Dear Caregivers, 

 

We are delighted to begin our 2021-2022 school year in just a few weeks.  We look forward to welcoming your child back to school where our dedicated faculty will work every day to create and deliver dynamic lessons in our career technical and agricultural areas and in our academic classrooms while encouraging your child to grow as a learner and help promote a positive school culture at Essex Tech.

 

The administrative team has been meeting throughout the summer to prepare for the 2021-2022 school year. We have spent many hours discussing our school community, common vision, and goals for the upcoming year. We have an exciting year ahead, which will include increased collaboration between academic and career tech and agricultural classes; several on-campus construction projects; and the addition of our new Pathway classes that focus on further workforce preparation.  We have also hired many amazing new teachers, who will be excellent additions to our educational faculty. 

 

Here is the schedule for the first week of school:

Monday, August 30, 2021:  Teacher Professional Development Day.  No school for students.

Tuesday, August 31, 2021:  First day for all, including Coop students. This is a half-day with dismissal at 11:00 am.

Wednesday, September 1, 2021: Full day of school. Note this will be an 8:45 am start.  Buses will pick up 1-hour later.

Thursday, September 2, 2021:  This is a half-day with dismissal at 11:00 am.

Friday, September 3, 2021: This is another half-day with dismissal at 11:00 am.

Monday, September 6, 2021: Labor Day – School will be closed.

Tuesday, September 7, 2021:  Rosh Hashanah – School will be closed.

 

For additional dates and details please view the 2021-2022 School Calendar.

 

COVID Protocols

As Dr. Riccio explained in her email on Friday, July 30th, the Massachusetts Department of  Elementary and Secondary Education recently released its school reopening guidance. Given that we are a school district that serves grades 9-12, vaccinated students and staff will not be required to wear face coverings while inside school buildings at this time. Face coverings will be, however, required in the school nurse’s office and while on all school busses. Further, if a member of our community prefers to wear a mask, we encourage you to do so. In addition, there are no social-distancing requirements at this time. Essex North Shore will continue the practice of cleaning classroom desks between periods and will work to maintain the good housekeeping and sanitation practices initiated as a result of the pandemic and that worked so well for our last school year. Further, we will be introducing rapid testing for our students. More information will follow. As with all things related to the pandemic, these protocols are subject to change pending new information. We appreciate your understanding.

 

Vaccination Clinic

The vaccination clinic is happening on our campus, Monday, August 16th from 12:00 to 2:00 pm.  The clinic for the second dose will be held on Wednesday, September 8th from 8:30 to 11:30 am.  The clinic will be held in the Media Center.  In addition, vaccinations can be accessed in a variety of locations, including the Topsfield Fair. While we cannot require vaccinations for students, we are closely following the data related to COVID rates. Use the online link below to sign up.  All of the necessary permissions for vaccinating minor students are embedded in the software.  As long as caregivers sign students up online, caregivers do not need to accompany minors to the clinic.  Here is the link: https://curative.com/sites/28903.  Curative will accept walk-in staff members and students who are 18 years of age who may not have signed up online prior to the clinic.   Please direct any questions regarding the clinic to Kathleen Holman Director of Human Resources at kholman@essextech.net or Michael Murphy Interim Coordinator of Athletics, Wellness, and Health Services at mmurphy@essextech.net.

 

New Schedule

We want to remind students and families that we will have a new schedule this year.  The school day will begin at 7:45 am (with a warning bell at 7:40 am) and dismissal will be at 2:30 pm.  Here is the new Bell Schedule. 

 

Student Schedules

Student schedules are almost complete.  Aspen accounts are currently disabled to allow us to finish the schedules.  All students will receive an email when schedules are available to view in Aspen. The scheduling team has been working extremely hard to adjust to a new schedule in Aspen.

 

Technology

If your child borrows an iPad or Chromebook for the school year, the device may be picked up from Technology Office during the first week of school at any time. If students would like to pick up their devices prior to school starting, they are welcome to do so on Monday, August 23rd or Wednesday, August 25th between 9:00 am – 12:00 pm or 3:00 – 6:00 pm. Please complete the technology loan agreement and have your student bring it to the Technology Office. 

 

Required information

Over the next few days, each family will receive an additional email from us with a SNAP CODE and a link to the Required Information Form.  This form will allow you to complete all required documents and signoffs online using one form.  The online form will include:

• Student Biographical Information
• Family/Emergency Information
• Medical Information
• Directory Information
• The Student Handbook
• Technology Responsible Use Policy

We asked that each family complete the Required Information Form by Friday, September 10, 2021.  

 

Additional Information

In an effort to be more sustainable, we are asking that you view information essential to the start of the school year online at essexnorthshore.org/families. The required items that we ask you to review and become familiar with are listed below.  

• Transportation
  Updated information regarding bus routes, late buses, and student parking is available for review on the Transportation Page. 
• School Meals Information 
  Please review the following letter from our Director of Food Services, Ms. Grace Clarke, for important information regarding the school lunch program.
• Free-and-Reduced-Meals Information and Application
  If applicable, please complete the application found at essexnorthshore.org/families in the “Food Services Shortcuts” section and return to school as soon as possible. Paper copies of the form will be available in the main office for those that require them. The earlier it is received; the faster it can be processed. 
• Medication Administration Consent Form and Medication Order-Physician Form
  These forms are also required if your child will take any prescription medications during the school day. These forms are also available at essexnorthshore.org/families in the “Forms” section.

 

Please update online or return all required forms (if applicable) to Essex North Shore Agricultural & Technical School as soon as possible, but no later than Friday, September 10, 2021.

 

We are looking forward to welcoming all our students back to campus on Tuesday, August 31st, the first day of school!

 

Enjoy the rest of the summer!

 

Sincerely,

Heidi T. Riccio, Ed.D., Superintendent-Director 
Shannon Donnelly, M.A.T., Principal
Thomas O’Toole, Ed.D., Assistant Superintendent