Family Friday Focus Sept.18, 2020
Rick Marcotte Central School Princpal Kathleen Kilbourne
Chicken Cesar Salad Lunch
Thank You to our Food Service Providers!
Kate Garneau
Pizza Day Lunch
RMCS PICTURE DAYS
Approximately 3 weeks after portrait day your child will bring home a personally customized order form envelope. There will be 5-6 different poses of your child printed directly onto your envelope for you to choose from. Prints or packages can be purchased of multiple poses. There is no need to pick just one! Envelopes will be due back to your school on a specific day, usually 10 days later. Order envelopes are the most economical way to purchase portraits. Images will also be available online for ordering. You will log in using your child’s student ID#, which can be found on their order form. Please note, when ordering online you are ordering as an individual and no longer receiving the benefits of volume ordering with the school. Prices online are higher than envelope pricing. We do offer a 25% discount for the first two weeks of online ordering to help offset this price increase. Please use your discount code: RMCS21. Online orders are mailed directly to your home. There are also additional products available online.
SBSD Elementary Hybrid/Step II Attendance Procedures
SBSD Elementary Hybrid/Step II Attendance Procedures
SY 2020-2021
In compliance with AOE guidance: A Strong and Healthy Start: Hybrid Learning During the 2020-2021 School Year, which states:
A school district in remote or hybrid mode may choose to record a student as in attendance if:
● On each day for which attendance is recorded, an educator makes contact with the student by video chat or telephone or the student logs into a Learning Management System (LMS) and engages in learning activities (e.g., completes asynchronous assignments, assessments, etc.); and
● Minimum instructional hours are met in any one of the following three ways:
○ The total hours of direct instruction and expected independent student work for the day equal the minimum daily hours set forth in State Board Rule 2312.1; or
○ The cumulative hours of direct instruction and expected independent work for the week equal the cumulative minimums set forth in State Board Rule 2312.1; or
○ The school board obtains the Secretary of Education’s prior approval of another method of counting instructional hours per State Board Rule 2312.2.
General Information
The purpose of tracking attendance is to ensure all students have access to and engage in learning, whether in person or online. When students are not physically present in school, their attendance will be determined by their learning activity online.
Parents, guardians, and caregivers are asked to call to report an absence if the student will be absent from in-person learning as well as online learning. Students are expected to make up the work when absent and teachers will allow a reasonable amount of time for the student to complete the work.
On in-person days, teachers will record accurate attendance each morning in PowerSchool. Administrative Assistants, will call parents, guardians, and caregivers to check on daily absences.
Attendance Procedures
In PowerSchool, the default will be set so students are counted present each day.
Teachers will report in-person absences on a daily basis, as usual. PowerSchool will allow teachers to toggle between the Blue Pack or Gray Pack roster, as needed.
On Green Days (usually Wednesdays), teachers will use online Morning Meetings for attendance (e.g., Zoom or Google Meet).
For online learning days, attendance will be determined by student engagement in online learning activities and related communication. In order to provide flexibility to families, a weekend will be included in this time period before the determination is made each week.
Teachers may change learning attendance to “absent” if the student demonstrates no evidence of engagement (Typically on Wednesday for the Gray Pack and Monday for the Blue Pack).
What Counts as Present?
In-Person Attendance: The default is set to present. Teachers mark AB for students not present.
Blue Pack: In-person attendance in PowerSchool on Monday & Tuesday
Gray Pack: In-person attendance in PowerSchool on Thursday & Friday
Green Days on School Calendar (most Wednesdays): Both packs convene in online morning meetings on Green Days, which are typically Wednesdays. Teachers will take attendance in their online morning meeting and mark “absent” students who were unable to attend. Teachers will reach out to families whose students miss Morning Meeting.
Online Learning Days: See chart below for learning activities that qualify a student as “present” during online learning days. If students are engaged in any of the following activities, they will be marked present for their online learning days. If there is still no online learning activity recorded during the following weekend, students will be marked “absent” for both days. For Blue Pack, teachers will review students’ online learning activity on Mondays. For Gray Pack, students’ online learning activity on Wednesdays.
For online learning days, attendance will be defined by measures of engagement including but not limited to: Student submission of an academic assignment - turned in during in person days or electronically through Google Classroom or SeeSaw Student submission of an assessment - turned in during in person days or electronically through Google Classroom or SeeSaw Documented student participation in Google Classroom, SeeSaw or some other online presence by a teacher An email from the student/family or other documentation showing that the student/family initiated contact with a staff member. Participation in a small group or 1:1 intervention through Zoom or Google Meet. If the answer to any of these questions is YES, the student is present for the day. In Step II Hybrid, students will be counted present for both days of online learning each week. If no online learning activity is recorded, the student will likely be marked absent for both days.
