Gertrude Chamberlin School
Family Newsletter October 29, 2021 Volume 16 Issue 12
IMPORTANT DATES:
Now Until Monday, November 15 Meadow Farms Online Catalog Fundraiser
Friday, October 29th - 12:30 Dismissal for Staff Development
Saturday, October 30th - 4:00-8:00 PM - Chipotle Fundraiser for 5th Grade Fun Day
November 1st - 19th - GCS Food Drive
Tuesday, November 2nd - No School - Voting Day and Staff Inservice
Tuesday, November 9th - PTO Meeting on Zoom, 6:00 PM
Saturday, November 13th - 9:00-3:00, Blood Drive at GCS in Memory of Kathy Buley
November 22nd and 23rd - Parent Teacher Conferences, No School
November 24th, 25th and 26th - Thanksgiving Recess, No School
If your child goes trick or treating this weekend, please remember to keep candy at home. We encourage healthy snacks and treats at GCS for snacks and lunch. Thank you!
South Burlington Recreation and Parks Community Glow Walk
Our Community Glow Walk event originally scheduled for this Saturday at the stormwater pond on Market Street has a date change. Due to the rain we’re expecting we have moved up the event to this Friday, October 29th.
2nd Annual Community Glow Walk
New Date: FRIDAY 6 – 8 pm
Stormwater pond on Market Street
https://www.facebook.com/events/435932907874332?ref=newsfeed
We will be handing out glow necklaces and treats.
SBPD SRO’s will be handing out treats.
Our Sponsor SeaComm FCU has provided boxes of treats
Hangry the Donut Bar will be selling donuts and hot chocolate
Brett Leonard, CPRP
Recreation Specialist
South Burlington Recreation & Parks
180 Market St, South Burlington, VT 05403
Office: 802-846-4137 Cell: 802-233-4834
Jack O Lantern Jamboree is Tonight!
JACK-O-LANTERN JAMBOREE!
ADMISSION IS FREE!
COME AND JOIN THE HALLOWEEN FUN UNDER THE TENT BY THE COMMON ROOTS FARMSTAND
FRIDAY, OCTOBER 29TH 3-6 PM
55 ALLEN ROAD EAST
FREE CIDER DONUTS AND FRESH-SQUEEZED CIDER!
MEET FARMER PHOENIX!
APPLESEED TED WILL PRESS APPLE CIDER THE OLD-FASHIONED WAY!
WEAR A COSTUME IF "THE SPIRIT" MOVES YOU!
PUMPKIN CARVING DEMOS WITH CHEF ANTHONY!
THE YOUNGER CHILDREN WILL ENJOY OUR STORYTELLING TIME!
INVITE YOUR FRIENDS!
Should you have any questions email: Lspitler1962@gmail.com
Kindergarten Scarecrows!
GCS Annual Food Drive
A statement from our Food Shelf partners: We are "recognizing a need in our community, a small group of South Burlington residents and community leaders formed a coalition to help address the problem of food insecurity in Vermont’s second largest city. Inspired by their faith and by a commitment to their neighbors, the group is leading the effort to build a food shelf that will serve South Burlington’s food-insecure individuals and families. We’re called to love each other, take care of each other and serve each other.”
Please join our Food Drive efforts by donating food this year. Thank you.
The South Burlington Food shelf is located on:
356 Dorset Street / South Burlington, VT 05403
Hours: Thursday 4:30 – 6:30 PM / Friday 8 – 10 AM / Saturday 8 – 10 AM
Wolf Den Time
2nd Grade - How can we learn to feel more confident?
1st Grade - How to Calm Down when you have Big Emotions
Emotion Management
In our weekly Wolf Den times, which happen on Wednesdays, we are using Second Step to focus on emotion management and empathy. Grades 1, 2 and 2 will have lessons on emotion management in October and November, and Grades K, 4 and 5 will have similar lessons in December and January. In our schoolwide and class morning announcements, we’ll be prompting students to notice their own feelings by paying attention to clues in their bodies, and we’ll be reminding them to use their Second Step skills to calm down:
· Stop—Use your signal
· Name your feeling
· Calm down: Breathe, count, use positive self-talk
These skills help students calm down strong emotions when faced with learning and social challenges, which helps them succeed academically and get along well with others.
