Gertrude Chamberlin School
Family Newsletter September 10, 2021 Volume 16 Issue 5
IMPORTANT DATES:
Tuesday, September 14th - Title I Family Meeting on Zoom, 6:00-6:15 PM
GCS Annual Meeting to Learn about our Title 1 Program!
Join Zoom Meeting
https://sbschools.zoom.us/j/88187484184?pwd=ZzgwYkM0UHRZQ09wMFI0U1RhRHFjQT09Meeting ID: 881 8748 4184
Passcode: 558260
Tuesday, September 14th - PTO Meeting on Zoom, 6:15-7:15 PM
Topic: PTO Meeting
Time: September 14, 6:15 PM
Join Zoom Meeting
https://sbschools.zoom.us/j/88187484184?pwd=ZzgwYkM0UHRZQ09wMFI0U1RhRHFjQT09
Meeting ID: 881 8748 4184
Passcode: 558260
Wednesday, September 15th - International Dot Day! Wear any clothing that has dots or circles.
Friday, September 17th - Picture Day
Friday, September 24th - 12:30 Dismissal for Staff Professional Learning
Thursday, September 30th 6:30 PM - GCS Circus Performance, South Burlington High School Turf Field
Thank you, PTO, for the carnations!
5th graders giving a warm welcome to GCS!
Welcome from a big brother!
Welcome to Our Kindergarten Students!
Support Our School When You Shop
Did you know that you can support programs at Chamberlin School whenever you shop? Check your food items and office supply products to see if they have Box Tops on them! It is now an electronic program and you can download the Box Tops app on your phone and scan your receipt to get credit for Chamberlin. Our PTO uses funds from Box Tops and other fundraising events to support field trips, our gardens, our playground, school supplies and many other needs at our school. For more information, visit www.boxtops4education.com .
Do you shop Amazon? If you use the link tinyurl.com/ChamberlinAmazon, our PTO will get a check for a percentage of your purchases. Shop online and support our school at the same time!
We are looking forward to a wonderful year together to support our children. If you have questions, you can contact the PTO president, Jennifer Doig - jdoig@sbschools.net.
GCS Current Positions - We have openings if you are looking to join our school team!
Recess Monitor - 3 hours a day from 10:00 AM - 1:00 PM
Substitutes - teachers, interventionists, paraprofessionals, recess/lunch monitors. We are looking for part day and full day subs.
Please call Mrs. Baechle at 652-7403 for more information.
Picture Day Information
School picture day is Friday, September 17th. You can order your photos using the order form that went home or online by using the following information - please note that the password is case sensitive.
passcode: gcs321
Picture will be taken outside, unless the weather is inclement, so please have your child dress accordingly.
Positive Behavioral Intervention Supports at GCS
At Chamberlin School, we focus on the positives! We use a framework called Positive Behavioral Intervention Supports or PBiS, to promote behaviors that help us have the best learning environment at our school. Students have been busy learning about the 3 Chamberlin Expectations, which have been revised this year! Our new expectations are: We Are Kind, We Are Responsible, We Are Safe. When students are “caught” following our expectations, they receive a paper Bee Buck or a click on a counter. Bee Bucks are collected in classrooms, and for every 10 Bee Bucks, a class receives a honey cell (yellow pom pom). When a class jar is full of honey cells, they are deposited into our Bee Hive located in the lobby. When our Bee Hive is full, we have a school wide celebration. Your child is coming home with the matrix that we use to teach what it looks and sounds like across our school settings. Please review these with your child, and keep them handy for review. You might even want to create your own expectations at home using the same language...it's great to be kind, respectful and safe at home, too! We have a Universal PBiS Team made up of staff members and students who meet and help make decisions about how to improve our school.
Our PBiS team identified family connection as one of our goals this year, and decided to create grade level videos for our family newsletter so families can see what's happening at school, during a time when they can't come into the building. Here's the first video from 5th grade, created by our PBiS coordinator, Ms. Finlayson. PBiS is another way that we make GCS an excellent place to learn and grow!
New Artwork In Our Hallway
Ms. Murphy, Mr. Mott and Ms. Wales hard at work this weekend.
Our beautiful new tile art installation in the hallway!
Ms. Wales and Mr. Mott
School Nurse Notes
Students should stay home if they are not feeling well. If COVID-19 symptoms arise while at school, those individuals will be sent home. Consider contacting your student's health care provider. Even when experiencing mild symptoms, a COVID PCR test may be needed (at a testing site or through the health care provider).
NEW ILLNESS GUIDELINES FOR STUDENTS
The State has provided schools with guidance for if your child gets sick and when to return to school. For any COVID-19 symptoms, please reference the Return to School Following Illness COVID-19 Information for Families.
What are the next steps if my student has symptoms while at home or develops symptoms while at school?
If your student has illness symptoms (even a runny nose!), please refer to the above guidelines regarding when your student should be tested for COVID-19 and when to return to school following an illness.
If a COVID-19 test is obtained:
- It must be a PCR test.
