Gertrude Chamberlin School
Family Newsletter November 20, 2020 Volume 15 Issue 19
Reminders:
* There is no school November 23rd - 27th due to conferences and Thanksgiving break.
here is the link for online book fair shopping! You can order online through Tuesday, November 24th.
* Save Around Coupon Book Fundraiser runs from November 18th - December 4th.
last chance to be included in the family directory!
November 30th Deadline for the PTO STUDENT DIRECTORY REGISTRATION FORM
There will be paper copies coming home with your child today. If you can't submit your information online, please use the paper form and return it to school with your child.
Every family will receive a printed directory booklet, BUT FOR YOUR STUDENT'S INFORMATION TO BE INCLUDED, you MUST go to this link and provide your contact information. Due to privacy concerns, you must opt-in - your information will not appear unless you provide your contact information using the link.
Here is the link: https://forms.gle/tF415uj6FMPckk8x7
By including your contact information, you make it easy to connect with other Chamberlin families and help create a strong Chamberlin Community! The Directory is being created and provided by the PTO. Please fill out the form no later than Friday, November 30th to have your information included.
If you have any questions, please feel free to contact Jennifer Doig, PTO co-president, anytime at doig.jennifer@gmail.com.
Save Around Coupon Books - Support Our School!
Chamberlin Families,
We just kicked off our online fundraiser with SaveAround this year and we’re so excited! This year we’ll be selling coupon books online through our own unique fundraising link: http://www.supportourgroups.com/GN/76142
You can help in 2 simple ways:
1. Making a purchase through our online link: http://www.supportourgroups.com/GN/76142
ALL editions of the coupon book can be found at the bottom of our page by clicking, “shop all coupon books now.”
2. Forwarding our unique fundraising link to your friends, family and colleagues or sharing our link through social media (there are sharing tools located right on our page!) . SaveAround will ship the books directly to the buyer and we’ll receive credit for each sale made through our page. That’s right- contactless delivery!
SaveAround has editions all over the country and can help you or someone you know save thousands of dollars at local and national businesses!
Each book also comes with a unique code to download the SaveAround app, which means bonus savings! This means even if you purchase a book for your home city, and travel elsewhere throughout the state or country, you can use the app for bonus savings! This is a massive opportunity and we can’t thank you enough for your help in making this happen!
If you have any questions or concerns please contact Marie Andalora at msandalora@gmail.com.
Thank you,
Chamberlin PTO
Chromebooks
1st Grade enjoying tea in Farm to School
November Farm To School
Hello South Burlington Families and Friends!
As the temperatures get cooler and the days get shorter, some of us take comfort in cozying up on the couch or by the fire with a warm cup of tea. In Scandinavian countries, people call this hygge (hyoo-guh). Hygge is a practice that helps us cope with the winter blues, and almost always involves drinking a warm beverage, evoking feelings of happiness and warmth.
For this round of Farm to School, we brought hygge to the classroom with a warm cup of herbal tea. We practiced mindfulness and shared the story of Shennong, a Chinese farmer who is credited with the discovery of tea itself. This was a well loved caffeinated tea yet folks around the world, including Vermonters, have been finding their way into the wild spaces to gather restorative herbs from fields and mountaintops that provide balance to our overactive lives. Your children can suggest some local herbal teas that they explored in the farm to school lesson or you can find an alternate sunshine land recipe below.
Mindfulness can be practiced at home as we celebrate a holiday season that may feel a bit different or strange this year. Try having a ‘mindful’ snack time by describing the smell, texture, and taste of the food. Or make this simple Lemon Ginger tea and get cozy on the couch for a moment of inner warmth, calm, and stillness.
Lemon Ginger Tea
Makes 1 cup
Ingredients:
2 slices organic lemon, ¼ inch thick
1 inch fresh ginger, thinly sliced
1-2 tsp honey
8oz hot water
Directions:
1. Place lemon and ginger slices in your mug.
2. Pour boiling water over the fruit and roots and let steep for at least 5 minutes.
3. Once the water has cooled slightly, stir in the honey - letting the water cool first will preserve the honey’s nutritional benefits.
