The Core
February 10, 2023, Volume 14, Issue 24
Notes from the Principal
Hello Parents and Guardians,
We had a small but lively contingent of parents joining the SBSD school budget presentation on Wednesday evening. Our new Director of the Budget and Operations, Tim Jennings, gave the presentation and took questions and answers as well.
Presenting budgets is really a district thing (since the budget represents all of the South Burlington School District); however, it seems like there is a lot of misinformation about the Bond Vote for the ZEMS and other district maintenance needs that I'm hoping to clarify.
The photo in this article was taken when the trailers arrived last February break. They are trailers, mostly for office space and small group instruction. The ZEMS (Zero Energy Modulars - designed to reduce our carbon footprint) will serve as classrooms.
The modular classrooms will hopefully serve for fifth graders next year. They are meant to last a long time and can be picked up and moved to another site/school if needed. This bulleted information is taken from the SBSD budget presentation:
Total Bond Request: $14,550,000
$6 Million for Classroom ZEMs (Zero Energy Modular Classrooms)*
*Now implemented, impact fees will cover an estimated 91% of cost of ZEMs, excluding financing
Also check out the Budget Highlights and please contact me if you have any questions about the ZEMs or the budget.
📌 Report Cards go home today! You should keep the report card and contact your child’s teacher if you have ay questions. Please send back the envelope signed ... so we know you have read it 😊.
📌 Valentine's Day is next Tuesday. Please only send in non-edibles (no candy/treats) if your child is planning to bring in Valentine's cards/gifts for their peers. Check-in with your child's classroom teacher with questions.
📌 Our younger grades celebrated 100 days of school today - way to go students!
Have a terrific weekend; take some time to read with your child.
Mark T & Olivia K
We ❤️ our PTO, please support them!
100th Day Celebrations!
From our Library
Celebrating with Free Books!
In celebration of next week's "I Love to Read Week" in the library, Mrs. Macdonald will be playing either Red Clover or Mock Caldecott BINGO games with all students during their library time. When a student gets a "BINGO," they'll be able to select from a variety of donated books. The student's name will be inside the book, as well as an "I Love to Read" bookmark. Their BINGO board will be tucked inside the book, too. Be sure to ask your student(s) about the Red Clover and/or Mock Caldecott programs!
Author Kelly Yang Wows Fourth and Fifth Graders
As an extension of last week's World Read Aloud Day, on Wednesday, fourth and fifth graders enjoyed a virtual visit with author Kelly Yang. The students heard about Kelly's move to the US from China when she was only five years old and her journey to become an author. She encouraged students to "Dream Big and Believe in Your Dreams." Thanks to Orchard's wonderful PTO, every 4th and 5th grader will be receiving a copy of Kelly Yang's new book FINALLY SEEN when they return from the upcoming Winter Break. For images from the visit with Kelly Yang and more information, please visit Orchard School's Instagram page.
Donna Sullivan-MacDonald
Photos from Meeting Author Kelly Yang
Girls on the Run!
Registration Opens Soon!
Girls On The Run is coming back to Orchard Elementary! Our program focuses on the whole girl by empowering girls’ minds, bodies and souls. It inspires participants to appreciate, love and respect what makes them unique, set actionable goals that they can complete by the end of the season, and develop new habits and activities that create a healthier lifestyle. Registration for Girls On The Run opens on Wednesday, February 22nd at gotrvt.org!
Our 10 week program is for students in grades 3-5. Our season begins the week of March 27. Our team will meet on Mondays and Wednesdays from 2:45pm to 4:15pm at Orchard Elementary.
The registration fee is $115. GOTRVT provides financial assistance directly on the registration form for qualifying families as well as a payment plan. GOTRVT is committed to being accessible to any student who wants to participate, and is dedicated to ensuring that program cost is not a barrier. Please contact GOTRVT directly at 802-871-5664 regarding financial assistance options.
Questions? Contact Coach Patiance at pay.johnson@aol.com or 802-393-5223.
