Moretown School Update October 28

Moretown 6th Grade Students learn a bit about
our Australian neighbors down under from Spencer's Grandmother 

MORETOWN MESSENGER 

Check out the first edition of the Moretown Messenger of this school year!

https://sites.google.com/a/wwsu.org/moretown-messenger/

HALLOWEEN PARTY 


Halloween Party Reminder:
October 31
4:30 - 6:00
(Non- scary costume time - 4:30 - 5:00pm
All costumes - 5:00 - 6:00pm)
Moretown Town Hall

We are stilling looking for help!
Here is the link to sign up:
http://www.signupgenius.com/go/20f0d4ba9a722a4fd0-moretown

Book Fair Volunteers Needed!  

The Scholastic Book Fair will be coming to Moretown Elementary School November 14-18.  To make this a successful event, Mrs. Wood is looking for some volunteers to help out.  Jobs include running the cash register or being a shopping assistant.  To sign up please click the following link or talk to Mrs. Wood in the Library.  

https://volunteer.scholastic.com/#/chairperson/signup/6679

For more information about the upcoming book fair please visit this website: http://www.scholastic.com/bf/moretownelementaryschool

WREATH SALE 

Moretown Elementary PTN Wreath Sale

Please support the Moretown School PTN general fund in being able to assist with providing all students at Moretown Elementary in grades K-6 the experiences of winter sports. All Three Rivers wreaths are hand-made and double-faced with real balsam fir greens. The balsam, cedar and white pine boughs are harvested only after the needles have set for the winter making for fresher and longer lasting wreaths.  Easy online ordering and local pick up as well as Direct Ship options are available.

https://threeriversfundraising.com/fund/moretownelementaryptn

Pick up orders must be placed by November 7th.  

Pick up will be at the Moretown Elementary Pancake breakfast on November 19th.

Direct Ship orders can be placed until November 26.

Moretown Apparel for Sale

To purchase Moretown Shirts, Sweats and long sleeve t's please click here:  https://cart.deerfielddesigns.com/moretown_elementary_school

Message from our Health Office

Strep Throat  Deirdre writes,

We have had a few confirmed cases of strep throat here at Moretown School. These infections occur most often during the school year when large groups of children are in close quarters. The bacteria that cause strep throat (group A streptococcus) tend to hang out in the nose and throat, so normal activities like sneezing, coughing, or shaking hands can easily spread infection from one person to another.  That's why it's so important to teach kids proper hand washing — good hygiene can lessen their chances of getting contagious illnesses like strep throat.

Strep Throat vs. Sore Throat   Not all sore throats are strep throats. Most episodes of sore throat, which can be accompanied by a runny nose and cough, are caused by viruses and usually clear up on their own without medical treatment.

A child with strep throat will start to develop other symptoms within about 3 days, such as:

• red and white patches in the throat
• difficulty swallowing
• tender or swollen glands (lymph nodes) in the neck
• red and enlarged tonsils
• headache
• lower stomach pain
• fever
• general discomfort, uneasiness, or ill feeling
• loss of appetite and nausea

Diagnosis and Treatment   If your child has a sore throat with other strep throat symptoms, call your healthcare provider. He/she will likely do a rapid strep test in the office, using a cotton swab to take a sample of the fluids at the back of the throat.  If positive, an antibiotic will be prescribed. Children need to stay home for 24 hours after antibiotic treatment begins and they are without a fever. Even when your son/daughter starts feeling better, he/she should finish the antibiotics as prescribed. If your child stops taking antibiotics too soon, bacteria can remain in the throat and symptoms can return.

Remember to cover those sneezes and coughs, not share drinking cups and eating utensils, and wash your hands. Thanks for helping keep our Moretown School community healthy!

CALENDAR UPDATE

October 31 Monday!	Halloween in Moretown Moretown Town Hall 4:30 - 5:00 - non scary costume time 5:00 - 6:00 - open time for all costumes
** School/Family Conferences	Window of conferences October 26 - November 11 For more information click here:
November 4-5	5th Grade Boston Science Museum Trip
November 7 - 11	School Conferences
November 14 - 18	Book Fair at the school
November 19	Annual Pancake Breakfast - 8 - 11 (at the school)
November 23-25	Thanksgiving Break

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.

Warren School Dance on October 28th, 7-9pm  Dance for 5th/6th graders at Warren School, $3 entry fee and can bring extra money for snacks. No costumes, please.

