Teacher Margaret's "View From My Window" - December 9th

We held our December Quaker Friday on Tuesday. Students gathered in the gym in their cross-grade groups to make decorations for the halls and auditorium. Later that afternoon, teachers gathered to decorate our Christmas Tree - Thank you
Haines Farm and Garden Center.

6th grade has had a busy week. They finished The Pearl by John Steinbeck. Mrs. Parry shared with me that this is one of the first books they have encountered where the ending is unresolved and unhappy. Some of them were unsettled and would have had Steinbeck rethink his ending.
The Locker Lover business is flourishing. With any luck every student will have had their locker organized by the new year. 

On Tuesday 6th grade had campus litter pick-up duty.  On Wednesday they helped to set up the chairs for Meeting for Worship.

In science, they are in the last several days of their unit considering the question “How do plants make food, and  what is the best way to feed the world?”  They have made photo essays on a sustainable agriculture method and next week will present their methods to their peers.

We are celebrating the season within school and maintaining our COVID-19 practices. While we are singing, making ornaments with buddies, having parties, and gathering as a school community, our activities are modified to keep children as safe as possible. When we mix multiple grades, we do so in controlled environments or large spaces like the gym or outdoors. We are still washing hands to the point of dry skin. We continue to send children who are not feeling well home. Bathrooms and surfaces are cleaned throughout the day. AND we are only COVID-free with the help of every parent and guardian. 

We appreciate your continued support in keeping your children home when they don’t feel well. At the moment, we do have some children home with ordinary colds. Any respiratory illness or set of symptoms requires a call to your pediatrician and quite possibly a COVID-19 test. As you approach the holidays and anticipate being with family and friends, know that COVID transmission in our region of New Jersey has re-entered the “High Transmission” level after months in the “Moderate Transmission” level. 

Remember that all travel involves risk of exposure. The CDC strongly advises against travel for anyone not vaccinated.  If you are traveling out of the country, and you are unvaccinated, you need to be tested and self-quarantine for 7 days before returning to school. Remember, if your child is home waiting for results from COVID-19 tests or home after a known exposure, we will fold them into school via Google Meet. Children who are sick with non-COVID-19 illnesses are excused from school unless their illness extends beyond a few days. Be sure to let us know through Magnus Health or direct communication with me and school nurse, Maggie McHale, when your child has completed their COVID-19 vaccine series. The COVID-19 vaccine is not required. Knowing how many students have been vaccinated, combined with fluctuations in the local transmission rate, will inform choices we make about activities over the next several months. 

Announcements:

• Thursday, December 16 at 10:30 am COVID testing in the Meeting House. Please RSVP
• Friday, December 17th at 10:30 am Holiday Music Program by grades Prek-8th grade on ZOOM. Our youngest PreSchool students’ performance will be pre-recorded to keep them safely in their own building for the day. Like parents, they will watch the show on ZOOM from their building.

What I am reading: