We would like to take this opportunity to wish, on behalf of all the staff at Derry Village, that all families have a most wonderful Thanksgiving with every joy, happiness and success for the year to come.

We are truly thankful for the way you have prepared your children for face-to-face and remote learning. We are thankful for your on-going support of the school and staff. We are thankful that our whole community is working together to educate our children.

(Mr. McCallum and Mrs. Curren)

All full meals that are served at school from now until the end of the school year in June are FREE for every student....actually every child in Derry under the age of 19, no matter their financial circumstances.

We would like families who would likely qualify for Free or Reduced-Price Meals in a "normal" school year to still fill out an application.

(Click for flyer here)

It's more than a meal application

Even with free meals for your school district in 2020-2021, it is still important to submit a free/reduced price meal application.

Completing an application takes less than 10 minutes and application information remains private and confidential. Only one application per household is needed.

Meal Applications may be downloaded from your school's website or obtained from the district's food service director.

DON'T DELAY! COMPLETE AND SUBMIT AN APPLICATION TODAY!

FILLING OUT THE SCHOOL MEAL APPLICATION MAY HELP PROVIDE:

1. After School Academic & Enrichment Programs

2. Free/Reduced meal 30 day rollover for the next school year.

3. State and Federal Funding for School Budgets

4. Fund computers and technology at home and for your school.

5. Fee Waivers for College Applications & Admissions tests

6. Resources for Classrooms, Teachers, & Children

Distributed by NH DOE, Office of Nutrition Programs and Services November 2020. This institution is an equal opportunity provider.

(Click for flyer here)

If you need help completing this application please contact Mrs. Soucy or Mrs. Dors in the front office on 432-1233.

Attendance. It is important to realize that consistent attendance will greatly improve the chance your child has of being successful in an academic environment. However, we are aware that from time to time it will be necessary to keep your child home from school. Should the need occur, please take the time to call the school (preferably before 9:00 AM) and inform us that your child will not be in attendance. In the remote setting communication with the teacher is important. Please inform the teacher if your child will is unable to participate in remote learning on any given day.

Attendance Policy. The attendance can be read in full online at EPS Code: JH (ATTENDANCE, TARDINESS AND TRUANCY POLICY)

Morning Arrival. Please remember that students are unable to access the building until 8:30am, when the doors open and supervision begins. Students who arrive before this time are not supervised. Your child’s safety is a high priority. We are asking for your help by bringing your child to school at, or after, 8:30am.

Derry Cooperative School District Roadmap to Reopening Schools, July 28, 2020 (Last Update: October 22, 2020).

“Asymptomatic persons reporting close contact with someone suspected or confirmed with COVID-19, or who report travel-related risk should self-quarantine for 14 days from their last exposure or return from travel” (NH Hampshire Grades K-12 Back-to-School Guidance, p. 6).

As of 7.25.2020, travel-related risk is defined as traveling outside New England (outside NH, VT, ME, MA, CT, RI).

Any student who has traveled in the prior 14 days outside of New Hampshire, Vermont, Maine, Massachusetts, Connecticut, or Rhode Island should not be at school.

Dear families,

This is a super exciting time. We are anticipating a shipment of Chromebooks (laptops) this week. The goal is to send home laptops with K-3 students on Friday, November 20, 2020.

This email is to give you some information regarding the laptops that students will be able to bring home.

We understand the learning curve will be steep and we will use the remote day on Monday, November 23, 2020 as a day to iron out the wrinkles we will encounter. We have reviewed some basics with students during the school day in the classroom and Technology room. Teachers will be available via email during the day to help families become more comfortable using the laptop. When students return to school we will continue to build up the skills needed to use the laptop as an instructional tool.

Students have been practicing in a limited fashion how to access Google Classroom which will be the main platform for accessing work and the zoom links for video conferencing.

Here is some basic information for you...

Loan Agreement

A signed Student/Parent Loan Agreement will be required for all students participating in the 1:1 program. This program started with all 5th grade students in the 2019-2020 school year. This year, 2020-2021 it has continued with Grade 4 and Grade 5 students. We are now pleased to announce that all students K-3 will be issued a Chromebook, charger and a protective sleeve.

Device Damage and Charges

Students are responsible for caring for the device checked out to them. If an accident occurs, costs may be incurred as outlined in the handbook (see link below) in accordance with School Board policy JQ.

Protecting Students at School

Student safety remains a priority for the District. We feel the best way to keep students safe online is to teach them to be safe consumers of technology. The District uses curriculum to teach digital citizenship and online safety to all students. In addition, each building employs content filters that are set to CIPA (Children’s Internet Protection Act) standards. These filters are updated nightly to block inappropriate sites and content. Because of the nature of the Internet, no content filter is foolproof. Although the content filter will provide a degree of protection to the user and the device, the user assumes responsibility for accessing content that is not school related, whether blocked by the filter at that particular time or not.