Trick or Trot 5K Run/Walk and Kids’ Fun Run to Benefit Warren School   Join us on Saturday, October 29th for the Second Annual Trick or Trot 5K Run/Walk and Kids' Fun Run! Walk or run a frightening 5 K through Warren Village to benefit the Warren School PTO! Costumes are encouraged! Prizes will be awarded for best costumes and fastest runners. The course starts and ends at Warren School and travels through beautiful Warren Village, through the Covered Bridge, past the Warren Store and along the Mad River. Music, decorations and Halloween fun will keep you entertained throughout the race. Entry fee is $15 for advanced registration and $20 on the day of the race.  Start time for the 5 K is 4:30 pm.  

Children of all ages are invited to participate in a Kids' Fun Run.  This obstacle course run will take place before the 5K and all participants will leave with a prize!  Supervised child care and Halloween games are offered during the adult race and are included in the Fun Run entry fee of $5. Start time for the Kids' Fun run is 4:00.
Food will be available for purchase from Open Hearth Pizza after the race!
Sign up online at https://www.raceentry.com/race-reviews/mad-river-valley-trick-or-trot-5k

Jazz/Tap Combo     This class offers both styles of Jazz & Tap for children ages 5-7, Tuesdays, 2:50-3:40, at Mad River Dance Studio(in the Valley Player's Building).  For more information, call 802-253-5151 or email info@stowedance.com

4-H Informational Meeting     The Vermont 4-H program offers opportunities for youth that develop leadership, citizenship, and life skills. Through project based learning, 4-H also gives youth a sense of mastery, generosity, independence, and belonging. Some project examples include: gardening, woodworking, raising livestock, robotics, and visual arts -- just to name a few.  Join us at the upcoming informational meeting, Wednesday November 16th, 5:30-6:30 pm at Fayston School.  For more information, contact Allison Smith at 802-476-2003 or email her at Allison.smith.2@uvm.edu

Telluride Mountainfilm on Tour to arrive at the Big Picture Theater on November 5, 2016.  Mountainfilm tour brings inspiration and education about important issues to audiences around the world.  The show will begin promptly at 6:30pm.  Mountain presenter, Naani Sheva, will introduce the films and engage the audience in discussion following the films.  Tickets for the Mountainfilm on Tour go on sale 10/26/16 at the Waitsfield Children's Center(496-3372) or can be purchased on line at wcckristy@yahoo.com Tickets will also be available the day of the show.  The cost for each show is $20/adult and $12/child or student.  It is $50/family.  You can see the complete playlist at http://www.mountainfilm.org/tour/upcoming

s.

Moretown's Fire Safety Presentation and Message about winter weather.

Students and Staff listen

to the Moretown Fire Department Members

Discuss Fire Prevention Safety

Questions for your family..

Do you have a escape plan for your home?

Do you have fire detectors (that functions) in your home?

Practice Stop Drop and Roll.

Do not play with fire.

Great discussion for dinner..  

.  

Warren School Dance on October 28th, 7-9pm  Dance for 5th/6th graders at Warren School, $3 entry fee and can bring extra money for snacks. No costumes, please.

Winter Weather Statement

Dear WWSU Families,

It is hard to believe that while we are enjoying this unusually glorious foliage season, our winter weather is right around the corner.  Before we know it, the snow will start to fall, and with all of its majestic beauty comes unpredictable weather!  As you know, from time to time it becomes necessary to delay the start of a school day or close school altogether.  Sometimes, reasons other than snow, such as power outages or freezing rain and sleet that arrive at precisely the wrong time can alter the schedule of the day.  Of course, safety is always my top priority when making these decisions.  The WWSU spans approximately 42 miles from Warren to Waterbury, and oftentimes the conditions can be quite different from one end to the other.  My years of experience tell me that decisions to close school are often met with dissatisfaction, and I am hoping to do what I can to implement the best possible procedures in our supervisory union.  However, we all know that our Vermont weather can be very unpredictable and often changes drastically in a short period of time.

I would like to take this opportunity to share with our families how these decisions are made.  In order to officially count a day for state purposes, certain criteria must be met.  Transportation costs also factor into the decision.  We try to avoid paying for an additional day of transportation which can be very expensive, and happens if elementary schools are open when the high school is closed and vice versa.  I must also give some consideration to whether or not the faculty at large will be able to arrive safely and if we will adequately be able to staff the school for the day.  These are some examples of why if any three elementary schools need to delay or close, the entire supervisory union does the same.  Also, if the high school needs to delay or close, then the entire supervisory union does as well.  We need to have approximately 50% of our high school students attending to count the day, to maintain the regional calendar (including Barre Technical Center), to maintain adequate classroom instruction, and to be responsible with our busing costs and contracts.

