Dear Lurgio Families,
I hope this newsletter finds everyone well and safe. On Wednesday Superintendent Fournier consulted with his Metrics Team and determined that the COVID-19 data for our surrounding communities supports remaining in our current, hybrid phase of reopening. This means that the earliest we would begin additional reopening would be Friday, October 30. Please see the News Story below about what further reopening would look like at Lurgio.
I wish you all a restful long weekend.
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
Lurgio’s Phase 1b
As of today, the earliest that Lurgio will begin to reopen our school to Phase 1b of the District’s Phases of Reopening would be Friday, October 30, 2020. For details of differences between our current model, Phase 1a, and the next step, Phase 1b, please click here.
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.
Columbus Day Weekend Travel
Per requirements from the State of New Hampshire, residents or out-of-state visitors traveling to/from areas outside of New England (Vermont, Maine, Massachusetts, Connecticut, or Rhode Island) need to self-quarantine for the first 14 days of any intended stay in NH after travel (starting from the last day of their travel outside New England).
New Hampshire SAS
The New Hampshire State Department of Education has mandated that all schools administer the New Hampshire State Interim Assessments to our students this month. In order to eliminate disruption to our students’ face-to-face instruction, we will be administering these assessments remotely to all students, both fully remote and hybrid. More information about dates, times, and processes will be forthcoming in a dedicated communication next week.
RAL School Picture Day
School pictures have been scheduled for Tuesday October 27th and Wednesday October 28th, 2020.
Hybrid Students
Students who attend school on L-Z days will have their picture taken on Tuesday, October 27.
Students who attend school on A-K days will have their picture taken on Wednesday, October 28.
Remote Students
Students who attend school REMOTELY who have last names that begin with A-K will have their picture taken on Tuesday, October 27 at any time from 12:00PM-2:00PM.
Students who attend school REMOTELY who have last names that begin with L-Z will have their picture taken on Wednesday, October 28 at any time from 12:00PM-2:00PM.
You may pre-order photos online at http://www.geskusprint.com with the school code BGKTLF52 or download and print the order form HERE and bring it in on picture day.
We are planning to take pictures outside, but in the case of inclement weather we will work with the photographers to take pictures inside while observing social distancing recommendations. If this schedule changes for any reason, we will be sure to let you know. Please contact the Lurgio Middle School main office (603) 310-9100 with any questions.
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.
Morning Drop-Off Procedures
Thank you for your help in adapting to our new drop-off procedures. Dropping your student off at school at the side/back entrances prior to 8:45am has really helped streamline foot traffic in the building and allow for better social distancing during arrival.
If your student arrives after 8:45am, they must enter through the front of the building and check in at the main office. The side and back doors will be locked and will not be accessible after 8:45am each day. We appreciate your help with this!
Cleaning Supplies & Clothing
As part of our plan for mitigating the spread of COVID-19, high-touch surfaces (desks, door knobs, handrails, bathrooms) are cleaned frequently. The cleaning solution we use is an EPA-registered hospital disinfectant with the lowest toxicity category. It is gentle enough for daily disinfecting and sanitizing, but on occasion may stain clothing. We try very hard to make sure all liquid has been absorbed by paper towels as part of our cleaning process, but we want students and families to be aware of this risk and plan their clothing choices accordingly.
Destination Imagination - Registration Now Open
Registration is now open for Destination Imagination. New and returning students must complete this google form. Registration closes on Friday October 16th, 2020. Destination Imagination is an extracurricular program that requires parent volunteers. There is no guarantee that your child will be placed on a team, but we work very hard to place every child who registers. Teams may use school facilities for meetings, but must adhere to the same safety precautions. The same applies if you decided to hold your meetings outside of the school buildings. For more info on this wonderful extracurricular program offered by our district, please check out www.nh-di.org or contact our coordinator, Marie Russell at bedfordrocksdi@gmail.com.
BSD Food Service Announcement:
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!
Masks & Social Distancing
This year, we have been so impressed by the students' adherence to our mask wearing protocol. They were absolutely fantastic. Thank you for your support of mask wearing at all times when in the building. This is especially important when social distancing is more difficult to achieve. Students are permitted to take mask breaks while eating lunch and at other times designated by their pod teachers.
