VES Bluebird
March & April 2021
Greetings, VES Families!
We are looking forward to welcoming spring in the days ahead. Time has gone by quickly, and we have been very busy at VES. Since our last edition, we've celebrated Black History Month, Lunar New Year, National School Counselors Week and virtual visits from MHS Peer Leaders. We held Character and Caring parties, virtual authors visits and had a festive Kindness Week. We are looking ahead to Women's History Month, Read Across America, our virtual Book Fair and more as outlined in this issue.
VES has launched our Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Site on the VES Homepage. You will find information about our work to build and maintain a Culturally Responsive Environment in addition to our Inclusive Curriculum on this site. District wide efforts in this regard can be found on our district site.
Please take note of the health and safety reminders and other protocols below as we prepare for Monday's combining of cohorts. Your assistance in completing the screening forms and following safety expectation is essential to the safety of our students and staff.
Keep an eye out for a parent survey that will request your instructional model preferences for your child for the April - June period.
Thank you for your continued involvement and support!
The VES Team
March 1st: Hybrid Cohorts Combine
- Three masks: one to wear each day; one for the classroom (in a Ziplock bag with child's name on it), one to keep in the backpack (in a Ziplock bag with child's name on it). Masks must: fit snugly but comfortably against the sides of the face; completely cover the nose and mouth; be secured with ties or ear loops, or gaiter neck style; include multiple layers of fabric; allow for breathing without restriction; be washed and machine dried without damage or change to shape, not include vents/valves
- Mask lanyards (If you don't have one we will provide one for your child)
- Labeled beach towel to be laundered and returned each day
- Charged Chromebook and sleeve/cover (11.6x13)
- Headphones or earbuds with a mic and 3.5 mm jack (in a Ziplock bag with child's name on it)
- Healthy nut-free snack and water bottle. According to district regulations (5531), all classrooms will be nut-free and no students or staff will share food.
- Personal pack of tissues
- Hand wipes for snack time
- Small bottle of hand sanitizer
- Writing Notebooks/Folders
- Book Baggies
New Parent Pick Up Procedures
Students are encouraged to ride the bus to and from school but if you pick up your child at the end of the school day, please take note of the slight adjustment to our parent pickup procedures.
In anticipation of additional traffic expected at parent pickup, we are asking for your assistance in helping us create a safe and smooth process.
Please mark your signs clearly with 3 and/or 4 in bold print to indicate your child’s grade and to assist us with the procedures outlined below.
3rd grade parent pickup students will be dismissed at 1:20.
3rd grade parents should arrive as early as possible, by 1:15, so your children can be released in a timely manner and the driveway can be cleared for 4th grade parents.
4th grade parent pick up students will be dismissed at 1:30.
4th grade parents should arrive between 1:25 and 1:30. Parents arriving prior to that time may be asked to circle the property or pull over to allow the on-time 3rd grade parents to pick up first.
If you have children in both grades, please arrive during the 4th grade pickup window.
Read Across America
Spirit Days:
Monday 3/1 : “Warm up to RAA Week”
Wear work out or athletic clothes!
Tuesday 3/2: “Hats off to Reading!”
Wear your favorite hat!
Wednesday 3/3: “Wacky Wednesday”
Wear wacky hair and/or wacky mismatched colors, patterns, socks, shoes, etc.
Thursday 3/4 : “School Spirit”
Wear your VES or MONTY gear to show school spirit!
Friday 3/5: “Pajama Day”
Wear your pajamas and cozy up to a good book!
Parent/Teacher Conferences
Please note that March 23, 24, 25 and 26th are early dismissal days and the school day will end at 1:30 PM. There will not be any afternoon virtual learning on these days.
News from the Health Office
IT IS TIME TO START THINKING ABOUT SPRING ALLERGIES….APRIL SHOWERS BRING MAY FLOWERS ALONG WITH SNEEZES, A RUNNY NOSE AND ITCHY, RED EYES….
Unfortunately, this is no real cure for season allergies; however it is possible to relieve your child’s symptoms. Reducing or eliminating exposure to allergens is the first step. During the months your child suffers from seasonal allergies keep windows closed, use air conditioning if possible, and stay indoors when pollen counts are high..
If you know or suspect that your child suffers from seasonal allergies please be proactive and contact the doctor to begin a regime to minimize their discomfort before the season is in full bloom. You may bring in an allergy relief eye drop to be kept in the Health Office; this must be accompanied with your written permission for the medication to be administered in school. A Medication Administration form can be found on the web site. If the medication is an over the counter product it must be new and in the original packaging.
Thank You for Your Kindness Bowl Donation!
Montgomery Township Schools' Spring Break Dates Will Be March 29th through April 6th.
District Instructional Model Survey
The Virtual Book Fair is Here
More details will be coming from the PTA.
Upcoming PTA Meetings
VES Students Will be Participating in NJSLA (New Jersey Student Learning Assessment) Testing May 17-21
More information and details will be shared prior to the assessment.
4th Grade Author Visit: Gita Varadarajan
Wednesday, Mar 3, 2021, 02:30 PM
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Arbor Day
Thursday, Apr 8, 2021, 12:00 AM
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4th Grade Virtual Field Trip: Old Barracks: Meet the Past
4th Grade students will journey to the past throughout the week with a virtual field trip presented by the Trenton Old Barracks Museum. Students will travel back in time to 1777 where they will be recruited into General George Washington’s Army. A soldier will prepare them for the realities of soldier’s life and even provide a musket demonstration. They will be shown how the Old Barracks was integral in protecting soldiers from smallpox and learn about the inoculations that took place there as well as common 18th century medical practices. Classes will meet with a witness to the Battle of Trenton who recounts the challenges of the crossing, the march, and the battle.
Monday, Apr 12, 2021, 09:30 AM
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4th Grade Virtual Field Trip: Old Barracks: Fighting for My Freedom
4th Grade students will have the opportunity to hear the experiences of an African American soldier during the American Revolution as a continuation of their virtual field trip the previous week.