Bobcat Bulletin 10/28/22

 

"Knowing yourself is the beginning of all wisdom."- Aristotle.

For families and caregivers:

Hello from the HUUSD Social Emotional Learning Task Force,

Did you know that HUUSD has a district-wide task force dedicated solely to Social and Emotional Learning? This task force is committed to providing educators and families information, resources and ideas to support students' social/emotional well being and overall wellness.

This October we are focusing on the theme of Self-Awareness and what it means to be self aware. Being self aware is being able to identify one’s own emotional state and needs related to this. We all teach this often and use many different tools to help students identify how they are feeling and what they need. Here are a couple ideas about how to try at home this month:

For younger children:

Need a book to read with young students about their feelings? Try one of these: Alexander and the Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Day by Judith Viorst; All My Feelings at Home: Ellie’s Day by Susan Conlin and Susan Levine Friedman; or Amanda Pig on Her Own by Jean Van Leeuwen.


Here’s a mindful activity that increases self awareness and can be used at home or at school: Roses, Thorns and Buds.

For middle schoolers:

Offer your child your child opportunities to check in regularly. Here are some check in protocols we use at school that you might adapt for home.


For high schoolers:

Provide opportunities for and model healthy habits to help these young adults recognize their emotions and develop healthy regulation strategies.

• Be good to your body. Get moving and develop a health and wellness plan.
• Keep your bedtime the same. Sleep helps restore and relax your mind and body. A good sleep routine keeps you healthy.
• Eat regularly, and choose nutritious meals.
• Be kind to your mind by practicing self-care. Plug into tools to help you de-stress and take care of yourself
• Engage your mind in your favorite activities. Schedule time for yourself to participate in the activities you enjoy the most. Whatever your thing is — reading a book, painting, playing an instrument, streaming your favorite music, dancing, writing, singing, etc. — do it, enjoy it, and you’ll feel better.
• Help others. Helping others will bring you happiness. Consider surprising a neighbor by doing yard work or leaving groceries on their porch (while keeping your social distance).

School News:

PE

Bike week was AWESOME!  

Please plan to pick up bikes today.  With Halloween next Monday, the town hopes to use the rec field for a story walk.

Library

The Scholastic Book Frair officially opens at 7 am Monday morning.

• Families may visit together from 7:00-7:40 (before school officially starts) each morning or 2:30-3:00 (after dismissal). Please let the office know you are headed to the library. Families are also invited Halloween night to shop together.

Some quick reminders.

• You can visit the book fair website and set up an e-wallet for your child. You can also buy books https://bookfairs.scholastic.com/bf/moretownelementaryschool
• This year every student will receive a Free book! (price must be $10 or less)
• Please return books after the book fair is done

Thank you, 

Mrs. Willard

We Heart Art

Radial Symmetry and Balance in 5/6 Art

Notes from the Health Office

Hi families,

With the colder weather setting in but it is important for everybody to make sure they’re updated on all vaccines that are recommended from the health department. Below is a summary of what the health department recommends and where to find places to get your family vaccine’s. Let’s all work together to keep MES as safe as possible. Thanks

• The Vermont Department of Health is partnering with communities to provide walk-in clinics to make it easier for Vermonters to get COVID-19 and flu vaccines.

• Flu shots are recommended for anyone ages 6 months and older.
• COVID-19 primary series vaccines for everyone ages 6 months and older.
• Updated (bivalent) boosters for everyone ages 5 years and older who completed their primary COVID-19 vaccine series or received their last booster or additional dose at least two months ago.

• For information about these walk in clinics, please visit:
  

https://www.healthvermont.gov/covid-19/vaccine#walkinclinic

-Phil

This week at ECO

5/6 Learned a new tag game with Karen this week... Everyone had fun playing!

PTO Updates

PTO Halloween Party 

The party is going to be great! It starts at 5:00 and then enjoy some trick or treating in the village.  Thanks to those who have signed up to help out and who have donated candy.  We will plan to deliver candy Monday morning to the neighbors so it's not too late to donate.

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.

Community Outdoor Portrait Day

We have scheduled another one of our Outdoor Portrait Days this coming Sunday, October 10/30 from ~ 11-3pm in Montpelier, with the possibility of another event in the Mad River Valley in early November, too. (We are always available for private and small-group/family/senior on our scenic property/outdoor studio in Moretown, too) Please follow the links below to sign-up and for more info. If time slots before 11 or after 3 are the only option for you, please contact us. Our program will be very similar to past years, but please feel free to reach out if you have any questions or ideas to share. We are also available for a more customized photo session at your home, on our property and outdoor studio in Moretown, or just about anywhere you have in mind.

Thanks so much,
Brian and Emily

Outdoor Community Portrait Days - Fall 2022
by Ember Photography

MONTPELIER, VT - Sunday October 30, 2022
@ North Branch Nature Center - Montpelier, VT (A portion of proceeds support the NBNC)
https://www.facebook.com/events/1494601504297260/

MAD RIVER VALLEY - Fall 2022- TBD
- Private and small-group photo sessions are always available on our property/outdoor studio in Moretown, too

Contact: Brian Mohr and Emily Johnson / EmberPhoto
info@emberphoto.com
text/cell 802-989-0570      

 

Save the Date - MountainFilm is back on
November 5th

MountainFilm on Tour will be back at the Big Pic on November 5th at 7pm. This will be an indoor event. 
Tickets available here. 
This event sells out so get your tickets early!
 

