January 10, 2021
Happy New Year Quashnet School Community!
It was wonderful to welcome back our Grade 3 students and Falcon cohort last Monday. Tomorrow, January 11, begins a Grade 3 and Mashpee cohort in-person week. Friday, January 15, is a no-school day for students, and Monday, January 18 is Martin Luther King, Jr. Day and school will be closed.
Based on the number of emails I have received recently from families, I know there are numerous concerns around health and wellness. So far, with all of the COVID-19 protocols in place in school, we have not identified any school-based spread. There are a few reasons for this.
Reason 1: Thank you for the fabulous communication from our families and staff. Our district nurse coordinator, Stacey Schakel, and the Quashnet School nurse, Terri Richards, have been working overtime fielding questions, tracking symptoms, contact tracing, talking to families who have traveled, and being sure all protocols are adhered to. Thank you all for your honest communication as we are all in this together.
Reason 2: Thank you Superintendent DeBoer for the regular reminders NOT to come to school (students or staff) if you or ANY member of your household has tested positive for COVID-19, is awaiting COVID-19 test results, or has any COVID-19 symptoms.
Reason 3:
These protocols are reinforced and practiced in school daily.
Together, we WILL get through this!
Academic Update:
Quinmester #2 comes to an end on Monday, January 11, 2021. Special subject classes will change on TUESDAY, JANUARY 12. FYI -the second quinmester end date was adjusted by one day due to the snow day in December.
Along with a change in special subject classes, students will also switch playground locations and where they eat lunch, in the cafe or gym. Staff will help students to follow the new rotation.
Report cards were sent home ELECTRONICALLY on December 21, 2020. Special subject grades ONLY reflected the first quinmester special. TERM 2 report cards will include grades for specials in quinmester 2 and 3.
It's a whole new world! If you have any questions or did not receive your child(ren)'s report card, please send an email to epagano@mpspk12.org or mobrien@mpspk12.org, or call the Quashnet office at 508-539-1550.
Landing Pages and Playlists
Have you heard these terms this year or is your child(ren) talking about them? I hope so! Teachers have all designed a Landing Page. This is similar to an electronic business card. It includes how to reach the classroom teacher, the class schedule, a link to the playlist, and more. A teacher's playlist is the daily lesson plan for students with Zoom links and Google Classroom links plus more.
These sites are easy to access. You do not need a Chromebook, just internet access.
2. Scroll up and click on the Remote and Hybrid Learning Hub
3. Select Quashnet School
4. Select Grade Level, Special Subject Teacher, Counselors, Student Support (Special Educators), Technology
5. Identify and select the staff member you are looking for and this will bring you to the teacher's landing page. From there, you will be able to navigate through the site by clicking on images and links.
Beginning on January 4 through January 14, students will be participating in the STAR Winter Benchmark Assessment in both Reading and Math. Students who are in-person or hybrid learners will take the assessment while in school, all remote learners will participate in this assessment remotely. It is critical that our remote learners take this test independently. We use this assessment data to determine student growth, areas learners may need additional help in, and it also allows staff to evaluate if students are responding to the instruction.
Remote Learning Weeks
Did you know that Mashpee Recreation offers a program for Grades 4-6 hybrid students? Held at the Boys and Girls Club, Mashpee Recreation offers a remote week program for students. Registration is now open and there IS space available. Call Mashpee Rec at 508-539-1416 or email for more information to recreation@mashpeema.gov.
Staffing Update If you call the main office at Quashnet School, you will hear a new voice answering the phone. Please help us welcome Mrs. Ryder, who will be working with Mrs. MacIntire and Mrs. Pagano in the main office. Mrs. Ryder will also be working in the health office with Nurse Terri. Welcome, Mrs. Ryder!
Kindness Week can't come quick enough! Kindness Week begins on January 25. We will be sharing a list of activities coming up including a virtual assembly for in-person learners and those working remotely. Stay tuned!
On Friday, Superintendent DeBoer shared several links on how to help children cope with acts of violence. Please be aware that images and dialogue on the television and on the radio can be very unsettling. Pairing these images with conversation from a parent is helpful. Below are the links for your reference -
Parent/Educator resources that might be useful in helping our/your children feel safer in the aftermath of the violence that occurred this week in Washington, DC.
Wishing you all good health and peace in the New Year.
With gratitude,
Principal O'Brien
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