8.30.2020 Principal Notes

Dear McKelvie Families~

It was such a wonderful first two days of school, having kids back in the building. It was certainly different than in years' past, but none the less, so good to be with kids again!  

School Schedule-August 31-September 4th:
A-K at MIS on  Monday and Wednesday

L-Z at MIS on Tuesday, Thursday, and Friday

HYBRID CALENDAR

Important Dates:

September 7th: No School Labor Day

September 8th: No School Voting Day

September 14th: Picture Day for A-K kids
September 15th: Picture Day for L-Z kids

Drop Off and Pick Up Reminder:

Students whose last name begins with the letter A-F or L-R will be dropped off at the main entrance on Liberty Hill Rd.  Students whose last names begin with G-K or S-Z will be dropped off at the canopy entrance on County Rd.  Traffic was quite heavy on both days, for both morning drop off and afternoon pick up.  Given how few kids take the bus right now and that Lurgio drop off and pick up times are the same as ours, it likely will continue to be busy.  Please remember to pull all the way up when dropping off and picking up your child, so that we can get as many cars lined up as possible to avoid blocking the intersection as well as exits and entrances.

Sickness/Quarantine Protocol:

Please adhere to this FLOWCHART for protocols for sickness/symptoms of COVID-19. As I mentioned in a previous email: Please be prepared for children to be sent home if they are ill or display any symptoms of COVID-19. We ask that you display patience with our school nurses during these instances. In order for schools to stay open, it is imperative that we follow these protocols. HERE is a document from the NHDOE on what to expect if your child tests positive.

Looking to be more involved at McKelvie?
We have the perfect opportunity for you!  We are looking for two lunch/recess monitors to work at McKelvie from 11:45am to 1:45pm. We have a Monday through Friday position available as well as a Tuesday through Thursday position. If you are interested, please email parsonsj@sau25.net for additional details.  

Box Tops Shopping Coordinator Update:
Please keep in mind that the Box Tops for Education Program is a fundraiser that we can use to help our school. For over 20 years, this Program has given families an easy way to earn cash for their school with products they already buy. Now you can simply scan your store receipt within 14 days of purchase with the Box Tops mobile app (Apple or Android) to identify participating products and instantly add cash to your school of choice. You can even give credit to your child’s homeroom teacher for any competitions we may have throughout the school year. If you have any questions on how this works, please reach out to me at amygaff9692@icloud.com.

NH Tackles Hunger Virtual Food Drive:
Over the next month, residents of NH, businesses, schools and more will make monetary donations via LINK, and any funds that are collected for your assigned school will be credited to your Food Bank (Bedford Food Pantry) account at the conclusion of the drive. We will notify you then as to how much money was donated to your program via the high school.

Girl Scouts:
We typically hang up flyers for parents to see when in the building, so in lieu of that, we are allowing this information to be sent home via Principal’s Notes.
Flyer 1  Flyer 2

Pre-Ordering Student Lunches:
Families are required to pre-order meals using the online system. Online ordering will be through www.sendmoneytoschool.com. Please click HERE for other important lunch information.

Table and Tents:
I would like to extend a HUGE thank you to all of the families that donated time and money towards purchasing tables and tents for our outdoor classroom spaces. The response was overwhelming, and as a result, we were able to create 8 outdoor classroom spaces.  McKelvie School is incredibly fortunate to have so much support from the community.  Thank you!

I hope everyone enjoys the beautiful weather today and as always, call or email if you have any questions!


Jen Asdot

8.26.2020

Dear McKelvie Families~

Tomorrow is the big day for our L-Z Hybrid kids and our Fully Remote kids! School drop off starts at 8:35 and kids should be in their homerooms by 8:50. Our L-Z Hybrid kids will be bringing home Chromebooks tomorrow, to use at school and on distance learning days. All 5th grade students will be getting new passwords from their teachers on their first day of school. They will not be able to log in with their elementary school passwords.

Our A-K Hybrid kids' first day of school will be on Friday! A-K Hybrid kids will get their Chromebooks on Friday to use at school and on distance learning days.  A-K Hybrid kids do not have school or distance learning tomorrow. 

