WEEKLY FAMILY FOCUS April 18, 2022
RICK MARCOTTE CENTRAL SCHOOL Principal Kathleen Kilbourne
Spring Break: Virtual Style!
If you’d like to get away over April break, you can do so through a virtual field trip! You can explore museums, zoos, National Parks, interesting landmarks, or even bring 3D virtual animals into your home! Check out these amazing resources for hundreds of FREE Virtual Field Trips and Virtual Animals! Explore the Olympics, Antarctica, Space, Pyramids, Sharks, Volcanoes, National Parks, and virtually anywhere from any device or observe 3D virtual wolves, pandas, cheetahs, sharks, eagles, tigers, and more from any mobile device!
2022-2023 District Calendar Approved
At the March 30 school board meeting, the board unanimously approved the District 2022-2023 calendar. We are grateful to have this in place for family and staff planning purposes.
Important Dates:
DATES TO REMEMBER:
April 18th- 22nd SPRING VACATION - SCHOOL IS CLOSED
May 10th - PTO Meeting 6:00- 7:00pm
May 24th- Music/Dance presentation for grades 2/3, 6:30-7:30 pm at RMCS
May 24th- 5th Grade Parent Night at FHTMS, 6:00- 7:15 (for parents/guardians only)
May 25th- SBHS Jazz Band concert at RMCS during the school day!
May 26th- Music Dance presentation for grades 4/5, 6:30- 7:30 pm at RMCS
May 27th- Early Dismissal at 12:30
June 10- Final Student Day at RMCS
RMCS SPRING FIELD TRIPS - 2022 (our plan as of 4/18/22, subject to change based on data)
RMCS SPRING FIELD TRIPS - 2022
CLASS , LOCATION, DATE/TIMES
2nd Grade ECHO 5/2/22 9:15 AM - 12:15 PM
2nd Grade UVM Horticulture Farm 5/16/22 9:45 AM - 11 AM
2nd Grade Common Roots 5/23/22 - 9 AM -11:15 PM
3rd Grade Shelburne Farms 5/24 & 25 9 AM - 1:30 PM
4th Grade Shelburne Museum 5/25/22 9:00 AM - 1:30 PM
4th Grade Lake Champlain Maritime Museum 6/1/22 9:00 Am - 1:30 PM
1st Grade Oakledge Park 6/3/22 9:30 AM - 1:00 PM
5th Grade SMUGGS 6/9/22: 8:45 AM - 8:00 PM
K classes SB Public Library TBD/ 1 class at a time
Autism Allyship Week at RMCS April APRIL 25th -29th
Please click below to find out what you can do and wear each day after the break to show your support!
Elementary School Assistant Principal Search: Two Recommended to the Board
From Superintendent Young:
Thanks to everyone who participated in the Zoom Q and A’s last week to hear from our three finalists for the elementary school assistant principal positions, Stephanie Sumner, Chris Shackett, and Olivia Kane. After reviewing the feedback from the surveys and conferring with my team, I offered the positions to Stephanie Sumner and Olivia Kane. They have both accepted and therefore, my recommendation will go before the school board at their April 27 meeting. The locations where these positions will be based is to be determined. I’m excited to welcome both!
Hello from the Music Room!! Dancing Dates Included- SAVE THE DATE!
We have some exciting things coming in the last 6 weeks of school! First, grades 2-5 will be hosting two evenings of folk dances. Folk dances are a wonderful way to teach MANY musical skills like beat, rhythm, form and phrasing. They are also a wonderful way to teach social and emotional skills like working together, including everyone, adapting to the needs of others and respectfulness. Students will be demonstrating a selection of the dances that we have worked on throughout the year and then kids will invite families to join in the fun. This is an interactive performance! ALL are welcome to dance! 2nd and 3rd Grades will be dancing Tuesday May 24 from 6:30-7:30. 4th and 5th Grades will be dancing Thursday May 26 from 6:30-7:30. We hope to see you there!!!
Kindergarten and 1st Grade Informance (demonstration of our Music class) is still being determined at this time. I am working on a way to share our learning with these families too and will share that information soon.
