CVSD Update
September 23, 2021
A Message from Superintendent Rene Sanchez
Hello CVSD Families,
I cannot believe that we have already reached the beginning of Fall this past Tuesday. I am really looking forward to seeing the fall colors for my first time in Vermont. From what I hear, as a new-to-the-state driver, I have to be especially careful on the roads as the leaves begin to change and fall. Still though, I am very excited to experience this time of year in Vermont. In this communication, I will spend some time addressing the COVID-19 situation in our schools and also highlighting the observation of several designated or celebrated events.
The continuation of the COVID-19 virus through the start of the school year was expected, but not to this extent. Our faculty and staff have had to be resilient and adapting to start this year -- to welcome, engage, and teach students. I cannot be more thankful for their efforts as we come to the end of the first month of school.
CVSD had expected to provide you the same or similar school year as we had had before 2020. Unfortunately, the pandemic has prevented us from doing so. We are still adapting and we are still learning what needs to be done to help mitigate the spread of the virus. While we have some central tenets in place including masking; washing hands; cohort grouping; seating charts; eating in cafeterias with tables spaced apart or in classrooms or outside; and available vaccinations in grades 7-12, the virus perpetuates in the school and out in the community. Contact tracing has proven time-consuming and challenging. Our campus leaders and nurses are currently doing much of what was done by the state last year. Given a student’s movements on the bus, within the school building, and at home, it can take time for the campus personnel to track down all of the close contacts.
As was mentioned during our School Board meeting on Tuesday and in the Burlington Free Press yesterday, there are some contact tracing and testing supports coming soon. Still though, we ask families to remain vigilant, remain safe, follow quarantine protocols, and remain attuned to communications from the district and the individual schools. We also ask for your compassion and understanding, and, along with us, to not pass judgement or make assumptions about choices others might make. This is hard and it’s impacting a lot of us. We are and need to be, a supportive community.
The month straddling September 15 and October 15 is celebrated as National Hispanic Heritage Month. Our Diversity, Equity and Inclusion coaches within our schools have provided teachers with resources that they can use in the classroom that align with their teaching standards. More resources will be added throughout the month. To learn more about the Hispanic culture and the celebration of this month, please see the resources below in this newsletter.
The month of September is also Deaf Awareness Month. Resources are also available to our teachers to provide information about history, culture, instructional materials, and other items about those of us who are deaf or hard of hearing. Again, we have provided additional information and resources in this newsletter.
Please have a wonderful weekend and enjoy the final week of September.
Voluntary Student Vaccine Status Information Requested
In order to best track this information, we have set up separate forms for each of our schools. Please go to the CVSD website and go under Schools at the top to find your school(s). Once there, scroll down to the headline to access the form. If you have more than one eligible child, we'd appreciate you filling this out separately for each child in your family.
Updated for 2021-2022!
Questions about Contact Tracing or Quarantine?
Calling All Students Ages 12 and up, and adults too!
Helping Vermont’s Low and No-Income Families Get the 2021 Advance Child Tax Credit Payments
The IRS invites you to attend a free event via Zoom that will provide information about the Advance Child Tax Credit. Information provided will include:
- Eligibility requirements for the Advance Child Tax Credit
- Information on the IRS Update Portal, where those eligible can:
- Check if they are enrolled to receive advance payments
- Unenroll to stop getting advance payments
- Provide or update bank account information for monthly payments
- Information on the IRS Non-Filer Portal, where those not required to file a tax return can provide their information to determine eligibility and request advance payments.
There will also be a question and answer section. See this flyer for more information and details about how to join the Zoom meetings on September 29 or October 5.
School Safety Tip Line
The Vermont Agency of Education and Department of Public Safety has set up a new tip line. All Vermonters now have access to a new anonymous Stop School Violence Tip Line. The purpose of this tip line is to enhance school safety and security by providing students, faculty, staff, and members of the community with a tool to report circumstances that may lead to violence. These reports will assist law enforcement, human services providers, and school administrators with identifying school threats and preventing school violence. Learn more at this link, which is a letter to parents and caregivers.
The Free and Reduced Price School Meals Application is about more than school lunch!
With school breakfast and lunch free for all students this year you may be wondering why you should bother to apply to the Free and Reduced Meal Program. Here are three really important reasons why.
- The amount of federal funds we receive to support early literacy and math intervention services is based on the percentage of students receiving Free and Reduced Meals. If you don’t enroll, these programs will disappear.
- The USDA is implementing a P-EBT (Pandemic Electronic Benefits Transfer) card program for families whose children are not in school due to school closure or quarantine. The details are being rolled out later in September, but we know that in order to be eligible, your student must be approved for Free or Reduced Meals.
- Later this fall we will be announcing a federal program to provide broadband assistance to CVSD families. This program will help with paying for internet access, provide a new internet hookup, or provide hotspots if necessary. Again, your student must be approved within the Free and Reduced Meal program to be eligible.
September 15 - October 15 is Hispanic/ Latinx/ Latine Heritage Month
Click here for a quick clip about the history of this month.
Please watch this if you are not familiar with colorism in the Latinx Community
September is Deaf Awareness Month
Never before have we been this aware of the importance for students to be exposed to multiple cultures. With the majority of students who are hard of hearing, deaf, and Deaf being educated in their neighborhood schools, the celebration of Deaf Awareness Month in September allows an opportunity for our students to be recognized in a positive way in their classrooms.
See this document that has links to 5 great videos to learn more.
Support the Work of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion
Girls Who Code Club at UVM
Be a World Changer and Learn to Code
For high school women and non-binary students
Powerschool - We Need Your Help!
Thank you to those who have created your Powerschool Parent Portal accounts and updated information about your child(ren) to help us start the school year. We've noticed that some people have set up their account, but then haven't completed the forms! Please complete them all.
If you have not yet set up your Powerschool Parent Portal account to update the annual information for your child(ren) please do so as soon as possible. Reach out to your school if you need assistance.
Art at HCS
Art at WCS
Art at SCS
Champlain Valley School District
Email: cvsdinformation@cvsdvt.org
Website: https://www.cvsdvt.org/
Location: 5420 Shelburne Road, Shelburne, VT, USA
Phone: (802) 383-1234
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ChamplainValleySchoolDistrict
Twitter: @cvsdvt