Moretown School Update, April 27, 2018

The very "shy" Gamer's Club
Daily meeting and strategy session

Note from the Principal 

It is with a significant amount of emotion that I send you this message today.  As many of you know, I have been the principal of our amazing growing school for the past 6 years, and a parent here since 2003.  At this point in my personal life and career, I have decided to make a change that will send me back to Harwood Union as their middle school administrator.  This decision was solely based on personal reasons that allow me to support my growth as a professional and allow me to support my family as we begin to focus on our post-secondary life.  It has been a privilege to have served as your principal and point person for the school community during this time.  My most memorable moments have been seeing the spark in your children' eyes as they explored the world as new learners.  I am proud of the work we did as a community to development and implement programs that have had a significant positive impact for our kids,  families and community.    The good news is that at the Moretown school, we worked as a team to bring about these changes so that no one person's absence will result in the elimination or reductions of any of these programs.  I will work hard to make the leadership transition as smooth as possible.  Thanks to all who  have given me so much during my tenure at Moretown, it has been a great honor to serve you and look forward to serving you again in my new role.  
Sincerely, 
Duane Pierson 

Moretown School will be hosting a blood drive for the Red Cross on

Monday, April 30, from 11am-4pm in the gymnasium. .

For those who would like to donate, schedule an appointment ahead of time.

Go to redcrossblood.org and enter MoretownElem ​to schedule. On the day of the drive, prior

to the scheduled appointment, complete the “reading and health history questions”; found by

visiting RedCrossBlood.org/RapidPass. ​If done ahead of time, 15 min will be saved,

shortening the appointment to between 30-45 min.

If you are fortunate enough to go out of country for Spring Break, to the tropics, South America

or Mexico, it would be helpful to contact Kathleen.Luce@RecCross.org. She will determine any

restrictions. If you have any other questions, she is the person to contact.

Kathleen will be at the school the day of the drive from 11-1pm.

Walk Ins are of course welcome, but the above is recommended to expedite wait time.

 

  

HUUSD School Board Meeting recap: April 11

Dear members of our six town community,

At our last meeting on April 11, 2018, the Harwood Unified Union School District (HUUSD) Board took action on seven (7) items:

1. We voted to request a proposal from Truex Cullins that would offer project scope and costs for activities related to the updating the needs of the high school and as well as some potential future middle school options.
2. We adopted policy F34 - Meal Charge Policy.
3. We approved central office recommendations for broadband contracts for Crossett Brook, Thatcher Brook, and Harwood Union schools.
4. We asked the central office to invite our 3^rdparty auditor to come for a question and answer period with the board in the fall.
5. We agreed that the HUUSD district would not increase staff in order to fulfill school choice requests, and asked the administration to bring back a more detailed procedure related to school choice. 
6. We approved multiple board warrants
7. We approved the RFP proposed by the Community Engagement Committee to request proposals from potential consultants to support the board’s efforts to engage with the community, and to work with the central office to confirm details and take over management of the RFP process itself.

Also at that meeting, Waterbury HUUSD Representative Maureen McCracken announced that she would is resigning from the board. If you are a Waterbury citizen or know one who might be interested, please consider the open position on the HUUSD Board! Interested parties should submit a letter of interest stating why they would like to serve and what contributions they would like to bring to the Board to Brigid Nease, Superintendent by May 3, 2018. Letters can be submitted either by US mail (HUUSD, 340 Mad River Park, Suite 7, Waitsfield, VT 05673) or email (bnease@wwsu.org). You can also contact Maureen if you have questions for her: maureenmccracken1@comcast.net.

You can watch the full meeting at: https://mrvtv.com/342532-2/

It is our hope to send updates and previews of each HUUSD Boardmeeting in the future. Thank you for your continued support and engagement. Out next meeting is Wednesday, April 25th from 6 - 9:30 pm in the Harwood Union High School library. 

Visit wwsu.org for board agendas and minutes.

     

The HUUSD Board: Christine Sullivan (Waitsfield)  *Chair, Caitlin Hollister (Waterbury)  *Vice Chair, Alycia Biondo (Warren), Jill Ellis (Fayston), Gabe Gilman (Moretown), Peter Langella (Moretown), Garett MacCurtain (Duxbury), Maureen McCracken (Waterbury), Theresa Membrino (Fayston), Melissa Phillips (Waterbury), Torrey Smith (Duxbury), Alexandra Thomsen  (Waterbury), Rosemarie White (Warren), Rob Williams (Waitsfield)                        

MEAL POLICY UPDATE!  

HUUSD recently updated our meal charge policy (see F34: Meal Charge Policy) to ensure that we are in compliance with best practices, federal guidelines,  and consistent across all of our schools. The focus of our food service program continues to be on providing high quality, nutritious meals to our communities. This policy update provides clarity and consistency on our practices on charging for these meals provided.

        There are few changes that students and families will experience as a result of this policy update; in preparation for this policy implementation, we already began sending a weekly statement to all families whose children have a negative account balance. A change in our policy is that all students will be provided with a meal regardless of their meal account status; in the past, we have indicated that should an account not be paid, we might need to suspend meal service. Now,  “when an account has a negative balance of $300 or more, or remains negative for 3 or more months, the account may be sent to collections.” (see “meal charge policy/procedure from the new policy.”

