Gertrude Chamberlin School
Family Newsletter May 26, 2022 Volume 16 Issue 34
Monday, May 30th - Memorial Day, No School
Tuesday, June 7th - Field Day
Thursday, June 9th - 5th Grade Celebration and 5th Grade Fun Day
Friday, June 10th - Last Day of School, 10:30 AM Dismissal and Last Day to Order from Artsonia
Just a reminder that arrival time is 7:55. We have lots of walkers, bikers and family drop offs that are happening before this time. We don't have staff outside until 7:55. Thank you!
Dear Families,
I hope that you find comfort and some sense of normalcy with your families this weekend. I echo David Young's sentiments earlier this week regarding our response to such an unsettling and tragic event as the school shooting at Robb Elementary. Know that the Chamberlin staff has supported students, and each other, when conversations or emotions came up this week in response to the school shooting in Uvalde, Texas. We maintained as much normalcy as possible, and highlighted the ways that we keep ourselves safe at school.I also wanted to let you know many of the ways that we have made upgrades to our supports, protocols, and even the physical building, over the years in response to school violence events in our country.
- We continue to keep our doors locked and screen anyone wishing to come into the building.
- We have a double door/double activated buzz in system.
- We have a district safety plan that we practice monthly with students.
- We have a school crisis team that comes together for both proactive and reactive reasons, multiple times throughout the school year. We also meet with our district crisis team to continually evaluate our school safety plans.
- Our school has panic buttons that go directly to the South Burlington Police Department.
- Our school has lockdown buttons we can use to lock down all of the exterior doors when they are open - which is only at arrival and dismissal.
- We are equipped with interior and exterior cameras that are monitored in the office whenever school is in session.
- MOST IMPORTANTLY, we explicitly teach social emotional learning skills and use PBiS to promote a positive school culture. Our teachers and support staff have received training in restorative and trauma informed practices. Our staff includes a school counselor, a school based clinician, a part-time therapist and behavior coaches.
I am including two additional multilingual resources that you can use to support conversations that might come up at home to talk about safety and violence. If you scroll down, on the articles, you can find that they are translated in many languages.
Please reach out to myself, or your child's teacher, if you have questions or concerns...and continue to keep the Robb Elementary school community in your thoughts.
Ms. Rouelle
Purchase Your Child's Printed Artwork - T-shirts and Other Keepsakes! Great for Gift Giving!
The Gertrude Chamberlin PTO would like to extend our appreciation to our community for supporting the Fun Run! Your generosity has raised over $10,500 for the PTO! THANK YOU for supporting our students and school community. We greatly exceeded our expectations, and we are excited to be able to fund field trips, support teachers, and fund school events again beginning next school year.
Field Day is Back !
This year, Field Day will be on Tuesday, June 7th. In order to make this a success we need some parent volunteers. We are looking for volunteers to run a game with a group of students for a 60 minute time period. During that time period, classes will rotate through each station with their teachers. I have the games all planned out so you don’t need to come up with an activity.
See the schedule below for the different grade levels in order to sign up for a time slot. If you are available, you can sign up to help out through Sign-up Genius. If you want to sign up, and don’t want to use the online sign up you can simply send me an email letting me know when you are available.
https://www.signupgenius.com/go/4090f4facab23a64-field1
8:15-9:00 Set-up
9:00-10:00 1st and 2nd Grades
10:45-11:45 4th and 5th Grades
1:05-2:05 3rd Grade and Kindergarten
2:05-2:45 Clean-up
Thanks for your help,
Cindy Tan
Please Return Your Library Books!
Farm To School Final News
Hi Families and Friends!
What a wonderful year of Farm to School! Nora, Alyson and I were so thrilled to be able to deliver lessons to Grades K - 5 this year. We tasted a lot of fun recipes, learned about so many nutritional benefits of the foods we were eating, discussed the culture and history behind many foods, and got outside to plant some seeds in May! If you were hoping to access all of the recipes we made this year, I have compiled a document with everything in one place. We hope you’ll find some time this summer to do some cooking with the family.
Here is the link to our recipes:
https://docs.google.com/document/d/1R9TASuVV53LKTUQTi1M_oASZuNxI2X9feyp2UO-r5rA/edit?usp=sharing
SUMMER OPPORTUNITIES TO CONTINUE LEARNING ABOUT HEALTHY, LOCAL FOOD!
1. The Farmstand at South Village is now open for the season:
HOURS
Tuesday - Sunday, 10am - 6pm
(Closed on Monday
Please stop by to visit - we would love to see you all at the farm with your children!
