WEEKLY FAMILY FOCUS August 29, 2021
RICK MARCOTTE CENTRAL SCHOOL Principal Kathleen Kilbourne
Again, we know a picture is worth a thousand words....So we have been intentional in capturing photos of not only what our classrooms look like, but this week we have added posters from class discussions and group think times! We have included some student activities that took place this past week to give you a flavor for our school community's vibe and energy!
Important Dates to Note:
Monday, September 6th - No School, Labor Day
Friday, September 24th - 12:30 Dismissal Staff PD
Wed. Oct 6th - RMCS Picture Day
Meet the RMCS STAFF as they introduce themselves via FLIPGRID (Video)
We know that we are not able to start the year with the traditional Tours, Open House, or Curriculum Nights as we had hoped for due to maintaining the safety and wellbeing for all our students, staff, and families. However, we recognize the need for parents and families to have an introduction to what their teachers look like and sound like. Please click below, enter the password, and then simply click on the staff member you would like to "meet". We hope this provides some comfort and takes away the mystery of who will my child be learning with this school year.
Click Meet RMCS Staff Flipgrid- VIdeo and audio introduction from each staff member
Click Join with your guest password and enter: RMCS2021
SCHOOL NURSE UPDATES
Welcome back to school! While school nurses were not anticipating that we would need to follow the same illness protocols as last school year, we find ourselves readjusting and refamiliarizing ourselves with COVID illness guidelines, including testing, quarantining, and isolating requirements. We appreciate and thank you for your patience, support and understanding as we continue to navigate these unchartered waters.
A reminder to please fill out the Ruvna app each morning before arrival at school and continue to keep your students' home with ANY illness symptoms (this includes a runny nose, headache and any other symptoms noted on the RUNVA app) and inform the school of your student's absence. If seasonal allergies are present, the school nurse must have documentation of the condition.
Nurses are following guidance provided by the Vermont Department of Health. Please reference this form: COVID-19 Information for Families Return to School Following Illness* to navigate the guidance.
*Please click here for translations and scroll to the "return to school following illness" heading.
Please keep the above document easily accessible in your home for times when your student shows signs or complains of illness. The fact sheet provides you with symptom-specific guidance of next steps. School Nurses are also making an effort to touch-base with parents/guardians, when a student is absent for illness reasons, to help guide those individuals as well.
State guidelines are constantly being evaluated and updated. Your efforts, understanding and compliance do not go unnoticed as we continue to navigate illness related protocols during this pandemic. Thank you.
Please consider sending in 2 EXTRA MASKS in your student's backpack.
Click here for more guidance on wearing masks.
Please Join Us In Congratulating and Celebrating Sue Dattilio Who Has 40 YEARS OF SERVICE AT RMCS!
Common Questions and Answers ...as RMCS opens Tues. 8 24 21
Will recess be mixed classes (no zones)? Yes, we will be mixing grade level only pods at recess; meaning all 4 classes at one grade level will be outside and all have access to the entire playground. No zones at this time.
Will we be able to mix within grade levels (academic and community building)? In a limited and tracked way for specialized services, must document for contact tracing. NOT WHOLE CLASSES (like bus buddies, or reading buddies)
Will there be an Open House? Not in the traditional on site way...we are sharing the FLIPGRID Introduction Videos to meet the staff, hosting a Kindergarten Meet and Greet (8/23) and will hold a zoom around the room or prepared video like last year.
Will we be able to have school-wide assemblies? No not at this time, no large gatherings of staff or students in person. We are however, exploring how to a whole school assembly using technology, and sharing in each classroom...so we will not all be in the same room, but we will all be seeing the same information at the same time.
In the classroom, will students be able to sit on the carpets? Yes
In the classroom, will we need to use dividers? Dividers will be used in the cafeteria daily, where children will be sitting by classrooms, and with snack in class as available.
Will lunch be in the cafeteria? Yes, Dividers in the classroom for snack as available...eating outside for snack while the weather cooperates is highly encouraged
Can parents or vounteers be in the building? Parents , volunteers, and other adults are not able to be in the building at this time . The only people inside the building are staff and students; MASKED.
Can we plan and take Field trips? Field trips will sent to the building administrator and DY for prior approval and decided on a case by case basis. We are not having indoor field trips at this time. We do hope to plan a class by class walking field trip to the new town library just across the parking lot from us!
