Gertrude E. Chamberlin School
Family Newsletter August 13, 2020 Volume 14 Issue 5
THANK YOU TO OUR SOUTH BURLINGTON COMMUNITY FOR PASSING THE SCHOOL BUDGET!
WHAT WILL HYBRID LEARNING BE LIKE AT GERTRUDE E. CHAMBERLIN SCHOOL? CLICK THE LINK BELOW TO FIND OUT MORE DETAILS.
ENROLLMENT OPTIONS FOR YOUR CHILD(REN) - RESPONSE NEEDED FROM ALL FAMILIES BY FRIDAY, AUGUST 14TH
What follows are the enrollment options for South Burlington families as we begin the year on Step 2: Hybrid Learning. We need to know what choice you are making for your child(ren) by FRIDAY, AUGUST 14th. Please read the following descriptions and complete the survey information.
Option 1) Hybrid Learning in South Burlington Schools
South Burlington students attend school in person at our elementary schools, on either Monday & Tuesday (A-K last name) or Thursday & Friday (L-Z last name), and engage with online learning during the rest of the week from home/Childcare. Remote lessons will be prepared by SBSD teachers, and review and follow up of remote lessons will happen during the 2 days of in person learning. By dividing each class into two cohorts, all schools will be able to conduct in-person learning with physical distancing and other safety precautions fully in place. Wednesday mornings will be the time that teachers follow up with students with targeted support for online learning and to check in as needed. On Wednesday afternoons, teachers will be engaged in professional learning, collaboration, and planning for online instruction.
During Hybrid Learning, students who need special accommodations in order to access their education will continue through our IEP or 504 Plan processes. Through this process, a team will meet to identify the supports and accommodations needed for the student to be successful in this model.
Option 2) Online Learning with Vermont Virtual Learning Cooperative (VTVLC)
Students participate in this 5-day, online option instead of attending school. Students are assigned to a virtual class that may include students from South Burlington as well as neighboring districts. VTVLC prioritizes assigning students to an online teacher from their local district whenever possible. However, students may be in classes with a teacher and students who are not from South Burlington. All teachers and students are from Vermont. Students participating in this fully remote program are still enrolled as students in South Burlington School District and still access support from our staff (e.g., guidance counselors and special educators) and co-curricular opportunities.
VTVLC is a well established online program where many Vermont high school students have taken high-quality online courses for over a decade. With the coronavirus crisis, VTVLC has partnered with the Vermont Agency of Education to provide a full-time online option for students of all ages with instruction from licensed Vermont teachers who already have or are working towards their Online Teaching endorsement. The program is a combination of asynchronous and synchronous learning offered through Canvas, an online learning platform. The k-5 curriculum is designed to be engaging for online learning and is based on online elementary program from Florida.
Students participating in VTVLC will be enrolled for a MINIMUM OF ONE SEMESTER with the option of returning to the Hybrid Model, if they choose to, at that time.
Students who need special accommodations in order to access their education will continue through our IEP or 504 Plan processes and work with South Burlington special educators from their school. Through this process, a team will meet to identify the supports and accommodations needed for the student to be successful in this model.
Option 3) Homeschooling
Families also have the option of homeschooling their child, however, this removes the child from enrollment in the South Burlington School District. The homeschooling option also requires parents & guardians to file an application to change their child’s enrollment status and follow related guidelines from the VT Agency of Education.
Childcare Updates From Superintendent Young
I am very aware of the need related to childcare as we open schools with a modified schedule. The information below has been provided to me from Steven Berbeco, Deputy Commissioner of the Child Development Division (CDD).
The current health crisis has changed the way we all live and work, and now, how children will be attending school. The Child Development Division (CDD) is aware that school schedules and remote learning options are adding confusion and/or challenges to how families access child care following the delayed school start on September 8th.