2. Our annual Farm Hop event is coming right up:
Saturday June 1st, 10am-1pm
Visit us and other farms in the Agrihood, sample farm fresh foods, and participate in fun activities for children. Please see the attached flier for more info.
3. Help grow more organic food for local food shelves:
Would you and your children be interested in supporting the volume of food we provide 3 Food Shelves this season? We would appreciate your help. Your family can adopt a bed or a perennial garden if you are able to come at least twice each month.
Join us THURSDAYS 3-6 pm to work in Growing Gardens and sample foods with Chef Anthony and Chef Rebecca. (unless it is raining hard - light rain? We are there!)
Farm at South Village - Allen Road East - Follow the Signs!
4. Farm to Go summer program for students going into 6th grade - grade 9
Would your middle school student like to learn more about how to cook? See our Farm to Go program listing on the SB Park and Rec website!
Happy Summer, Nourish to Flourish!
Lauren Jones, Common Roots - Farm to School Educator Questions? lauren@commonroots.org
Are you moving or making a transition of schools for next year? Please call Mrs. Baechle at 652-7403 to let us know your updated information so we can plan for your child's transition. This will also help us with our own planning for teacher and student placement for the upcoming school year. Thank you!
Our Mini Concerts Were So Much Fun...we have some very talented music students! thank you, Ms. Finlayson!
Job Opportunities at GCS
Kindergarten Paraprofessional - full time position to support our 3 kindergarten classes
Interventionists - working 1:1 with students who have Individualized Education Plans
Recess/Lunchroom Monitors - 3.5 hours a day, supporting recess and/or lunch
Behavior Facilitator - 4 hours a day
Special Education Clerical Assistant - .5 at GCS and .5 at Rick Marcotte Central School
Please email me at hrouelle@sbschools.net or call 8026527401 if you are interested.
"Change Is Good" Fundraiser
Family Support Programs
Our summer schedule is set, and we are eager to get the word out. Groups we are currently filling are:
2 hour curriculum-based programs (can join two weeks past start date)…
Nurturing Skills for Families in Recovery, Wednesdays at 6pm starting May 18th with Kate
Nurturing Skills for Families, Mondays at 10am starting June 6 with Cindy A
Strengthening Families 0-5, Tuesdays at 6pm starting June 21 with Cindy W
Strengthening Families with Teens, Tuesdays at 12pm starting July 12 with Kate
Nurturing Skills for Families, Thursdays at 2pm starting July 21 with Cindy W
Strengthening Families 0-5, Wednesdays at 10am starting July 27 with Cindy A
Nurturing Skills for Families in Recovery, Mondays at 5pm starting August 1 with Kate
Nurturing Fathers, Wednesdays 6pm starting August 31 with Cindy W
90 minute support groups…
Parents of Teens, Thursdays at 7:30pm
Parents with Children in Foster Care, Tuesdays at 10am
Open to All, Thursdays at noon
Parents in Recovery, Wednesdays at 5pm
Single Moms, Thursdays at 5:30pm
Parents of LGBTQ+ Children, Thursdays at noon
Fathers Only, Mondays at 6pm
Submit a referral via our on line referral form as the family need arises. We are using the rolling referrals to fill current programs and determine what programs we need to choose next.
Our two curriculum-based support programs, Strengthening Families and The Nurturing Parenting Programs, are trauma informed, free of charge, and offered via Zoom. In addition to group work, participants have 1:1 personalized weekly check-ins available to connect the curriculum work with their individual family dynamics. 😊
Click here to seeing more information regarding our upcoming parenting programs. Please reach out to me with any questions!
Best wishes,
Heather Niquette
Family Support Programs Coordinator
PO Box 829
Montpelier, VT 05061
(802) 498-0607
Kindergarten Registration, New Student Registration and Returning Student Registration
The Registration Portal for 2022-2023 Kindergarten students and all Pre-K students will open. The portal can be accessed using your PowerSchool Parent Portal account.
All Kindergarten students will need to complete registration forms. If your student is already registered as a Pre-K student, please select “Returning Student”.
If you have not registered your student in the past, please select “New Student”. Registration will be a 2 step process.
Pre-K class placements are made on a first come, first serve basis.
Registration for all/any NEW 2022-2023 Grade 1-5 students will begin April 4, 2022.
The Annual Student Update (ASU) for all returning students will open on June 1, 2022.
The registration tool is NOT mobile phone friendly. Please use a laptop, or tablet to complete the forms. If you don’t have a device, please contact Lynne Baechle, 802-652-7403 or email Chamb_Reg@sbschools.net for assistance. We now have a desk top set up in the office, pictured below, so families who need support or don't have access to a device can come in and get support to register.