- Please have your student stay home, and avoid others, while awaiting the COVID test results. Please also notify the school nurse, of the outcome of the test result, before your student returns to school.
Be well,
Nurse Kerry Farrell
What Does Homework Look Like For Elementary Students?
Our district has the following guidelines for homework:
Kindergarten through Grade 2:
● Reading with a “Just Right”* Book will be expected each evening.
● No other homework will be required.
Grade 3:
Reading with a “Just Right” Book will be expected each evening.
Homework will be optional for teachers/school though it will focus upon personalized learning, not on weekly routine work.
Grades 4 & 5:
Reading with a “Just Right” Book will be expected each evening.
Homework Assignments will focus upon Project-Based Learning and use Vermont’s Transferable Skills as a guide for student independent work.
Independent & Collaborative Projects will also put an emphasis on Organizational Skills.
Homework assignments will focus upon personalized learning, it will not be weekly routine work.
You can find the answer to this question and many more in the GCS Family Handbook!
Snacks and Birthdays
Safe Use of Technology
The Circus is coming to Chamberlin School!
We will be having Troy Wunderle and his Big Top Adventures as our artist in residence from Monday, September 20th- Friday, October 1st. Students will be working with Troy to learn and practice a variety of circus skills such as: juggling, spinning plates, stilts, diablos, pogo sticks, unicycles, and rolling globes. Mark your calendars! We plan to have a show for our school community on Thursday, September 30th at 6:30pm on the turf field at South Burlington High School.
September 9th District Update From Superintendent Young
September 9, 2021
Dear Parents/Guardians and Staff,
How are you doing so far this school year? I know it is a busy time for us all as we transition from summer into back-to-school routines. With all students back to in-person learning 5 days per week, I hope that this shift feels hopeful for families, students, and staff. This week, more clubs and activities had their first meetings and it is exciting to see the arts return as well. I know there continue to be concerns and uncertainties around COVID-19 and one question that has come up frequently regards student safety at lunch and in our cafeterias where masks are temporarily removed. Our outdoor tents have provided ample space for students to spread out and we have been using our plexiglass barriers at the elementary schools. WCAX did a great piece on how we’re keeping students safe at lunchtime! Shout out to RMCS Principal Kathleen Kilbourne! See more updates below.
Join Me for my Next Zoom Pop-In Chat!
Please join me for my next pop-in chat for families this Monday, September 13 (Meeting ID: 889 8242 4454 Passcode: 683582) beginning at 6:00 pm. Bring your questions, concerns, thoughts, and ideas. I look forward to hearing from you!
FHTMS Update
We continue to process the loss of FHTMS Principal Karsten Schlenter and will keep offering counseling services to students and staff in the days and weeks to come. Currently, Assistant Principal Dave Hyatt is serving as interim principal with assistance from retired administrators Bob Goudreau and Joe O'Brien. They will assist through the end of September/beginning of October then we will be looking for a mid-term individual to take us through June. After a permanent replacement is hired, Dave Hyatt will return to his Assistant Principal role.
COVID19 Vaccination Clinics Next Week
The state is continuing to offer vaccinations at a variety of sites throughout the state and we, like many of our fellow Districts, are offering pop-up vaccine clinics for those ages 12 and above at the high school from 9:00 am-5:00 pm Thursday September 16 and Thursday, October 7. Vaccination is an important tool to mitigate the spread of COVID-19 and ultimately for keeping our students learning in person.
Surveillance Testing Update
We have received a lot of questions and expressions of interest in the voluntary COVID19 surveillance testing the SBSD will be participating in beginning later this fall. Thank you! We think this will be a valuable tool to guide our decision making throughout the school year. Both vaccinated and unvaccinated students (ages 5 and above) and staff will be able to participate. Our start date has not yet been confirmed, but October is a current possibility. You can find more information about testing in this informational video from CIC. In the meantime, the state continues to offer numerous options for getting a COVID19 test if you need or want one. More details to follow!
Transportation Updates
The Transportation Department is working hard to make sure your children arrive at school and home safely and we need your help. Please check your child's route often for changes over the next few weeks as we continue to make adjustments. To ensure the safe and effective use of our buses, we ask that parents/guardians have their children at the bus stop five minutes before the published stop time in the AM. This will ensure students will not be missed, as we do not have the resources to go back to pick them up. Also, for elementary parents/guardians who pick up their child at the published PM stop, if you could arrive at your child's stop five minutes early, it will help buses deliver every child on time. You can find bus routes on the District website. If you have specific concerns, please email Kathy LaRock, klarock@sbschools.net for assistance.
COVID Symptoms and Testing
Students and staff should stay home if they are not feeling well. If COVID-19 symptoms arise while at school, those individuals will be sent home. Consider contacting your student's/your health care provider. Even when experiencing mild symptoms, whether vaccinated or not, a COVID PCR test may be needed (at a testing site or through the health care provider). If testing occurred due to symptoms, the individual should stay home and avoid others, while awaiting the COVID test results.
