Principals Letters – September 21, 2020

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

September 21, 2020

Good afternoon GNBVT families,

The School Year has officially begun and we are excited to welcome students back to the school campus for the first time since March!  While we know that this is certainly a challenging time for all of us, we also know that the students, faculty, staff, administration, and parents are committed to making this the best educational experience it can be for all students.

Students who returned to campus this week recognized quickly the institutional changes that have been implemented to our educational program during Phase I of our reopening plan. We are very appreciative of the students and their respect and full participation in the new protocols to ensure everyone’s safety. They have done a great job! We all must continue to work together to ensure this is successful.

This newsletter will again try and convey the answers to the many questions and challenges before all of us.  While we are striving to be as perfect as possible, unquestionably challenges will present themselves. We will continue to communicate with all of you on a weekly basis. We are also including the district school calendar, cycle rotation calendar and schedule for remote learning at the conclusion of this newsletter for students/families.

Students on Campus this Week (September 21-25)

Bus Routes

The capacity of students riding the bus to school has been impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic. The bus company has completed its routes and those bus routes were communicated to all families via school messenger on Monday, September 14, 2020 and are posted to the school’s website. permanently under parents&students/school-year-information.  For ease, please see the route here: Dartmouth Bus Routes, Fairhaven Bus Routes, New Bedford Bus Routes.

Remote Learning and Student Expectations

We really appreciate students’ active participation in the learning process during the first days of school, both in-person and especially during remote classrooms. Students are reminded of the District Expectations SY 2020-2021, and are thanked for their efforts during the first days of school.

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.

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.

Parent-Teacher Remote Meetings

We will be holding our parent-teacher meetings via an online platform. We ask that you please read the following tips:

• Please make sure that you have your camera and microphone on. Student privacy is of the utmost importance to us. Please attempt to attend virtual meetings in a quiet area that has minimal background noise and movement.
• Please mute your audio when you are not speaking.
• Meeting attendance will be taken so please state your name and role.
• Comments may be considered public record.

Health and Safety

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.

Parent/Guardian Visits to GNBVT

Due to the enhanced safety and wellness measures we have put into place, we ask parents/guardians to first use email and phone calls to communicate with our staff. If a meeting is needed, our staff will set-up a virtual meeting with you. At this time, we will not be allowing parents/guardians into the school, unless it is an emergency. Please note you will not be granted access to the school if you do not have a scheduled appointment with staff prior. 

Technology

Any student in need of a Chromebook or Hotspot should call (508) 998-3321 ext. 383. Please email aspen@gnbvt.edu for ASPEN related issues only. If a student is unable to login to a Chromebook/Google or needs a password reset, please email technology@gnbvt.edu or call (508) 998-3321 ext. 383. If leaving a voicemail, please be sure to include your student’s name, ID and reason for calling.

Possip Parent Survey

A reminder to all parents that the district will be sending out a bi-weekly survey, on Fridays from Possip as a means to engage in productive, meaningful two-way communication with families. Please take a minute to complete the survey. The administration will answer the most frequently asked questions each week and try to address the concerns of all GNBVT stakeholders. Please tell us what we’re doing well and how we can improve!

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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