THE VIKING
Hinesburg Community School - August 31, 2018
Suzan Locke, Co-Principal, Grades K-4
John Pontius, Co-Principal, Grades 5-8
Alicia Kurth, Special Education Administrator
The Principal's Corner
Welcome to the start of the 2018-2019 school year! Despite the unusually hot weather, we are off to a successful start. Many thanks to our staff, who came together and shared cooler classrooms and spaces with teachers from the warmer parts of the building.
Thank you to those who were able to attend the Ice Cream Social; it was a fun event and we loved seeing all of the happy families and and being able to connect (and reconnect) with our students. It was exciting to watch parents and students have a "sneak peek" into their classrooms to meet their teachers and see their new spaces.
We look forward to seeing you at many of the "Back to School" events. These events are listed on our website as well as in our newsletter. If you are new to the Hinesburg Community School, welcome to a wonderful learning community!
Grades 5-8 Curriculum Night - September 11, 5:30 - 7:00
- 5:30-6:00 ~ Grades 5 & 6 Teacher Presentations
- 6:00-6:30 ~ Parents Meet & Greet with 5-8 Teachers
- Please join us in the Flex Space for an optional presentation featuring brief remarks from John Pontius, the new 5-8 Co-Principal, a rundown of extra-curricular activities available this year by our new Athletic Director, Chris Shackett, and a brief overview by our Curriculum Coach, Monica Carter around using the JumpRope parent assessment portal and how proficiency based learning works.
- 6:30-7:00 ~Grades 7 & 8 Teacher Presentations
Key Dates To Remember
Tuesday Early Release Days
(1:50 dismissal) 9/4, 9/11, 9/18, 9/25
9/3 – No School – Labor Day
9/4 – Preschool Open House – 8:30-9:30 am
9/5, 9/6, 9/7 – “Annie” Auditions
9/10 – Ellis Instrument Drop-off at 5:00 pm in Cindy Fay’s Room.
9/11 - Early Release Day
9/11- Middle School Curriculum Night - 5:30-7:00 pm in the Flex Space
9/18 - Early Release Day
9/19 – No School – Yom Kippur
9/20 – Picture Day!
9/20 – K-4 Essential Arts & Open House/Curriculum Night 5:30 -7:00 pm
9/24 – Team 2020 Potluck Dinner – 5:30-7:00 pm
9/25 - Early Release Day
MEET OUR NEW STAFF!
John Pontius - Co-Principal, Grades 5-8
I am incredibly excited to be working with the staff, kids and parents at HCS. Everyone has been incredibly welcoming and, like me, excited for the new year. Twenty-two years ago I decided to leave my job as an officer in the Air Force so that I could spend my career helping kids realize their potential and develop a love of learning. I began student teaching in a fifth grade classroom in Barrington, New Hampshire. I then spent the next twenty-one years teaching grades six through eight in both Barrington and Essex Junction. Even after all of those years, I still loved coming to school every day and helping the kids in my classroom learn about themselves and the world around them. It might sound cliche, but teaching is incredibly rewarding. Nothing beats watching the lights turn on when kids understand something new, or hearing about their successes when they return years later to visit.. Two years ago, I decided to begin the School Leadership Program at Saint Michael’s to see how I might have a broader impact outside the bounds of my classroom. Now I have that opportunity and am looking forward to working with and learning from this vibrant community. I believe that the key to helping lead any organization is to establish relationships with kids, the staff, parents, and local community members. So please, when you see me, don’t hesitate to come introduce yourself, tell me your story, and share whatever you would like to tell me about HCS. I look forward to working with all of you to help make the HCS even better than it is today.
Rebecca Gove - Art Teacher
I am a native of New England and graduated from Keene State College in Keene New Hampshire. I started my career teaching art in Arizona for eight years, then moved to Dayton Ohio and stayed at home with my children for six years, we came back to the east coast and I taught art in Blacksburg Virginia for six years and four years ago we moved back to New England here in Vermont. My first three years in Vermont I was a paraeducator at Williston Central School, last years I taught art At Grand Isle School and I am now very excited to be teaching art at Hinesburg Community School. My husband is a professor at UVM. I have two children. One will be a senior at CVU and the other an 8th grader at Shelburne Community School. We have two dogs. Outside of school I enjoy biking, knitting and spending time with my family.