Second Step lessons specifically teach about calming down strong emotions such as anger, disappointment, frustration, and anxiety. You’ll be receiving Home Links that describe why managing strong emotions is important and include fun activities to do with your child to help him or her identify strong feelings and calm down. We hope the Home Links will give you tools to use together when your child is upset.
Please contact your child’s teacher if you have questions about how you can help your child learn to use these strategies at home.
Job Opportunities at GCS
Recess Monitor - 3 hours a day, could be 5 days a week or fewer
Long term Substitute Interventionist for 6 weeks in January and February
Bus Aide beginning in December
Substitutes for all positions - teachers, paraprofessionals, interventionists, administrative assistant
If you are interested, please call Mrs. Baechle at 802-652-7403
Hallway Inspiration
School Nurse Notes
COVID-19 Vaccine for 5-11 Year Olds--Approval Process:
- This week, the FDA voted to recommend emergency use authorization of Pfizer vaccine, for ages 5-11.
- ACIP (Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices) meets on November 2nd/3rdscuss.
- Once the CDC director gives endorsement, based on ACIP recommendations, vaccine administration may begin.
- The soonest Vermont can expect to administer the Pfizer Pediatric 5-11 year old vaccine will be November 4th. Ms. Rouelle is working with the VT Department of Health as Chamberlin has been identified as a vaccination site for Chittenden County. Stay tuned for more information about specific dates and times for November and December.
COVID Vaccine: What Parents Need to Know
This John's Hopkin's article (click to view) outlines important facts and answers questions for parents/guardians. Vaccination is the best tool to help prevent the spread of COVID-19!
Booster Shots
You can get a booster shot if you are 18 or older and you received your:
- 2nd dose of Pfizer or Moderna vaccine at least six months ago or
- Johnson and Johnson at least two months ago
For Pfizer and Moderna boosters, you should get a booster if you are under 65 and feel at risk of getting COVID-19. The CDC defines risk as:
- having certain medical conditions
- working in a job that increases your risk of COVID-19 because you are indoors, exposed to the public and to other workers
- living in a long term care facility, group home, college dormitory or other congregate setting
- Black, Indigenous or a person of color (BIPOC) or live with someone who is BIPOC.
If you choose to get a different vaccine type for your booster than the type you first got, you cannot make a booster appointment through the Health Department until November 1.
For more information, click on the links below:
- Wear masks in indoor public settings (do NOT put a mask on a child younger than 2)
- Avoid crowded indoor spaces and parties
- Trick or treat outside and limit crowds
- If you feel sick or have symptoms, don't attend or host a gathering
- Delay travel until fully vaccinated
- Get vaccinated if you are eligible
Healthychildren.org: Halloween Health and Safety Tips
(click to view the article)
Be well,
Nurse Kerry Farrell
The GCS Students and Staff Voted and We Have Named Our Plow...The Chamberlin Chomper!
PTO Catalog Fundraiser
Chipotle Fundraiser on Saturday, October 30th!
Kindergarten is "Fall - ing" into Fun at GCS! Click on the link to see the highlights!
October 28th Update from Superintendent Young
October 28, 2021
Dear Parents/Guardians and Staff,
Yesterday, I had the privilege of attending the annual conference conducted by the Rowland Foundation. It was so nice to gather with inspirational professionals from around the state who are committed to doing the important work of caring for our students in a thoughtful and equitable way. The keynote speaker was Dr. Carla Shalaby and her theme was Teaching Love and Learning Freedom: Practicing Community in the Classroom. The conference was developed knowing that schools and districts throughout Vermont have been working to implement their Educational Recovery Plans, therefore, they offered workshops on racial equity, restorative practice, and school redesign. I listened, connected, and was so proud when I had the opportunity to hear from SBHS students and staff presenting during the day. Check out the Rowland Foundation on Twitter for photos!
