Moretown School Update October 26, 2018

School Notes:

• Just a quick note, we are working with Mad River Valley Interfaith Council to provide Thanksgiving baskets to those in need.  Please call the main office 802-496-3742 to have Basket Request sent to you.
• Halloween is this week.  Remember no costumes during the school day... save them for the party on Wednesday evening put on by the PTO (see below).

Mrs. Puffer's class celebrated Unity Day by wearing orange and spreading the message of kindness.

• 5th graders are headed off to Boston on Thursday and Friday... can't wait to see the pictures and hear all about it.

• Step-By-Step Parent/Guardian Instructions for conferences

	Scheduler Steps
1	Use this link to Canyon Creek and click on the link: Moretown Elementary School Conference Meetings password: 3742
2	Enter your student’s “Student ID” which is their lunch account number. If you do not know their Student ID, use the LOOKUP STUDENT ID button to access the system.
3	Verify the student’s birth date
4	Check the box next to your student’s teacher
5	If you have more than one student at Moretown, answer YES to the question when it appears on your screen: “Do you want to schedule a conference for another student?” then repeat the steps above for your other students. If you only have one student, answer NO to that question
6	You will then see the available time slots for the teacher of your student(s)
7	Select the time that works best for your schedule
8	Enter your email address (recommended) if you would like an email reminder sent to you. (Your email address is kept private.)
9	Once you have finished you can confirm your appointment details and print your conference schedule
10	Write down the Confirmation Number (you will need this number if you need to cancel your appointment). Once you cancel, you can pick a new appointment slot

• Calendar Updates
• Picture retakes- Monday October 29

PTO:

Halloween:  The “Treats for Donation” box was bagged up today and delivered to the houses in Moretown Village during MECA this afternoon.  The PTO is also still in need of help with the party and/or donations of healthy treats at the party.  If you are interested please sign up via the signup genius link (https://m.signupgenius.com/#!/showSignUp/70a094cacab23abfb6-halloween).  The Halloween party is October 31st at Moretown School. The party will begin at 4:30 with a non-scary time until 5:00 to be followed by trick or treating in the village at 6:00.  

Advisory Committee: The Advisory Committee survey requesting input on mission and vision is out and will remain open for a few more weeks as the mission and vision is being fine-tuned! Please take a minute to complete the survey and also to provide feedback on general PTO events if you have not already done so. https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/LQ9GPH7

Additionally, we know not everyone can make PTO meetings so please email MoretownPTO@gmail.com with your email address if you’d like to be added to a PTO email distribution list to ensure you get the most up to date information with regards to PTO events, school volunteer needs and event discussions.  Like the PTO on Facebook for updates as well!  https://www.facebook.com/MoretownPTO/

Next Advisory Committee and PTO Meetings: Tuesday November 27^th at 5:30 p.m. and 6:30 respectively. 

Community Announcements:

Mad River Youth Basketball Registration is now open for boys and girls in grades 3 - 6!   Fees:  $65 for early registration by October 20, 2018.  $80 for late registration after October 20, 2018 until registration closes on October 26, 2018.  Register by email, mail or in person with Nicole Rocheleau at Mad River Park on Monday, October 8th and Tuesday, October 9th from 5:30 - 6:30 p.m.  

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.  Registrations can be mailed to:  Nicole Rocheleau, 52 Lester Ln, Moretown, VT  05660

Scholarships are available!

Halloween Concert (for 2-6 year-olds and their families)

Saturday, October 27, 2018 from 3:30-4:30 pm (doors open at 3:15)

Green Mountain Performing Arts, 37 Commercial Drive, Waterbury, VT

Come in costume for a fun filled hour of safe, fun, interactive Halloween songs, storytelling, dancing & instrumental fun!  Free Halloween gift bag for all children.  Featuring Miss Andrea of Musical Munchkins & the Halloween Hoot Musicians.  

This will be a fundraiser for the Waterbury Area Food Shelf: Please bring a toiletries as price of the admission (toothbrushes, toothpaste, toilet paper, shampoo. deodorant, mouthwash, soap, ect.  Any donations appreciated.

