Bobcat Bulletin 9/25/20

 

What an amazing view!!

School News

School pictures October 13 and October 15!

Pickup Patrol Update Needed:

• Now that we are moving to two days a week for students it is imperative that we get Pickup Patrol updated to reflect your child’s dismissal plans. 

Use this link https://app.pickuppatrol.net/pages/login.aspx to update your child’s default plan.

Food Services-

• The October menu is up on the website and here
• Your child might qualify for us to offer him a meal modification due to an allergy. Please visit our meal modification page and see if your child fits in this category. If so please fill all the necessary documentation, once received we can offer him a modified meal.
https://huusd.org/request-meal-modification
Please let us know if you have any additional questions. Jeannie at erandall@huusd.org

Musical Notes-

• Mr Hill is only at each school one week a month- to be prepared to do Music work in between students 1st-6th grade should make sure they are logged in to his google classroom.
• For first and second grade students this will mean checking the student's email.  
• on the school ipad- tap on the gmail icon
• Your child's email will be their first intial+last name+year of graduation@huusd.org
• first grade year of graduation is 2032
• second grade is 2031
• so my email if I were a first grader would be mcouturier2032@huusd.org
• The password= Student123!   for all students.  It has been reset.

School Counselor's Corner:

• Mr Stevenson is working on virtual lessons to share with classes and groups.  Look for him on SeeSaw or Google Classroom!
• You can also check out his blog, where he keeps great resources!
• His schedule is such, that he is here in person, at Moretown School on Weeks A and C.  He'll be here next week for week A!

Library Happenings

• Go Library books?  Bring them on back!  
• Even if you are participating in remote only.  If you want new books please reach out to Mrs. Willard  at nwillard@huusd.org
• Library books can be dropped off at school where they are held for 72 hours before they are circulated again.

I Heart Art

    

Notes from the Health Office 

• Masks:

• Make sure to have a clean mask on your student for school, as well as 2 extra masks in the event your student’s mask becomes soiled.  If access to masks, or a laundry machine is a barrier, please reach out to me mcouturier@huusd.org or (802)496-3742

• Situations that require mask changing are when your mask becomes soiled with nasal drainage, is wet to touch, becomes bloodied, or is compromised in any way so that it no longer fits appropriately.  How to Select, Wear, and Clean Your Mask

• The following link provides a visual guide to help you in the selection of the appropriate mask for school: Pictorial Mask Guidance 

• Handwashing:

•  Proper hand-washing is ideal.  Best practice is to wash hands with soap and water, for at least 20 seconds.  If you do not have access to soap and water, use a hand sanitizer that is 60% alcohol based.

• Avoid touching your eyes, nose, mouth at all times, and, especially when you have not washed your hands recently. 

• Preventative:

• Please remember to schedule your student for a flu shot before October 31st! 

• If your student does not have a Medical Provider, or you are without health insurance, please contact your MES School Nurse so we may provide resources. 

• Take 3 Steps to Fight the Flu!

Due to health precautions, No snacks from home to share this year....

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.

Grief and Loss Group for Youth Group services for youth ages 5-22 who have experienced a death, loss, or separation from a parent, caregiver, family member, or other important relationship. Connect with peers who have experienced loss, talk, listen, play games, join physical activities, create arts and crafts projects, and have a snack.  Six consecutive Thursdays, 4-5:30pm, Center for Counseling and Psychological Services, 174 Hospital Loop, Berlin VT.  Please call for more information and to find out when the next in person group meetings will be 802-479-4083.

School Board Updates

HUUSD Board Meeting Recap 9/23/20


The HUUSD School Board met virtually on Wednesday September 23rd. Superintendent Brigid Nease offered an update on school re-opening as well as other district matters, and answered questions from the Board.


Most of the meeting was used to discuss the Board’s work plan for the 2020-21 school year. In particular, discussion centered around whether or not the Board should consider the possibility of making changes to the district’s configuration during COVID. The discussion was inconclusive and will continue at the Board’s next meeting.


The Board approved charges -- that is, descriptions of the work to be done -- for the finance committee, policy committee and negotiations committee, which will each begin meeting in the coming weeks.


