Moretown School Update September 15, 2017

Mrs. Riccardi's students excited about their progress with
collecting coins for Hurricane Irma and Harvey victims.
Students have taken the lead in making this
worthy fundraising activity occur in our school.
Way to go Moretown!  

RECORD CHECK UPDATE

Hello Moretown School Families, 

As you are aware, all HUUSD schools are now requiring record checks 

for all volunteers and chaperones who would like 

to spend time with students during the school day or attend off-campus field trips.   

For more specifics, please read Superintendent Nease's letter regarding this requirement. The letter can be found in the link cloud on our school blog.   

We are glad to report that the Moretown PTN 

is offering financial assistance for any parent/family member who would like to 

complete the record check process.  Please let Ms. Loretta, in the front office, 

 know if this is something you would like to utilize.  We understand that this is a change in our operating procedures and appreciate your understanding and patience as we work to keep student safety our number one priority.   

Mrs. Fadden's class notices a Chrysalis's 

metamorphosis into a butterfly

amazing!  

IMPORTANT HEALTH NOTICE

Dear Parent/ Guardian/ Faculty Member:

We have received a confirmed diagnosis of Pertussis (also known as whooping cough) of a student in the Harwood Union Unified School district (specifically the Waitisfield School and at Harwood Union) According to the Health Department, other cases have been reported throughout the state. We understand receiving a letter of this nature may cause alarm, but it is intended to inform and communicate a potential exposure.  As always, the wellness of our students is top priority and we want to be sure you’re aware of the signs and symptoms of Pertussis.

Pertussis is a contagious disease that is spread through the air when infected people cough. While immunization protects most children during the elementary school years, protection from the vaccine lessens over time. Pertussis can occur in fully immunized individuals. Students and/or staff with a cough are advised to see their Pediatrician/ Medical Provider for formal evaluation and possible treatment for pertussis.

Pertussis begins with cold symptoms and an irritating cough, which usually becomes increasingly severe over 1-2 weeks. Symptoms often include a long series of coughs, sometimes followed by a whooping noise. However, older children, adults and very young infants may not develop the whoop. Vomiting may occur after a coughing episode. There is generally no fever.

Antibiotic treatment early in the disease may decrease the severity of symptoms and reduce the infectiousness of the ill person. Antibiotics may be recommended for close contacts of pertussis cases in order to prevent them from contracting and/or transmitting the disease.

Vermont Department of Health recommendations include the following:

1. Close contacts, including household members and roommates, of persons diagnosed with pertussis should receive a protective course of antibiotics to prevent additional infections. A Public Health Nurse will investigate to identify close contacts in the school and refer them to their health care providers. Classrooms are not generally considered close enough contact to warrant preventive treatment for pertussis.

2. Any student or staff member who has any of the above symptoms or a cough lasting more than a week should be evaluated for pertussis by a health care provider as soon as possible.

3. Children or staff with confirmed or suspected pertussis should stay home until they have completed 5 days of the antibiotic treatment for pertussis.

4. The Vermont Department of Health recommends that all adolescents, ages 11-18 years, receive a single (booster) dose of Tdap vaccine. Adults, especially those who have, or anticipate having, close contact with an infant should receive a single dose of Tdap vaccine. Please consult your health care provider.

5. Children less than 1 year old, particularly infants under 6 months of age, are most likely to experience severe illness if they develop pertussis. When possible, young infants should be kept away from people with a cough. Babies with any coughing illness or choking episodes should be promptly evaluated by their physician.

Please notify the school or health department personnel if your child is diagnosed with confirmed or possible pertussis. If you have any questions, please call the Vermont Department of Health at (802) 479-4200 or 479-0987 between 7:45 AM and 4:30 PM Monday-Friday.

We hope this letter finds you well.  Please do not hesitate to contact your School Nurse as an additional resource.

Respectfully,

Brigid Nease

Happy to be at school!
A smile speaks a thousand words... 

CALENDAR UPDATE

Sept 2017

September 20	HUUSD Board Meeting 6pm Harwood Union
September 27	HUUSD Board Meeting 6pm Harwood Union
September 28	Spaghetti Dinner 4:45 (Hosted by the 6th grade as a fundraiser for their end of year trip)   Open House 5:30
October 4	PTN membership Meeting 6:30 at the school
October 6	Inservice Day - No school for students
October 12	Picture Day

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.

Fencing Instruction: adults and students grade 5 and up, 6:30-8:00, Waitsfield School Gymnasium, Mondays and Wednesdays, September 18 - October 23rd. Cost is $40 for students grades 5-12 and $125 for all others. Space is limited so register in advance.  For questions and more information contact Digger(Keith Puffer) at 802-989-8014, email at midvtfencing@gmail.com, or go to https://sites.google.com/site/midvtfencing/home

MAD DASH:  A benefit for the Mad River Path, October 8th, 10am start time. There will be a 5K and 10K Road Race, a 5K Fitness Walk, and a free Kids' Fun Run.  For information and registration visit www.madriverpath.com. You may also call 802-496-7284 for more information and to volunteer.

Baked Beads Jewelry and Scarf Sale: October 6-8, 10am-5pm, under the tent on Carroll Road near the Big Picture.  A portion of the proceeds will be donated to Mad River Valley Ambulance.

Mad River Youth Basketball Registration is now open for boys and girls in grades 3 - 6!   Fees:  $65 for early registration by October 3, 2017.  $75 for late registration after October 3, 2017 until registration closes on October 15, 2017.  
Register by email or in person.  Scholarships are available!
In person registration night is October 3, 2017, 6:00 - 7:30 p.m., at Waitsfield Elementary School.  There will be organized drills provided for the kids! Open gyms begin October 10, 2017, more details to come.
Regular season practices will begin in mid-November and games will start in mid-December.    Email:  madriverybb@gmail.com with any questions and to request a registration form.

Basketball clinic for boys and girls in grades 1-3 : Open gyms sessions (3) will be held on Wednesday 9/20, 9/27 and 10/4 from 3:30-5:00 at Fayston Elementary School. $8 per session/per kid, $10 max per family per session. Please bring sneakers and a water bottle. We will provide basketballs, but you can bring one too but we will not have a pump so please prepump. We are looking for a parent or two who are interested in becoming an assistant coach this coming basketball year. Nothing too serious, just helping during practices or more, depending on you. Boys and girls teams (grades 3-4 and 5-6) are looking for an assistant or two. For more information or questions contact Jesse Carst at Jeslee21@hotmail.com