Principals Letter – October 19

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

October 13, 2020

Good afternoon GNBVT families,

We hope that this newsletter finds you well. As always, a reminder that the school day begins at 7:30 a.m. and ends at 2:31 p.m.

Students on Campus this Week (October 19 – October 23)

Possip Parent Surveys

Every other Friday throughout the school year, Greater New Bedford Voc-Tech will be sending a survey out to all parents through Possip. Possip is a parent engagement platform designed to get insights, feedback and information from parents/guardians of GNBVT students. The survey is structured in a way that it will take less than a minute or two to complete. We hope you will help us improve and participate every other week!

MCAS for Class of 2022

MCAS for Class of 2023

Trimester 1 Progress Reports 

Progress reports will be posted to the Aspen portal on Wednesday, October 28, 2020. Parents should review student progress during Trimester 1 at this time.

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:

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.

EpiPen: If your student has a Life-Threatening Allergy and requires an EpiPen please notify the nurse if you have not received paperwork to complete. Students may bring in their EpiPen’s to school and provide one to the nurse and the other to be kept in their backpack.

Over the Counter Medications can be brought to school in a sealed bottle along with a Medical Doctor’s order. You will need to sign a Parental Consent form (from the school nurse) and return it to the nurse.

Inhalers: Students may bring their inhaler to school and keep it in their backpack. Parents/guardians need to obtain a medication order as well as sign a Parental Consent Form and provide to the nurse.

Updated Physicals: We ask that you provide a recent physical if you have not provided to the school nurse. Please include an immunization record of recent/future vaccines administered for this school year.

Locked Drop Box: There is a locked drop box for any student who wishes to drop off paperwork not requiring the immediate attention of the nurse.

Meningococcal Vaccination: For the 2020-2021 school year, the Massachusetts Department of Public Health is requiring proof of meningococcal vaccination for students entering Grade 11. According to this new regulation, all students should receive a booster on or after their 16th birthday. We ask that you provide proof of this immunization by submitting an updated immunization record prior to returning to school in the fall or once your child has turned 16 years old (during the school year). Please submit the required proof by attention to the school nurse.

FLU Vaccination: All students in Massachusetts are expected to have the flu vaccine by December 31, 2020. Please provide documentation from your child’s physician to the school nurse by the deadline. We thank you in advance for helping us maintain compliance with these new Department of Public Health mandates.

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

School Breakfast and Lunch Program

Finally, families should note that if finances have been impacted by the current COVID-19 healthcare crisis, you do have the ability to apply for assistance (SNAP) through the State of Massachusetts. Please visit https://dtaconnect.eohhs.mass.gov/ to apply for SNAP benefits or https://www.myschoolapps.com to complete the application for free or reduced pricing of school provided breakfast and lunches. If you have already 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

Please remember that we are here to assist you and your child in their education. We look forward to welcoming back our students both in the hybrid and remote environments. 

Sincerely,

Michael Watson, Academic Principal and Robert Watt, CVTE Principal

Vocational/Technical Remote Learning Days

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

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