Nardelli Family Update -
First, thank you to all of the people who reached out as Vincent and I recovered from Covid. We really appreciate the supportive thoughts and comments. Thankfully, Vincent and I had relatively mild symptoms and we both feel much better. I am very thankful to Rose and the staff here at school for managing the day-to-day operations while I was out, and I am also very thankful to my wife and family for taking good care of us as well. A quick family update:
The Nardelli’s have had a busy fall season. Eliana has had her share of ups and downs in college. She’s learning a lot about life, including how to manage responsibilities (like money and attending classes), how to manage social conflict, and how to advocate for herself when she needs support. Julia finished a successful volleyball season and will soon be starting high school gymnastics. Asa junior, she has also been exploring college options while managing a very full course load. Alora has continued with soccer and gymnastics and recently was given the opportunity to sing with a friend at a church performance this weekend. Vincent is playing hockey (he gets to be goalie this weekend) and is also taking karate lessons. He’s learning to read and just lost his first two teeth!
Hanukkah - Happy Hanukkah to everyone celebrating last week and this week.
Staffing Update - I am pleased to share that we will have a new full time nurse taking over the reins in our health office during the month of December. Lilah Byers will join us next week, working with Mary Petry (who has been filling in since September) to make the transition. Later in December, Lilah will assume the responsibilities of the role on her own. Please welcome Lilah to our community!
Thank you to Mary for her efforts this fall during a very busy and challenging time.
Facilities Update - We are excited to host our second Horace Mann Project Community meeting on 12/7 at 6pm.
We will be reviewing the work completed to date at Horace Mann, the current existing conditions within the building, the spreadsheet template of the current space sizes as they compare to the Massachusetts School Building Authority, MSBA, guidelines, the site opportunities and challenges, and we'll close things out with a discussion of next steps and opportunities for parents and neighbors to volunteer on a few committees associated with this project.
We look forward to a great dialog with parents and the community. You can register for the meeting by clicking on the below link:
https://us02web.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_WdIt7zJTSYucufvd_5UIcA
Gift Giving Reminder - Below is a summary of Gift Giving Rules from the Massachusetts State Ethics Commission.
Parents may provide gifts...
directly to teachers/staff and be subject to a limit of not more than $50 (i.e. $49.99);
through a group classroom gift subject to a limit of $150.
Weekly COVID Case Number Blurb
Over the past two weeks, Horace Mann school has recorded three (3) positive COVID cases at our school. Two of the three cases were identified through our pooled testing program. Close contacts have been identified and letters went to the impacted classrooms. Information on districtwide COVID cases and vaccination rates can be found on the Newton Health and Human Services website here: NPS COVID Case Count and Vaccination Rates.
Hawk Families - As part of our efforts to create a safe and supportive school environment for all students, we are piloting a new program aimed at addressing the social-emotional needs of our students. The program consists of the following:
We are creating small group advisories (6-8 students) called Hawk Families.
Each group will have one or two adults who will serve as the advisor for the group.
We will meet at least twice per month for 30 minutes.
Groups will be of varied makeup...some will be cross grade-level, some will be composed of students with similar interests or backgrounds, etc.
Activities will include:
Getting to know you activities
School values like kindness or solving social conflicts
Having fun (playing games, etc.)
If all goes well, we will try to have families continue to meet together over multiple years.
The goals of this program are as follows:
We want all students to have at least one adult they feel connected to.
We want students to be able to connect meaningfully to other peers.
We hope to foster a greater sense of community and purpose by talking about and sharing themes that are important to us as a school.
Understanding our Differences -
Understanding Our Differences is a non-profit organization founded in Newton in 1978 that works in partnership with the Newton Public Schools to teach elementary school students about disabilities. The curriculum fosters inclusion of people with disabilities in our schools and in our community. Students in 3rd grade will learn about: Blindness/Low Vision and Deafness/Hard of Hearing. Students in 4th grade will learn about Physical Disabilities and Chronic Medical Conditions (or Learning Disabilities). Students in 5th grade will learn about Autism and Intellectual Disabilities. To learn more about UOD CLICK HERE.
The FORJ Anti Racism Book Club continues!
Please come to our joint book book group with the Burr FORJ group. Throughout the course of the year, we will read books that deal with the subject of race. We hope these books will lead to productive conversations with one another and our children.
This second meeting will focus on essays in American Like Me by America Ferrera. You only need to read a few essays--feel free to read as many as you want! This book is available at the Newton Free Public Library (via library request) as well as an ebook and audiobook (through Libby or Overdrive).
We look forward to seeing you! Any questions (including: Can I borrow your copy of the book?), please email Natalia Espinal (espinaln527@gmail.com).
Special Education Presentation Series: IEP for the Home (4-Parts, daytime and evening sessions available)
Click HERE for more info, and to register.
Module 2 (Sleep): Dec. 15, 7-8:30pm & Jan. 6, 9-10:30am
Module 3 (Eating): TBD
Module 4 (Schedule of Privileges and Routines): TBD
