Moose Memo

December 23-January 2- Early Winter Break- No School

January 3- Return to school

January 14- RMCS Family Night at UVM Hockey vs. AIC

January 16- MLK Day, No School

Welcome to Winter Break! To celebrate our snowy Vermont winter and having completed 74 days of learning together, RMCS came together for a school-wide assembly at the end of the day on Thursday. We created a wild weather situation in the gym. The wind blew, rain sprinkled and stormed, and finally, it snowed in the form kindness and motivational quotes. Thank you to our 5th graders for assisting Mrs. McD. with this plan, for preparing the snow quotes, and for keeping the secret. They are definitely leaders in our school of fish!

PTO volunteers secretly popped popcorn in the PrinciPal's office. Every student got a bag of popcorn at our all-school gathering.

Thank you, Pop Moms!

We watched Frosty's Winter Wonderland, a 23 minute movie sequel to Frosty the Snowman. The movie depicts kindness and caring throughout. Frosty "cares for himself" by telling his friends he is lonely when they go inside at night. Frosty's friends show they "care for others" by building him a companion, Crystal, who eventually becomes his wife. Crystal and Frosty show "caring for others" when they invite the antagonist, Jack Frost, to be their best man and he becomes a true friend. Everyone is overjoyed by awesome winter, so Jack Frost makes it last longer. Finally, characters of the story "care for their place" by sunsetting winter to allow for spring to return, for trees to bloom, and for flowers to grow. In the end, they say goodbye to Frosty, Crystal, and Jack Frost, who happily promise to return next year.

Finally, we wrapped up the assembly with the RMCS School Song.

Being part of the RMCS community brings me such joy. Listen to how great we sound!

Someone must have been filming to make sure the PrinciPal has finally learned the words.

Did I pass the test?

The first grade team has been the studying the ocean. They have learned about many different sea creatures and the layers of the ocean. This week, to celebrate our learning, first grade students traveled to the deepest, darkest, coldest layer of the ocean- the Abyss! Students were surrounded by abyssal fish which they painted with blacklight paint to mimic their bioluminescence. As a special treat, they also watched Finding Nemo. This experience was a favorite for our first graders!

On Wednesday afternoon, parent volunteers visited classrooms to assist with Crafternoon! Students made snowmen with apple core stencils, polar bears over watercolor backdrops, and mittens on a string. Thank you to our guests for helping us with our crafty creations!

PreK students shared their classroom with parents and caregivers on Thursday. We love to show off our school. Thank you for visiting!

To encourage students to continue to read over the upcoming break, everyone will be coming home with a Winter Break Bingo board. If kids can complete at least 5 squares, they can turn it into me for a fun bookmark! If they complete all of the squares AND have a parent/guardian’s signature on the sheet, they will receive an “I Love to Read” wristband, too! In addition to the bingo challenge, all students will be given the choice to borrow two extra books over the break. This means Kindergarten and 1st Grade will be allowed to borrow 4 books, and 3rd-5th Grade will be allowed to borrow 5 books.

The students are excited and loaded with books for the Winter Break Reading Challenge. Below are some really great questions that the kids asked about the challenge, so I thought I would forward my answers to you, as well. Goal Reminders: 5 completed boxes = a bookmark; all boxes completed = bookmark + a wristband. (If the kids complete all of the boxes, they will need a parent/guardian signature somewhere on the paper.) Thank you!

How long should I read for each activity?

A: Depending on your reading stamina, try to read between 10-20 minutes for each activity.

Can I read to my pet while in bed in my pjs, and cross off all three boxes?

A: Technically, yes, but try to read for at least 10-20 minutes for each box you are combining.

What if I can’t do one of the activities, like “read to a pet?”

A: It is okay to improvise! For example, if you don’t have a pet, you could read to a stuffed animal, a doll or a lego person! You could also just get comfy and read for 10-20 minutes. Spending time reading is the goal here. :)

I am still learning to read. Can I look at the pictures by myself?

A: Of course! Looking at pictures is one way to read a book! You can also ask someone to read to you. That is a wonderful way to spend time with someone you love.

Can I do the challenge twice?

A: You certainly could, but I only have enough prizes for students to do the challenge once.

Do my 5 boxes have to be in a row (like in regular Bingo)?

A: No, they do not have to be in a row! It can be any 5 boxes on the board.

Does the “Free Space” count as one of the 5 boxes I need to do?

A: No, the Free Space does not count towards the 5 boxes for the bookmark. The goal of the challenge is to spend time reading, so that is what I am hoping you will do. :)

Link to the challenge board: Winter Break Reading Bingo

As you know, UVM Hockey players have been visiting RMCS classrooms and making connections with our students. I'm excited to announce that we have been invited to participate in an RMCS Family Night at the UVM versus AIC hockey game on January 14. Students will be admitted for free!

Here's the link to sign up for your student's complimentary ticket. The password is wolves (case sensitive). This link also allows parents and caregivers to purchase tickets for $10.00 each. If you are purchasing a combination of free and purchased tickets, the system won’t let you choose two offers for one “cart.” There is a limit of 1 comp per order, so parents and caregivers who are claiming for multiple students should place a second (or third, or fourth) order if you have more than one child. This is UVM's first attempt at ticketing like this, so please be patient. The comp tickets (free tickets for students) will all be at the Will Call booth. Please reach out to athletic.tickets@uvm.edu if you have questions.

These are general admission tickets in sections 9-12, so your family members and friends will be able to sit together no matter the number on the ticket.

As always, reach out to a member of the care team (counselors, nurse, princiPALs) if you need financial assistance for this event. See names and emails above. We hope to fill the rink with RMCS families!!!

We continue to welcome volunteers to help us at recess. We are fortunate to have a large playground and appreciate the parent volunteers who sign up to help us with supervision from time to time. If you have availability, please visit the Sign Up Genius to schedule the times you are available to join us in late November through the next winter break. Thank you!

According to the Vermont Department of Health: Influenza-like Illness (ILI) activity level has increased from moderate to high in Vermont.

• Get vaccinated! There is still time.
• Avoid those who are sick.
• Stay home when sick!
• Stay home 24 hours after fever is gone (without fever-reducing medicine)!
• Cover your cough (cover your mouth and nose).
• Avoid touching your eyes, nose and mouth.
• Wash hands often.
• Clean/disinfect commonly touched surfaces.

Curious about the shortage of the antibiotic, amoxicillin, and if your child needs it?

Read an American Academy of Pediatrics article here.

Stay healthy, be well~

Don't miss a single edition of the Rick Marcotte Central School Yearbook!

Order forms have been sent home, but if you would like purchase your yearbook online, please click here:

https://www.jostens.com/apps/store/customer/1140092/Rick-Marcotte-Central-School/

Then select Order My Yearbook to make your purchase and check out. Please put your teacher name under 'Homeroom' All yearbooks are shipped to the school then delivered to your child's classroom the last week of school.

Any questions, please contact Holly Young or Carrie Rice.

RMCS is still hiring. Please contact us about joining our team if you qualify for these openings. Training will be provided for all new hires.

• Clerical Assistant
• Special Educator

• Interventionists - working 1:1 with students who have Individualized Education Plans
• Recess Monitor

Email: ssumner@sbschools.net; lmcdonald@sbschools.net
Website: https://www.sbschools.net/Domain/11
Location: Rick Marcotte Central School, 200 Market Street, South Burlington, VT, USA
Phone: 802-652-7200
Twitter: @lmcdvt