Gertrude Chamberlin School
Family Newsletter November 6, 2020 Volume 15 Issue 17
Reminders:
* picture retakes will be on Tuesday, November 10th, beginning at noon. VTVLC students are welcome to come between 12:30-1:00 PM. Beltrami is hoping to again take these photos outside if the weather cooperates.
Picture Retakes
* There is no school November 23rd - 27th due to conferences and Thanksgiving break.
Covid at GCS
Dear Families,
I know that the email from David Young about a positive Covid case at GCS was unsettling to receive.
We met with the VT Department of Health Contact Tracers late Wednesday afternoon, due to a positive Covid case by a staff member in our GCS building. At that time, very few members of the GCS community were identified as being "close contacts" - within 6 feet of the positive staff member for a total of 15 minutes. The VT Department of Health Contact Tracer asked me to let the few families impacted know that they would be receiving a call on Thursday from them and that their child could not come to school. David Young put out the information to families within 5 minutes of the end of our meeting with the Department of Health. If you were not notified by myself, your child is not a close contact and they are OK to come to school. The Department of Health is not recommending that we go remote or quarantine any classes.
Due to confidentiality laws (FERPA and HIPPA), I cannot share with you any further information, including any names of positive cases or close contacts.
We do have students in quarantine for this reason, as well as for other reasons such as having cold symptoms that need to be followed up with a physician or test due to the similarities with Covid.
We are following all of the guidelines from the Vermont Department of Health and the Vermont Department of Education around this positive Covid information. We also know that the best way we can combat the spread of Covid is by frequent hand washing, staying 3-6 feet or more away from each other, and by wearing our masks.
Here is a short video that describes contact tracing if you would like more information.
Please know that we are taking every precaution around cleaning and safety to allow learning to continue in person at GCS.
PTO Meeting, November 10th
Join Zoom Meeting
https://sbschools.zoom.us/j/83248688194?pwd=KzJxY29xMTVoK1pKNTJRRE53K2x0Zz09
Meeting ID: 832 4868 8194
Passcode: 566455
PTO STUDENT DIRECTORY REGISTRATION FORM
Gertrude Chamberlin School student directory - make sure your student is included!
Every family will receive a printed directory booklet, BUT FOR YOUR STUDENT'S INFORMATION TO BE INCLUDED, you MUST go to this link and provide your contact information. Due to privacy concerns, you must opt-in - your information will not appear unless you provide your contact information using the link.
Here is the link: https://forms.gle/tF415uj6FMPckk8x7
By including your contact information, you make it easy to connect with other Chamberlin families and help create a strong Chamberlin Community! The Directory is being created and provided by the PTO. Please fill out the form no later than Friday, November 6th to have your information included.
If you have any questions, please feel free to contact Jennifer Doig, PTO co-president, anytime at doig.jennifer@gmail.com.
The Cold Weather Is Here!
Ms. Wales has a new art cart
to inspire our artists
to create beautiful artwork in the classroom!
Parent Teacher Conferences
Our Integrated Arts team, who also has a different teaching format this year, would also love to meet with you! Here are their schedules:
To schedule a music conference with Ms. Finlayson, click here.
To schedule an art conference with Ms. Wales, email or call jwales@sbschools.net
(802)652-7412.
To schedule a physical education conference with Mrs. DeGuise, email or call ldeguise@sbschools.net (802)652-7432.
To schedule a library media conference with Ms. Balk, email or call abalk@sbschools.net (802)652-7445.
Holiday Travel
1. Check the map to find out the risk of COVID-19 infection at your destination,
2. Decide if the risk is worth it for your family,
3. Plan to have a safe trip or gathering, remain flexible and get your flu shot and
4. Quarantine when you return.
More information can be found on the Health Department website.
If you are travelling out of state, please contact Mrs. Baechle at lbaechle@sbschools.net 652-7403 or Mrs. Farrell at kfarrell@sbschools.net 652-7449 so we can help guide you through next steps to keep your family and all of our GCS families safe.
Kindergarten is going batty!
They are learning about bats
in their classrooms!
Social Emotional Learning
Social Emotional Learning (SEL) is the process through which children and adults acquire and effectively apply the knowledge, attitudes and skills necessary to understand and manage emotions, set and achieve positive goals, feel and show empathy for others, establish and maintain positive relationships and make responsible decisions. Why are we focusing on SEL at Chamberlin School? Here’s the research:
· A 2015 Cost Benefit Analysis highlights that for every $1 spent implementing SEL programs, $11 is saved in resources that are not expended managing behavior problems and additional interventions for “at risk” youth. (Belfield et al., 2015)
· A 2017 Meta-Analysis on the follow up effects of SEL showed that 3.5 years after the last intervention, the academic performance of students exposed to SEL programs was an average 13 percentile points higher than their non-SEL peers. At other follow-up periods, conduct problems, emotional distress, and drug use were all significantly lower for students exposed to SEL programs. Development of social and emotional skills and positive attitudes toward self, others, and school was higher after SEL interventions. (Durlac et al., 2017)
· The World Economic Forum in 2016 identified the Top 10 skills required for workers to thrive by 2020 as: Complex problem solving, critical thinking, creativity, people management, coordinating with others, emotional intelligence, judgement and decision-making, service orientation, negotiation and cognitive flexibility.
Empathy
Check out the amazing artwork from our students in the art news:
The Book Fair is Coming!
Continuing the Tradition of Our Annual Food Drive - October 26th - November 18th
A statement from our Food Shelf partners: We are "recognizing a need in our community, a small group of South Burlington residents and community leaders formed a coalition to help address the problem of food insecurity in Vermont’s second largest city. Inspired by their faith and by a commitment to their neighbors, the group is leading the effort to build a food shelf that will serve South Burlington’s food-insecure individuals and families. We’re called to love each other, take care of each other and serve each other.”
