Dear Lurgio Families,
It was great to be back with students and staff after some time off with family over the Thanksgiving break. As COVID-19 cases continue to rise across the state, and particularly in our county, the chances that we see more cases in our schools increases. We have not yet seen evidence of school-based transmission in Bedford, and I firmly believe that is because of the strong mitigation measures that we have in place. Thank you for all you do to encourage your students to continue to be vigilant about safety both in our schools and in our community. This is a team effort, and we have done well so far.
I also want to recognize that with increasing cases, we have seen an increase in the need for students who have been exposed to a COVID-19 positive individual to quarantine. Being mandated by state officials to be out of school for a time is very hard for those students. Consequently, our teachers are working even harder to support those students who can’t be present in school due to quarantine. I am humbled by their innovative instruction and dedication to our students. I feel fortunate to be part of such an outstanding group of education.
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
RAL Winter Sports
Please see this letter regarding Winter Sports at RAL (basketball, wrestling, and spirit).
Also, there will be a basketball (virtual) information session for students on Tuesday, December 8th at 4:00PM. See the letter for details and the link to join.
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
To access the study lists and other information, please go to the Lurgio Enrichment Corner.
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
Middle School Parenting Group
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.
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
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.
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.
Book Buzz
Phaedra B. of 7 South raved about the Keeper of the Lost Cities series by Shannon Messenger. She’s so into it that she’s already on Book 8.
Emily Hughes of 7 East also loves a series. She is reading the Percy Jackson series and is now reading Mark of Athena. Rick Riordan, known as Master of the Gods, is the skilled author.
Mrs. Detwiler added that fans of the Keeper of the Lost Cities series also love the The School for Good and Evil series by Soman Chainani:
Advika G. from 7 South and Mrs. Burack both read Sharon Draper's book Out of Mind. It's so good that Advika has reread it several times:
PTG Corner
It’s a G.A.S Program
The Great Artists Have Returned! The PTG is excited to announce the return of the (Virtual) It’s a G.A.S. program to our elementary schools. The Great Artists Series is a beloved arts-enrichment program in the elementary schools. We wanted to find a way to continue to share the life and works of some of the world’s greatest and most loved artists in our new hybrid and remote learning models. So we have adapted our program by creating monthly video presentations and at-home art projects exploring the lives and works of artists ranging from the old masters to some of today’s most popular artists. Be on the lookout for information and links to the virtual It’s a G.A.S. Program from your child’s teacher. A huge thank you to Kenn Archibald our, It’s a Gas District Coordinator, for updating the artists and making this program available virtually.
PTG Featured in Bedford Living Magazine
PTG is excited to be featured in the December issue of Bedford Living Magazine. Be sure to read all about the PTG…how we operate in a usual year and how you can help during this unique year.
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!
