THE VIKING
Hinesburg Community School - May 1, 2020
The Principal's Corner
Dear HCS Families:
Your feedback is valued and needed. Please click HERE to fill out a short survey to collect your thoughts about how things have been going since we entered the Remote Continuity of Learning phase on April 13. We hope you will take a few minutes to provide us with the crucial feedback needed to inform our adjustments as a school, by teams, and in individual classrooms so our staff can better meet the needs of all of our students. Thank you in advance for sharing your thoughts and opinions with us.
As this coming week is our annual Staff Appreciation Week, we want to thank our staff for embracing Remote Learning. It has not been easy, and knowing that we all entered the teaching profession because we love working face-to-face with kids, the move to only interacting digitally has been especially challenging, so if you have the time, it would be nice of you to reach out to tell a staff member or two that you appreciate them. Your kind words would help replace the smiles, fist bumps, and nods of understanding that usually fuel our staff through the day.
We also want to thank our staff members who have been organizing, making, and handing out food for families three days a week. Today is School Lunch Hero Day, so the next time you see them outside the school, give them a honk and a wave.
As always, thank you for all of your hard work supporting the learning that is happening at home. We are both parents so we understand the challenges you face helping your kids learn, so please remember that there is no expectation for perfection. Our staff has worked to give you resources to help create some normalcy for your children and to help them to continue to learn, but what matters most is that you take the time to enjoy your kids.
Warmly,
Suzan and John
CVSD School Choice Information
Because of the COVID19 situation, we have adjusted the timeline for CVSD School Choice Applications for this year. Applications are due by May 15. Applications will be stamped with their received by date and will be reviewed by the Superintendent. Determinations will be made by May 20 after discussions between Superintendent and Building Administrators. Parents will be notified of approvals/denials via email.
For questions, please contact Sandy Raymond, Administrative Assistant to the Superintendent at sraymond@cvsdvt.org.
CVSD Front Yard Concert! Monday, May 4 at 6 pm
The CVSD Band programs are collaborating to perform in a district wide “front yard” concert on Monday, 5/4 at 6 pm. Band students in grades 4-12 are encouraged to step outside of their homes and play music to celebrate music in our schools AND honor the many heroes in our communities.
We will start with a famous cheer song often heard at sports events and then students can play whatever music they wish to, for as long or as short a time as they would like.
Please share this with your neighbors and community heroes and encourage them to step outside and safely enjoy the unifying musical event!
Parents are encouraged to take photos or videos and send them to their musician’s music teachers. These photos and videos will be combined into a montage to be shared at a later date.
Google Classroom Help
If your child is getting too many email notifications from Google Classroom in their inbox, here is a two minute video on how they can change their notifications to reduce the number of messages they are receiving.
From the Health Office: Be Tick Smart!
Hello HCS families!
I hope that you are all doing well. I am available by email or google meet if you or your children would like to talk with me. It has been great to see your students when I join classroom meets!
With the warmer weather I hope you are able to get outside and enjoy our beautiful state! Please check yourselves and children for ticks when coming in from time outside. Lyme disease is spread by tick bite and can cause many health issues if not diagnosed early.
Prevention is best! Please read the articles below for more information about ticks and the diseases they carry, how to do a tick check and prevention measures. Please contact your child's physician if you are concerned about a tick bite.
CDC: Lyme Disease | Lyme Disease
VT Department of Health:
VT Lyme: https://vtlyme.org/ has resources and a curriculum for students
How to do a tick check: VTlyme tick check school age
Prevention/repellants: Choosing an Insect Repellent for Your Child
School Meals Information
While our students are learning at home we want to be able to provide nutritious meals if they are needed. Please fill out this form and help us estimate how many meals we need to prepare. Please fill out this form or contact your school Food Service Department before 8 AM of Pick Up Day (pick up dates, locations and contact info below). Thank you!
Please fill out one form per student, per week.