4. Remove the lemon and ginger slices with a spoon or leave in your mug to enjoy the beauty!
5. Get cozy with a blanket, feel the hygge as you sip, and enjoy!
Be sure to check out the our first educational video, Episode #1 Apples, if you haven’t already! Our next episode is coming out very soon, featuring Winter Squash and the Abenaki culture. Sign up for our newsletter to stay up to date on our new episodes.
Our Farmstand at South Village has everything you need for your Thanksgiving feast. We will be open this Saturday 11/21 from 9am-6pm, and again on Wednesday 11/25 from 9am-12pm. Farmer Fae will be there on Wednesday - we hope you will stop by to say hello and appreciate her behind the scene work in bringing organic farm to school food into the classroom!
Till next month, Nourish to Flourish!
Lauren Jones, Common Roots - Farm to School Educator
Parenting During A Pandemic with Clinical Psychologist Joelle Van Lent - This 11 minute conversation with South Burlington Elementary principals has a focus on academics, resiliency and mental health.
Parenting During A Pandemic with Clinical Psychologist Joelle Van Lent - This 14 minute conversation with South Burlington Elementary principals has a focus on worries/stress and the holidays.
Music News
No Additional Friends Riding Buses At This Time
Health Updates
When your student has an illness symptom:
Yes, even a runny nose or complaints of a sore throat constitute staying home for 24 hours and returning only with symptom improvement or resolution. Please follow the Health Department's fact sheet: Information for Families: Return to School Following Illness* when deciding about whether to keep your student home or send to school.
We continue to connect with families, whose student is home with a reported illness, to help navigate next steps and determine when to return to school safely.
Thank you again, for your patience and follow-through. We know this is not an easy time for families as we continue to ask for your support in striving to keep our community safe.
*Click here for translations.
COVID-19 TESTING
Rapid Antigen Test versus PCR Test:
- Rapid Antigen Test: Detects specific proteins from the virus. The Health Department indicates that antigen tests are less sensitive than PCR tests and therefore a negative test generally requires a PCR test for confirmation.
- PCR Test: detects the virus's genetic material. This test is highly accurate.
Only PCR test results are accepted at school when your student is being tested due to COVID-19 symptoms or when your student is testing out of quarantine. Rapid antigen test results will not be accepted.
If your student needs to get tested, please contact their health care provider. There are a variety of places to get tested; see this link to find a COVID-19 test site.
Some local PCR Testing Sites:
- UVM Drive-Through at Fanny Allen: #847-5440
- Kinney Drugs, So. Burlington: #860-0714
- ClearChoiceMD Urgent Care, So. Burlington: #448-8205
Travelers Must Quarantine
- Quarantine for 14 days. Quarantine guidelines are here.
- If your student has not experienced COVID-19 symptoms, a PCR test may be an option, on or after day 7, to end quarantine early (with a negative test result).
Please also notify the school of your travel, return date and test results, as well as indicating "travel" on the health screening app.
Budget Process For Next School Year
The Cold Weather Is Here!
Holiday Travel
1. Decide if the risk is worth it for your family,
2. Plan to have a safe trip or gathering, remain flexible and get your flu shot and
3. Quarantine when you return. All travelers must quarantine for 14 days or 7 days and a negative test to return to school.
More information can be found on the Health Department website.
If you are travelling out of state, please contact Mrs. Baechle at lbaechle@sbschools.net 652-7403 or Mrs. Farrell at kfarrell@sbschools.net 652-7449 so we can help guide you through next steps to keep your family and all of our GCS families safe.
November 13th Update from Superintendent Young
Dear Parents/Guardians, Staff, and Community Members,
After an amazing stretch of unseasonably warm temperatures and sun filled days, classic November weather has returned to Vermont. With the drop in temperature, comes more indoor activities both at our schools and in our homes. Our schools are doing a fantastic job keeping our students and staff safe, but we all have a role to play. See the latest guidance on gathering and travel below.
