MORETOWN ELEMENTARY SCHOOL NEWSLETTER

May 14, 2010

School Website:  www.moretownschool.org

 

Dear Parents and Friends,

 

What a beautiful week for kite flying! It was wonderful to watch our students outside on our blustery Monday with their kites launched in the air. Several kites broke loose and had to be rescued from trees. As we held our staff meeting on Tuesday afternoon, we watched with pleasure as a number of children came to the back hill to fly their kites yet again.                                                                                               

As we end the school year, we will be saying good-bye to several staff members. Jill Brown, our School Nurse, has resigned for personal reasons. She is such a caring professional who has taken excellent care of our students and been a resource to all. Jill, we wish you the best in your future endeavors.

 

Lisa Moreno and Michelle Beard will not be returning. Both are highly respected and have done truly wonderful work with students. This is a loss to our school and we wish them all the best. Due to a decrease in our student population and the current financial climate, two paraeducator positions were eliminated from next year’s school budget. Positions in a reduction in force are reduced based upon seniority. Lisa and Michelle have each worked here for many years, but they are the least senior members of our paraeducator staff. Tina Kennedy’s position was also reduced to four days per week.

 

School Quality Standards for Vermont require that each school have a Guidance Counselor. The School Board is working to ensure that we meet that obligation, and our model of school counseling will change next year with guidance in the classroom. Of course, we will continue to address children’s individual needs as they impact their education. This requires that we hire a certified, part-time guidance counselor. We are working with Fayston Elementary School in this search process. If you are interested in being on this search committee, please call me for more information.

 

A wonderful group of volunteers installed the swing structure on the upper playground on Friday night.   Be sure to thank the following volunteers when you see them and let them know we appreciate their help!  Chris & Sarah Zschau, Kevin Beard, Mike Morelli, David Bolger, Jan & Chris Tierson, Hugh Dow, Martin Cameron and Moretown Sixth Graders, who spread the mulch as part of their community service project.

 

As we begin this week focused on physical activity and walking or biking to school, I urge you to think about your child(ren) and safety. Route 100B is busy road. Please make decisions to allow walking or biking based on your child’s experience near roads, understanding of safety rules, and personal level of responsibility. Some children may pay more attention to their friends than to cars and curbs. Some students ride with their helmets on the handlebars instead of on their heads. We want all of our students to arrive at school safely and happily!

 

I hope that many of you were able to attend the Art Show last night. Our students’ work was simply incredible. There was a variety of pieces, from drawing and water colors to clay pinch pots, beading, and more. Mrs. Harvey often links art instruction to the goals of classrooms or to literature.  What a rich program!

Whew! So many things to let you know about as we end the year…It’s been a busy, busy time. Enjoy the weekend – it promises to be beautiful!

Respectfully,

                                                                                    Debbie Lesure, Principal

 

 

Safe Routes to School

Next week, it's all about walking and biking in the Mad River Valley!!

With the goal of improving traffic flow/safety for walkers, the school will test out using one 2-way entrance.  Starting Monday, the south driveway will be closed off to vehicles for the week.  Cars will enter/exit via the Town Clerk driveway. Walkers and bikers will use the south driveway and access the school through the main entrance.  Thank you for helping us conduct this trial.

 

Friday, May 21st, is our first spring Walk and Bike to School day.  School buses will join the effort and drop students at the Town Hall for a parade in to school.  If you normally drive your child to school, consider dropping off at the Town Hall/Ward parking lot instead.  We will have sheriff and constable support at the intersection, but would like as many parents as possible to walk or bike with students. The south driveway will be accessible to pedestrians and bicyclists only next week.

 

 

News from the Library Media Center

 

 

Announcing the 1^st Annual Spring Cleaning Used Children Book Sale Bonanza!

 

When: The weeks of May 10^th and May 17th

Where: The Library Media Center

What:  Dust off your gently used books and donate them to our used book sale.  Books will be priced to move.  As an incentive, a donation of 1-5 books receives a voucher for a free book.  Donations of 5-10 books get two vouchers. 

Why:  The Student Library Advisory Board is helping to organize this sale.  Let’s help make it a success!  All books will be priced at 25 cents and 50 cents.

 

Drop off your books in the box outside the library.  Questions?  Email Mrs.Allison, mallison@moretownschool.org

 

Important Dates May 16                        Bike Safety Fair May 17-21                   Driveway Closure May 19                        Vermont Symphony Orchestra @ MES, 8:45 – 9:30 am May 21                        Walk and Bike to School Day June 11                        Last day of school – FULL DAY June 11                        6th Grade graduation                         May 31                        NO SCHOOL - Memorial Day June 11                        Last day of school – FULL DAY June 11                        Sixth Grade Graduation – 6:00 P.M.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Staff Appreciation Breakfast

Let the great people at the Moretown School know how much you appreciate all they have done for our students this past year! Each year, the Moretown Elementary School’s PTN coordinates a Staff Appreciation Breakfast for our teachers, paraeducators and staff members. On Monday June 7 from 7:30 - 9:30 a.m we will hold our annual appreciation event in the school library.

Show that you care by contributing either an item for the breakfast, or helping out with set up and/or clean-up. Please contact Amy Bolger if you can provide a goodie (baked item, fruit, a beverage, etc.) We also need plates, napkins, cutlery or cups. Two people to set up at 7 a.m. and two to break down at 9:30 a.m. is helpful.

