Bobcat Bulletin 12/17/21

 

This week has been pretty amazing!

School News:

next week they are swapping lunches, we will have grilled cheese sandwiches on Tuesday and pizza on Wednesday

Drop off and Pick Up Update:

Our new pseudo-sidewalk

 Hi all, with slippery weather again on the horizon, Greg and I have made a plan to help keep kids safe during these busy times of day.

1. Please pull as far forward as possible

2. please park on the outside of the orange lines to pick up your child(ren)

PE

Musical Notes

Library Happenings

Bonjour

I Heart Art

School Counselor's Corner

Notes from the Health Office 

Moretown Elementary School is getting "vaxxed!"  

Almost 76% of the students at Moretown Elementary School have had their first COVID vaccination and almost 50% have completed the 2-shot series. Two weeks after their second shot, these students will be considered "fully vaccinated."  For fully vaccinated children, some things change related to COVID prevention strategies and some things do not.  

This is what changes once a child is fully vaccinated:

1. Fully vaccinated children can stay in school if they are exposed to COVID-19 (if they are considered a "close contact" to someone with COVID-19).  They do not have to "Test to Stay" before coming to school. (Unvaccinated students, or those who are not "fully vaccinated" still have to quarantine if exposed but may participate in Test to Stay).

This is what does NOT change: Fully vaccinated students still should: 

1. Stay home if they are sick with any symptom that may indicate that they have COVID-19.  See the list of symptoms here: https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/symptoms-testing/symptoms.html

2. Get a PCR test for COVID-19 if they have symptoms that are associated with COVID-19

3. Get a PCR test for COVID-19 if they are exposed to someone with COVID-19 (7 days after last exposure is recommended ).

4. Continue to follow all school district policies for masking and distancing. 

 

How can we help? 

Students who develop symptoms of COVID-19 while in school can now be tested for COVID-19 in school. This is part of the Response Testing system available in our schools. This includes a rapid test which, if negative, is followed by collection of a nasal sample for PCR testing. The PCR sample is mailed from school directly to the laboratory for analysis. If you sign your student up for Response Testing, you will not have to make an appointment for testing and drive them to a testing site!  The student still needs to go home and stay there until the results of the test are received by the school. Please consider signing your students up for Response Testing!  Here is the website to complete the consent form!  https://www.cic-health.com/vermont  Follow the prompt for Providing Consent for Response Testing.  (Students who are not vaccinated or not fully vaccinated may also sign up for Response Testing, which for them will include Test to Stay as well as testing in school if needed).  

Questions?  Call or email me!

ECO this week

Grades 1/2 making critter treats to put in the forest for some hungry animals!

squirrel lollipops!

PTO News

If you have not submitted payment for the Winter Sports Program, please send along a check made out to Moretown PTO.

For folks who requested to pay for skiing by paypal link: Please email us at moretownskiprogram@gmail.com so Hannah has you email address.

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.

If you're looking for ways to pass the time over break, check out: findandgoseek.net with a wealth of resources and events for families. We hope you enjoy the upcoming winter break (no school from 12/23 - 1/2), and look forward to welcoming in the New Year when we return on January 3rd, 2022!

A Nutcracker Storytime

Saturday, December 18th, 11am at Town Hall

We invite children ages 0-5 and their caregivers to this special holiday storytime! Join the library on the set of the Moving Lights Dance Company for crafts, stories and songs all about the Nutcracker and dancing. Older siblings are also welcome to attend. Masks are required for everyone over the age of 2 during the program.

Register here to attend: https://forms.gle/oZLsvWXnCrkn4rax7

Joslin Memorial Library presents: Winter Solstice Tea Party

Sunday, December 19th from 4-5:30 in the Joslin Library Park 

Help us usher in longer days with friends, fire, tea, music, and shadow puppet stories! We'll gather in the park and keep cozy as we celebrate the sun with songs and storytelling around a fire circle. This event is free and open to all ages. Feel free to bring an instrument or favorite campfire song to share! 

Please register using this form: https://forms.gle/zegz46TzwRYSusC4A

Date Change for:

 IT IS THIS FRIDAY, the 17^th, in our region!

From CVMC: The Vermont Foodbank's VeggieVanGo mobile food pantry will offer drive-up distribution at the Barre Auditorium on Friday, Dec. 17, from 9-10:30 am. Community members are invited to enter the parking lot, remain in their cars, and follow volunteer instructions regarding pickup. Thanks so much to our friends at the Vermont Foodbank for making this month's VeggieVanGo happen for our community!

COVID Support Vermont is offering a free workshop for parents:

"Parenting to Promote Mental Health and Wellness in Children and Youth”
Wed. Dec. 22^nd from 4-5pm.

This presentation will be facilitated by Dr. Cath Burns, Licensed Psychologist and Quality Director at Vermont Care Partners.  It will highlight parenting/caregiver supports and strategies that promote children and youth mental health and wellness, followed by group discussion and brainstorming! We would be so grateful if school leaders could send this info and registration link through to the families in your community channels, to help get this information out to folks who would benefit from it. Copied below is the registration link:

Parenting to Promote Mental Health and Wellness in Children and Youth Tickets, Wed, Dec 22, 2021 at 4:00 PM | Eventbrite

School Board Updates

Bobcat Bulletin 12/10/21

 

Let the sledding begin!! Kindergarten students were first on the hill Thursday after some great snowfall!