May 26th Update From Superintendent Young
May 26, 2022
Dear Parents/Guardians and Staff,
What a week we have had. As we continue to process the tragedy that took place in Uvalde, Texas, please remember to give yourselves space to process in various ways. In my letter yesterday, I noted a number of resources to assist with this for both families and staff, but I wanted to reiterate that connecting with one another is more important than ever in times like these.
FHTMS School Service Clinician Donna Lemay shared these notes on grief that could be helpful during this challenging time and please remember to be compassionate to yourselves and others. Over the coming days or weeks,
- You may notice an increase in irritability
- You may have trouble focusing/concentrating
- You may have difficulty with quality sleep
- Some people will never need to talk feelings out and may shy away from those of us who do benefit from talking it out. Be ready to give space to each other when/if sadness surfaces during the work or school day
- Unexpected death grief is harder and a longer grieving process
Thank you Donna!
There is a lot happening in our District as the countdown begins to June 10. Please see some highlights below.
Dates of Note:
May 27, RMCS Fun Run
May 27, Memorial Day Ceremony at Veterans Memorial Park, 10 am (SBHS Chorus will perform!)
May 27, Orchard School Taekwondo Presentation, Recording by Media Factory
May 31* (correction from last week) SBHS All Sports Awards Night, 7-9 pm
June 1, Orchard School grades 2/3 Concert
June 1, School Board Meeting 7 pm In Person at 577 Dorset and via Zoom
June 1, SBHS Band Concert with 8th grade band, 7-9 pm
June 2, Orchard School Grades K/1 Concert
June 2, SBHS Academic Awards Night, 7-9, SBHS Auditorium
June 3, Orchard School Grades 4/ 5 Concert
June 6, SBHS Chorus, 7 pm This concert will feature all High School Vocal Music students with special guests, the 8th grade chorus members. This will be livestreamed!
COVID Update
Thanks to all of you for your continued efforts as we work to make it through these final weeks of the school year in person! Filling out the RUVNA app has been very helpful and I wanted to let you know that the final day this will be active this year is June 10. Please continue exercising universal precautions so that our end of year celebrations can continue as planned.
We encourage all who are eligible, to get the COVID19 vaccine and booster. On May 19, the CDC recommended a booster shot for 5- to 11- year olds who have completed their primary vaccine series at least five months ago. You can get a booster shot through your child’s health care provider, pharmacy, or one of the walk-in clinics listed at the Department of Health website. If you have questions, reach out to your provider. Read more about the CDC's recommendation here.
Need an antigen, PCR, or LAMP test? Antigen tests continue to be available upon request at all of our schools. PCR, antigen, and LAMP tests are available from the Health Department at a number of state run testing sites for the moment but will be phased out next month. If you have symptoms within 90 days of being infected with COVID, you can still test with antigen tests (not LAMP or PCR). Please check the District’s COVID dashboard often to help make personal decisions around testing, masking and attendance at school. In addition, effective May 18, the state has ceased updating their daily COVID dashboard and instead shifted to a weekly report. You can find the May 25 COVID surveillance report here.
We’re Hiring!
The SBSD is hiring for a number of positions both short and long term and we’d love to have you join us! At the moment, we urgently need subs!
Substitute Positions: Daily substitute positions in all departments and locations. HS Graduate, previous experience with school age children preferred
Interventionist/Paraeducator: Provides K-12 instructional and personal support to students. Associates degree or 60 college credits preferred.
K-5 Lunchroom/Recess Monitors: Supervise and assist elementary students during lunch and/or recess. Helps maintain a safe and respectful environment. HS graduate or equivalent.
For more details on open positions, visit www.schoolspring.com Keyword: South Burlington School District, or contact Elissa Galvez, HR Coordinator, at 652-7247 or egalvez@sbschools.net
School Happenings
SBHS Students Awarded German Language Exam Accolades
SBHS World Language teacher Polly Vanderputten reached out with some very exciting news! SBHS student Nicolas Rinelli has been awarded the Gold Medal and special recognition on the National German Exam Honor Roll for outstanding performance on the 2022 National German Exam for High School Students. Also, SBHS student Lukas Berger received the Bronze Medal for his performance on the National German Exam this year. Rinelli and Berger received these awards after scoring in the 90th and 70th percentiles respectively on the Level 2 2022 National German Exam sponsored by the American Association of Teachers of German.
Over 15,200 students participated in the exam this year. The National German Exam, now in its 62nd year, rewards students through an extensive prize program and provides a means of comparing students in all regions of the US.
