Moretown School Update January 27, 2017

1st and 2nd grade students learn about kindness, helping others and
empathy by reaching out to an alumni who
was involved in a horrible automobile accident 

HUUSD Budget Update

As we get closer to Town Meeting day 2017 and the mailing of the annual town/school report we wanted to inform our school community of some changes this year.  The purpose of the annual report and pre-town school presentation is to provide information to the members of the Moretown School community about our educational programs and associated costs as a part of larger HUUSD school community.   The 2017-2018 school year adopted budget is now a part of the HUUSD (Harwood Unified Union School District) budget as established under the articles of agreements that guide our new merged school district.  The first annual meeting for the newly organized HUUSD board and its adopted HUUSD budget will be held on March 6th at Harwood Union.  Information on this combined budget will be presented at this new meeting.   Budget information regarding the Moretown School and all other WWSU (HUUSD) schools will be available  on the WWSU website ​www.wwsu.org.  

The Moretown School Board and the greater HUUSD Board continue to pursue opportunities to entice more families with children to call the excellent schools within HUUSD their home. Examples (within the Moretown School) include; providing all day childcare for 3 and 4 year old students supported fully by tuition funds, continued offerings of an after school, all day childcare program and comprehensive summer offerings through our successful MECA (Moretown Education Center for All) program. Continued enhancements and improvements to our core educational programs include; continued WWSU work on writing improvement and alignments of math and reading skills and assessments, the implementation of a nationally acclaimed STEM (science, technology, engineering and mathematics) program (Project Lead the Way) for grades K - 6, continued support of our ECO program for grades K - 3, our integrated technology program supporting a 1:1 device ratio for students grades 3 - 6, development and implementation of student led conferences for grades pre-k through grade 6 and the furthering of a proficiency based and personalized education system for all students. We continuously look for ways to improve our school and strive to give all of our stakeholders a voice in its future.

Given the parameters around responsible fiscal spending and educational quality the HUUSD School Board adopted a budget at the January 18, 2017 meeting. The budget will be voted on by Australian Ballot on March, 7, 2017 (Town Meeting Day).  Budget information will be available on the WWSU website or at our local town clerk’s office.

6th grade students working with
members from the
Green Mountain Coffee Engineering team
on the design of our cafeteria
STEM project 

Proficiency Based Learning

By 2020, all students in Vermont will graduate with a proficiency-based transcript. Here's what it's all about.  Click on this link to learn more about PBL.  

https://vimeo.com/channels/1147481/180438476?ref=tw-share

Community Announcements

Please note that the opportunities/events listed below are not specifically endorsed or screened by school staff; as always, families should use their own standards and review processes to determine appropriate activities.

Parenting Class-"Guiding Good Choices", focusing on children ages 9-14, 5 week workshop series, March 15 - April 12, 6:00-8:00pm, at Waitsfield School.  This parenting class is free and will cover topics such as: understanding the adolescent brain, risk factors; setting clear guidelines and following through with positive and negative consequences; preparing kids to respond to peer influence, refusal skills; conflict management, controlling and expressing anger constructively; and strengthening family bonds and increasing children's participation. Space is limited, pre-registration is required.  Childcare will be provided with reservations.  For more information and to reserve a spot, call Ann Gilbert at 802-223-4949 or emailinfo@cvndc.org.

"Why Are We So Afraid Of People Who Are Different?" :  a community Socrates cafe, 6:30-8:00, January 30, Joslin Memorial Library.  Everyone is invited.  For more information email:  katerinewcadwell@gmail.com or joyworland@gmail.com

Fifth/Sixth Grade Dance     Warren School is hosting a 5th/6th grade dance, January 27th, 7pm-9pm.  The admission cost is $3.00 and snacks for 50 cents will be available. The theme for the dance is winter.

High Fives Foundation FAT Ski-A-Thon, Sunday, March 5th, Sugarbush Lincoln Peak, 8am-3pm, open to all ages.  Pledge forms may be picked up here at school if your child is interested. For more information, call Suzie Lowe or Jessie Murphy at VT North Ski Shop(583-2511).