Shelburne Community School
Weekly Newsletter
January 4, 2021
Principal's Message
SCS Families,
We would all like to welcome you back from what we hope was a joyous and restful break. It is going to be wonderful to greet the students as they arrive back at school this morning. We are really looking forward to getting 2021 started!
By now you have realized that we have moved into this new space for our weekly community newsletter. The transition from Mail Chimp to Smore gets us on an identical platform to many of the other K-8 schools in CVSD. Beyond that consistency, it also makes vital school information more easily accessible to all of the families we serve. Its translation features allow it to meet the needs of more students and families. Its ability to be emailed through our Blackboard Connect system means that we will always be sure that our recipient list will be updated and that all families who should get a newsletter are included.
You'll see that we have done our best to capture the things that worked about the format of our previous newsletter, but the look and feel is a bit different. If you scroll down you will find that most of the internal and external links we've previously provided are still available. You will also find our list of upcoming dates and events at the bottom of the page.
A huge thank you goes out to Garrath Higgins who is the person who made this entirely new format possible. Garrath logged all the hours to ensure that that this was a smooth transition for all involved and her work is greatly appreciated.
There are a few new news items below that will be of interest to many. But, as always, this week is really about getting our feet back and on the ground and our routines re-established. All of our health and safety protocols will look and feel exactly as they did before the break and we will work with students to re-address them as needed. As always, we ask that parents and caregivers make sure that they are setting students up for success during the winter months. Please pack extra dry masks for students to use throughout the day. Please, also be sure that students have cold-weather gear that is going to make outdoor time comfortable and fun. This is true for all students throughout the K-8 as recess and PE will be held outdoors whenever possible for all grade levels.
It is going to be a great first day back and we cannot wait to get it started.
Have a wonderful week!
REMINDER: Cross Country Skiing in PE
Today, 5/6 grade students will begin participating in a cross country skiing unit in PE. Students should come prepared with jackets, snow pants, hats, and gloves!! If you have any questions please don't hesitate to contact Kelly Spreen at kspreen@cvsdvt.org.
5th-6th grade families may have heard from their students that there will be a change to 5-6 recess starting today. As we have brought back the entire 5-6 (over 130 students) we have quickly realized that a whole group recess (combing both teams in the same outdoor location) is a risk we are unwilling to take. The ability to address and maintain mask-wearing and social distance in a group this large is just too challenging.
We have decided to run a "Blue" and "Green" recess in separate locations. This will create a safer and better-controlled health environment for students. This was not an easy decision and we hate the social impact it has on students who look forward to this daily opportunity to mix outdoors. But, at this moment, the health implications outweigh the social ones. We hope that our students will understand and respect the new format.
Champlain Valley School District School-Based Early Education Programs
Preschool Lottery is coming soon!
The CVSD School-based Early Education Programs are now accepting applications for a random preschool lottery drawing for the 2020-21 school year. Our part-time, partial days, preschool classrooms are 5 STARs, licensed early education programs that provide play-based, developmentally appropriate environments for all children in an inclusive setting. Our curriculum is based on the Vermont Early Learning Standards (VELS) and Teaching Strategies Gold. We believe that a diverse classroom offers opportunities for adults and children to practice acceptance and compassion and also provides a broad range of learning experiences.
Our programs closely follow the CVSD school calendar. Students who will be age 3 or older by September 1, 2021, but not yet 5 years old, are eligible to enter the lottery for our programs.
All applications must be received by February 5, 2021. You can download an application here: Early Education Lottery Application. More information is available on our CVSD Early Education Website also. Students will be selected via a lottery and families notified in early March.
SCS Theatre Arts in 2021
We are excited to share our hope that SCS Theatre Arts Director Amy Riley and her team will run a modified theatre production experience for all interested 6th-8th grade students starting in April. Our hope is to run the program from April - June and utilize outdoor spaces as soon as they become available. We would target the week prior to graduation for an outdoor performance.
We are so thankful for Amy's willingness to shift course. We are especially thrilled at the possibility of offering our 8th grade students this experience before their graduation.
