Dear Lurgio Families,
I hope this week’s edition of the Lurgio News finds you warm and safe despite the arrival of our first Nor’easter yesterday, just days before the official start of winter.
I want to genuinely thank parents, staff, and students for your generous donations to our holiday basket fundraising drive. The generosity of the Lurgio Community and Bedford Men’s Club has brought a bit more cheer and food security to some Bedford families in need. This type of community involvement has truly set the right tone for us all as we head into the break.
I am also excited to announce that our Thursday evening parent partnership group has been a great success. As a school, we were able to learn more about what is working and what is not working in the lives of our middle school students. Additionally, these meetings offered parents a chance to “meet” and learn more about opportunities for students to connect and socialize in a safe way outside of the typical school day--whether it be after school or on distance learning days. Last week, we met with representatives from The Educational Farm at Joppa Hill. Please see the New News item below for information about an exciting activity happening after school on Monday, December 21. We are so fortunate to have this valuable resource right in our backyard.
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
COVID-19 and Holiday Break
Please continue to email our school nurse Ms. Chessie, at chessiee@sau25.net to report COVID-19 related information to the school. For the purposes of contact tracing and quarantine planning, it is important for us to be aware of positive test results for students and their close contacts. Thank you in advance for your willingness to share this information and keep our school community safe.
For families that plan to travel during the holiday break, please see DHHS guidance regarding travel and quarantine. We ask that you notify the school attendance office if you have traveled and your student is quarantining so that we can accurately record their attendance.
The Great Conjunction
The Educational Farm at Joppa Hill is offering an upcoming opportunity for Lurgio students to get outside and learn more about the natural world. On Monday, December 21, join other students and their parents at the farm for “The Great Conjunction,” a celebration of an astronomical event that only happens once every 20 years! Space is limited, so please sign up in advance!
Rock and Roll Literacy with Sigmund Brouwer
Join one of our favorite young adult authors, Sigmund Brouwer, for a virtual assembly to kick off his Rock and Roll Literacy initiative. Students with last names L-Z can join in on their distance day: Wednesday, January 6th at 10:00AM. Students with last names A-K can join in on their distance learning day: Thursday, January 7th at 10:00AM. More details to follow after the holiday break.
RAL Winter Sports: Coed Spirit and Coed Wrestling Information
Basketball tryouts are in full swing this month, but we haven’t forgotten about our other winter sports: Coed Spirit and Coed Wrestling.
Coed Wrestling:
There will be an informational meeting for anyone interested in participating in coed wrestling this season. Join Coach Moricone in the RAL Dining Hall on Monday, January 4th at 3:30PM to learn more about the Lurgio wrestling program. The meeting will last about 45 minutes and any student is welcome to attend (A-K, L-Z, and remote).
Coed Spirit:
There will be an informational meeting for anyone interested in participating in coed wrestling this season. Join Coach Leblanc on Google Meet on Tuesday, January 5th at 4:00PM to learn more about the Lurgio spirit team. The meeting will last about 45 minutes and any student is welcome to attend (A-K, L-Z, and remote). The link to join will be sent after holiday break.
Registration:
If you are interested in either of these sports, please be sure to register on Family ID. In addition, you will need to have a valid ImPACT concussion baseline test on file. If you have had a test at Lurgio, you will not need to complete another one. We are offering two days of after school testing sessions. Register HERE for ImPACT baseline testing.
Intramural Sports
Intramural sports will be held on Wednesdays for A-K students and Thursdays for L-Z students. Participants will engage in a variety of activities and sports from 3:15 to 4:00 on these days. Intramurals will primarily be held outside. It is important that students dress warm and wear a mask while attending. If you have any questions please feel free to email Mr. Gookin at gooking@sau25.net. Students attending will meet Mr. Gookin in the RAL cafeteria at 3:15. Any Lurgio student (remote or hybrid) is welcome to join.
Concurrent Learning
The Bedford School District continues to adapt our practices to support the needs of learners. As you are aware, the state of New Hampshire has seen increased positive COVID-19 cases. As a result we have had more students who have been required to quarantine and are unable to attend school in person. To support these students, our K-8 schools will offer synchronous opportunities for students to connect with their teachers. For some, this will be in the form of concurrent learning.
Concurrent learning occurs when students who are receiving instruction in the classroom are joined by their peers who are in a virtual setting. This is more difficult for the teacher to navigate; however, they have been offered training opportunities in order to assist quarantined students who would otherwise not have direct access to their teachers while at home. Please find the expectations for students and parents in THIS document.
Feel free to contact your building leaders and teachers with any questions.
Spelling Bee
This year the school spelling bee will be held online. This email went out to parents explaining how to register their child: Spelling Bee Registration Email
Once your child is registered, you will receive an email with the appropriate lists to study.
Grade-level tests need to be completed by January 15th. After that, the top eight students from each grade level will move on to the online school competition.
If you have any questions, please contact Ms.Rockwell at rockwella@bedfordnhk12.net.
Yearbook Photos Wanted
The Lurgio Yearbook is looking for photos from this year!! Photos can be submitted via this google form http://bit.ly/ralphotos1220 or emailed to lurgioyearbook@sau25.net. Anyone who submits photos will be entered into our gift card raffle being held on December 21st.
Physical Education/Gym Classes
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!
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 five extracurriculars that have recently started: Booked for Breakfast Club, 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.
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.
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.
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
Holiday Vacation Ideas
The Lurgio Guidance Department reached out to the staff for their favorite winter break activity ideas. Click here for our reminder to do those simple things during a winter pandemic vacation. We hope you all have a wonderful time with your family!
Weekend Lunch Bags
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.
Tech Corner
It is important that students restart their chromebooks on a frequent basis as Google pushes chrome updates out on a regular basis.
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.
Athletics Corner
RAL Winter Sports
Please see this letter regarding Winter Sports at RAL (basketball, wrestling, and spirit).
Information regarding changes to our basketball tryout process can be found here.
Book Buzz
Mrs. Detwiler reported at Booked for Breakfast this week that Manga is incredibly popular. A real favorite is Haikyu by Haruichi Furudate about a volleyball team.
Irene A. from 8 East loved The Book of Mythical Beasts and Magical Creatures by DK & Stephen Krensky.
PTG Corner
Impact of Your PTG Support
Thanks to your support, PTG has been able to fund Sigmund Brouwer's Story Ninja Writing Class at RAL, where students will have the opportunity to participate in a virtual writing class. We’ve also recently funded an interactive virtual tour of Mt. Kearsarge Indian Museum for the third graders of PWS and a virtual Pulpit Rock Field Trip for fourth graders at RBS.
Amazon Smile
Make a purchase on Amazon and support the PTG! Visit AmazonSmile, and select "Bedford NH PTG" as the organization that you wish to support or simply go to Bedford PTG's unique link HERE. Bookmark this unique link as only purchases made at smile.amazon.com are eligible for donations. Now everytime you shop at Amazon a percentage of your purchase price is donated to the Bedford PTG!