School's Out Summer Camp Registration starts on Monday, February 13 at 9 am. See our website for information
Memory Book 22-23!
"Hello Orchard parents and caregivers!
I am currently putting together this year's school Memory Book and looking for someone to come alongside me to assist in the process. This is my daughter's last year at Orchard, so I will not be putting it together again next year. A new Memory Book team (parent volunteers) will need to be formed in order for your children to have a Memory Book made each school year. Having some tech skills is a definite plus as part of the process includes uploading portraits and designing the pages. I would love to get a couple of you trained now while I'm still in the creation process, and also looking for assistance in the creation of this year's book. Please reach out via phone at 802-393-5223 or via email at pay.johnson@aol.com if you are interested in learning this process to take it over for next year."
School Nurse Notes
ILLNESS REMINDERS
Please continue to keep your child home if they are experiencing illness symptoms. A student needs to be fever free for 24 hours (without taking fever-reducing medicine) before returning to school. If your child is experiencing a respiratory illness and their symptoms are interfering with learning and daily functioning, please keep them at home and consider having them seen by their health care provider.
While Vermont's COVID-19 Community Level is low, the Vermont Department of Health (VDH) continues to recommend COVID testing.
- If you have symptoms of COVID-19, even if symptoms are mild.
- If you are a close contact of someone who tested positive for COVID-19 and you are not vaccinated or not up to date on your vaccines.
COVID-19 Tests
Per the VDH, schools can provide COVID tests to staff and students who are experiencing symptoms. If your student has symptoms, please contact your school nurse to pick-up COVID tests, if needed. If other household (non-student) people need tests, they can be acquired through a pharmacy (some insurances cover), through the Federal government (order 4 free COVID tests HERE), through purchase online or in local stores or by contacting your health care provider.
COVID-19 Vaccines
You can get (free) vaccines at your health care provider's office or a pharmacy.
Be kind, stay well~
Kara Cassani & Sarah Pineda
From the PTO
Start an after school club! Orchard PTO is seeking parents and community members who have a talent or interest to share with Orchard students. Past clubs have been focused on Legos, foreign languages, art, music, and games. The sky's the limit! Funding is available. Email orchardschoolvt@gmail.com with your interest or for more info.
Orchard Drama
Do you like pizza? Have we got an idea for you!
This Tuesday night, February 14th, you can go a long way towards supporting Orchard Elementary School's production of The Further Adventures of Peter, Wendy & Hook by dining-in or ordering take-out at American Flatbread in Burlington!
American Flatbread will donate $3.50 per large and $1.75 per small pizza sold on Valentine's Day from 4-10pm towards our school play on both in-house and take-out orders!
Eat out in downtown or snuggle up at home -- either way you choose to go, we thank you for supporting our play!
Additional information on the school play and how you can participate is available on Konstella and from contacting us directly at: orcharddramavt@gmail.com.
Common Roots Summer Camp
Common Roots - Summer Camps 2023
Centered on the Common Roots' mission of land stewardship, food education, and food access, our Common Roots Summer Camp program will be centered on cooking, gardening, drama, and community-building. In conjunction with our food and land-based values, we will be connecting our vital natural landscapes to the creation of puppets, stories, and performance. Stoking the creative fire in our youth is an essential aspect of development and greater transformation in our community. Inherent in puppet-making, theatrical games, and story development, there is an opportunity to expand our hearts & minds, imagination, and enhance a wide variety of skills.
Common Roots leases the beautiful natural environments of the Wheeler Homestead, the Hubbard Park Farm, and the Farm at South Village. Our camps will be facilitated by our talented land and food educators.
Our camps begin with 3 weeks for 7-12-year-olds, then 3 weeks for 12-14-year-olds.
Sessions:
7-12-year-olds
June 19th-23rd
June 26th-30th
July 2nd-7th (no camp on July 4th)
12-14-year-olds
July 17th-21st
July 24th-28th
July 31-August 4th
Please see our attached flyer for more details.
Joyfully,
Carol McQuillen
Co-Founder, Director
Common Roots
802-999-4270