The next regular Board meeting will be on Wednesday, October 14th at 6PM through Zoom and our YouTube channel, HU Webapp. Links to participate can be found in the district’s calendar at huusd.org. Community members are encouraged to share their thoughts with the Board through public comment at the meetings or through email by writing to cen_huusdboard@huusd.org.

Bobcat Bulletin 9/22/20- Off-site specifics

 

If your child is going to be absent, please fill out this form.  It will replace the usual phone call you have to make.  We are gathering information about reasons for absences for data collection.

THANK YOU

School News:

Since we are in the world of 2.1.2, I wanted to share some specifics

1. All Moretown students in the hybrid model have two days of onsite instruction now.
1. The Red Group attends Monday and Tuesday (including the Maples preschool class)
2. The White Group attends Thursday and Friday (including the Pines preschool class)
3. Ms. Heather's class attends Mondays and Thursdays
2. k-6 students also have 3 remote/offsite learning days.
1. The Red Group and White Group have synchronous learning on Wednesdays with their classroom teacher- please check google classroom or seesaw for those meeting details.
2. Both groups also have integrated arts check-ins on Wednesdays.  As a rule, they will only have integrated arts check ins with the specialists that they have not seen in person that week.
3. Both groups will have 2 days of asynchronous learning.  The classroom teacher will communicate what needs to be done during those days.
1. The Red Group will have asynchronous learning on Thursdays and Fridays
2.  The White Group will have asynchronous learning on Mondays and Tuesdays

Please remember we are starting slow, with connections and relationships, just like we would during a regular school year.

I have posted a new OFF-SITE HUB for folks to check about Off-site days.  I am asking all teachers to post general expectations for remote learning there, as a guide.  More specifics will always be found in the platform the classroom is using- seesaw or google classroom.

One other thing parents and families should be aware of is the specials rotations.  We have a 4 week rotation (weeks A, B, C and D).  Each week is assigned different specials for in-person instruction that week.

• Week A- PE/Health, Art/Library
• Week B- PE/Health, French
• Week C- Music, Art/Library
• Week D - French, Art/Library

This means on week A, there is not synchronous PE, Art or Library on Wednesdays, and so on...

Note: this week Madame is not available on Wednesday, so for MES kids, it will most likely just be a PE/Health check in on Wednesday.

Please visit the moretownschool.org website and the OFF-SITE HUB for links to specialist checkins.

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.

                                                                                    https://vlt.org/event/owl

School Board Updates

The School board will meet tomorrow night via zoom.

https://huusd.org/huusd-board

September 17, 2020

 

School News:

We are set to move to our next phase of hybrid learning.  Starting Monday, students in the Red Group will attend Monday and Tuesday on site, and students in the White Group will attend Thursday and Friday on-site.  Wednesday will remain an off-site learning day for all students. We are excited to have students for more in person learning time.

Preschool will also increase their in-person time to two full days.  Ms. Heather's class will attend Monday and Thursday, which is a little different but is to accommodate the ART part of her job.  Miss Jenny's Maples will attend Mondays and Tuesdays , and her Pines class will attend Thursdays and Fridays.  

• Breakfast Reminder
• Breakfast is available every morning at both entrances for any student wanting to have on.  Meals are free for all students for the next couple months, so if students want a breakfast, they are ready and waiting.
• Pick Up Patrol
•  This system allows families to make after school changes, or to alert the school and teachers of an early dismissal from their computer or phone without the need for notes ensuring that students always know what their after school plan is.
• If you need another welcome letter, please contact the school at 496-3742 and we can send you one.  The welcome letter gives a brief description of the program and contains the login link https://app.pickuppatrol.net/pages/login.aspx.