RSVP appreciated: musicalmunchkinsofvermont@gmail.com   

Also BAKE SALE and RAFFLE PRIZES to benefit GMPA Scholarship fund

Moretown School Update October 19, 2018

School Notes:

• It is that time of year, we were reminded this week, that winter gear is a must for school.  Hats, mittens, gloves, boots and winter coats are needed to keep the students warm during outdoor times.  And before we know it, we'll need snow pants, scarves and many layers.  Please help your child be prepared for the weather.
• Also if you are trying on winter gear and have some that your kids have outgrown, consider donating to the outdoor clothes to our drive
• Need an address to send out Birthday Party invitations?  Or a phone number for a play date?  The Moretown School Directory will be a helpful way to find names addresses, phone numbers and email addresses!  If you would like to be included in the 18/19 directory please complete this form and submit it by Nov. 1st
• Trick or Treat for UNICEF
• This year The Moretown School will be participating in the Trick or Treat for UNICEF campaign. Trick or Treat for UNICEF is the longest running youth engagement campaign in America, raising money to help UNICEF provide children across the globe with health care, nutrition, clean water, education and emergency relief. 
• Next week two fourth graders will share with each classroom what they have learned about UNICEF. Students will learn how UNICEF supports children and families and how they can help. UNICEF boxes will be distributed for students to collect donations while trick or treating. Our whole school goal is to fill a large glass jar, to be on display near the main entrance.
• Please note this is a voluntary activity and families can choose not to participate. 
• Please email Jason Stevenson, School Counselor, with any questions or concerns - jstevenson@wwsu.org.  

• From the Health Office 
• If you or someone you know is suffering from Lyme Disease or another Tick-Borne Disease or you want to learn more about preventing Lyme, please join us!  VTLyme.org has partnered with UVM to bring you this special event.  Click here for more details.

• Calendar Updates
• 10/29/18- picture retakes
• 10/31/18- PTO Halloween Party

PTO:

Halloween: REMINDER: The Halloween party is on for October 31st at Moretown School. The party will begin at 4:30 with a non-scary time until 5:30 to be followed by trick or treating in the village at 6:30 p.m. If you’d like to contribute to treats to provide to the villagers please drop them at the Main Office in the “Treats for Donation” box by October 24^th. If you’d like to help with the party please email the PTO at moretownpto@gmail.com, sign up on the PTO Board, or sign up via the signup genius link (https://m.signupgenius.com/#!/showSignUp/70a094cacab23abfb6-halloween).

Advisory Committee: The Advisory Committee survey requesting input on mission and vision is out! Please take a minute to complete the survey and also to provide feedback on general PTO events. https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/LQ9GPH7  The next Advisory Committee meeting on Tuesday October 23rd will focus on it’s mission and vision guided by the findings of the survey and meeting attendants.

Winter Sports Clothing Drive: Thank you so much to those who have brought in their gently used winter sports apparel, so many kiddos will be so grateful!! Since the program is working so well we will continue to keep the box out for collections.

PTO Announcements: Remember to check out the PTO announcement board for volunteer opportunities (library and Halloween) and important winter sports program announcements!

Next Advisory Committee Meeting: Tuesday October 23 at 5:30 p.m.. Next PTO meeting, Tuesday October 23rd at 6:00 p.m. Both at Moretown School.

Community Announcements:

Mad River Youth Basketball Registration is now open for boys and girls in grades 3 - 6!   Fees:  $65 for early registration by October 20, 2018.  $80 for late registration after October 20, 2018 until registration closes on October 26, 2018.  Register by email, mail or in person with Nicole Rocheleau at Mad River Park on Monday, October 8th and Tuesday, October 9th from 5:30 - 6:30 p.m.  

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.  Registrations can be mailed to:  Nicole Rocheleau, 52 Lester Ln, Moretown, VT  05660

Scholarships are available!

Halloween Concert (for 2-6 year-olds and their families)

Saturday, October 27, 2018 from 3:30-4:30 pm (doors open at 3:15)

Green Mountain Performing Arts, 37 Commercial Drive, Waterbury, VT

Come in costume for a fun filled hour of safe, fun, interactive Halloween songs, storytelling, dancing & instrumental fun!  Free Halloween gift bag for all children.  Featuring Miss Andrea of Musical Munchkins & the Halloween Hoot Musicians.  

This will be a fundraiser for the Waterbury Area Food Shelf: Please bring a toiletries as price of the admission (toothbrushes, toothpaste, toilet paper, shampoo. deodorant, mouthwash, soap, ect.  Any donations appreciated.

RSVP appreciated: musicalmunchkinsofvermont@gmail.com   

Also BAKE SALE and RAFFLE PRIZES to benefit GMPA Scholarship fund

Board News:

https://wwsu.org/huusd-board

Moretown School Update October 12, 2018

What an amazing week we've had at the Moretown School!

