Dear Parents and Guardians:

We are writing to inform you that today, September 9, 2020 we learned that an individual who was last physically present at Naugatuck High School on September 8, 2020 tested positive for COVID-19. As a result, all students at Naugatuck High School will dismiss today at 11:00 a.m., including those that typically stay longer.

The individual who tested positive is a 12th-grade student, who does not ride the bus, and is assigned to Group B-in-person learning on Tuesdays and Thursdays. All classrooms and physical spaces were cleaned and sanitized after dismissal yesterday and between all classes as well today.
Based on guidance from the Connecticut State Department of Education, Department of Public Health, and the CDC we are immediately taking the following steps:

1. Effective immediately, Naugatuck High School is closed. Until further notice, all Naugatuck High School students will participate in distance learning from home.
2. Our nursing supervisor, the Naugatuck Valley Health Department, and our medical advisor were notified. Contact tracing is underway.
3. The entire school will be deep cleaned and sanitized.
4. We will work with the Naugatuck Valley Health Department to assess the situation and determine Naugatuck High School’s next steps which will include when staff and students may return to the school building. We estimate that this will take between 2 and 5 days.
5. We will communicate with the Naugatuck High School community once the next steps have been determined.
6. Beginning tomorrow, lunch and breakfast will be available for pick-up during the closure at Naugatuck High School between 11:45 a.m. and 12:45 p.m.
7. During the closure, all before and after school activities at Naugatuck High School are postponed.

Within the next few days, Principal Harris will communicate important updates including Naugatuck High School’s next steps which will include when staff and students may return to the school building.

In partnership,

Chris Montini

Dear Naugatuck Public Schools Distance Learning Families:

Welcome back!  I am excited for the 2020 - 2021 school year. I know it has been a summer like no other  - a year like no other. So much remains uncertain, and I hope you were able to find some time to rest, relax, and enjoy time with friends and family safely.  Today, you will discover who your child’s teacher will be, we all look forward to the new experiences we will have. 

Naugatuck is launching their distance learning program on Wednesday, September 2nd, 2020. Your child’s teacher will reach out tomorrow with information about classroom codes and accessing the Google Classroom. Our school day for virtual learners begins at 8:30 a.m. with a morning message in their virtual classrooms. Students will have scheduled small group instruction between 8:45 a.m. and 11:15 a..m. with their teachers as well as time to independently complete assignments. 

Students will have live group instruction through Google Meet with their Unified Arts teacher from 11:15 to 11:45 a.m. every day. 

Lunch will be from 12:15 to 12:45. The afternoon will consist of independent work, time to complete classwork, and possibly scheduled time with teachers in small groups. 

This plan will be in effect until Oct. 2, 2020. The district will be monitoring health data and information from the state and may make changes to its schedules. 

There will not be an in-person Open House this year. Instead teachers are preparing a virtual tour for you to view. They are scheduled to be posted by September 10, 2020 for you to watch at your convenience. Teachers will also have a document in their classroom where you can post questions. They will reply to your questions by the next day. 

Each teacher will develop a schedule for your child that will include times of live group meetings and times where your child will be completing independent work. Distance learning will be flexible, but students are expected to report to their live instructional groups at the designated times. 

Attendance

Attendance will be taken in the live group meetings. A child will be marked present if they attend their live group meetings for the day. If a child does not attend all of their live group meets, they will be marked tardy. If a child does not attend any live group sessions for the day, they will be marked absent from school by the end of the day. 

Your child’s home school will follow up on the absence. District attendance policies and guidelines will be in effect. 

If you know your child will not attend school, please contact your home school. School staff will log all absences and parent-supplied reasons so that the nurse is aware of the illness-related absence using the questions below.

• State the name and grade of your child
• Does the child have a fever?
• What symptoms do they have?
• Does the parent have any other concerns they want to report?
• Will the child be going to the doctor’s office?

The nurse will follow up with a phone call to discuss more information as needed. Please provide the best number for the nurse to call. Information about absences will be recorded in an area in Powerschool that is HIPAA compliant. The nurse will use this information to determine if a follow up call needs to be made. 

School Supplies

Our students will need notebooks, pencils, pens, colored pencils, crayons, erasers, scissors, Post-It Notes, index cards, glue sticks, and highlighters. Your child’s classroom teacher will provide more information. If you need assistance gathering school supplies, please contact your classroom teacher or your home school principal. 

Schedule

Getting Ready for the Day	8:30 a.m.	Morning message from your child’s teacher with an overview of the day
Live small group instruction	9:15 to 11:15 p.m.	Teachers will schedule your child for 20-30 minute live small group instruction. This will include: Humanities Reading Math and Science Unified Arts: Art, Music, Physical Education and Library/Media
Unified Arts Class	11:15 to 11:45 p.m.	Your child’s virtual classroom will have a scheduled class in Art, Music, Physical Education, Health, or Library/Media.
Work time	12:45 to 1:15 p.m.	Independent work/outdoor time/activity time
	1:15 to 2 p.m.	Independent work.
Live instruction OR independent work	2 to 2:55 p.m.	Possible small group instruction or independent time:  Complete daily work. Reading time Book Clubs

Teacher will be setting up a schedule for your child. Assignments will be posted in your child’s Google Classroom. Please visit this web site to learn more about Distance Learning, how to use Google, and what to do if your child experiences ChromeBook issues.  