• Ms. Loretta
• As some of you have received as a response email, our beloved Ms. Loretta is currently on a year-long leave of absence.  
• I am currently scheduling interviews for folks who have applied, and hope to have someone in the front office very soon.  In the meantime, we have had wonderful Michele Ballard from TBPS helping us out.  A big THANK YOU to Michele for her help.  
• Student Absence Form: 
• If your child will be absent from school, please use this form.  
• If you child will not attend their in person day this is the form for you, you do not need to call and report your student absent anymore.  If this form is not filled out, we will call you and either ask you to fill it out or otherwise mark the important information about the absence.
• If your child if going to be absent from a remote day, you should still out this form, we will not be calling you, but the classroom teacher might reach out.
• Absence Form
• You can also find this form above in the blog links, and on the school website moretownschool.org at the bottom where it reads Parents/Families

• First day packets- Every student should have received a red or white folder during the first week.  In this folder are first day information that are customary to send home with students each year.  In the packet, you will find:
• Information about Free and Reduced lunch
• Although all meals are free right now, please consider filling this out and sending it back in, so that when things shift folks are not left with a bill to cover.
• Annual Health Questionnaire
• Please complete this blue form and return to school the next day your child is in person.
• A school calendar for the 2020-2021 school year
• A September menu
• The Annual Asbestos Notification for the district

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.

School Board Updates

The HUUSD School Board met on Wednesday, September 9th via Zoom. The Board received an update from the Superintendent on the first days of school as well as preliminary enrollment numbers. The Superintendent reiterated the timeline and decision-making rubric for adding additional in-person days (this can be found at https://sites.google.com/huusd.org/huusd-fall-2020-returntolearn/home?pli=1&authuser=2.) Additional information about the reopening of schools is available on the district’s website, huusd.org, as well as individual school websites.

Board members discussed their priorities for the Board’s work in the coming year and the scope of tasks for its committees on finance, policy and negotiations.

A motion to pursue anti-racism training with Hal Colston was approved unanimously. The Board looks forward to beginning its work with Hal this fall.

We invite you to join the next Reopening Q & A session with the Superintendent on Monday, September 21st, starting at 6:30pm on Zoom, YouTube and MadRiver TV. 

The next Board meeting will be on September 23rd at 6PM. 

To attend any HUUSD virtual meetings by Zoom, YouTube or Mad River TV, please use the links that will be included in their agendas or through links in the district’s online calendar (at the bottom of the district’s home page at huusd.org). Our YouTube channel, HU Webapp, can be found here: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCT269g8MOtbO8dGmOnAWX7g.

Thank you to all of the teachers, staff and administrators who worked tirelessly to ensure a safe and joyful return to school this week. 

Respectfully,

HUUSD School Board

Bobcat Bulletin September 9, 2020

 

We're ready for our white group to arrive!!

School News:

• The first in-person day for our White Group is tomorrow!!  I so enjoyed our zoom together on Tuesday to celebrate the first day of school remotely.  They had amazing questions and showed off their zooming skills!  I can't wait to see them in person!
• I have decided to zoom with the Red Group tomorrow to share celebrations and answer any questions they may have.  
• The K-1-2 zoom will be at 9:30am
• Join Zoom Meeting
• https://us04web.zoom.us/j/77434705809?pwd=OStsaDhoMk9ZMkpkR0Y4dWkybVRsQT09
• Meeting ID: 774 3470 5809
• Passcode: D6R08HZRt1
• The 3-4-5-6 zoom will be at 10:30
• Join Zoom Meeting
• https://us04web.zoom.us/j/74149340569?pwd=V3A3WkdWb1Urcll1SG5CbFVxckNLUT09
• Meeting ID: 741 4934 0569
• Passcode: 4kw1d67nxa
• This information also was shared via seesaw and email (for older students)

• I have had many questions about afterschool care.  We are working with NOW to see if we can set it up here at school.  This would only be available on the days when students attend school  For example a Red Group student could attend afterschool programming on Tuesdays (and Mondays soon).  Please complete this survey for our friends at NOW: After School Care survey

• I shared this before school started but I wanted to resend it as I know emails have been coming at you fast these days.  This is simply a survey to check in and see how things are going for you and your children.  It is completely voluntary, but a way for us to reach out and check in.  Parent/Caretaker Interview  Thank you to those who have already filled it out.

• Just a reminder to please keep kids home if they are showing signs of illness.  Additionally, if a student has a condition (asthma, allergies, chronic headaches, gastrointestinal issues) we will need documentation from a doctor, as these could be seen as possible COVID symptoms.  Medical providers are prepared to provide this documentation to schools.

