THE VIKING
Hinesburg Community School - September 13, 2019
Dear HCS Families,
We are now finishing our third week of school and the students and staff have hit their stride. Our garden is producing beautiful tomatoes and garlic for our pizza, the cross country and soccer team seasons are in full swing, and classrooms are full of learning. In hand with this, we want to remind you that our K-4 Open House/Curriculum night is occurring Thursday, September 26th from 5:30 - 7:00pm. Finally, for those who attended the 5-8 Curriculum Night, we were happy to have you here. We love bringing families into the school!
Warmly,
Suzan and John
Dates to Remember
Tuesday, September 17
Early Release Day - Dismissal at 1:45
Thursday, September 19
School Picture Day!
Tuesday, September 24
Early Release Day - Dismissal at 1:45
Thursday, September 26
5:30 - 7:00 K-4 & Essential Arts Open House and Curriculum Night
Picture Day!
Picture Day is Thursday, September 19. In addition to being able to order photos on picture day, you now have the option to order online before picture day. To order online please go to: mylifetouch.com and reference the HCS ID # VJ179069Q0.
HCS is Recruiting Adult Mentors
The HCS school- based mentor program is in its 15th year of connecting adults in the community with students in the 5th through 8th grade. Though all children benefit from the extra attention of a caring adult, teachers nominate students that they feel will especially benefit from a mentor. The Mentor Program offers a friendship that can be a source of support as students navigate the sometimes difficult years of middle school.
The Hinesburg Program is currently recruiting adults to become mentors. Adult volunteers are given training and support to begin this trusted relationship. The most important quality an adult must have is a commitment to mentor for one school year. Many mentors continue on with their student until they graduate from 8th grade because they find it so enjoyable. Mentors meet students at the school during an hour that works for the student, mentor and teacher. A Mentor Room offers a place to play games, do crafts, or work on puzzles. Mentors can also take their mentee outside for fresh air activities.
The Mentor Program is currently looking for 5 more adults for the program. Men are especially needed. For more information, please call Ginny Roberts, Mentor Coordinator at 482-6246 or email at groberts@cvsdvt.org.
Kindergarten Welcome Ceremony
On Friday, September 6th, the H.C.S. 8th graders invited the new kindergartners to participate in the annual Welcome Ceremony. The older students designed a wonderful morning of fun activities, including sharing fond memories, offering encouraging words, and reading books and playing together. The eighth graders gave every kindergartner a flower and a note of welcome as a way to celebrate the beginning of their official school career. Watch for photos in the spring of the end-of-year ceremony, when the kindergartners send the eighth graders off to graduation with similar sentiments!
CVSD Child Nutrition Updates
The directors and staff of the Champlain Valley School District Child Nutrition Program would like to welcome you back to another exciting school year. We’ve been working hard over the summer to make some changes to our Food Service Program that we think you’ll like. Our four separate K – 8 food service programs have been consolidated into a single, cohesive system. We are dedicated to serving nutritious, balanced, fresh meals that your child will love! Our philosophy is that children will make good food choices when presented with a variety of attractive, wholesome options in pleasant surroundings. We follow the USDA guidelines for a healthy meal which emphasize whole grains, fruits, vegetables, and low-fat dairy products with limits on sodium, saturated fats, trans fat and calories.
Here are the changes you and your child will see this fall: The Hinesburg, Charlotte, Williston Central, Allen Brook, and Shelburne Schools will now be offering a consistent daily lunch offering. The menu is posted on the district website as well as linked to your school newsletter • The online menu contains nutritional and allergen information for the daily specials. Our K-8 schools will continue to offer other food choices your child currently enjoys, such as our salad bars. We will be adding these items to the website during the year.
Consistent with our wellness initiative we will be removing some less nutrient dense a la carte items from our K-4 student lunch options. Schools which currently offer these “smart snacks” will continue to do so for middle school students only, emphasizing to them the value in making healthy choices.
What can you do to help? If your child already participates in the school meal program, thank you! Please let us know if you like the changes. If you are not a regular customer, give school lunches a try! The higher the rate of participation, the more resources we have to purchase and offer high quality foods. If you have questions or comments, reach out to your local food service director or district COO Jeanne Jensen at jjensen@cvsdvt.org.
Food Shelf Benefit - Sayre Family Fields
Please join us for a berry harvesting fundraising event to benefit the Hinesburg Community Resource Center Food Shelf at the Sayre Fields Family farm on the weekend of Sept 21-22! Pickers are welcome anytime between 8:00 am and 6:00 pm both Saturday and Sunday. The harvest is extensive and the family could use help. A large contribution will be made to the HCRC Food Shelf on behalf of the berry harvesters who attend. This event is a great way for community members to support neighbors in need through a festive labor party. HCRC gets many calls from families wishing that their children could in some way help the good work of the food shelf and here's the opportunity! Please visit the event page to let us know if you can join the fun!
About Us
Suzan Locke, HCS Co-Principal, Grades K-4
482-6299, slocke@cvsdvt.org
John Pontius, HCS Co-Principal, Grades 5-8
482-6298, jpontius@cvsdvt.org
Alicia Kurth, HCS Special Education Administrator
425-6285, akurth@cvsdvt.org
Email: hcsinformation@cvsdvt.org
Website: https://www.cvsdvt.org/hinesburg
Location: Hinesburg Community School, 10888, Route 116, Hinesburg, Vermont, USA
Phone: 802-482-2106
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Hinesburg-Community-School-125786304154731/
The Viking Newsletter is published bi-weekly, when school is in session. It is available on our web site and is also delivered to email via Blackboard Connect. If needed, a hard copy can be provided for your child to bring home. The Viking includes upcoming events, after school opportunities, notes of interest for parents and the community and updates from our school administration.