Protecting Students at Home

We believe that online safety and digital citizenship should not end when a student leaves school. It is an expectation that students follow all District guidelines for technology usage when accessing the District technology resources away from school. We encourage families to discuss online safety and District expectations at home as described earlier in this handbook.

Device Guidelines

• You are solely responsible for your device, keep it safe at all times.You should be the only person logging in to your device.

• Carry your device with both hands or in the provided sleeve.

• Always set your device on a flat surface to use it.

• Keep food and drinks away. Do not eat or drink while using your device. Instead of having food or drink at your computer, take a study break.

• You are only allowed to download or install any apps, extensions, or other materials approved by the District.

• Keep your device clean; use a cleaning cloth to wipe your screen.

• Charge your device every night; look for the charging light.

• Keep your device away from pets.

• Save all your work to Google Drive.

• Please do not:

  • share passwords.

  • swap or share with another student.

  • record video, audio or photos on school property without District permission.

  • leave items, such as headphones or pencils, inside the laptop when closing.

  • leave your device in a car.

  • store your device with the lid open.

  • remove District asset tags or stickers.

  • place heavy objects on your device since this can cause your screen to crack over time.

Click here for a more detailed description (and troubleshooting tips) of the above can be found here.

https://docs.google.com/document/d/1xGMitEFzaNLxD-eidzxbNOh5-EZ__SqfOVxC-PQO_sY/edit?usp=sharing

This is an exciting time, please reach out to the classroom teacher if you are having any difficulties accessing Google Classroom.

NOTE: We require a completed Loan Agreement in order to send home the Chromebook. These were sent home with your child. Here is a copy of the agreement.

https://drive.google.com/file/d/1gU_JA5NpKDQj7xuCxRBw9G7d_cNpJix7/view?usp=sharing

Kindergarten registration for 2021-2022 will begin on Monday, November 16, 2020 (Letter to Parents/Guardians, Flyer).

Dear Parents/Guardians,

Kindergarten registration for 2021-2022 will begin on Monday, November 16, 2020. This process must be completed for your child to be enrolled in Kindergarten for the 2021-2022 school year. Required documents can be photographed and uploaded electronically. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, an appointment with the school should be made if documents need to be delivered in person.

Registration Process

1. Go to the 2021-2022 Kindergarten Registration page click here. Please note that your child must have been born October 1, 2015 through September 30, 2016 to be eligible for Kindergarten.

2. Complete the online 2021-2022 Kindergarten Student Registration process.

3. If you do not have Internet access, please call your child’s prospective school for assistance.

4. Parents registering their child for next year’s kindergarten will be asked to return to the registration in the summer to update forms and agreements.

Information required for Kindergarten registration:

• Parent/Guardian

• Emergency Contact(s)

• Student Information

• Household Information

• Medical Information

• Birth Certificate*

• Proof of Residency*

*Photos of documents may be uploaded in the registration process or brought to the school by appointment.

Please call Derry Village School 603-432-1233 if you have any questions.

We look forward to having your child in full-day Kindergarten in the 2021-2022 school year.

More information Kindergarten Registration

1. Words Their Way Book Descriptions

2. Fountas and Pinnell Text Level Ladder of Progress

3. 2020 NWEA MAP Growth normative data overview

(Click Here) DVS Honors our Veterans

For Veteran's Day this year we would like to honor military veterans connected to Derry Village on our webpage.

If you would like to send us your name, a picture of yourself (during military service), the Armed Service, your rank, and anything else you might want to include we will post it on the webpage.

This would be open to all family members past and present, immediate family and extended family, connected to Derry Village.

Send the information to your child's classroom teacher or Mr. Chris McCallum (Principal) at cmccallum@sau10.org

REMINDER: There is NO SCHOOL on Veterans Day.

If you can believe it, the Holidays are right around the corner! Each year we reach out to all of our families at Derry Village to offer assistance during the holiday season. There are a few different options to receive assistance. Community resources include The Derry Community Fund and the Salvation Army. These resources can be contacted directly for assistance. Additionally, we at Derry Village offer help and support to families in need. If you are unable to access either community organization, we would like to help! Please send an email to me at mcurren@sau10.org to request assistance. Please include: 1. The names of all children in your household, their ages, sizes, clothing needs, and gift wishes. 2. Total number of family members in the home. We ask that you do not access more than one organization for support as we would like to help as many families as possible. Let me know if you have any questions. Have a great day!