Libby Koch - Administrative Assistant, HCS Office
I am very excited to be starting my new position as an Administrative Assistant at HCS! I have worked for 8 years in local school districts, both at a small elementary school as the School Secretary as well as in the role of Executive Assistant to the Superintendent. I earned my BA degree from Nova Southeastern University and spent the first 7 years post graduation at home with my young children. I live in South Burlington with my husband, Michael and daughters, Grace and Willa. In my free time you will likely find me relaxing with family, attending horse shows, cruising around the backroads in our ‘66 Chevelle, traveling, cooking and exploring all Vermont has to offer.
For me, one of the most meaningful and rewarding parts of working with a younger population of students is the opportunity to watch them grow and learn and to see them progress each year. I truly love the energy and excitement found working in a K-8 school and am looking forward to making connections with parents, students, community members and staff!
"We live in a world in which we need to share responsibility. It's easy to say, 'It's not my child, not my community, not my world, not my problem.' Then there are those who see the need and respond. I consider those people my heroes."
Fred Rogers
Sarah Leister - Grade 7 Math Teacher
I am very excited to be joining the Hinesburg community as a 7th grade math teacher. I recently graduated from the University of Vermont with a degree in Middle Level Education. I spent all of last year as a student teacher at Williston Central School. My student teaching experience taught me a great deal about personalized learning and effective math instruction. I am excited to get to work alongside students to create meaningful and engaging learning experiences in math class.
I grew up in Williston, Vermont and went to WCS and CVU. I spend much of my free time exploring Vermont and sailing on Lake Champlain.
I look forward to meeting more of the Hinesburg community over the next few months!
Mary Muroski - Grade 5 Teacher
I am very excited to be returning to teach 5th grade at Hinesburg Community School! HCS is where I started my teaching career almost 20 years ago. For the past 14 years I have been teaching 5th and 6th grade at Charlotte Central School, and for the past 2 years I was an instructional coach supporting our implementation of proficiency-based learning. One of my goals as I teach is to help students discover what they are passionate about. I also strive to create real-world experiences where our students can put into practice the skills they have learned in the classroom. One of my passions is the service work I do in Uganda, and also creating cultural connections between kids in Uganda and our students through Skype visits. I live in Hinesburg with my husband Ken. We have two grown children (who went to HCS and CVU) who both live in North Carolina. I enjoy bike riding, golf, gardening, reading, and spending time at the beach.
Vicki Nelson - School Counselor
As I head into my 18th year as a Vermont School Counselor I’m so excited to be able to join the HCS community! For the past seven years, I have worked at Charlotte Central School and will continue to work there part-time this year as well. Sharing my time between schools shows that the CVSD consolidation allows for sharing resources across schools and supports cross-district colleagueship. Working with the younger students is my passion. I enjoy being a part of the early years of growth and value the gifts young children give back in the form of curiosity and hugs! When I’m not in my school counselor role I love to spend time in my garden, practice yoga, snowboard with my family, and play with my dogs. I’m very much looking forward to getting to know the HCS community and learning from all of my new little friends. Favorite quote, “Let’s make the most of this beautiful day.” -Fred Rogers
Sarah Schoolcraft - K-4 PBL Instructional Coach
After fifteen years as a classroom teacher, the past nine of which were at Williston Central School as a 3-4 teacher in Equinox House, I am thrilled to expand my capacity as a K-4 Instructional Coach! I will be working part time here at HCS, where I first taught upon returning to Vermont in 2008, and part time for CVSD. I graduated from UVM with a degree in elementary education and hold an M.Ed. from Lesley University in Curriculum and Instruction. I am also a licensed Special Educator and an Adjunct Faculty through the Vermont Higher Education Collaborative.
I love working with students in the primary and intermediate grades and I believe that all children can meet with success in learning. My practice provides significant opportunities to build relationships with students and adults, discovering their strengths and motivators to plan instruction that matters, makes a difference and sticks.
I live in Waterbury with my family, including my three children ages 11, 6 and 2. Outside of school, I enjoy hiking, running, skiing, paddling and enjoying all our great state has to offer!