Will all staff and students be required to wear masks at this time? Yes, as we begin the school year we are doing so masked for all staff and students. We will be taking mask breaks out side as needed, and children are not required to be masked while outside for snack or recess times.
Register Your Student for the Upcoming School Year- REQUIRED
- Click on the big "P" icon in the blue ribbon on the top of the RMCS webpage.
- If you have forgotten your Username or need a password reset, please contact Mrs. Dattilio or Ms.Sanford at 652-7200 .
- If more than one student is linked to the portal account, choose the appropriate student at the top left corner
- Choose the Forms link from the left navigation bar
- Under the Annual Student Update category, click “Update A. Getting Started: Annual Student Update 2021-2022” to begin completing the forms packet
The Registration website (www.sbschools.net/register) has helpful, translatable, information for parents/guardians. Instructions to register their students, lists of required documents, and guides to creating parent portal accounts and linking student(s) can be found there.
A SUPER HUGE THANK YOU TO PAUL AND HIS CUSTODIAL STAFF FOR ALL THEY DID THIS SUMMER TO PREPARE FOR OUR STUDENT'S RETURN!
HOW TO CHOOSE A "JUST RIGHT BOOK" FOR ME!
What Do I Need For School?
- We do recommend that students have a pair of sneakers for Physical Education. These can be left at school in your child's cubby if they chose to wear other shoes to and from school.
- A lunchbox for a daily snack is also a good item for them to have. Each class has snack every day, and this is not provided by the school. We encourage healthy snacks such as yogurt, fruit, crackers, popcorn, pretzels, etc. Please save the cookies, cakes, and candy for home. Your child's teacher will let you know in advance if there are any allergy restrictions in the classroom. It's a great idea to have your child practice opening any containers that they might be bringing to school with snack or lunch items...we encourage them to be as independent as possible! We also do not have access to a microwave or refrigerator for food, so consider having ice packs and a good thermos to keep things cold or hot.
- A water bottle that your child can refill is recommended. Pls write their initial on the bottom of it.
- A sturdy backpack that your child can carry, as well as open and close independently, will help keep them organized when they need to bring home papers and library books.
- We do like to have fun at RMCS, and sometimes there are spills and messy things involved in learning! Please provide an extra set of labeled clothes in case your child needs to change during the day. A large Ziploc freezer bag with your child's name on it is a great way to keep a spare set of clothing in their cubbies.
- A few permanent markers are a good think to invest in so you can label all of your child's belongings...the changing VT temperatures means that children are constantly taking their layers of clothing on and off, and our Lost and Found becomes a treasure trove of unclaimed items very quickly!
And most importantly...a positive attitude and a smile so we can make new friends, enjoy learning and have a great school year together!
Daily Health Screening - Ruvna App
Families will again be required to complete the daily health screening questions about your child's health status through an email or text through an app called Ruvna. Please be sure to complete it daily before your child comes to school. Nurse Cannon follows up by phone with families who have not completed the health screening questions. Thank you!
The 5th Grade Team Went Outside To Play Some Fine Motor Games...Ask Them How It Went!
RMCS HIRING- Current Open Positions
Paraeducator for Math - Full time
Interventionists- Full time
Recess and Lunch Supervisors (3 hours a day)
Sub Caller (10 hours a week from home)
Substitute Teachers (1 full time floating sub, 5 days a week)
Substitute Teachers- Flexible scheduling
Happy news: We filled 3 positions this week!
Please apply via SchoolSpring.com or call Kathleen Kilbourne for more information at 652-7200.
NEWS FROM THE NEW SOUTH BURLINGTON PUBLIC LIBRARY
We will also have new after-school programs that will start in September. A link to that info from our website is here: https://southburlingtonlibrary.org/594/afterschool-at-the-library-art-tinkering-and-play-for-ages-6-and-up . We will have a print calendar that will be available toward the end of August.
We are open at our new location on 180 Market Street!
Hours:
Monday – Thursday: 10:00am – 7:00pm
Friday: 10:00am – 5:00pm
Saturday: 10:00am – 2:00pm
VISIT US AT: https://southburlingtonlibrary.org/
How to Get a Library Card at the South Burlington Public Library
1. If you are 5 years old or older, and want a library card, come to the library with a grownup. Make sure they bring a piece of identification that has your legal, permanent South Burlington address on it. This could be a driver’s license, a utility bill or a rent/lease agreement. It could be paper or on a device: phone, tablet or computer.
