Nantucket News and Notes
April 18 2024
February Bowie Baysox Reading Challenge Tickets
If your student participated in February's Bowie Baysox Reading Challenge, Friday, April 19th they will receive an envelope containing 2 free tickets and details about purchasing additional seats for the May 4th game. Homeroom teachers will distribute envelopes to participating students only. Be sure to check your student's backpack or folder for this envelope. Many thanks to all that participated! Enjoy Nantucket Reading Night at the ballpark on May 4th!
The safety of our community is of vital importance. The arrival and dismissal procedures below are shared and we ask that you follow them for the safety of all members of our community.
Quick Reminders:
- Have you noticed dismissal has changed slightly? To make sure our K-2 Front Door and Back Door Walkers are able to get out of the building without the older students causing a stampede behind them, we have tried dismissing the students in grades 3-5 first. This allows the olders students to exit and get out of the way before we release the K-2 students safely. Also, older walkers are able to get to their meeting locations to get their younger siblings.
- Parking in our local neighborhoods and blocking driveways is not allowed and is monitored by police. Students should not be dropped off and picked up in local neighborhoods at arrival and dismissal time.
- At the end of the day, all students should be picked up on time, by 2:45 PM. If you are unable to pickup your child by 2:45 PM, it is important that you make an alternate plan for someone to pickup your child. There is no one to supervise children in the office after 2:45 PM because teachers are engaged in professional development, collaborative planning, and meetings.
- Only individuals with Handicap License Plates and/or hang tags are permitted to park in designated Handicap spaces. Parking in these spaces without appropriate plates or tags may lead to ticketing by Anne Arundel County Police. We have asked the Police Department to help enforce this as a courtesy to our community members.
- In order to help ensure a safe and orderly departure from school for all students, early dismissals must be done prior to 2:05 PM; otherwise, the regular dismissal procedure will need to be followed. Students will not be dismissed between 2:05 and 2:25 PM.
PowerSchool Parent Portal
PowerSchool Parent Portal is a powerful, easy-to-use, secure communication tool connecting parents/guardians and schools. Using the PowerSchool student information system, the Parent Portal allows collaboration to improve student achievement.
Online access to student schedules, forms, assignments, class grades and attendance information makes it easier for parents to monitor progress of students, in Kindergarten through grade 12, in real time.
Make sure to register for PowerSchool Parent Portal to access your child's marking-period progress. Students in Grades 1-12 will have report card links sent out today via Parent Portal to Contact 1. Make sure you are registered with ParentPortal! Contact our school secretaries at 410-451-6120 for assistance in accessing your pin number to create an account.
Yearly Emergency Card Verification
Each year parents/guardians are asked to verify their child's current information from the Student Information System. This is important because we need to have the most up-to-date contact information for you if there is an emergency at school. You will need your child's birthdate, student number, and the 5-digit pin number that was emailed to you previously. If you no longer have this pin number, please contact our secretaries at 410-451-6120. Access the Emergency Card Verification Report here.
School Attendance
At our Attendance Committee Meeting in April, the committee discussed all students who have 16 or more cumulative lawful and unlawful absences and 32 or more tardies and/or early dismissals.
Chronic absenteeism includes students who miss 10% or more of enrolled instructional days. AACPS recognizes a direct correlation between attendance and other academic measures, including grades and state test scores, so monitoring, communicating, and supporting families is necessary for improvement. Even if your student has had lawful absences and you have provided doctor's notes, you may be contacted about your child's chronic absenteeism.
Regular school attendance is very important to your child’s academic progress and success in school. Please try to schedule dental/medical appointments and other commitments for after school hours whenever possible. Please read the Attendance Section in our Family Handbook for more information regarding Attendance.
Cell Phones and Smart Watches
Nantucket's rule for cell phones is that they must be off and out of sight. Smart Watches may be worn; however, students may not use them throughout the day for communication or to take photographs. We have had a recent increase of students using both cell phones and Smart Watches throughout the day. If students are found to be using devices throughout the day, they will be asked to check their device in/out with staff at the start and end of day.
Please refrain from communicating with your child(ren) throughout the day on their device. If your child contacts you using their SMART Watch or cell phone, please ask them to call from the office or health room if they are sick.
Glass Water Bottles and Lunch Containers
Please do not send students to school with glass water bottles or food containers. We have had a number of incidents where shattered glass needs to be cleaned up. For the safety of all members of our community, please only send in plastic water bottles and food containers.
Change of Clothes in the Locker
Students of all ages get dirty at recess, spill food on themselves, and have accidents. To limit missed instructional time, please send in a change of clothes for your child to keep in their locker. When they use the change of clothes, please send in a replacement set.
School Meals
Breakfast is available in the school cafeteria each morning. Breakfast cost is $1.50 full price and is free for students qualifying for the free/reduced priced program.
Lunch may be purchased at school for $2.75. Milk may also be purchased during lunch for $0.55. You may pay for lunch in advance and use them as you like. This is encouraged as it avoids “lost” or “forgotten” monies. Checks/cash (payable to Nantucket Elementary Cafeteria) will be accepted in the school’s cafeteria or Meal Pay Plus offers you a convenient, easy, and secure way to make prepayments using your bank account or your Visa or MasterCard. Visit mealpayplus.com for more information and registration.
Application forms for free or reduced lunches need to be filled out online at the beginning of the school year. Families may qualify according to the federal income eligibility guidelines. All applications are kept confidential and are accepted at any time during the school year. If you were eligible for Meal Benefits last year, your benefits expired in October. Please make sure you reapply at the link above if you believe your family continues to be eligible.
- April 19: PBIS Celebration for Students - DJ at lunch!
- April 22 - 26: Math Spirit Week (see above)
- April 22: Earth Day
- April 24: 3rd Grade Math MCAP, Math Night @ 5PM
- April 25: 3rd Grade Math MCAP, 5th Grade Panoramic Picture
- April 26: PTA sponsored Movie Night @ 7:30
- April 29-May 1: 5th Grade Drownproofing
- May 1: Career Day
