Hello Parents, Guardians & CHS Community,
So here I am on a dreary Monday morning, and I am sitting inside and putting together this week’s weekly update. I attempted to do this out on my front porch, but the wind was blowing too much and it interfered with the sound quality. Please pardon the face touching and eyeglass shifting. I did wash my hands after completing this though! https://drive.google.com/file/d/1ZZ5f9CeGEFpRl8rYqi_LsLjPSXuFOoL3/view?usp=sharing Being four weeks into this journey, we have learned a great deal about Remote Learning, but we are still, as educators, on a learning curve. Please be patient with us as we try each week to improve. If your child is struggling, please reach out to teachers or the counselors.
We are holding a “Coffee with the Administration” on Wednesday from 7:00-7:30 am, but you will have to supply your own coffee. If you wish to speak in a group setting to Mike Perez, Jodi Callinan or me, feel free to join us at the following link on Wednesday morning. https://meet.google.com/xqv-zfvw-oru?hs=122 .
Appreciation:
- Congratulations to our April Golden Bell Award recipient, Special Educator, Wendy Langelier. Her hard work on behalf of your children is so important as we continue to refine our Remote Learning practices.
- Nice job by CHS School Nurse, Donna Boucher, for reaching out to IT to provide information that would allow nurses to safely use the school nursing program remotely.
- We appreciate all of those who attended our First Virtual Graduation Committee Meeting. Thanks to Elana Ayer, Mike Perez, Jodi Callinan, Shawn McDonough, Carolyn Leite, Aimee Gaspar, and Denise Freeman for their work on this annual priority. Knowing the commitment of this group, we will find a way to make this work!
- I saw multiple shout outs to Mike Perez for his hard work at CHS in recognition of last week’s Assistant Principal Week. We are very fortunate to have Mike here in Litchfield working on behalf of students, staff and families!
- Finally, congratulations to junior Tori Allen & senior Trevor Scopelites for making and sewing masks for community and healthcare workers.
Remote Learning Concerns: As Superintendent Jette has communicated, Wednesdays are our Independent Learning Days, our WILD days for the Cougars. Please understand that it is a day for students to complete ongoing assignments, to do specific work on Wednesdays, make up missing assignments, other academic work assigned, or to do some other work guided by self-interest and advancement. We are not requiring teachers to spend time with their students or answering email on Wednesdays. If teachers wish to do so, we are asking them to limit themselves to one hour for this purpose. Otherwise we expect they will be collaborating with one another, working on lesson plans and curriculum, grading and assessing, and taking time for other activities related to their workdays. Here is the link with the expectations for students & staff for those WILD days: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1CrUqPwc3DQVbUGecEDYZn8xN0j8B8AqG4KC4_UpojVE/edit?usp=sharing
From the Health Office:
If you are looking for support, our school nurse, Donna Boucher, has transitioned to CHS at a most challenging time. If you have concerns that she can assist with regarding your children that can be addressed remotely, please feel free to reach out at [email protected].
Senior Class and student activities: (See Mr. Perez’s video link at the top.) Our Graduation Committee met, and we continue to plan for events, recognizing there are currently many unknowns. As Mr. Perez stated in his video, we are awaiting guidance from the State on when/if the Remote Learning will continue and for how long. As far as clubs and organizations, advisors are still “meeting” with groups and continuing to offer these possibilities remotely. Please encourage your students to continue to participate.
From Food Services:
Any family that is experiencing financial insecurity during this time is welcome to apply for Free and Reduced Lunches. These are available during lunch pickups on Mondays and Wednesdays from 11am-1pm. Please call in advance (546-0300) if you are coming just to pick up a F & R Lunch Form. Please do not hesitate to reach out to Lauren Crowley, Director of Food Service, with any questions you may have.
We are offering meal service to any and all Litchfield School District Students on Mondays and Wednesdays from 11 AM - 1 PM at the Campbell High School Main Entrance. For more information, please contact Lauren Crowley, Director of Food Services at [email protected] or 603-546-0300 x3112 Stay safe and wash your hands!
Students Working Jobs During the Remote Learning Window:
We have received some guidance regarding students who have jobs and are continuing to work as employers may be considered “Essential Services.” We do not recommend this, but it is a parent and employer responsibility to attend to this. I certainly understand if parents/guardians have been laid off or furloughed during this crisis and needing economic assistance. Here is the guidance we received from the Commissioner of Labor through the Principal’s Association.
Grading and moving forward: We are going to finalize 3rd quarter grades on April 14th at noon. That is a snapshot/checkpoint in time for eligibility purposes. If we do come back in time for athletics, this will be a concern for student athletes but it is also a concern for participating in other curriculars. As I mentioned in my video, we will be continuing our traditional grading for the fourth quarter.
Athletics: Currently all athletics are postponed until further guidance is received from the NHIAA. It is against NHIAA rules to have teams conduct “captain’s practices. Please keep in mind that we are following CDC and NH guidelines for Social Distancing, and having athletes get together to practice is contrary to those, on campus or otherwise. If groups are meeting on CHS fields, they will be asked to leave. If you have questions regarding spring sports, please contact AD Knight ([email protected]) or his Assistant Jenn Mathews ([email protected]).
If You or Your Child Needs Other Assistance: If you have questions regarding any of the following, please contact the appropriate person through email. There is also a Safety & Crisis list attached from our CHS counseling department.
Assignments/grades: Classroom Teachers.
Crisis/Counseling:
Technology/IT/Connectivity Issues: Please reach out first to the CHS main office first, [email protected] or [email protected]. If you cannot reach the main office staff, please touch base with the District IT personnel-Jason Pelletier, Brenden Collins, or Andrea Stern Upcoming Student Events:
For parents of seniors, if your child is looking to access SCHOLARSHIP applications, here is how they can do it and this is a perfect time to do so. They can log onto NAVIANCE, click on COLLEGES, click on SCHOLARSHIPS & MONEY and then click on SCHOLARSHIP LIST. They can access all scholarships in this manner. Mrs. V is busy keeping this list up to date.
Looking Further Ahead:
April 13: End of Quarter 3
April 13: Booster Club: This will be a remote meeting hosted by Steve Oberto and Colleen Gamache
April 14: SAT Exams for Juniors 7:30am-12:30pm The NH Commissioner of Education is waiting on an approved waiver for the US Dept of Education, and this test then will be postponed to the 20-21 school year for current juniors/rising seniors.
April 14: PTO Meeting @ 6:30pm (This will be done remotely via Margaret Norton and the PTO.)
April 15 PERC
April 16: Safety Committee
April 21: Grading & Reporting @ 3:30 pm @ LMS
April 23: Leadership (This is a remote CHS meeting)
April 27-May 1: Spring Break - Up in the air
May 5-15 Students will take a 45-minute online free-response exam at home.
May 9: PTO Spring Clothing Drive 9am-3pm
May 16: Prom @ Alpine Grove, Hollis @ 6pm Postponed currently
May 19: Spring Pops Concert @ 6:30pm
May 21 Academic Excellence Banquet @ The Executive Court @ 6pm
May 28: Senior Project Presentation Night in the CHS Gym
June 5: Underclass (Spring) Awards @ 7:45am in Gym