The Hiawatha Buzz!
April 19th, 2024
Principal's Message
Dear Hiawatha Community,
I want to let you all know that I have been attending board meetings and the community engagements involving the budget. As your principal, I am so passionate and proud of the community here at Hiawatha. We have worked so hard as a faculty and staff to commit to continuous growth as educators to ensure equitable, authentic and inclusive learning for all students. We are a model PLC school and nationally recognized for the learning community we have at Hiawatha and this brings us pride and joy. The faculty and staff are truly committed to each and every child. The work we have done, specifically around literacy, social emotional learning and equity takes each and every one of us to make a difference for our students. I wholeheartedly stand behind the board and district with the budget being presented in the letter below.
Dear EWSD Community, The EWSD Leadership Team wholeheartedly supports the direction of a revised budget with a $4.5 million reduction from the initial failed budget presented to the voters on April 9, 2024. We believe it strikes a balance between minimizing the impact on student learning and addressing the affordability concerns of our taxpayers in these unprecedented times. Here’s what the revised budget going to the voters on May 7th will include: Cost and Impact Year-over-year EWSD General Fund expenses will increase by 3.5%, down from 7.7% from the original budget The Homestead tax rate, before the common level of appraisal, will be reduced from FY24 by almost 1.0% Tax impact, after the common level of appraisal, reduced on average by 8.2% from the original budget Instructional Priorities Included Due to Trade-Offs RTI coaches focused on SEL, academics, and equity at all K-8 schools shall be maintained K-8 special educators and 6-8 math interventionists shall be maintained (enabling recalls) Class size averages - across all K-8 schools - will be between the minimum and optimal levels Maintain Fine Arts investments to meet student demand Maintains Honors and AP courses Preserves mental health supports Reductions Will Include Three of 11 District Office administrator positions will be eliminated (a 27% reduction) District Office support staff will be reduced by 1.80 FTE (an 8.7% reduction) Operations staffing (Technology, Facilities, Transportation, and Child Nutrition) will be reduced by 6% Three District-level lead positions will be eliminated (which were to work with new RTI coaches) Reduce the overall budget for salary adjustments District-wide Defer facility capital projects Supply line items and other non-personnel budgets reduced across the board Additional Revenue Revenue increases from tuition, state aid, and facility use Leverage restricted grant funding (Federal Title funds & Capital Reserves) We will continue to share information as we move forward in the process. Please note that the Board’s meeting on Tuesday, April 23, will start at 6:30 p.m. and will be fully virtual. Visit the EWSD budget page to stay updated on the latest budget information (presentation slides, videos, minutes, and more). Please reach out if you have any questions. Sincerely,
Important Dates
* April 22nd to April 26th - April Break - NO SCHOOL - Please plan accordingly
* April 30th - Green Mountain Sing - 9:05 AM in the Hiawatha gym
* May 23rd - Hiawatha Circus Performance at Thomas Fleming School at 5:30-7:00 PM
U.S. Measles Cases are Rising–Make Sure Your Family is Protected
Measles is a highly contagious respiratory virus that can be dangerous, especially for babies and young children. In the first few months of 2024, there have been nearly twice as many cases of measles in the U.S. compared to all of 2023. Most cases have been in young children who are not vaccinated against measles and who have traveled outside of the U.S.
Here’s how you can help keep your family, school, and community healthy:
1. Make sure you and your family are vaccinated against measles—especially if you plan to travel outside the U.S.
o Children should get two doses of measles, mumps, and rubella (MMR) vaccine—the first dose at 12-15 months and the second dose at 4-6 years.
o Babies 6-11 months old who are traveling internationally should get an early dose of the MMR vaccine at least two weeks before travel.
2. Stay home and call your doctor if your child is sick with symptoms of measles.
Symptoms usually start with a high fever, then a cough, runny nose, and red and watery eyes. A rash usually appears three to five days after the first symptoms. If you do not have a health care provider, call 2-1-1 to be connected to care.
For more information on measles and vaccines, visit healthvermont.gov/measles.
Message from PTO
TODAY IS THE LAST DAY TO…
Sign up your child for Hiawatha Run! Sprint on over to this form to get them enrolled before it’s too late.
