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GREATER NEW BEDFORD REGIONAL VOCATIONAL TECHNICAL HIGH SCHOOL
1121 Ashley Boulevard • New Bedford, MA • 02745-2496
Tel. 508-998-3321 • Fax 508-995-7268 • www.gnbvt.edu
Preparation • Passion • Perseverance
November 2, 2020
Good afternoon GNBVT families,
We hope that this newsletter finds you all well. We appreciate the commitment to GNBVT by families, students, teachers and administrators.
Students on Campus THIS Week (October 26 – October 30)
Cycle 6 Continues through November 5th; Cycle 7 Begins November 6th
All Division 1 Freshmen students report for their CVTE exploratory program Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday (November 2nd, November 3rd, November 4th, and November 5th).
All Division 2 Freshmen students report for their CVTE exploratory program Friday (November 6th).
All Division 1 Sophomore, Juniors, and Seniors:
GREEN Cohort students will have their in-person CVTE instruction Monday (November 2nd) while GOLD Cohort students will have their remote CVTE assignments. GOLD Cohort students report for their in-person CVTE instruction Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday (November 3rd, November 4th, and November 5th) while GREEN Cohort students complete their remote CVTE assignments. This concludes cycle 6.
All academics will continue to be conducted remotely for all students/grade levels.
Students on Campus NEXT Week (November 9th – November 13th)
Cycle 7 Continues throughout the week – please note there is NO school on Wednesday, November 11th in observance of Veteran’s Day
All Division 2 Freshmen students report for their CVTE exploratory program Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday (November 2nd, November 3rd, November 4th, and November 5th).
All Division 2 Sophomore, Juniors, and Seniors:
GREEN Cohort students will have their in-person CVTE instruction Monday and Tuesday (November 9th and November 10th) while GOLD Cohort students will have their remote CVTE assignments. GOLD Cohort students report for their in-person CVTE instruction Thursday and Friday (November 12th and November 13th) while GREEN Cohort students complete their remote CVTE assignments.
All academics will continue to be conducted remotely for all students/grade levels.
Transition to Phase 1B
Final preparations are being completed in the next week for senior students to return to school full time for their CVTE learning days. This remains, of course, reviewable as science/health data related to the pandemic continues to evolve. For purposes of our reopening plan, this will be referred to as our Phase 1B plan.
Beginning, Tuesday November 17, 2020 (Cycle 8 Day 1) senior students in both the GREEN and GOLD cohorts will report to their CVTE shops consistent with our Phase 1B plan released through the Principals letters in the past few weeks. All social distancing protocols that have been established and in place this school year will be strictly adhered to. If additional changes are made, families will be notified.
MCAS for the Class of 2022 (Grade 11)
MCAS assessments in ELA and Math will be administered to all juniors (Class of 2022) during the testing window established by the Department of Elementary and Secondary Educations (January 14-February 5). GNBVT is currently planning for these assessments to be administered in a socially distant, safe manner. Achieving a passing score (meeting the competency determination established by DESE) on the MCAS assessments is a statewide graduation requirement.
Academic support preparation sessions will be offered to students beginning in November to prepare for the ELA and Math MCAS tests planned January 14th – February 5th. These sessions will begin on Monday, November 9th.
Parents/Guardians are encouraged to have their students participate in these sessions to ensure they meet the DESE competency determination.
Breakfast/Lunch
Starting November 2nd, all students are eligible to participate in the Seamless Summer Option (SSO) USDA meals program that is available until June 30th or until the funding is not available. This means all students will receive (at no cost) 1 full component breakfast and 1 full component lunch each day. Students in the building will continue to have their lunch shifts as normal. Remote students will now have the opportunity to order meals for the days they are learning remotely with 2 different pick up days (Tuesdays and Thursdays both 9:00 a.m. -10: 00 a.m.) Links for the remote ordering are on the school’s website homepage.
If at any time the district has to switch back to a paid program, families that feel they are eligible for either free or reduced breakfast and lunch pricing can visit http://www.myschoolapps.com to complete an application. If you already have been notified of your status from direct certification, an application does not need to be completed. For cash free transactions, families can establish an account with your student’s ID number to put money on their account to scan their ID at checkout by using www.myschoolbucks.com.
Trimester 1 Progress Reports
Progress reports were posted to the Aspen portal last Wednesday, October 28, 2020. Parents/Guardians are encouraged to review student grades and communicate directly with teachers and guidance counselors with any concerns they may have. The First Trimester closes on December 15th and Report Cards will be posted to the Aspen Portal on December 23rd.
