Bobcat Bulletin 9/24/21

 

Soaking in the last drops of summer- the autumnal equinox was this week!

School News:

Hi from the front office!

We’re looking at our dismissal systems now that we have three weeks under our belts. We want to clarify a couple of things to make dismissal a bit smoother for children.

N.O.W.:  Please remember to notify N.O.W. directly if your child will not be attending their after school program (at MES or at the N.O.W. building) on a day they are scheduled to attend.  MES staff cannot guarantee getting this information to NOW staff in a timely manner.  N.O.W. does not have access to Pick-up Patrol (PUP), and their staff arrives at dismissal time when all MES staff are busy with children.

Pick-up Patrol:  It’s really important that any changes to your child’s afterschool dismissal plans be entered into PUP correctly.  If your child is taking a different bus, or going to a different location, we must have you put in the bus number in the top field, and then the bus stop in the second field.  Stating “home,” or “riding to ___”s house” is not enough information for our bus drivers. Guardians completing PUP for bus stop changes must check the HUUSD Bus Routes 2021-22 to be sure the stop that’s being put in the second field is actually an approved stop on this document.  The bus route document is updated periodically.  It can also be found on the HUUSD.org website at the bottom under Quick Links.

Adding a New Bus Stop:  If you would like to request a bus stop that is not listed on the HUUSD Bus Route 2021-22, there is a request process in place.  You may contact the school and speak with Brenda or Mandy with  your route revision request.  Mandy will forward this information to the bus company and a decision will be made within a minimum of 48 hours if this revision is possible.  You will be notified when a decision is rendered.

(Brenda has made the following changes in PUP for clarification for our staff and bus drivers)

 “Other” in the top field is used for N.O.W. if your child stays at school for N.O.W. (kindergarten through 6th grade); second field can read “N.O.W. at MES”

“Bus 10 in the top field is used for N.O.W. if your child goes to the N.O.W. building (preschoolers); second field should read “Bus to N.O.W.”

PE

Ask your 1st through 6th grader about the Omni-Kin ball

Library Happenings

The Library Website has been updated!

This month in the library we are 

Reading stories about fall and checking out books every week. 

Reviewing the Library expectations, how to care for our books, and how to choose just-right books for ourselves

Reading the Red Clover Nominees for 2021 and 2022

Fiction vs. Non-Fiction Books - What are their purposes 

Digital Citizenship 3-6 Grades

Dewey Decimal System 3-6 Grades

Research Projects - 5-6 Grades

3rd and 4th graders practiced shelving this week using a map of the library!

I Heart Art

Check out our new Art blog: https://moretownschoolart.blogspot.com/

It can also be found on the school website under Academics: Art and above in the links.  Some beautiful things happening in the Art room

School Counselor's Corner

Notes from the Health Office 

State sponsored COVID-19 SURVEILLANCE TESTING will take place at school this coming Monday.   Families of children 5 years and older can sign their child up to be tested weekly, at school, for COVID-19. The information in that message can also be found on the HUUSD website, under COVID HEALTH GUIDANCE and is linked here.

ECO this week

• 1/2 Went on a Caterpillar Safari this week:

One of our NorthBranch Naturalist, Carrie (White tailed deer) leads the group in the meadow.

Heading to the meadow for the 1/2 caterpillar safari.

Nets, bug boxes and canvas mats were ready for the caterpillars.

• 3/4 spent much of their ECO time at Doctor's Brook

PTO News

We are just one sleep away from the best community event in Moretown! 2021 Morefest is being held on the Moretown town/rec fields on September 25 starting at 4:00 p.m. and ending with fireworks at dark.

 

This year, listen to awesome tunes from Ragged Company and DJ Maple Syrup spinning Motown tunes. Enjoy a fresh beverage in the tent, where all proceeds benefit the Moretown School PTO.  To ensure the safest environment for our folks serving, we ask that all individuals who enter the beer tent be vaccinated against COVID-19. You will need to show your vaccination card (or a picture) to come into the tent.

 

Bring a chair or blanket to enjoy delicious pulled pork, roasted by local pig roasting specialist Eric Howes, proceeds to benefit the Moretown 6th grade class, who will also be spinning cotton candy to benefit their end of year trip.  Our incredible local fire department members will be grilling fresh corn from the Neil Farm and deep-frying hand-cut french fries to benefit their general fund!  Moretown-based Goose Chase Cake Design will have their delicious pumpkin whoopie pies, s'mores cupcakes, vanilla cupcakes, eclairs, and apple crumble cake for sale!

The Moretown Library will be hosting a "Great Dragon Hunt" for all ages, with clues leading to a dragon egg hidden in the Town Forest. The person who finds the egg will win a Folktails Dragon Puppet. The Library Friends group will also be offering a color your own bookmark station, and will have some free books on hand as well.  Additional community tents will be set up:

 

The Historical Society will have a display  remembering The 10th Anniversary of Irene.