School Notes:

• Congratulations to Moretown's 5/6 grade spelling bee team for their 3rd place win today.  Way to go team!

• And thank you to Moretown Fire Department for a great first assembly!

• 
  

Safety and Security:

• You may have noticed the iPad at the front desk.  We are using a new program called Envoy to record all visitors and volunteers.  If you come in to visit or volunteer please sign in on the iPad, enter a "destination" (the person/classroom you are going to), and then just write your name on a visitor sticker.  Thank you for working with us as we make out school the safe and wonderful place we love.

Other updates:

• Monster Mash
• 
  

  

  10/12/18

  
  

  Hello and happy Friday,

  
  

  It's me again, The Book M0nster. Wow, what a great week! You have some pretty fantastic kids. David wanted me to let you know that.

  
  

  The Book Fair is coming soon. Book Fair will run from Monday November 12th through Friday November 16th. Anyone who is interested in volunteering please contact David or Lindsay Staples. More information on dates and times will be coming soon.

  
  

  Shelving Volunteers are always well-loved and appreciated as are Creative Bulletin Board volunteers and pretty much anything else you would like to volunteer for in the library. The library is a fun cozy place to work, volunteer and just be. Please know that you are always welcome in the Moretown library volunteering or not.

  
  

  Lastly...So, what have we been up to in the library, well I shall tell you…

  • Preschool and Kindergarten have been reading, rhyming and singing songs. Some of the stories we have shared are:

  

  
  

  • First and Second Grade missed library last week, but this week we will continue to learn and talk about Text to Text, Text to Self and Text to World connections. One of the stories we shared is:  

  
  

       

  • Third and Fourth Grade have been reading and talking about making choices and how individuals can make a difference. Third grade has also been continuing their work in google docs and becoming more familiar with the toolbar and the different features it has to offer. Some of the stories we have shared are:

  

  • Fifth and sixth grade have been doing a lot of collaborative work with how they might want to redesign the playground for current fifth and sixth graders as well as for those who come after. They have also been working on two sentence scary/short stories. The playground work and the two sentence stories will continue throughout the month of October. They have been very active and engaged with their learning. We will continue to talk about how our choices and actions can impact others. One of the stories we shared is:

  
  Thank you for your continued support,
  The Book M0nster

• Calendar Updates
• Goal conferences will be scheduled at the end of October and beginning of November.  Please look for the link here or on the website to become live to sign up.

PTO:

Halloween: The Halloween party is on for October 31^st at Moretown School.  The party will begin at 5:30 to be followed by trick or treating in the village.  If you’d like to contribute to treats to provide to the villagers please drop them at the Main Office in the “Treats for Donation” box.  If you’d like to help with the party please email the PTO at moretownpto@gmail.com, sign up on the PTO Board, or sign up via the signup genius link (to be distributed shortly).

Advisory Committee: In the next several days please look for a survey regarding the mission and vision of the Advisory Committee coming the next several days.  This survey will provide and important voice for the visioning process for those not able to attend the October 23^rd Advisory Committee meeting. 

PTO Announcements: With the Advisory Committee survey is an event survey to better gauge the wants and needs of the community with respect to fundraisers and events.  Additionally, the bulletin board is up and running.  Check it out for volunteer opportunities (library and Halloween) and other PTO announcements!

PINNACLE SKI & SPORT

Ski or Snowboard Lease SPECIAL for Moretown

Brand New $99 (Reg. $159)

Used $75 (Reg. $119) ~ while supplies last

The Details:

Special rates are eligible for all Moretown School students preschool - 6th grade


(AND any siblings 12yrs old and younger)


Valid everyday EXCEPT Holiday Blackout dates (Nov. 21st -24th , Dec 20th 2018 - Jan 1st , 2019)

October SPECIAL

Get your lease before November 1st and get a

$15 Gift Card

to Pinnacle Ski & Sport

3391 Mountain Road, Stowe, VT Open daily 8:30am – 5:30pm 802-253-7222

Community Announcements:

Mad River Youth Basketball Registration is now open for boys and girls in grades 3 - 6!   Fees:  $65 for early registration by October 20, 2018.  $80 for late registration after October 20, 2018 until registration closes on October 26, 2018.  Register by email, mail or in person with Nicole Rocheleau at Mad River Park on Monday, October 8th and Tuesday, October 9th from 5:30 - 6:30 p.m.  