What If Students Don’t Attend?
In the case of multiple absences, a teacher or other staff member will check in with the student during in- person days to offer ideas and support to engage the student in learning during Step II: Hybrid Learning.
If the absences persist, the teacher or other staff member will reach out to the family to set up a meeting with the school team and family to identify any barriers to attendance, either in-person or online, and work together to put steps in place to improve attendance.
Explaining the increasing work expectations over the next few weeks:
As we start the school year we begin with building relationships, getting to know one another, making connections, and learning to work both independently and as a group. We know that once children feel safe and connected they are able to take more academic and social risks.
It is with intention that we will be increasing both the amount and type of work that your student is responsible for on their remote learning days. 'You may have noticed that your child has started bringing home assignments to complete during On LIne Learning Days. Kindergarteners through second graders should spend between 30-90 minutes and third through fifth graders should spend between 60- 90 minutes on an on-line learning day working on school assignments.
Some of the work will be assignments that they will need to complete in order to be prepared for upcoming school days. Other work that will also be sent home is practice and building good habits as a learner. Both of these types of assignments are important. For the first few weeks, you will notice that there are more Habits of a Learner assignments that will help build a routine for learning in your home. As we get to know your child better through assessments and time, you will start to see an increase in the work that needs to be completed in preparation for their upcoming school days. It is very important that your child completes these assignments so that they are ready to participate in the deeper learning of the lesson when they arrive at school with their classmates. We are trying to make the most of our time with our students and having them do some preparation before school will enable us to go deeper into the content when they arrive at school.
This past week your student likely had one "Spark" or Video/Prompt to respond to. This coming week there will be two, and the third week there will be three prompts weekly (one in Math, one in English Language Arts, and in social emotional growth)
We are happy to provide a menu of additional resource, tools, and options for students who would like additional practice or varied opportunities beyond what is required. Please do be aware of the amount of screen time that your child is utilizing each day to ensure is in the developmental range of what is appropriate for their age and stage of brain development.
Common Roots at RMCS in Sept and Oct.
Hello From Common Roots,
We are pleased to share with you that Common Roots will be continuing our Farm to School lessons. Our lead educator is Lauren Jones. This fall is our 12th year and we are heartened to be welcomed back, though with a different format:
K/1 students will be outside in tents that are both weighted and staked into the ground. Kindly have your children dressed for the weather. This month's lesson is apples!!!
2-5 teachers will have access to our videos to assign to their students. September's lesson was filmed both at the Larkin Heirloom, Organic, Apple Orchard on Hinesburg Road, and the lovely Wheeler Homestead on Dorset Street.
Students K-5 will have samples of Organic, Heirloom Apple Cider from the Larkin Orchard. There is nothing added to this cider and samples will be prepared from our licensed kitchen in compostable sample cups with lids.
Our talented farmers, Fae and Reese, hope you will take your children to the Common Roots Farm at South Village. Come walk the farm, visit our 48 raised beds where we educate children, and feed the chickens (bring a few veggie and fruit scraps - no meat or bread please). Attached is a flyer with our updated fall hours of operation. We hope to see you at the Common Roots Farm at South Village.
Joyfully, Carol McQuillen, Director
REQUIRED ANNUAL STUDENT UPDATES AND REGISTRATION...NEW AND IMPROVED!
THESE ON LINE FORMS NEED TO BE UPDATED PRIOR TO THE FIRST DAY THE STUDENT ATTENDS SCHOOL AT RMCS:
South Burlington School District is excited to begin Annual Student Updates and Registration for the 2020-2021 school year.
These online forms can be found within your PowerSchool Parent Portal and takes the place of the thick packet of papers that have previously been mailed home to families from the schools each summer.
Please take the time to complete these forms that:
- Register your student for the 2020-2021 School Year
- Verify and update emergency contact information
- Communicate important health information
- Sign student laptop/device agreements
To begin, please click this link to login to the PowerSchool Parent Portal: https://sbsdvt.powerschool.com. Once logged in, click “Forms” from the left navigation bar and choose “Update A. Getting Started: Returning Students.” The forms should take 5-15 minutes to complete, per student.
Trouble Logging in?
Please click “Forgot Username or Password?”