School News:

Read the HUUSD bulletin from this week.

Winter Sports Reminder:

Hello Moretown Families

Here is reminder about the Moretown Winter Sports Program sponsored and organized by the PTO.  We are trying out online registration this year in the form of Google forms.  If this doesn't work for you, please email us at moretownskiprogram@gmail.com, and we will have a set of printed forms sent home with your child.  The Sugarbush release of liability is a paper form only, and went home with your children.  If you elect to borrow gear through Snowmotion, there will also be a paper release check form to sign.

 Here is a checklist of forms

• Registration form- google form- contains most of the program information- *required
  
• Code of conduct- google form- *required
  
• Chaperone form- google form- if you as a parent can help volunteer for the program
  
• Release at mountain- google form- if you plan to have your child stay at the mountain after the program
  
• Sugarbush liability release- paper form- *required- will be sent home with your child.
  
• Snowmotion equipment release form-paper- will be sent if you sign up for borrowing gear
   

Please fill these forms out as soon as possible.   Deadline for return will be December 15.

If your child is not registered or chooses not to participate, they will have to be picked up from school at 11:30 on program days, as there is no option to stay at the school.

Thanks so much

Hannah Flynn, Ashleigh Bergstrom (program leads) and the Moretown PTO

PE/Healthy as a Bobcat...

In PE, students have been working on some striking activities including the REAL 4 square, and spike ball. It’s really cool watching students discover this game in its original form and begin to really enjoy it! I’ve already seen a lot of growth in just a couple days!

One theme we continue to work on is having good teamwork and positive communication. The way students handle winning and losing are important life-long skills. Practicing games where students are “out” for a short time and then back in are great ways to practice this skill. This is also a skill that can be worked on at home! Playing any kind of game where there is a winner, and a non-winner is great practice. In PE, we talk ahead of time about how there will be someone who wins. We talk about what it will feel like and look like to win (happy, excited, proud in a calm way), and also what it might feel like and look like if you don’t win (disappointed, bummed, a little frustrated in a calm way). This way they are thinking about those potential feelings ahead of time. When the end of a game is approaching, you can again remind what those feelings should look like. 

Lastly, it’s important for students to be arriving to PE with sneakers on. This is one of the expectations for them on PE days. A great idea is to have students keep a pair of sneakers at school so they always have them available. Wearing boots all day is not great for their feet in several ways, so this is a bonus even for days that students don’t have PE. If you need help getting a pair of sneakers for your child, please reach out!

Don’t forget to get outside today!

Best wishes,

Miss Ally

Musical Notes

dancing the day away in K!

Bonjour

https://frenchwithmadamelindberg.blogspot.com/

Library Happenings

"I am so excited about my bird feeder for the Library window.  Thank you Friends of Eco!" - Mrs. Willard

I Heart Art

"¾ Pinch Pot/Cupcakes ready for Bisque Firing

Overview: Students learned about sculptor Claes Oldenburg and his work associated with the Pop Art Movement. They then created a cupcake sculpture inspired by his work out of clay. Next, they will have the opportunity to glaze their works of art!"

“N” is for Narwhal 

Oil Pastel and Watercolor paintings with PreK-2

 

Students observed images and photographs of Narwhals in their natural environment. They used black oil pastel to outline the “n”, body, and fins.  They also added some details to the narwhal, like we saw in some of the pictures we looked at.

Icy Ocean Waters

Children learned and used cool colors of watercolor—blue, green, and purple—to paint the water around the narwhal. They learned about the “wet on wet” technique; the students wet the paper first by painting with just water, and then they painted with the watercolor.

Notes from the Health Office 

Extending Test To Stay to Public PreK
Schools with a public PreK attached to them are able to extend their Test to Stay program to include that student population. The state, through CDD, is developing a parallel, simplified, program for private childcare centers and will share details on this program in the new year.

Just a reminder!  "Test to Stay" which is used for non-vaccinated students only can only be used if the child is exposed to COVID in school, during the regular school day.  Students who are exposed to COVID when they are not in school, for example at home, at a friend's house, or at a sports event, do not qualify for this program.  Please continue to encourage your children to maintain good infection control measures including masking and social distancing!

ECO this week

Kindergarten Triangle Museum

3/4 graders exploring Science in the fores

5/6 graders in the forest with preschool

PreK tracking a Bobcat!

1/2 exploring the ice!

PTO News

(see below)

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.

From the Vermont Foodbank

With so many missed days at school because of COVID quarantines, and with the winter break just ahead, many students are missing a lot of school meals.  If your family could use some help getting food right now, CLICK HERE to get information about food programs, and who to call if you have questions.

