WEEKLY FAMILY FOCUS May 2, 2021
RICK MARCOTTE CENTRAL SCHOOL Principal Kathleen Kilbourne
Student Placement Parent Survey for next year 2021-22 DUE MAY 17th
Please click this link to fill out the parent input survey:
Mrs. Appleby's
Grade Four
Earn a Cardboard Creation Celebration!!
DATES OF IMPORTANCE- MARK YOUR CALENDARS
"Pop-in" Q and A with David Young, Tuesday, May 4 from 6:30-7:30 pm via Zoom
May 5th- SB School Board Meeting
May 10th on...5 Days a week of in person learning (conditions permitting)
May 11th- PTO Meeting via Zoom 6:30 pm
https://sbschools.zoom.us/j/86942528095pwd=T0l4Q0xlV2llWW5zMHBrNnZOeWZ6Zz09
May 12th YES THERE IS SCHOOL ON WED 5/12/21 (conditions permitting)
May 17th- Parent Placement Survey's Due (see link above for the form)
May 31st- No School- Memorial Day
June 12th - SB High School Graduation- Essex Fair Grounds
June 18th- LAST DAY OF SCHOOL, Half day, 11:30 am dismissal
SBAC Assessments
We will be assessing in May and make sessions as needed in early June.
The classroom teachers will be sending you the specific schedules for each class.
VTVLC Students will also be particpating:
Week of May 17th
5th Grade at Gertrude Chamberlin School
4th Grade at Rick Marcotte Central School
3rd Grade at Orchard Elementary School
Kindergartners are weather detectives!
Recording their findings in weather journals!
We love to be outside!
5 Days of In Person School, Scheduled to Begin May 10th (conditions permitting)
Dear Parents/Guardians and Staff,
We certainly needed these late April showers as we round the corner and enter May! It is truly hard for me to believe that in just under two months, we will be coming to the conclusion of a year like no other. As always, I am grateful. Thank you for all you have and continue to do to support our students and one another.
Additional In-Person Learning for All Students Beginning May 10
I am excited to announce that after much deliberation and careful planning with the administrative team, our District will be welcoming students back to additional in-person learning time effective May 10. What will this look like? It will vary based on grade level. At the elementary and middle school grades, students will attend school in-person five days per week, while the high school will follow a modified in-person schedule. Details regarding the high school plan will be communicated via the high school administration. Students enrolled in VTVLC remote learning will continue with their program through the end of this school year.
My rationale for implementing this change is as follows:
Current COVID19 activity continues to show a very promising downward trend as more Vermonters, including many of our 16 and 17 year olds become vaccinated
We have heard repeatedly and innately know the importance in-person connections students make with their teachers and peers are to mental health. Adding Wednesdays in-person at the elementary grades (which will increase in-person days from 4 to 5) and at the middle school grades (which will increase in-person learning days from 2 to 5) as well as additional time at the high school will go a long way in keeping these relationships strong.
End of year celebrations! After everything our students and staff have been through over the course of the last year, the state recently released guidance on end of year gatherings and graduations. I want our students and staff to be able to participate in these culminating activities to the extent safely possible.
To be clear, we will be following the state's updated Strong and Healthy Year Guidance along with our established protocols around masking, physical distancing, and hand washing as well as making ample use of our outdoor spaces where constant air flow decreases the risk of virus transmission. In addition, next week, I'll be holding an open conversation for families Tuesday, May 4 from 6:30-7:30 pm via Zoom where individuals with questions or concerns on this change can "pop in" to to learn more and share their thoughts. This is a promising step and we couldn't be making it without all of your hard work over this difficult period. I know this has been a challenging time and I am proud of how we have been moving through it together.
Impact on Transportation
Due to this change, we are still encouraging parents/guardians who have been driving their students to school, especially at the elementary and middle school level to continue to do so in order for us to maintain 3 ft distancing requirements. If you have any questions, please contact Kathy LaRock at 652-7479, klarock@sbschools.net or Gary Marckres at 652-7052 or gmarckres@sbschools.net
District Calendar Updated
Our 2020-2021 District Calendar has been updated to reflect that the last day of school for all students will be June 18. Elementary grades will be released at 11:30 and middle and high school grades will be released at 12:30. The 2021-2022 District Calendar has also been posted.
Enhancing Communication: Texting Coming Soon!
In order to enhance our communication and engagement with families and staff, we will be adding SMS/text messaging to our SchoolMessenger notification system (the system the District uses to send phone and email communications to families and staff) with a target start of the end of May. Further details regarding the opt-in process or where to send questions/concerns will be shared over the coming weeks.
Next School Board Meeting May 5
This week, the school board held their regularly scheduled meeting and heard an incredible presentation from a Winooski School District Alumna and current student on their anitracism efforts. If you missed it, you can watch the video via the Media Factory website. In addition, you can find all of the board’s meeting minutes, agendas, and backup information on the District website. The next regular meeting will be held Wednesday, May 5 at 7:00 pm.
