Flynn Flyer

8/17/2022

Big picture

Accountability

Friendship

Joy

Growth

Curiosity

IMPORTANT AFTERSCHOOL NEWS

Burlington Kids Program start date has been moved to 9/12. If you are in a bind, you might want to contact Sara Holbrook Center.

Important Dates

8/17- Teacher Letters/K Placement letters will be mailed home

8/30- Open House for K,1 and 2nd grade students 10:30-11:30

8/30- Open House for 3,4 and 5th grade students 11:00-12:00

8/31- First Day of School Dismissal is at 1:50

8/31- First Day Coffee, 8:00 North side of school near student line up

8/31,9/1,9/2- Kindergarten dismissed at 11:30

9/8- PTO Meeting 6:30 *Date Change*

9/8- Picture Day

9/12-Burlington Kids Afterschool Program Begins

Quick Links

Annual Student Update

Burlington School District Webpage

Flynn Webpage

Lunch Information

Principal Nikki Ellis' Email

Principal's Letter

Principal's Letter

Dear Flynn Families,


As summer comes to an end, I’ve been reflecting about how we can start off this new year together in the strongest way possible! I have spent my summer connecting with over 100 staff, students, and families in our community. I made this investment of time to get a better understanding of who we are both as a community and as diverse individuals with many different identities and experiences to share. I am deeply grateful to the members of our community who have taken time to meet with me so far.


During my time connecting with members of the Flynn community, we discussed values and who we want to be. There is still time to participate in this opportunity if your family is interested in connecting with me. Please reach out if that is the case!


The conversations have been honest, hopeful, tender, and illuminating. They are guiding me to understand where we need to go together to ensure that every child and family feels a sense of belonging and connection to JJ Flynn Elementary School.


In the coming weeks, our 5 Flynn values will be revealed to the community, and we will begin the process of learning and living those values together as a school. This will allow us to begin healing and developing into a community with a fierce connection and commitment to each other.


I look forward to meeting many more students and families very soon!


In partnership,

Nikki

Principal's Letter
Please use the SAFEWAY!

Please use the SAFEWAY!

Beginning this year, we are asking all families that walk from the North side of the school to use the Safeway (fenced walkway that wraps around the north parking lot). Please do not cross the entrance to the north parking lot.
Please use the SAFEWAY!
Time to Complete the Annual Student Update

Time to Complete the Annual Student Update

It is time for you to complete the online Annual Student Information Update (now listed as Forms in Powerschool) for your student(s). The form asks you to update critical information, such as emergency contact information, medical information, and a device agreement form. The update must be completed for all students.

Please login to your PowerSchool account to complete this update as soon as possible.

Step-by-step instructions can be found below. If you do not already have an account in Powerschool, then please refer to the directions below in order to create the account. This process generally takes about 10 minutes per student.

NOTE: If student information is not updated by Monday, September 7th, that student may not be allowed to return to school and may have their electronic device (iPad/Chromebook) withheld until their update is complete. If a student without updated information comes to school on September 8, they may be sent home. If you have questions or need assistance, please do not reply to this email, but contact your child's school directly.

Thank you!

The BSD Team

-------------------------------------------------------------


If you already have an account in Powerschool, sign in to your Powerschool account.

After you (family account) have signed in with your username and password:

  1. Look for the student's name as shown on the bar in the upper left-hand corner. Click on the student's name.

  2. Next click “Forms” on the left hand side and then SCROLL DOWN TO SEE “Annual Student Update”. It starts with the form called “1. General Student Information”. Complete all forms.

    1. After you complete a form, click “next” to complete the following form.

  3. All forms need to be submitted to be finished with the ASU.

  4. Once you finish with this student, move on to the next student by clicking on their name in the upper left-hand corner.

    1. All students must be updated one at a time.

  5. Done!


If the names of other children name do not appear, you must call your child’s K-12 school and ask for their “Access ID and Access Password”. If you are in a partner preK program and receiving ACT 166 funds-- please contact Ashley in EEE at 802-864-8463.

After you receive this information, in Powerschool, go to:

  1. "Account Preferences" on the menu on the left side.

  2. Click on "Students."

  3. Then "Add Student."

  4. Enter your student's name, their Access ID and Access Password.

  5. Then select your relationship to your student through the Relationship dropdown.

If you are not certain if you have a PowerSchool account, follow these steps:

  1. Go to bsdvt.org or to your school’s home page. Click on this image in the upper right-hand corner of the webpage:

    1. (You can also click here to go directly to BSD’s Powerschool Login page.)

