Message from the Superintendent - Return To Classrooms Monday

Superintendent Sue Charochak sent this message out on Friday. It is replicated here for your reference.

Good Evening Beverly Parents, Families and Staff,

I want to take the opportunity to remind you all that we will return to our regular model of In Person/Hybrid instruction on Monday, January 11, 2021. I want to thank you for your continued partnership with us as we continue to work together to keep our schools safe. Our shift to remote learning this past week has offered us the opportunity to allow our families and staff to take the necessary precautions so that we may resume our instruction in the safest way possible. We have used this week to provide surveillance testing to staff and to ensure families had time to follow any needed quarantine guidelines to comply with the state travel restrictions. Please remember that these measures are what will ultimately provide us a better opportunity to remain open for in-person instruction for students grades PK -12.

I know that I have said this in an earlier email, but it certainly is worth repeating. Whether your child attends our schools in the hybrid model (a combination of in-person and synchronous learning which is slightly different at each level) or is a member of our Remote Learning Academy, our students have benefitted from uninterrupted, consistent instruction from our amazing teachers and staff! Throughout the year, our strategy is to plan for every eventuality, prepare for different scenarios, and utilize a variety of teaching modalities to provide the opportunity to access learning that is meaningful and addresses academics, social and emotional needs and the well-being of all our students. We believe that the proactive approach to planning ahead has contributed to our success in keeping our kids in school and to the safety of our students and staff. To date, though we have experienced isolated positive cases of COVID-19, there has been no evidence of community spread in our school community. This is a testament to the work of our administrators, all our staff, and to you, our families, working together to put the safety and well-being of our students first.

We will need to continue to work together to keep this happening. This will involve, among other things, a commitment from families to monitor your child for symptoms, keeping them home when they are not feeling well until a test can confirm whether the virus is the cause or if someone in your household is not feeling well and they may have been exposed. On our part, we will continue to comply with all safety measures of face coverings, distancing and limiting cohorts as well as contact tracing as we do our part in this effort.

Finally, I want to remind you that we continue to update our website with important information for families regarding COVID-19 and the schools. There you will find links to our district dashboard which documents active cases, and links to documents that provide general information for the school community. You may also reach out with any questions to our nursing staff at covidquestions@beverlyschools.org.

Sincerely,

Sue Charochak, Ed.D.
Superintendent of Schools

Gr 7/8 Virtual Musical - Audition Signup Deadline Extended!

7th and 8th Graders! It's your turn! This spring we will be performing Schoolhouse Rock Live! Jr. This musical brings a popular TV show to life with fun characters, rocking songs, and hilarious scene work. If you like to sing, dance, and act (VIRTUALLY) then this is for you. 

See this flyer and/or follow this link for more information!! We are looking to cast 30 students in this spring's show and hope you will join us. 

All interested in auditioning will need to sing a song from a Broadway Musical or Disney Movie. Every student interested in auditioning for the musical must fill out a form. Forms are due Friday, January 15, 2021. 

If you have questions email bmsmusicals@gmail.com.

MLK Video Submissions Due Today

   

The Beverly Human Rights Committee invites children and adults to share a brief (15-30 sec.) video reflecting on what Dr. Martin Luther King's message means to you. This might include things like reciting an inspiring quote from Dr. King, sharing messages on paper, reciting a short poem, holding a banner - or any other idea of your own!

Videos should be no more than 30 seconds in length and should be submitted to Tom Gallo (tomogallo@gmail.com) by Thursday, January 7, 2021.

These videos will be used as part of the socially distant celebration on MLK Jr. Day.

Meal Pickups Tomorrow at BHS

Days & hours for meal distribution have been adjusted so families do not have to come to the High School daily. We encourage all families to take advantage of this great program! Your participation will keep the program thriving and feed your students at the same time. Multiple days worth of food will be provided each day. Please remember to wear a mask at pickups for your safety & the safety of the staff.

• Friday 1/8- 7:15am-8:30am & 10:30am-12:30pm
• Monday 1/11 Return to regular distribution times 7:15am-7:45am & 10:30am-11:30am

Thank you for supporting our program! Please reach out with any questions or concerns at 978-921-6132 ext 11129.

Celebrate MLK - Submit a Short Video!

  

The Beverly Human Rights Committee invites children and adults to share a brief (15-30 sec.) video reflecting on what Dr. Martin Luther King's message means to you. This might include things like reciting an inspiring quote from Dr. King, sharing messages on paper, reciting a short poem, holding a banner - or any other idea of your own!

