Please contact our Guidance Secretary, Lisa Mullen, for this confidential aid.
DEA National Prescription Drug TAKE BACK Day
The Bedford Police Department is our local collection site. They will be accepting your unused and expired Rx Meds from 10am to 2pm. Click here for the DEA website highlighting other site locators, historical results, and treatment information.
Media Center News
Missing Library Books
7th and 8th graders have been checking out class textbooks and class novels. At this time, they were notified if they had an overdue book from last year. Please check in with your student to see if they have any overdue library books. Students can check their library accounts from home. Books can be returned to the main office or the Library. Thank you in advance for your help in keeping our library current. Any questions? Please email Mrs. Detwiler detwilera@sau25.net.
Tech Corner
Please be sure that your child brings their charged chromebook to school every day they are here at Lurgio. If students are having technical issues, they should complete a BSD Help Desk Ticket.
TECH TIP OF THE WEEK: How to use PowerSchool to check grades
Are you wondering how your child is doing in their classes? Well PowerSchool is the place to go. Here is a helpful video on how to check PowerSchool using a web browser and a second video that shows you how to use the PowerSchool app to check grades.
Book Buzz
Here's a creepy read to meet all your Halloween reading needs:
Or if you have an interest in the criminal justice system and want to meet a middle grade girl questioning assumptions, try this:
PTG Corner
Upcoming: Annual PTG Gift Card Program
Ready to get a head start on holiday shopping? For every gift card you buy through PTG’s Gift Card program, a percentage of the purchase price will be donated to our schools! We are featuring local area merchants, along with your favorite national businesses. Ordering details coming soon. **NEW THIS YEAR: ONE ORDER ONLY! ORDERS DUE FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 20TH**
Upcoming: Hannaford Community Bag Program
For the month of November, Bedford PTG will receive a $1 donation from each purchase of the $2.50 reusable Community Bag at the Hannaford store located on KILTON ROAD.
Community Conversation with Superintendent Fournier
Thank you to everyone who attended Community Conversation on October 29th. A special thank you to Superintendent Founier for taking the time to listen and discuss the community's questions and concerns.
National Principals Month
October is "National Principals Month" and we think we have some of the best here in Bedford! A huge thank you to all our Principals and Assistant Principals who work tirelessly for our students and staff! We are forever grateful for your leadership and dedication to our schools.