An area of transmission mitigation that still needs some more work is social distancing. When inside and wearing a mask we are asking students to continue to do their best to maintain social distancing protocols. While this is not always possible, and our students have been doing well, we think that we can improve. Further, we need to remind students that even when we are outside, it is important to wear a mask when less than six feet from another person.
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.
Band and Chorus Information
Band and chorus will be fully remote until further notice.
All students who wish to be involved in band and/or chorus this year should join the appropriate classroom so they have all of the up to date information.
Band Google Classroom Join Code: frxiieo
Chorus Google Classroom Join Code: dxp7pze
Virtual rehearsals will start next week. We are also in the process of creating the rehearsal schedule for the year. Students and parents will be notified of the schedule as soon as it is finalized.
Athletics Corner
Fall Sports
The weekly schedule can be found [HERE] and it will be updated as times or locations change.
BHS Athletic Competitions
There are new procedures for fans attending athletic competitions. All Division I schools have adopted the same procedures. There are three big ideas: no visiting team fans can attend our home games (and vice versa), no student fans can attend, and athletes will be provided a limited number of tickets for household family members. Most of our home competitions will be televised on BCTV. This is better than the NFL, but it will still be something that takes getting used to.
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.
From October 23- October 31 each year, our Leaders By Example in the S.A.D.D. Club sponsor and Promote Red Ribbon Week. We hope you will consider bringing Red Ribbon Week’s Drug Prevention message to your neighborhood. Click on REDRIBBON.ORG for more information regarding this year’s theme:
“Be Happy, Be Brave, Be Drug Free.”
Simply decorate your door, mailbox or fence with the double looped red ribbon theme and download your photo to www.redribbon.org.
Kitchen News
Please see the Food Service Plan for more information about breakfast and lunch service for the coming school year. Contact Emily Murphy, Director of School Nutrition, with any questions you may have.
Media Center News
Book Raffle! Happy beginning of the school year! This is a reminder for students to continue to place books on hold on the Lurgio Library Website. Hybrid students will receive their books in their homeroom and remote students will be sent an email when their book is ready. Then, remote families can pick the books up from the main office. Those that have checked out a book for fun will be entered into the book raffle! We will have 10 winners select a new book at the end of September and October.
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
This week, our Literacy Team recommends When Stars are Scattered by Victoria Jamieson, Don’t Stand So Close to Me by Eric Walters, and Whispers by Greg Howard.
PTG Corner
Support Our Schools
This year through donations and Fundraisers the PTG intends to help fund…
Enhancing outdoor spaces/playground improvements
COVID mitigations supplies for teachers/classrooms
Virtual programming and events for students, staff and families
Assisting with student needs through guidance and nurse department support
We couldn’t do it without your continued support. This year more than ever the PTG will rely on the generosity of our community.To support the PTG you can donate through PayPal by clicking HERE or by check made out to Bedford PTG (turn into your child’s school or mail to PO Box 10077 Bedford, NH). Through our Support Drive, 100% of your donation goes directly to the schools and students of Bedford.
Meadow Farms Gifts, Wraps, and More
Looking for quality gift wrap, everyday gifts, tote bags, and gourmet mixes? Our popular GIFTS, WRAP, AND MORE fundraiser is just around the corner. Brochures will be coming home with elementary students at the beginning of October. Online ordering only this year. 40% of sales goes back to our schools and orders ship directly to home! Sale runs from October 9-23.
Looking to Volunteer
The schools and the PTG appreciate your patience and understanding as we continue to focus on the safety of staff and students while minimizing volunteers in the buildings at this time. We will communicate volunteer needs as the PTG is made aware of them. Please complete a Volunteer Google Form for each school you have a child attending. To access the form click HERE or you can find them on the PTG website www.bedfordptg.org under PTG Forms. You need to fill this form out in order to hear about volunteer opportunities at the schools or district wide.
Ski, Skate and More Sale Cancelled for 2020
We regret that we will not be able to host this event this year and we look forward to bringing it back in 2021.
Community Events with Administration
A special thank you to our Principals for taking time out of their schedules to share information about the start of the school year and answering the community’s questions at the PTG’s annual Meet Our Principals event. The link is provided below for those who missed it or would like to view it again. Meet the Principals
Stay Connected to PTG
Please visit our PTG WEBSITE
