The Bobcat Bulletin
A Newsletter from Founders Memorial School
February 14, 2020 - Happy Valentine's Day!
Important Dates to Remember
February 6-10 - Book Fair
February 12 - PTO Meeting - Library - 6:30 PM
February 13 - Orchestra Concert - 7:00 PM @ FMS
February 20 - FMS Winter Band Concert - 7:00 PM @ FMS
February 24 to March 3 - Winter Break
March 4 - Back to School!
March 17 - Fine Arts Night @ Essex High School
FMS News
Essex Fire Girl and FMS Student...Addi Carroll
A Message from FMS Parent, Tammy Carroll...
Good afternoon,
My 9 year old daughter and honorary Essex Fire Girl, Addi Carroll, inspires countless people every day by courageously fighting a progressive battle against a complex life-threatening disease currently being documented as novel disease by National Institutes of Health. She has required frequent out-of-state medical care which, over her lifetime, has averaged one day per week. One of the times when we feared the worst was late in 2018, when she was hospital and homebound for over two months but the support of her community, Essex Fire & Rescue and blood transfusions brought her back to continue inspiring us. Addi’s firefighters and other loved ones are so very thankful for this gift of life and we would like others to have the same fighting chance. To support others in our community who are in need, The Essex Fire Firefighter’s Association has organized a Blood & Food Drive as well as an Angel Flight NE Fundraiser --- all in honor of their Fire Girl Addi. If you are interested and able to help here are some ways you could chose to do so:
· Blood or Power Red Donation: Click here to schedule an appointment for 2/15 (I’ll see you there). If that date and location won’t work, you can click here to pledge your next donation to count toward the in-honor-of-Addi drive.
· Angel Flight Fundraiser: Our family turned to Angel Flight NorthEast in March 2019 when it was no longer safe to drive Addi out of state to receive much needed (and frequent) medical care. In the first 8 months, they humbly and compassionately coordinated more than 60 free flights with volunteer Pilots for our family and will continue to do so for as long and as often as we need their assistance. Click here to learn more about this amazing organization by watching a 13 minute video featuring Addi (first 4 minutes) and 2 other patients. To give in her honor (as an individual or business): Click here.
· Food Donation: Aunt Dot’s Place is a food shelf serving the residents of Essex, Essex Junction, Jericho, Underhill and Westford. Addi’s special educator is the President of the food shelf and the food drive is how our three children are supporting this event. Bring a food donation to the 2/15 blood drive and/or place it in the kitchen in the container!
· Share: Please share freely with other organizations and individuals if you feel compelled to do so. If, instead, you’d like to share a story that inspires others to support their communities…Click here to watch the 2 minutes that talks about the relationship between Essex Fire & Rescue and their firegirl Addi. OR click here If you’d like to watch the full 22 minute Hearst TV national holiday special about how communities come together to support each other.
Thanks for your consideration and time,
Tammy Carroll
Fine Arts Night at EHS
Tuesday, March 17, 2020 from 5:30-8:30 p.m.
(Snowdate: Wednesday, March 18 from 5:30-8:30 p.m.)
The Arts Faculties of Essex Junction, Essex Town and Westford Schools invite you to:
The Annual Fine Arts Night: “Celebrating Creative Minds”
Essex High School ~ Essex Junction, VT
This extraordinary production will feature visual art, music, theatre, and film created and performed by the talented youth from our schools:
- Summit Street
- Essex Elementary
- Hiawatha
- Founders Memorial
- Thomas Fleming
- Westford
- Albert D. Lawton
- Essex Middle School
- The Center for Technology – Essex
- Essex High School
There will be a K-12 exhibition of 2-D and 3-D visual art in the library and the main hallways. Film presentations will be shown in the AV space. We will have musical buskers, a visual art installation, vocal and instrumental performers, refreshments, and more.
Please join us to share the immense talent and creative output of our students.
Sincerely,
K-12 Arts Educators, Essex Westford Schools
News from our Staff
Ski Gear on Buses from our Transportation Manager
Its Winter in Vermont and that means ski programs are in full force in Phys Ed and in After School programs such as the Bolton Ski Program through Essex Parks and Recreation. In order to improve safety for students and bus drivers on the routes where kids may be bringing equipment in for these activities, here are a few reminders from Jamie Smith, EWSD Transportation Manager:
- Skis and poles must be bound together with straps or cords, or in a bag, whenever students are boarding and riding EWSD buses with equipment.
- Skis and snowboards should never be stowed in or across the aisle.
- As always, delivery of equipment to schools in private vehicles is always good and equipment can be safely stored at the school in designated areas.
