Notes from the Principal
Hello Parents and Guardians,
We had a nice week indoors despite the rain. We try to keep your children dry but it's not that easy, kids love puddles and mud. Let's hope the first full week of fall is a little drier than this one.
Thank you for your flexibility in our Early Release Day today. Our district works to minimize time out of class so we take this professional development time seriously. We only have nine Early Release Days throughout the 36 weeks butt may seem like there are more since we have two in October. The next one is coming up in two weeks!
Speaking of two weeks, we've got our Fun Run coming up on that same day, October 7th! I hope you can join us outdoors to cheer on our runners. The schedule will be posted next week.
Though we had a small group attending our first PTO meeting of 2022-23, it was an exciting meeting with lots of preliminary planning to get activities and events back to Orchard School. But we need you! Read the article below and get involved. One example is that we do not have any volunteers to start prepping for "The Play". Our celebrity director, Don Wright, is ready for us but we need volunteers to contact us to get it started. You will not be in it alone, we can help!
Picture Day đˇis next Friday, September 30th!
Have a terrific weekend; take some time each day to read with your child.
Have a Happy & Healthy New Year to all of our Jewish Families who celelbrate Rosh Hashanah! L'Shana Tovah tikatevu.
Mark T & Olivia K
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PTO News
Events Are Back! Seeking Parent Volunteers and Members
Our school is so much more than a place for learning; Orchard Elementary serves our kids' overall well-being and is central to our community. The Parent Teacher Organization (PTO) seeks to facilitate connection, opportunities, communication and caring amongst families, teachers, and the community. Please join us!
The PTO is bringing back our beloved Orchard events - like International Night, Science Fair, and Spring Fling, to name a few - but we need your help. These events donât happen without parent volunteers. If youâd like to make these events happen for your student at Orchard, or are interested in joining the PTO, reach out to orchardschoolvt@gmail.com for more information.
International Night - Seeking Parent Coordinators
The PTO is thrilled to bring back International Night. Held in November every other year, International Night is a chance for Orchard families to come together to celebrate our diverse and special community. Students and their families are encouraged to put together a country display based on their heritage or a favorite place they have traveled to or learned about. Children are then invited to pick up a passport that they fill with stamps from the tables they visit.
The Orchard School community is extremely proud of the many cultures represented among their families. International Night creates the opportunity to come together to celebrate a variety of rich backgrounds and interests and, in the process, learn from one another.
Families are invited to register a table or simply attend. Some families bring food or an activity, others just bring items from a country. Check out some pictures of our last International Night held in 2019!
We are seeking parent coordinators to help organize our participating families. If you are interested, please reach out to us at orchardschoolvt@gmail.com with âInternational Night Coordinatorâ in your subject line.
We look forward to celebrating with you!
School Play - Seeking 4th & 5th Grade Parent Producers
The 4th & 5th grade school play is on - more details to come soon!
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News from Our Medical Team
SCREENINGS
Vision and hearing screenings are conducted annually on students in pre-kindergarten, kindergarten, 1st, 3rd, and 5th grade. We have the opportunity to welcome the Vermont Lions KidSight program, on Tuesday, October 4th, to perform photo screening on students in the recommended grades of pre-kindergarten, kindergarten, and 1st. We will use traditional vision screening methods for 3rd and 5th graders. Hearing screening will begin later this fall as well.
Vermont Lions KidSight program uses a photo screening digital device called a SPOT vision screener to objectively check for vision problems. The photo screener is like a special-purpose camera; it takes a picture of a childâs eyes and by detecting special light reflexes from each eye, the device produces images that can help identify potential eye conditions.
If an eye concern is identified, we will send you the results of the photo screener along with a recommendation for further vision testing by a specialist. If you do not hear from us, your child passed the screening. Please be sure your student is at school on (the morning of) October 4th! As always, please contact us if you have questions or would like follow-up vision or hearing checks.