I rely heavily on management at the Bus Barn when it comes to evaluating the weather conditions.  We have our cell phones set up for alert text messages.  If an alert comes in, Danny at the Bus Barn begins gathering information from the National Weather Service.  If the storm has already arrived, he checks with all of the town crews for their feedback on their road conditions.  Steve regularly monitors the following sources for forecasts and predictions:  The Weather Channel, WCAX, WPTZ, NOAA, Weather Underground, VT Agency of Transportation 511 website, Agweb, Unisys Weather, Intellicast, CRWS, and last but not least … a stand outdoors!  Danny calls me, reports the information, and together we decide between 4 and 5:30 a.m. how we will call the day.  I try to begin my calls by 5:20 a.m.  Laura Titus, my administrative assistant, calls the television and radio stations and sends out the Blackboard Connect messages.

We need to call a delayed opening when a storm hits at a time such that the road crews cannot get their jobs done and the roads simply are not ready for buses to travel on them on time. Please note that the WWSU administrative team voted unanimously to move our school delayed starts from 90 minutes to 120 minutes (last year), or the full 2 hour delay, like the majority of Vermont schools, which continue this school year.  Please plan accordingly. Delayed starts can be confusing for folks because often when you go out, the main roads will seem fine.  Please remember that back roads can vary quite a bit.

The temperature can sometimes cause a delay.  Freezing rain will cause both delays and closings more often than snowfall.  If temperatures dip to -25 degrees with the wind chill factor, we will delay if warranted and even close if the predictions should indicate because of the risk of frostbite while waiting at a bus stop.  Luckily, we do not see many arctic Vermont days!

Your building principal should have sent home detailed information explaining the best ways for you to receive information about school closings and delays as soon as it becomes available.  WWSU uses a messaging and communication system called Blackboard Connect, which seems to work well for everyone.

I would sincerely like to thank all of our WWSU families in advance for your patience and understanding in dealing with delayed openings and/or closed school days.  I realize how frustrating it can be if conditions seem fine at your house or on your roads when I call a delay or closing.  These decisions are made with all the best available information possible, in a very short period of time, and taking into account the entire WWSU community.  I will do my very best to keep school open whenever I can, while maintaining the safety and security of or greatest resource, our children.

Sincerely,

Brigid S. Nease

Superintendent of Schools

PTN Wreath Sale Announced

Moretown Elementary PTN Wreath Sale

Please support the Moretown School PTN general fund in being able to assist with providing all students at Moretown Elementary in grades K-6 the experiences of winter sports. All Three Rivers wreaths are hand-made and double-faced with real balsam fir greens. The balsam, cedar and white pine boughs are harvested only after the needles have set for the winter making for fresher and longer lasting wreaths.  Easy online ordering and local pick up as well as Direct Ship options are available.

https://threeriversfundraising.com/fund/moretownelementaryptn

Pick up orders must be placed by November 7th.  

Pick up will be at the Moretown Elementary Pancake breakfast on November 19th.

Direct Ship orders can be placed until November 26.

Please email Lindsay Staples at staples.lindsay@gmail.com with any additional questions.

Canyon Creek Scheduler Information

Parent/Teacher Conferences scheduler information...  

Step-By-Step Parent/Guardian Instructions

Moretown School

FAll Conferences 2016

Beginning October 26 - ending November 11, 2016

1. Visit the scheduling link at:  https://www.canyoncreeksoftware.com/scheduler/vt/wwsu/index.cfm    

OR - Select the Online Scheduler icon/link on the school's blog (under the family conference scheduler link) at:  http://moretownschoolblog.blogspot.com/

      2.  From the Online Scheduler Home Page

1. Choose your student’s school from the drop down list and click “GO”
2. Enter the school password 3742
3. Enter your student’s “Student ID”.  If you do not know their Student ID, use the LOOKUP STUDENT ID button to access the system.
4. Verify the student’s birth date  
5. A list of your student’s teachers will be displayed.  Check the box next to the name of each teacher(s) you would like to meet with.
6. If you have more than one student in the school you can see all of your students’ teachers’ schedules at one time by answering YES to this question “Do you want to schedule conferences for another student?” then repeat the steps above for your other students.  If you only have one student, answer NO to that question.
7. You will then see the available time slots for each teacher you selected.
8. Select the times that work best for your schedule.  
9. Enter your email address (recommended) if you would like an email reminder sent to you. (your email address is kept private.)
10. Once you have finished you can confirm your appointment details and print your conference schedule.

Write down the Confirmation Number (you will need this number to cancel your appointment)

Please contact Pam Washburn at 496-3742 if you need assistance with this process.