 

And, remember 2-1-1.  Dial this one toll free number to get help from a real person with food, heat, housing, and much more

 

 

Take care and happy holidays,

 

Rachel Worthington
Manager of Food Access Programs

Pronouns: she, her, hers
Vermont Foodbank 22 Browne Ct, Brattleboro, VT  05301
o. 1.800.585.2265 ext. 1126 |c. 1.802.595.9449

Web | Facebook | Twitter | Blog

Registration is now open for the 2022 Spring Lacrosse Season 

 Register at http://www.madriverlax.com

Mad River Valley Youth Lacrosse will offer both girls and boys lacrosse again this year. There are four separate grade levels including k-2nd, 3rd-4th, 5th-6th and 7th-8th. Equipment can be provided for k-4th grade players as supplies allow. First timers are welcome at every level.

Early Registration at http://www.madriverlax.com is highly recommended as teams often fill to capacity. Player space is open on a first-come, first-serve basis. Team assignments will be provided before March 10, 2022. Mad River Youth Lacrosse encourages athletes who might play other spring sports to play lacrosse also. Our season is short and we try our best to accommodate other spring sports schedules.

Official outdoor practices are held at Mad River Park, beginning in Mid April, typically starting after spring break and depending on the field conditions of Mad River Park. Games will be held from the first week of May through mid June.

Founded in 2008, Mad River Valley Youth Lacrosse is a community-based, all volunteer, non-profit, recreational organization. Mad River Valley Youth Lacrosse is committed to providing a positive, team-oriented athletic experience to the Mad River Valley Rec District. Our teams compete in the Northern Vermont Youth Lacrosse League. The 7th and 8th grade girls and boys teams have made numerous playoff appearances and have successfully brought home state championships at the Division 2 level. Our coaches complete required training through US Lacrosse, pass background checks and player insurance is provided through US Lacrosse.

For more information or to register for the 2021 season, please visit www.madriverlax.com.

Moretown Artisans Sale this Saturday and Sunday, December 11 & 12, at the Moretown Elementary School!

Get your holiday shopping done, support local artists & businesses, and get your Covid19 vaccine or boosters!!

The show features:
>>> Over two-dozen talented artists selling unique gifts for everyone on your list.
>>> A silent auction and raffle with over $3000 worth of items up for grabs! Funds raised will benefit the Moretown PTO.
>>> Saturday ONLY: Food from Grace's Kitchen – things to eat right away and things to take and bake!
>>> Sunday ONLY: Waterbury Ambulance Service , 11am-3pm providing Covid19 Vaccinations for adults, including booster shots. No appointment necessary. All three vaccine types will be available.

As a safety protocol and in line with the school district's COVID policies, all attendees must wear masks covering their mouth and nose while at the Moretown Artisans Sale.

For more information including a complete schedule, list of our artists and more, check out moretownartisan.com. See you all soon!

Toys for tots MRV

MRV families needing a little extra support this holiday season can pick up TOYS at Evergreen Place building in Waitsfield (down the hall from the Mad River Community Pantry) on the following dates:

Tues., Dec. 14, 9:30 - noon
Wed., Dec. 15, 3:30 – 6:00 p.m.
Sat., Dec. 18, 9:30 – noon
Tues., Dec. 21, 9:30 – noon
Wed., Dec. 22, 3:30 – 6 p.m.

Donate Toys
(remember the older children)
If donating drop off UNWRAPPED toys at:
- The Collection - 20% off will be given if buying a toy for donation.
- Lawson Finest Liquids Taproom

Checks & Gift Cards - Please mail by Dec. 18.
Checks - Money will be used to buy gift cards
Gift Cards - example: The Collection, Tempest Book Store, Old Navy, Target, Walmart.

Checks (made out to WCVT) and Gift Cards can be mailed to:
Attn. Tammy Field
PO Box #9
Waitsfield, VT 05673

School Board Updates

https://huusd.org/huusd-board

Bobcat Bulletin 12/4/21

 

It's pretty awesome when it finally snows!

ECO this week

5/6 teamwork...

...progress...

and tada!

PTO News

The Artisan Fair is next weekend!  

https://moretownartisan.com/

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.

Need an idea for a last minute awesome activity tonight?

https://vtdigger.org/2021/11/29/what-brings-you-joy-waterbury-river-of-light-returns-with-unique-theme/

Waterbury Ambulance Service in partnership with the Vermont Department of Health will be at the Moretown Artisan’s Sale Sunday, December 12th from 11am-3pm  providing Covid19 Vaccinations for adults, including booster shots. No appointment necessary. All three vaccine types will be available. For boosters last dose must be at least six months ago for Pfizer and Moderna, two months ago for Johnson & Johnson.

MRV Local Trivia Night

Thursday, December 9th, 6:30pm

The MRV Libraries are excited to bring back our virtual trivia nights for the winter season and we hope you can join us!
Our first game night features all questions local. How well do you know the Mad River Valley?  Join us and test your knowledge of people, places, history, and current events in  Fayston, Moretown, Waitsfield and Warren. You may play as an individual or as a team with other people in your household.
Register before noon on December 9 to receive login information: https://forms.gle/rZgRB4yarcUR4sqg6