- Reminder: Please check your Junk box if a reset email is not received.
If you do not have a PowerSchool Portal Account or require more support, please email sbdatateam@sbschools.net.
Individual schools can be contacted at:
PreKindergarten/Act 166: PreK_Reg@sbschools.net
Gertrude E. Chamberlin School: Chamb_Reg@sbschools.net
Orchard School: Orch_Reg@sbschools.net
Rick Marcotte Central School: RMCS_Reg@sbschools.net
Frederick H. Tuttle Middle School: FHTMS_Reg@sbschools.net
South Burlington High School: SBHS_Reg@sbschools.net
Thank you for your time. Completion of these forms will help ensure that we have the most current and accurate information for your students, allowing us to improve communications and better serve our families.
Video- MEET AND GREET OUR RMCS TEACHERS and STAFF
Meet Our Teachers: https://flipgrid.com/93366096
Meet Our Staff: https://flipgrid.com/6ddb693b
Health Room Hints- From our school nurses
Vermont Department of Health: What families can expect when a student is sick.
Check out these UVM Videos: Spread Facts, Not COVID-19:
- How do I explain COVID-19 to my child?
- Wearing a mask the right way.
- Challenges with masks.
- Taking care of and cleaning masks.
ARRIVAL AND DISMISSAL AT RMCS
PLEASE HAVE YOUR STUDENTS ON THE PASSENGER SIDE OF THE CAR TO EXIT ONTO THE SIDEWALK SAFELY, WITH THEIR BACK PACKS WITH THEM (not in the trunk)
ARRIVAL:
Students riding the bus in the morning will be dropped off at the school, be greeted by our health screeners and walk to the front door of the school. Bus drop offs will be 7:50 to 8:10 AM.
8:10- 8:30 AM - Drop off for ALL Parent Drop Off (Cars, Bikers, Walkers)
Parents for drop off may line up at the curb AFTER all the buses have unloaded.
Drop off will be at the larger parking lot on the curb for grades 1-5.
Drop off in the smaller circle is for PRE K and K only (and siblings).
Since we know the greatest risk on contracting Covid is adult to adult, parents/caregivers must stay in their cars and will not be allowed in the building. Health screenings will be completed from your car. If possible, please have your child in the seat closest to the building. We ask that drivers not leave until the child(ren) have passed the health screening.We will be screening six cars at a time. Please be patient.
DISMISSAL:
2:20 PM - Students riding the bus in the afternoon will be dismissed through the front doors.
2:30-2:45 PM - Dismissal for ALL students, along with their older siblings.
Parents may line up at the curb AFTER all buses have been load and have left the parking lot.
Please place the child's name and grade paper on your passenger side dashboard, or clipped to the passenger visor (flipped down) visible to the windsheild. Your child will be called by radio and meet you at your car, curb side. Adults must remain in their vehicles.
Bikers/Walkers Pick Ups: Please meet at the bike rack and form a line (with 6 feet apart). We will call you student by radio to walk over and join you at the fence...for the safety of our children and staff, please do not walk through the children to locate your child.
RMCS SUBSTITUTE OPENINGS- Open positions at this time!
We hope to work with you in the fall!!
How to Wash Your Hands and Stay Safe at RMCS
CHROMEBOOKS
FREE MEALS FOR ALL STUDENTS AT THIS TIME!
All children in South Burlington under the age of 18 will be fed free of charge through December 31, 2020 or as long as funding remains available. U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Sonny Perdue announced the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) will extend several flexibilities that allow summer meal programs to continue into the fall months.
Starting Monday, September 14th, in addition to maintaining the pickup site referenced above, we will begin bus delivery of breakfast and lunch, Monday-Friday, between 10 am and noon (lunch for that day and breakfast for the following morning), to students engaged in remote learning. The meals for delivery will have to be ordered via an online survey that will be emailed to all parents the week prior. The delivery option will also be extended to the community, but individuals will need to contact Rhonda Ketner at rketner@sbschools.net or 652-7160 to be added to the delivery list. These individuals will also need to order in advance.
This is anticipated to be through Dec. Therefore, please do fill out the free and reduced lunch application so that it will be in place for January. Do not wait until December ot begin filling it out. Our kitchen staff who like to be sure that students are all set prior to the new calendar year.
