Bobcat Bulletin October 19, 2020

 

Check out this new student in Mrs. Dow's outdoor classroom! 

School News:

We will be moving to 4 days in for all students, staring one week from today.  There is much to be done; furniture to move and set up, schedules to adjust, and routines to be adjusted.  To provide some of the time needed, classroom teachers will be working on their transition this Wednesday.  The remote/off-site schedule for your child on Wednesday will be a little different, as synchronous instruction will be at a minimum.   Please look closely at teacher communication for the coming week.  

Food Service:

• Starting today the lunch pick up window for remote learners to come pick up food will be open from 12:45 to 1:00. We will happily help anyone who is running late, we just didn't want you to worry if you pull up and Jeannie isn't sitting there.

Musical Notes

• The music goes round and round! It's not too late to sign up for instrument lessons on flute, clarinet, saxophone,trumpet, trombone, baritone, or percussion! The lessons are free.  Info  on  how to sign up and get an instrument is on the band website, or you can reach out to Mrs. Adams at cadams@huusd.org.

Notes from the Health Office:

Annual Health Questionnaire - There are still many children who have not yet handed in their Annual Health Questionnaire. This information on this health form is required by the state and needs to be filled out annually. This form also keeps the school nurse up to date with your student's medical history. Here is a copy of the Annual Health Questionnaire for those in need of another copy.

IMPORTANT COVID 19 Information for families:For Families Return to School Following Illness
This handout from the Vermont Department of Health guides families on when to know if your child needs testing, and how to have information pass between the family, the school nurse, and their child's health care provider. It also guides families to know when their child may return to school after being ill. If you have any questions, please feel free to contact me. Thank you for taking care of your children and helping us care for them as well.

Vermont COVID Travel Map - have you traveled out of Vermont? Check out this travel map to see if the area you visited is in a ‘red’ or ‘yellow’ zone. If you did, there are quarantine requirements. If you have questions on this, feel free to email Nurse Claire at clindberg@huusd.org.

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.

Please Support the Family Center’s 4th Annual Diaper Drive - October 2020!


The demand for our services, including food, meals, diapers and formula, has increased. Due to

the economic downturn, we are seeing an increase in the numbers of families we are serving

through our Diaper Bank and Food Pantry. Since the beginning of the pandemic in March, we

have seen a 300% increase in families using our Food Pantry & Diaper Bank, which has served

over 200 families, and 800 individuals. Diaper donations can be dropped off at the following

locations: Family Center; Lenny’s in Downtown Barre; or at FROGGY 100.9 radio station.

Donations can also be made online by visiting www.FCWCVT.org . Thank you for your support.

Diapers sized 4 - 6 are especially in demand.

School Board Updates

SUBJECT: HUUSD Board Meeting Recap, October 14

BODY: The HUUSD Board met remotely on Wednesday, October 14. The meeting began with questions for Superintendent Nease about Return to Learn planning and an update from Harwood’s student representatives. 

The meeting centered around the district’s preK-12 plan. The Board approved a motion to “move forward with the implementation of middle school consolidation in FY ‘22-23, for 7th and 8th graders at Crossett Brook Middle School.” Many details will be fleshed out in the coming months and the Board expects to use time at its next meeting to discuss plans for bringing the merger to fruition and a bond to voters. 

In other actions, the Board approved hiring a law firm to assist in negotiating new collective bargaining agreements with the teacher and support staff associations; approved several agenda topics for discussion at future meetings; developed a committee to explore reducing the size and changing the configuration of the Board; and accepted the report of an independent investigator who found no merit to the claim that, in 2016, the Superintendent acted inappropriately during a purported conversation regarding an incident of racism.

The next regular Board meeting will be October 28th, at 6:00PM. Remote meeting requirements have made it easier than ever to participate in or view School Board meetings, and we hope you will consider joining us. You can also email the board with your thoughts at cen-huusdboard@huusd.org

-- To participate live through Zoom, simply click on this link at the meeting’s start time: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/386460007#success  

-- To view either live or after-the-fact on YouTube, use this link: tinyurl.com/huwebapp-youtube-live

-- To view on Mad River Television, use this link: www.mrvtv.com

Thank you for continued support,

The HUUSD Board