River of Light Lantern Parade

Please join us for lantern building workshops for the 13th annual River of Light Lantern Parade, held on Saturday, December 3rd. MARVELOUS MAGIC is the theme this year! The event is made possible by our sponsors: Waterbury Winterfest, The Alchemist, Billings Mobil, and the HUUSD. All workshops are free to attend and space is limited. Pre-registration is required.

Large Scale Lantern Building - November 5th and 6th
10:00-4:00 - Brookside Primary School Gymnasium - These lanterns are made from willow, rattan, and paper and take two full days to complete. Previous experience is recommended.

NEW THIS YEAR: Family Large Scale Lantern Building - November 12th
10:00-3:00 - Brookside Primary School Gymnasium - These lanterns are made from willow, rattan, and paper - and will take the entire time to create.

Community Lantern Building - November 13th
10:00-12:00 or 1:00-3:00 - These lanterns are made from vellum paper and take approximately 2 hours to complete.

Bobcat Bulletin 10/21/22

 

School News:

KITs started this week.  We kicked it off in the gym, where students found their group-marked by a native Vermont animal.  Each group found their space to meet and got know each other a bit. Looking forward to many more Wednesday morning groups!

Ms.Thompson's trouts

Ms. Hopper's porcupines

More KIT photos to come....

Bus evacuation drills went awesome on Friday!

The School Board will host a Zoom Q&A/Meet the Superintendent with Dr. Mike on Tuesday, October 25th from 7:00-8:00 PM. This will be a chance for community members unable to attend the in-person events to ask questions and share comments. 

To participate please use this link: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/386460007

To view live, use this link: https://tinyurl.com/huwebapp-youtube-live. 

You can always email your questions for Dr. Mike ahead of time to Kristen at krodgers@huusd.org. In the subject line, please type Zoom Q&A. We will try to answer as many questions as possible.

Thank you for participating and for your support of our schools. We look forward to serving you. 

5/6 Mix-it-Up lunch Fridays

PE

Hey everyone!
On Monday we are beginning our biking unit. It would be great if students could bring their helmet to the school for the week. We have a fleet of bikes at school for students to use, along with helmets for those who need to borrow one. While the bike fleet is pretty spectacular, we do not have unlimited bikes in each size, especially in the smallest and largest sizes. If it’s possible for your family to bring your kids bikes to the school to use, that would be incredibly helpful! Bikes can be dropped off on the ball field. If you’d like your child’s bike to be locked, you need to provide the lock with your child, and they will need to be able to operate it on their own. All bikes are welcome to stay at the school for the week.

If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to reach out to Miss Ally.

PS

pre-k will also be part of this on their PE day! I’ll have strider bikes for anyone who is still learning. I forgot to mention no bikes with training wheels are needed! We’re going to practice balancing!

Library

The book fair starts 10/31!

I Heart Art

Willows art from preK

This week at ECO

Exploring the outdoor classrooms map

Sail play with one Ms Karen Cingiser!

Fire circle in Kindergarten

Mud Kitchen at forest choice time

PTO Updates

The Halloween Party details are coming together. The festivities will start at 5:00 pm at the school.

Please donate candy for the village any day this week.  You can give to Mandy in the drop off loop, drop it to Brenda in the office or send it with your child.  Candy distribution will take place Friday I believe.

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.

Thanksgiving Basket Project

We provide all the food you need: turkey, stuffing, veggies, fruit, pie… and you cook and celebrate.  Invite family and friends!
To participate, merely fill out a form with the number of folks for the meal and if you want pick up or delivery. 

This is a community-sponsored event, free to all in need.

https://forms.gle/b6ovWewpNBuJXqpC7

Moretown Library Happenings

Halloween Storywalk

10/15-10/31

Come read "A Teeny Tiny Halloween" by Lauren Wohl on our new permanent Storywalk beginning at the Nature Trail trailhead at the Moretown Rec Fields.

Pumpkin Carving Party

Saturday, October 29th, 2:30-4:30pm

Library at Town Hall

Help us get ready for our 3rd Annual Halloween Pumpkin Walk! Bring any of your favorite carving tools, and make a Jack ‘O Lantern to add to the walk. Already have a carved creation to donate? Drop it off at the library anytime on 10/29 from 10am-4:30pm.

The Great Pumpkin Walk

Halloween, 4-8pm

The Moretown Library is excited to announce that we will once again host a story & pumpkin walk for Halloween, with a light up display at dusk for all to enjoy. Last year we had over 30 unique Jack O' Lanterns to share, and hope for even more this time around so we are also looking for donations of your carved creations to help create a fantastic display. Donations can be dropped off at the library anytime we are open during the week of 10/24 up through Halloween day.

