CCS Newsletter
December 18, 2020
ADMINISTRATION UPDATE
Dear CCS Families and Community,
We hope this finds you and your family well and warm as winter is settling in! Our students have appreciated being able to play in a little bit of snow! As we get deeper into the winter months, please remember to send your students with proper gear for recess. Backup clothes, shoes and socks are also a great idea - students go outside multiple times a day.
Snow became the theme throughout the building as students, (teachers and administrators) took the time to play and laugh together. From paper cutout snowflakes to the stories being read about SnowFlake Bentley, the snow recharged our joyful spirits.
In reflecting on the month of December, we have seen an amazing level of generosity poured forth into our school and community. We are so appreciative of the kindness shown to us in many simple gifts:
- The generosity of time families are giving to support the academic and social/emotional goals across the school;
- Thanks to our PTO, the supportive local businesses and to the community members who made purchases through the CCS Virtual Craft Fair.
- The generosity of our teachers as they go above and beyond each day!
- The fifth grade had a narrative writer celebration with students sharing their work with classmates and staff from around the building.
We hope you all have a wonderful weekend and we look forward to seeing everyone on Monday!
Warm Regards,
Stephanie, Jen and Cassandra
CHANGE TO 7/8 SCHEDULE FOR DECEMBER 21ST AND 22ND
Due to the short week prior to the December School Break, the hybrid schedule for Grades 7-8 will be adjusted to provide an in-person and a remote learning day for both A & B student cohorts. Group A will be in-person on December 21 and remote on December 22. Group B will be remote on December 21 and in-person on December 22.
IMPORTANT DATES TO REMEMBER
Monday, December 21st
7/8 Cohort A In-Person
7/8 Cohort B Remote
Tuesday, December 22nd
7/8 Cohort A Remote
7/8 Cohort B In-Person
Wednesday, December 23rd through Friday January 1st
NO SCHOOL - Early Winter Break
Wednesday, January 6th
Remote Day for All
Wednesday, January 13th
Remote Day for All
Monday, January 18th
NO SCHOOL - Martin Luther King Jr. Holiday
Wednesday, January 20th
Remote Day for All
Wednesday, January 27th
Remote Day for All
CCS ATHLETIC UNIFORMS
We are still looking for 2019-20 Basketball Uniforms (or any other CCS sports uniforms you can find.) Thank you for your prompt attention to this matter.
VIRTUAL LEARNING
Virtual field trips and google meeting with guest presenters are another way student learning is being transformed this year. If you have a passion or expertise that you’d like to share with our students, please reach out to Jen and Stephanie with your ideas.
- This week, Omega 7/8 welcomed Dr. Megan Valentine from the Microbiology Dept at SUNY Plattsburgh. She taught students some great information about coronavirus, the immune system and some specific background on the vaccines that have just arrived in Vermont. This was not only great current event information but also had some great connections with the work students have been doing around genetics.
- 6th grade prepared today for their virtual field trip Monday to the World of Words Museum in Washington DC. The trip will be a further investigation into perspectives and the power of words.
SCIENCE IN OMEGA THIS WEEK
Here is one student's summary of what they learned:
"Since COVID-19 is a new virus, our immune systems have no means of defending itself against it. Research teams have been working really hard over the past multiple months to develop vaccines and run them through a series of clinical trials. These types of vaccines are all different and have varying ranges of success. The most successful of these vaccines are the mRNA or messenger RNA vaccines, these vaccines insert a small strand of DNA (RNA) into the body to prime the adaptive immune system, for fighting the coronavirus. Once enough people get the vaccine, the herd immunity would be better and virus transmission will go down, we will have a more safe population because we are protecting the imuno-compromised individuals who cannot get the vaccine. "
So if you have questions related to the exciting news that coronavirus vaccinations have begun in our community - perhaps you have a great resource sitting right at your dinner table! We hope to include more guests like this throughout 2021 as we expand into topics like forces / motion, natural selection and waves / energy. If you happen to be or know someone with a real connection to the science in those fields, please reach out to Allan Miller (akmiller@cvsdvt.org or Andrew Lounsbury (alounsbury@cvsdvt.org) as we love sharing the real life applications of science.
CCS IS LOOKING FOR MENTORS!
Do you think kids are fun? Does spending time with children bring you joy? Are you interested in giving back to your community? Then you’d probably be a good mentor!
Mentors are caring adults who spend about an hour a week with a student. Mentors bring with them a sense of shared fun, new experiences and great listening skills. Mentors bring encouragement and options for expanding a young person’s regard for themselves and their world. By sharing yourself with your mentee you can inspire them to create a richer future for themselves.
Mentors are distinct members of a team of caring adults who show up for youth in addition to parents, caregivers and teachers.
