Dear NFSSE Family,
  
I hope you all are staying healthy and safe during this challenging time. In January, I chose to focus my thoughts and energy on the word “gratitude” during this new year. This outlook has made me more aware of the many “blessings in disguise” that are tucked away in each day during this pandemic… time spent with family, slowing down, reconnecting. I hope you are experiencing them, too.
 
I am even more grateful that it is only temporary because we miss our NFSSE students! As you may have guessed, we must extend the time-frame of returning to school. We are following the Florida Department of Education’s (DOE) recommendation to continue to provide virtual school until April 30 th , at which time we will reassess again. In addition to our closure, we must postpone prom to a later date.
 
Given this extended closure, we will be moving toward more structured online academic lessons. The teachers will be providing online reading and math lessons daily by ability groups. These lessons will be 20-30 minutes in length with assignments provided that reflect the instruction. The videos will be uploaded so that parents may access and play over for student review. Additionally, teacher assistants will be offering Zoom social time for students to visit. This structure is NOT intended to place additional instructive responsibilities or pressures on the parents. We ask that you log on or review the videos with your child to the best of your abilities. Submit completed work via pictures and email to teachers. If you submit 1 lesson per week or 10, that is at your discretion. We have proposed a plan to the DOE and are abiding by that plan but understand that each parent’s individual circumstances are unique, so there is no pressure to attend each lesson or provide every assignment. We are balancing DOE compliance and the individual needs of our families. Please reach out to your teachers or administration if your student needs assistance of any kind!
 
 
NFSSE will also maintain the school calendar and “close” on Friday, April 10 th  and Monday, April 13 th  in observance of Easter. Teachers will not be hosting classes or office hours during that time.
 
Please read the attached flyers for details about these announcements:
  • Farm to Table Easter Sides by Berry Good Farms Catering – Order by April 5th and drive-through pick up on April 10th 
  • McKay Checks Drive-Through Signing – Thursday, April 2 from 8am till 6pm, Thursday, April 9 from 12-2pm and Friday, April 10 from 10am-1pm. (Farmers market and take out food are deemed essential, these times reflect times for veggie bag and Easter side dish pickups).
  • Virtual School-wide April Assembly – April 3, 10 AM. We will announce the "student of the month" with special guest, Josh Lambo. Tune in for a special surprise!
 
I look forward to seeing you this Friday at our first Virtual School Assembly!
 
Let’s continue to look for those “blessings in disguise” during our time away….
 
With gratitude for you all,
Sally Hazelip, Head of School