Bobcat Bulletin 10/17/22- bonus edition

 

Hello Moretown Families,

I realized I missed a few exciting announcements on my Saturday edition of the Bobcat Bulletin... Here's a few items for you to know:

1. Walk to School was a huge success!!  Thanks to Melanie Grubman and Localmotion, to the Moretown Store, to the PTO for donuts, to First Student for making a new bus stop, for all our family and staff volunteers who walked with us, and for everyone who waved and smiled at us.  It was a great community morning!

2. You may hear about KITs starting this week.  KITS are mini advisory groups here at Moretown that will take place Wednesday mornings for students k-6th grade.  It is important for students to be here ontime (by 7:40) each day, but will be especially important on KIT days.  We don't want any students to miss out!!  Ask you child on Wednesday evening about their KIT experience.

3. LOST and FOUND is a little full already.  With chilly mornings and warmer afternoons, students are shedding layers and leaving them behind.  Take a look at these pictures and let me know if you see anything that belongs to your family.  Also, please mark all clothing with your child's name.  That way when it is found we can get it right to them.

4. The School Board will host a Zoom Q&A/Meet the Superintendent with Dr. Mike on Tuesday, October 25th from 7:00-8:00 PM. This will be a chance for community members unable to attend the in-person events to ask questions and share comments. 

To participate please use this link: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/386460007

To view live, use this link: https://tinyurl.com/huwebapp-youtube-live. 

You can always email your questions for Dr. Mike ahead of time to Kristen at krodgers@huusd.org. In the subject line, please type Zoom Q&A. We will try to answer as many questions as possible.

Thank you for participating and for your support of our schools. We look forward to serving you. 

Bobcat Bulletin 10/14/22

 

School News:

Thanks to all of the donations from our community, we have a well-stocked closet full of spare outdoor clothing.

The only items we could use are:

Boys size pants 12, 14, 16 and 18 ; also looking for rain pants and snow pants in these sizes.  

Looking for men's size rain and winter boots also.

If you have anything that fits these descriptions, we'd love to take them off your hands for students who need them for ECO and outdoor recesses.

Thank you

Brenda

Bonjour

Check out Madame's blog

Library

The Scholastic Book Fair is Coming

This year every student will receive a free book for $10 or less.

Dates:  October 31- November 4

Times: Open Daily 7 am - 3 pm

Open for Moretown Trick or Treat night 5:30 Pm -7 pm

Where: Moretown Elementary Library

Visit our book fair website https://www.scholastic.com/bf/

You can set up an E-Wallet on the website and check if you have a balance from last year.

Musical notes

Check out Mr. Hill's blog

I Heart Art

The self-portrait wall is AWESOME!

School Counselor's Corner

check out the latest from Mr. Steve

Notes from the Health Office

    Ticks are still present out there.  After each ECO- outdoor learning time - we have the students do a tick sweep.  Please check your children at night, as we do our best but ticks are pesky!!  Read up about ticks here (on the nurse's site).

    Flu: The Centers for Disease Control recommends that anyone age 6months and older get a flu vaccine to prevent the flu. Now is a great time to schedule a flu vaccine for your child with his or her primary care provider. If you do not have a primary doctor, please reach out to the school Nurse. The Vermont Department of Health is offering vaccines at the district office in Barre for those who do not have a primary care provider. Please call 479-0987 to schedule a time for your child.

This week at ECO

PTO Updates

Our Halloween celebration is in the works.  Stay tuned for updates.

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.

Harwood Youth Basketball Registration is Open!


It's almost basketball season! Registration is open until October 18th for 1st-6th graders to learn the game of basketball at: https://go.teamsnap.com/forms/340132

1st - 4th grade teams are split into Valley teams and Waterbury teams to reduce travel. Feel free to sign-up for either team. Waterbury teams will practice at Brookside and Valley teams will practice at Waitsfield/Moretown/Fayston. 5th and 6th grade teams will practice at CBMS.

3rd-6th grade will practice twice during the week and play games on Saturdays. Home games will be at CBMS and there will be games in Barre/Montpelier/Williamstown, etc. Practice will begin in early November. 1st & 2nd grade won't travel or have formal games beyond their one weekly practice. Schedules will be released in early November.

HYBA is looking forward to another great winter of basketball - Please let me know (nmanagan@gmail.com) if you have any questions!

Pollinator Planting

Sunday, October 16th, 3pm

Pony Farm in Moretown

Join the MRV Libraries to plant our community pollinator patch at 182 Pony Farm Rd. Bring chairs or a blanket and stay to celebrate our work together with hot cider and other treats.

Pumpkin Carving Party

Saturday, October 29th, 2:30-4:30pm

Library at Town Hall

Help us get ready for our 3rd Annual Halloween Pumpkin Walk! Bring any of your favorite carving tools, and make a Jack ‘O Lantern to add to the display. Do you already have a carved creation to donate? Drop it off at the library anytime we are open beginning Thursday 10/27 until Halloween when you can bring it directly to the Rec Fields.