School Update October 21, 2016

First and Second Grade Engineers designing and creating together!  

Dear Moretown School Families;

We are excited about a shift this year to engage you, as parents and families, in setting goals for your child during the Fall family/teacher conferences.  Instead of three  times per school year, we will now send report cards home only twice: in January and June. There are several reasons for this change. Foremost, by eliminating a reporting period in the Fall, we have more time to focus on student learning and instruction.  As we adhere to recent legislation(Act 77) we will focus on  personalized learning plans and goal setting to foster and support  21st century learning goals for our students.   Together we will build a culture more focused on the excitement of learning rather than traditional grading practices.   Research shows that a  strong emphasis on grades may actually reduce student interest in learning and may create situations where students are less likely to take risks or to explore creative solutions to tasks. We believe we will set the right tone by starting the year with an emphasis on student learning goals, strengths and interests.

To this end, the upcoming Fall Parent Conferences will  focus on students’ goals and interests. Our hope is to empower  students to take a role (this will look different depending on grade levels)  in reflecting upon and communicating about their learning. This practice helps to build dispositions and skills that will be vital to students’ education now and in their future years here in our school. To prepare for the Fall  conferences, we will ask that you spend some time with your child developing a goal for them to work on this year.

A specific goal setting guide is being sent home "today" with your child Friday, October 21st.  

Teachers will also work on a similar goal setting guide here at school.    The March Parent Conference will provide an opportunity to reflect on growth and new goals that have emerged.

We will use the “online” family conference scheduler this year as we have in the past to schedule times to meet.  If  it is necessary to provide separate meetings for families please let us know.   Directions for using the scheduler are attached as part of this packet of information and can also be found on our school blog.  

The Scheduler Portal will be open on Monday, October 24th for your use.

We look forward to getting to know your children better and receiving your feedback about these changes. To get your feedback, please look for a survey in the lobby or via email following your conference this Fall.

Sincerely,

Duane Pierson dpierson@wwsu.og

Moretown Shirts and T-shirts for Sale 

Our New Moretown School Web store is now available to purchases Bobcat Shirts, Sweatshirts and our new long sleeve hooded Gray T-shirt. Proceeds go to our sixth grade class trip fund. Here is the link: https://cart.deerfielddesigns.com/moretown_elementary_school

HALLOWEEN HELP NEEDED!

Sign up to help
with our Halloween Party
on October 31st!
Here is the link to sign up:
http://www.signupgenius.com/go/20f0d4ba9a722a4fd0-moretown4
Non- scary costume time - 4:30 - 5:00pm
All costumes - 5:00 - 6:00pm
At the Town Hall  

REMINDER:  Please return your School Ski information to the school asap!
The snow is about to fall..  

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.
 

Halloween Candy Donation Request    Please consider donating Halloween candy to be distributed to the residents of the Moretown Village.  The donations help offset the costs for the families who open their doors for all the gouls and gobblins on Halloween eve which is OCTOBER 31st.   The Town Hall will host our annual kids event  beginning at 4:30 for non-scary costumes and at 5:00 - 6:00 for all costumes.  Can't wait to see the kids in their costumes.  

What You Say - What You Do...Makes a Difference!    A workshop focusing on Parent/Child Interactions & Self Esteem.  Wednesday, October 26th 5:30-7:00 pm,  Fayston Elementary School. Featuring renowned speaker and educator Scott Noyes.   This lively workshop addresses many hot topics:-How we are talking with children; The difference between praise and encouragement; How to avoid self-defeating patterns; Time to consider responsibility and independence; Discipline approaches; Looking into a day in the life of a child; Humor and fast paced stories make this a workshop you'll be talking about.

This workshop is free and open to the public. We recommend that anyone who interacts with children attend.  Childcare and light snacks provided. To pre-register for childcare contact Amy Yavitz @ 496-3636. For more information e-mailbarbara@hannahshousevt.org       Event sponsored by Hannah’s House, Fayston PTO, The Waitsfield Children’s Center, and Spring Hill School.