The Town Hall Committee will share information on their vision and future of our historic town hall.

 

Efficiency Vermont will be there with great info on renewables and electric cars.

 

Last but not least, THE FIREWORKS! Cuddle up under a blanket and watch the dazzling display light up the sky!

 

We hope to see you there!

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.

Mountainfilm On Tour The Waitsfield Children's Center (WCC) is proud to announce that Mountainfilm on Tour is returning to the Valley! This event brings a selection of culturally rich, adventure-packed and incredibly inspiring documentary films curated from the Mountainfilm festival held every Memorial Day weekend in Telluride, Colorado. The tour will visit Waitsfield at the Big Picture Theater & Cafe for one COVID-friendly drive-in showing on Saturday, October 16th with films that explore the themes connected to Mountainfilm's mission: using the power of film, art and ideas to inspire audiences to create a better world.
Tickets are sold by the car for this drive-in event and are on sales now at www.waitsfieldchildrenscenter.org. Don't wait! This event sells out every year.
Parking is general admission and begins at 5PM. The show kicks off at 7 pm.
Come early to enjoy the party. Food and drink will be available from Big Picture Cafe.
                   

GREEN MOUNTAIN PERFORMING ARTS 2021-2022 ENROLLMENT OPEN:  Let's Dance! Green Mountain Performing Arts will be offering a wide variety of weekly dance classes and after school activities for ages 5 and up. Dance styles that are offered include:  Ballet (Ages 3 and up), Hip Hop (Ages 5 and up) , Modern (Ages 7 and up),  Irish (Ages 7 and up),  Highland (Ages 9 and up), Tap (Ages 6 and up), Jazz (Ages 5-8)
Registration is now open! Please visit our website to see our full schedule.  Want to know more about the dance styles offered? Visit our Programs page here.    Contact Us-   Email: gmpavt@gmail.com   Phone: (802) 244-8600

School Board Updates

The HUUSD School Board met Wednesday evening. The majority of Wednesday's meeting focused on the exciting task of finalizing the scope of the bond to be presented to voters on November 2nd, and approving an official warning.

Discussion began with a review of operational cost savings that will be possible once the bond project is completed. Conservative estimates are that the district will save at least $600,000 per year, which will help offset the annual cost of the bond by almost 17%. Savings would mainly come from bringing all 7th and 8th graders together at CBMS, improving energy efficiency at Harwood, and reducing rent by relocating the central office staff and HCLC students to the high school campus.

The Board also reviewed the effect of the bond on property taxes. In general, the bond is projected to increase the equalized education tax rate by about 8%. However, about two-thirds of our district's households pay income-sensitized property taxes and many of these families would likely see no increase in the taxes they pay. (Since the meeting, through conversation with the state's tax department, the Board has learned more specifics: for those households who earn less than $90,000 and whose housesite is valued below $400,000, the income-sensitized property tax credit will increase by the same amount as any property taxes increase, thus leaving net property taxes paid the same. Effectively, property taxes would not increase for these households. For those who make more than $90,000 or whose homes are valued above $400,000, the bond would increase property taxes by about $360 for a $250K home, $500 for a $350K home, and $725 for a $500K home.)

After some rich discussion and broad agreement on most considerations, the Board approved a warning that will put a single question before voters on November 2, to approve a bond for $59,545,312. These funds would be used to address much needed upgrades at the high school in the categories of compliance and repairs, efficiencies and improvements and educational alignment (including both a second gym and new track) as well as an addition to Crossett Brook Middle School to accommodate all district middle schoolers.

All are invited to an informational hearing regarding the bond proposal on October 27th at 6pm at the Harwood Library. There will also be a remote option available for the public.

In addition to the actions taken on the bond, the Board heard a report on PCB testing options and continues to gather information about how to approach this within our district while we await further state guidance. Additionally, with regards to the search for a new superintendent, the board approved a timeline for the search process and created an ad-hoc committee to start work on the job description and drafting a contract for that new position.

The Board will next meet on Wednesday, October 13 at 6PM. This will be a hybrid meeting that can be attended in-person or remotely via zoom (https://us02web.zoom.us/j/386460007), or viewed on youtube (https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCT269g8MOtbO8dGmOnAWX7g/live). There is extensive information on the bond planning available on the district's website: https://huusd.org/bond-plan.

As always, the Board welcomes feedback from our community. One of the easiest ways to share your thoughts is to send an email to cen-huusdboard@huusd.org, which will go to every Board member. There is also time at every Board meeting for public comment. Alternately, reach out to one of your neighbors who is on the school board and share your thoughts in a personal email or phone call (see a list of Board members and contact information at https://docs.google.com/document/d/12bzeVf75bYYP01HvJA0FhigQU1vVqycVJfoXg-PIhEs/edit).

https://huusd.org/huusd-board