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.  Registrations can be mailed to:  Nicole Rocheleau, 52 Lester Ln, Moretown, VT  05660

Scholarships are available!

Halloween Concert (for 2-6 year-olds and their families)

Saturday, October 27, 2018 from 3:30-4:30 pm (doors open at 3:15)
Green Mountain Performing Arts, 37 Commercial Drive, Waterbury, VT
Come in costume for a fun filled hour of safe, fun, interactive Halloween songs, storytelling, dancing & instrumental fun!  Free Halloween gift bag for all children.  Featuring Miss Andrea of Musical Munchkins & the Halloween Hoot Musicians.  
This will be a fundraiser for the Waterbury Area Food Shelf: Please bring a toiletries as price of the admission (toothbrushes, toothpaste, toilet paper, shampoo. deodorant, mouthwash, soap, ect.  Any donations appreciated.
RSVP appreciated: musicalmunchkinsofvermont@gmail.com   
Also BAKE SALE and RAFFLE PRIZES to benefit GMPA Scholarship fund

Board News:

The High School Visioning Workshop is next Tuesday, October 16! Please register to participate by Friday October 12! (if you end up letting us know by the weekend, we'll probably still have room so please consider it!)

Those interested in participating in the October 16 event should contact the HUUSD board representatives. Board representative contact information can be found at: tinyurl.com/HUUSDboard

PROJECT OVERVIEW:

The HUUSD board is considering a bond proposal to renovate, update, and modernize Harwood Union Middle and High Schools. Work focused on grades 7 and 8  is well underway; we are now turning to the high school facilities, and students in grades 9-12. We are seeking two volunteers from each of our six towns to participate in our high school visioning workshop on Tuesday, October 16, 2018.  We hope you will consider being a part of these continuing conversations.

Harwood Union was built in 1965, and has been well-maintained for more than 50 years. As building codes and teaching practices have evolved, and infrastructure and systems have aged, it has become increasingly clear Harwood is in need of an overhaul as we strive to meet the needs of today’s students.

This past spring, the HUUSD board voted to revive the Harwood bond project that had been put on hold in 2015, due to Act 46 merger activities, and to resume working with the architectural firm TruexCullins of Burlington.

Visioning for our Harwood Union High School experience is the second phase of the process, which will continue with TruexCullins facilitating a workshop to help the community articulate its vision for students at the high school. The workshop will be held October 16, from 5:00 to 8:00 pm, and will include: administrators, teachers, and staff from Harwood; board members; and community members from each town. For the community member participants, we hope to have two from each town: one parent of a student in the district, and one resident who does not currently have a student in the district. The goal of the workshop is to develop guiding principles for the high school experience. This phase of the project will also revisit ideas generated through workshops that were held in 2015, when TruexCullins originally started work on this project with the former Harwood HS/MS board.

After the workshop, data will be collected by engineers, contractors, and architects who will evaluate the high school building to determine its current physical state, configuration, and capacity. TruexCullins will use information from the visioning workshop and the data collected on the Harwood facility to identify options with cost estimates. This winter, TruexCullins will present its findings and recommendations to the board.

In December, TruexCullins will make a public presentation, and the board will vote whether to move into the design and budgeting phase. Throughout the process there will be ongoing opportunities for public comment, with a continuing dialogue around how best to meet the current and future needs of HUUSD students on the Harwood campus.

More information about the bond project is available on the board page of the HUUSD website: www.wwsu.org

Respectfully,

The HUUSD Board

Christine Sullivan (Waitsfield)  *Chair

Caitlin Hollister (Waterbury)  *Vice Chair

Alycia Biondo (Warren)

Jill Ellis (Fayston)

Linda Hazard (Moretown)

Gabe Gilman (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)

Moretown School Update October 5, 2018

School Notes:

• We had a wonderful open house this past week.  I was so happy to see so many of you and walk around the building buzzing with excited students, supportive families and an amazing feel of community.  Thank you for coming out and sharing the evening with us.
• Thank you also to everyone who came out for the spaghetti dinner.  It was very successful fundraiser for the 6th graders for their trip. And it was pretty delicious and fun for all.

• Attached is the new updated October menu, there are a few minor changes.

