Johnson Elementary School
School Committee Meeting
The next school committee meeting
(January 26, 2010) & all future meetings
will now be held at Town Hall.
Influenza Updates
Our website is the best way to stay informed. Please check our website frequently for the latest updates during the flu season.
Over the past few months the number of reported cases of Influenza Like Illness has risen across the nation. Locally, over the more recent weeks the number of cases in the Nahant community has dropped dramatically. However, the CDC warns that the flu season may be more severe this year with the addition of the H1N1 virus and may have peaks and valleys throughout the season, which may extend into April of next year.
The H1N1 flu virus may cause a more dangerous flu season with more people getting sick and being hospitalized than during a regular flu season. H1N1 is a new virus first seen in the United States. It is contagious and spreads from person to person. Like seasonal flu, illness in people with H1N1 can vary from mild to severe. Extensive efforts are underway to track and monitor the spread of all flu viruses. In the U.S. the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) is working with states to collect, compile and analyze reports of flu outbreaks.
Parents may be reassured that the school is taking appropriate steps to limit the spread of illness in the classroom. Please be aware that the school is monitoring cases daily, but we still need your help to do this. It is more important now that the phone calls regarding absent students be informative. We are monitoring for any dramatic surges in student or staff absenteeism. The goal of the DPH and the Nahant Public Schools is to keep our schools open to students and staff who are not sick and to function in a usual manner. Thus a higher than usual absenteeism rate does not necessitate a school closure. Students and staff are encouraged to remain at home until all symptoms are resolved for at least a 24 hour period and are feeling well enough to return to school for a full day.
It is also important to note that we will not provide specific information about students who are absent and whether they have a confirmed case of the flu. The majority of Influenza Like Illnesses are confirmed by symptoms only and are not tested. Therefore, relying on confirmed testing is not an accurate indication of flu activity in the school.
We ask that parents be aware of flu symptoms and keep their children home from school if they are suspicious of an illness, or present with any signs of Influenza Like Illness. If your child has a fever, please do not give them fever-reducing medication (Tylenol or Advil) and send them to school. This exposes others to an illness and leads to more sick students and staff.
We also urge parents to call the school before 8:30 am if their child is absent and to be specific about the symptoms on the voicemail. Please let us know if your child has a fever (and how high), cough, sore throat, headache, stomach ache, chills, fatigue or runny nose. You do not need to leave another voicemail for the nurse; all information will be forwarded to the Health Office.
Another way to prevent the spread of the flu is by vaccination. Please call your child’s pediatrician and see how they are handling the vaccination process if you are interested. Also, the Town of Nahant website will give you more information about flu clinics and when they are available. (12/21/2009)
Attention Parents!!!
Parking in the fire lane in front of the school is strictly forbidden.
Cars should not park in the drop off areas. Parents wishing to escort their child in the morning, or remain at school, should park in one of the designated parking lots. Once a student has exited the vehicle, the vehicle must pull away and leave the area to avoid traffic jams and accidents.
There will be a police presence at school to help us enforce this school policy.
Noncompliance of this school policy will not be tolerated. Your cooperation in this matter would be appreciated.
From our Superintendent
Dear Parents/Guardians:
I am excited to begin this new school year as Superintendent of the Nahant Public Schools. I began this assignment on July 1 and believe that the summer has been very helpful in preparing me for this first year at the Johnson School. Throughout my 26-year career as a Superintendent I have been committed to maximizing student development and achievement. That commitment will require a maximum cooperation between the schools and the home as we raise our expectations for student effort and simultaneously establish a motivating and inspirational school curriculum.
I have long felt that a student’s love for learning is the first step in actual achievement. From birth, children seek to learn by inquiring, testing and reinforcing all aspects of their environment from foods they eat to walking to speaking. I believe that our school needs to be a place that nurtures and extends that natural curiosity.
We are fully prepared for this new school year. All of our staff is in place, the school is clean and sparkling and there will be a full and rich program that supplements instruction in the core curriculum with art, music and physical education for all students.
I look forward to meeting you individually and in-group settings during the school year and encourage you to contact me personally if you have questions or concerns about the Johnson School.
Dr. Philip F. Devaux
Superintendent of Schools.
Professional Development
January 2010 Update:
Professional Development Update!
The teachers at the Johnson School will have a full day professional development day on Wednesday, January 27th. Teachers will attend at workshop conducted by Susan Yeomans from Study Island. The on-site training will be a hands- on workshop for teachers. Teachers will learn about using the Study Island program to enhance the curriculum and prepare students for MCAS. Teachers will also learn how to analyze data and use it to improve student performance.