Videos should be no more than 30 seconds in length and should be submitted to Tom Gallo (tomogallo@gmail.com) by January 7, 2021.

These videos will be used as part of the socially distant celebration on MLK Jr. Day.

Is Your Child's iPad Up To Date?

Help your child be sure their iPad is ready for learning now that we're back to school!

Check this presentation (or go through this checklist) with your child to be sure their operating system and apps are up-to-date so they don't miss anything, and that they are taking steps to keep their iPad operating smoothly. Remember that in order to get certain updates, the iPad MUST be plugged in overnight.

Be Brave Board Updated Today

The Be Brave Board was updated this morning with lots of great options for things to do and explore from our STEM teachers! 

Students have designated time on their schedule each week to spend on BBB activities. RLA students are expected to complete further assignments or reports in their Global Apps Google Classroom, while hybrid students should be completing an exit ticket for each activity completed. A new exit ticket is posted at the top of the Be Brave Board each week.

Gr 7/8 - Sign Up Now for School House Rock Virtual Musical

7th and 8th Graders! It's your turn! This spring we will be performing Schoolhouse Rock Live! Jr. This musical brings a popular TV show to life with fun characters, rocking songs, and hilarious scene work. If you like to sing, dance, and act (VIRTUALLY) then this is for you. 

See this flyer and/or follow this link for more information!! We are looking to cast 30 students in this spring's show and hope you will join us. 

All interested in auditioning will need to sing a song from a Broadway Musical or Disney Movie. Every student interested in auditioning for the musical must fill out a form. Forms are due January 8, 2021. 

If you have questions email bmsmusicals@gmail.com.

How does MLK inspire you?

 

The Beverly Human Rights Committee invites children and adults to share a brief (15-30 sec.) video reflecting on what Dr. Martin Luther King's message means to you. This might include things like reciting an inspiring quote from Dr. King, sharing messages on paper, reciting a short poem, holding a banner - or any other idea of your own!

Videos should be no more than 30 seconds in length and should be submitted to Tom Gallo (tomogallo@gmail.com) by January 7, 2021.

These videos will be used as part of the socially distant celebration on MLK Jr. Day.

Is Your Child's iPad Ready For 2021?

Help your child be sure their iPad is ready for learning now that we're back to school!

Check this presentation (or go through this checklist) with your child to be sure their operating system and apps are up-to-date so they don't miss anything, and that they are taking steps to keep their iPad operating smoothly. Remember that in order to get certain updates, the iPad MUST be plugged in overnight.

Gr 7/8 Virtual Musical - Sign Up By Friday!

7th and 8th Graders! It's your turn! This spring we will be performing Schoolhouse Rock Live! Jr. This musical brings a popular TV show to life with fun characters, rocking songs, and hilarious scene work. If you like to sing, dance, and act (VIRTUALLY) then this is for you. 

See this flyer and/or follow this link for more information!! We are looking to cast 30 students in this spring's show and hope you will join us. 

All interested in auditioning will need to sing a song from a Broadway Musical or Disney Movie. Every student interested in auditioning for the musical must fill out a form. Forms are due January 8, 2021.

If you have questions email bmsmusicals@gmail.com.

Meal Pickups Tomorrow

 Days & hours for meal distribution have been adjusted so families do not have to come to the High School daily. Below are the upcoming dates and extended hours for this week. We encourage all families to take advantage of this great program! Your participation will keep the program thriving and feed your students at the same time. Multiple days worth of food will be provided each day. Please remember to wear a mask at pickups for your safety & the safety of the staff.

• Tuesday 1/5- 7:15am-8:30am & 10:30am-12:30pm
• Friday 1/8- 7:15am-8:30am & 10:30am-12:30pm
• Monday 1/11 Return to regular distribution times 7:15am-7:45am & 10:30am-11:30am

Thank you for supporting our program! Please reach out with any questions or concerns at 978-921-6132 ext 11129.

Happy New Year!

Meal Pickups Tomorrow at BHS

Days & hours for meal distribution have been adjusted so families do not have to come to the High School daily. Below are the upcoming dates and extended hours for the next few weeks. We encourage all families to take advantage of this great program! Your participation will keep the program thriving and feed your students at the same time. Multiple days worth of food will be provided each day. Please remember to wear a mask at pickups for your safety & the safety of the staff.

• Wednesday 12/30- 10:30am-11:30am
• Tuesday 1/5- 7:15am-8:30am & 10:30am-12:30pm
• Friday 1/8- 7:15am-8:30am & 10:30am-12:30pm
• Monday 1/11 Return to regular distribution times 7:15am-7:45am & 10:30am-11:30am

Thank you for supporting our program! Please reach out with any questions or concerns at 978-921-6132 ext 11129.

