Bobcat Bulletin 11/21/19

School News:

• A quick reminder- If you wish to walk your student in to school in the morning, please park in the parking lot.  The loop is for dropping off.  With cars and buses pulling through we want to keep everyone safe.  Thanks!
• Speaking of thanks, we had a wonderful thanksgiving meal yesterday with family and friends.

 

• Oh hey.... the circus is coming 

mark your calendars for Dec 19... for the big show!!

Library Happenings

The book fair is here!

I Heart Art

5th/6th graders in action making art to express emotion

Notes from the Health Office

• With the cold weather often comes illness.
• Here is our new nurse site outlining when to keep your child home.
• https://sites.google.com/huusd.org/moretown-school-nurse-page/home

PTO News

Moretown PTO Wreath Sale

Please support the Moretown School PTO to provide additional opportunities outside of the classroom for students, teachers, and families to learn, socialize, communicate, and grow. All Three Rivers wreaths are hand-made and double-faced with real balsam fir greens. The balsam, cedar and white pine boughs are harvested only after the needles have set for the winter making for fresher and longer lasting wreaths.  Easy online ordering and local pick up as well as Direct Ship options are available.

https://ThreeRiversFundraising.com/fund/motopto-wreath2019

Order Date Deadlines:

Pick up orders must be placed by November 21st. 

Direct Ship orders can be placed until November 30th.

Wreath Pick Up Date:

December 2^nd and 3^rd

Pick up will be at the Moretown Elementary School on

Please email the Moretown PTO at MoretownPTO@gmail.com  with any additional questions.

Community News/Opportunities

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.

Storytime with Mrs. Claus

Tuesday, December 10th, 6pm

Moretown Town Hall

Join Mrs. Claus at the Moretown library's winter space for a special holiday storytime! Enjoy hot cocoa, cookies and songs. Bring your letters to Santa for her to deliver too. Free for all ages, pajamas encouraged.

School Board Updates

Dear members of our six town community,

At our last meeting on November 20, 2019, the Harwood Unified Union School District (HUUSD) Board: 

• Heard from Michelle Baker, Director of Finance & Operations, who gave a presentation that focused on historical budget data as well as some projections.
• Heard the Student Representatives’ Report.
• Had a brief discussion and check-in regarding the timing and scope of the bond.

The Board took action on the four (4) items below:

1. Approved the following items as part of the consent agenda: Approve: Minutes of 11/13/19; Accept: Voucher 1115 equaling $118,055.47

2. Voted against having all HUUSD 7th and 8th graders attend Crossett Brook Middle School next year.

3. Adopted: No students in the initial first year of IDC for school year 2020-21 will be approved in grade 7 or 8. Those students in year 2 and beyond will continue in their existing placement, with limited exceptions as identified by the Administration. 

4. Adopted: The board affirms their support for a plan that ultimately combines 7th and 8th grade students into a single middle school environment at CBMS. 

Our next meeting is Wednesday, December 4th at 6:00 pm (with a “Budget 101” board training @ 5pm) 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

Bobcat Bulletin 11/15/19

School News:

• MECA Clothes swap is tomorrow 11/16 from 9:00-2:00... come grab armfuls of clothes for your growing kids for a reasonable price....

• Please come join us for a Thanksgiving dinner at Moretown School
• We welcome families to come enjoy a delicious lunch provided by HUUSD food services.  
• We have vegetarian and gluten free options as well!
• Your child's lunch time is listed on the form below by grade, as you can see kindergarten will do a little shift in lunch times for the day to make sure we all have time/space to enjoy our lunch.
• Today is the last day to sign up: 
• Click here to sign up https://forms.gle/c9qXSZG8dkCAkVoj9

• If you haven't signed up for conferences yet, there's still time:
• Follow this link to go directly to the scheduler. https://www.canyoncreeksoftware.com/scheduler/vt/wwsu/index.cfm
• From the Online Scheduler Home Page
• Choose your student’s school from the drop down list and click “GO”
• Enter the school password: 3742
• Enter your student’s “Student ID”. If you do not know their Student ID, use the LOOKUP STUDENT ID button to access the system.
• Verify the student’s birth date
• A list of your student’s teachers will be displayed. Check the box next to the name of each teacher(s) you would like to meet with.
• If you have more than one student in the school you can see all of your students’ teachers’ schedules at one time by answering YES to this question “Do you want to schedule conferences for another student?” then repeat the steps above for your other students. If you only have one student, answer NO to that question.
• You will then see the available time slots for each teacher you selected.
• Select the times that work best for your schedule.
• Enter your email address (recommended) if you would like an email reminder sent to you. (Your email address is kept private.)
• Once you have finished you can confirm your appointment details and print your conference schedule.
• Write down the Confirmation Number (you will need this number to cancel your appointment).

Library Happenings

• Mrs. Willard is talking all about the Dorothy Canfield Fisher Book Award List. 
• check out the list here:  https://libraries.vermont.gov/sites/libraries/files/DCFChecklist19-20.pdf

PTO News

Ski and ride season is coming... look for packets soon!!

Follow this link for more info on registration and lease packages.
https://docs.google.com/document/d/1KcTAAUh0UJvFsX-SZ3uMuDi-297_Ihu_y2Iij-ux7-s/edit?usp=sharing

Community News/Opportunities

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.

