Bobcat Bulletin 5/19/23

 

So excited for the art show this weekend!

Yes, another ART SHOW!

At Lareau's Farm

School News:

Who has a raccoon as her KIT animal? It's Mrs. Wulff! This is her sixth year at MES. She loves working with with kids and loves that everyday is different.

When she is not at school, she likes to do many different things; like reading, sewing, running and playing outside. She loves the color blue and is not a fan of red. Her favorite animal is a zebra. Her favorite school lunch is pizza and her favorite holiday is Thanksgiving.

By Lucille and Mrs. Couturier

Lisa Martin joined our staff this year and is loving her time in preschool. She says her favorite part about teaching is the kids. Period. Her favorite thing about preschool is making books and art with preschoolers. Her favorite school lunch is shepherds pie. She loves being part of the MES community and says the best thing about MES is the people.

When she’s not at school, Ms. Lisa enjoys hiking and walking her dog. Dogs are her favorite animals, and she is a big fan of all things natural. Her favorite holiday is Christmas. Her favorite sweet treat is a snickers bar. Her favorite color is green. We are glad Ms. Lisa joined the Pines and Maples classes this year.

By Porter C, Mason H and Ms. Couturier

Have you learned about an interventionist ? Now you're about to learn . Before Mr.G taught at Moretown Elementary school he taught at Morristown and the resin Mr.G became a teacher because he thought he had something to give, and he'd always work with kids. Mr. G's opinion about Moretown School is, “this school is magical.” Mr.G’s favorite subject in third grade was social studies and Mr.G’s favorite subject at M.E.S is E.C.O. The farthest Mr.G’s traveled for work is Denali, Alaska home to the biggest mountain in North America.

Mr.G's favorite color is green and Mr.G does not have a pet. Mr.G has played his guitar in little punk rock concerts. The farthest Mr.G has traveled for fun is Italy and Europe. The sports Mr.G does are biking and skiing. I’m so happy that Mr.G came to M.E.S to help third grade math and much more.

By Elliott N

A note from Mr. Gedmin: 

To the Moretown Community,

I want to share with you that I will not be returning to Moretown Elementary School next year. My family is planning to take a "gap year," and do some traveling before settling back into Chicago for a while, so we can be close to my family. 

It's a hard school to leave, and I don't expect to find another place as special as Moretown. It has been a wonderful chapter of my life, and it has been a tremendous pleasure to work as an Interventionist with the amazing students and teachers of Moretown. 

With gratitude,

Mark Gedmin

Do you want to meet a lady who loves to laugh? Well you are about to. Meet mrs. willard.

Mrs. Willard came from Texas in a car. She has a pet snake. Mrs. Willard is our school librarian. Mrs. Willard has been teaching for 4 years in Moretown. She likes to help kids with technology. Mrs. Willard is reallly smart when coding in tech class.
Mrs. willards favorite books to read is Harry Potter. Mrs. Willard does NOT want to go back to Texas any time soon! Mrs. Willard does NOT like to camp at all. Mrs. Willards favorite subject is science.

Mrs.Willard's favorite color is green. Her Willards favorite holiday is Christmas. I hope you learned a lot about a lady who likes to laugh.


By Logan L

Recently, I got to sit down with one of the newest 1st and 2nd grade teachers Ms C.

There have been multiple Ms. C’s in the school but this is the newest Ms. C. This Ms. Cournoyer is the second teacher Ms. C to teach grades ½. Ms. C has been teaching for 14 years but not just at this school she also taught at Barre Town Elementary School. She likes teaching because Ms. C likes to work in a small community and she likes that she has an impact on others lives.


Some other things Ms. C likes to do is to go to the river and cool off at the Mad River in the summer. and a winter activity Ms. C. likes to go and ski at Bolton Valley and out west where it’s a lot sunnier/warmer. She also likes to cook Thai food and Mexican inspired food as well. She also likes baking for others as well

Now you know about one of your ½ grade teacher Ms. C.


By Creighton V

SEL Scoop

Optimistic Thinking

For Families and Caregivers:

How's Your Day Going?

Before you keep reading, take a moment to think about some of the things that happened to you today. Even better, grab a pen and write down a few specific events.

So what did you come up with? Was it mostly positive things like: “I completed that project that I’ve been working on.  I tackled that pile of laundry that I’ve been meaning to get to!  I almost met my goal of drinking enough water today!” Or did your mind land on what went wrong: “I didn’t meet my goal of 10,000 steps.  My employees didn’t get as much done as I had hoped.  I wasn’t able to balance the checkbook.  Oh look - it’s raining AGAIN!”  