  2. Enter what you think your username and password would be.

  3. Follow the steps for “Forgot Username or Password?” if needed.


If you have never created a Powerschool account:

  1. Call your school and ask for an access ID and Access Password.

  2. Visit BSD’s Powerschool login page and click on “Create Account.”

  3. Enter the ID and Password as directed.

Time to Complete the Annual Student Update
GMT and District Bus Information

GMT and District Bus Information

2022-2023 Bus Information Here.
GMT and District Bus Information
Flynn Welcomes Our New Staff

Flynn Welcomes Our New Staff

Natalie Bond- 4th Grade Teacher

Molly Rourke- Special Educator

Jennifer Doyle-Special Educator

Andrew Kirk-PE Teacher

Danielle Hurley-Music Teacher

Jill Everett- School Counselor

Kaila Krouse- School Services Clinician

Isha Madey- Para Educator

Alex Eskra-ST Louis- Pre K Teacher

Jillian Waite- Building Sub

James Hare- Burlington Kids Assistant Director

Emily Thomas- Long Term Sub/Special Educator

Jennifer Lenihan- EL Teacher

Flynn Welcomes Our New Staff
Call for Volunteers!

Call for Volunteers!

Are you a Flynn family member looking to volunteer in our school? We are seeking volunteers to come in and read with students on a regular basis. A background check and fingerprinting appointment are necessary to volunteer in all BSD schools and will need to be completed prior to volunteering. If you are interested in this opportunity, please reach out to Principal Nikki Ellis (nellis@bsdvt.org).
Call for Volunteers!

Burlington School District Launches New Literacy Program

This year, BSD has a new reading and literacy program called ARC (American Reading Company). An important part of that program is developing reading stamina. Consider establishing a routine of reading 30 minutes a day with your child. It can be reading together and gradually building stamina to read independently longer. We encourage reading together and independently across all grade levels. Reading at home can take place in English and in all the other languages spoken in our community.
Everybody Wins is Looking for a Coordinator

Everybody Wins is Looking for a Coordinator

Everybody Wins! Vermont
School-based literacy mentoring program

Help children and reading mentors enjoy books together over lunch. Site coordinator openings in Chittenden County at J.J. Flynn Elementary School and Edmunds Elementary School in Burlington . 10 hours/week starting in September, follows the school calendar and ends in mid-May with minimal and flexible summer hours.

Learn more about our program and see the job description at https://www.everybodywinsvermont.org. Apply with a letter of interest and resume or detailed work experience to info@everybodywinsvermont.org


Thank you so much!

Everybody Wins is Looking for a Coordinator

Burlington to Vote on New High School and Technical Center BHS/BTC 2025 Ballot Question Approved by City Council

Burlington, VT On Monday, August 15, Burlington City Council voted to allow Burlington School District (BSD) to put a bond request on the November ballot. After months of planning, District leaders presented City Council with a request to ask voters to allow the District to borrow up to $165m to build a new high and technical center on Institute Road. City Council voted unanimously to allow the measure to go on the November ballot.

“This is a huge step forward and I am grateful to Mayor Weinberger and Burlington City Council for their support of this project,” said Superintendent Tom Flanagan. “Today’s vote underscores that our city leaders recognize that we need a permanent home for students that is accessible and designed to promote deep learning experiences for all. I look forward to sharing more about this project as we gear up for the vote this fall.”

“On behalf of the board, I want to thank City Council for their leadership in advancing the BHS/BTC 2025 bond question to the November election,” said BSD Board Chair Clare Wool. “This foundational project will benefit Burlington students and our community for generations to come and I hope voters will be staunch supporters of the project and join me in voting yes on BHS/BTC 2025!”

The $165 million bond request will go towards the total project cost of $190m. Flanagan noted that the District is only asking for $165m because they have already contributed $35m in District resources to the plan. This includes $10m in American Recovery Act funds, $10m from the previous capital plan, $5m in budget savings and surpluses, and using a $10m grant from Senator Leahy to save the project $20m by moving some BTC programs into new spaces at the airport.

If approved in November, at the height of borrowing the project could have a tax impact of 15.67% for those who pay based on the value of their property. Flanagan noted that this could come down thanks to changes to the State’s Weighted Pupil formula and the District’s efforts to secure outside funding.

“The changes to the Weighted Pupil Formula have been a long time coming and are going to provide some relief to our taxpayers,” said Flanagan. “However, it’s important to remember that this increase in funds was never intended to just bring down taxes. We are committed to using some of these funds to provide increased support for students, so while there will likely be some tax relief, I don’t anticipate that relief fully offsetting the tax increase associated with the bond. With that in mind, taxpayers should know that we will continue to work with our state and federal leaders to secure more funding for this project so that voters will not have to shoulder this responsibility alone. We will also continue our private fundraising efforts with the Burlington Students Foundation. ”

Wool noted that in order to keep the community informed, the District would be holding two Town Halls before election day, tabling at grocery stores and events, and presenting at NPAs. “Our goal moving forward is to make sure every question is answered so that when ballots arrive in the mail this September, or voters walking into the booth on November 8th, Burlingtonians can be excited and confident about voting yes for this new school.”

To learn more about BHS/BTC 2025, volunteer, or donate to the support project, visit www.bsdvt.org/bhs-btc-2025.

###

Burlington School District (BSD) is a pre-k-12 public school system of about 4,000 students in Burlington, VT. BSD’s mission is to graduate students who: value different cultures, engage with the community, communicate effectively, think creatively, skillfully solve problems, and achieve at their highest academic, intellectual, and personal potential. Join the Journey! www.bsdvt.org