Bill Koch League Nordic Ski Program: With stick season and daylight savings under our belts it is now time to register for the upcoming BKL season!   We are excited by the early snow and cold temps for a fun nordic (aka cross-country) after-school ski program kick-off on December 3rd.

Registration and payments are due by November 30th.  Please don't wait until the deadline to register, as early registration helps us in the planning process for lining up coaches and gear for the season.  For more information and registration materials, email Chris Badger (csbadger@gmail.com).



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.

School Board Updates

Dear members of our six town community,

At our last meeting on November 13, 2019, the Harwood Unified Union School District (HUUSD): 

• 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
• Ron Smith and Miranda McDonald from RHR Smith & Company presented their auditor’s report and answered questions from board members.
• Board postponed discussion and decision on this proposed motion to the 11/20 meeting: Move to accept the administrative team’s recommendation to move all 7th and 8th grade students to Crossett Brook Middle School for the 2020-21 school year.

The Board took action on the six (6) items below:

1. Approved the following items as part of the consent agenda: Approve: Minutes of 11/5/19; Approve: Policy Committee Minutes of 11/4/19; Accept: Voucher 1103 for $276,070.84; Accept: FY2019 Audited Financial Report and Management Letter from RHR Smith & Company; Approve: Harwood Union overnight field trip to Hubbard Outdoor Center in Fairlee, VT on 12/5/19.

2. Adopted (after discussion for about 1.5 hours and a proposed amendment that failed): Move to continue exploration and development of a preK-12 plan, in accordance with the Articles of Agreement, that includes closing Fayston Elementary School, combining all 7th and 8th graders at CBMS, and moving Moretown's 5th and 6th graders to CBMS.

3. Adopted: Appoint Garett MacCurtain and James Grace to the Harwood Union principal search committee.

4. Adopted: Approve admin team to engage with our architect and construction management company for up to 40 hours in order to start planning and beginning work on the bond. (Note that these consultants were previously engaged through the requisite bidding and approval process and this motion allows the district to resume bond work that was put on pause during the summer/fall 2019).

5. Adopted: Add an additional board meeting on December 4 from 6-8:30pm.

6. Adopted: The administration to develop a recommendation as to minimum pupil count at Harwood Union Middle School for HUMS to operate effectively.

Our next meeting is Wednesday, November 20th 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

Bobcat Bulletin 11/6/19

School News:

• Conferences sign up starts Friday. Sign up for your slot at https://www.canyoncreeksoftware.com/scheduler/vt/wwsu/index.cfm
• code is 3742

Hi All! 

We are the 6th Graders, and we are having a flower sale. We are raising money for the sixth grade trip to Montreal which will happen in the Spring.   The orders are due to Ms. Hopper by 12/2/19 and the Cyclamen and Poinsettias will arrive from Claussen’s Greenhouse on 12/10/19. Thank you for considering helping us with our fundraising.   

There will be an order form by the mailboxes in the office.  

Have a great day!

Moretown School’s 6th Grade

Moretown PTO Wreath Sale

Please support the Moretown School PTO to provide additional opportunities outside of the classroom for students, teachers, and families to learn, socialize, communicate, and grow. All Three Rivers wreaths are hand-made and double-faced with real balsam fir greens. The balsam, cedar and white pine boughs are harvested only after the needles have set for the winter making for fresher and longer lasting wreaths.  Easy online ordering and local pick up as well as Direct Ship options are available.

https://ThreeRiversFundraising.com/fund/motopto-wreath2019

Order Date Deadlines:

Pick up orders must be placed by November 21st. 

Direct Ship orders can be placed until November 30th.

Wreath Pick Up Date:

December 2^nd and 3^rd

Pick up will be at the Moretown Elementary School on

Please email the Moretown PTO at MoretownPTO@gmail.com  with any additional questions.

Library Happenings:

• The Book Fair is coming, the book fair is coming!!  It will be all set up in the library the week of conferences!  

PTO

Grab some coffee from the PTO on Friday morning... a nice warm way to way to start a (possibly) snowy morning.

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.

Kids Pottery Classes Ages  7-12,  Mondays, 3-5pm, November 18-December 16th at Blockhouse Studio, Village Square. This is a 5 week class.  All materials are included in the price of $235.  Register at https://www.blockhousestudio.com/kidsclasses/kids7-12monday

Come Play At The Collection: November 9th, 10-3.  Play new games, mix putty, participate in crafting, watch toy demos, and receive a goodie bag while supplies last. 

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 November 5, 2019, the Harwood Unified Union School District (HUUSD):


Attorney Ed Adrian offered his legal opinion and answered board members’ questions regarding the board’s rights, responsibilities, and limitations under the law and its Articles of Agreement regarding the district redesign.


Board members shared 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. Information on the PreK-12 planning work and process can be found here: https://huusd.org/prek-12-bond-plan.


Board members discussed the PreK-12 planning questions and answers that were provided in the board packet as well as shared reflections on the administration’s proposal to combine all 7th and 8th graders at CBMS next year (2020-2021), which will be voted on next week.

The Board took action on the one (1) item below:


Approved the following items as part of the consent agenda: Approved: Minutes of 10/23/19; Accepted Vouchers 1092 and 1102, equaling $840,193.17; Approved Aegis Solar Proposal.


Our next meeting is Wednesday, November 13th at 6:00 pm in the Harwood Union School library. The first hour of the meeting will be devoted to public comment and Q and A. 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