If you or your kids have not seen the orientation video yet, here it is!

McKelvie Welcome & Orientation Video (Aug. 2020)

Before Coming to School:

Per CDC guidelines, students and staff are expected to stay home if they feel ill, display symptoms of COVID-19, or have been in direct contact with someone who has tested positive for COVID-19.

Parents will be required to complete a daily health screening for their child prior to traveling to school.

 

AM Arrival Procedures:
Students whose last name begins with the letter A-F or L-R will be dropped off at the main entrance on Liberty Hill Rd.  Students whose last names begin with G-K or S-Z will be dropped off at the canopy entrance on County Rd.  Students cannot be dropped off at the playground as we no longer have morning recess.  Students who take the bus will be dropped off on the playground.  Grade 5 students will walk in through the library doors and grade 6 students will walk in through the blue sixth grade doors. Students need to be in their homeroom classes by 8:50 or they will be marked tardy.  We give some leeway to this on the first week of school.

PM Dismissal Procedures:
Afternoon announcements begin at 3:15 followed by dismissing parent pick-up students.  All students whose last name begins with the letters A-F and L-R are picked up at the main entrance on Liberty Hill Road in front of the school. A-F and L-R students exit the cafeteria doors near the flagpole and parents need to pull all the way up to pick up their kids.  This keeps the line moving and helps to prevent the blocking of intersections.  All students whose last name begins with G-K and S-Z are picked up at the canopy entrance on County Rd.  Parents need to pull all the way up to prevent blocking intersections and to keep the lines moving.

Students who are parent pick-up, walkers, or bike riders need a note stating how they are getting home.  All students go home on the bus that do not have a note indicating they are going home a different way.  If your child is always a parent pick-up, send in a note indicating the specific days and we will put their names on the permanent parent pick up list.  If your child is a permanent walker/bike rider, send that note in as well.

At approximately 3:17 we begin dismissing busses.  After ALL busses are dismissed and have left the parking lot, we dismiss walkers and bike riders at approximately 3:25.  Walkers and bike riders are dismissed last as there are far fewer cars and busses on the road. I anticipate students will get home a little late the first days of school.

School Lunch Program:
As a reminder, if you plan on purchasing hot lunch for your child, lunches need to be pre-ordered. Please click this link for information on pre-ordering your child's hot lunch.

Bus Routes:

Bus routes are online and can be found HERE. Scroll down to MCK Afternoon and MCK Morning Bus Routes for stop locations and pick-up times.

Have a terrific evening, and I can't wait to meet your kids in the next couple of days!

Jen Asdot

08.16.2020 McKelvie Update

Dear McKelvie Families~

It's hard to believe that school is starting in less than two weeks! Below are some important updates about the upcoming school year.  More information will be coming later this week.  

Infosnap Registration and Placement Information:
Schools are working hard to complete their hybrid and remote placements for students based on the information we have received from parents over the past couple weeks. Due to the Hybrid schedule, this has delayed our typical launch date for Infosnap. (Returning Student Verification)

Registration will be going out to parents on Wednesday, August 19th. High school students will have immediate access to their schedules while students at McKelvie and Lurgio will receive notifications of their placements after registration. 

I anticipate McKelvie placement going out to families by Thursday, August 20th.  We had to completely redo the placement process in order to create a hybrid model and offer a fully remote model, causing a delay.

Tents and Picnic Table Donations:
We are looking to create outdoor spaces for classrooms and are in need of tents and picnic tables. If you can donate or lend us either, we would greatly appreciate it! Please email me at asdotj@sau25.net if you can lend or donate a tent or a picnic table.

Before School Program:
We will continue to have the Before School Program this year for students. Kids will sit at individual desks in the cafeteria. THIS LINK contains additional information as well as the registration form.

Bedford Strings Program:
The Manchester Community Music School Strings Ensemble Program, in partnership with the Bedford School District, is once again offering strings lessons for interested students. These lessons will be done remotely. Please click THIS LINK for additional information.

