SCS Weekly Newsletter 12.5.22
Week of December 5, 2022
Principals' Message
[This week's edition of the Principals' Message comes courtesy of our amazing Planning Room team.]
Hello SCS Community,
Welcome to the Planning Room at SCS! We are a three person team that consists of Nancy Haynes and Jess Howard, the Co-Directors, and Natalie Gagnon, a Behavior Interventionist. We wanted to introduce ourselves and give an overview of our process in the Planning Room.
Nancy has been working as a Behavior Specialist for the past 35 years. She joined SCS in 2019 and has been the captain of our ship since. She will put a smile on anyone's face. Jess comes with an extensive background in social work and law. She started at SCS in 2021 as the Recess Supervisor and transitioned into the PR role with Nancy at the end of last school year. She brings an abundance of bright and positive energy to our team. Natalie, the CVSD alumni, started working at SCS in 2018 as the Recess Coordinator and transitioned to an Intensive Para for the last 3 years. She joined the PR team this school year and has hit the ground running making sure the PR runs like a well oiled machine.
In the Planning Room, we respond to minor and major behavioral and safety incidents across all grades at SCS. We also act as a safe “check-in” space for students who may need physical or emotional breaks during the school day.
The Infamous “Green Sheet”
There seems to be a misnomer in regards to “Green Sheets” and what they mean. A green sheet has multiple purposes. First, they allow us to collect data and find behavior trends in order to proactively support the school community. Second, they help teach students accountability and work towards repairing harm when an incident has occurred. Last, but not least, a green sheet is used as a learning experience and life lesson and as a way to communicate with parents.
A green sheet is completed by a staff member when a student demonstrates a major or unsafe behavior. Once the Planning Room receives the green sheet, we speak to parties involved (staff and students) and work towards a repair and resolution. The green sheet is then entered into SWIS (an online database to help track behavioral trends) and emailed to families and teachers.
Receiving a green sheet can bring up a lot of feelings for students and for families. We hope if your student receives one, you will utilize it as a talking point for larger life lessons and support our common goals of helping students learn from mistakes, take responsibility for their actions, and problem solve ways to repair harms.
Hope you all had a wonderful weekend. If you ever have any questions, concerns or are in need of support, please don’t hesitate to reach out to us :)
Nancy, Jess & Natalie
Much More To Follow - Please Continue Reading!
Scripps Spelling Bee is Back!
The SCS Scripps Spelling Bee qualifying exams will be given on Tuesday, December 13. All interested students will take the exam in the library, with grades 3, 4, and 5 starting at 8:30 and grades 6, 7, and 8 starting at 10:30. Please reach out to Senora Kelley or Madame Thomas for more information.
Computer Science Education Week
Pre-K Lottery is Now Open
The CVSD Early Education Program is now accepting applications for a random preschool lottery drawing for the 2023-24 school year. This lottery is for an opportunity to enroll in one of our school-based classrooms which run 10 hours per week. Our school-based preschool classrooms are 5 STARs, licensed early education programs that provide play-based, developmentally appropriate environments for all children in an inclusive setting. Please visit this page for more information. Applications are due by February 3.
Updates from Shelburne Kids Activities Together
We are thrilled to continue expanding our after-school offerings through SKAT. Thank you to all of our staff and community members who are pitching in to expand the free offerings available to SCS students! You can get more information about all SKAT offerings through the SKAT website.
BIPOC AFFINITY GROUP
We are looking to develop an opt-in racial affinity group for students in grades 3-8 identifying as Black, Indigenous, or people of color. If you are interested in having your child join, please contact our DEI coach, Lashawn Sells at lsells@cvsdvt.org.
NEW MAKE AND TAKE W/SHELBURNE FARMS
Join Hannah, our neighbor from Shelburne Farms! Each week you'll "make and take" home a different project such as crafts, food, felt, salves, and more using locally sourced materials.
Get creative and connect with others while learning about sustainability and the great potential of what you can create using the resources around you.
Grades 7 - 8 will meet with Hannah, Meg and Wendy on Tuesdays Nov 29, Dec 6, 13, 20. Register 7th & 8th graders here
Grades 3 - 6 will meet with Hannah and Ms. Erika on Thursdays Dec 1, 8, 15, 22. Register 3rd - 6th graders here
NEW SUSTAINABILITY CLUB
Are you the kind of kid that likes to make a difference at SCS? Do you like to be a leader? Do you care about the environment? Then this SKAT club is for you! Join Joey Adams on Mondays from 3-4:15 for the SCS Sustainability Club during the month of December. At this club you will envision and plan for the future of our gardens, our recycling program and set some big future goals. You will also get to work with some fun friends and amazing people like Recycle Rhonda! Signup will be available on the SKAT website in the coming week.
Everybody Wins! Mentoring Opportunity (1st-4th grade Mentoring Program)
Can you or a loved one spare one hour a week on Tuesday or Wednesday?
Everybody Wins! Mentoring program for grades 1-4 has students who are waiting to be matched with an adult community member. Everybody Wins! pairs students with adult mentors for one hour of lunch and reading together or playing literacy-based and problem solving games. The goal is to share a love of books and create a solid connection.
This is a wonderful opportunity to be engaged with our school community and make a difference in the lives of our youth! If you are interested in learning more, please contact: Caitlin Downey, Everybody Wins! Coordinator at : shelburne@everybodywinsvermont.org
Multicultural Movie Night - December 7th at 6pm
CCS Holiday Market
New this year is our silent auction! The auction will open up online Saturday, December 3 at 8am. The auction features a week-long stay at Claybrook, Sugarbush, VT and artwork by Jessica Scriver. We have many other items from local businesses including, Elli Parr, Saratoga Olive Oils, Red Barn Kitchen, Mysa, The Gilded Elephant, and many more. To access the silent auction, please go to ourschool.auction/CCSholidaymarket
Diversity Equity Inclusion Community Committee
This will be a hybrid meeting - remote links will be available soon, in-person location will be shared soon as well...
SCS Yearbook Orders
The 2022-23 SCS Yearbook is now on sale! The cost is $32. All students at SCS are included in the yearbook. Orders can be submitted to your child's classroom teacher or on-line until April 7th.
Order forms will go home the week of Dec. 5th or before.
You are also welcome to order online anytime until April 7th. The link to order on-line is: Yearbook sales
Winter Sports are Underway!
CVSD Budget Development
CVSD invites all community members to learn about and join in on the budget development process by attending upcoming School Board meetings. All members of the CVSD community are always welcome to attend Board meetings. See the topics and schedule in the image above and on the Budget page of the district's website.
Links to join the virtual meetings will be available on that page and on the website calendar. We will also post the presentations on the Budget page afterward for those that cannot attend.
Let's Talk
SCS PTO
SIGN UP TO RECEIVE SMS/TEXT MESSAGES!
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Still Need More Information?
Website: https://www.cvsdvt.org/shelburne
Access Information on the CVSD Website
See the year at a glance on the 2022-2023 K-8 School Year Calendar.
The CVSD Mission is to develop citizens who learn, think, live, contribute, and pursue excellence. See The CVSD Story.
Shelburne Community School Administration
Brett Cluff, 5-8 Principal
Emily Cogan, Director of Special Education