Hello Parents & Guardians,

It's wild to think we have successfully completed four weeks of school. Our students are working hard and routines have been set. Four weeks down in the books!

In addition to the Core, we have been working on updating the Orchard website. We still need to work on staff photos but the directory was just recently updated. Our handbook, and our district handbook have been updated too. You can find them on our website. Do you want to know about our policy regarding animals in school? Go to page 8. Do you want to check our dress code? Go to page 12. Do you want to know about our policy on Personal Property and Toys? Go to page 16. Do you want to know about Act 1? Go to page 8. Here is a link to our website: https://www.sbschools.net/Domain/12, go to the About Us tab and scroll down to find our handbooks.

Reprinted from Last Week: One thing you should be aware of is the district and city work of MPV (Master Planning and Visioning). From this work, the school board has approved a plan for a Middle & High School plan, Though your children are in elementary school, this will have a very big impact upon them in the near future. To get more information, go to our district website at: website https://www.sbschools.net/Page/1599

Have a terrific weekend; take some time to read with your child.

Mark Trifilio

Principal

Mark your calendars - October 11th is the Third Annual Orchard Fun Run! The last two years have been such a success, we’ve decided to host it again! It is so moving to watch students cheer each other along the track and see their huge smiles as they cross the big balloon finish line.

Friday, October 11th at 9:00 am (early release day) each Orchard student will experience the excitement of a run, walk or ride on a marked course around Orchard Elementary. Each student will receive a free t-shirt and water bottle. Families are more than welcome to join and cheer on their student(s)! Make a sign of encouragement or bring your cow bell – the more noise the better as the kids make their way around the course.

Students will be asked to seek donation dollars of any amount for their participation. Last year, 100% of student raised donations went back to the school, making this our best fundraiser yet and helping us bring back the Wunderle Circus last fall. Stay tuned for what the PTO has in store for next year’s Community event.

We need your help making this a successful fundraiser and event!

• Encourage and help your student collect donations. Any dollar amount is greatly appreciated. You will receive an email with a link for online payments that you can send to friends and family.
• We love our Volunteers! Sign up on Konstella
• Would your business or employer sponsor the event? Our generous sponsors help all student raised funds go directly back to the school. Email Angi below for more information.

Important details:

• Students will return fundraising packets to classrooms on Thursday October 10th with all donations.
• Raffle prizes: GRAND PRIZE (worth $200), sneakers, climbing passes, gift cards, Lake Monsters gear, Orchard Gear, Vermont Teddy Bear and much more!
• PTO will tally each student’s total donations after race day and do a live video raffle pull. All prizes will be awarded at this time. Each student receives one raffle entry for a chance to win, with 1 additional entry earned for each $25 raised.
• T-shirts will be delivered to classrooms the week of the race and students will wear over their clothes on Friday morning.
• Please check Konstella for communications or see the board in the school lobby.

We are looking forward to making this another fun, memorable, healthy experience for our kids as well as a great fundraiser for the Orchard Elementary PTO. See you on the 11th!

Thank you,

Orchard PTO & Angi Murray orchardfunrun@gmail.com

Donations Website https://tinyurl.com/OrchardFunRun19

International Night: We are recruiting a volunteer to help organize International Night. Please contact Merin Maxwell at merkeg@hotmail.com for more information or to volunteer.

Orchard Gear is here!: Please order online (link also available through Konstella) at: https://orchardschoolfall2019.itemorder.com/sale

Join the PTO!: We are in need of parent volunteers on the PTO - any involvement would be appreciated. We have a variety of openings, and have jobs ranging from tasks that can be done largely at home to treasurer. Please contact any of us for more information. We'd be happy to chat, and to give you more information. Current PTO Board Members: Lianne Cleary - liannebaldwin@gmail.com; Anna Leavey - annaleavey@gmail.com; Kristin Mount – ksmount@gmail.com; Suzanne Hebler Suzanne@suzannelaw.com; Mike Shapiro – mshap04@gmail.com .

The Orchard Gardens: The school gardens need new volunteers to maintain them! Please contact rbarone@sbschools.net if you have any questions or are able to help.

3rd Annual Fun Run! This event will take place on October 11. The Fun Run is the only fundraiser of the year and funds earned go to support the many fun PTO-sponsored events that occur. If you work for a company interested in sponsoring this event, please reach out to Angi Murray at orchardfunrun@gmail.com.

Hannaford Helps: We’re excited to be participating in the 2019 Hannaford Helps Schools program! Now through Dec 1st, help earn money for Orchard School by shopping at Hannaford on Shelburne Road for participating products. For every 4 qualifying products you buy, Orchard earns $3! Choose from over 1,500 participating products, ranging from breakfast and lunch items to household supplies. Look for shelf tags in-store. If Orchard School raises the most money at the Shelburne Road store we will receive an extra $1,000!

Box Tops: Save your box tops to help earn money for Orchard! The money earned from Box Tops goes to support many PTO-sponsored events. Drop your Box Tops in the Orchard lobby.

Have you joined Konstella yet? The Orchard School PTO uses a parent portal and mobile app called Konstella. Please find the secure sign up here: https://www.konstella.com.

Do you have PTO questions? Please find us online:

• Facebook: www.facebook.com/orchardschoolpto
  
• Website: www.orchardschoolpto.org
  
• Email: orchardschoolvt@gmail.com
  
• Konstella: https://www.konstella.com