Reopening Update
Having all of our elementary school students back in our classrooms 4 days per week has been such a gift! Thanks to our students, families, staff, and community for making this possible. In addition, due to the current Strong and Healthy Start Guidelines that indicate the continued need for 6 ft of physical distancing for students in grades 7-12, we cannot currently reopen our middle and high school to additional in-person learning days safely. Thank you for your understanding.
Travel Guidance: Mandatory Quarantine and Multifamily Gatherings
This week, Governor Scott announced in his November 10 press conference that all nonessential travel to and from Vermont now requires a quarantine. For more information, see the latest travel and quarantine information from the Vermont Department of Health. In addition, the cross-state travel map which had previously been updated every Tuesday, has been suspended due to increasing COVID case counts in Vermont and in our region.
Governor Scott also announced November 13 that a ban on multifamily gatherings, both inside and out, whether in public or private spaces is now prohibited. The rationale for this decision is that many of the recent COVID outbreaks and clusters can be traced back to private social gatherings. Health Commissioner Dr. Mark Levine has repeatedly implored people not to travel for the upcoming holidays and to take care to keep one’s social circle small.
Keeping our schools open, which we worked (and continue to work) so hard to collectively accomplish this September, will largely be influenced by the individual decisions we make every day. I know that deciding whether or not to travel or gather with loved ones is a highly personal decision, but as you make these choices, please consider the following:
1. Decide if the risk is worth it for your family.
2. Plan to have a safe trip or gathering, remain flexible and get your flu shot
3. Quarantine when you return.
More information can be found on the VT Department of Health Department website. In addition, the CDC has released a helpful guide for safely celebrating upcoming holidays.
Nutritional Services: Meal Pickup Site has Moved
If you have been accustomed to picking up student meals at the concession stand at the Munson Field, please note that the pickup location has moved to the lobby of FHTMS. Individuals should drive up to the front of FHTMS and go to the door where they will be greeted by a staff member who will bring the meals out to them. Individuals will not be entering the building.
As a reminder, meals will be available vacation week, November 23-27. Five days worth of meals will be delivered together on Tuesday November 24, via bus or pickup. There will not be any individual daily meal choices other than vegetarian or gluten free meals. The holiday meal delivery deadline is Friday November 20 at 1 pm.
FY2022 Budget
The FY22 budget development process has begun and we want to hear from you! This year, in lieu of the Citizens Budget Advisory Committee (CBAC), we will be holding a series of community forums via Zoom as a way to hear from as many community members as possible. Our first forum took place November 10 and will be followed by two additional sessions December 8 and January 5. You can also check out the regular school board meetings to hear budget conversations and ask questions. Regular school board meeting minutes and agendas are posted on the school board page of our district website. There is an option to participate via Zoom or watch live via RETN’s Facebook page (or on the RETN website afterward). We look forward to hearing your questions and insights. You can also find the latest budget information including the November 10 presentation on our District budget website. Additional information and presentation will be posted there as it becomes available.
Accolades from Niche
We are proud to announce that the South Burlington School District has been named the best school district in Vermont by Niche.com and SBHS has been recognized as the 2021 number one ranked public high school in Vermont. Grades were released this year in mid October (typically they are released in August, but this year they were delayed due to COVID). This is a true testament to our outstanding students and staff!
Athletics Update
First, big congratulations to the SBHS girls soccer team who, last weekend, secured their first D-1 Championship since 2010. We are so proud of you all! Especially, right on the heels of helping to organize and participate in the (sold out!) Stand up to Fight Racism event and subsequent soccer game. Nice job!
As we noted last week, most winter sports (no wrestling or indoor track) are a go based on the Winter sports guidance from the state. According to the guidance, winter sports practices can start November 30 and currently, that is when we plan to begin. Students may register for winter sports until December 18 and games can begin January 11. As a reminder, no spectators will be allowed at any games, practices, or events (the NFHS Network will cast all games) and face coverings will be required for all.
