Family Update 11.8.2021

Greeting Parents and Community Members,  
I hope you are able to take advantage of the cooler temps and are getting out for some fall fun. With masking and the availability of COVID and flu vaccines, I hope you are feeling a return to normalcy. This weekend, my family went to Butler’s Orchard to pick apples. I am always grateful for the extra apples that I didn’t have to work for!  

• This week we have the vaccination clinic organized by the PTO! If you were not able to get a spot, the PTO has shared information about other clinics and spots in the area. The information session was so helpful. If you are seeking more information about the vaccine, I suggest you speak with your pediatrician.  
  
• One of the themes I have heard since my arrival is: How is LT testing students in the weekly COVID testing and how can we expand testing to more students? Our testing times are arranged by the ShieldT3 testing partners and given to schools. Our testing time is from 1:30 – 3:00. This is not a great amount of time for the saliva-based testing. Up until this week, we tested once a week. Our testing percentage has been between 10-8%. Our goal is 20% or greater. This would enable us to identify potential cases much earlier.  
  
• Starting the week of November 8 (this coming week), we will be testing students from 1:30-3:00 Mondays and Wednesdays, per a new testing schedule given to us by ShieldT3. We will be testing students in grades pre-k 3 through 5th grades. I am grateful for the extra day. This will mean we can test greater numbers of students. We will also be testing whole classes to reach the 20% number. We will alternate testing whole primary and upper grade classes. Again, our rationale is to increase numbers. This is not an indication of other cases I the classes. I hope our rationale will help parents feel at ease with this practice. If you have questions about how we are administering the COVID testing, please feel free to reach out.  
  

Upcoming Dates:  
Thursday, November 11 – Veteran's Day (no school for students, staff, administration) 
Wednesday, November 24 –Friday, November 26 – Thanksgiving break (no school for students, staff, administration) 
Monday, November 29 – Monday, December 6 - Hannukah 

I just want to remind parents we have our first open forum this week. It will be virtual to allow for ease of participation. The format is question and answer and is informal. I’m hoping to learn more about the LT community and how we can partner for greater collaboration to the benefit for our students.  
November 10 – Parents New to School 
November 17 – Parent’s Hopes and Dreams 
December 1 – How does this new math work, anyway?  
December 8 – How do I support my student with reading?  
December 15 – How is our (the school’s) communication? 
Zoom Link: Penelope Miller is inviting you to a scheduled Zoom meeting. 


Please download and import the following iCalendar (.ics) files to your calendar system. 
Weekly: 
https://us02web.zoom.us/meeting/tZEld-Cvrz8vGNcVVZLGq0wRCG0jpDTGTPX3/ics?icsToken=98tyKuGtpjsjHdWRtRuERpwMGoigXe3zmClYjY1eqinfLwdCMhTEFcUSOKJbJP_k 
Join Zoom Meeting 
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/85809714523?pwd=SmVkT3Z4TFVHSklQQlN3V2xYR0tQdz09 
Meeting ID: 858 0971 4523 
Passcode: dSTTF8 
 
Warmest regards,  
Penelope Miller