Gertrude E. Chamberlin School
Family Newsletter August 21, 2020 Volume 14 Issue 6
SOUTH BURLINGTON SCHOOL DISTRICT REOPENING GUIDANCE DOCUMENT FOR FAMILIES
Hardship Requests
Updates from Superintendent Young - First Week of School Schedule
Dear Parents and Guardians,
I hope this message finds you well. I am aware that families are balancing a lot of demands and need timely information in order to make plans for the start of the 2020-2021 school year. We have been working hard to determine the safest and best plan to begin our year, and will continue to share timely information with you as soon as it becomes available. We will adapt to rapidly changing circumstances during this crisis and keep you informed of any changes as they occur.
As we welcome students back to our safe and caring learning community, we want to ensure that transitions to new schools go smoothly. Accordingly, we will have orientation for Kindergarteners, 6th Graders, and 9th Graders at their new schools on September 8th & 9th and need to make sure they are in their assigned group:
Kindergarteners, 6th Graders, 9th Graders, and all new high school students in Blue/Primus Pack (last name A-K) will attend orientation at their new school on September 8th.
Kindergarteners, 6th Graders, 9th Graders, and all new high school students in Gray/Ultimus Pack (last name L-Z) will attend orientation at their new school on September 9th.
All students in the Blue/Primus Pack (last name A-K) will start the Hybrid Learning schedule on Thursday the 10th. All students in the Gray/Ultimus Pack (last name L-Z) group will be on Friday, September 11th.
We look forward to welcoming your child(ren) back into our vibrant and caring learning community. Please don’t hesitate to contact me with any questions or concerns.
Thank you,
David Young
Superintendent of Schools
Teachers went back to school shopping at the free "Teacher Store" in our cafeteria thanks to our friends at Vibrant Church! They donated $5,000 in school supplies to our school! We are grateful to our community partners for all they do to support learning at GECS! See the photos and news clip below.
Mrs. Routhier and Mrs. Boudreau picking out supplies for their 1st graders!
Mr. Lapine, Mrs. Stevens and Ms. Ladieu are stocking up to prepare for teaching!
Mr. Kavanaugh and Mrs. DeGuise are excited to use their new supplies with their students!
Nutritional Services Updates for School Re-Opening
Nutritional Services in cooperation with transportation and security will continue to serve meals through August 30th under the nationwide area eligibility waiver from the USDA. Special accommodations will be made for any families that request additional support until school begins on September 8th. Please contact Rhonda Ketner, rketner@sbschools.net or 802-652-7160 for questions/assistance.
The U.S. Department of Agriculture has extended its waivers on meal pattern flexibility, congregate meals, meal times, and parent and guardian meal pickup through June 30, 2021. This will allow us to continue to operate smoothly in the event of another school closure as well as serve meals in nontraditional areas, such as the classroom.
Based on guidance from the USDA and VT AOE and in an effort to limit touch points, the following changes in meal service will occur:
- Meals will be unitized and packaged in recyclable, covered, meal trays or containers. This will allow for easy service in or outside of the cafeteria.
- The same meal components will be served to every student, unless there is a documented allergy, those meals will be modified to meet the needs of the individual. Chocolate milk will not be offered under this model. There will only be one meal option.
- Meals will be available via bus delivery to all students on the days they are engaged in remote learning. These meals will need to be ordered in advance, via an online ordering survey that will be sent to parents on a weekly basis.
- There will be two menus for each school, an onsite and a remote menu. At the beginning of the year all meals being delivered by bus to remote learners will be cold lunches. As the year progresses and we get used to the new “normal” we will expand those offerings.
- Breakfast will be served in the classroom, there will be at least 2 options daily.
- Silverware will be prepackaged with napkins.
- Condiments will be served in individualized portions.
- The Point of sales system will be touchless.
- Salad bars and self-service stations will be closed.
- Cashiers will not be handling cash during meal service. No payments will be processed at the registers.