Parenting in a Pandemic: Video Resources
You asked, we answered. Today, elementary school principals (virtually, of course) created a two part video series along with Psychologist Joelle Van Lent. A questionnaire was sent to families and the responses received helped inform the content of these videos. Check out the answers to some of your questions (and perhaps others you hadn’t thought of!) in the following videos: Parenting During a Pandemic Part One (11 minutes) and Part Two (14 minutes). Thanks to IT Educator Kristen Courcelle for her assistance! Well done all!
School Happenings
High School
Ugly Mask Rotary event to benefit SB Boosters
Are you a fan of the annual SB Rotary Ugly Sweater Run? Like so many things in 2020, due to COVID precautions, the event has been reimagined as an Ugly Mask Contest! As in years’ past, the SB Boosters will be one of the beneficiaries. There are elementary, middle/high school, and adult categories. See rules and submit your entry here from November 14-28. The top designs will be posted for voting on the South Burlington Rotary Facebook Page!
FHTMS Spirit Week November 16-20
Grab your PJs, stripes, and plaid and get ready for FHTMS’ spirit week! Beginning, Monday, November 16, students and staff are invited to show their spirit by coming to school in pajamas on Monday and Thursday and dressing in similar colors and patterns by grade (6th: blue and gray, 7th: stripes and white, 8th: plaid and black) on Tuesday and Friday. There will also be a slide show during lunches of students from both the Blue and Gray Packs, so students can see friends and teammates they have not yet seen in school this year!
Shout-outs to FHTMS administrators and staff who organized this event as well as the student appreciation days that occurred this past week: Karsten Schlenter, Dave Hyatt, Kelly Tivnan, Donna Lemay, Matt Guyette, Carly Brassard and Yvette Amblo.
The Orchard School Thankful Giving Project
Orchard School has had a tradition for years, through their annual Thankful Giving Project, to match families who could use some support during the holidays and winter season with families who have extra to share. This year, in order to keep everyone as safe as possible, gift cards are being collected instead of physical gifts themselves. While the food card collection concluded today, department store gift cards (to help with the purchase of clothing, toys, and essential items) will continue to be accepted until December 4. Gift cards can be sent into school in one’s child’s backpack in an envelope labeled “Front Office” or a card can be dropped off at the school by driving up to the front and calling the main office and someone will come out to get it. If you want to donate a gift card, see the Orchard Thankful Giving sign-up sheet. Thanks to Orchard’s home school clinician Melissa McConell for organizing!
Chamberlin School: The Buzz is Back!
Have you heard the buzz? Gertrude Chamberlin School’s assembly program “The Buzz” is back! The program used to be held in the school’s gym with all students present to hear interviews from special guests including students. Thanks to the creativity of Tina Brown, Kerry Farrell, Lisa Finlayson, and Lisa Rundle, students had the chance to watch an episode of "The Buzz" simultaneously in their individual classrooms this morning! More to come.
Rick Marcotte Central School Students Make Music in Person and Virtually
Music teacher Erika Rito is excited to have students back to school 4 days per week; settling into both new and old routines. Ms. Rito has shared that the RMCS Music website has been updated to give families a better idea of what and how students are learning in music class this year. At-home music learning options are provided in interactive PDFs (separated by grade levels) where clicking on objects in the rooms, such as a microphone or xylophone takes students to a video resource on a given theme. With parent/guardian permission, Ms. Rito will be posting at-home music making pictures, videos, and links. We can’t wait to see all of the creativity!
As we head into the weekend and consider outings, let’s please remember: masks on faces, 6 ft spaces, uncrowded places. As Dr. Levine said today, “We may need to be apart more, but we are up to the challenge together.”
Sincerely,
David
Family Resources:
PREVENT CHILD ABUSE VERMONT -SHARES PARENT & CAREGIVERS GUIDE AND RESOURCES
COVID-19 Parent & Caregiver Guide
No matter how prepared you are, an outbreak can be stressful. Here are some recommendations to promote your family's well-being during COVID-19.
Travel
Family Support with Technology/Chromebooks
How Can I Get Library Books During Hybrid Learning?
Here's the link to the breakfast and lunch menus.
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