Friday Flash
March 15th, 2024
Principal's Message
Who needs shamrocks or horseshoes to be lucky? All you really need is to spend a few hours at Newbury Elementary in the company of some of the most amazing children and staff around. When I tell people about all the exciting things we do here to make learning fun, they can hardly believe it when I tell them. From raising trout in the classroom, to growing vegetables in the greenhouse to collecting sap from our own maple trees, we truly are blessed!
This week brought to a close our second trimester of learning and began our VTCAP testing of students. Our fifth grade students worked diligently on the science assessment on Tuesday and Thursday this week. The coming weeks will bring math and literacy testing of students in grades three through six. This is the second year of the VTCAP and we hope the results will provide useful information to help inform our instructional practices.
On Wednesday night the OUUSD School Board agreed to submit the budget as presented by the finance committee and administration to the voters. I hope that you will attend the annual meeting in April, so they you can better understand the budget and make an informed decision before you vote.
~Loretta
Reminder community members are welcome to attend our math & literacy night. They may stay for the lasagna dinner as long as they RSVP with Labette by calling the main office.
Positivity Project: Other People Mindset-Appreciating the Good in Others
“You should also appreciate the goodness around you, and surround yourself with positive people.“
-NADIA COMANECI
Dear Families,
This week our school community will be focusing on the Other People Mindset of Identifying and Appreciating the Good in Others. It’s important to deliberately work to identify and appreciate others’ character strengths.
Identifying and appreciating the good in others is a core tenet of the Other People Mindset. This isn’t always what comes naturally. Often, it’s easier to blame others for our problems or find flaws in others to use as excuses for our own jealousy, bitterness, or resentment. The problem is that this negativity usually leads to problems -- for ourselves, for the other person, and for our relationships.
Identifying and appreciating the good in other people helps you see the world through a more positive -- and less threatening -- lens. If you’re constantly seeing the negative traits of people, you’re going to think the world is comprised of bad people -- and you’re going to operate from a defensive posture. This isn’t to say that we should be naive or see the world, and its people, through “rose-colored glasses.” It’s just that we should strive to understand people’s intent. If you see the good in another, they are likely to see the good in you.
To practice and encourage the character strength of perspective with your child, please visit the Positivity Project’s P2 for Families (password: P2), where together you will watch a video, read a quote, and talk about the answers to three questions.
Have a wonderful week!
Who is someone in your life you appreciate — and why?
Sugaring with Sim
News from the Library
Free Book Giveaway on March 20!
Thanks to a Spark Grant from the Children's Literacy Foundation (CLif), all students in Pre-K through 6th grade will be able to choose a free, brand new book to take home with them at our March 20 Math & Literacy night here at NES.
Grades 3-6 VTCAP Testing
During March and April, Mrs. Williams will be coordinating the annual state testing for grades 3-6. Please help students out by encouraging them to get a good night's sleep and eat a good breakfast.
Grade 3-4 Accountable Online Talk
The Owls and Otters spent time learning about to communicate online when they want to be heard. They practiced using accountable talk stems, which are ways to disagree while still being respectful to the other person and their ideas. We also used the TAG protocol (Tell something you liked, Ask a question, Give some advice) to add helpful comments to peers' book talk videos.
Grade 4 US Geography Studies
Mallory Graham of the band The Rough & Tumble visited with the 4th grade to talk about the band's travels throughout the US over the past 8 years. They travel by camper with their two big dogs, Mud Puddle (who also came to visit) and Magpie May and tour the 48 contiguous states. This spring, Grade 4 will be touring with them! The band heads out on tour March 20, and they will be sending videos and postcards from around the country as they head to California and back over the next few months.
Grade 5-6 Copyright and Fair Use
Grades 5-6 studied up on Copyright and Fair Use, with a focus on how copyright is meant to inspire creativity as well as project us as creators. Students practiced fair use analysis and learned how copyright does have some limitations. We talked about how licensing for things like Spotify and Netflix must be read carefully in order to understand what is legal or not to do. The goal: support students to learn how to be ethical and legal users of intellectual property.
Preschool:
Mrs. Williams visited the preschool and we are practicing how to listen to stories. We read stories that have lots of action in them, so we can practice transitioning to and from the rug. One week we read about snowflakes and everyone got to make one!
6th Grade Newbury Elementary School Planting Project
6th graders are planting snapdragons and peppers this week as well as cleaning and setting up grow lights. They are raising money for the end of year field trip and have been working hard. The plants will be sold for $1-2 a piece at the end of May. They have been setting up grow lights and planting the plants themselves as well as getting the water and taking care of the plants. They have been super excited to share this project with the community.
Staff Spotlight: Erin Pellegrino
Early Childhood Special Educator
Mrs. Pellegrino grew up in Rhode Island. She graduated from the University of Maine at Farmington - Early Childhood Special Education. She says the best thing about her job is, "I love that I get to teach the youngest kids through fun, play, and new experiences". Outside of school she likes to read, play games, swim, travel, hang out and make memories with her kids, husband, and friends. She wants her student to know that she loves living in this community and having the opportunity to see kids and families as they continue to grow through the years.
Important Dates
March 15th: Second Trimester Ends
March 20th: Math & Literacy Night 5-7 in the Gym
March 20th: Free Family Lasagna Dinner 5-7 in the Cafeteria (RSVP 302 Cares)
March 22nd: Report Cards Go Home
March 27th: Early Release Day
April 3rd: Food Service Advisory Council 10:00am in the cafeteria community members welcome
April 6th: OUUSD Annual Budget Meeting Oxbow
April 8th: Early Release Solar Eclipse Day
April 17th: Community Coffee 9:00-10:00
April 18th: No School Inservice Day
April 22nd: Spring Break Begins
April 29th: School Resumes
Mark Your Calendars Now! Spring Concert & Art Show May 30th in the Evening
The Newbury Historical Society and Harold Carleton invite you to celebrate our heritage of maple sugaring with an Open House at the Tucker Mountain Maple Farm Sugar House. Harold, a 6th generation sugarmaker, will explain and demonstrate the traditional method for turning maple sap into luscious maple syrup on Saturday, March 30th. Stop by anytime from 1:00 - 4:00. There will be a display of historical photos and memorabilia. Doughnuts to dunk in samples of maple syrup will be offered up to sweeten the tooth. And jugs of freshly boiled maple syrup will be available for purchase.
This is a family-friendly event.
Tucker Mountain Maple Farm is located in West Newbury just beyond the terminus of Snake Road — which is paved! It is at the junction of Tucker Mountain Road and North Road with a physical address of 294 Tucker Mountain Road. There will be signs showing where to park. Those needing ADA accessibility are invited to park directly in front of the sugar house.
Principal Loretta Cruz
Email: loretta.cruz@oesu.org
Website: https://www.nesvt.org/
Location: 214 Pulaski Street, Newbury, VT, USA
Phone: 802-866-5621
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/newburyelementaryVT