The Hiawatha Buzz!
March 26, 2021
Growing hearts and minds for a better today and tomorrow: every day, every way, every one.
Principal's Message
Dear families and caregivers,
This week we had a surprise gathering out in the field to show our appreciation for Nurse Ryena. Each class made signs that now line our hallways. We cheered as Nurse Reyna came out, teary eyed, and we presented her with flowers. Nurse Reyna along with all of our faculty, staff, students, and families have worked hard this year to keep us all healthy and safe. We must continue to do this and be vigilant with our masks, social distancing, and following the Governor's guidelines. All of this will help us stay healthy and go back to full person learning on April 26th.
Please click the link below to see the flyer about the Parent Information Night on Wednesday March 31st from 6:00-7:30 hosted by Fleming and Summit Street Schools. Dr. Joelle van Lent will be joining us to share parenting strategies for reducing screen time. Dr. van Lent will also be discussing strategies to support families in recalibrating their screen time and finding a healthy balance as we start to come out of the pandemic.
Take care,
Katherine
Parent Input for Placement forms for the 2021-2022 school year...coming your way!
We are all looking forward to the classroom placement of students for the 2021-2022 school year. We hope that by sharing this process, you will understand parent/guardian input is one of the many sources used to make informed decisions regarding class placement. We strive to create vibrant, excellent classrooms that serve the needs of all children.The primary purpose of the placement process is to create equitable classroom environments that allow teachers to meet the academic, social, and emotional needs of every student. Of course, parental input is also a valuable part of the placement process.
Please provide us with any relevant information you’d like to share regarding your child’s learning style, as well as strengths, areas of need, and any additional information that will be helpful. Your child will come home today with a placement letter and form for you to fill out.
Please return your completed form to the front office, via email to Michelle at mmurphyertle@ewsd.org or return to your child’s classroom teacher by Friday, April 2, 2021.
This information is an important factor that will contribute to the development of balanced classrooms. With our priority of “balanced” classrooms, we ask that you do not place restraints on the process by requesting specific teachers by name; we cannot honor specific teacher requests.
A schoolwide Thank you for everything you do to keep us all safe Nurse Reyna!
A Thank you from Nurse Reyna
I wanted to take a moment to express my surprise and gratitude over the "FIELD OF LOVE FOR NURSE REYNA"!
First off, I would like all of you to know that it is each and every one of YOU each and every day that is getting us through this year healthy and safe. It's each Hiawatha student. It's each Hiawatha staff member. It's each Hiawatha family.
I cannot think of a more loving and caring community. I am proud to work here and to be a part of it.
I love you, Hiawatha!
Love,
Nurse Reyna
Message from Hiawatha PTO
Please join us Wednesday, April 7, from 6:30 - 8:00 pm as we continue to host Hiawatha's PTO Inform and Inspire Speaker Series
This is our virtual series via Zoom (link soon to follow) as we support educational conversations for parents, guardians, and community members led by area experts on a range of topics.
This month's topic is: Checking in with kids during high stress times; discussing current changes and current events. The past year has been marked by many stressors, both big and small. As a grown-up, it can be difficult to know how to talk with children about what is happening in the world around us. This discussion will focus on strategies to start difficult conversations and ways to help children manage stress.
This month's speaker is:
Betsy Ferry, LICSW
School Services Supervisor
Howard Center
Message from Mrs. Weston
Greetings Hiawatha Families,
During February and March, Katherine Grykien and Scott Evans led us through the last two SEL standards, with a focus on social awareness, identity and diversity. Thank you Scott and Katherine! For our last trimester, we will be working on SEL Standards 8, 9 and 10. In Standards 8 and 9, we explore concepts of responsible decision making. We will wrap up the year with Standard 10 and concepts of conflict resolution.
For our current standard 8, we will be working through concepts of actions and consequences. When we are able to understand and then predict how our actions may impact others, we are on the path to making responsible choices about our actions. Below are the schoolwide learning targets for our current standard:
I can talk about the rules for safe and respectful behaviors in my class and school.
I can notice and talk about how my words and actions have consequences on the feelings and actions of others.
I can notice and talk about how other people may be thinking or feeling in stories or real life (empathy).
I know that making responsible decisions and treating others with respect can be a part of my identity.
As you think about supporting this work with your children at home, you can:
Talk about and reinforce when you see children being assertive rather than aggressive.
Notice and compliment your children when they make choices that have positive consequences for you and others.
Think out loud for your children when you consider your choices. You can model out loud how you are thinking about the consequences of different action choices on others in the family.
Notice and reinforce instances of empathy in your children. Empathy is a superpower!
If you are interested in seeing our vocabulary and their visuals for this standard, you can find them here.
Please be in touch if there’s anything you would like to discuss.
Take care! Alice Weston aweston@ewsd.org
Invite from Fleming School PTO to 3rd grade families
**ATTENTION HIAWATHA 3RD GRADE FAMILIES**
The Fleming PTO would like to invite you all to our Virtual April meeting. We will meet Wednesday April 14th at 5:30pm via Zoom (link below). This is a time where you can meet Matt Roy, Fleming Principal, as well as Summit Street families and our current board.
Given the current events our PTO meetings have been mostly a time where Mr. Roy can update us on what’s going on at school and what’s to come. We as a board decided last Fall not to do any fundraisers this year so we haven’t had much to discuss.
We will have board positions available in the Fall as two members will be moving on to ADL.
If you have any questions prior to the meeting, please do not hesitate to reach out to the board via email at flemingpto@ewsd.org. We look forward to seeing you all!
Thank you,
Liz Miller, President
Pat Murray, Vice President
Beth Knox, Treasurer
Mary Towle-Hilt, Secretary
Liz Miller is inviting you to a scheduled Zoom meeting.
Topic: Fleming PTO Meeting
Time: Apr 14, 2021 05:30 PM Eastern Time (US and Canada)
Join Zoom Meeting
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/84002245127?pwd=MDdwMk1SRnlNSXBmK1FHRzU0VlI5Zz09
Meeting ID: 840 0224 5127
Passcode: 0000
Art Students Creating Relief Sculptures
Community event
Does your child love to sing? There is a wonderful opportunity for students in Grades 2 - 5 to be part of a new Summer Singing Camp taking place in Burlington during the month of July. As a Co- Director of the camp, I encourage you to consider having your musical child(ren) participate!
Please click on the link below for details about the camps and to register.
If you have further questions, do not hesitate to contact me,
Mrs. Reed
Important Dates:
March 31st at 6:00pm - Virtual Parent Information Night
April 19 - 23: Spring Break - NO SCHOOL
Hiawatha Elementary School
Email: mmurphyertle@ewsd.org
Website: www.EWSD.org/HIA
Location: 30 Hiawatha Avenue, Essex Junction, VT, USA
Phone: 802-878-1384