The Core

March 13, 2020, Volume 11, Issue 26

Principal's Notes

Parents & Guardians,

My apologies for the late notice on postponing the Science Fair. Our goal is to reschedule for another time in our near future. There is a lot going on and we want to be consistent with our district message. Our superintendent, David Young, will be sharing information on behalf of the entire district in the near future. Did you get a chance to read the Core last week? The Coronavirus pieces are being reprinted.


Coronavirus: I've included a school article regarding how we are currently addressing the Coronavirus but I also want to provide a couple of resources for parents:

The first is the link to Vermont's Department of Health that provides updates: https://www.healthvermont.gov/response/infectious-disease/2019-novel-coronavirus

The second is a comic strip on the NPR website on good talking points to talk to children: https://www.npr.org/sections/goatsandsoda/2020/02/28/809580453/just-for-kids-a-comic-exploring-the-new-coronavirus

The third link is a link from an NY Times article that help keep our own, and our children's, anxiety in check. https://parenting.nytimes.com/childrens-health/coronavirus-kids-talk

I think these are all helpful, check them out when you have a moment.


Important Dates: Kindergarten Registration Days! Tuesday and Thursday, April 14 & 16. Please contact our office at 652-7300 if you have an incoming Kindergartener.


Check out these photos from our Gallery Walk of inspiring women of color.

Don't forget we have in In-Service Day next Friday , March 20th- no school for students.

Have a great weekend; take some time to read with your child.

Mark Trifilio

Coronavirus News

Our school district is following the guidelines from the Center for Disease Control, the VT Department of Health, and the VT Agency of Education to promote disease prevention. Many of the precautions that help prevent other respiratory diseases, like colds and the flu, can also help keep an illness like COVID-19 from spreading. Our custodians, staff and school nurses are working with students and families to support the following recommendations:

  • Wash your hands frequently with soap and water for at least 20 seconds. If soap and water are not available, use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer.
  • Avoid touching your eyes, nose, and mouth with unwashed hands.
  • Avoid close contact with people who are sick.
  • Stay home when you are sick.
  • Cover your cough or sneeze with your sleeve or a tissue. Throw the tissue in the trash.
  • Clean and disinfect frequently touched objects and surfaces.

Our custodians are disinfecting all of the "touch surfaces" such as tables, chairs, sinks, door handles, counters, etc. multiple times during the day and thoroughly in the evening. Students are washing their hands when they arrive at school and frequently throughout the day. If they are seen touching their nose and mouths, coughing or sneezing, they are also asked to wash their hands. Although soap and water is the best technique, we are also using hand sanitizer in areas without sinks such as the cafeteria, library, gym, etc. New hand sanitizers are being installed throughout the building and we are looking into more strategies to limit the spreading of germs.


Please contact our principal or nurses with any questions.

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PTO News

PTO News

Hannaford Helps - 2 Ways!

1. The purchase and use of the Hannaford reusable bag contributes to $1 per use additional to Orchard.

2. The Hannaford Helps Schools program is being refreshed – and the timing is changing from fall to spring!

The 2020 program will run March 1 - May 16.

Since the program's inception, we've raised almost $13 million to help schools and schoolkids reach their goals. Moving the program to spring allows us to offer even more participating products, tally up the program over the summer, and send checks to you when you return to school in the fall. It's a win-win!

Please keep an eye out for your School Packet, which contains great tools to promote the program including posters and informational rack cards.

We look forward to a great spring and successful program!


Girls On the Run

Girls On The Run: Participant registration is now open! Our 10-week season begins the week of March 23rd. The team will meet on Mondays and Thursdays from 2:45 - 4:30pm. Registration is open online at gotrvt.org/register-now under the "northern VT" option. Sometimes there is a wait list, so if your child is interested, be sure to register right away! GOTR is also looking for additional volunteer coaches for either one or both weekly sessions!

Girls on the Run gives 3rd to 5th grade girls a place where they can be 100% themselves! Our trained coaches use a research-based curriculum to help girls develop critical life skills that they can use at school, at home or with friends. Our season culminates with Girls on the Run Vermont’s 5K Celebration on Saturday, June 6 in Essex. This is a tangible goal girls can strive towards and shows girls that the seemingly impossible IS possible! Please contact Girls on the Run at 802-871-5664 or info@girlsontherunvermont.org with any questions.


Skate Night

The PTO has made the decision to cancel Skate Night next Friday, March 20th.

Further information to follow on how they will manage the raffle.



Next PTO Meeting: Please come to the meeting on Monday, March 16 at 6:30 p.m. Meetings are just an hour, but you can leave anytime. We'd love to see you and hear your ideas! It's a great way to find out what's going on and how the PTO helps make Orchard a Wonderful Place to Grow. Everyone is welcome!


Do you have PTO questions? Please find us online or ask Mr. Trifilio to put you in touch:

Facebook: www.facebook.com/orchardschoolpto

Website: www.orchardschoolpto.org

Email: orchardschoolvt@gmail.com

Konstella: https://www.konstella.com

PTO News

Champlain Valley Regional Art Show

This is an art show that features selected student art from all Chittenden County

elementary, middle and high schools. We hope that you take the opportunity to view the artwork in the mall along with hundreds of other art students from neighboring schools. March 10-April 6. Set up in front of Kohls.

Mrs. Ely and Mrs. Adamson

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Pre-School Registration

Pre-School Registration

The South Burlington School District Pre-Kindergarten Fall Enrollment for the 2020-2021 school year is open.

We now have three STARS Accredited Licensed Programs, one in each of our three elementary schools. We offer 10 hours of Free Public Pre-Kindergarten Monday thru Thursday 8:00-10:30 and 12:00 to 2:30 throughout the school year.

Our classrooms provide a warm nurturing environment with a low student/teacher ratio.

We provide opportunities for purposeful play coupled with teacher-directed activities in an language-rich environment promoting social, emotional, physical and intellectual growth. The curriculum follows the Vermont Early Learning Standards and is taught by an Early Childhood Special Educator and Speech and Language Pathologist.

To register, your child must be a South Burlington Resident and 3 years old on or before September 1, 2020.

The Pre-Registration Form is located on our school district website www.sbschools.net and select the Pre-Kindergarten Quick Link. You might also want to take a sneak peek into our classrooms by visiting our school pages. For early placement, registrations should be received on or before February 7, 2020.

Pre-School Registration