Finally, 4th and 5th graders will be starting a unit on recorders when we return from vacation. For safety, we will be playing these woodwind instruments outside (weather permitting) for the remainder of the school year. I do have some instruments to borrow (kids borrowing recorders will have their own and will not be sharing them. Borrowed recorders will remain at school). I am including links if you would like to purchase a recorder rather than borrow one. This is NOT required.
Aulos three piece soprano recorder from local vendor Music and Arts 75 Maple St, Burlington. I have checked and they do have some in stock.
Yamaha Soprano recorder can be ordered from Amazon if you prefer.
Thank you for supporting your young musicians and I look forward to seeing many of you at the dance evenings!
Superintendent Search Committee Application
Just in case you missed the SB Student Art Show at SBHS this past week, here are a few photos of the RMCS Displays that feature so many of our talented young artists! A huge thank you to Mrs.Lewis for her support, energy, and gallery set up/take down so that we can all get a peek at this amazing work!
Nurse Notes and Updates
FREE LAMP tests are available from the Health Department.
Find sites here (walk-ins allowed) or make an appointment here for pick-up.
FREE RAPID ANTIGEN tests are available from the school. Contact us.
If the first antigen test is negative, use the second at least 24 hours later. If they are both negative, and you still have concerns, get a LAMP or a PCR test.
Testing is recommended for people with symptoms, for people who are a close contact of someone with COVID-19 and not up-to-date on COVID vaccines, and for individuals who have travelled internationally.
A symptomatic student should only return to school when symptoms are resolved or markedly improved (and they have been fever-free for at least 24 hours without the use of fever-reducing medication).
RMCS SPIRIT WEAR ON SALE THROUGH APRIL 27th
RMCS Spirit Wear is on sale, please place your order by April 27th for estimated delivery by May 27th.
All orders are final. No returns or exchanges on decorated items. Every item has size/description available.
Fun Run on May 27th at RMCS from 8:45am to 10:00am ! Be sure to sign your student up to participate during this schoolwide event!
5th Grade Parent Night at the Middle School 5/24/22
SAVE THE DATE : On Tuesday, May 24th from 6 - 7:15pm the 5th grade parent are invited to an information night at FHTMS. This is an evening for parents only and not for students at this time. The students will be having other opportunities to transition and visit the middle school prior to June.
On April 25th, FHTMS will be sending out a parent email to 5th grade families with more info about that evening as well as the transition process. Please stay tuned
"No Paper Newspaper "(digital only) RMCS's Student Newspaper
Congratulations to Gracie, Liam, Rory , and Cora. We also want to thank our Technology Integration Specialist, Kristin Courcelle for her time and expertise in helping these young people's ideas and passion come to fruition, with their first edition of the "No Paper Newspaper" (digital only) as it is making it's debut this week over the spring break!
Students in grades 3,4 & 5 have been learning how to sew in art class. They have been working so hard, and persevering through challenges. Their stuffed monsters are truly one of a kind masterpieces!
Neurodiversity: Learning together about the many ways our brains work!
Welcome to the first installment of Neurodiversity News!
We are going to begin with key terms and resources.
Key Terminology:
Neurodiversity: Neurodiversity is a viewpoint that brain differences are normal, rather than deficits.
Neurodivergent: Differences in mental or neurological function from what is considered typical (e.g. Autistic, ADHD, Dyslexia, Dyspraxia)
Ableism: Ableism is the discrimination of and social prejudice against people with disabilities based on the belief that typical abilities are superior. At its heart, ableism is rooted in the assumption that disabled people require ‘fixing’ and defines people by their disability. Like racism and sexism, ableism classifies entire groups of people as ‘less than,’ and includes harmful stereotypes, misconceptions, and generalizations of people with disabilities.
Identity First Language: In the autism community, many self-advocates and their allies prefer terminology such as “Autistic,” “Autistic person,” or “Autistic individual” because we understand autism as an inherent part of an individual’s identity — the same way one refers to “Muslims,” “African-Americans,” “Lesbian/Gay/Bisexual/Transgender/Queer,” “Chinese,” “gifted,” “athletic,” or “Jewish.”
Action Steps:
Use person first language when discussing Autistic individuals as a whole; best practice is to check in with each Autistic individual to hear their preference!