Please join our Food Drive efforts by donating food this year. Thank you.
The South Burlington Food shelf is located on:
356 Dorset Street / South Burlington, VT 05403
Hours: Thursday 5:15 – 7:15 PM / Friday 8 – 10 AM / Saturday 8 – 10 AM
October 30th Update from Superintendent Young
Dear Parents/Guardians,
It’s hard to believe it is nearly November and we have been back to school for close to two months! I am incredibly proud of the dedication of our school teams, families, and students who have helped us sustain our reopening. Thank you all!
Reopening Update
This week, we welcomed back our Grades 3-5 students to four days per week of in-person learning. Many thanks to the outstanding staff, families, and students for being conscientious of safety measures so we can keep our youngest learners in school as much as possible. I also wanted to let you know that updates were made to the Strong and Healthy Start Guidelines October 23.
You may have read the article in VT Digger regarding staffing shortages we are experiencing in the Champlain Valley. I joined my fellow superintendents in expressing concern around this challenge as it pertains to maintaining and potentially increasing our in-person learning days. This is the CVSA press release that went out last Friday.
Emergency Notification System Test: Monday, November 2 at 6:00 pm
The school district utilizes an emergency notification system to communicate with families by phone and/or email. Each fall, the District sends out a test notification by both phone and email to ensure all families are receiving the messages as expected. The majority of District notifications are sent out by email only, but select messages, such as emergencies, unscheduled early releases and/or school closures, are typically sent by both phone and email, due to their time sensitive nature.
Our annual test of the notification system is scheduled to take place Monday, November 2 at 6:00 pm. At that time, families/employees will receive a brief message from the system based upon contact information provided to the schools. The system will contact families via email and home/mobile phone numbers.
If you do not receive a message and you feel you should have, please contact the front office at your student’s school to confirm that your contact information is correct.
November 3: In Service for Staff - No School for Students
Next week, students will attend school on Monday, Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday with Tuesday off. Staff will have an in-service on diversity, equity, and inclusion, with a keynote by Dr. Dena Simmons on creating equitable environments through emotional intelligence and culturally relevant practices.
Travel Guidance
As holidays and vacations approach, families and staff may be considering traveling out of the area. This is a gentle reminder that the care and safety of our school community depends upon all of us following federal and state travel guidelines.Prior to traveling, be sure to check the cross state travel map from the State of Vermont which is updated every Tuesday. Areas that are in yellow and red require quarantines upon return to Vermont, so plan your getaways accordingly. You can find more detailed information about travel and quarantine at the Vermont Department of Health website. In addition, the CDC recently released a helpful guide for safely celebrating upcoming holidays.
All employees who plan to or who have traveled out of state are expected to fill out this FY21 Covid Travel Notification Form.
Transportation
Please note that bus transportation routes have been updated effective October 30.
Nutritional Services: Meal Delivery During Thanksgiving Break
Thanks to our outstanding nutritional services team, the district will be offering meals during Thanksgiving break and Christmas break. Families will need to order in advance and 5 days of meals will be delivered together to help families through the week. For Thanksgiving break the meals will be delivered Tuesday, November 24 via bus and pickup.
School Happenings
SBHS French Teacher Receives Mini-Grant
Congratulations to SBHS French teacher Karine Poulin who was recently honored as the recipient of a $500 Vermont NEA mini-grant for a special project submitted in August aimed at building a BIPOC (Black, Indigenous, People of Color) library for the French program at SBHS.
FHTMS Students Make Mask Donation to First Responders
This past Wednesday, FHTMS students Sierra Rainey and Reese Gordon made a special delivery of tie dyed red, white, and blue face masks to the South Burlington Fire and Police Departments. The departments received 50 masks from these two enterprising students in appreciation of their service to the community. What began as a fun activity between two friends and soccer teammates has turned into the girls starting their own business: Simply Heart Made. The two now plan to sell their tie dye masks to raise money for their upcoming soccer club trip to Holland in the Spring of 2022. Check out the story on WCAX
Gertrude Chamberlin School 5th Graders Put their Engineering Skills to the Test
At GCS, 5th grade science students recently worked in teams under specific criteria and constraints to build the tallest free standing tower to support one marshmallow. Using an engineering design process, students practiced collaboration and patience as they developed and tested their spaghetti and marshmallow prototypes. Way to go!
Rick Marcotte Central School Kindergarteners Learn About Insects
Today, Kindergarteners kicked off a new science unit on arachnids. The unit began by having "Miss Spider's Tea Party". Next week, classes will read the Miss Spider books and discuss spiders. Then, on Friday Kindergarten students will dress as "insects" (paper costumes they make) and teachers as Miss Spider.
Orchard School Mock All-School Morning Meetings
Since All-School Morning Meetings have been put on hiatus during COVID-19, Orchard School staff has been getting creative by trying out mock ones through their Friday message. Principal Mark Trifilio reports, “Lately, we've celebrated birthdays, included an optimistic message and shared jokes. I’m joined by guests, complete with sound effects, to start the day with some humor.” This week featured Halloween jokes and puns sent in from students!
Technology Resources for Elementary Students and Families
Check out these amazing Technology resources for elementary students and families created by Elementary Information Technology Teacher Kristen Courcelle. This resource was developed to support students and families with technology at home (specifically, Seesaw, Google Classroom, Zoom, Google Meet, and general Chromebook tips).
I hope you all have a safe and relaxing weekend!
Sincerely,
David
Family Resources:
Travel
Family Support with Technology/Chromebooks
How Can I Get Library Books During Hybrid Learning?
Here's the link to the breakfast and lunch menus.
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