Gertrude Chamberlin School
Family Newsletter September 30, 2022 Volume 17 Issue 8
IMPORTANT DATES:
Friday, October 7th - 12:30 Dismissal for staff Professional Learning
Monday, October 10th - No School, Indigenous People's Day
October 11th - 14th Scholastic Book Fair
October 11th - PTO Meeting, 6:00 PM in the GCS Library
Thursday, October 13th - Open House, 6:00-7:00 PM
October 14th and 15th - South Burlington Homecoming Weekend
SB Homecoming Weekend at the High School is 10/14 & 10/15. We encourage all SB Families to attend a game and feel the WolfPack Spirit. Our SBHS athletes and Wyn the Wolf will be stopping by our elementary schools and giving each student a bracelet. These bracelets get students into the games for FREE!
10/14: Girls Volleyball 4:30pm, Football 7pm
10/15: Girls Soccer 10am, Field Hockey 7pm
We Filled The Hive!
All School Read for September...All Are Welcome!
No matter how you start your day, What you wear when you play, Or if you come from far away, All are welcome here. This story follows children through a day in their school, where everyone is welcome. It's a school where children in patkas, hijabs, baseball caps and yarmulkes play side by side. It's a school where students grow and learn from each other's traditions. It's a school where diversity is a strength. All Are Welcome lets our children know that no matter what, they have a place, they have a space, and they are welcome in our school!
It's Hispanic Heritage Month!
Hispanic Heritage Month is an annual celebration of the history and culture of the U.S. Latinx and Hispanic communities. The event, which spans from September 15 to October 15, commemorates how those communities have influenced and contributed to American society at large. The term Hispanic or Latino (or the more recent term Latinx) refers to a person’s culture or origin—regardless of race.
In 4th grade, students are researching influential Hispanic leaders who have impacted the United States in someway. They are discussing how many races and ethnicities don’t get the recognition they deserve after having huge influence on the United States, and how it’s important to learn about about cultures different from one's own. We have learned that the independence of many Hispanic countries falls around this month. Some Hispanic influential leaders that are being researched are Lionel Messi, Sonia Sotomayor, Frida Kahlo, Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, Cesar Chavez, and Ellen Ochoa. Students will be creating a nonfiction book on book creator to present their findings!
We are also listening to songs by Latinx artists on Fridays, when we play music on our announcements, including "Tu Me Gustas" (I Like You) and "Todos Juntos" (All Together).
See the photos below of kindergarten dancing to the samba, a Brazilian music genre, and 4th graders hard at work on their nonfiction books!
Yoga Mats Needed for Mindful Movement
Social Emotional Learning - Wolf Den and Wolf Pack!
We are putting a strong focus on social emotional learning and school culture at Gertude Chamberlin School. All of our grades will be using the Second Step program to explicitly teach social skills. Second Step promotes school success, school connectedness and a safe and respectful school climate. This focus on social skills will strengthen your child’s ability to learn, have empathy, manage emotions and solve problems. For the months of September and into October, the focus will be on Skills for Learning. This month, our school-wide theme is our school as a welcoming place where every student feels like he or she belongs. In our morning announcements, we’ll be reminding students to welcome others and act and speak in safe, respectful, and responsible ways. In addition, we’ll be teaching students about expectations and routines in a variety of school settings. Support your child at home in welcoming others and acting and speaking in safe, respectful, and responsible ways. To learn more about this program, visit www.secondstep.org. When we teach our Second Step lessons, we call this Wolf Den.
We are also continuing with Restorative Practices this year, including our Wolf Pack Time. Restorative Practices allow us to strengthen relationships, as well as connectedness to our school community. When students have challenges at school, we also use Restorative Practices to problem solve and repair harm. This year, we will have K-2 and 3-5 multiage groups for this morning circle time once a month. This week we stayed with our own classrooms for our first Wolf Pack Time. We introduced the common themes of a circle - having a centerpiece, a talking stick and agreements on how we will be together during circle time. We are looking forward to next month when we can move to our multiage groups and meet some new friends! Our hope is that these small groups will stay together beyond one year.
Using a talking piece to make sure that everyone has a voice in the circle.
Each class has a centerpiece which provides a visual focal point of the circle.
Wolf Pack starts with a mindful or movement moment.
Library News
- The Chamberlin Library is on Instagram! @Chamberlin.Library
- The Scholastic Book Fair is coming! This year, it will be held from October 11th - 14th. Here is the link where you will be able to set up an e-wallet for your child and shop when the book fair begins. https://bookfairs.scholastic.com/bf/chamberlinschool
School Nurse Notes
INFLUENZA
- Most of the time flu activity peaks between December and February.
- Flu vaccine can keep you from getting sick with flu.
- All persons aged 6 months of age and older are recommended for annual flu vaccination, with rare exception.
- See who should and who should not get a flu shot HERE. For more general flu vaccine information, look HERE.
IMMUNIZATION CLINIC - BURLINGTON
- New to the area? Still catching up on vaccinations (for your child or you)?
- Make an appointment at the Burlington Immunization Clinic. Call to learn more and schedule: # 802-951-0076
- The Vermont Department of Health provides vaccinations at no charge for those who are under 65 years old and who meet the following criteria:
*Uninsured, or*A patient of a medical practice that cannot receive vaccine from the Vermont Vaccines for Children & Adults program
NEXT CLINIC: MONDAY: OCTOBER 2, 2022 FROM 1:00PM TO 3:00PM
Be Well!
Kerry Farrell, GCS Nurse kfarrell@sbschools.net. 802-652-7449
Looking For Wolf Gear for Your Child Or Family?
GCS Family Resources:
South Burlington Public Library
We are open at our location on 180 Market Street:
Monday – Thursday: 10:00am – 7:00pm
Friday: 10:00am – 5:00pm
Saturday: 10:00am – 2:00pm
The Book Drop is available to the RIGHT of the City Hall Drop Box, around the corner.
We hope to see you at the library!
Mini Metro Basketball Registration
Mini Metro is a competitive club basketball program for players in grades 5-8. Games are played indoors every Sunday along with typically 2-3 practices each week. South Burlington is organizing both girls and boys teams at the 5-6th and 7-8th grade levels for the upcoming season, which is expected to start in late-October.
Details are still being developed by those coordinating the league, but we're reaching out to collect contact info for interested players at all levels. The registration form can be found here: Mini Metro Registration Form. Please complete by Friday, 10/7 as we're anticipating a tryout date the weekend of October 15-16.
-Coaches Ryan Navin (girls varsity) and Sol Bayer-Pacht (boys varsity)
Workshops for Parents/Caregivers
- Everything Anyone Needs To Know to Prevent Child Sexual Abuse
- Keeping Kids Safe on the Internet
- Overcoming Barriers to Protecting Children From Sexual Abuse
- Brain Development and Learning Consent During Childhood
- Nurturing Healthy Sexual Development
Please click on the link below for more information for each workshop.
Gertrude Chamberlin School
Assistant Principals, Olivia Kane and Stephanie Sumner
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