LMC Family and Community Newsletter - September 13th

"I was always the kind of principal who tried to pour nurturing and love into my community, but after [9/11], I realized we weren't going to get any of the other work (academic) done unless we ensured that people were physically, mentally, and emotionally safe," - Jacky Grossman, Founding Principal of Greenwich Village Middle School, which later became LMC

Dear Families:

Twenty years ago, on September 11th, I was in my final year of student teaching in Pierre, South Dakota, at the Pierre Indian Learning Center. I was about to begin class when a student told me that I needed to watch the news. I don't remember teaching that day, but I recall the people in the city of Pierre contacting the school to offer their support to the student teachers from New York and Pennsylvania. I remember the night vigils they held as we all waited for phone calls from our families. I remember their words of comfort and their available shoulders where we were allowed to rest our heads that were heavy with despair. The World Trade Center and Pentagon attacks were traumatic events for us all, and we know now that the consequences of that trauma extended way beyond physical injury. Yet, it is clear that the lessons about healing learned from 9/11 can be used to shape how we respond to the emotional suffering caused by COVID.

As your children enter our classrooms, we are fully aware that COVID has impacted the lives of each child. Since its creation, our school's community has believed that middle schoolers flourish when addressing their academic, social, and emotional needs. Likewise, our goal is that as our students return to school, they must feel safe physically and emotionally for their academics to flourish. Therefore, this week and the following Monday, we begin every morning with orientation activities to help staff and students ease back into routines but also help to create classroom communities. Next week, we will continue this work in advisories every morning on Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday. To help us learn about your child's experiences this past year, please complete the LMC Family Wellness Survey.

Shanna Douglas, Principal

sdouglas@lmc896.org
C: 347-232-6130 (Text first)
O: 646-826-6100

AND ALSO:

Arrival Procedures:
- Doors open at 7:40am. Parents will drop students off at 81 New Street.
- School Begging and end times: M, W & F- 8:15am to 2:32pm/ Tues. & Thurs.- 8:15am to 3:18pm
- Complete online Health Screening Tool or complete it on paper English, Chinese and Spanish, check your temperature and keep mask on
Covid Consent Forms- Submit your updated testing consent form for your child using your NYC Schools Account (NYCSA) at schoolsaccount.nyc or by downloading the form online at schools.nyc.gov/covidtesting and providing the completed printed form to your child’s school. Let's keep our LMC Community Safe!
Visitor Requirements- Upon entry to a Department of Education building, a visitor must sign in and show photo identification, proof of vaccination, completion of health screening, and the visitor must be wearing a face covering. (There are exceptions, please email me to inquire)

FROM PREVIOUS NEWSLETTERS/UPDATES:

Manhattan Youth After School
- Register by using Discover DYCD website, download the application online or request an application from the main office.
- View After-school activities for fall HERE.
- A COVID-19 vaccination requirement is needed for students participating in afterschool extracurricular activities dance/dance team and any sports. Students ages 12 and up must be vaccinated in order to participate in these extracurricular activities.
- Have questions, email Mr. Sanders at RSanders@manhattanyouth.org