This Tuesday, November 2 will be an inservice day for District staff (no school for students) where I’m looking forward to announcing a variety of annual awards including the Dominick Marabella Support Staff Award and the Ted Manazir School Board Award. The inservice will be facilitated by Pacific Education Group Facilitators: Kehaulani Haupu, Courtney Cauldwell and Janae Townsend. See further updates below.
Test to Stay and Virtual Town Hall Tonight!
Our district is planning to participate in the voluntary antigen Test to Stay (TTS) program. The TTS program is activated when an unvaccinated student or student(s) are identified as a close contact of a confirmed case of COVID-19. The intention of the TTS program is to allow students that would otherwise be required to quarantine to remain in school. A detailed description of this program can be found on the Agency of Education Test to Stay website. More details on what testing day will look like, parental consent, and registration will be coming in a separate correspondence soon.
Test to Stay is only for unvaccinated students, who are asymptomatic and who are close contacts of a positive case that they encountered at school. It replaces the need to quarantine and miss school days, but students are still expected to quarantine when at home, including on the weekends.
Questions? Check out this CVSD sponsored Virtual Town Hall with medical professionals to talk about Test-to-Stay. It is open for all across Chittenden County and is happening tonight, Thursday, October 28 at 7:00 pm. Vermont health professionals and representation from the Agency of Education will explain the process, the science, and answer parent/guardian questions about the test-to-stay program. This will be recorded for later viewing. You can submit questions in advance using this link.
COVID in SBSD
While we have been doing very well at mitigating COVID-19 however we can, this week, we had one positive case of COVID-19 come up at the high school on Tuesday and contact tracing is now complete. Today, at FHTMS we were notified of one positive case. We are currently developing the close contact tracing list, checking for vaccinations, and are in the process of contacting parents/guardians.
Thank You For Attending my Q and A!
After a brief technological issue, I was thankful to have such great attendance at my last Q and A session this past Monday. As usual, the attendance and questions were fantastic and I am incredibly grateful to our community and our special guests who generously volunteered their time to be on the call. If you missed it, Donna Lemay, LICSW Howard Center School Services Clinician for Frederick H. Tuttle Middle School and Alice Scannell, LICSW, Howard Center School Services Clinical Supervisor gave a presentation on the importance of caring for mental health. They shared a few ideas on how to think about family well-being in these times, with specific considerations to the mental health of students and ways caregivers can strengthen awareness of and communication around any concerns.
Thanks also to our local medical professionals Dr. Breena Holmes, Dr. Ben Lee, and Dr. Becca Bell who fielded questions related to COVID; mostly regarding vaccines for children aged 5-11, as well as changes to contact tracing guidance and test to stay. This week, the FDA heard Pfizer’s request to roll out vaccines for the 5-11 year old age group. A panel of the Food and Drug Administration's outside vaccine advisers voted by a majority to back Pfizer's request. Next, the CDC must weigh in before the vaccines can be rolled out officially. The state is ready to pop up vaccine clinics, including at schools as soon as this becomes authorized.
Enrollment and Budget
Rising enrollment at Rick Marcotte Central School and Orchard School has become a concern. I discussed this at the last school board meeting, at my Q and A Monday night, and at the steering committee meeting with the city council last night so I can be sure we are keeping the lines of communication open. I am currently mapping out a menu of potential solutions with their respective pros and cons to present to the board at their next meeting. I will be looking for representation on a committee to include a school board member, a parent from each elementary school, teachers, and community members. If you would be interested in volunteering your time, please contact Delina Gilroy at dgilroy@sbschools.net.