There is an opportunity for DVS families to have access to a special program. 68 Hours of Hunger is an organization that provides weekly food bags for our families free of charge. If your family is in need of assistance and would like a bag of food sent home with your child weekly, please contact Mrs. Curren at mcurren@sau10.org or at 432-1233. We hand out the bags in a very discreet way in order to maintain the confidentiality of our students and families.

Re/max Innovative Properties and Pinkerton Interact Club are hosting a Winter Coat Drive for Derry families. If your child(ren) would benefit from a new winter coat, please contact Alicia Triplett (District Home/School Coordinator) at 260-2793.

Coats sizes 2 through adult sizes are currently being collected at Derry locations such as the Derry Public Library, Marion Gerrish and Re/Max in Londonderry through November 14th if families would like to donate a new winter coat.

Good Afternoon Families of the Derry Cooperative School District:

Please enjoy this week’s video message. Special thanks are extended to all of our outstanding students and staff from Derry Village School, Principal Chris McCallum, and Media Director David Minkle for their significant contributions to this video message. Have a wonderful and safe weekend.

Superintendent's Video Message 10/30/2020

The last day of trimester one is Monday, November 23rd, and that will be a fully remote learning day for all students. The following day, Tuesday, November 24th is a no school day for students. Teachers will be available for parent/guardian conferences, which will be 100% remote this year.

Trimester two will begin on Monday, November 30th. In preparation for the beginning of trimester two, a survey will be sent this coming Monday, November 2nd, to families of current students in the Alternative Remote Learning Plan (ARLP). The survey will be asking those families if they would like to move their child(ren) from remote learning to on-site instruction physically in the schools, or if they prefer to remain remote. Please note that the availability for students to come back on-site will be based on classroom capacity and the ability to maintain safe social-distancing. As of now, unless a family secures a doctor's note, we are no longer moving students into the ARLP.

The survey is due back no later than Monday, November 9th at 4:00pm, so we can begin any necessary reorganization to the ARLP and/or the on-site face-to-face instruction occurring in the buildings. If you have questions, please contact your home school administration.

(Inclement weather and other situations)

Emergency Remote Learning Days will be called when weather conditions, or other situations, either limit safe travel to school or on-site learning in certain circumstances. These conditions allow for students to access learning activities digitally via internet resources. Emergency Remote Learning Days will mirror the approach we have taken to remote learning during the COVID-19 pandemic of 2020.

At the time of this writing, the Derry Cooperative School District is awaiting shipment of devices to supply students in grades K-3. The K-3 grade level plan below provides an alternative if the devices are not distributed in advance of an Emergency Remote Learning Day.

More details here

It is the intent of the Derry Cooperative School District to keep school in session under most weather conditions. However, if severe weather conditions are known by 6:00 AM, school may be closed or a delayed opening procedure will be followed.

Please check the following websites for more information during inclement weather - Cancellations.com or the Derry Cooperative School District website http://www.sau10.org/ or tune into any of the following radio stations for weather updates : WDER - AM 1320, WGIR-AM 61, WZID - FM 95.7, WHOB - FM 106.3, WOKQ FM 97.5, or also WMUR - TV Channel 9, WCVB 5, WLVI 56, WBZ 4, WHDH 7 or Comcast users Channel 6 or 17 (local stations)

Try also the Channel 6 webpage

Please make sure the office has current contact details for our PowerSchool announcements.

Parents/guardians are reminded that Parent-Teacher Conference time is fast approaching. Teachers will be reaching out to families to schedule a virtual meeting time to meet on November 24.

There will be NO SCHOOL for students on Tuesday, November 24. This day is dedicated to parent/teacher conferences. Your child’s teacher will send home information about scheduling a time to meet via video conference. Please be sure to contact the teacher if you have not heard from them in the next couple of weeks. These 10-15 minute conferences will be used to discuss your child’s progress during the first trimester.

In addition to the classroom and special education teachers, our PACE teacher, Mrs. Peters, our Unified Arts teachers, Ms. Studer, Mrs. Sullivan and Mr. Burns will also be available during this day to meet with you.

Research shows that family engagement improves school readiness, student achievement, and social skills. Parents and the school have something in common: We both want your child to learn and do well. When parents and teachers talk to each other, each person can share important information about your child’s talents and needs. Each person can also learn something new about how to help your child. Parent–teacher conferences are a great way to start talking to your child’s teachers. How should you follow up after the Parent Conference?

Make a plan (of how to help your child). Schedule another time to talk (if needed). Talk to your child.

School will not be in session on Tuesday, November 24^th through Friday, November 27^th in observance of the Thanksgiving Holiday.

Registration for 2021-2022 Kindergarten will begin mid-November. Please call the School (603) 432-1233 if you have a student to register for Kindergarten. Stay tuned more information.