Optimism Is Healthy

It turns out that an optimistic attitude helps us be happier, more successful, and healthier. Optimism can protect against depression — even for people who are at risk for it. An optimistic outlook makes people more resistant to stress. Optimism may even help people live longer.

As your children continue to grow and learn, it's important to encourage them to think positively and embrace an optimistic mindset. While it may seem like a small thing, optimistic thinking can have a significant impact on your child's academic performance and overall well-being.

First and foremost, optimistic thinking helps to build resilience. When faced with challenges or setbacks, students who approach the situation with a positive attitude are more likely to persevere and find solutions. This resilience not only helps them succeed academically but also prepares them for the ups and downs of life.

In addition, an optimistic outlook can lead to increased motivation and engagement in school. When students believe that their efforts will be noticed and seen, they are more likely to put in the time and energy required to succeed. Conversely, students who approach their work with a defeatist attitude are more likely to give up quickly and miss out on the benefits of hard work and perseverance.

Finally, optimistic thinking can improve mental health and overall well-being. Research has shown that individuals who have a positive outlook on life are less likely to experience depression and anxiety, and are better able to cope with stress.

As parents and caregivers, there are many ways you can encourage your child to adopt an optimistic mindset. You can model positive thinking yourself, by focusing on the good in situations and avoiding negative self-talk. You can also praise your child's efforts and help them see the positives in even challenging situations.

By fostering optimistic thinking in your child, you are setting them up for success both in and out of the classroom. Thank you for your continued support in helping your child develop into a confident and resilient individual.

How to Be More Optimistic

If you tend toward mostly pessimistic thinking, you can get better at seeing what's good. Here are some things to try:

• Notice good things as they happen. At the end of each day, take 10 minutes to run through your day and come up with things that you're grateful for. If you’d like, write them down.  Go for a Gratitude Walk - as you walk, think of all the positives - even the small stuff!

• Train your mind to believe you can make good things happen in your life. Get in a habit of telling yourself specific things you can do to succeed. For example: "If I study, I can get a better grade." "If I practice, I'll perform well at the audition." "If I go on that volunteer trip, I'll meet new friends."

• Don't blame yourself when things go wrong. What does your inner voice say when things don't go as planned? Instead of thinking, "I failed that math test because I'm terrible at math," tell yourself: "I failed that test because I didn't study enough. I won't let that happen next time!" Instead of saying, "Grace broke up with me because I'm such a loser," think: "Now I know why people say breakups are so painful, but hanging out with my friends will help me feel better again."

• When something good happens, give yourself credit. Consider the actions you took to enable a positive result. Did you prepare yourself for the exam? Dedicate yourself to practicing? Reflect on the skills you used and how that contributed to your success.

• Remind yourself that setbacks are temporary. As soon as something goes wrong, remind yourself that it will pass — and come up with a plan for making that happen. For example: "My SAT results aren't what I hoped, but I can study more and take the test again."

• Notice how other people talk about themselves. Are friends and family members optimistic or pessimistic? For example, does your dad say, "I burned the hot dogs, I'm just a terrible cook!"? Or does he say: "I burned the hot dogs because I got distracted watching the dog chase a squirrel around the backyard!"?

• Family conversation starters for the car or dinner table

• Describe an optimist. How does optimism compare to pessimism? 

• Do you consider yourself more of an optimistic thinker or pessimistic thinker? Would your friends agree? Explain.

• What does self-confidence have to do with being optimistic?

• Why do people tend to steer clear (avoid) people who are overly pessimistic? 

• Should an optimist also be realistic? Explain why.

• Books and Resources

• Ten Books that Promote Positive Thinking in Teens

• Books that Inspire Kids to have a Positive Attitude

Thanks for all you do!

The SEL Task Force

 (Gavin, M. L. (Ed.). (n.d.). Optimism (for teens) - nemours kidshealth. KidsHealth. https://kidshealth.org/en/teens/optimism.html#:~:text=Optimism%20and%20pessimism%20are%20mindsets,to%20make%20good%20things%20happen.)

PE posting

PE was outdoors this week... what beautiful weather!

Bonjour

You can find out what's happening in French class by visiting 

frenchwithmadameblogspot.com.

We Heart Art
The Student Art Show at the Red Barn at Lareau Farm at American Flatbread features artwork from HUUSD and GMVS students PK-12. The show runs from 5/18-28 and is open Thursdays and Fridays from 4-9pm and Saturdays and Sundays from 12-9pm. Come visit the art show during the Route 100 Art Festival on Saturday 5/20!