News From Harwood Union Middle... 

Parents and their sixth grade child are invited to attend the “7^th Grade Transition Night” at Harwood Union Middle School on May 2nd from 5:30 – 7:00 p.m. The team of 7^th grade teachers will be available this evening to provide you with information about your child’s seventh grade school year. We start the event in the HS auditorium and then you will tour the middle school. We look forward to meeting you and your child.

CALENDAR UPDATE

May 2018  

May 1 - 4	SBAC testing for Grades 3 - 6
May 5	Cinco De Mayo Event Moretown Town Hall Silent Auction, Mexican Food Proceeds go to fund Morefest 2018 (September 15)
May 7-10	Wunderlee’s Big Top Adventure Residency.
May 10	School BBQ and Circus One of the best nights of the year! Dinner BBQ begins at 4:45, Circus Show begins at 6:00
May 22	Music Concert 6pm

Upcoming Events:

June 1 - Pig Roast/Music Fun

Food by MRNA

Music by Scared By Dolls

Moretown Recreation Fields

LAST DAY OF SCHOOL  - June 15th (Half 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.

Bike Day!  Vermont friends of AMBUCS Adaptive Bike Fitting Event for children as young as 2 years old, May 5th, 10:00-2:00, Waitsfield School.  Bring your child and come try out all the therapeutic tricycles and adaptive accessories Amtryke has to offer.  Bikes for kids of all ages available. To attend, be sure to register for a time slot at : https://tinyurl.com/2018-Bike-Event-Registration

Fencing Instruction with Keith Puffer: adults and students age 11and up, 6:30-8:00open fencing and 8-9:00 individual instruction, Waitsfield School gym, Tuesdays and Thursdays April 24-May 24.   Beginners and Experienced fencers welcome.  Cost is $40 for students and $125 for all others. For registration or more information, contact Keith at 802-989-8014 or visit midvtfencing@gmail.com.

Soccer for the Little Ones!  U8 Soccer – 1st & 2nd graders . One practice & one game per week.  All games intermural, local action on Saturdays starting May 5th, for 5 weeks. Fee for the season: $30  Registration closes Monday April 23rd. To register, visit, http://registrar.mrvsa@gmail.com
Pre-K & Kindergarten Soccer: One fun hour of skills at Waitsfield Elementary School 9-10am ,4 Saturdays, starting May 5th . Fee for the season: $20. Registration on first day.  Please email registrar.mrvsa@gmail.com for questions.

Middle School Volleyball Club for 5th-8th graders​: Volleyball is the 4th most popular sport in the world and is also the most popular girls high school sport in the United States.  It is so popular that many high schools in Vermont are starting to add boys teams, too. Mark your calendars for May 8, 5-7 PM, the first meeting  of the Crossett Brook Middle School Volleyball Club.  We will have a short organizational meeting for parents and students at the first session, then get on with the fun! All interested Middle School boys and girls, grade 5-8, in the HUUSD are invited. We also invite parents with volleyball experience to attend. The club will meet every Tuesday from May 8 until the end of the school year from 5-7pm. Students interested in playing and experienced parents interested in volunteering can contact Dona Culver at dculver@wwsu.org.

4-H Open Horse Clinic: June 1-3rd, at Tunbridge Fairgrounds: open to all youth ages 8 and up as well as adults. Workshop highlights include Harmony with Horses, Saddle Fitting and Bits, First Aid & Farm Safety. Sign up today by contacting Allison Smith, at 802-476-2003 or email: Allison.smith.2@uvm.edu

Group swim Lessons: at the Bridges, Tuesday-Friday after school.  Call 802-583-2922 for information.

Kids Yoga: 8 week series begins on April 24, 2:50 - 3:50p.m. at Valley Glow Yoga. Kids yoga is co-ed for children in 1st-6th grade. For more information emailvalleyglowyoga@gmail.com

Gallery Walk and Socrates Café Featuring Harwood Students and our links to the Global Community!
“What is Gained and What is Lost When We Move?”, April 27th, Featuring HUHS international students, members of the Peace Alliance, Refugee Resettlement club, Rwanda Travel Study, work of Global Studies Students and Chris Urban’s Golden Cage Photo exhibit, 5:00- 6:00 pm Gallery Walk, 6:00- 7:15 pm Socrates Café, facilitated by Harwood students. Join us to celebrate the work of Harwood students who  are working to better our Global Community!

The Harwood Varsity Boys' and Girls' basketball coaches will be offering a basketball camp for all 2nd through 9th graders (as of fall 2018) The camp will run the week of 6/25-6/29 at Harwood Union High School. Each camp will be capped at 30 participants. Early drop off and/or late pick up is available from 7:30-5:00.

Campers will attend the camp for the grade entering in August of 2018

8:00-11:00 2nd -4th grade boys and girls
11:00-2:00 5th - 9th grade girls
2:00-5:00 5th - 9th grade boys

If you would like an camp application, please email Tommy Young: tyoung@wwsu.org