Gertrude Chamberlin School
Family Newsletter January 8, 2021 Volume 15 Issue 23
Happy New Year!
It's a new year of learning
in our classrooms
at Gertrude Chamberlin School!
PTO News - January 12th Meeting and Directory Update
We hope you will join us for our first PTO meeting of 2021! We will be meeting on Zoom on Tuesday, January 12th at 6:00 PM. Here is the link and information:
https://sbschools.zoom.us/j/83866741640?pwd=Rlc5TDdmc2NrTmE0aXRXNStyZVhzdz09
Meeting ID: 838 6674 1640
Thank you to everyone who filled out the PTO Directory form! We truly appreciate your time and willingness to migrate to a new (non-paper) way of gathering this information!
Unfortunately, we will not be publishing the PTO student directory as planned this year. This is due to several reasons; mainly, lack of response, cost, and gathering restrictions. The directory has always served as one of our key projects for bringing people together and building community, but at a time when gatherings are expected to be restricted or prohibited for the foreseeable future, we do not feel it would be in the best interest of our community to publish something that promotes gatherings.
We look forward to bringing this project back for the 2021/2022 school year!
If you have any questions, please feel free to contact Jennifer Doig, PTO co-president, anytime at doig.jennifer@gmail.com.
New Speech Language Pathologist at GCS
Maggie Griesmer will be joining us as our new Speech Language Pathologist. Ms. Griesmer has a BS in Communication Disorders from the University of Massachusetts - Amherst and a Master's Degree in Communication Disorders from Emerson College. She has worked the past 3.5 years at Foxborough Regional Charter School in Foxborough, MA and is excited for the opportunity to move to Vermont. Maggie grew up in Arlington, Massachusetts and she loves spending time outdoors (skating, skiing, roller blading, boating, hiking and camping), cooking, and reading.
Farm To School
This week, grades K, 1 and 2
learned about and tasted
micro greens!
Hello South Burlington Families and Friends!
As we settle into winter, it may look like there is not much happening on the earth around us. There may be a layer of snow, and all of the plants seem to be at rest until they can come back up in the spring. However, the soil beneath our feet is alive and hard at work to regenerate and revitalize itself so it is ready to support all of the plants that want to start growing next spring.
When the earth takes time to rest and regenerate, we are reminded that we as humans need to do this too - by taking time to find some Hygge, drink lots of water, and continue to eat foods that will support our bodies and boost our immune systems. Growing microgreens is a great way to feed ourselves fresh green foods all winter long. They can also provide our bodies with up to 40X more nutrients than eating the fully grown plant! In Farm to School, we got to taste test sunflower and mixed green sprouts. A Chamberlin student exclaimed, “I can’t believe I just ate a flower!!”
Growing Microgreens at Home
Follow these simple steps to grow some microgreens at home. Want to create a fun and rewarding project with the family? Donate your ready-to-harvest microgreens to your local food shelf to share that nutrient boost with others in need.
Materials needed: A cup or tray • Organic soil • Seeds (broccoli, peas, sunflower, mixed greens, etc.) • Small bowl with water • Fine mesh strainer • Towel or lid • Spray bottle
Steps:
1. Soak your seeds in a bowl of water overnight - this will speed up the germination process.
2. The next day, drain water from the seeds using a fine mesh strainer.
3. Spread a half inch of very moist soil in your tray. Then take your seeds and evenly sprinkle across the soil.
4. Gently press the seeds into the soil using a flat hand, making sure not to press too deep.
5. Cover your tray with a towel or other lid to block out the light for a day or two.
6. Peek at your seeds each day to look for a white root tip that will start to poke out of the shell. Once this happens, remove the covering and bring them out into the daylight by placing on a sunny windowsill.
7. Check back each day to watch them grow, misting with water to keep the soil damp.
8. Harvest the sprouts when they are a few inches tall.
Lemon Maple Vinaigrette
We made a delicious Lemon Maple Vinaigrette to drizzle over our microgreens in Farm to School this month. See below for the recipe if you’d like to try it at home.
Ingredients:
¼ cup olive oil
2 Tbsp apple cider vinegar
Juice of ½ a lemon
1 Tbsp maple syrup
¼ tsp salt
Pepper, to taste
Combine all ingredients in a jar, cap tightly with a lid, and shake well to combine.
Till next month, Nourish to Flourish!
Lauren Jones, Common Roots - Farm to School Educator
Common Roots Episode 2: Squash and Abenaki Foodways
Physical Education News
The Integrated Arts schedule has changed to switch every two weeks instead of every three starting on January 11, 2021. So far in PE all classes have been working on many sports related skills like underhand rolling and throwing, overhand throwing as well as combining skills while riding scooters. Most recently the students have tried out snowshoeing (grades 2-5) and I am so impressed with their effort. Some students have even taken an interest in running in the snowshoes around the outside of the playground. Amazing work by all!