If you can commit to spending an hour a week with a student through the end of the school year, please be in touch! We would love to hear from you. Please reach out to Joshua Rooney, Mentoring Coordinator at jrooney@cvsdvt.org or (802) 425-6642!
SHARE FROM BETSY LLOYD, OUR CCS SCHOOL COUNSELOR
- Common Sense Media just shared this activity for some winter break fun for families (since many will be at home!) that we might want to include in the newsletter this week.
- This has some holiday gratitude activities for families, and it is a great reminder that research shows that developing a gratitude practice increases happiness.
- And finally, they put together a list of best winter break movies for kids of all ages.
SELF-CARE FOR THE HOLIDAY - RECOMMENDATIONS FROM TANYA VYHOVSKY, CCS SCHOOL SOCIAL WORKER
This time of year can be challenging for all of us, tensions run high and we can lose track of what is important. If you are feeling overwhelmed there are a lot of great things you can do to bring yourself to the present and connect with your loved ones in a way that feels supportive and positive.
If you are feeling at the end of your rope it may be time to take a break, practice some mindful breathing, take a walk or use any tool that helps you to bring yourself back to a rational place. We can help our kids remember this by modeling taking care of ourselves!
If things get out of hand or you need additional support to get through a tough moment there are resources out there to help. You can call First Call for Chittenden County at 488-7777 and they will provide you support to help you get through it. You can also access the Vermont Support Line from 3:00 pm-6:00 am to talk anonymously with a non-judgemental supporter of whatever is going on at 833-VT-TALKS. I hope your holidays are filled with love and joy and if you are struggling don't struggle alone reach out for help and support.
ADOBE FLASH COMES TO A CLOSE
Adobe is no longer supporting Flash at the end of 2020. Some computer applications and websites may no longer work. FasttMath is one example. We are shutting it down and it will no longer be available after 12/22. We are reviewing other applications with our vendors to see what else may be impacted. This information may be helpful to know about sites that you and your children possibly use at home.
UNFORTUNATE "PAUSE" FOR BOLTON VALLEY / CCS SKI & RIDE PROGRAM
Due to the uncertainties presented by the pandemic, I am sorry to announce that our projected 2020/2021 program will be put on “pause” until further notice. Realistically, if conditions change significantly in a positive direction, we might be able to salvage a short session in March, but Mountain, lodge, group instruction, and transportation issues would have to improve markedly for us to feel comfortable offering a safe program this season.
However, as usual, I will be able to assist any Charlotte student who needs equipment if planning to do socially distanced Alpine skiing or riding this winter with their families. Those of you who have Program equipment from last year can hold on to it, continue to use it, or should contact me if you need an “upsize,” (or just want to return it).
Here’s hoping that all of you have a healthy, safe, winter, and you get to ski or ride at some point during the season!
Always, Michael Krasnow
Coordinator, Charlotte/Bolton Valley Ski + Ride
mkrasnow1@gmail.com 425-3997
SEEKING SUBSTITUTE TEACHERS
CCS is looking for a few energetic and reliable people to join our guest teacher list for the 2020-2021 school year. If you love working with children, this is a great opportunity to become involved in your community school. If you are interested in subbing at CCS, please contact Vicki Roberts at Champlain Valley School District, 383-1234 or vroberts@cvsdvt.org, for employment paperwork and fingerprinting information.
STUDENTS AND MASK WEARING
REMINDERS FROM THE FRONT OFFICE
A few quick reminders as we move deeper into the school year!
Students go outside every day, sometimes multiple times per day! As weather changes, please be sure your child has appropriate outdoor clothing and shoes (and sometimes a change of shoes if very rainy).
CVSD Busing - Due to COVID guidance, capacity on buses are limited and are by reservation. Due to this limited seating and for contact tracing purposes, buses can only pick up and drop off at a student's home or approved/affiliated daycares.
K-4 students returning to 4 in-person days throughout this month means small increases in our traffic flow. Please be mindful of this, knowing that wait times may vary and traffic patterns may be congested. Keeping safety in mind is of utmost importance, particularly as we are loading and unloading students!
Early Pick up: If you need to pick up your child early for an appointment, please plan on picking them up no later than 2:15pm. With our new dismissal process our busses are in front of school by 2:30 and we do not want you to get caught up in that traffic.
Dismissal Pick Up: We have 4 separate locations for parent pick up. Please use these locations as you are writing pick up notes.
- K - Dismissed by the cafeteria/kitchen door.
- 1 - 4 - Exit through the front entrance.
- 5 - 6 - Exit through the cafeteria door.
- 7 - 8 - Exit through the Flagpole door.
TEMPERATURE CHECKS
As we edge toward winter, our thermometers are becoming less and less accurate in the mornings. Beginning Monday, November 16th, we will move temperature taking inside at each entrance. We will continue to use all three parking lots and have a slight shift in the dropoff routine on the cafeteria side. Please know that if your child registers a high temperature, we will enact quarantine procedures quickly and call you as quickly as possible to return to school and pick up your child.