Stay tuned for more information this week about placement, supply lists, Chrome Book and text book distribution for fully remote students, and other odds and ends regarding the 2020/2021 school year!

Enjoy the rest of the weekend!
Jen Asdot

Fully Remote Final Day 7.31.2020

Dear McKelvie Families~

As a reminder, today is the last day to opt in to a Fully Remote Model for the first semester of the 20-21 school year.  All students are defaulted into the Hybrid Model, unless parents fill out the Opt-In Form, located in the body of this message.  If you have questions that are not answered in the information below,  please call me at the school at 472-3951.  

The Bedford School District has developed a Hybrid plan that supports the health and safety of our students, while providing in-person learning. We strongly urge students and parents to opt for the hybrid model; however, we also understand each family has their own set of circumstances, which may preclude them from participating in this model. 

To help you better understand the options available, please read the following explanations:

Hybrid Instruction

Remote Instruction

If you are choosing the remote only option, please fill out the form below no later than Friday, July 31. You do not need to fill out the form if your child is participating in the district’s Hybrid model as your child will automatically be placed into the Hybrid model. The form below should be filled out for EACH STUDENT in a household who is electing to learn through the Remote instruction model.  In order for our schools to develop plans for staffing and schedules, we ask that you make a commitment to your choice for the first semester (August 27, 2020-January 15, 2021). Please fill out THIS FORM if you are selecting remote instruction for your child.

We have compiled a list of Frequently Asked Questions in order to help families better understand some of the specifics outlined in the Hybrid and Remote plans.

Each level has developed a calendar that is helpful for students who are participating in the hybrid model. These calendars will give you a schedule of when your student will be in the school buildings and when they will experience distance learning. 

Here are the K-8 and district schedules:

K-8 Calendar

Bedford School District Calendar for 2020-21

Transportation

In an effort to adhere to physical distancing guidelines, we encourage families to utilize their own transportation to and from school, if possible. However, bus transportation will be available. Students will be required to wear masks when riding and sit with siblings to maximize our seating capacity. Students will sit one to a seat unless the numbers do not allow, and then we will seat two to a seat. After each run, buses will be cleaned before a new group of students boards. Families will receive further information prior to the start of school. 

Sincerely,

Jen Asdot

MIS Re-Opening Parent Selection 7.28.2020

July 28, 2020

Dear McKelvie Families,

The Bedford School District has developed a Hybrid plan that supports the health and safety of our students, while providing in-person learning. We strongly urge students and parents to opt for the hybrid model; however, we also understand each family has their own set of circumstances, which may preclude them from participating in this model. 

To help you better understand the options available, please read the following explanations:

Hybrid Instruction

Remote Instruction

If you are choosing the remote only option, please fill out the form below no later than Friday, July 31. You do not need to fill out the form if your child is participating in the district’s Hybrid model as your child will automatically be placed into the Hybrid model. The form below should be filled out for EACH STUDENT in a household who is electing to learn through the Remote instruction model.  In order for our schools to develop plans for staffing and schedules, we ask that you make a commitment to your choice for the first semester (August 27, 2020-January 15, 2021). Please fill out THIS FORM if you are selecting remote instruction for your child.

We have compiled a list of Frequently Asked Questions in order to help families better understand some of the specifics outlined in the Hybrid and Remote plans.

Each level has developed a calendar that is helpful for students who are participating in the hybrid model. These calendars will give you a schedule of when your student will be in the school buildings and when they will experience distance learning. 

Here are the K-8 and district schedules:

K-8 Calendar

Bedford School District Calendar for 2020-21

Transportation

In an effort to adhere to physical distancing guidelines, we encourage families to utilize their own transportation to and from school, if possible. However, bus transportation will be available. Students will be required to wear masks when riding and sit with siblings to maximize our seating capacity. Students will sit one to a seat unless the numbers do not allow, and then we will seat two to a seat. After each run, buses will be cleaned before a new group of students boards. Families will receive further information prior to the start of school. 

Sincerely,

Jen Asdot

6.9.2020 Principal Notes

Dear McKelvie Families~

I hope you all are enjoying the first few days of summer vacation! The honk-out was wonderful for the 6th graders last week, and I wish them all the best as they move on to Lurgio in the fall.