We hope the following information is helpful for your communication with families about school-aged child care:
- Families can access child care through the state-wide child care referral network. Child Care Referral Specialists at statewide Community Child Care Support Agencies can match families with available child care options, including for school-aged children. There is no charge for this service, and it is available to all Vermonters. For more information: https://dcf.vermont.gov/cdd/cccsa
- Families can receive financial support for child care by talking with an eligibility specialist. The Child Care Financial Assistance Program helps families pay for child care. Families with a household of four people can make up to $77,256 per year and qualify for help. Eligibility specialists maintain an ongoing connection with families who receive this benefit and help them as their needs change. For more information: https://dcf.vermont.gov/benefits/ccfap
Also, please find information that has been provided to me by Mike Feitelberg at the Edge. Below is a link to the application form for the program called "Minds & Motion program".
MindsandMotion.ApplicationandForm.pdf
I hope this information can assist you as we plan for the start of school on September 8th.
Thanks,
David Young
Summer in the Rain Garden
Outdoor Classroom Big Top!
Lynne Baechle - Administrative Assistant
Olivia Kane - Classroom Teacher
Erika Rito - .1 Music Teacher
Updates For Our GECS Start to School - Welcome New Staff!
Erika Rito will be joining us for .1 (one afternoon or morning) music instruction. She is in her 8th year of teaching elementary music and is certified in the Orff Schulwerk teaching method which combines singing, dancing, instruments, movement, play/exploration, and much more. She and her husband relocated from Michigan three years ago, and she is also a music teacher at Rick Marcotte Central School.
Lynne Baechle has been the special education assistant for three years at GECS and RMCS, and she is moving into the administrative assistant position for our school. Lynne is a familiar face, as she supported Ms. Dattilio with lunch breaks and bus dismissal, and has been at the front desk since March. She has a bachelor's degree in Political Science and a master's in business administration from Northeastern. Originally from Connecticut, Lynne has been in VT for the past 30 years. She worked at IBM for seven years. Ms. Dattilio leaves big shoes to fill, and we are fortunate that Mrs. Baechle is up for the challenge!
We welcome back Olivia Kane as our additional teacher, now that the budget has passed! Olivia taught 4th grade science and writing last year. She is a graduate from the University of VT and has taught and been a teacher leader in both New York City and Boston. We are so happy to have her continue working at GECS!
We will also be hiring two literacy interventionists and an instructional coach in the near future. It is a busy hiring time for our staff, and we are excited to have these wonderful additions to our school community!
Health Office Updates from Mrs. Farrell. Please click on the link for some great tips about children wearing masks!
Upcoming Food Distribution Event Dates and Locations
Detailed information about food distribution events for the last two weeks of August is available on the State of Vermont Food Help website. It is requested that households pre-register for their pickup via the Vermont Food Help website. Those who are unable to access the website or need assistance with registration should dial 2-1-1.
Distributions for the weeks of Aug. 17 and Aug. 24, 2020:
- Aug. 17, 2020: South Burlington and St. Albans
- Aug. 18, 2020: Rutland and Bethel
- Aug. 19, 2020: Brattleboro and Springfield
- Aug 20, 2020: Newport and Brighton
- Aug 21, 2020: Barre and Hartford/White River Junction
- Aug 24, 2020: South Burlington and Burlington North End
- Aug. 25, 2020: Rutland and Shoreham
- Aug 26. 2020: Brattleboro and Bennington
- Aug 27. 2020: Newport and Richford
- Aug 28, 2020: Barre and Morrisville
INTERNET SERVICE AND BROADBAND SPEED
The Department of Public Service is collecting any information that you can provide to reach out to Internet service providers and other utilities to see what can be done to help you get Internet at your home address. This information will be used to identify locations where students lack access to the Internet or where consumers want service to be improved. Responses, without identifying information, may be shared with service providers.
The map shows the maximum reported broadband speed available at each location. The legend, available on the map by clicking the "Legend" button in the upper left, and copied below, depicts what the colors on the map show.
Internet service providers voluntarily provide information annually to the Department about where they offer service, and the speeds they offer. The Broadband High-Speed Internet Availability in Vermont page presents this information in static printable map format and offers statistics by town.
If you are not able to enter your address on the map, the Consumer Affairs & Public Information (CAPI) Division can help. Just call 1-800-622-4496 and a CAPI specialist will work with you and enter your information on the map.
CLICK THE LINK BELOW TO ACCESS THE LINK AND SURVEY.
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