SBHS Student Impresses with Engineering Presentation at IBM
This week, Career Development Coordinator Nikki St. Mary went to IBM in Essex to watch Marc Berthin (class of '22) do his final presentation for an engineering internship he completed this spring. He learned Python and did an impressive data project related to satellites.St, Mary said, “His presentation was outstanding and he did it in front of 19 IBM engineers...and me! He plans to attend George Washington University in DC next fall and will major in mechanical engineering with a concentration in aerospace. Marc took my internship class this semester and had an informational interview with an IBM engineer and that led to this awesome opportunity for him!” Way to go! Both of you!
FHTMS Gaming Club Wraps Next Week
Cam Basden, teacher on the Fusion! Team and advisor to the gaming club will be hosting the group’s final meeting of the year next week. Gaming Club saw quite a big uptick in participation as the year progressed. It started with 6 students and the last meeting had over 20 students. This year, students have played Virtual Reality games, Magic the Gathering games, Atari and Nintendo Switch games, Settlers of Katan, computer games, and chess matches. “You name it, we did it,” Basden said. He added that Gaming club also exposes students to games they may have never heard of, let alone played. Whether that's a specific video game or board game.
He added, “I definitely believe that gaming club not only gives students an opportunity to simply hang out, it gives them a chance to meet and get to know like-minded students they may have never met otherwise. Every student, no matter their likes or hobbies deserves a safe place to be themselves, gaming club does that.” I completely agree.
Congrats to FHTMS Track on a Great Season!
Congratulations on a fine season for FHT's Middle School Track Team! Gary Russell let me know that their season began on a high note in April with back-to-back wins at their away meets in Montpelier and MMU. They outscored opponents in the boys division, girls division, and in combined (boys and girls) team scoring.
Both teams have dominated in a majority of field events (high jump, long jump, shot put, discus) and many of them have qualified for next week's June 3rd. "Champions Meet!" The last official meet at home concluded May 24th, again with FHTMS outscoring visiting teams in all three scoring divisions! They expect to have a strong showing at next week's "Champions Meet.” Feel free to come and watch the excitement at UVM on June 3rd!
RMCS Students and Families to Participate in Folk Dances
Music teacher Hilary Sales said it’s time to put on your dancing shoes! The grades 4/5 Open House Dance is tonight from 6:30-7:30 while the grades 2/3 dance night will take place May 31 from 6:30-7:30 pm.
Sales noted that folk dances are a wonderful way to teach musical skills like beat, rhythm, form and phrasing. They are also a great way to teach social and emotional skills like working together, including everyone, adapting to the needs of others and fostering respect. Students will be demonstrating a selection of the dances that they have worked on throughout the year and then students will invite families to join in the fun. This is an interactive performance! ALL are welcome to dance! Families do not need to stay the entire time, although they are welcome to! Dances (4-5) will be cycled through and repeated during the hour. If families can’t arrive right at 6:30, don’t worry! Upon arrival, people can jump right into a dance! They are fun and easy to follow. Looking forward to it!
Speaking of Hilary, did you know she’s also a Girls on the Run Coach at RMCS and was recently featured on the radio program WDEV Vermont Viewpoint? Take a listen!
GCS: A New Kiln is Coming, with a New Name of Course!
After the beloved kiln at GCS stopped working recently after 22 years of use, Gertrude Chamberlin School launched a "Change is Good" fundraiser where, at each grade level concert, a bucket was placed out for donations. Using this tried and true method, almost $1,000 was raised and Principal Rouelle reported that Vibrant Church has generously offered to fund the remaining $2,000 to cover the cost! The grade level with the highest amount raised will get to name the new kiln. Mrs. Goodrich and Principal Rouelle will be doing a zoom announcement next week to let the school know who the winning grade level is and they will brainstorm and vote on the name by the end of the year. Can’t wait to find out!
Orchard School’s Spring Fling a Success!
The spring fling was back at Orchard School this year! The event is typically held annually, but this is the first time since the pandemic it was able to take place. Organizer Krista Shea noted that around 350 people attended and it was a huge hit! Hannaford donated the popsicles and the evening also had airbrush tattoos from Little Artsy Faces, LLC and outdoor games with The Big Blue Trunk, LLC. Music, arts and crafts and more! To the students’ delight, Mr. Trifilio even played several rounds of Gaga ball. Beautiful weather and parent/guardian volunteers made for a seamless and fun event for all.
Have a great Friday and enjoy the long holiday weekend!
David
May Kid's Events at the South Burlington Public Library
Gertrude Chamberlin School
Email: hrouelle@sbschools.net
Website: https://vt01819219.schoolwires.net/Domain/10
Location: Chamberlin School, White Street, South Burlington, VT, USA
Phone: 802 652 7403
Twitter: @hrouelle