October Update:
Professional Development Update!!
On Wednesday November 4th we will have a full day professional development day. Lynn Schade from the Center for Child Development. Teachers will attend a workshop in the morning conducted by Mrs. Schade and in the afternoon work in teams to develop curriculum to use in the classroom. This is the second session teachers will have. They are being instructed on Comprehension Strategies to increase student reading proficiency. Teachers will work on units of study using comprehension strategies.
September:
September 23rds is the first early release day of the year. This year the four early release days and the two full days will be dedicated to training for teachers in reading instruction. We are collaborating with the consultants from the Center for Applied Child Development at Tufts University. Consultants will be coaching teachers in class and conducting workshops during the early the lease time. The focus this year will be tools and techniques for improving reading instruction.
Teachers are very excited to be working with the consultant teachers from Tufts. Teachers will be working to expand their repertoire of teaching skills and raising student achievement in reading.
Teachers participated in a Responsive Classroom Sampler Workshop on Monday, August 31, 2009. This workshop was presented on the first day for teachers and was attended by the entire school staff. Responsive Classroom is a practical approach to creating safe, challenging classrooms and building social emotional competencies throughout the school day. This workshop was funded by the Nahant Educational Foundation.
Strategic Plan Advisory Committee (SPAC) Update!!
In July the Nahant School Committee appointed a 15 member Strategic Plan Advisory Committee (SPAC) for the purpose of planning the multi-year future perspective for the Nahant Public Schools and the Johnson School. In addition to two school committee members, the Johnson School Principal and myself, the SPAC includes representatives from the Board of Selectmen, Finance Committee, faculty, parent groups, the Nahant Education Foundation and the community at large.
The first meeting of SPAC was held on August 18 and the agenda focused on the fundamental structure of a strategic plan in our school setting and the identification of some preliminary priority issues facing the school district. The topics touched upon such areas as school finance, curriculum, instruction, and technology.
The SPAC will be meeting regularly, at least once per month, with the intent of completing a comprehensive draft of a strategic plan by April 1, 2010 to be shared broadly with a final plan to be adopted by June 2010.
The next meeting in September will focus on the statements of mission, vision and values which were introduced during the last school year and which are found on this website.
Dr. Philip F. Devaux
Superintendent of Schools.
Health Office News
Information about the Swine Flu
The Massachusetts Department of Public Health has issued a Health Alert regarding the Swine Flu Outbreak. The Nahant School District in cooperation with the Department of Public Health has been and will continue to monitor this situation closely.
go to Health Office News
Important Links - H1N1 flu website updates:
http://www.cdc.gov/h1n1flu/qa.htm
http://www.cdc.gov/h1n1flu/update.htm
http://www.mass.gov/dph/swineflu
http://www.cdc.gov/swineflu
Great website: information about proper hand washing!
http://www.cdc.gov/CDCTV/HandsTogether/index.html
Traffic Flow
Starting September, 2009Reversing the direction to drop-off and pick up
Pre-K – grade 2 students will require all vehicles to enter the school site by the entrance near the primary level playground. Parents dropping off Pre-K-second graders will turn left in front of the school, stop at the curb and allow children to exit the vehicle on the passenger’s side of the vehicle. If older children are also passengers they may exit and walk around the cafetorium to enter school at the side entrance. Parents dropping off only students in grades 3-6 will continue around the school to drop-off their passengers at the side entrance.
Please note our changed traffic pattern.
We will not have adequate parking until a new "auxiliary parking area" is constructed so we’ve got to ask for full cooperation when you bring you children to school (please not before 7:45 AM). We will be implementing the early entrance into school for all children as colder more inclement weather arrives thus speeding up the time vehicles stop along the front curb to drop off children. To keep passengers and pedestrians safe, basic courtesy rules should be followed like using your directional and looking behind you before pulling away from the curb, pulling up as far as you can in front of the building to stop at the front curb, obeying the speed limit on school grounds which is 5-10 MPH and no stopping in the active driving lane to let children exit vehicles.
Latest School News
Next SPAC meetings
February 8th & 24th @ 6 p.m.
Health Office
Growth Screening Program
Professional Development
January 2010 update
School Council
School Improvement Plan
Strategic Plan Advisory Committee Update
School Programs
Extended Day Program
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