Special Services
There will be a Special Education Parent Advisory Council meeting on Tuesday, November 10, 2020 from 3:00 p.m. – 4:00 p.m. Please use the following link to view the invitation and meeting link. https://www.gnbvt.edu/parents-students/special-services/gnbvt-sepac/
Open House 2020
Open House 2020, currently scheduled for Sunday, November 22nd, will look very differently from the past. Open House experiences at Greater New Bedford Voc-Tech due to the ongoing Covid-19 pandemic. Obviously, access to the building will be restricted and tours of our school will not be possible on this date. The district is planning for this event now and will be releasing information during the week of November 9th!
Important Reminders from Previous Newsletters
Remote Learning and Student Expectations
IMPORTANT REMINDER:
Students are reminded that their camera and microphone must be on during remote sessions, complete all assignments, check emails from teachers for attendance requirements during support sessions, and request any support they need to meet with success in all of their classes. Students are expected to be present for the entire class periods. We know this is challenging for all and we are here to help. During the asynchronous (independent learning time), students should be completing all assignments in preparation for the next scheduled, synchronous (live) class time. It is important that all students are prepared for class periods and by completing these assignments it will provide teachers with the information they need to ensure positive student learning outcomes.
We must remind students given circumstances that have already appeared in other districts, that we will strictly prohibit screenshots, pictures and/or any audio or video recording of any teachers and/or classmates. It is illegal in Massachusetts to record another person through any medium without their consent. Recordings, as well as any other form of online bullying or harassment will be handled as a discipline matter and may result in suspension, expulsion and could include police involvement.
Students are reminded of the District Expectations SY 2020-2021, and are thanked for their efforts during the first days of school.
Health and Safety
Stop the Spread!
The Commonwealth is launching a strategic testing program across Massachusetts for asymptomatic individuals in an effort to stop the spread of COVID-19. The Commonwealth urges residents in New Bedford and other high risk communities to get tested. Testing is FREE and available at the following New Bedford locations (more information can be found online at https://www.mass.gov/info-details/stop-the-spread:
- Greater New Bedford Community Health Center: 508-742-3807
- Seven Hills Behavioral Health Van will be testing at various locations across the city (see website above for specific days/times.)
- Sister Rose’s House: 508-996-0546
Please stay home if you are sick!
We are asking our students to stay home if they are ill. This will help to minimize the incident rates of the common cold, flu and COVID-19. If your student is experiencing any of the following, please keep them home and inform the GNBVT Nurses Office at Ext. 204 or 205:
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If your child is exhibiting any of the above symptoms please keep your child home and call your physician. You will be required to provide medical documentation upon the return to school.
Your student may return to school when the following are true:
- Your medical provider has determined a different illness then COVID-19 and cleared student to return (medical note must be provided to school), OR
- Your student has negative test results for COVID-19, no symptoms AND a note from their medical provider
PLEASE NOTE: If you should be notified that you are COVID positive or have been a close contact of a COVID positive individual, please contact your physician and notify the school nurse promptly. Our School Nurses will work with you to determine dates if it is appropriate for a student to return to school.
Student Travel to High Risk States: All students and families are reminded that travel outside of Massachusetts to states deemed “High Risk” by the Commonwealth of Massachusetts requires a 14-day quarantine or negative COVID-19 test that was administered up to 72-hours prior to your arrival to Massachusetts. Proof of COVID-19 test results must be provided to the school’s Attendance Office.
Bus Routes
The capacity of students riding the bus to school has been impacted by the Covid-19 pandemic. The bus routes are posted to the school website.
We thank you for your continued support and focus on supporting all Greater New Bedford Voc-Tech students during this challenging time!
Sincerely,
Michael Watson, Academic Principal and Robert Watt, CVTE Principal
Greater New Bedford Regional Vocational Technical High School is committed to ensuring equal opportunities for all students. The school does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, sex, disability, religion, sexual orientation, gender identity, age, homelessness, immigration status or veteran status in its education programs and activities, including admission to or employment in such programs or activities.
James L. O’Brien, Superintendent-Director
Michael P. Watson, Academic Principal • Robert J. Watt, Vocational Technical Principal
Proudly Serving the Towns of Dartmouth and Fairhaven and the City of New Bedford
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