APPLICATION FOR FREE AND REDUCED LUNCH (for Jan 2021)
PLEASE FILL OUT THE APPLICATIONS FOR FREE AND REDUCED LUNCH IF YOU THINK YOUR FAMILY MIGHT QUALIFY. THESE APPLICATIONS HAVE TO BE FILLED OUT EVERY YEAR IN SEPTEMBER FOR YOUR CHILD TO QUALIFY. SPECIFIC GUIDELINES TO QUALIFY ARE IN THE DIRECTIONS. THIS INFORMATION IS CONFIDENTIAL AND ONLY SHARED WITH OUR NUTRITIONAL SERVICES STAFF. YOU CAN PUT THIS IN AN ENVELOPE MARKED "NUTRITIONAL SERVICES" AND RETURN WITH YOUR CHILD, OR MAIL TO 262 WHITE STREET, SOUTH BURLINGTON, VT.
DIRECTIONS AND APPLICATION FOR FREE AND REDUCED LUNCH (English)
DIRECTIONS AND APPLICATION FOR FREE AND REDUCED LUNCH (Spanish)
DIRECTIONS AND APPLICATION FOR FREE AND REDUCED LUNCH (Nepali)
NUTRITIONAL SERVICES UPDATES FOR SCHOOL RE-OPENING
Nutritional Services in cooperation with transportation and security will continue to serve meals through August 30th under the nationwide area eligibility waiver from the USDA. Special accommodations will be made for any families that request additional support until school begins on September 8th. Please contact Rhonda Ketner, rketner@sbschools.net or 802-652-7160 for questions/assistance.
The U.S. Department of Agriculture has extended its waivers on meal pattern flexibility, congregate meals, meal times, and parent and guardian meal pickup through June 30, 2021. This will allow us to continue to operate smoothly in the event of another school closure as well as serve meals in nontraditional areas, such as the classroom.
Based on guidance from the USDA and VT AOE and in an effort to limit touch points, the following changes in meal service will occur:
- Meals will be unitized and packaged in recyclable, covered, meal trays or containers. This will allow for easy service in or outside of the cafeteria.
- The same meal components will be served to every student, unless there is a documented allergy, those meals will be modified to meet the needs of the individual. Chocolate milk will not be offered under this model. There will only be one meal option.
- Meals will be available via bus delivery to all students on the days they are engaged in remote learning. These meals will need to be ordered in advance, via an online ordering survey that will be sent to parents on a weekly basis.
- There will be two menus for each school, an onsite and a remote menu. At the beginning of the year all meals being delivered by bus to remote learners will be cold lunches. As the year progresses and we get used to the new “normal” we will expand those offerings.
- Breakfast will be served in the classroom, there will be at least 2 options daily.
- Silverware will be prepackaged with napkins.
- Condiments will be served in individualized portions.
- The Point of sales system will be touchless.
- Salad bars and self-service stations will be closed.
- Cashiers will not be handling cash during meal service. No payments will be processed at the registers.
- After careful consideration it was decided that we need to adjust the meal prices to help cover the costs of unitizing meals and packaging. The prices for elementary schools are: Breakfast $2.50 and Lunch $3.50.
LUNCH MENUS FOR RMCS
South Burlington Reopening Plan Aug 2020
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
At Home Assignments on Remote Learning Days
As we start the school year we begin with building relationships, getting to know one another, making connections, and learning to work both independently and as a group. We know that once children feel safe and connected they are able to take more academic and social risks.
It is with intention that we will be increasing both the amount and type of work that your student is responsible for on their remote learning days. 'You may have noticed that your child has started bringing home assignments to complete during Remote Learning Days. Kindergarteners through second graders should spend between 30-90 minutes and third through fifth graders should spend between 60- 90 minutes on a remote learning day working on school assignments.
Some of the work will be assignments that they will need to complete in order to be prepared for upcoming school days. Other work that will also be sent home is practice and building good habits as a learner. Both of these types of assignments are important. For the first few weeks, you will notice that there are more Habits of a Learner assignments that will help build a routine for learning in your home. As we get to know your child better through assessments and time, you will start to see an increase in the work that needs to be completed in preparation for their upcoming school days. It is very important that your child completes these assignments so that they are ready to participate in the deeper learning of the lesson when they arrive at school with their classmates. We are trying to make the most of our time with our students and having them do some preparation before school will enable us to go deeper into the content when they arrive at school.
We are happy to provide a menu of additional resource, tools, and options for students who would like additional practice or varied opportunities beyond what is required. Please do be aware of the amount of screen time that your child is utilizing each day to ensure is in the developmental range of what is appropriate for their age and stage of brain development.