Grades K, 5-6 (and siblings) - drop off at cafeteria door. Temperatures will be taken inside the cafeteria entrance. K students will be escorted to Kindergarten by adults and all others will walk to their assigned classrooms. We will work to stagger entrances to limit congestion.
Grades 1-4 (and siblings) - drop off at the front entrance. Temperatures will be taken in the main lobby entrance and students will proceed to their classrooms.
Grades 7-8 (and siblings) - drop off at the flagpole entrance. Temperatures will be taken in the flagpole lobby and students will proceed to their classrooms.
PARKING, ARRIVAL AND DISMISSAL - PLEASE HELP US WITH SAFETY!
Buses do not leave the front of the building until close to 3:00. Cars arriving early are blocking the ability of the buses to depart the parking lot safely. Please plan to arrive at CCS at 3:00 or after to keep our roadways clear of congestion. We need everyone’s assistance to keep our students, families and community members safe.
Parking spaces on the west side of the building are reserved for our school bus drivers. As the winter weather approaches, our lot also holds buses from Shelburne Community School. We are trying to create habits to avoid any cars impacting the arrival and departure of these buses.
INFORMATION FROM THE CVSD SCHOOL COUNSELORS
The CVSD mission is to develop citizens who learn, think, live, contribute, and pursue excellence.
INFORMATION FROM THE CCS DIRECTION CENTER
Hello Families! I know we are all working to find balance and calm amidst these uncertain times. I also know you are inundated with emails, resources, articles, and information almost constantly.
I have curated a list of resources, updated and added to each week, that I hope will support your entire family’s social and emotional well being. This can be a place you come back to each time new challenges or questions arise, and you need a resource to help.
As always, if you need additional support or information not found here, PLEASE reach out to me. My email is blloyd@cvsdvt.org
Stay well,
Besty Lloyd, CCS School Counselor
Local Vermont Resources
- First Call - 488-7777
- Vermont Department of Children and Families
- Vermont Department of Mental Health
- UVM Breathe In Breath Out - How to deal with stress due to COVID-19
- Outright Vermont - support for LGBTQ+ community
1-800-273-TALK (8255) (National Suicide Prevention Lifelife: USA)
- Crisis Text Line - text HOME to 741741 (24 hours a day, seven days a week)
- 211 has hired three COVID Support Counselors available M-F 8-8. https://covidsupportvt.wpengine.com and there are some good resources on their webpage as well.
Comprehensive Resources
- Child Mind Institute - Great articles and resources for dealing with anxiety (children and parents), also offers live Facebook chats with experts as well as remote evaluations and telemedicine.
- Common Sense Media - Provides online tools, apps, as well as “Best Of” Lists for kids (movies, music, TV, Books, Apps, Games, Websites, etc)
- Here are some direct links that may be helpful:
Educational apps that don't need wifi or data
What to watch, read, play while your children are stuck indoors
Free online events and activities for kids at home
Resources for Anxiety, relaxation, sleep, mindfulness
- Calm - an excellent online resource with soothing music, meditations (for kids and adults), sleep stories, and mindfulness resources.
- Mindful Schools - they have recorded mindfulness classes for kids to try while at home, geared towards kids who are in grades K-5.
- Articles for navigating and managing anxiety
- Insight Timer - this is a link to MANY resources in times of COVID-19 - Anxiety, panic, healthy routines, connection and compassion.
- Meditation for feeling as safe as you reasonably can - created by Rick Hansen, it is less than 5 minutes long and can be a great source of calm
- How Mindfulness Can Help During COVID-19
Resources for Play and Fun!
- Smirkus @ Home - Circus Smirkus is offering online classes for all ages! Learn to hula hoop, juggle, and much more!
- Flynn Center - the Flynn is offering online classes, for little or no cost, and for all ages!
- Pbs.org - how you and your kids can de-stress during coronavirus - activities to try together, and videos from some of their favorite PBS kids characters!
- Time magazine - article with ideas for play and keeping kids busy while at home
Self Care
- Ideas - things you can do to take care of yourself
- Self care in the time of coronavirus
- Holidays during the pandemic- tips for reducing stress, helping kids cope, and making new traditions.
BUDGET SEASON IS UNDERWAY!
The Champlain Valley School District's Board of Directors invites all members of the CVSD community to join us for the budget process. Please mark your calendars for these upcoming School Board budget meetings.