• Fall buddies: Take a look at this pumpkin carving team above:
• ECO:
• Check out 1st and 2nd graders in the woods this week by clicking on the link.
• Check out Kindergarten in the woods below:

Learning to carve with vegetable peeler

Building roads for our kindergarten village

Slack line balance

• Calendar Updates
• No School October 5
• No School October 8

PTO:

ECO/Winter Sports clothing drive:  At the Open House we kicked a winter sports clothing drive.  This is intended to meet certain warm/dry clothing needs which arise from the ECO and Winter Sports Programs.  We ask that as you transition into fall and winter items at home that you consider donating gently used  items your children might have outgrown to this very important cause within our community.  Items needed are: waterproof pants (snow and rain), waterproof gloves and mittens, waterproof boots (winter and otherwise), wool blend socks and waterproof jackets.  The PTO will continue to leave the bin with the clothing drive sign in the front of the school throughout the fall season to provide for convenience of dropping off items.  If you have any questions please feel free to email moretownpto@gmail.com

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.

• Cookies for Kids' Cancer
• Mad Dash:
• 10/5K foot race, 5K fitness walk; and FREE KIDS FUN RUN!
• 10 a.m., Sunday, Oct. 7th (sign in starts at 8:30).
• Meadow Road, Waitsfield, behind Small Dog Electronics
• Online registration: www.madriverpath.com, click on Mad Dash.
• Pre-register for discount prices.
• Rain or Shine

• Mad River Youth Basketball Registration is now open for boys and girls in grades 3 - 6!   Fees:  $65 for early registration by October 20, 2018.  $80 for late registration after October 20, 2018 until registration closes on October 26, 2018.  Register by email, mail or in person with Nicole Rocheleau at Mad River Park on Monday, October 8th and Tuesday, October 9th from 5:30 - 6:30 p.m. 
• 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.  Registrations can be mailed to:  Nicole Rocheleau, 52 Lester Ln, Moretown, VT  05660
• Scholarships are available!

Board News:

High School Visioning Workshop
Dear Harwood Unified Union School District community,
        The HUUSD board is considering a bond proposal to renovate, update, and modernize Harwood Union Middle and High Schools. Work focused on grades 7 and 8  is well underway; we are now turning to the high school facilities, and students in grades 9-12. We are seeking two volunteers from each of our six towns to participate in our high school visioning workshop on Tuesday, October 16, 2018.  We hope you will consider being a part of these continuing conversations.
       Those interested in participating in the October 16 event should contact the HUUSD board representatives from their town BY October 12. Board representative contact information can be found at: HUUSD Board Contact Information 

PROJECT OVERVIEW:
        Harwood Union was built in 1965, and has been well-maintained for more than 50 years. As building codes and teaching practices have evolved, and infrastructure and systems have aged, it has become increasingly clear Harwood is in need of an overhaul as we strive to meet the needs of today’s students.
      This past spring, the HUUSD board voted to revive the Harwood bond project that had been put on hold in 2015, due to Act 46 merger activities, and to resume working with the architectural firm TruexCullins of Burlington.
        Visioning for our Harwood Union High School experience is the second phase of the process, which will continue with TruexCullins facilitating a workshop to help the community articulate its vision for students at the high school. The workshop will be held October 16, from 5:00 to 8:00 pm, and will include: administrators, teachers, and staff from Harwood; board members; and community members from each town. For the community member participants, we hope to have two from each town: one parent of a student in the district, and one resident who does not currently have a student in the district. The goal of the workshop is to develop guiding principles for the high school experience. This phase of the project will also revisit ideas generated through workshops that were held in 2015, when TruexCullins originally started work on this project with the former Harwood HS/MS board.
       After the workshop, data will be collected by engineers, contractors, and architects who will evaluate the high school building to determine its current physical state, configuration, and capacity. TruexCullins will use information from the visioning workshop and the data collected on the Harwood facility to identify options with cost estimates. This winter, TruexCullins will present its findings and recommendations to the board.
       In December, TruexCullins will make a public presentation, and the board will vote whether to move into the design and budgeting phase. Throughout the process there will be ongoing opportunities for public comment, with a continuing dialogue around how best to meet the current and future needs of HUUSD students on the Harwood campus.
       More information about the bond project is available on the board page of the HUUSD website: www.wwsu.org

Respectfully,

The HUUSD Board:   Christine Sullivan (Waitsfield) *Chair, Caitlin Hollister (Waterbury) *Vice Chair, Alycia Biondo (Warren), Jill Ellis (Fayston), Linda Hazard (Moretown), Gabe Gilman (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)