2. Go to the circulation desk and ask for a library card. You and your grownup will show the librarian your identification information, fill out a short form; (staff is available if assistance is needed), and be entered into our system electronically. You will then get a new library card! Having a library card shows that you are responsible and mature enough to take care of the materials that you check out. Take good care of your card, and always bring it with you to the library when you want to check out books.
3. You will also get a booklet of information about the library. It will tell you about our collection, how long you can borrow books, and other resources to find at the library.
4. Kids in grades 5 and up can come to the library by themselves, without a grown up. Kids in grades four and younger must come with a grownup. We expect all patrons, regardless of age, to follow our Patron Code of Conduct. The Patron Code of Conduct can be found on our website. Library Mission and Policies (southburlingtonlibrary.org)
From our website:
Library Cards
Any legal resident of South Burlington over the age of five may obtain a resident library card with identification that clearly shows name and current legal address. Any South Burlington resident in good standing may use this library card at any of the other local libraries that are part of the Homecard system. Non-residents (outside of the Homecard system) and temporary residents may purchase a card to check out physical items at the South Burlington Public Library. Please come to the Library to sign up.
We hope to see you at the library!
Kelly Kendall, Children’s Librarian
South Burlington Public Library
This school year ALL STUDENTS can have FREE Breakfast and Lunch! We would still ask everyone to fill out the Free and Reduced Lunch form.
Food Allergies and Health Questionnaire for ALL Families
I am excited to welcome your family for the 2021-22 school year. Whether you are new to our school, or returning, feel free to drop in or give me a call with any questions or concerns about the health of our school and your child(ren).
Please complete the Annual Health Questionnaire. I depend on this information each year to inform my time with your student(s). In addition, the Department of Health relies on the schools to collect data yearly to help them with their work. If your child received any immunizations over the summer, please bring in a new record of those. If your child is new to RMCS, and you have not provided us with immunization documentation, this is required prior to the start of the school year. The fax number is 802-658-9047 if needed.
At the beginning of each school year, we require signed authorization from a parent/guardian and the prescribing health care provider for any prescription medication. Any over the counter medication, including cough drops, require written parent permission. All medication must be supplied in the original packaging and delivered to the health office by an adult. Please refer to the South Burlington School District’s Medication Administration Procedures should you have any questions.
In accordance with Vermont Law, routine vision and hearing screenings will be conducted with children in pre-k, kindergarten, first, third and fifth grades. I will notify you if your child does not pass so you can follow up with their health care provider. Should you have concerns and would like your child(ren) screened outside of the above schedule, let me know.
Finally, please find the SBSD’s Food Allergy Safety Information sheets and take a moment to review. You will receive a separate notice once school begins, if your child’s classroom is an allergen-safe room. If your child(ren) has a food allergy, and s/he plans to eat lunch prepared by the school district, please contact Rhonda Ketner at Nutritional Services (652-7160 or rketner@sbschools.net). Rhonda works closely with families, providing detailed information on the school lunch ingredients, specific to the child’s needs.
Again, don’t hesitate to reach out, should you have any questions.
Sincerely,
Michelle Cannon, RN
School Nurse
Lacross Clinic at St.Michael's College
Hello! My name Is Morgan Barlow and I am the Assistant Women’s Lacrosse coach at Saint Michael’s College in Colchester, VT. We will be hosting a morning clinic for all players in grades 2-8. Participants will have the opportunity to train and play with instruction from our current student-athletes and coaching staff. This is a great opportunity to work on skill-development and enjoy a little bit of fall lacrosse! The clinic will run from 8:30-11am on Duffy Field at Saint Michael's College on September 11th.
Registration link: https://saintmichaelsprospectday.totalcamps.com/shop/product/39664
Need Help with Technology? Use this link to access Tech supports!
https://sites.google.com/sbschools.net/sbsdedtechforstudentsfamilies/home
Rick Marcotte Central School
Email: kkilbourne@sbschools.net
Website: sbschools.net
Location: 200 Market Street, South Burlington, VT, USA
Phone: 802 652 7200
Twitter: @rmcschool