- December 15: Operations and Maintenance
- January 5: Summary and Tax Implications
FOR YOUR CONVENIENCE: MIDDLE LEVEL FRIDAY BULLETIN LINKS
CHARLOTTE COMMUNITY CENTER COMMITTEE SURVEY
Survey is open through 12/31/2020
Hello Charlotte Families,
The Charlotte Community Center Committee is surveying residents' interest in a multi-use community center as well as gaining a better understanding of potential needs around recreation, leisure and community activities. Will you take our 10 minute survey? Your response is important and will be used to help inform the Committee.
Survey Link: https://s.surveyplanet.com/m6z5Jz-Ao
Who are We? The Charlotte Community Center Committee formed in November to explore the idea and gauge resident interest in a multi-use community center in Charlotte. Made up of a diverse set of residents, including Selectboard members and Planning Commission members, the committee is surveying residents, evaluating options, and identifying needs that may be met with a multi-use facility.
Committee members are volunteering their time and experience in a range of knowledge, skills and abilities including executive leadership, project management, construction, architecture, communications and fundraising. If the committee finds sufficient interest in the project, the hope is to have an informational presentation ready for town meeting to garner town-wide support to continue its work into the next year.
Thank you in advance, the Community Center Committee.
CHARLOTTE COMMUNITY ASSESSMENT SURVEY
Survey link: https://tools.gocros.org/charlotte
(Date extended - Open through December 31st)
This assessment came to the attention of some very forward thinking folks at the library as it had been formulated in the wake of Hurricane Irene when so many Vermont towns and families sustained substantial damage from the incredible, unexpected flooding around our state. It became apparent during the aftermath of the devastation that some towns rebounded easier and quicker than others and it was determined that it was the result of them being more and/or better prepared for the crisis……in other words, more resilient!
To further study that, the Community Resilience Organization came into being and the assessment created. To date, 10 towns in Vermont have taken the assessment and used the results to bring about change and improvements in those towns for their citizens. In Charlotte, several months ago, the CRO was contacted and the wheels to do this in Charlotte began turning.
The COVID team/Charlotte Community Partners, consisting of folks coming from various organizations/walks of life in our town decided to take up this mission as a way to learn whether or not our town was indeed ready, in various areas, to handle a crisis in the future. The assessment was read and studied, then simplified, reworked, and tweaked every way possible to try to make it relatively painless to complete, easy to understand, but still providing us with some clarity of where the town is meeting the needs of our citizens and where more work is needed….perhaps in terms of services, perhaps in terms of communication!
The assessment looks at areas that are critical to each and every one of us…..the availability of food and housing, how we are dealing with our environment, our roads and bridges and whether or not they are adequate, maintained, and/or safe, our natural resources and whether or not we are protecting them, the availability of health services, use of our land, availability of emergency services and shelters, internet/broadband service, community connections, and more. In every instance you will be asked to rate how you feel Charlotte ranks with the option to say, you don’t know. All questions are important as are all answers, including “you don’t know”….which is critical as it may mean our town isn’t prepared in that area or it could also mean that what the town has done or has available hasn’t been effectively communicated to folks. In other words, if you have a lot of questions with the answer “I don’t know”, don’t feel that your assessment isn’t valuable….because it very definitely is…..a lot of issues today stem strictly from the lack or ineffectiveness of communication.
But if this assessment is to have value to our town, we need to hear from ALL Charlotte residents …..and that means each one of YOU! To that end, the assessment will be available on line and links will be in the Charlotte News and The Citizen and on the Library and Town websites and in the CCS newsletter. If you don’t have access to a computer, you can access one at the Library and complete the assessment there.
INTERVALE CENTER AND SHIFTMEALS
EFFICIENCY VERMONT'S BUTTON UP CAMPAIGN
CVSD FOOD SERVICE & EARLY WINTER BREAK
TAKE OUT & DELIVERY ON MONDAY 12/21 ONLY
In an effort to provide as much food for families as we can going into this winter break, we will be sending out Winter Break Bonus Meals on Monday 12/21. Please sign up on the Remote Meals Order Form that you normally use for your students who are learning remotely. The link to the order form for your school can be found here. There will only be one Remote Meal Distribution, so please sign up early. These meals are available FREE to all children 18 and under. Delivery is available to anyone in our district from your local school.
TAKE OUT & DELIVERY ON MONDAY 12/21 ONLY. Winter Break Bonus Meals will be distributed with all meal orders on Monday. If you do not need remote meals on Monday and / or Tuesday, but want Winter Break Bonus Meals, check the box on the order form. All Winter Break Bonus Meals will go out on Monday 12/21.
We hope you have a safe and happy early winter vacation. See you in 2021. Normal remote meals will start up on Monday 1/4/2021, when school resumes.
Our local Food Shelf programs have been stocking up to help families and if you need food assistance during the break, please contact them.
If you have any questions please contact Scott Wagner at swagner@cvsdvt.org or call your school's food service director.
This institution is an equal opportunity provider.
Thanks!
Your hardworking CVSD Food Service Program