FAMILY FRIDAY FOCUS Jan. 29, 2021
RICK MARCOTTE CENTRAL SCHOOL Principal Kathleen Kilbourne
DATES OF IMPORTANCE- MARK YOUR CALENDARS
Feb. 5th Report Cards Issued
Feb. 22nd- March 3rd Winter Break (NO SCHOOL)
March 3,4,5 will now be PK-5- in school on all three days (no remote time that week)
MS/HS - 3rd will be a gray pack day, 4th and 5th will be gray pack days.
April 1st and 2nd will be half days
Report Card Updates From SB Elementary Administration
The purpose of a report card is to provide you with current information on your child’s growth in developing specific academic skills. The report will also include a narrative section so that teachers can speak to your child’s individual strengths and needs as a learner. If a skill hasn’t been taught and assessed this year, you will see “n/a” on the report card.
The reality of this year is that we celebrate each day we have your child in school, and we know that this trajectory could change by June. Every score on the report card will represent where your child is at currently. When you look at your child’s report card, we want to be realistic about the situation we have been faced with since March. These arbitrary benchmarks that we are again using this year do not take into consideration the fact that we were in school closure for 3 months, that we have not yet returned to a full week of in-person learning, that our in person days are shortened, and that many children have missed school days as we focus on the safety of our health during a pandemic.
The pandemic greatly impacted the way students received instruction and also what they learned these past months. Some of our report card standards are not applicable to the teaching and learning that has happened this school year, and this varies across classrooms. Your child has endured a year that is unprecedented, and much of their learning goes beyond traditional academics. They have learned to socially distance and how to connect with loved ones through phones and computers. They have learned how to stay home and explore their own backyards. They have learned how to cope with the sadness of not seeing their family and friends, and for some, how to grieve the death of a loved one. They have learned how to wear a mask and the importance of good hand washing. Depending on your family situation, their brains may have been focused on where their next meal is coming from, how to keep themselves entertained while their parents were working from home or how to navigate the complexities of new technology to access their distance learning. We want to celebrate the resiliency of our incredible children. We have spent time listening to their stories, and helping them identify as learners in our community, and also make sense of a world that changed suddenly and is still in flux with a deadly disease.
So, yes, we believe in these learning expectations that are on your child’s report card…and with all of the changes that we have been faced with, we decided that re-writing the entire report card to truly reflect on the unique learning experiences that children have had would be an impossible task. Instead, we want to be here for your children and take advantage of every moment of learning that we have…not to “catch them up” because the reality is that the typical school learning trajectory has been disrupted. As educators, it is our job to meet them where they are and to stretch their learning, and that might mean the numbers and letters on this report card look very different from past years. In many cases, we have prioritized content areas, choosing math and literacy over social studies and science given the time constraints we have been faced with.
We know this might cause some of you to worry. We share your concern. Please know that your child is learning and working very hard at school and at home, including many new skills that it takes to live through a pandemic, and we are here as partners to support that journey. We choose to not think of all of our children as being “behind.” We choose to celebrate and nurture their resiliency, focus on their social emotional needs, and continue to offer rigorous learning opportunities whenever we can. First, we are supporting our children in their health and well being as they navigate a world that was turned upside down in a very short time. We will continue to keep track of your child’s growth as a learner and address any needs that arise along the way.
So we ask when it arrives home on February 5th that you read your child’s report card with a lens of understanding and celebrate all of the skills that your child has mastered (like communicating with peers and teachers while wearing a mask for 7 hours!) that are not on the document. Please check in with your teacher if you have any questions or feel like you need more clarification about your child’s progress.
Thank you for your support of our school community and also the important role you play in your child’s development as a learner.
Principal Holly Rouelle
Gertrude Chamberlin SchoolPrincipal Mark Trifilio
Orchard School
Principal Kathleen Kilbourne
Rick Marcotte Central School
Valentine's Day 2021: At all 3 South Burlington Elementary Schools
Valentine's Day 2021:
Dear SB Elementary Families:
In an effort to keep everyone safe and healthy during the COVID-19 pandemic, we are asking for our students and staff to celebrate Valentine’s Day differently this year at school.
Please DO NOT send in any Valentine’s day treats or cards (homemade or store bought) to your student’s classroom (or school) this year. If your student's classroom teacher chooses to celebrate, all necessary materials and items will be provided. Thanks for your understanding.
Nurse Notes
WET MASKS
- Masks are getting wet when outdoors and are not as effective (and certainly not comfortable). Please consider sending in 2 EXTRA MASKS in your student's backpack. Remember to WASH dirty or wet masks before reuse!
