It has been a busy spring as spring sports continue, the end of the 2020-21 school year approaches, and planning for the 2021-22 school year begins. Students, whether on-site or fully remote, are working hard at having a strong finish to the school year.
As we approach the end of the year, I want to share some important dates again:
Monday, May 31 = Memorial Day = No school.
Monday, June 7 = Afternoon parent conferences = Students dismissed from school at 11:30am.
Tuesday, June 8 = Afternoon parent conferences = Students dismissed from school at 11:30am.
Wednesday, June 9 = Parent conferences from 8-11:30am.
Friday, June 11 = The last day of school for 8th grade students.
Monday, June 14 = 6th and 7th grade students dismissed from school at 11:30am.
Monday, June 14 = Celebration of Learning for 8th grade students: 2:30-3:30pm. Two tickets will be allocated for each student. Families of 8th grade students will continue to receive information as we get closer to the date.
Tuesday, June 15 = The last day of school for 6th and 7th grade. Dismissal at 11:30am.
Tuesday, June 15 = Rain date for the Celebration of Learning if it is delayed due to weather conditions.
There is a higher level of energy in the building due to spring weather and the increased number of students on site. It has been a very, very good energy. Students are enjoying having more peers with respect to socialization and collaboration. The students are working hard and building relationships. With each change, I continue to be grateful. I am grateful for these amazing kids with whom we get to work each day. The kids bring their best, and we are so fortunate to have them.
Take care, and thank you.
James
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EMS Music Updates
Hello EMS Families!
Do you have an instrument that you need to return for the summer from EMS or Ellis Music? Please bring it to EMS the week of June 1st to have it returned. If you need more information please email Mr. Lambert at gflamber@bsdvt.org or Mr. Hakim at mhakim@bsdvt.org
Also, don't forget to have your students sign up for Performance Music in the Fall! We're building back the programs after over a year of remote classes. It's been awesome having our students creating in school again and we cannot wait until we have the groups back together in the Fall. It's going to be amazing! Click here for more info (The survey to sign up is on the last slide.)
Thanks and have a wonderful summer!
Mr. Lambert, Ms. Ott, and Mr. Hakim
Edmunds Literary Magazine
Check out The Edmunds Literary Magazine and explore the work of our many talented writers and artists. You should find this year's theme to be quite appropriate.
Thank you, EMS PTO! Without your support, this publication would not be possible. Thank you, Young Writers Project, for collaborating with us and for hosting The ELM!
Enjoy!
The ELM Staff
Hello from the Health Office!
Tips for Tick Prevention:
- Cover up your skin by wearing pants, long sleeves, and long socks. Tucking your pant legs into your socks and tucking your shirt into your pants can help keep ticks on off of your skin.
- Apply an insect repellent that contains 20-30% DEET on exposed skin and clothing. Do not spray repellent on skin that is covered by clothing.
- Apply permethrin to your clothes. Permethrin kills ticks on contact and remains protective through several washings. Do not use permethrin on skin.
- Make sure the repellent you use is registered by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). Go to https://www.epa.gov/insect-repellents/find-insect-repellent-right-you to access an EPA tool for finding repellents.
Tick Disease Prevention Tips from Sojourns Community Health Clinic (2016, http://www.sojourns.org/blog/reformer-health-articles/tick-born-illness-in-vermont-urgency-noted.html#.WR8TSOvyuM9)
Prevention is the key to avoiding Lyme disease, Anaplasmosis or Babesiosis.
Remember: ticks are active over 28 degrees Fahrenheit.
- Avoid areas that are wooded or bushy with high grass, and leaf litter.
- Wear long sleeves and pants that are light colored. Tuck pants into socks.
- Conduct tick checks every night: remember your back, back of legs, groin, under arms and head.
- Place clothes in the dryer for 15 minutes to kill ticks.
- Check pets regularly for ticks.
- Create a tick-free area in your yard:
- Create dry non-wooded areas, as ticks thrive in wet wooded areas. Clear tall grass and leaves. Keep wood in dry areas. Prevent deer from entering yard. Use deer-resistant plants or Dial soap.
- Most importantly, please remember to apply any insect repellent OVER your Sunscreen!
- Sunscreen is not just a summer time product. New Englanders are the most prone group of Americans to get skin cancer. Don’t forget to put your sunscreen on and reapply as needed!
Sunscreen Within My Reach on the Beach
By Robert Pettit, 2012
I love my sunshine.
Summer sun rays feel so fine.
I get a nice tan
just from lying on the beach.
I need sunscreen within reach.
EMS Art Studio - Thinking Ahead
Hello EMS Community-
As we are winding down the year I am already thinking into the future - the 21-22 school year in particular.
A few things are on my mind...
1. I plan on painting an abstract color wheel across the top part of the curved wall in my classroom this summer. I would love some help. If you or your child(ren) are interested in helping, please let me know. It's been on my to do list for two years. We recently got approval, so I am moving forward with this fun project. It will most likely be a few hours a day for a few days in late June or early July.
2. I've created a wish list for the art studio on Amazon. These are supplies that would enrich the art studio and the art experiences of our students. I've never created a registry before, so I hope this works easily. If it doesn't please let me know. I have attached a link to the list below. If you feel inclined to purchase and donate any of these to the art studio that would be just fabulous! These are items that go above and beyond the art budget, but would add so much to the art experiences I create. And, yes, it's a little dreamy. But it's the end of the year and I am optimistic and already looking forward to planning some awesome opportunities for next year.
3. While you are enjoying your summer, keep in mind that we use a lot of recycled supplies in the art room. So you could collect things all summer long and send them in when school begins again. In particular I love getting donations of: magazines, newspapers, paper towel and toilet paper tubes, small plastic containers like from hummus or yogurt, quantities of odd items - such as wooden pieces, alphabet letters from old games, old game pieces, embroidery floss, beads, or other oddities in quantity (I teach many classes) that just might be a hit in an art room.
4. And finally - thanks so much for your always awesome and continued support. It has been such an ineffable year, yet one that I will treasure. The smaller class sizes were absolutely lovely to teach, and your middle school students created the best work I've ever seen in my career. I have loved teaching in this pandemic year- even with the unknowns, the anxieties, the unusual rules, and the strangeness that sat side by side with the hope and spirit of our middle school kids. We made it!
5. And lastly, I hope you encourage your kids to make art this summer!
Thanks so much for considering all of the above.
And here's the link to my wish list! https://www.amazon.com/registries/custom/9CVU7P4V7N3W/guest-view?ref=&fbclid=IwAR0PUq0anJc9bb7f6FdBZ5ziRN-pKdTXVNC-8PkIrKHcNwuAu4kykmjbPtg
Gratefully,
Ms. Judy