Order from Square One Art! Access the website to order here: https://shop.square1art.com/Shop/artwork/Search
The Total Eclipse Dance Party was a big success! We had a huge turnout and kids are already asking when we can do it again. Thanks to everyone who came out!
If you took photos in the photo booth, click on the link below to check them out. To download, you will need to click on the photo and select "Download", OR hover over the picture you want and select the download icon.
Hiawatha: Total Eclipse Dance Party 2024
Password: buzz
Photos will be available to download until May 3rd.
Staff Appreciation Week
Staff Appreciation is right around the corner and we could use your help to celebrate them in the way that they deserve! We’ve got lots of good things coming but for now let’s talk about where we’ll need some help:
Volunteer Help (things like making smoothies, drawing with sidewalk chalk etc.) Sign Up Here: Here:):https://www.signupgenius.com/go/70A0A48ADAF2AA0F58-49097820-2024
Smoothie Ingredient Donations, sign up here: https://www.signupgenius.com/go/70A0A48ADAF2AA0F58-49097835-2024
In your child’s Friday Folder you will find an envelope with four small pieces of paper in it. Please encourage your child to draw or write something nice for a teacher or staff member. Inspire your child by asking them to think about all of the grown-ups that help them, teach them, or make them feel safe and happy at Hiawatha. If they fill all four pieces of paper, feel free to do more on plain paper too! When they’ve finished their creations, put them back into the envelope, seal it and send it back to school in their Friday Folders. You can also drop the envelope off at the Appreciation Station inside by the main office. Make sure that the name of the recipient as well as the artist/writer are on the paper. Please return all envelopes and art by Wednesday May 8th. They will be gifted to Hiawatha Staff on Friday the 10th.
EHS/CTE Multicultural Potluck Festival
All students, parents, and members of the EWSD and Essex Community are invited to join the festival on Friday, May 10 from 5-8 p.m. in the EHS gymnasium. You are welcome to bring a dish inspired by your culture or host an activity to share with the school community. There will be food, prizes, and fun activities for all! To RSVP, sign up for a dish, or volunteer, please contact Tracy or use this form.
Here is a folder with the translated flyers for this event.
Terri Geffert
English Language Teacher
Hiawatha Elementary School
30 Hiawatha Avenue
Essex Junction, VT 05452
(802) 857-7771
Message from Ms. Gengras in Art
Fine Arts Night was a great success! Thank you for supporting the arts and our school. Students love sharing their artwork, and it was an excellent opportunity for our artists to be inspired by others.
In art class, students are finishing up glazing their pottery. The pieces coming out of the kiln are gorgeous! Students worked so hard on their ceramic projects, and it shows.
This week students made solar eclipse inspired art! They used chalk and blending strategies to create beautiful masterpieces.
The deadline for ordering Square1Art products is Friday, April 19th. You can still order products after the deadline date. However, the profits will only contribute to our fundraiser if ordered before the deadline. Please get in touch with Gillian at Gillian_Bergeron@ca2.uscourts.gov with any questions or concerns about the ordering process. Again, thank you for supporting our students and the arts.
Cassandra Gengras, M.Ed.
She/Her
Art Educator
Hiawatha School
Room B2/ext. 7765
cgengras@ewsd.org
(802) 881-8885
Total Eclipse Dance Party Photo booth Photos!
Here is the link to retrieve photo booth photos from last Friday.
Hiawatha: Total Eclipse Dance Party 2024
Password: buzz
To download, parents/caregivers will need to click on the photo and select "Download", OR hover over the picture they want and select the download icon.
These will be available to download until May 3rd.
Kindergarten morning drop off update
Dear Kindergarten families,
When we return from April break the morning drop off location will no longer be at the flagpole entrance. Please go back to dropping off at your student at their outside kindergarten classroom door.
Thank you
Hot Lunch Menu
Please click the link below to see the hot lunch menu, be sure to select the correct month you need and select lunch in the drop down in the top of the page. If needed, there is a print option. The menu can also be found on our website :-)
Hiawatha Elementary School
Email: hiawathaoffice@ewsd.org
Website: www.EWSD.org/HIA
Location: 30 Hiawatha Avenue, Essex Junction, VT, USA
Phone: 802-878-1384