The Hiawatha Buzz!
October 9, 2020
Growing hearts and minds for a better today and tomorrow: every day, every way, every one.
Principal's Messages
Dear Families,
Our first week back with all of our students has gone very well. There is definitely more energy in our building and kids seem to be happy to be with their classmates. Students are wearing their masks and remaining socially distanced.
On behalf of the entire Hiawatha community, I would like to thank former student, Craig Bouffard for creating our first Hiawatha Outdoor Learning Space. This weekend I joined Craig, along with his parents Karen and Jeff Bouffard, and current students, Kassandra, Zachary, and Alex Mayhue, their parents Nikki and Chris Mayhue, current students Brennan and Emily Dall and their mother Amanda Dall, and former students Chris, Ben and Katherine Lewis, and their mother Michelle Lewis. We created benches out of birch and wood slabs and stained them. All the wood was sourced right here in Vermont between Bakersfield and Shelburne Farms and our wonderful PTO helped to pay for the wood slabs.. Our students have already been out enjoying this space.
Coincidentally at the same time Craig approached me to do this community service project, we were presented with a grant opportunity to create more outdoor learning spaces. I am happy to announce we received $5000 to continue creating outdoor learning spaces! Our third grade classes are currently brainstorming designs to present.
We are so excited to bring learning outdoors!
Be well,
Katherine
our new outdoor classroom
Update: Parent /Teacher Conferences
Parent Teacher Conferences will be held on Thursday November 19th from 5:00-8:00 and Monday, November 23rd from 7:30-3:00. Classroom teachers will be scheduling conference times with families.
Notes from Nurse Reyna!
Dear Hiawatha Families,
First off, I would like to thank you all for doing an outstanding job in getting your students ready for school during a pandemic! Your students have been amazing with mask wearing and social distancing. They have been resilient with all of the changes throughout our learning spaces. These changes were made to make the building as safe as possible for us to return.
Many of you may have questions on what school will look like in regards to illnesses this year. Basically, if your student wakes up with any sign of an illness (a runny nose, nasal congestion, a sore throat, a cough, a headache, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, a cough, fever of 100.4 degrees or higher, loss of taste or smell, muscle aches, chills), please keep them home. Your student will be sent home if these symptoms are observed during the school day.
It is important to note that some scenarios (travel history and exposure to COVID-19) and symptoms may require your student to see their doctor and/or may require quarantine or COVID-19 testing before your student can return to school. This process has been developed by the Vermont Department of Health and Pediatric Infectious Disease doctors. Please contact me with any questions or concerns.
Thank you,
Reyna Maher, BSN, RN
857-7740
Here is an outline of what you can expect. This was published by the Vermont Department of Health.
What happens when my child is sick?
The symptoms of COVID-19 are similar to many other illnesses. Symptoms such as cough, runny nose, and upset stomach can be caused by many different germs or health conditions, and are common among school-aged children. This factsheet can help you prepare in case your child gets sick and is sent home or stays home from school.
What are the symptoms of COVID-19?
Your student will be asked to stay home or be sent home if they have any of the following symptoms:
fever (100.4 or higher)
cough
shortness of breath
chills
fatigue
muscle pain or body aches
headache
sore throat
loss of taste or smell
congestion or runny nose
nausea, vomiting, or diarrhea (diarrhea is defined as frequent loose or watery stools compared to your child's normal pattern)
What happens after my child is home sick?
Students and staff should not attend school in person until they are no longer considered contagious. A group of pediatric and infectious disease specialists in Vermont worked with the Health Department to create "COVID-19 in Pediatric Patients (PreK-Grade12) Triage, Evaluation, Testing and Return to School" to help your child's health care provider and school nurse determine what to do next when your child is sick depending on your child's health history and symptoms. Please make sure that you have signed a consent for your school nurse to talk with your health care professional as their partnership will be essential in decision making about your child's return.
In some cases, if your child has mild symptoms that resolve quickly, they may return to school. Please discuss with your student's school nurse.
Speak with your child's health care provider to decide if they need to be seen.
Based on this, your child may need to receive a COVID-19 test.
If tested, the results will determine when your child can return to school. Students may not return to in-person school while waiting for COVID-19 test results.
Parents/caregivers may receive a communication tool from their child's school or pediatric health care professional to make sure everyone is talking together about what is best for your child.
Hiawatha Sketchpad artists!
Student attendance & end of day plan change reminder
There are many ways to contact Michelle regarding the attendance or changes to your students end of day plan...Please remember to contact Michelle in case your student's teacher is absent and/or doesn't have time to check their email.
You can call the Attendance line at 802-857-7007 (for Attendance only), call Michelle at 802-878-1384, or email Michelle at mailto:mmurphyertle@ewsd.org. There is also the Report an Absence button on the Hiawatha website.
If you contact your student's teacher through SeeSaw regarding a change of plan in your student's day or attendance PLEASE BE SURE TO CONTACT MICHELLE ALSO.
END OF DAY CHANGES...
You need to contact Michelle before 2:00 PM (1:00 on Wednesdays) if you have a change in your child's after school plan on any given day.
Hiawatha PTO update
The PTO would like to thank everyone that took the time to fill out our survey monkey for approving to pay for the outdoor classroom for our students. When you pick up or drop off your children, take a peek at it in "Pinewood Forest".
Our next PTO meeting is next week on Tuesday, October 13th at 6 PM. This will be via zoom.
Nikki Mayhue is inviting you to a scheduled Zoom meeting.
Topic: Nikki Mayhue's Zoom Meeting
Time: Oct 13, 2020 06:00 PM Eastern Time (US and Canada)
Join Zoom Meeting
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/4597488880?pwd=MUpQK3piOFNPK2NqZ1hvZG40aExFZz09
Meeting ID: 459 748 8880
Passcode: pto
We look forward to those that can join us and plan to record it for those that can not.
Nikki Mayhue
PTO President
Important Dates
10/11 NO SCHOOL - Holiday Indigenous Peoples' Day
10/13 HIA - PTO meeting from 6:00PM - 7;00 PM
11/17 School Picture Retake Day
11/19 Parent/Teacher conferences from 5:00PM - 8:00PM
11/23 Parent/Teacher conferences from 7:30AM - 3:00PM
Hiawatha Elementary School
Email: mmurphyertle@ewsd.org
Website: www.EWSD.org/HIA
Location: 30 Hiawatha Avenue, Essex Junction, VT, USA
Phone: 802-878-1384