If you have any questions or need help filling out the form, please contact:
Deb Bissonette, dbissonette@cvsdvt.org, (802) 482-2106
Meals can be picked up on Monday, Wednesday, and Friday at these locations:
Hinesburg 9:00 - 10:30 at main entrance front of the building
Our Breakfast Menu
A complete breakfast meal will be provided with each lunch order each day. Meal provided will change daily.
Our Lunch Menu
All meals include fresh vegetables, fruit or juice, a snack and choice of milk.
Entree Options:
Turkey Sandwich with Cheese, Lettuce and Tomatoes
Ham Sandwich with Cheese, Lettuce and Tomatoes
Sunbutter with Jelly Sandwich
Veggie Sandwich
All HCS students are eligible to receive meals, free of charge.
Kindergarten Registration
- Kindergarten Registration is now open for the 2020-2021 School year.
- Please call 482-2106 for more information and to sign up.
- Screening dates to be announced.
Student Support
We realize that parents and caregivers are all working hard to support students with remote learning. With more time online, additional challenges arise around behavior and etiquette in an online environment. Classroom teachers are setting expectations, especially for class meetings. Parents and caregivers are also doing a lot! The district and school truly appreciate your involvement as well. Here are a few resources for families that we've compiled that you may find helpful.
Common Sense:
Common Sense Media (ratings, reviews, tips, common topics for parents, guides, how-to)
Common Sense Media Plus ($3/month, $30/year - access to more resources)
Resources for Families During the Coronavirus Pandemic
Resources for Family Engagement (family activities, media agreements, discussion guides)
Family Online Safety Institute (FOSI)
Brainpop Videos (contact your school’s digital learning leader or librarian for login details, where needed)
The full collection of videos related to Digital Citizenship
Brainpop Jr. - Internet Safety
The Hinesburg Food Shelf is Here for You
We want everyone in our community to think of the Food Shelf as a resource that's available whenever you need it, especially during these difficult times. If it's your first visit, just bring an ID or piece of mail to show us you're a resident from one of the towns we serve. It's as simple as that, and you don't even have to leave your car. Offerings include canned and boxed pantry items, meats, cheese and dairy items, fresh and frozen fruits and vegetables, diapers, personal care items, pet food and more. Hours are Tuesdays from 5:30 to 7:30 pm and Fridays from 10:00 am to noon. If you are ill or home-bound, please call us at 482-4946 for a delivery. The Hinesburg Food Shelf is a program of the Hinesburg Community Resource Center. More info can be found at www.hinesburgresource.org.
Do You Need to Find Child Care?
Part 2 has put together this Part 2 staffing database of people looking to pick up hours during the school hiatus. Schedule, rate, payments, responsibilities, expectations, etc. will be up to you and the person you choose to employ.
Mrs. Lasher’s students raised over $350 to help support the animals injured by the Australian bush fires. They raised money by setting up a coffee bar for staff members. As a thank you, Carrie Justice, one of our top notch custodians, surprised Mrs. Lasher’s class with this koala from Vermont Teddy Bear Company. Carrie also supported koalas by purchasing this stuffy, as VT Teddy Bear Company donated $5.00 for every koala purchased! Mrs. Lasher and her students would like to give a huge thank you to Carrie for this gift!
Community Summer Camps & Classes
About Us
Suzan Locke, HCS Co-Principal, Grades K-4
482-6299, slocke@cvsdvt.org
John Pontius, HCS Co-Principal, Grades 5-8
482-6298, jpontius@cvsdvt.org
Alicia Kurth, HCS Special Education Administrator
425-6285, akurth@cvsdvt.org
Email: hcsinformation@cvsdvt.org
Website: https://www.cvsdvt.org/hinesburg
Location: Hinesburg Community School, 10888, Route 116, Hinesburg, Vermont, USA
Phone: 802-482-2106
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Hinesburg-Community-School-125786304154731/
The Viking Newsletter is published bi-weekly, when school is in session. It is available on our web site and is also delivered to email via Blackboard Connect. If needed, a hard copy can be provided for your child to bring home. The Viking includes upcoming events, after school opportunities, notes of interest for parents and the community and updates from our school administration.