New Updates:

Excel Math:
McKelvie Intermediate School offers a program for 6th grade students with exceptionally strong math skills known as Excel Math. This course is a compacted program of sixth and seventh grade mathematics offered within one year. Students who qualify for Excel demonstrate that they are ready for a significantly increased level of instructional rigor and pacing by showing mastery in basic math skills and mathematical thinking tasks. Historically, these students can be categorized as possessing:

· High motivation and willingness to accept new challenges

· Excellent study and organizational skills that allow them to work independently

· Abstract reasoning

· A love of mathematics

Regardless of whether or not a student qualifies for Excel in sixth grade, families will be able to decide the level of acceleration in grade 7.

The screening process will take place within the school day, here at McKelvie Intermediate School. Decisions will be made after the entire process is complete and you will receive notification of the results. Screening for Excel placement includes quantitative reasoning, basic number sense, spatial reasoning, and problem solving skills.

Students who do not enroll in the 6th grade Excel program are still eligible for the Math Apps program. This program offers extra support and enrichment to excellent math students. Furthermore, all students in grade 6 will start to use a different math program from previous years, called BIG IDEAS. This program is continued through our complete Pre-Algebra and Algebra progressions at Lurgio Middle School. Most students find this program challenging!

If you feel your child may be a potential candidate for the Excel screening and you would like him/her to participate in these assessments, complete the form below. If you have questions, please discuss them with your child’s math teacher.

Please refer to this website for an FAQ for the placement process.

Please only submit this form once for your child. The form will be active for the remainder of this week. You will receive an email next week with specific details of your assigned testing day.

A Message for Incoming 7th Graders:
Click HERE for a message regarding athletics at RAL.

Library News:
Your child should have received a second email, sent to their school email address, from the "McKelvie Intermediate School Library." This email lists the books and textbooks that they currently have checked out from the school library. The email is a friendly reminder of what needs to be returned to our school library on June 8th-11th. Please do not worry that the books are overdue at this point. I am looking forward to seeing your smiles next week. Please see Mrs. Asdot's memo for additional information about this scheduled process. Thank you for encouraging your child(ren) to be on the lookout for this email communication.

Congratulations to the 2020 Great Stone Face Award Winner! New Kid by Jerry Craft received the greatest number of votes out of the 20 nominees. New Kid also received the John Newbery Award in January! This is the first graphic novel to win this prestigious award since the origination of the award in 1922! Congratulations, Jerry Craft. Stay tuned for the sequel to New Kid being released soon! It is titled Class Act and is due out in October. Thank you, McKelvie for participating in this statewide vote!

Be sure to visit the McKelvie Library Summer Reading web page. The purpose of this web page is to promote reading for pleasure and will provide some resources which can be accessed! Click HERE to view this web page. This page will be under construction throughout the summer.

I wish you all a safe and happy summer filled with great reads! ~Mrs. Cote

Reminders:

Report Cards:
Report cards are now available online.

Chromebooks/Student Belongings:
Chromebook Drop Offs continue this week. Click HERE for details on which day to drop off your child's Chromebook and pick up his/her belongings.

Chorus Signups:
Chorus Sign Ups for the 20/21 school year are open. Click HERE for details.

Remote Recital for Band:

I hope you all have a wonderful summer!

Jen Asdot

May 15, 2020 EVEN

Happy Friday!

Announcements:
Next week is SPIRIT WEEK!!!!!


Daily Stuff:

1.  Do your attendance before 10:00 AM!

2.  Click HERE for today's video message.

3.  MCKELVIE TRIVIA!!! 

Question-What staff member prefers Spongebob over Peppa Pig and Baby Shark?
Where/what is this a picture of?
Submit your answers on this TRIVIA link.

Remote Learning Resources and Websites:

McKelvie Remote Learning Page

McKelvie Library Website

Guidance Website

Remote Learning Parent Guide

Remote Learning District Website

Tech Help Form

Food Service Form

Have a terrific weekend!

Mrs. Asdot