• Student/Family Handbook- Here is the updated 20-21 handbook.  It can also be found on the website.
• The website is being updated continuously, but if there is something you don't see or you have things you wish were there, please let me know.

• Specials/Integrated Arts will be a little different than we are used to this year.  As you know many of our folks are shared among schools in the valley normally.  In an attempt to decrease exposure for both them and the students we have switched their schedules to be in person at one school a week.  Students will have two specials a day with the specialists/artists for that week.  For example this week is an A week.  We have PE/Health and Art and Library on A weeks.  On a B week, students will have PE/Health and French for the week.  Students will have access to the other specials/integrated arts from the other teachers on offsite days, which can lead to a complicated schedule, but will make sure that we don't go four weeks without any music.  

• Schedules I will say some things look better on paper... we are working through kinks as we find them.  Also, schedules that look a little lean will fill up as we go.  We are focusing first and foremost on SEL (Social Emotional Learning), just like we would at the beginning of any school year.  We are prioritizing building connections and establishing a community.  Just like during a regular school year, we will ease into most academics.  This will mean there will be less core academic work in the first couple of weeks, with it gradually increasing over time.

• Devices  We have encountered an issue with ipads, in that they have an outdated version of zoom and seesaw on them.  We are working as fast as we can to get this problem solved, for what seems like a simple fix is turning out to be far more complicated than anyone would have hoped.  I hope to get a device in every k-1-2 students' hand as soon as possible.  Thanks for your patience, and for all the work-arounds people are having to do to make this work.  I am sorry that they were not ready to roll day one as we had planned.

Be well everyone!

Mandy

Bobcat Bulletin 9/7/20- Labor day edition

School News:

Q.What will my child do on Tuesday if they are in the White Group and aren't onsite until Thursday?

A. Ms. Couturier will have two synchronous tune in times on Tuesday for those students off-site.  She will meet with Kindergarten through second grade at 9:30, and then with 3rd through sixth graders at 10:30.   

Topic: K-1-2 Welcome back with Ms. Couturier

Time: Sep 8, 2020 09:30 AM Eastern Time (US and Canada)

Join Zoom Meeting

https://us04web.zoom.us/j/79261414368?pwd=akFJVlFBNjFzZkpuTGQzUGpoQTU5Zz09

Meeting ID: 792 6141 4368

Passcode: xsw14h

Topic: Welcome back 3-6 with Ms. Couturier

Time: Sep 8, 2020 10:30 AM Eastern Time (US and Canada)

Join Zoom Meeting

https://us04web.zoom.us/j/77069468640?pwd=VFEyenQ0bUZCVllGZFI0blFmNGRWdz09

Meeting ID: 770 6946 8640

Passcode: WZwsq8

Please take a minute to watch this welcome back video with your child: Welcome Back Moretown School

We invite you to view this week's bulletin HERE.

New HUUSD Family Resources site

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.

A message from Vermont State Family Services Division

https://dcf.vermont.gov/fsd/COVID19

As adults and children increasingly turn to digital tools for school, work, and socialization, online safety for children and youth matters more than ever. We know that young people are at increased risk of online exploitation as their lives move increasingly online during the COVID-19 pandemic. Because of this reality, FSD has developed a new resource about internet safety for children and tips for caregiver monitoring and supervision. The information in this document is applicable to a wide audience – parents in the community uninvolved with our system, parents we may be working with through an open case, or any person in a caregiving role who may be monitoring a child’s online safety. Also, this could be a resource that schools or educators share with parents in light of hybrid models for school reopening and continued reliance on online learning environments. The document contains tips on: 

· Household rules, norms, and expectations 

· Sample agreements to establish with youth about internet use 

· Security/privacy settings and monitoring 

· Conversation prompts for talking to kids about their online activities and safety 

Please share this document with stakeholders, community partners, and anyone who could benefit from the information! Here is a direct link to the document: https://dcf.vermont.gov/sites/dcf/files/Prevention/docs/Internet-Safety.pdf