GET A FLU VACCINE
According to the CDC: GETTING A FLU VACCINE IS MORE IMPORTANT THAN EVER DURING 2020-2021 TO PROTECT YOURSELF AND THE PEOPLE AROUND YOU FROM FLU, AND TO HELP REDUCE THE STRAIN ON HEALTHCARE SYSTEMS RESPONDING TO THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC.
While some people who have had the flu vaccine can still get sick, studies have shown that the severity of illness decreases with flu vaccination, including a decrease in hospitalization and death.
COVID VACCINE UPDATE
Vermonters 75 years and older can now make an appointment to get a COVID-19 Vaccination.
Visit: https://www.healthvermont.gov/covid-19/vaccine/getting-covid-19-vaccine
Can't make an appointment online? An appointment can be made by phone: 855-722-7878
COVID RESOURCES: Click on underlined below to follow the link.
- What to do when you are waiting for COVID test results
- Isolating, quarantining and self-observing
- COVID translations
- Frequently Asked Questions: COVID-19
- Return to School Following Illness guidelines
- COVID-19 PCR Testing Sites:
- If you/your student has symptoms of COVID-19, contact your health care provider first, to determine if testing is needed. If you don't have a health care provider, call 2-1-1 to connect to care.
- If you/your student are not sick, but need a test, consider scheduling a test at a pop-up site on the Health Department's website: "Where to Get Tested," through your provider, or call the Health Department @ 863-7240.
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)
Is this your child's hat?
LOST AND FOUND
Call the main office to claim your items
Substitute Openings in the South Burlington School District
Are you looking to get more involved at your child’s school? Need a bit of extra income or additional work experience? Apply to substitute now for one or more of the following:
- Classroom Teacher (all subjects and all levels)
- Paraeducator or Interventionist
- School Nurse (RN) or Nurse Assistant (LPN) (Must have appropriate licensure and/or certifications)
- Custodian
- Food Preparation/Cook
- Bus Driver
All SBSD substitutes are required to undergo a criminal record check and be fingerprinted for a VT public school District.
Current Job Openings in the South Burlington School District
Seeking a career change? Feel like your skills and abilities aren’t recognized enough at your current job? Looking for a job where you’re on the same schedule as your kids?
We are seeking candidates for the following positions
- Bus Driver (CDL, Class B with passenger, air brakes, and school bus endorsement preferred, training may be available to the right candidates)
- On-call Second Shift Custodian
- Interventionist
- Paraeducators
-Long Term Subs, classroom teachers
These positions will remain open until filled. For more details on open positions, visit www.schoolspring.com Keyword: South Burlington School District, or contact Karen Dantzscher, HR Director at 652-7256 or kdantzscher@sbschools.net
Interested candidates may apply through one of the following options:
1) Apply at www.schoolspring.com Keyword: South Burlington School District.
2) E-mail a current resume, cover letter, and 3 references to kdantzscher@sbschools.net . Please indicate which position(s) you are applying for.
Mail a current resume, cover letter, and 3 references to: South Burlington School District, Human Resources, 500 Dorset Street, South Burlington, VT 05403. Please indicate which position(s) you are applying for.
Karen Dantzscher, SPHR
Director of Human Resources
South Burlington School District
South Burlington, VT 05403
802/652-7256
Tour our RMCS Hallways...Sneak Peak!
Gr 2 Snowmen Greetings
Reading Detectives
Preschool Starfish and Rainbow Fish
Dress For the Weather
The cold weather is here! Please be sure you send your child with long pants, snow pants, boots, jacket, hats, and mittens to wear at recess every day. Remember to label your child’s outdoor gear.
Please label all your children's winter gear with their name or initials for easy return to the correct child if it should get misplaced.
HEAD-TO-TOE TIPS FOR DRESSING FOR WINTER WALKING TO SCHOOL
- Keep your hands and head covered to prevent heat loss
- On really cold days, wear a scarf over your face and mouth
- Wear a warm coat that deflects the wind
- Wear warm, waterproof boots
- Woolen clothing helps to retain the heat
- Wear clothing or carry knapsacks with reflective material - it's important to be seen
- If possible, change wet clothes at school - tuck an extra pair of socks and mitts into knapsacks
Below -13oF is considered too cold for walking--move your walk indoors, or select another day for outdoor activities and walking to school.
PREVENT CHILD ABUSE VERMONT -SHARES PARENT & CAREGIVERS GUIDE AND RESOURCES
COVID-19 Parent & Caregiver Guide
No matter how prepared you are, an outbreak can be stressful. Here are some recommendations to promote your family's well-being during COVID-19.
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