December 11th Update from Superintendent Young
December 19, 2020
Dear Parents/Guardians, Staff, and Community Members,
We made it to our early winter break without having to close any of our schools or shifting back to Step 2 hybrid learning at the elementary grades.This is in large part due to your hard work and dedication. From diligent mask wearing to physical distancing to sacrificing in person time with loved ones over the Thanksgiving break. Combined, these measures have made all the difference in keeping our schools open.
Black Lives Matter Flag Raising
At the December 16 school board meeting, I was both inspired and humbled by a presentation given by SBHS Student Justice Union members Nyasha Rutanhira and Raphaela Sulley to raise the Black Lives Matter flag year round at the high school. After their presentation, a number of students, past and present, courageously spoke up about their experiences in our schools and it brought to light for me, the continued work that is needed District wide in the areas of diversity, equity, and inclusion. We must ensure that all of our students feel like they are represented in our curriculum and through the diversity of our staff. While I am so proud of the antiracism work that is happening in each of our schools and through staff training, as I listened to our students Wednesday night, it remains clear to me that this work is ongoing. At the January 6 board meeting, the item warned for action will be to raise the Black Lives Matter flag at all of our schools year round as one way of indicating the District’s support of and solidarity with our Black, Indigenous, and People of Color (BIPOC) students.We will also hear a presentation from FHTMS students who are involved in antiracism work through SOAR (Students Organizing Against Racism). If you missed this compelling presentation, you can view it at the Media Factory website.
FY 22 Budget: Next Community Forum January 5
At this past week’s school board meeting, I presented a draft preliminary budget to the board including proposed additions to staffing and a $2.5 million bond to address infrastructure needs to take some of the pressure off of the operating budget. The draft budget represented a 8.82 percent budget increase. I have been directed by the board to pursue areas for reduction in order to decrease this initial number.
Our next community forum on the FY22 budget will take place January 5, with our regularly scheduled school board meeting occurring the following night. We invite you to offer your questions, comments, or to simply “drop in” to listen to the presentation. Both the special and regular board meeting minutes and agendas are posted on the school board page of our district website. There is always an option to participate via Zoom or watch live on RETN’s Facebook page (or on the RETN website afterward).
Run for the School Board: Two Open Seats!
Looking for a rewarding way to get more involved with the District? Run for the school board! Long time school board members Elizabeth Fitzgerald (15 years of service) and Martin LaLonde (11 years of service) recently announced that they will not be seeking reelection in the coming year. Due to COVID-19, petitions are not required this year but consent forms will be. For more information on becoming a candidate, including deadlines for filing, see the City of South Burlington website.If you have questions about what it’s like to serve on the board, Martin LaLonde (mlalonde@sbschools.net) would be happy to chat with anyone interested!
Snow Day Protocol
Although we haven’t received our first big snow storm yet, I know the unpredictability of Vermont weather means it could come at any moment. As I'm sure you've heard, there has been a lot of discussion at the state level and in area districts around whether snow days are even necessary given that we have the remote learning option available at all grade levels. However, there are logistics involved with switching at a moment's notice to a remote learning day. The fact that we need to remain at 170 learning days or greater, has also factored into my decision around snow days outlined below:
The District will be using a combination of one to two hour delays (preferred), remote learning days (option two), and traditional snow days. The timing of the weather event and the forecast will ultimately guide our decision.
If we know the day before, that severe weather is expected, we can plan for a remote learning day by making sure all of our students have the materials necessary for a successful day of learning.
If the severity of the weather event is not known until very early in the morning, we will plan for a one to two hour delay to allow for the city's public works team and our amazing facilities crew to clear roads and walkways and to give staff and students time to arrive safely.
If the weather event is a complete surprise and comes on quickly, we will call a traditional snow day for all students.
We will communicate with families and staff regarding any of these scenarios through our emergency notification system which involves an email, phone call, or both as well as a notification on the main page of our District website and through various media outlets.
Be well, stay safe, and have a relaxing winter break,
Sincerely,
David
Upcoming Events for the Girl Scouts of the Green and White Mountains
Spirit Rings and Spirit Sticks
Time To Order Your Yearbook!
Budget Process For Next School Year
Family Resources:
PREVENT CHILD ABUSE VERMONT -SHARES PARENT & CAREGIVERS GUIDE AND RESOURCES
COVID-19 Parent & Caregiver Guide
No matter how prepared you are, an outbreak can be stressful. Here are some recommendations to promote your family's well-being during COVID-19.
Family Support with Technology/Chromebooks
Here's the link to the breakfast and lunch menus.
Gertrude 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