Weekly email: November 25th

Please continue to practice good COVID physical and social health
Hello families,
I want to wish everyone who is a part of Smith Academy a very restful and safe break over the next few days. Make some time to switch off and breathe in this difficult year.
Please find below news items from this very short week.
Best wishes
Chris
 
Wednesday Schedule
 
As a reminder, tomorrow is a half day. Wednesday will run from 8:30-10:30. Students are expected to log into CREW at 8:30 and to then attend office hours/ normal Wednesday schedule until 10:30am (School will start again at 8:30 on Monday 30th November.
 
January MCAS schedule and preparation
 
Students and families in G11 who signed up for the Jan session received an email from me yesterday. This outlines the preparation process and extra supports the school will be providing. Students in Grade 11 who decided not to take the MCAS in January will do so in the Spring with Grade 10. Grade 10 will take the Next Gen tests. Grade 11 will have a choice between computer based Next Gen and paper Legacy tests. This choice will have to be made in early Spring
 
Holiday advice from DESE
The Department recognizes that the upcoming Thanksgiving and winter holidays may pose a challenge to districts in their efforts to limit students’ and staff’s exposure to COVID-19. The Department encourages district and school leaders to remind staff and students about the best practices that the Department of Public Health has outlined:
  • Limit gathering size: Indoor gatherings at private residences are limited to 10 people, and outdoor gatherings at private residences are limited to 25 people.
  • Individuals should stay within their household: For a lower-risk celebration, people should limit in-person holiday gatherings to only people they live with or limit the gathering to a small group of individuals with whom they are regularly in contact.
  • Avoid travel: Anyone considering travel should review and abide by Massachusetts travel orders, and people who want to travel to another state that is not a lower-risk state should be aware of the quarantine requirements involved with such travel.

The holidays will necessarily look different this year, and DESE appreciates all that educators, students, and families are doing to limit their risk of contracting and spreading COVID-19.

 
 
 
Yearbook photos:
DUE Monday, 11/30/20
Keep taking and uploading Candid and Activities Photos throughout the year
-Mrs. Muellejans