Bobcat Bulletin 10/29/19

Happy Halloween from 5th/6th graders!

School News:

and spooky wishes from these folks... BOO!

Dear Families,

The Mad River Valley Interfaith Council Thanksgiving Turkey Project provides a Thanksgiving meal for families in need.  Cash and food donations are being accepted to support this and other important programs. Checks may be sent to the Mad River Interfaith Council, P.O. Box 342 Waitsfield, VT 05673. Please note on the check that it is for the Thanksgiving baskets. Food donations may be brought to the local churches or the food shelf.

If you are interested in receiving a Thanksgiving meal, please complete and return the attached form to the main office by November 4th. Extra copies of this form will also be available in the main office and can be downloaded here: Thanksgiving Basket Request Form. Meals will be available for pick up on Tuesday, November 26th, 11:30-1:00 or 5:00-6:00 at the Waitsfield United Church of Christ. 

The Interfaith Council is also providing Joys of the Season coupon booklets, valued at up to $40 per child and redeemable at designated local stores.  As with the Turkey Project, these coupon booklets are for families struggling financially. Please let me know if you would like to receive these booklets by November 4th. Please include the number of children in your family. Booklets will be mailed once we receive them from the Interfaith Council. As always, your information will be kept confidential. 

Please let us know if you have any questions.

Respectfully,

Jason Stevenson

School Counselor

Moretown and Fayston Elementary Schools

Preschool Willows' robot inspired by If I Had A Robot by Dan Yaccarino.

Library Happenings

• Our Library got a new paint job!  Come on in and check it out... 
  
  
  
  

...and while you're here, check out the Red Clover Books this year

Bonjour:

An impressive model of the Eiffel Tower made by this young man.

PTO

Halloween Party Thursday!  See you there!

Here is the sign up for snacks for the party.  Please make sure snacks are nut free.

https://www.signupgenius.com/go/30E084CABAB2AA5F49-halloween

Community News

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.

Free Community Thanksgiving Dinner at the Bethany Church, Main Street, Montpelier, November 28, 11:30-2pm. If you would like to volunteer at the dinner, please call 802-339-9151.

Suite Sounds: Exquisite Music from Scandinavia and Russia performed by Central Vermont's only professional string chamber orchestra, November 10, 3pm, at the Inn at the Round Barn in Waitsfield. Tickets are $20 adults, $10 for seniors and students.

School Board

Dear members of our six town community,

At our last meeting on October 23, 2019, the Harwood Unified Union School District (HUUSD), the Board had an extended Q&A and Public Comment session to address the public’s questions on the Board’s PreK - 12 planning. Information on the PreK-12 planning work and process can be found here: https://huusd.org/prek-12-bond-plan

Michelle Baker, HUUSD Director of Finance, presented additional information and clarification on the calculations in the models and board members asked questions. Here is the information she provided: https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B2uQwDkbPKEVSjdyS2pNOTRzZTM0T3FtMUVwOVJJOF9fRG9v/view

The Board took action on the eight (8) items below (listed in order of the time in the meeting when the vote occurred):

1. Adopted: The board resolves and declares the data package prepared and presented by the administration team regarding the PreK-12 redesign project was prepared at the direction at the board, is accurate and has been prepared without intentional bias. 
2. Failed: Model a scenario to include TBPS PreK-2; CBMS 3-6; all 7-12 at HUHS; 4 valley schools PreK-6. 
3. Adopted: Approve the early retirement proposal made in the 10/23/19 board packet.
4. Adopted: Approve an additional board meeting on November 5.
5. Adopted: Proceed with discussion about IDC at the date the Board leadership deems appropriate. 
6. Adopted: Add an agenda item to the November 5th meeting to share reflections on the effects of school closure on students, as well as on the broader social and economic fabric of district towns including possible loss or gain of students and families.
7. Approved the following items as part of the consent agenda: Approved: Minutes of 10/16/19; Accepted: Vouchers 1090 and 1091, equaling $54,091.16
8. Adopted: Enter into two executive sessions to discuss pending or probable civil litigation, to which the public body is or may be a party because doing so in public session will clearly place that public body at a substantial disadvantage. 

Our next meeting is Tuesday, November 5 at 6:00 pm in the Harwood Union School library. Please visit https://huusd.org/huusd-board to confirm time and place of meetings. You’ll also find all board and committee agendas, packets and minutes, and the link to board meeting videos. The direct link to watch this and other recent meetings is: https://mrvtv.com/category/school-board-meetings/. An archive of older meetings can be found here: https://archive.org/search.php?query=Harwood+Unified+Union+School+Board&sort=-date 

Thank you for your continued support and engagement.

Respectfully,

The HUUSD Board