You can call Amy at 496-5935 or email her at bolger@gmavt.net. Thank you in advance for your contribution to this important end-of-year event.

 

Moretown Wellness Committee

The Moretown School Wellness Committee is being developed in accordance with the Moretown School's Wellness Policy and Action Plan. The purpose of the committee is to enhance the health and wellness of our student body through a comprehensive health curriculum. This curriculum includes varied opportunities for physical activity both during and after school.  It also encompasses promoting good nutrition through education, discussions around cafeteria choices, and an interest in classroom nutrition. The Wellness Policy is online at www.moretownschool.org. Once you are at the home page, click on the "school wellness newsletter" and follow the link found there. Paper copies of the wellness policy are also available at the school office.

 

The Wellness Committee's interest in gradually implementing the school's Wellness Policy is part of a national trend. President Barack Obama has called for national attention on children's health, especially around concerns over rising childhood obesity and increased incidents of juvenile type II diabetes. Recently on NPR, Michelle Norris interviewed Secretary of Agriculture Tom Vilsack and others in a two part series entitled "Soda in America." If you would like to hear the interview or read the transcript, and you can find it online:

http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=126536437

 

Alligator Summer Camps at Moretown School  We are happy to be able to once again offer summer Theater and Science Camps at Moretown School.   Theater Camp will run from July 19 to July 23, 9 am to 1 pm.  Science camps will be July 26 to July 30 and August 2 to August 6, 9 am to 1 pm.  Science camps will be structured so that each week is different, so children may attend one or both camps.  Camp fees are $150 per week for Theater Camp and $160 per week for Science Camps (Science Camp fee includes cost of materials).  Discounts available for multiple Camps are open to ages 7 to 14.  Camp instructors include Thom McAllister (Mr. Alligator) and Deb Fadden (Ms D.)  For additional information and registration forms contact Thom McAllister (thommca@gmavt.net or 434-4977).  Registration open until all slots are filled.

 

Soccer Intro for 5/6 year olds.

Mad River Soccer will offer a series of 4 fun, introductory soccer clinics for kids age 5 thru 1^st grade.  The clinics will be held from 3 to 4 pm on Sunday, May 16, 

 

June 6 and June 13 and on Saturday, May 22 from 10 to 11 am.  All clinics will be held at the Waitsfield Elementary School field.  Please arrive at 2:45 pm on the day of the first clinic to enroll your child.    Bring a ball if you have one.  Kids should wear shin guards (check with a friend to see if you can borrow some).  The coaches encourage parents to participate (more fun for you and your child)! The cost for the 4 sessions is $15, which covers insurance and equipment costs.  Checks should be made payable to MRVSA.

 

 

 

 

Valley School Day at Sugarbush

Friday, June 25th is Valley School Day at Sugarbush. School-age kids are invited to come sample zipline rides, chairlift rides, disc golf, the inflatable bounce house, golf, tennis, and pool activities FOR FREE. Parental guidance required. Details at sugarbush.com.

 

Summer Fun at Camp Sugarbush

This summer, Sugarbush is offering a variety of week-long Monday through Friday camps for kids interested in outdoor adventure:

Mini Campers (ages 4-6) and Day Camp (ages 6-11) provide campers a traditional day camp with a touch of adventure. Activities include lift rides, hiking, swimming, tennis, rock climbing, biking, art, nature crafts, field trips and more. June 21-August 20.

Adventure Camp (ages 7-17) activities include biking, zipline, hiking, naturalist tours, disc golf, swimming, and climbing. July 5-9; July 26-30; August 9-13; August 16-20.

Mountain Bike Adventure Camps (ages 7-17) are similar to the Adventure Camps but with an emphasis on mountain biking. July 19-23 and August 2-6.

And the Junior USPTA/USPTR Tennis Camp (ages 6-12) offers tennis in the morning followed by afternoon adventures. August 2-6.

Both Adventure Camp and Mountain Bike Adventure Camp offer an optional Thursday overnight adventure at Allyn’s Lodge. Single-day, multiday and weekend tennis, golf, tennis/golf combo, adventure, and mountain bike camps, clinics and schools also available. For reservations and more information, call 800.53.SUGAR or visit sugarbush.com. Register by April 17 and receive a discount.

 

Family Bike & Trike Sale

Sale - Saturday, May 15, 9am-4pm

Drop off - Friday, May 14, 3pm-7pm

Waitsfield Elementary School

 

Everybody needs a bike!

 

Buy a 'new' bike in time to take part in the Valley Walk & Roll Festival, or sell one you've outgrown to someone who will use it.  Lots of kids' bikes!

 

Only bikes in working condition can be included in the sale.  Free bike safety check available at drop off on Friday, courtesy of our local bike shops - Fit Werx, Inverness, Stark Mountain (Waitsfield) or Green Mountain Bikes (Rochester).

 

Proceeds to benefit the Mad River Valley Health Center Health Education Committee.

 

 

For more information, contact Sue Frechette (sue_frechette@madriver.com) or go to www.ValleyWalkAndRoll.com.

 

National Foster Care Month

May is National Foster Care Month.  Vermont’s foster families not only provide temporary homes, safety, and nurturing to our children, but they also help primary families by ensuring that children can be safely reunited with them. 

 

If you are interested in learning more about becoming foster parent, please call Joan Rock, Resource Coordinator, Barre Family Services at 802-479-4260.  Make a Difference – Be A Foster Parent!