Harwood Strong Benefit Concert      The Harwood Union Music Department will present a special evening of music on Friday, October 21st at 7:30pm. "Harwood Strong: A Benefit Concert" will feature many local performers, and all proceeds will go toward the Celebration of Life event the Harwood Junior Class and Teacher Advisors are currently planning honoring all five students. Special guests include: George Woodard, Inora Brass, Mad River Chorale, The Renegade Groove, Sarah Reid (Class of 2011) with additional performances by our student Assembly Band, Honors Choir, and our music faculty Bruce Sklar, Chris Rivers, and Stefanie Weigand. Harwood is mourning the loss of five vibrant teenagers from the community, but with a separate memorial celebration already in the planning stages, this concert will have a very different feel and purpose. "We are looking to provide the community with a place to gather, listen to some great music, and just take a breath." says Weigand. "Music helps us to heal and brings people together, which is what we all need right now." Tickets will be sold at the door with a suggested donation of $15 per person. 100% of the ticket sales will go toward the funding of the HUHS Celebration of Life event scheduled for Monday, October 24th. For more information on the concert, please contact Stefanie Weigand or Chris Rivers at Harwood Union HS (882- 1159 or 882-1160).
 

Mad River Youth Basketball Sign-Ups       All youth in grades 3-6 are welcome to sign up for this year's Youth Basketball League. Sign-ups will take place at theWaitsfield School from 6:00 - 7:30 on Tuesday, October 25th.  One of the goals of our scheduling process is to have half of the games take place on Friday nights to allow people to access more snowboarding and Skiing on Saturdays. Practices begin as early as the week of 11/14. Feel free to email us at madriverybb@gmail.com and we can send you a copy of our
registration form.

Mad River Valley Harvest Festival      Come join us at the Harvest Festival, October 22, 11:00-5:00 on the Mad River Green.  You will find all kinds of activities such as pumpkin carving/decorating (bring your own pumpkin or buy one at the market), bob for donuts on a string, join a sack race, blow some bubbles, listen to the live music in the gazebo, check out the Mad River food Hub(tours 12:00-2:00), see what Glenn Acker can carve with his chain saw, and join the baking contest(sweet or savory using some of your summer harvest).
 

Girls Soccer Players in Grades K-6       Harwood Girls Varsity Soccer Coach Mike Vasseur invites all girl soccer players in grades K-6 to the annual training with the Harwood Girls Varsity team on Friday Oct. 21 from 4:00 to 5:15 p.m. at Harwood Union High School. The varsity players coach this fun session for dozens of young players from across our school district. The big girls have games, drills and scrimmages planned. It’s a highlight of the season for everyone, and is a great way to how support for the Harwood Girls Soccer program. Players should come dressed for soccer, including shin guards and layers if it's cold. Bring a water bottle and a soccer ball if you’d like (with your name on them).

Warren School Dance on October 28th, 7-9pm        Dance for 5th/6th graders at Warren School, $3 entry fee and can bring extra money for snacks.         No costumes, please.

Discussions with an Astronomer Oct 23, 2016 "Infinity, the philosophically elusive vastness of endlessness, is a lot simpler and a lot deeper than the child’s triumphant answer: “Infinity PLUS ONE!”. While it must be embraced as a necessary element in understanding reality, we also have come to understand that we can manage it philosophically. We welcome back local physicist, astronomer, programmer and educator Dan Zucker to guide us through the practical problems of how we perceive the infinite. There is no expectation of a background in mathematics for you to enjoy this presentation.  At the Moretown School. 4:00 - 5:30pm.  

KidsACT Holiday Musical: The Lights of Jingle Bell Hill  Still has room for actors   Wednesdays & Saturdays at the Valley Players Theater, Rt. 100, Waitsfield     October 26-December 17       Dates & times: Students in grades 1-3 meet from 3-4 on Weds. and 9:30-10:30 on Saturday. Students in grades 4-6 meet from 4-5 on Weds. and 10:30-11:30 on Saturday. No classes on Weds Nov. 16 or Sat. Nov. 26. Class on Weds Nov. 23 will be held on Tuesday Nov. 22due to the Thanksgiving holiday. Class schedule will change on Dec. 10 to Sat. 9:30-11:30am and Weds 3:00-5:00pm for all students for the last 2 classes as we come together to rehearse the full show. The performance will be on Saturday, December 17, at 4 pm. Students should plan to attend a dress rehearsal from 2:00-3:00. Snacks and theater games will be provided before the final performance at 4:00 pm.    Tickets to the show are FREE and the show is open to the public for general seating.     Enrollment & tuition: $125. A limited number of scholarships for half the full tuition are available from the Valley Players. Please indicate on your registration form if you wish to be considered for a scholarship.
 Registration: Go online to kidsactvt.com/kidsact-registration/ and fill out the on line form. You may mail a check or pay by credit card through the ticketleap link on the Registration page. Tuition is requested at time of registration to hold your child’s place in the program.
Students who would like to try KidsACT may do so for free on Oct. 26! Parents should email fun@kidsactvt.com to sign up for the free trial. For questions or more information, email director Ruth Ann Pattee at fun@kidsactvt.com or call 802-793-4220.