06.15.21 Principal Notes

Dear McKelvie Families~

What an incredible last week of school we had!  We really ended on a high note by having both field days last week.  I'd like to thank all of the parents who helped to make both days so much fun for our kids, especially Kelly O'Donnell and Christina Six, who coordinated all of these efforts.  

I would also like to thank the Bedford Fire Department, who helped make both days extra special by bringing out the truck and ladder to cool off the kids! Scroll to the end to see two quick videos from our field days as well as a slideshow.

Report Cards:
Report cards are available online.  Please print report cards prior to July 1st, if you need a copy for fall sports and whatnot. 

Rising 6th Grade Families:
HERE is a letter from RAL regarding Fall athletics.  

World Language Update:
For the past two years, McKelvie tried a model for World Language, whereby 5th grade students were able to choose between French and Spanish for 6th grade.  Due to logistics regarding both student placement and scheduling, as well as the exploratory nature of the World Language Curriculum, we are going to revert back to having 6th graders take both French and Spanish.  Students will continue choosing between the two for 7th grade.

A Message from the McKelvie Volunteer Co-Coordinators:

We want to extend a heartfelt "Thank YOU!" to all of the volunteers who gave their time or made donations toward various efforts at McKelvie this year! Between providing outside picnic tables for students, sprucing up the bulletin boards in the hallways, working the coffee carts & helping to treat our staff to an amazing appreciation week in May, to running the various activity & water stations for this week's Field Days, and everything in between, YOU have made a difference in making McKelvie the amazing school that it is. We could not have done it without you! Have a great summer.

Kelly O'Donnell & Christina Six-McKelvie Volunteer Co-Coordinators

NH Department of Education Survey:
The New Hampshire Department of Education wants to hear from staff, families, and community members.   The 603 Bright Futures Survey is an opportunity for you to have your voice heard. These surveys will gather feedback around learning, school climate, family and community engagement, and parent involvement in special education. Parents completing the survey should complete it once for each child.

The New Hampshire Department of Education  hopes to gain insight regarding the successes and challenges of the recent school year and to plan for the 2021-2022 school year. The Department of Education has partnered with Panorama Education to implement the 603 Bright Futures Survey. The survey will remain open until June 30.

Please use the following link to access the survey. Your feedback is valuable.

Families in K-12, Preschool, and Private Schools: bit.ly/nhdoefamily

Staff in Public and Private Schools: bit.ly/nhdoestaff

Community Members: bit.ly/nhdoecommunity

Field Day Pics and Videos:

Grade 6 Firetruck Video

Grade 5 Firetruck Video

Field Days Slideshow

Have a wonderful summer and good luck to all 6th graders moving on to RAL in the fall!

Jen Asdot

Field Days and Updates

 Dear McKelvie Families~

1.  Field Days are on track for tomorrow and Thursday!  Grade 5 is tomorrow and Grade 6 is Thursday.

• Please remember to wear sunscreen and bug spray.  Bring extra sunscreen!
• Please bring a water bottle.
• Please wear appropriate clothing such as shorts and a t-shirt.  There will likely be water involved, so please keep that in mind when helping your child choose an outfit for Field Day. (No bathing suits:)

2.  Move Up Day in Friday!  All 5th grade students will meet with a 6th grade teacher to see a video and ask questions.  All 6th grade students will go up to Lurgio to meet with 7th grade teachers.  Placement is done over the summer, so move up day is just informational in nature.

3.  School ends at 1:15 on Friday.  There is no after school program.

4.  Kids can only ride their own bus from school.  They cannot ride on a different bus, in order to go home with a friend.

The last few days should be a little cooler and a lot of fun!

Jen Asdot

6.4.21 Principal Notes

Dear McKelvie Families~

One week left!  Please read carefully for important end of year updates.  As a reminder, kids are dismissed at 1:15 next Friday, and there is no after school program.

Important Dates:
June 7th-Sixth Grade Field Day (Rain Date June 8th) 
June 9th-Fifth Grade Field Day (Rain Date June 10th) 
June 11th-Last Day of School 1:15pm dismissal

Field Days:
Next week we have Field Days for Grade 6 on Monday and Grade 5 on Wednesday.  It's going to be HOT, but we have a plan in place to help mitigate the heat.

1.  During all outside activities, there will be mandatory water and resting breaks every 20 minutes.

2.  We will have tents for shade as well as water stations located at the activities.

3.  We will have the library staffed for kids who need a place to cool off.

4.  There will likely be water activities so please have kids dress appropriately.  NO bathing suits.  A T-shirt and shorts would be great.

5.  Please send your child with sunscreen, bug spray, and water bottles.  Kids can refill their water bottles at water stations.

6.  We're giving kids popsicles.

Lunch is still in the cafe at the usual time.  The cafe is air conditioned.  Fully remote kids can get hot lunch on field day, if they'd like.

A Message From the Nurse:
Parents need to pick up epi pens and prescription meds prior to the last day of school or medications will be disposed of unless you have emailed the nurse with an alternate plan. Inhalers will be sent home with the children on Friday 6/11/21.

Chromebook Collection:

All in-person student Chromebooks and chargers will be collected on Monday, June 7th, by homeroom teachers. Important: Please remind your student(s) to bring in a fully-charged device AND charger on Monday, June 7th, as they might need to complete missing work and/or use it during IA classes.

Remote students will keep their Chromebooks and chargers until the end of the school day on Thursday, June 10th. There will be 3 drop-off times at the main entrance of the building on Liberty Hill Road: 6/10 3:30-4:30pm, 6/11 10-11:00am or 6/14 9-11:00am. Remote students should drop off both the device AND charger, as well as any textbooks or library books. If your student ordered a yearbook and did not receive it by attending field day, it can be picked up during the aforementioned drop-off times.

Library News:

We are about to enter our final week of school for the 2020-2121 school year! What a unique school year it has been! Please click HERE for this week's McKelvie Library News blog post. This contains some important information about the end of the year and summer at the McKelvie Library.

PTG News:
CELEBRATING STUDENTS: Congratulations to the Class of 2021!! We wish the Class of 2021 much success as they head off to their next endeavors.

COLOR BLAST  FUN RUN/WALK  THANK YOU – Thank you to all our participants, sponsors, vendors, committee members and volunteers for making PTG’s Virtual Color Blast Fun Run a success! And a special shout out to McKelvie, Dave and the custodial staff for helping us with Bib pick up. Don’t forget to share your fun by posting pictures with #ColorBlast2021.

 

HANNAFORD HELPS REUSABLE BAG PROGRAM:  Hannaford on Kilton Road has chosen Bedford PTG to be the beneficiary of the Community Bag program for the month of June. For every $2.50 Community reusable bag purchased at Hannaford on KILTON ROAD in June, the PTG will receive a $1.00 donation. Get yours to support the PTG and the environment!

MENTAL HEALTH AND WELLNESS DISCUSSION SERIES: Thank you to Diane Vaccarello (Licensed Family Therapist), panel members and moderators for leading this three-part discussion series brought by the PTG and the Bedford School District. To see all three sessions, click on the links below. Psychological First Aid: Parents, Kids and Mental Health Parents of High Schoolers: a Deeper Dive - How to best support your Teens' Wellness The Positive Impacts of COVID - How to not only Survive but Thrive!

Have a wonderful weekend!
Jen