Route 100 Art Festival is this Saturday! Come down to Lareau Farm & Forest at American Flatbread in Waitsfield on Saturday, May 20 from 11-6 for this exciting FREE event. There will be live music and performances all day, featuring Al's Pals, Seth Yacovonce, The Medicine Tribe, Sabouyouma, Studio 100 and more. Join Mad River Riders on a group Mountain Bike ride or grab lunch or dinner while exploring a wide variety of craft vendors and art activities.

Notes from the Health Office

Hello families,

We, as a district, have hired a dental hygienist as the tooth tutor for dental screenings. If you would like your child to have their teeth and gums looked at for any issues, please let us know. I know families without dentists are at higher risk for periodontal issues due to lack of screenings. One of the good things about having a tutor for us is that if there is a problem he is better able to reach out and explain to a dentist what is going on and help find a dentist for your child. Even if you do have a dentist but feel like you need to have a screening done please feel free to reach out as well. Email or call me if you would like to have your child added to the list to be seen by Mike, the dental hygienist.


Phillip Stolz, MSN, RN
Moretown School Nurse

pstolz@huusd.org
802-583-7858
802-496-3749 (fax)

This week at ECO

3rd and 4th grades did some pond observations:

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.

Safe Sitter Babysitting Course - Safe Sitter Babysitting Course at Stowe Recreation Saturday May 20th.  Do you feel ready to stay home alone, watch your brothers and sisters while your parents are gone, or babysit younger children? Then maybe it's time for Safe Sitter®. Safe Sitter® is for young teens in grades 6-8 who are ready to learn the skills they need to care for themselves and younger children. Participants will learn how to keep themselves and the children they watch safe. They'll also learn basic first aid and rescue skills, and proper CPR and choking techniques.*

In addition, Safe Sitter® teaches young teens life and business skills, so that they know how to be prepared, be responsible, and be considerate whether they are babysitting or doing odd jobs for family, friends, or neighbors.  You'll have fun. You'll learn a lot. And at the end of the day, you can proudly say, "I am a Safe Sitter®!"

*Please note that you will learn first aid and CPR skills, but this is not a CPR certification.

Who: Teens in grades 6-8
When: Saturday, May 20th 9am-3:30pm
Where: David Gale Recreation Center
Cost: $75 Stowe Residents/ $85 Non-residents
Register online at http://stowerec.org ~ Click Registration on the home page

Waterbury Stowe Fish and Game Club Kid's Fishing Derby
The pond at the club is stocked and the weather looks decent for fishing Sunday morning.  Here are a couple of clarifications:

THE FISHING DERBY IS FREE AND OPEN TO THE PUBLIC.
WE'LL HAVE DRINKS AND SNACKS ON HAND.
PLEASE BRING YOUR OWN FISHING TACKLE AND WORMS.
- WE HAVE A FEW LOANER ROD/REEL SETUPS FOR THE INEVITABLE TACKLE FAILURES.
- THERE ARE USUALLY A FEW EXTRA WORMS AROUND FOR ANYONE IN A BIND. BE PREPARED TO BARTER.
THE CLUB HISTORIAN NOTIFIED ME THIS IS THE 62ND ANNUAL FISHING DERBY THE CLUB HAS HELD!

HERE ARE THE DETAILS FROM THE ORIGINAL POSTING:
THIS YEAR'S DERBY WILL BE HELD SUNDAY, MAY 21 FROM 9 AM TO 11 AM.
ADDRESS: 5365 WATERBURY-STOWE RD, WATERBURY CENTER, VT 05677
THE DERBY IS FOR CHILDREN UP TO 12 YEARS OF AGE. AS ALWAYS, THE DERBY IS OPEN TO THE PUBLIC. CHILDREN MUST BE SUPERVISED AND BRING THEIR OWN EQUIPMENT.

THE RULES FOR THE KIDS ARE SIMPLE:
• ONE ROD PER ANGLER
• BAIT ONLY – NO LURES
• 3 FISH LIMIT PER ANGLER – ALL MUST BE TROUT
• ALL FISH CAUGHT MUST BE KEPT

THE RULES FOR THE PARENTS ARE EVEN EASIER:
• BAIT HOOKS
• TIE KNOTS
• UNTIE KNOTS
• EXEMPLIFY SUPERIOR SPORTSMANSHIP

LET ME KNOW IF YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS.
BILL WHITEHAIR
WILLIAM.WHITEHAIR@GMAIL.COM