David Young
Superintendent
May is National Bike Month: Check out the Art Scavenger Hunt
No doubt, if you have traveled around South Burlington by car, foot, or bike, you have noticed the colorful utility boxes that have been brightening our city streets over the last couple of years thanks to the coordinated efforts of South Burlington resident Katie O’Brien Barritt. A number of South Burlington residents, including students of all ages have contributed their talents to make South Burlington pop with creativity. To celebrate National Bike Month, an art scavenger hunt is underway (there are prizes!). This is a fun and safe activity for all ages.
Moving or Transitioning? Let us know ...
Reminders from our School Nurses
Some friendly reminders...
Travel:
If you plan to travel to another state, quarantine is not necessary upon return to Vermont (or prior to returning to school, unless experiencing symptoms or a COVID positive test). Unvaccinated Vermonters must be tested within 3 days upon return to the state, though families may consider testing on the day they return to Vermont, if possible.
People who have returned from international travel should follow the "After International Travel" guidance from the CDC.
Return to School Following Illness:
We are continuing to follow the State's guidance for returning to school following illness. Please continue to refer to this handout when symptoms arise (even a drippy nose). Please continue to fill out the daily app and keep your student home if symptoms arise.*
*If your student is diagnosed with seasonal allergies or asthma, please consult with
your student's healthcare provider, to assure that the conditions are being treated
appropriately. Please provide the school nurse with any new information, along
with a note from the provider, indicating the medically diagnosed allergies and
follow-up medical treatment plan(s).
COVID Vaccine:
All Vermont residents age 16 and older are eligible to be vaccinated.
College students and some residents of another state are now eligible for vaccines.
- For information about making an appointment, visit "Getting the COVID-19 Vaccine" by clicking here.
- Need help? Contact the call center at 855-722-7878.
- To speak with someone in a language other than English, call the above number, and then press 1.
See the Vermont Department of Health's response here.
Ticks:
Find helpful information about tick bite prevention, identification, removal and symptoms by visiting the CDC here.
Outdoor Music Notation
Music with Mrs. Rito
Pavement and Chalk for 'writing music'
FALL 2021 Kindergarten Registration
Registration will open for Incoming Kindergarten students on March 1, 2021. If you would like to register a student who will be 5 on or before September 1, 2021, please visit www.sbschools.net/register .
South Burlington School District Online Registration link
FARM TO SCHOOL
Wow, what a year this has been! It was so wonderful to work with the Kindergarten, 1st, and 2nd Grades throughout this school year, and I look forward to what the next season brings. The films and curriculum will remain on our website HERE, if you haven’t checked them out already.
This summer, I will be coordinating our Farmstand at South Village, which opens this Saturday, May 1st 8am-6pm. Please stop by to visit - I would love to see you all at the farm with your children! I will be working Tuesdays - Saturdays 2-6 pm.
In our final Farm to School lesson, we took it back outside to appreciate the wonderful nutritional benefits and versatility of Spinach. We planted some spinach and pea shoot seeds in the raised beds to celebrate the beginning of the growing season. I encourage you all to check back to see how your veggies are growing throughout the rest of the school year!
Our recipe this month is a simple Spinach Salad with a Ramp Dressing. Such a delicious springy taste you will have to try.
Spinach and Pea Shoot Salad with Ramp Dressing
For the salad:
● Spinach
● Pea shoots
● Any of your favorite salad toppings
For the dressing:
● ½ cup olive oil
● 2 Tbsp honey
● ¼ cup apple cider vinegar
● ¼ cup ramps, finely chopped (can sub 1-2 cloves of garlic, minced)
● ¼ tsp salt
● Pinch of pepper
Directions:
1. Starting with the dressing, combine all ingredients in a mason jar. Cap with a lid and shake vigorously until dressing is blended and smooth. If you have a food processor, you can skip chopping the ramps/garlic and let that do the blending!
2. Assemble your spinach and pea shoots in a bowl. You can keep your salad simple, or top with some of your favorite toppings - some thinly sliced radishes and diced avocado would go great on this.
3. Lightly drizzle your dressing over top and enjoy!
Message from Carol McQuillen, Common Roots - Director:
I hope your child has enjoyed our monthly lessons and taste tests. We hope you will take a walk at our Common Roots Farm at South Village and see our organic fields producing nourishing foods (55 Allen Road East - off Spear Street). Farmstand Memberships are available at the Farmstand.
Perhaps come by the Wheeler House for our Friday Flatbreads from our amazing clay oven! Bring your picnic blankets and enjoy live music and have dinner - Every Friday 4:00 - 6:30 (1100 Dorset Street). www.commonroots.org
Till next month, Nourish to Flourish!
Lauren Jones, Common Roots - Farm to School Educator
Family Resources from Howard Center
Caregiving is hard enough without a global health pandemic! Now more than ever, it is CRITICAL that we encourage our caregivers to practice diligent self-care. Our health depends on it, and the health of our children depends on it. It is difficult for caregivers to put themselves first – and we know they are equally as deserving and in need of it. Please consider using these helpful resources.
The Importance of Care for Caregivers (National Association of School Psychologists)
Parenting During Coronavirus: You are Enough (PBS Kids)
Parent/Caregiver Guide to Helping Families Cope (National Child Traumatic Stress Network)
COVID Support VT (from 211)
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