Distance learning teachers will coordinate with your child’s home school to ensure they have the proper tools for learning.

The faculty and staff of Naugatuck Public Schools are excited to offer your child a caring, safe environment for learning and a curriculum which challenges each student to learn, succeed and develop unique talents and interests.  We value your child as an individual and we will develop their knowledge, skills and talents with care, kindness and meaningful feedback. We ask for your daily support in encouraging your child to read, complete assignments and come to their small group meetings prepared to engage in their learning.  

Please make sure to read the letter sent to you by your child’s home school principal for information. Your child’s teacher will communicate with you shortly. You can visit our Distance Learning Family Portal for information about the technology used in our programming. 

We look forward to a successful educational partnership with you.

Best,

Caroline Messenger

Dear Naugatuck Public Schools Distance Learning Families:

Welcome back!  I am excited for the 2020 - 2021 school year. I know it has been a summer like no other  - a year like no other. So much remains uncertain, and I hope you were able to find some time to rest, relax, and enjoy time with friends and family safely.  Today, you will discover who your child’s teacher will be, we all look forward to the new experiences we will have. 

Naugatuck is launching their distance learning program on Wednesday, September 2nd, 2020. Our school day for virtual learners begins at 9 a.m. with a morning message in their virtual classrooms. Your child’s classroom teacher will reach out shortly with a class code for joining the Google Classroom. Students will have scheduled small group instruction between 9:15 a.m. and 11:30 a..m. with their teachers as well as time to independently complete assignments. Lunch will be from 12:15 to 12:45. The afternoon will consist of independent work on a special area subject like Art, Music, Physical Education and Library/Media. It will also consist of independent time to complete classwork, and possibly scheduled time with teachers in small groups. 

This plan will be in effect until Oct. 2, 2020. The district will be monitoring health data and information from the state and may make changes to its schedules. 

There will not be an in-person Open House this year. Instead teachers are preparing a virtual tour for you to view. They are scheduled to be posted by September 10, 2020 for you to watch at your convenience. Teachers will also have a document in their classroom where you can post questions. They will reply to your questions by the next day. 

Each teacher will develop a schedule for your child that will include times of live group meetings and times where your child will be completing independent work. Distance learning will be flexible, but students are expected to report to their live instructional groups at the designated times. 

Attendance

Attendance will be taken in the live group meetings. A child will be marked present if they attend their live group meetings for the day. If a child does not attend all of their live group meets, they will be marked tardy. If a child does not attend any live group sessions for the day, they will be marked absent from school by the end of the day. 

Your child’s home school will follow up on the absence. District attendance policies and guidelines will be in effect. 

If you know your child will not attend school, please contact your home school. School staff will log all absences and parent-supplied reasons so that the nurse is aware of the illness-related absence using the questions below.

• State the name and grade of your child
• Does the child have a fever?
• What symptoms do they have?
• Does the parent have any other concerns they want to report?
• Will the child be going to the doctor’s office?

The nurse will follow up with a phone call to discuss more information as needed. Please provide the best number for the nurse to call. Information about absences will be recorded in an area in Powerschool that is HIPAA compliant. The nurse will use this information to determine if a follow up call needs to be made. 

School Supplies

Our students will need notebooks, pencils, pens, colored pencils, crayons, erasers, scissors, Post-It Notes, index cards, glue sticks, and highlighters. Your child’s classroom teacher will provide more information. If you need assistance gathering school supplies, please contact your classroom teacher or your home school principal. 

Schedule

Getting Ready for the Day	9 a.m.	Morning message from your child’s teacher with an overview of the day
Live small group instruction	9:15 to 12:15 p.m.	Teachers will schedule your child for 20-30 minute live small group instruction. This will include: Humanities Reading Math and Science Unified Arts: Art, Music, Physical Education and Library/Media
Independent time	12:15 to 12:45 p.m.	Lunch
Work time	12:45 to 1:15 p.m.	Independent work/outdoor time/activity time
	1:15 to 2 p.m.	Independent work on Unified Arts daily. Classroom teachers will schedule a Unified Art to be completed daily.
Live instruction OR independent work	2 to 3:25 p.m.	Possible small group instruction or independent time to complete daily work

Teacher will be setting up a schedule for your child. Assignments will be posted in your child’s Google Classroom. Please visit this web site to learn more about Distance Learning, how to use Google, and what to do if your child experiences ChromeBook issues. 

Distance learning teachers will coordinate with your child’s home school to ensure they have the proper tools for learning.