The FY’23 budget timeline was presented by Business Manager Krista Chadwick at last week’s school board meeting. This is, of course, subject to change, but provides a solid framework for our process. At the November 3 school board meeting (agenda will be posted on the District website tomorrow afternoon), the board will review Executive Limitations Policy Monitoring Report 2.5, financial planning and budgeting. The administration will then receive general guidance from the board on the FY23 budget. The administration will present their FY’23 budget recommendations at the November 17 meeting and this will be followed by the first community budget forum of the season, November 21 from 6-7:30 pm. More information on the virtual session to follow, but in the meantime, we encourage your participation in other ways. Please send us your thoughts and feedback via our school board meetings, through phone, or email. You are crucial to this process!
School Happenings
SBHS Art for Healing Club
The Art for Healing Club has been developed and launched during SBHS’ Activity Block by Senior Sage Bennett. The mission is to provide a sense of comfort, inspiration and healing for patients in hospitals and their loved ones. Bennett noted, “It’s to fill the blank, empty walls of their rooms with a bit of life and color. At the moment, this club is made up of 10 or so students. Along with my club, the school's current art class is making an additional 20 pieces thanks to the support of our teacher, Mrs. Kimberly Kimball. The paintings in the class have a nature theme (florals and animals) while the club is specifically landscape.” Keep your eyes open for works in progress and final pieces on the website!
FHTMS Create-a-Skate is Back!
Create-A-Skate is back at Tuttle for its 7th year! And it's their biggest group yet. 24 Students in 6th-8th grades started creating and designing artwork on their very own skateboards this week. Led by art teacher Alison Treston, students look at artists who design and illustrate skateboards as a profession. They also discuss the science that goes behind geographical location and harvesting the right type of wood to make a quality board. Students get to use a variety of art supplies to decorate and illustrate their boards including spray paint, paint pens, acrylic paint, wood stain, and marker. For more info, you can check out Create-A-Skate's website. Do you have any supplies kicking around you’d like to donate to this endeavor? Think: acrylic paints, spray paint, wood stain, sandpaper, and general art supplies? They are always welcome and you can drop them off at the FHTMS vestibule.
Gertrude Chamberlin School Garden Gets an Official Sign!
For over six weeks, two of Mrs. Goodrich's art groups have been working to create a colorful and vibrant sign for the Gertrude Chamberlin Garden. Last week, they worked with Ryan Roberge, GCS’ parent volunteer for the garden, to install the sign. Students had the opportunity to use a power drill to attach the sign to the posts and helped fill and tamp the dirt around the posts. Lastly, like true artists, they signed their names on the back. Next time you walk by the garden, keep an eye out for the newest creative addition to the GCS garden! You can also check out pics on Principal Rouelle’s Twitter.
Rick Marcotte Central 2nd graders Thank School Bus Drivers
National School Bus Safety Week takes place each year during the third week of October. Did you know that school buses are considered to be the safest motor vehicles on the road? Second graders colored pictures and cards to surprise bus drivers and thank them for keeping students safe. RMCS’ second grade said, “We are grateful for our dedicated, caring bus drivers (Jim, Ray, Paul, Deb, Mark, Richard, and Bryce)!” This is a great reminder for everyone to follow school bus safety guidelines (including mask wearing) to keep all students safe.
Orchard School Students Stand Up to Bullying
Recently, students in Mr. Schmidt’s class wore orange shirts and hats as part of Unity Day 2021 which occurred October 20. The idea is to wear orange to show unity for kindness, acceptance, and inclusion and to send a visible message that no child should ever experience bullying. Way to go!
These are busy times for us all, but I hope you are able to take some time during the final weekend of October to enjoy some late fall adventures.
Thanks and have a great Friday and weekend,
David
Math Workshop - Estimating in 2nd Grade
Girl Scout Information Night
Buzz Assembly
Buzz Hosts, Mrs. Farrell and Mrs. Brown
Our 5th Grade Co-host on Zoom
5th Grade Co-host and Featured Guest, Mrs. Goodrich
Does Your Child Need Milk for Their Home Lunch?
If you have any questions, please contact Rhonda Ketner rketner@sbschools.net.
This school year ALL STUDENTS can have FREE Breakfast and Lunch! We would still ask everyone to fill out the Free and Reduced Lunch form. See the links below for the form and the breakfast and lunch menus.
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