SEPTEMBER IS HEAD LICE PREVENTION MONTH
Due to the pandemic (distancing, no sleepovers, etc.) school nurses have had a pause in helping students with head lice (pediculosis). As students gather close together again, we want to urge parents / caregivers to be proactive and check their student(s) for head lice at least once a week. If you discover your student has head lice, please treat according to the manufacturersâ, or your health care providerâs instructions, and consider notifying the school nurse. If you have questions, please call the health room; we are happy to assist you! For more information about head lice, please refer to the CDC fact page: LINK HERE.
PRIMARY SERIES
- For 12-17-year-olds: look for clinics that offer the Pfizer vaccine
- For children ages 5-11: look for a clinic that offers Pfizer (for ages 5-11)
- For children 6 months - 5 years: look for a clinic that offers Moderna (under age 6) or Pfizer (under age 5).
BOOSTERS
- Anyone age 12 and older, who has completed a primary vaccine series, is eligible to receive the (bivalent) booster, 2 months after their most recent COVID vaccine dose.
Find out more information from the Vermont Department of Health: LINK HERE.
Find Translations: LINK HERE.
Be well,
Kara Cassani &
Sarah Pineda, School Nurses
High School Gear!
Dolphins Youth Football Announces âTry Football for Freeâ Dates
Try football for free with the South Burlington Dolphins, the cornerstone of S.B. youth football since 1967! A fun experience for players of all genders and experience levels to learn the fundamentals of football and grow with the sport. The Dolphins offers flag football (grades 1-4) and tackle (grades 5-8).
Meet our new head coach and try a practice Monday, Sept. 19 & 26 and Tuesday, Sept. 20 & 27 at 5pm at Jaycee Park in South Burlington.
For more information, contact Coach Bryan Belisle at oleballcoach1@gmail.com.
Why play for the Dolphins?
¡ Inclusive, encouraging coaching that supports the latest in player safety & proper skills development.
¡ The only S.B. youth football team to be a member of the Northern Vermont Football League.
¡ Practices held locally at Jaycee Park:
o Flag (grades 1-4) practice Mon., Tues. & Thurs. from 5p-6:30p. Games on Thurs. or Sat.
o Tackle (grades 5-8) practice Mon.-Fri. from 4p-6p. Games on Sat.
¡ Head Coach Bryan Belisle combines over 20 years of football coaching experience at the youth through semi pro levels. Holds USA Football and Advanced Contact certifications.
¡ All Dolphins coaching staff are USA Football certified, have experience playing and/or coaching at the collegiate level and want to pass on their love of the game to a new generation!
Registration is Still Open For SB Youth Football!
Do you have a child who is interested in football? The South Burlington Youth Football organization offers both flag (grades K-8 as the Jr. Wolves) and tackle, as there is a team made up of fifth and sixth graders, as well as a team of seventh and eighth graders.
The Jr. Wolves NFL Flag team will practice once a week (Wednesdays from 5:30-7 p.m.) at Farrell Park starting on Wednesday, September 7, with a focus on fundamentals, having fun, and learning the game. The Jr. Wolves will also have one game per week.
For kids in grades fifth through eighth, there is also a tackle option. That team practices four nights a week from 5:30-7 p.m.
Learn more and register online by visiting: www.sbjrwolves.com
You can also direct any questions that you may have to: sbjuniorwolfpack@gmail.com 
Building Bright Futures
We have an opportunity as caregivers to share our thoughts and experiences on raising young children in Vermont through the Building Bright Futures Family Needs Survey.
You can complete the survey online by clicking on this link or request a paper copy from the school office.
The survey is designed to gather information and feedback on up to 3 supports and services (you choose) that families with young children prenatal through age have received. Responses to this survey are anonymous and will be used to inform policy and decision-makers on how families are feeling about services and supports in Vermont.
Those who complete the survey will be entered to win a $50 gift card.
Here's to a great year, and thank you for considering adding your voice to the survey!
Leigh Jaschke,
Orchard Parent and member of the BBF Families and Communities Committee
Building Bright Futures (BBF) is Vermontâs early childhood public-private partnership, charged under Vermont Title 33 § Chapter 46 and the Federal Head Start Act (Public Law 110-134) as Vermontâs Early Childhood State Advisory Council (SAC) and Network.
We are Hiring!