Happy New Year!

Meal Pickups Tomorrow at BHS

Days & hours for meal distribution have been adjusted so families do not have to come to the High School daily. Below are the upcoming dates and extended hours for the next few weeks. We encourage all families to take advantage of this great program! Your participation will keep the program thriving and feed your students at the same time. Multiple days worth of food will be provided each day. Please remember to wear a mask at pickups for your safety & the safety of the staff.

• Monday 12/28- 10:30am-11:30am
• Wednesday 12/30- 10:30am-11:30am
• Tuesday 1/5- 7:15am-8:30am & 10:30am-12:30pm
• Friday 1/8- 7:15am-8:30am & 10:30am-12:30pm
• Monday 1/11 Return to regular distribution times 7:15am-7:45am & 10:30am-11:30am

Thank you for supporting our program! Please reach out with any questions or concerns at 978-921-6132 ext 11129.

Happy New Year!

NSMT's Scrooge Visits Grade 7

Yesterday, David Coffee, better known in these parts as Scrooge in the North Shore Music Theatre's production of A Christmas Carol, starred in a series of three Google Meets with each of our 7th grade teas, thanks to the generous support of our BMS PTO. Mr. Coffee was genial and generous, answering many questions about his long career and reflecting on the role of Scrooge.

A wonderful story about Coffee is on WBUR today and the story includes many videos, including a special message from the NSMT, featuring Scrooge!

December Vacation Reminders

All students and staff are on vacation beginning today, and through Sunday, January 3.

Classes resume on Monday, January 4. For the vast majority of students, this will be online for the week of January 4-8, with a very small number of students enrolled in certain programs attending in-person. Attendance is taken each day and in each class during this remote learning period.

Hybrid classes are planned to resume on Monday, January 11.

A Holiday Message from the Superintendent

This message went out yesterday from Dr. Charorchak and is duplicated here for your reference.

Dear Beverly Public School Community,

As we all head into the upcoming holiday break, I want to take a moment and wish each and every member of the Beverly School community warm holiday greetings. Beverly is such a compassionate community and I am grateful to work in an environment that cares so much for all our students.

I hope you will take a moment to reflect on this year and the incredible ways that we have come together as a community to support each other. It certainly is a very unusual holiday season with its virtual choirs and concerts, virtual holiday parties, virtual cards and presents. It’s like nothing we have ever experienced nor could have anticipated. And yet, we’re making it work. That is what is so special about our students and staff - finding ways through resilience and their ability to turn adversity into opportunity.

If you have had a chance to enjoy any of our virtual events or to simply jump into a classroom meet and see the enthusiasm of teachers and students, you know that this is true. We are working together to figure out how to spread good cheer without spreading the virus, and we are sending our students and staff off for a well-deserved winter break with goodwill, good wishes, and hopes for a happy new year. We all look forward to the new year with hope and optimism. We know there will be challenges, but look forward to better times ahead. In the meantime, enjoy some well-deserved time off. Catch your breath, get some rest, and I look forward to welcoming you back in 2021!

Warmly,

Dr. Sue Charochak
Superintendent of Schools

Holiday Message from Mrs. Oliver

Dear BMS Families,

We wanted to take a moment to say Happy Holidays to all of you! We are forever grateful for your support, patience and flexibility with this year. Planning is underway for the upcoming year and we are excited to engage students in productive ways while providing a joyful learning environment that students and adults are excited to be part of.

May you all have a wonderful winter break, enjoy your families and stay safe!

Best,
Lisa Oliver

Holiday Read-Alouds TODAY 12-1 and 1:15-2:15

BMS Librarian Ms. Woznick will be reading aloud from a selection of holiday books on Wed. 12/23 from 12-1 and from 1:15-2:15. Students may do this as a Global Apps choice during their Be Brave Board time.

Younger siblings are encouraged to tune in themselves or join with BMS siblings during this time.

The Google Meet room is at https://meet.google.com/kac-cqig-dsu - and you can find out more here.

Gr 5/6 Band Schedule Today

Grade 5/6 Band class schedule for Wednesday, 12/23/20 and Wednesday, 1/6/21

11:00-11:30 6th Grade Woodwinds

11:30-12:00 6th Grade Brass

12:00-12:30 5th Grade Brass

12:30-1:00 5th Grade Woodwinds

1:00-1:30 6th Grade Percussion

1:30-2:00 5th Grade Percussion