Friday Flash
September 15th, 2023
Notes from the Principal's Office
The month of September has already given us so many wonderful opportunities to learn and grow together. Our professional staff have taken courses on phonics and phonemic awareness through the Heggerty Phonics program. In addition, other teachers have taken math training through Illustrative Math. I have already seen this professional development in action in our elementary classrooms.
I was also given the opportunity to attend the first ever Women in Leadership Conference hosted by the Vermont Principal's Association. It was a wonderful opportunity to gather together with many strong, wise and creative women from around our state to discuss ways to empower the students in our classrooms. Several administrators from OESU were in attendance and able to collaborate together at the conference.
I would encourage everyone to mark their calendars for October 5th when we will be hosting our Farm and Field Day to connect students to our rural way of life. Also, be on the look out for Farm Raiser Order Forms.
Wishing You Well,
~Loretta
Important Dates
September 22nd: Forest School Committee 8:30am
September 29th: Sixth Grade Canoe Trip
October 5th: Farm & Field Day 12:00-2:00
October 6th: No School OESU Inservice Day
October 9th: No School Indigenous Peoples Day
October 13th: Tucker Mountain All School Hike
October 13th: FoNES Farm Raiser Event
October 18th: Community Coffee 9:00-10:00 in the Library (Topic Facilities Updates)
Please Don't Send Your Children to School with Sugary or Caffeinated Beverages!
Free & Reduced Lunch Forms
$25 Shaw's Gift Card Up for Grabs! Everyone that fills out and turns in the Free & Reduced Lunch Forms will be entered into a drawing for the gift card. Drawing Friday September 8th
This week's gift card winner: Rachel Harrness
Newbury Elementary Seeks Building Based Sub (Everyday) & Custodian for the 23-24 School Year Contact the Main Office if Interested
Positivity Project Focus September 18th-22nd: Open-Mindedness
Dear Families,
This week our school community will be focusing on the character strength of Open-Mindedness. Open-mindedness means you like to consider new ideas and try new things. You examine things from all sides and don’t jump to conclusions.
Open-mindedness is the willingness to actively search for evidence that goes against one’s favored opinions, plans, or goals. Open-minded individuals are able to weigh all evidence fairly, when it is available. They see the other side and fight the tendency to have a bias for their own views. And, rather than favoring the socially dominant views, they give attention to those that are less dominant.
Open-minded individuals are often good listeners and called upon to provide a balanced viewpoint. Both listening and the ability to deliver reasonable and practical advice are marks of good friends and confidantes. This strength helps individuals form meaningful and lasting relationships.
To practice and encourage the character strength of open-mindedness with your child, please visit the Positivity Project’s P2 for Families (password: P2), where together you will watch a video, read a quote, and talk about the answers to three questions.
Have a wonderful week!
Why is being openminded important?
Pictures from Around the School
Monkeys
Dolphins
Bears
Otters
Owls
Sea Turtles & Bovines
5-6 Forest School
Ms. MacMillan led an activity to show how trees are all connected, and each student found a tree they connected to. Then we began a project to make ancestor sticks.
Library & Technology News
Developing confidence and fostering independence are also part of student visits to the Library. Students in grades 3 and 4 are learning how to find "just right books": books at their reading level that will help them become more successful readers. The goal of the library remains, however, to be a place where students can discover books that interest and inspire them, regardless of reading level. Often students will want to check out a more difficult book because a parent or guardian or even sibling will read it with them, and that's awesome!! In fact, parents/guardians are welcome to set up a time with Mrs. Williams to come to the NES Library to find a book to read with their children.
~Laurie Williams
Staff Spotlight
Staci Hood: Para Educator
Friends of Newbury Elementary School
Principal Loretta Cruz
Email: loretta.cruz@oesu.org
Website: https://www.nesvt.org/
Location: 214 Pulaski Street, Newbury, VT, USA
Phone: 802-866-5621
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/newburyelementaryVT