Some Reminders:

Dismissal Changes. This month we are introducing a new system that will help parents make dismissal changes efficiently and conveniently for your child. It is called PickUp Patrol. (More information will be posted shortly)

Excused Absence. Generally, absences other than illness during the school year are discouraged. However, the principal is able to grant special approval of absence for family vacations, when written approval was requested in advance. Please make all requests to the principal.

How Cold Is it?

We continue to have outdoor recess unless the temperature falls below twenty degrees (wind chill is taken into consideration). It is therefore important that proper winter clothing is worn during this time period.

If you would like to check the temperature please refer to the School District webpage. The school will use the “real feel” temperature to determine if students go out for recess.

Thank you

We would like to thank parents and friends of DVS for the amazing generosity that was shown during our Holiday season. Many of the families here at DVS benefitted from the donations that were given. We have a remarkable community here at DVS.

Lost and Found

Please check Lost and Found for missing items. The amount of clothing in our Lost and Found has grown considerably in this cold weather.

After Hours

Parents are reminded that if you arrive at school after hours and need something from your child’s classroom that you seek out a custodian to escort you to the classroom. Building security is extremely important and this includes after hours visits to classrooms. Thank you for assisting us in this matter.

Nurses Corner

Strep Throat is a sore throat caused by bacteria that is seen throughout the year.

Symptoms may include: a Sore throat, Fever, Tender, swollen neck glands, Headache, Stomach ache, Cold symptoms- runny nose, cough

Prevention

• Wash hands frequently, especially after blowing nose and before food preparation.
• Cover mouth and nose when coughing and sneezing
• Do not share food and drinks
• Wash eating utensils in hot soapy water, use the dishwasher if possible.

If your child shows these signs and symptoms he/she should be seen by a physician. If diagnosed with Strep Throat a student needs to stay home from school for 24 hours after starting antibiotic treatment and until fever free for at least 24 hours without the use of fever-reducing medications.

For more information call your school nurse or refer to the NH DHHS fact sheet on Strep Throat and Scarlet Fever. https://www.dhhs.nh.gov/dphs/cdcs/documents/strepthroat.pdf

Ski Club “REMIND”

Have you signed up to use the Remind app? Remind is a communication tool that helps the Ski Club teachers connect instantly with parents. Mrs. Landry can send quick, simple messages to any device alerting parents of cancelations, postponements and even when the bus is returning to school.

If you would like this communication tool, download the free app Remind. To receive messages via text, open the app and Join a Class by texting @dvs2 to the number 81010.

Trouble using 81010? Try texting @dvs2 to (603) 635-4067 instead. Or to receive messages via email, send an email to dvs2@mail.remind.com.

Unpaid Balances

This is a reminder to families that unpaid cafeteria balances are to paid as soon as possible. If you are having difficulty paying these unpaid balances call the school office to see if you may qualify for free or reduced lunch prices.

Head lice (Pediculosis Capitis)

With the return to school after winter break and family vacations, this is a reminder that, like many childhood issues, Head lice (Pediculosis Capitis) can be a common occurrence with children. Head lice is not solely a school problem but often is addressed within the school community. These parasites cannot, fly, jump or crawl long distances, and they do not cause illness. They are transmitted from one child to another through direct head to head contact or, much less commonly, by sharing combs, brushes, hats, or bedding, Head lice are not associated with poor hygiene. Lice can happen to anyone.

Parents and family members are often the first to recognize the most common symptom of head lice which is constant itching of the head, particularly behind the ears or at the nape of the neck.

This is a reminder that it is important to check your child’s hair regularly.

• Observe for itching of the scalp. If itching is noted…
• Carefully examine the hair and scalp of your children and all family members for lice and/or their eggs. Lice are small, the size of a sesame seed and tan or grey and move quickly. Nits (eggs) are small, oval shaped and gray or white in color. Nits are usually firmly attached (glued) to the hair shaft, close to the scalp. It may help to use a magnifying glass to detect them.
• Remind your children that the best prevention is to avoid head to head contact with others, keep hair pulled up or braided, and not to use or borrow anyone’s personal accessories like brushes, hats or combs.

If you suspect your child has lice, check with your health care provider, school nurse or pharmacist for instructions on how to treat an infestation. The school nurse will give ongoing support and ensure student confidentiality. If you have treated your child for head lice, please consider informing the parents of your child’s close playmates.

Resources for further information:

• NH Department of Health and Human Services, Public Health @ www.dhhs.nh.gov
• Communicable Disease Control @ www.cdc.gov

We appreciate all your efforts in helping to control this nuisance. If you have any questions or concerns, please call the school nurse.

NWEA Testing

During the month of January, your child will take an assessment called Measures of Academic Progress (MAP) for Primary Grades, a computer adaptive benchmark assessment. Families may also be familiar with this as the Northwest Evaluation Assessment (NWEA) for students in Grades 1-5. Although this is not a timed assessment, the reading and math sessions that students will take are approximately 45-60 minutes each.

With MAP results, teachers receive detailed information about students’ strengths and skill areas requiring focus. This data will assist teachers in planning for instruction and for intervention and/or enrichment activities. Please note that MAP results are only one piece of data used to determine where instructional focus may need to shift for either groups or for individual students. In June, along with your child’s report card, you will receive a report detailing his/her assessment results.

The parent toolkit, provided by Northwest Evaluation Association, is a valuable resource containing frequently asked questions and parent resources. The parent toolkit can be found on the Derry Cooperative School District website at the following link: https://www.nwea.org/parent-toolkit/

Please feel free to call the school if you have any additional questions.

Destination Imagination

You may have noticed that we have some Destination Imagination teams in the school. Destination Imagination, Inc. is a leading educational nonprofit dedicated to teaching students the skills needed to succeed in school, their careers and beyond. They develop project-based learning programs that blend STEM (science, technology, engineering and mathematics) education with the arts and social entrepreneurship.

At Derry Village some interested parents have taken on teams for the Destination Imagination challenge later in the year. These teams work on activities each week in preparation for the team challenge.

For the team challenge Destination Imagination works with educators and industry experts to develop seven academic Challenges in the fields of STEM, the arts, social entrepreneurship and early learning (Rising Stars!). Students work in their teams to research, design and build a solution to their preferred Challenge.

Ski Club Reminder

If lessons are canceled due to inclement weather, the lessons will be made up at the end of the program. McIntyre will continue to have lessons until all scheduled classes have met.