NEW ILLNESS GUIDELINES FOR STUDENTS
The State has provided schools with guidance for if your child gets sick and when to return to school. For any COVID-19 symptoms, please reference the Return to School Following Illness COVID-19 Information for Families.
We’re Hiring! Transportation, Custodial, and School’s Out!
We have several full and part-time benefit eligible custodial positions available! Flexible hours and flexible shifts available as well. We also have full-time, benefit eligible positions that have flexible hours and part-time positions with as few as 12 hours per week available. We will provide paid CDL training for both full and part time employees. Good opportunity for parents with school age children to work some mid-day shifts. Interested? Contact Director of Operations and Finance Gary Marckres at gmarckres@sbschools.net
In addition, School’s Out is currently seeking qualified individuals to work with children at one of our after school programs for this school year. Our programs operate out of public schools in South Burlington and serve children between the ages of 5 and 13. The hours of operation are 2:00 -- 5:45 pm Monday through Friday. Job duties include planning of daily activities, participation in activities and assisting with supervision of children. Only available a few days a week? Not a problem. We can be flexible with scheduling. Requirements: Experience working with large groups of children in an educational or recreational setting. Interested candidates, please forward a copy of your resume, contact information, and days you are available to Ida Pero ipero@sbschools.net
School’s Out is also hiring for our Early Education program. Similar job expectations, supporting play, regular cleaning and guiding our district's youngest learners, 3-5 year olds. Program runs 7:30 am - 5:30 pm and is looking to hire for opening and closing shifts.
SBFD September 11 Memorial Observance at Overlook Park
The 20th Anniversary of the September 11 attacks is this Saturday. The South Burlington Fire Department will be conducting an hour-long Sunset Memorial Event at Overlook Park, from 6:30-7:30 pm. There is limited parking in Overlook Park proper, with many spaces being reserved for several emergency vehicles, and those with a handicapped parking placard. Street parking is available along Nowland Farm and Deerfield Rds. with excellent sidewalk access to the park.
School Happenings
SBHS Science Students Learn how to Do Stitches
Students in Stephen Rizner and Theresa Akerley’s “Biology for the Medical Profession” course engaged in a fun activity this week: doing sutures (stitches) by practicing on bananas. This is how many medical students also get their exposure to this important skill. Students practiced both intermittent (single stitch) and continuous (many stitches) sutures.
FHTMS Fall Play is On!
The fall play at FHTMS this year will be Peter and the Starcatcher. It is a wonderful story about how the Peter Pan characters came to be. It features British sailing ships, lost boys, pirates led by the ruthless "Black Stache", the heroine and Starcatcher Molly Aster and of course Peter Pan. Auditions for the over 40 roles begin next week and all Tuttle students are welcome to audition. Later in September, there will be an informational meeting for any Tuttle student interested in working behind the scenes.Anyone with questions is welcome to contact David Bailey at dbailey@sbschools.net.
Gertrude Chamberlin School Art Installation Inspires
Last year, students worked with retiring art teacher, Ms. Wales to create tiles for a hallway installation about making it through a year of learning during the COVID-19 pandemic. Each student and staff member decorated a tile to express what they were happy about when the restrictions were lifted last spring. This past weekend, Ms. Wales, Ms. Murphy, Mr. Provost, Mr. Melen and parent Travis Mott worked together to put the tile display up in the GCS main hallway. Thank you to Ms. Wales for helping to create this wonderful piece of art! Be sure to check out Principal Rouelle’s newsletter to families tomorrow for pics!
Rick Marcotte Central School Carnation Ceremony
In September, each 5th grader welcomes a new Kindergarten student by giving them a carnation and wishing them a great school year! This touching event occurred last week. In June, each Kindergarten student will give each 5th grader a carnation to wish them well at the middle school! See photos in Principal Kilbourne's newsletter to families. This great tradition occurred at Chamberlin School today too!
Orchard’s All School Morning Meetings are back: Virtual Style!
Orchard School is adapting one of its traditions this year. They will be moving their all-school morning meetings online! The goal will be to have one bi-weekly. All classes and staff will be invited through Zoom while Principal Mark Trifilio is stationed at the library reading steps with co-host and music teacher Amy Frostman. Meetings will provide opportunities to learn about each class as well as the variety of cultures present at Orchard School. Mr. Trifilio said, “Even during a pandemic, where we are all physically distanced, online morning meetings are keeping us a close community!”
Thanks for reading and have a great weekend,
David
Does Your Child Need Milk for Their Home Lunch?
If you have any questions, please contact Rhonda Ketner rketner@sbschools.net.
This school year ALL STUDENTS can have FREE Breakfast and Lunch! We would still ask everyone to fill out the Free and Reduced Lunch form. See the links below for the form and the breakfast and lunch menus.
Gertrude Chamberlin School
Email: hrouelle@sbschools.net
Website: https://vt01819219.schoolwires.net/Domain/10
Location: Chamberlin School, White Street, South Burlington, VT, USA
Phone: 802 652 7403
Twitter: @hrouelle