The faculty and staff of Naugatuck Public Schools are excited to offer your child a caring, safe environment for learning and a curriculum which challenges each student to learn, succeed and develop unique talents and interests.  We value your child as an individual and we will develop their knowledge, skills and talents with care, kindness and meaningful feedback. We ask for your daily support in encouraging your child to read, complete assignments and come to their small group meetings prepared to engage in their learning.  

Please make sure to read the letter sent to you by your child’s home school principal for information. Your child’s teacher will communicate with you shortly. You can visit our Distance Learning Family Portal for information about the technology used in our programming. 

We look forward to a successful educational partnership with you.

 

Best,

Caroline Messenger

Return to School Plan for Students in Grades 9-12 & Possibly 7-8 through October 2, 2020

Webinars for Parents and Staff

Before and After Care

Choosing Online Learning from Home or Returning to In-Person Learning

Dear Naugatuck Public School Community,

It is an honor and a privilege to begin serving Naugatuck’s students and families as the Superintendent of Schools. I have been fortunate to grow up, attend school, and for the last 21 years, work in this special community as a teacher and administrator.

Despite the unique circumstances, we find ourselves in, our mission and vision as a school district remain the same - to ensure that each and every student in each and
every class develops into the Vision of the Graduate through engagement in rigorous academic experiences with social and emotional support, care, and guidance.

I look forward to working with the dedicated and caring faculty, staff, and Board of Education who are committed to working tirelessly to make the aforementioned mission and vision a reality for all of our students - whether we are back in our schools, learning online from home, or a combination of both. As we prepare for the 2020-2021 school year, we would like to share the state guidelines for reopening and ask that you take a short survey to let us know your intentions for the return to school.

On June 29, 2020, the CT State Department of Education released the Guidelines for Returning to School for the 2020-2021 school year (click the link to see the guidelines in full). The NPS leadership team is busy working on developing several plans for the return to school. We’ve established a Return to School Committee composed of administrators, teachers, and parents to help develop the plans. Our plans will include:

• A plan for all students to return to classroom learning in school buildings at the start of the school year;
• A plan for improved distance learning for all students in the event that it becomes necessary to close school buildings again;
• A plan for improved distance learning for any students who choose to continue to learn online from home at the start of the school year;
• A hybrid plan where students participate in a combination of online learning at home and in-person learning in schools.

The CT Guidelines currently allow for school districts to plan for the return of all students to in-person classroom learning every day. The guidelines are based on Connecticut's current COVID-19 data. The sacrifices that people in Naugatuck and throughout the state have made, the serious approach towards physical distancing, and the selfless commitment to wearing masks have helped to flatten the curve and lower the rates of infection. However, it is important to note that the way that education is provided this year depends on the infection data. If an outbreak occurs, we must be prepared to quickly transition to distance learning or a hybrid approach. As we develop our plans for a healthy and safe return to school, we must continue to take COVID-19 seriously so that we can increase our chances of staying in school while doing our part to stop the spread.

We are still in the beginning stages of the development of our return to school plans. We will communicate and share our plans with you as they are developed over the course of the next few weeks. In the meantime, we’ve included the state guidelines for your review and share with you the following aspects of our plan based on the
guidelines:

1. Cohorting - Students in our elementary and intermediate schools will stay as a group, or cohort, while in school with the same group of students and teacher. Each team will function as independently as possible. We are currently working to determine the extent to which we are able to place students in cohorts for grades 7-12.
2. Face Coverings - All staff and students will be expected to wear a protective face covering or face mask that completely covers the nose and mouth when inside the school building, with a few exceptions for health reasons. We will plan for “mask breaks” throughout the day. When possible, classes may utilize outdoor spaces for learning which may provide opportunities for students and staff, if physically distanced appropriately, to remove their masks.
3. Social Distancing - NPS will consider the public health guidelines while maximizing physical distancing for students and staff in one place at the same time. Classroom desks and tables will be separated to provide for as much space as is feasible within the school building.
4. Transportation - At this point, the guidelines allow for buses to operate close to capacity with heightened health and safety protocols, including requiring all students and operators to wear face coverings.
5. Increased cleaning and sanitizing - Cleaning and sanitizing schedules have been developed in accordance with recommendations from the CDC and the Department of Public Health. Cleaning logs have been developed to ensure cleaning protocols are completed with fidelity.
6. Choice - Currently, parents and guardians can choose for their children to return to classroom learning in school buildings or for their children to learn online from home. 

In working to develop our plans prior to July 24, we can better design our programs by knowing how many students will participate. We ask that all parents and guardians take this survey by July 17 to help us develop our return to school plans. Your responses are not final. Families will have an opportunity to read our plans in full to make an informed decision in early August. In the meantime, it is important that you share your thoughts with us now so that we can plan accordingly.

We realize that many things are left unanswered and you likely have many questions. Please know that every decision we are making is done with the health, safety, and well-being of our students and faculty in mind.

2020-2021 School Year Survey

In partnership,
Christopher Montini
Superintendent of Schools