- After careful consideration it was decided that we need to adjust the meal prices to help cover the costs of unitizing meals and packaging. The prices for elementary schools are: Breakfast $2.50 and Lunch $3.50.
WHAT WILL HYBRID LEARNING BE LIKE AT GERTRUDE E. CHAMBERLIN SCHOOL? CLICK THE LINK BELOW TO FIND OUT MORE DETAILS.
Childcare Updates From Superintendent Young
I am very aware of the need related to childcare as we open schools with a modified schedule. The information below has been provided to me from Steven Berbeco, Deputy Commissioner of the Child Development Division (CDD).
The current health crisis has changed the way we all live and work, and now, how children will be attending school. The Child Development Division (CDD) is aware that school schedules and remote learning options are adding confusion and/or challenges to how families access child care following the delayed school start on September 8th.
We hope the following information is helpful for your communication with families about school-aged child care:
- Families can access child care through the state-wide child care referral network. Child Care Referral Specialists at statewide Community Child Care Support Agencies can match families with available child care options, including for school-aged children. There is no charge for this service, and it is available to all Vermonters. For more information: https://dcf.vermont.gov/cdd/cccsa
- Families can receive financial support for child care by talking with an eligibility specialist. The Child Care Financial Assistance Program helps families pay for child care. Families with a household of four people can make up to $77,256 per year and qualify for help. Eligibility specialists maintain an ongoing connection with families who receive this benefit and help them as their needs change. For more information: https://dcf.vermont.gov/benefits/ccfap
Also, please find information that has been provided to me by Mike Feitelberg at the Edge. Below is a link to the application form for the program called "Minds & Motion program".
MindsandMotion.ApplicationandForm.pdf
I hope this information can assist you as we plan for the start of school on September 8th.
Thanks,
David Young
Annual Student Updates and Registration...New and Improved!
South Burlington School District is excited to begin Annual Student Updates and Registration for the 2020-2021 school year.
These online forms can be found within your PowerSchool Parent Portal and takes the place of the thick packet of papers that have previously been mailed home to families from the schools each summer.
Please take the time to complete these forms that:
- Register your student for the 2020-2021 School Year
- Verify and update emergency contact information
- Communicate important health information
- Sign student laptop/device agreements
To begin, please click this link to login to the PowerSchool Parent Portal: https://sbsdvt.powerschool.com. Once logged in, click “Forms” from the left navigation bar and choose “Update A. Getting Started: Returning Students.” The forms should take 5-15 minutes to complete, per student.
Trouble Logging in?
Please click “Forgot Username or Password?”
- Reminder: Please check your Junk box if a reset email is not received.
If you do not have a PowerSchool Portal Account or require more support, please email sbdatateam@sbschools.net.
Individual schools can be contacted at:
PreKindergarten/Act 166: PreK_Reg@sbschools.net
Gertrude E. Chamberlin School: Chamb_Reg@sbschools.net
Orchard School: Orch_Reg@sbschools.net
Rick Marcotte Central School: RMCS_Reg@sbschools.net
Frederick H. Tuttle Middle School: FHTMS_Reg@sbschools.net
South Burlington High School: SBHS_Reg@sbschools.net
Thank you for your time. Completion of these forms will help ensure that we have the most current and accurate information for your students, allowing us to improve communications and better serve our families.
Health Office Updates from Mrs. Farrell. Please click on the link for some great tips about children wearing masks!
Upcoming Food Distribution Event Dates and Locations
Detailed information about food distribution events for the last two weeks of August is available on the State of Vermont Food Help website. It is requested that households pre-register for their pickup via the Vermont Food Help website. Those who are unable to access the website or need assistance with registration should dial 2-1-1.
Distributions for the weeks of Aug. 17 and Aug. 24, 2020:
- Aug 21, 2020: Barre and Hartford/White River Junction
- Aug 24, 2020: South Burlington and Burlington North End
- Aug. 25, 2020: Rutland and Shoreham
- Aug 26. 2020: Brattleboro and Bennington
- Aug 27. 2020: Newport and Richford
- Aug 28, 2020: Barre and Morrisville
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