THE PRIDE PRESS
Essex Elementary School Newsletter
November 11, 2021
PRINCIPAL NEWS
Our students and staff have been working hard. I have been so impressed with the growth of our students in all areas. Students have been noticing acts of kindness from each other and we have been sharing these during our morning announcements. We are doing a great job of taking care of each other and our school.
Reminders:
- Please have your children leave their personal toys at home. Toys cause distractions and disruptions at school even if they are only brought out at recess. Thank you for your support in helping students keep these items at home. If students have toys from home, teachers will ask them to put them away to take home or may have to take them to be kept in the front office to be sent home.
- Additionally, personal electronic devices are not allowed at school. If students have phones, ipads, etc at school we will hold the items in the front office to be sent home. Thank you for your support.
Have a great weekend,
Ms.Gray
WINTER KINDNESS COMMUNITY SUPPORT PROGRAM
Health Office news
If you are interested in signing up your student for test to stay please sign up for BOTH consent and simple report!
Covid vaccines are now available for students to sign up for, please send the health office the updated immunization records!
Covid protocol letter:
Individuals who have symptoms of COVID can now get tested at Vermont Department of Health testing sites.
Visit https://www.healthvermont.gov/covid-19/testing/where-get-tested for details.
COVID tests for reentry to school must be PCR tests.
The following information applies to all individuals with symptoms of COVID, regardless of vaccination status.
If your child has a cough, shortness of breath, or lack of taste/smell, they will need a PCR COVID test to return to EES.
If your child has ANY of the following symptoms and the symptoms last 24 hours or more, they will need a PCR COVID test to return to school.
Fever (100.4 or greater)
Sore throat
Runny nose
Nausea/vomiting
Diarrhea
Fatigue
Muscle or body aches
Headache
If your child has a negative COVID test:
They can return to school when it has been 24 hours or more fever-free without the use of medications and symptoms have improved
If your child has a positive COVID test:
They can return to school when 10 days or more have passed since symptoms first appeared and it has been 24 hours fever-free without the use of medications and symptoms have improved
If your child did not get a COVID test, but their medical home made a different diagnosis:
They can return to school when it has been 24 hours or more fever-free without the use of medications and symptoms have improved
If your child did not get a COVID test and their medical home did not make a different diagnosis:
They can return to school when 10 days or more have passed since symptoms first appeared and it has been 24 hours fever-free without the use of medications and symptoms have improved
If your child has ANY one of the following symptoms and the symptoms last less than 24 hours, they can return to school when it has been 24 hours or more after the symptoms have improved or resolved.
Fever (100.4 or greater) that resolves without medications
Sore throat
Congestion or runny nose
Nausea/vomiting/stomach upset
Diarrhea
Fatigue
Muscle or body aches
Headache
Call or email test results to me to have your student return to school.
Please contact me if you have any questions, and thank you for your support in
keeping our schools healthy.
Dani Morris RN, BSN
Essex Elementary School Nurse
Essex Westford School District
Phone (802) 857-2104
Fax (802) 879-0602
Social and Emotional Learning & Wellness
John Halligan, “Ryan’s Story” Presentation Recording
Motivational Speaker and Author, John Halligan, shared his presentation, “Ryan’s Story,” with EWSD families and community members on the evening of October 19, 2021. The presentation, which provides practical tips pertaining to cyberbullying and suicide prevention, is geared toward parents/guardians of children who use or who will be starting to use social media, etc.
The hour-long recording of the presentation for parents/guardians can be viewed here.
Students at the EWSD middle schools and high school will have the opportunity to participate in a viewing and reflection exercise related to Mr. Halligan’s student presentation in the coming weeks.
Student Support Services
Special Education Parent Advisory Council Session Recording & Application:
An information meeting for the EWSD Special Education Parent Advisory Council (SEPAC) took place on October 21, 2021. You may view the slides from the presentation on the newly posted SEPAC webpage.
An application to be part of the SEPAC is also now available! Teachers, staff, parents, students, and community members are encouraged to submit an application. Applications are due by December 1.
Questions? Contact Sarah Warrington in Student Support Services.
Mrs. Mead's Class
We've done lots of learning about how the parts of plants work together to help them survive. Students then had to design and build their own plants being sure to include all of the parts!
art news
Art to Remember Order Forms
You should have seen your child's "Art to Remember" order form come home recently. This fundraiser supports our artist-in-residence programs and extra special items for art class! This year it will be online ordering only so please find the website and special code for your child's art "portal" on the order form. This year you can also upload your own images into the portal. Please order by FRIDAY, November 12th. Items will arrive in the second week of December. You can email our art teacher, Ms. Blain with questions: sblain@ewsd.org
In art classes students have been learning about Diwali ("Divali"), a holiday of light celebrated by Hindus. We looked at Rangoli art which is a symbol of welcome that people put in and around their houses. Students created radially symmetric designs. They used "rubbie dubbies" which are texture plates to add crayon texture, then Sharpie to add emphasis, and finally fun sparkly watercolor paints. These were a little bit tricky to design and students did a great job persevering even if they felt a bit intimidated at first!
Ms. Blain
lost and found!
Our library assistant has created a photo gallery for our lost and found at EES. Please click on the link below to view the gallery. If you find an item that is yours, please fill out this
google form or send an email with the item's number, teacher's name and child's name to kfukuyama@ewsd.org.
The gallery is frequently updated, so check back often!
UPCOMING EVENTS/ REMINDERS:
- 11/15 - PICTURE RETAKE DAY
- 11/22 - 11/26 -THANKSGIVING BREAK - NO SCHOOL
CHANGE OF CLOTHES FOR STUDENTS
As the seasons change the health office has been having more visits for wet pants from the outside. The health office has a low supply of pants, snow pants, jackets and long sleeves.
If you are able please:
Pack a change of clothes for your student
Donate any pants, snow pants, jackets, long sleeves or snowshoes to the health office
Any donations are greatly appreciated!
Thank you,
Dani Morris RN BSN
EES School Nurse
*every wednesday is early release* Dismissal is at 1:45PM
*************
ESSEX ELEMENTARY SCHOOL
*We take care of each other
*We take care of our school
C*A*R*E*S
Cooperation Assertion Responsibility Empathy Self-Control
Email: dsturgess@ewsd.org
Website: https://www.ewsd.org/EES
Location: 1 Bixby Hill Road, Essex Junction, VT, USA
Phone: (802)-878-2584