October 31, 2024

November National Native American Heritage Month

Picture Day is Coming November 4!

Individual Fall Pictures will be taken on Monday, November 4th. All students will be photographed, whether or not they are purchasing a photo package. Personalized order forms were sent home with students on Friday, October 25th. Payments can be made online at https://www.barksdalestorefront.com/shop/login/?ac=0023390IN , by cash (exact change only), or by check made out to “Barksdale School Portraits”. Please return the order form with your student on picture day regardless of whether or not you are purchasing photos or how you are paying for them. If you have any questions regarding photo packages or payment, please contact Barskdale directly at 1-800-220-7667. For all other questions, please contact Ms. Wagner at the school. Thank you!

Thank you for supporting our PBIS Quarter 1 Incentive!

Nantucket students had their first PBIS incentive of the year: watching their teachers compete in the 2024 Amazing Inflatable Race! It was so fun to get out in the gorgeous fall sunshine ☀️☀️, celebrate all the ways we’ve stayed in the LOOP so far this year 🌟🌟, and cheer on our amazing Starfish staff 📣📣 as they raced as fast as they could! Congrats to third grade teacher Mr. Thursby for winning the top prize and bragging rights as the Inflatable Race Champion! 🏆 Thank you to community members who loaned inflatable costumes!

The following are some important reminders of parent/guardian tasks to do at the beginning of the school year:

Did I update/verify my child's Emergency Card is up-to-date? Here is the link to do this online: https://secure.aacps.org/webapps/SEFP/OSS/Ecvr
Did I apply/reapply for Free or Reduced Meals for my child/chidren? Here is the link to do this online: https://www.aacps.org/page/apply-for-free-or-reduced-price-meals
Did I setup an account to pay for school meals automatically? Here is a link to do this online: https://www.aacps.org/page/purchasing-school-meals
Did I review the Student Code of Conduct with my child and return the Acknowledgement of Review of Student Handbook page? You can complete this form through ParentPortal or ask your child's teacher to send home a paper copy of the form.
Did I register for ParentPortal to help me monitor my child's progress and attendance? Here is te link to do this online: https://www.aacps.org/page/studentparent-portal

This fall, all Anne Arundel County Public Schools second and 5th graders will take the online version of the Cognitive Abilities Test™ (CogAT®).

About CogAT®

CogAT® measures students’ learned reasoning abilities in the three areas most closely related to success in school: reasoning with verbal, quantitative, and spatial concepts. Not all children learn in the same way. Some think best using words or numbers. Others think best when using images. This test will help the teacher understand the ways in which your child reasons best.

Second and fifth graders will be testing on November 8, 12, and 13 Students will complete one battery each day that contains three subtests. Students in grade 5 will be allowed to use scratch paper for the quantitative battery of the assessment only.

How your student can prepare for test taking and what you can do to help

You can help your child do his or her best by considering these tips:

Make sure that your child is in school and on time on test days. Reschedule appointments and other out-of-school time on non-testing days.
Make sure your child gets a good night’s sleep and eats a healthy breakfast before each day of testing.

Score reporting and how we use test results

You will receive a CogAT® score report by the end of the first semester. These scores will indicate how your child performed on the test compared with students across the nation who are either the same age or in the same grade. These scores, as well as other data points, will be used as part of the gifted and talented identification process. Results of the process will be shared in the spring and will inform course placement for the following school year.

Thank you for encouraging and supporting your child during testing. For further information about the Advanced Learner Programs (ALPs) and the gifted and talented identification process, please visit our website: https://www.aacps.org/page/advanced-learning-gt-alpsadvanced-placement. If you have any questions or concerns, please contact Betsy Werner at emwerner@aacps.org or call the school.

Check it out IN THE MEDIA CENTER!

This marking period has been filled with many fun engaging literacy activities across all grade levels. Look below to see what students in each grade have learned about!

#BePresent is a community/school partnership designed to increase and improve community relationships within schools. Mentors and volunteers will assist school-based staff and administration with ensuring a safe and orderly school environment by being present during the school’s daily function. Mentors and volunteers are invited to have a greater presence in schools as a way to enhance relationships and make school operations safer and more efficient.

What will you do in a school? Although each school has unique needs, some possible activities might include:

helping with arrival and dismissal.
assisting staff during lunch and recess.
being present in hallways during class changes.
supporting specific programs/activities.
mentoring a student or small group of students.
reading with a student

Are you interested in learning how you can #BePresent to support Nantucket's Starfish? Please contact our School Counselors Mrs. Dring and Mrs. Brauer for more information!

School Hours

Our instructional hours are 8:00am- 2:25pm. Students may start entering the building at 7:45 am. Please note that there is NO adult supervision prior to 7:45 am. Students must be in the building by 8:00 am in order to not be marked tardy. Any student who arrives after 8:00 AM must enter through the main entrance. Dismissal will begin at 2:25 pm. Please note: Tardies and early dismissals are recorded on a student's PK/K progress report/ Gr. 1-5 report card.

Please review our arrival and dismissal procedures found on our website.

Car Rider Arrival Reminders:

Car Riders must be able to independently be able to enter and exit the vehicle. Drivers should not get out of the car.
When dropping off your student, you should pull up as far as you can go before your student gets out of the car. Do not stop to be close to the door.
Follow the direction of the adults on duty who are guiding you to move your car forward.

Parents always have the option of parking in a parking lot and using the crosswalk to walk their student to the sidewalk instead of being a car rider.

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.

Health Room News

Greetings from the Health Room!

Welcome back! Nurse Lauren and Mrs. Gina are excited to be back at Nantucket! Nurse Lauren splits her time with another local elementary school but is accessible by email nurse3282@aacps.org . Mrs. Gina, our Health Assistant will be here to care for our day-to-day needs. Our phone number is (410) 451-6135.

If your child requires medication during the school day, or for emergency purposes, please remember to have the student's doctor complete the Parent Request to Administer Medication at School form. A copy of the form can be found here. If you have a student with other healthcare needs or you have any questions, please reach out to our Nurse Lauren via email. Please check your student's take-home folder, we may be sending things home that may require your signature and need to be returned. Please remember that students may not carry medications at school without express consent from the health room. Medication drop-offs need to be an adult-to-adult transfer, please have a trusted adult bring the medication to the health room.

Be sure to send an extra set of clothes for your child to be kept in their locker. This helps ensure a quick return to class for students of any age. Spills, trips, and mishaps happen! Please help us and your student be prepared to face life's unexpected challenges.

Birthdays at Nantucket

Nantucket Elementary recognizes that birthdays are a special day for our students. In order to maintain a safe environment for all of our students, food items WILL NOT be accepted to distribute to classmates. Parents may send in small non-food treats to be distributed to students at the end of the day. Thank you for your cooperation in keeping all of our students safe at Nantucket Elementary.

Additionally, please note that teachers and staff are unable to participate in distributing communications/invitations or email addresses related to birthday celebrations. All planning for birthdays needs to happen outside of school so that it does not take away from the purpose of instruction.

Recess Happens Daily

All students participate in 30 minutes of recess daily. Please make sure your children come dressed appropriately for the weather. If the temperature is 32 degrees or below or if the wind chill makes it feel 32 degrees or below, the students will not go outside for recess. If the weather dictates indoor recess, students will participate in 30 minutes of indoor recess in their classrooms.

During recess, students are not permitted to engage in any form of tag-like game playing or football playing. These games tend to lead to misunderstandings that result in big emotions.

School Attendance

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.

At our Attendance Committee Meeting in October, the committee discussed all students who have 4 or more cumulative lawful and unlawful absences and 8 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.