Start getting comfortable with using the word, “disabled” → it’s not negative or bad, just IS!
Explicitly talk about disability with openly children and young people (see Alex or Anna for lessons or resources)
Resources for adults or to use with kids!:
What is Neurodiversity? dyslex.io: What is Neurodiversity?
Neurodiversity is a viewpoint that brain differences are normal, rather than deficits.
Did you know phrases like…
“That’s so lame.”
“That guy is crazy.”
“They’re acting so bi-polar today.”
“Are they off their meds?”
“It’s like the blind leading the blind.”
“I’m super OCD about how I clean my apartment.”
…are actually ableist??
Phrases like these imply that a disability makes a person less than, and that disability is bad, negative, a problem to be fixed, rather than a normal, inevitable part of the human experience. Many people don’t mean to be insulting, and a lot have good intentions, but even well-meant comments and actions can take a serious toll on their recipients.
Howard Center’s free and open to the public Marna and Stephen Wise Tulin Spring Community Education Series continues:
May 4, 2022 from 6:00-7:30 pm with The Upstanders an iNDIEFLIX FILM about cyberbullying. Film followed by panel discussion and Q & A with Michelle Fane, MS, LCMHC, Howard Center, Logan Cross, the Big Picture Program, SBHS and more. Register here. Hosted in partnership with Champlain Community Services.
May 18, 2022 from 6:00-7:30 pm with How can we make Vermont more welcoming and inclusive for our diverse community? With panelists Jacob Bogre, Association for Africans Living in Vermont, Dr. Marissa N. Coleman, University of Vermont Medical Center, Yasamin Gordon, City of Winooski, Tino Rutanhira, The Vermont Professionals of Color Network, and moderator, Dr. Jude Smith Rachele, Howard Center and Abundant Sun. Register here.
For more information www.howardcenter.org; 802-488-6912.
Interested in Joining Cub Scouts in SB? Click the link below for more info!
SOUTH BURLINGTON RECREATION DEPARTMENT SUMMER CAMP INFORMATION
SB Rec Summer Camps are filling up!
SBRP is offering a wide variety of summer camps. There’s everything from Pottery, Chess, Wicked Cool Science and Rocketry to Tennis, Flag Football, Soccer, Disc Golf and more. Don’t overlook our youth Track and Field program… that will meet on M-W-F evenings beginning in June and finishing with the VT State Meet in St. Johnsbury.
https://secure.rec1.com/VT/south-burlington-vt-recreation-parks/catalog
Contact Brett Leonard bleonard@sburl.com with any questions.
Brett Leonard, CPRP
Recreation Specialist
South Burlington Recreation and Parks
180 Market Street, South Burlington, VT 05403
Office: 802.846.4137 Cell: 802.233.4834
School's Out Childcare Registration Information
All families wanting to paticipate in School's Out, new or returning to any of our programs, can register for next school year starting April 4th. Current School's Out families are guaranteed enrollment. New families will be put into a lottery for remaining spaces and notified on May 6th of their enrollment status. www.sbschoolsout.com
Allison Thomson
School's Out!
Program Administrator
802.391.6557
LANGUAGE TRANSLATIONS for Covid Testing
https://www.healthvermont.gov/covid-19/testing
Here are video links in a variety of languages to demonstrate how to use a rapid antigen test:
English | العربية /Arabic | မြန်မာစာ/Burmese | دری / Dari | Français/French | Kirundi | Maay Maay | नेपाली/Nepali | پښتو/Pashto | Soomaali | Español /Spanish | Swahili | Tiếng Việt/Vietnamese
RMCS 2021-2022 Yearbook NOW ON SALE!! $15.00 Each
Don't miss a single edition of the Rick Marcotte Central School Year book!
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 child's teacher's 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.
Need Help with Technology? Use this link to access Tech supports!
https://sites.google.com/sbschools.net/sbsdedtechforstudentsfamilies/home
Rick Marcotte Central School
Email: kkilbourne@sbschools.net
Website: sbschools.net
Location: 200 Market Street, South Burlington, VT, USA
Phone: 802 652 7200
Twitter: @rmcschool