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Winter Weather is here! Please make
sure students have gloves, hats, winter boots, pants and
jackets for recess and outdoor activities.
We will go outside for recess unless the
temperature (radiant or windchill) drops
below zero or ice/rain or snow causes unsafe
playground conditions. |
SNOW DAY INFORMATION
Dear HUUSD Families,
It is hard to believe that our unusually warm, long fall season is officially over and 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 HUUSD 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 or not are often met with dissatisfaction, and I am hoping to do what I can to implement the best possible procedures in our district. However, we all know that our Vermont weather can be very unpredictable and often changes drastically in a short period of time or at the last possible minute. Sometimes a best judgement call just needs to be made. There are no absolutes. I just try to do my best.
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, commuting from all over the state, 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 teaching 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 from the State of Vermont. If an alert comes in, Jen and Jess at the Bus Barn, coordinators for First Student, our transportation contractor, begin gathering information from the National Weather Service. If the storm has already arrived, they check with as many of the town crews as they can make radio contact with for their feedback on their road conditions. Also, they/we regularly monitor the following sources for forecasts and predictions: The Weather Channel, WCAX, WPTZ, NOAA, Weather Underground, VT Agency of Transportation, Unisys Weather, Intellicast, CRWS, and last but not least … a stand outdoors! Jen 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 between 5:20-5:30 a.m. Laura Titus, my administrative assistant, calls the television and radio stations and sends out the Blackboard Connect messages to our families. Michelle Baker, my CFO is her back up. We try to get our notifications out between 5:45-6:00 so that we stop staff from getting on the roads and give families enough time to make alternative plans.
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. Like the majority of Vermont schools, a school delay is for 2 hours. 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 may 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! Buses not starting in very cold weather has not been a problem because we keep them plugged in.
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. HUUSD uses a messaging and communication system that provides both email and phone messages, which seems to work well for everyone. It is very important that you notify the registrar in your school office whenever your email address or phone numbers change. In addition to your personal message contacts, WCAX and other television channels report all delays and closings statewide.
One of the most difficult calls has to do with power outages. We rely on the best predictions from the power company regarding the length of time we could be without power. It takes about 60 minutes just to get our bus drivers all back to the bus barn and students loaded to dismiss. Each circumstance is very individual. Harwood Union continues to remain the most often affected. We are currently pursuing an affordable solution that will allow us to install two small generators to operate the kitchen and bathrooms. That being said, all of our schools need to be equipped to remain without power or in a lockdown situation for multiple hours because all sorts of things could happen. We are revising and improving these “stay put” plans.
Lastly, short of a rapidly occurring blizzard, I will do most anything to not close school early once we are in full session. It is far more dangerous to send our students home to houses also without power, phones, and/or supervision. Many parents cannot make spur of the moment arrangements. Yes, it is less than desirable and the bathrooms can get gross, but our students are safe, supervised, and eventually will be fed at school. Parents can always make the decision to pick up their students early if our schools are in some sort of an unusual circumstance.
I would sincerely like to thank all of our HUUSD families in advance for your patience and understanding in dealing with power outages, 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, or a power outage lasts longer than expected and I keep school open. These decisions are made with all the best available information possible, in a very short period of time, and taking into account the entire six towns in our HUUSD community. I will do my very best to keep school open whenever I can, while maintaining the safety and security of our greatest resource, our children.
Best regards,
Brigid S. Nease
Superintendent of Schools
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Moretown student reading
to end a Friday.. |
Moretown PTN Announcements
The Moretown School's PTN continues to meet and plan activities and opportunities for our students and our greater community. PTN meetings occur once a month and usually fall on the first Monday of each month beginning at 6:30. (please note our December meeting will be held on November 27 to support our Wreath delivery date) Notes and agendas can be found by clicking on the link on our blog or website or by clicking here: Moretown PTN We can always use more help with fundraising and helping out with one of our activities. This year we are funding and supporting our Winter Sports program for its 3rd year and host Troy Wunderlee Big Top Adventure as our spring residency as well. We hope to see you at our next meeting or volunteer at our upcoming pancake breakfast.
Reminder: Winter Sport Program registration paperwork is due on Monday, November 13, 17.
The Moretown PTN
We are excited to announce that once again we will host our famous Moretown Elementary Schoo Pancake Breakfast.
It will be held on Saturday, November 18, beginning at 8:00 to 10:30 AM in the school cafeteria.
As in the past, volunteers make this event a huge success. We need your help! If you can help out or perhaps make a food donation please contact Eliza Cain at eliza@redhenbaking.com or preferably Sign Up Below:
PTN Wreath Sale
The purpose of our wreath fundraiser is to support the Moretown School PTN general fund. These funds are used to offset the costs of our winter sports program in its fourth year. The PTN of Moretown School is pleased to be able to assist in providing all students in grades K-6 the experiences of winter sports (cross-country skiing, snowshoeing, downhill skiing or snowboarding) each under the supervision of experienced guides and instructors. A profit of between $5.00 and $10.00 from each wreath sold goes directly back into the program.
Thank you for your continued support of our school programs!
The Moretown PTN
Important Dates:
•November 20th: pick-up orders due
•November 27th: pick-up at Moretown Elementary - 7:30 am to 7:00pm.
•November 26th: Direct Ship orders due
Fundraiser: 6th Grade Trip!
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Please help support our 6th grade trip!
We are selling Poinsettias and Cyclamens for the holiday season.
Order forms can be found outside Loretta's window at the office,
or just ask a 6th grader!
Thank you for your support.
~The 6th Grade Class
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CALENDAR UPDATE
Nov 2017
Nov 13
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Moretown School Board Meeting
6pm at the Moretown School
Winter Sports Registration Packets are due back to the school
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Nov 18
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PTN Pancake Breakfast
PTN Wreath Sale
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Nov 22 - 24
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Thanksgiving Break
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Great Smiles to brighten up our darkening days.
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.
Waitsfield Ski and Skate Sale Opens this weekend at the Waitsfield School. Open on Saturday and Sunday, November 11 and 12.
Bill Koch League registration now open: please register by November 30th. This X-Country program is open to kindergarten through 8th graders. Contact Chris Badger at csbadger@gmail.com for registration forms and more information.Agricultural Literacy Week Join Joslin Library's community event, November 16th, 6:30pm, for a film screening and panel discussion with local farmers. For more information, call Joslin Library at 496-4205 or email Joslinmemoriallibrary.com
Veterans Day Concert featuring Inora Brass with guest Fred Messer of American Legion Mad River Post 75, November 11, 7pm, at Waitsfield United Church of Christ. Patriotic and American music performed by Vermont's premiere professional brass quintet. For more information, contact Joslin Memorial Library at 496-4205 orjoslinmemoriallibrary.com
Community Socrates Cafe with Christopher Phillips, author of Socrates Cafe: A Fresh Taste of Philosophy, November 13, 6-8pm, Harwood Union High School Library. For more information, call Joslin Library at 496-4205 or visitjoslinmemoriallibrary.com
Albany Berkshire Ballet Presents The Nutcracker, November 25, at 3 & 7pm andNovember 26th at 1:00pm, at the Flynn Theater. Fourteen Students from Mad River Dance Academy, which includes six students from Waitsfield School, will dance along side the company's 15 professional dancers as they bring this holiday classic to more than 7,000 delighted audience members. One of our Waitsfield students will perform the part of Clara at the November 25th, 3pm performance.Tickets rang in price for adults from $26-$40 and children $15-$25. For more information, call the ABB at 413-445-5382 or visit berkshireballet.org for ticketing and box office information.