Linda Scott - Digital Learning Leader
I have heard wonderful things about the Hinesburg community and I am delighted to transfer to this campus as the new Digital Learning Leader. This new role is an opportunity for me to bring skills, knowledge and experiences gained from over 13 years at Williston Schools in technology integration and education. There, I grew immensely in confidence and perspective and enjoyed my role developing inclusive and innovative uses of technology with the faculty, staff and students. I proudly served on the School Safety committee and became a trained advocate for school safety. Classroom time is especially enjoyable for me - the chance to work directly with the teachers and students is what it’s all about! I enjoy a collaborative, authentic and hands-on approach to ensure that technology is deployed smoothly and supports the overall goal of learning in the classroom locally and globally. Most importantly I am a huge advocate for promoting Digital Citizenship within our school and community and look forward to facilitating this education for all of the Hinesburg community.
Williston has been my home for 23 years along with my husband and two college age daughters, both of whom were beneficiaries of CVSD educations. A nice benefit to living here is seeing current and former students out in our community, blossoming into mature and responsible adults. I have been a coach for Little League, HS Tennis, and CVU mini-metro basketball. I also am a current mentor with Connecting Youth organization. In my free time, I enjoy the great outdoors, boating, landscaping, hiking, basketball and family time. I feel fortunate to join the Hinesburg community and look forward to working and growing within the HCS community!
Peg Sutlive - Grade 6 Literacy and Math Support
After teaching a variety of grades, 1-4, at Bristol Elementary School for 21 years, I am excited to join the staff at Hinesburg Community School in a new role for me as literacy/math support person in Grade 6. I live in Lincoln with my husband, Dan, my daughter, Lucy (11th grade) and son, Neil (9th grade). I love to spend time in the beautiful Vermont outdoors- hiking, swimming in the New Haven, cross-country skiing at Rikert’s, playing pickleball and watching my kids play all kinds of sports! I have a passion for sharing the outdoors with students as well. I look forward to a new year as I get to know this great community!
Special Olympics Vermont
Join Special Olympics Vermont for Young Athletes at Hinesburg Community School this fall! Young Athletes is a sports play program for children ages 2-7, with and without intellectual disabilities.
Facebook Page: https://www.facebook.com/hinesburgSOyoungathletes/
Program Host is Chris Shackett, Physical Education Teacher at Hinesburg Community School. Coaches are UVM PreService Teachers Majoring in Elementary, Special and Physical Education.
Fall Athletics
Welcome back HCS Students and Families! The new and awesome HCS Athletics WEBPAGE is fully updated and has all the info you will need for your fall sports endeavors. We are excited to let all our middle school parents/guardians know that we have a required online registration formfor HCS Athletics for 2018-2019 school year. There is also a Wellness Exam Participation Form that is required for the 2018-2019 school year, this does have to be signed by your child’s physician and handed in prior to tryouts. (This form once it is submitted to us is good for two years but we must have this physical form). The third and final form that must be filled out is the HCS Student Activity Contract. Once an Athlete is placed on a team they and their guardian must fill this out. Athletes will not be allowed to practice until this contract has been signed.
HCS Team Spelling!
5th-8th Graders: Is Spelling Fun for You? Try Team Spelling!
Team Spelling is about racking up points as a Team. (There's no public elimination if you misspell something.) And you're given all the answers to study up in advance of the competition in early Oct. No after-school commitment.
Find out more about Team Spelling and get the Word List (the Answers!) click here
Copies of the list will be also be available from your teacher.
https://docs.google.com/document/d/1LOH9nR6IDdcTiSqNEPP3GeqM46di1gmBeIBEUW0EEyc/edit?usp=sharing
About Us
Suzan Locke, HCS Co-Principal, Grades K-4
482-6299, slocke@cvsdvt.org
John Pontius, HCS Co-Principal, Grades 5-8
482-6298, jpontius@cvsdvt.org
Alicia Kurth, HCS Special Education Administrator
425-6285, akurth@cvsdvt.org
Email: hcsinformation@cvsdvt.org
Website: https://www.cvsdvt.org/hinesburg
Location: Hinesburg Community School, 10888, Route 116, Hinesburg, Vermont, USA
Phone: 802-482-2106