Flynn Flyer
December 3, 2021
IMPORTANT DATES
12/6- Post Thanksgiving COVID Testing in School/Must sign up by Sunday
12/8- Early Release Day 11:30- No Burlington Kids, No Sara Holbrook
12/10- Last Day to order Flynn Logo wear
12/23- Winter Break Begins
1/3- Back to School
1/6- PTO Meeting 6:30 ( A new link will be available in the next Flynn Flyer)
Flynn Families Show Us the Love!
From the Principal
Greetings Flynn Families
I know that Superintendent Flanagan introduced me as the Acting Principal. It might be helpful to know a bit more about me to help you feel more comfortable with me at the helm. Before retiring, I was a principal for 12 years, 9 of which were here in Burlington for Edmunds Elementary, a school that was comparable in size and the makeup of students to Flynn. Edmunds was recognized as an Exemplar School by the State of Vermont for four consecutive years. I am a strong believer in Restorative Practices and Positive Behavior Interventions and Supports (PBiS), and am excited that both are important practices within the Flynn school community. My leadership style is collaborative. I believe that parents/guardians, as a child’s first teachers, are an extremely important part of a child’s educational team and your knowledge of your child is an essential piece to ensure their success.
While children refer to me as Dr. Mathias, (I have an Ed.D from UVM), adults call me Shelley.As difficult as it is to meet you all with the COVID restrictions and constraints on time while getting up to speed at Flynn, I do hope that I have the opportunity to meet at some point in the future.
Have a safe, happy and healthy weekend.
Dr. (Shelley) Mathias
Acting Principal
Post-Thanksgiving COVID-19 Testing Monday
Dear BSD Community,
Last week we received communication from the Vermont Agency of Education (AOE) that they would support any school districts who wanted to offer post-Thanksgiving Covid-19 testing (known as "Response Testing") and we have opted into this program.
We will be conducting this PCR testing at each school this coming Monday, December 6th, and testing will be open to students ages 5 and up, and to staff. To participate, parents need to complete the same AOE consent form and SimpleReport registration being used to participate in the Test to Stay program.
If you have already completed both of these forms, your student will automatically be tested on Monday unless you would like to opt-out of this response testing (please contact Becca McCray, rmccray@bsdvt.org, AND your building nurse, Mary Dunsmore at mdunsmor@bsdvt.org via email to do so). Testing will happen during the school day in your child’s classroom or in the cafeteria.
Staff who are interested in participating should also complete both the AOE consent form and SimpleReport registration.
Thank you for doing everything you can to stay safe. Please contact our District Lead Nurse Becca McCray, rmccray@bsdvt.org, if you have any questions.
The BSD Team
Dismissal - Please Read
STEAM News
Having a STEAM room/Makerspace has definitely been a highlight of the year for me for many reasons. One reason is being able to incorporate some choice time at the end of classes, especially with younger grades. I’ve really enjoyed seeing and interacting with students as they build without the constraint of a specific project or challenge. Some of my favorite moments have happened during choice time - like students building fortresses together, or creating a marble run on our lego wall. Another highlight of having my own space is seeing classes grow into independence in gathering materials from our space (without having to cram it all onto a cart!) Here are some pictures from choice time, STEAM challenges, and class projects:
Choice Time Creations
Kindergarteners' Apple Pickers
Pipe Cleaner Tower Challenge
FLYNN LOGO WEAR FOR SALE
Please check out our school store! The store will be open from Friday November 19th to Friday December 10th. After the store is closed they will get to work producing our orders. They will do their best to get your orders to the school before the holiday break. They will be distributed in school, by your students teachers.