Dear Lurgio Families,
Today officially marks the last day of the first semester of the 2020-2021 school year. Our students have persevered through unusual circumstances, and I am proud of their academic efforts every day both within and outside the building. As I look to the second semester, I am filled with hope. While the temperatures may drop a bit for a while, the number of hours of sunlight will continue to increase with each passing day. We have several exciting things on the calendar: Sigmund Brouwer’s Story Ninja class, events at Joppa Hill, high school course registration, just to name a few. We continue to brainstorm safe and creative ways to support our students academically, socially, and emotionally. I am optimistic that 2021 will be filled with opportunities for our middle school students and staff to connect with each other.
Be well,
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
School Attendance
This is just a reminder that parents can email their student’s school attendance to ralattendance@bedfordnhk12.net
Distance Learning Day Opportunities @ Joppa Hill
In an effort to identify ways in which our students can engage in educational extension activities during the distance learning days, we have partnered with the Joppa Hill Educational Farm to offer some outdoor learning opportunities this winter. This is also a way for students to get in some social time with their peers while practicing safe social distancing.
Click here for this week’s details.
Sigmund Brouwer Kicks Off Online Classes
Sigmund Brouwer’s weekly Story Ninja classes started this week. He will continue to offer two online classes per week for our students. To access the schedule and learn about how to please see the student packet or the RAL StoryNinjaWritingClass webpage.
MathCounts
MathCounts is finally starting up! The schedule is compressed this year so if you want to join you must attend practice this Thursday (L-Z) or Friday (A-K) BEFORE school at 7:30 in Mr. Arendarczyk's room (8 South). Regular practices after this week will be held Tuesday or Wednesday before school at 7:30. If you are interested in joining but cannot attend please email Mr. Arendarczyk.
Lion’s Den
Be sure to check out the great work in the first issue of the Lion’s Den.
Yearbook
Photo Contest
Don’t forget to submit your photos for our current contest themes: first day of school and masked selfies! To submit pictures: email photos to lurgioyearbook@sau25.net OR upload via google form https://bit.ly/ralphotos2021.
Thank you for helping us fill the yearbook with student candids!
Weekly Meetings
Yearbook Club will meet with interested A-K students on Friday, January 22nd in the Media Center from 8:00-8:30. We are looking for students that are interested in photography and want to help create content for the 2020-2021 Lurgio yearbook. Students will attend meetings on their in-school day. Remote students should contact Mrs. Dennis dennisd@sau25.net or Mrs. Manley manleyj@sau25.net if they are interested in attending virtually.
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.
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 Lurgio News, and check the RAL Extracurriculars Calendar. Three clubs starting up in the coming week are CBY@ RAL, Math Counts, and Yearbook.
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.
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.
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
10 Effective Study Skills for Middle Schoolers
The Lurgio Guidance Department reached out to parents, asking for their most successful ideas at supporting their hybrid and remote students academically. Click here to access a short video highlighting study skills ideas for your student.
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.
In this video created by Mayo Clinic, teens describe common signs that a teen is considering suicide and provide encouragement for communicating directly and immediately for support and safety. It also Includes suggestions for what to say to a teen who may be at risk for suicide and ways to keep them safe. Things can get better.
Tech Corner
Students are reminded to come to the Tech Corner in the back of the Media Center if they are having issues with their chromebooks when they are in school. Any technical issues that occur outside of the school day or during a studn
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
Weekly Schedule
Please see the entire Lurgio Athletics Weekly Schedule for information about basketball, wrestling, spirit, and intramurals.
Indoor Athletic Events
Home basketball games are not open to spectators during the 2020-2021 season, with the exception of (2) household family members from each player. Families will sit socially distanced on the bleachers, 6 feet apart, and masks should be worn at all times.
Students, staff, and athletes who are members of other teams (including basketball) are not permitted to attend games. A staff member will be at the door checking in spectators no earlier than 15 minutes before the start of the game. Spectators are asked to leave immediately after the game, especially when there is another game afterwards.
There will be no spectators permitted at any away games this season.
Specific information was sent out to basketball families regarding all of our modifications this season.
Book Buzz
Need a non-fiction read? Try: All Thirteen: The Incredible Cave Rescue of the Thai Boys’ Soccer Club by Christina Soontornvat: A unique account of the amazing Thai cave rescue told in a heart-racing, you-are-there style that blends suspense, science, and cultural insight.
Need a hockey book where the dog is a main character? Try Checked by Cynthia Kadohata.
Need a MakerSpace story? Try On Thin Ice by Michael Northrop.
Need a realistic fiction set in a school? Try The Only Black Girls in Town by Brandy Colbert.
PTG Corner
Principal Winter Reading Night
NEW DATE! On January 28th at 6:30 p.m. our principals are coming to you! Dress in your PJ’s, settle down with a snack in the comfort of your home, then tune in to BCTV (channel 23) to hear our principals read you a story! This is sure to be a fun-filled family event. Please click HERE for details.
Color Blast Fun Run/Walk
We're bringing the Color Blast Fun Run/Walk to your front door! Just because things are a little different this year doesn't mean we can't have any fun. Join us for a virtual Color Blast Fun Run/Walk over the week of May 22. We will miss throwing color at you, but we'll make sure you have enough color to throw at your family :) Stay tuned for more details.
