Our most recent Red Clover Book is Nana Akua Goes to School by Tricia Elam Walker. This beautiful book won the 2021 Ezra Jack Keats New Author/Illustrator award, and the story follows the mixed emotions a young African American girl feels about bringing her Ghanaian grandmother to her school's Grandparents Day. Zura's nana has traditional tribal facial markings, and Zura feels a mix of pride and fear as she introduces her beloved relative to the other school children, uncertain about how they will respond. We have found Ghana on world maps, done a little geographical exploration on Culturegrams with the older students, and will be collaborating with Ms. Vorce, our new art teacher, to create visual explorations of the Adinkra symbols of the Akan people in Ghana. I've held conversations with kids about the various ways people respond to physical differences, the emotions and reactions that can come up. As always, the kids engage with honesty and thoughtfulness that remind me again and again that the Red Clover books are such powerful tools for generating meaningful conversation. Overall, this story is one about the mixed emotions that come with feeling different, and is ultimately a celebration of family, cultural diversity, and all everyone stands to gain by meeting the richness of our big world with an open mind and open heart.

Special Announcement

Starting next Monday, 3/14

all students in PreK-4th grade

will enter and exit

using the MAIN ENTRANCE

The reason we are returning to our previous plan

of using one door is for school safety purposes

Dear families ~

Thank you very much to the many parents that helped us in January and February at Cochrans for Snow Motion and at Sleepy Hollow for Ski Cubs! We appreciate your support. We can not do these amazing programs without your help.

This experience brings such joy and an opportunity to try something new for many students. We are grateful for the many volunteers that made all of the trips possible!

with gratitude for your commitment to the children at BPMS,

Sally

Wednesday, March 9th - Early release, dismissal starts at 12:15 pm

Monday, March 14th - Report Cards go home

March 14th- March 18th I love to Read and Write week!

Monday, March 14th - Friday March 25th - window for Parent/ Teacher conferences

Wednesday, March 16th - Guest Author Candace Fleming! 10:00-10:45 am Virtual Visit!

Friday, March 18th - 1/2 day for students, dismissal starts at 11:05 am, P/T conferences

Please join us for our March virtual Parent Meeting on

Thursday 3/24 at 6:30 pm in the evening or

Friday 3/25 at 8:00 am in the morning.

Links will be sent one day ahead.

The Mount Mansfield Unified Union School District will be hosting a community vaccination clinic on Tuesday 3/8/22 at MMU High School.

• The clinic will run from 9 AM - 3 PM.
• This clinic is open to anyone 5 and older.
• First dose, second dose and boosters will be available.
• The registration for this is open on the state Website. You can either sign up online or call the registration line. 855-722-7878 https://www.healthvermont.gov/covid-19/vaccine/getting-covid-19-vaccine

MMUUSD very strongly recommends the full series of the COVID Vaccine and a Booster when eligible. If the MMU High School clinic does not work for you, please schedule an appointment at another vaccine clinic or through one of the many pharmacies that are offering the vaccine.