2 Parsons Street

Northampton, Massachusetts 01060

413-587-1460 (phone) 413-587-1474 (fax)

Dr. Beth N. Choquette, Principal bchoquette@northamtpon-k12.us

Elizabeth Peterson, Administrative Assistant epeterson@northampton-k12.us

Jordan Celino, Secretary jcelino@northampton-k12.us

Nora DeJasu, Head Teacher ndejasu@northampton-k12.us

Would you like this news letter translated? Here are the steps to have it translated:

At the top of the weekly email, there's a link that reads "View it in your browser," click that and it takes you to the post on a webpage.

Scroll to the bottom where there's a black menu bar and pick the option that says "Translate."

Select the language you would like it translated in and it will then translate it on the webpage.

Le gustaría traducir esta carta de noticias? Aquí están los pasos para traducirlo:

En la parte superior del correo electrónico semanal, hay un enlace que dice "Verlo en su navegador", haga clic en eso y lo llevará a la publicación en una página web.

Desplázate hacia la parte inferior donde hay una barra de menú negra y elige la opción que dice "Traducir".

Seleccione el idioma en el que desea traducirlo y luego lo traducirá en la página web.

Happy New Year! I hope you all had a wonderful break. 2020 was certainly challenging and unpredictable with many ups and downs for all of us. My wish to all of you is a brighter, healthier, peaceful, and less stressful 2021.

As we we return to hybrid learning, please remember that we are still in a pause. There will be no in-person learning for any students this week (Jan. 4th-8th). In-person hybrid learning will resume for Prek-3rd grade students and begin for 4th and 5th grade students the week of January 11th. Only students who chose in-person learning in the fall survey will attend in-person. If you have been remote or selected remote in the survey in the fall and would like to switch to in-person learning, you must send me an email request prior to attending. After you have made your request, I will email you the date your child can begin. The staggered return dates deadline for students who want to change from remote to in-person are below. These dates are the latest that your child would be returning for each grade level. Students who are not currently signed-up for hybrid learning should not return in-person until they receive a date from me as to when they can return.

PreK-1 January 19

2-3 February 8

4-6 March 1

Please remember to send in-person students to school with their Chromebooks and chargers each day that they are in school along with a water bottle as students will not be able to use the water bubblers only the water filling stations. Finally, all students and caregivers should do the family and student daily health checklist before coming to school each day.

All students, but especially the 4th and 5th grade students who will be returning in person January 11th for the first time, should read the Updated Hybrid Return: Logistics, and watch the return to school video for important information.

I am looking forward to being with your children again. It was nice to have the break, spend time with my family, get some rest, and detach from work for a bit, however, I miss them and can't wait to be with them again. Although school looks much different, the feeling I get when I see their faces and watch them engage in learning never changes. It is pure joy!

Happy New Year! Please don't hesitate to reach out to me at any time. I will be working in-person this week, so feel free to give me a call or email if you need anything.

Thank you and have a wonderful week.

Hello 4th and 5th Grade Caregivers,

In-person learning begins on January 11th.

4th Grade Zyskowski will be hybrid (in-person) on Monday and Tuesday.

4th Grade Byl (Ms. Liz) will be hybrid (in-person) on Thursday and Friday.

5th Grade Daniels will be hybrid (in-person) on Monday and Tuesday.

5th Grade Dion will be hybrid (in-person) on Thursday and Friday.

If you have not had a chance to watch our video for the return to school, you can see it here at this link: https://youtu.be/KA-9Kr4PtH8 To translate the video into a different language, please follow these steps.

How to Translate Video

Step One: Click on the video link below.

Step Two: Turn Closed Caption icon on at the bottom right side of video (it looks like a small box with the letters CC in it.)

Step Three: Click on Settings icon at the bottom right side of video (it looks like a little wheel).

Step Four: Select Subtitle language and play video.

https://docs.google.com/document/d/1j0wNen-JBwZJdCeDs2ui5zQjbLQoo8OzOanLU7VEE30/edit?ts=5f748266

The WSB will resume on January 11th. Please see the information below if you are interested in signing up.

We are pleased to announce that the Bridge Street WSB will be available to assist families with transportation needs during the hybrid model of education. Our hope is to bring back both the Lumberyard and Sheldon Field routes. However, due to the limited number of available WSB drivers, we are asking caregivers to preregister their students for the WSB in order to determine driver and route availability. Please fill out the WSB Student Registration Form by December 30th if you would like your student(s) to ride the WSB. Detailed information regarding route availability and times will be shared once registration is complete. **Please note that for the health and safety of all students and drivers, WSB participants will be required to wear a mask while on the WSB unless a medical exception has been approved by the BSS school administration.**Please contact WSB Coordinator Stephanie Pouliot if you have any questions about the WSB. The WSB is also in need of drivers, so please contact Stephanie if you or someone you know would like to volunteer your time to the WSB. We will take as little or as much time as you can give!

It's been a little while since I've shared from Tiffany's book. The last time I did, I discussed the section on Race vs. Ethnicity. This week, I would like to discuss Racism. I love the opening of this section of the book. Tiffany talks about Racism being the smog we breathe. That it is everywhere, polluting our lives and harming us all. She also mentions that we all have our own perspective and/or understanding of what racism actually is. The definition Tiffany describes as being the best definition she's heard is:

Racism is personal prejudice and bias AND the systemic misuse and abuse of power by institutions.

When speaking to children about racism, we must first introduce them to prejudice or bias. We all have biases. Some we've learned, some are conscious, and some are not. It's about assumptions we make about people and the world around us.

Tiffany goes on to talk about how many people around the world have the bias that light skin and European features are the most desireable. That White people are considered to be beautiful. This belief has caused people, for hundreds of years, to treat White people better. They have been given more power, and have been made to be superior.

Just because racism is part of our world, part of our society, it doesn't have to be. We ALL have the power to change that. We can be part of keeping racism going or we can be part of the change in making it go away.

This week, take some time to talk with your children and your family about ways you can help to make change. How can you fight racism? What are your own biases? How can we work together to make our wold a more kind and just place for all to live?

Finally, I highly recommend Tiffany's book. It is a great tool for children and adults alike.

This Book is Anti-Racist: 20 Lessons on How to Wake Up Take Action and Do the Work by Tiffany Jewell.

Please take a moment to watch this wonderful video as a resource to help you in caring for the mental health and emotional well-being of your children.

https://handholdma.org/

Please see the attached for information.