Adobe Flash Comes to a Close
As of December 31, 2020, Adobe is no longer supporting Flash. Some computer applications and websites may no longer work. FasttMath is one example. We shut it down and it was no longer available as of December 23, 2020. We are reviewing other applications with our vendors to see what else may be impacted. This information may be helpful to know about sites that you and your children possibly use at home.
A Reminder About Masks
Wet/soggy masks cannot help to protect us and must be changed throughout the day (ie sweating, spitting, sucking, precipitation (rain/snow), etc.). We go out daily for recess and/or PE, and most likely students will need to change masks each day. Please be sure to send your student(s) to school with at least two clean/dry masks daily. Thank you for your help!
Emotional Support Resources
We have faced many, many challenges since last March. CVSD School Counselors want all families to be aware of the support available for mental/emotional health. Read more...
Family Support from PCAVT
Annually, we (The Family Support Team at PCAVT) coordinate several Nurturing Parenting Programs (NPP) and Circle of Parents support groups (COP) throughout the region. At this time, we are not meeting in person, but we are continuing to offer these groups virtually! These are groups for parents who are looking for extra support and/or want to learn additional skills around parenting. All programs are free of charge. We currently have scheduled:
Ongoing Circle Of Parents
Open Circle of Parents with Cindy Atkins on Thursdays from 10-11:30am
Circle of Parents in Recovery with Cindy Atkins on Wednesdays from 5-6pm
NEW! – Circle of Parents for Moms of Color with Heather Niquette on Wednesdays from 10-11am starting January 13th
New Nurturing Parenting Programs (typically run for 12 sessions)
Nurturing Skills for Families on Tuesdays from 6-7pm with Cindy Atkins starting January 5th
Nurturing Fathers Program on Mondays from 4-5:30 pm with Cindy Wells starting January 11th
Nurturing Fathers Program on Tuesdays from 6-7pm with Heather Niquette starting January 19th
Nurturing Skills for Families on Thursdays from 6-7pm with Heather Niquette starting January 28th
Please contact Heather Niquette by email at hniquette@pcavt.org or by phone at 802-498-0607 to complete an intake/registration form. Space is limited in each program and will be given on a first come, first served basis.
Have you tried Sora yet?
Research has found that "active" screen time--time spent using the creative side of our brains as opposed to passive, unengaged scrolling or viewing--is beneficial to overall health. Encourage your student to read in Sora! Learn more here.
Budget Season Continues!
The Champlain Valley School District's Board of Directors invites all members of the CVSD community to join us for the budget process. Please note the final School Board budget meeting is tomorrow, January 5: Summary & Tax Implications. Online meeting information will be posted on the website. www.cvsdvt.org/budget
Contact us: cvsdboard@cvsdvt.org
Food Service
We are so happy to share that the USDA has announced it is allowing schools to continue to provide free breakfast and lunch meals to all children 18 years old and younger. CVSD will be offering in-school meals, pickup, and delivery. To read about our program, see our menu, and place your order, go to our district website at https://www.cvsdvt.org/ and scroll down to "Foodservice." Our amazing food service team is excited to continue to serve the children of our community meals that are safe, nutritious, and delicious!
Your child will have the opportunity to order breakfast and lunch each morning when they arrive at school.
CVSD COVID-19 Reporting Dashboard
Buses/Transportation
Hybrid Bus Routes for the 2020-2021 School Year
We have had to design bus routes based on the information we currently have about who will be regularly accessing bus transportation. If you do not see your street being served and need bus transportation daily, please contact Lead Bus Driver, Pam Weber.
Positive Staff Shout Outs - Let Us Hear Your Positive Experiences
We love to share your appreciation with the adults that work so hard for your children. Please think about sharing those good vibes, as it goes a long way in promoting a positive and productive culture here at SCS.
A Note from Ms. Celmer
Important Upcoming Dates
(A complete calendar can be found on the SCS website)
Jan 5th - CVSD Board Budget Meeting: Summary & Tax Implications (6:00pm)
Jan 12th - SCS PTO Virtual Meeting (6:00pm)
Shelburne Community School
Scott Sivo - Lead Principal (5-8)
Email: ssivo@cvsdvt.org
Website: https://www.cvsdvt.org/shelburne
Location: Shelburne, VT, USA
Phone: 802-985-3331
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ShelburneCommunitySchool/
Twitter: @SCSLearns