Per Jamie, "We are happy to have student riders with downhill or XC equipment, and will continue to support the use of buses with equipment during the winter months."
FMS Band & Orchestra Concerts
Mr. Valyou sends out a weekly e-mail newsletter. If you are a band and/or orchestra parent and have not received any of the past 12 newsletters, please e-mail Mr. Valyou to request your name be added at tvalyou@ewsd.org
FMS Dental Clinic Openings
There are 3 openings for the Vermont Technical School Dental Clinic sponsored by FMS.
The clinic takes place in the FMS Health Office on Wednesdays beginning in March and ending April 1st. Students who participate in the free clinic can receive x-rays if they are due, check up, cleaning, sealants, and flouride. Many of you filled out the paperwork and permission form at the beginning of the school year. Due to an overwhelming response not everyone was able to be scheduled. Because of several cancellations, there are now openings for the clinic.
If your child has not had a recent visit to the dentist and you would like them to participate in this clinic, please call Diana Smith, FMS School Nurse to inquire about scheduling your child. The phone number for the health office is 857-6304. Thanks!
Tech and Your Kids
Are your kids, like most kids, playing lots of Fortnite or asking to play Fortnite? Did you know there are many parental controls on the game you can set to protect your child from connecting with strangers? Check out this link, Parents Ultimate Guide to Fortnite.
Art Camp Announcement from Ms. G.
Art Camp takes place in Carol MacDonald's Studio overlooking the Winooski River and the Intervale. We work on a variety of projects over the week that incorporate drawing, printmaking, painting and sculpture. See Website: http://www.carolmacdonald.com/workshops.html
"I strongly believe in supporting the creative voices of our young people by providing quality materials and an opportunity for them to experiment with their individual imagery and process in a small group setting."
2020 Dates:
Session A: July 6 - 10 for ages 11-17
Session B: July 13 - 17 for ages 6-11
Session C: July 20 - 24 Teen Printmaking Camp
Monday - Friday from 9:00 - 3:00
Art Camp Brochure: http://www.carolmacdonald.com/pdf/2020-Art-Camp-Brochure.pdf
LOST AND FOUND is OVER-Flowing!
Please check the lost and found!
The wall of lost jackets and sweatshirts
So many pairs of gloves and many hats!
Nuts and Bolts
FMS Early Release Tuesdays
Afternoon Dismissal
If your student has an EARLY DISMISSAL and you need to pick him/her up early (before 3pm or 2pm on Tuesdays) we need a note, a phone call, or an email BEFORE 2:00 PM (or 1:00 PM on Tuesdays). Please plan on arriving before 2:40 pm (1:40 pm on Tuesdays). You must go to the office and we will call to have your child dismissed to meet you in the lobby. Please plan in advance.
If you need to make changes to your students after school plans (ie. Pick up, bus change, etc.) please contact us BEFORE 2:00 PM (or 1:00 PM on Tuesdays). Notes go up to the classrooms one hour prior to dismissal and teachers are getting their dismissal sheets ready for the end of the day. This helps for planning and eases the afternoon rush.
Reminder... Absences and Tardies
ABSENCES/Tardies:
The front office NEEDS to know if your student will be absent or tardy for attendance! If you do not let us know your student is out, please expect a call from the front office to ask you about your child. In order to avoid a call, please do one of the following:
Call: The office number is 802-879-6326 -please leave a message
Email: kkedzierski@ewsd.org and jolesen@ewsd.org
Online Report an Absence form: Go to www.ewsd.org, go to Schools, select Founders, you will see a Clipboard on the right hand side. Click on it and it will take you to an easy online form to report an absence that goes straight to the front office.
Community Resources
- Aunt Dot's Place - https://www.auntdotsplace.com/ - Essex based local food shelf
- Essex Eats Out - http://www.essexeatsout.org/ - Providing healthy, free meals in a warm, safe, and inclusive atmosphere on Fridays
- Heavenly Food Pantry - www.fccej.org/v5/living-our-faith/outreach/ - Essex based local food shelf located at First Congregational Church - Main Street, Essex.
- Heavenly Cents Thrift Shop - www.fccej.org/v5/living-our-faith/outreach/ - Essex based thrift shop located at 37 Main Street, Essex Junction, VT - ph# 879-6552
Founders Memorial School
Website: www.ewsd.org/fms
Location: 33 Founders Road, Essex Junction, VT, USA
Phone: 802-879-6326
Facebook: www.facebook.com/Founders-Memorial-School-1509308329359547/timeline/
Twitter: @FMS_Essex