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The Core
March 18, 2022, Volume 13, Issue 28
From the Principal
Hello Parents,
With awesome weather comes a lot of mud. On the brighter side, it is warming up and drying up. This warm weather is giving us some space and positive energy.
Going mask-optional has also brought positive energy to school. It's great to see all of the smiling faces - and also great to see all of us working together to respect each student's/family's decision about mask-wearing. We had a really good vibe going on.
Check out the superintendent's message. The school board has voted to make masks optional on school busses effective immediately.
Don't forget to keep an eye out on the Covid Dashboard on our district webpage, it's good to keep to continually keep an eye on it: https://www.sbschools.net/Page/2023
Arrival Time - parents, we are working to tighten up our arrival time to get all students in the building by 8:05. If you feel you are continually waiting for the busses to unload, please use the outer drop-off (aka tear-drop), we have safe pathways for the students to walk into the building. Thanks.
Heads up - we have our seventh (out of nine) Early Release Days this next Friday. I know it appears directly after today's in-service day but I hope you will see the challenges of fitting them across the school year. Thanks for your support.
Finally, in our efforts to move toward re-opening our schools, we are holding both our Parent Conferences (with a zoom option) and our Kindergarten Screening Days in person. Details to follow!
Have a good weekend, take some time to read to your child.
Mark T
Ms. Pecor's 3rd Graders Taking Flight in PE Class
Kindergarten Registration
Kindergarten registration is open on the District web page.
Register for 2022-2023 Kindergarten
You will need to complete the registration forms to enroll your student at Orchard School for the fall.
You will be registering a returning student.
If you have any questions, please contact: Allyson Yandow 802-652-7362 or email: ayandow@sbschools.net
Thank you!
Allyson
School Nurse Notes
YOUR STUDENT WOKE UP WITH COVID-19 SYMPTOMS; WHAT DO YOU DO?
Symptoms include~ Fever, cough, sore throat, congestion, runny nose, headache, chills, diarrhea, muscle/body aches, nausea or vomiting, shortness of breath, chills, loss of taste or smell.
- Keep your student HOME.
- Consider COVID testing*.
- Return to school when symptoms have markedly improved or resolved and no fever for at least 24 hours, without the use of fever-reducing medicine.
*Free COVID tests (LAMP & rapid-antigen) may be requested from the Vermont Department of Health’s testing site or an antigen test kit can be picked-up at school (contact the school nurse).
2 antigen tests should be taken as close to 24 hours apart as possible.
Has your student outgrown their pants and shirts? We are in need of stretchy pants/leggings and basic shirts (no big logos please). If you have some to spare, that are washed and in good shape, please send them in. Thank you!
IT'S MUD SEASON!
For students in all grades, please consider keeping a spare set of socks, underwear, pants and shirt in your student's backpack.
Be well,
Kara Cassani, RN & Darcy Mazlish, RN
Orchard School Nurses
SBSD Elementary Health Services
p. (802) 652-7303
f. (802) 652-7354
Champlain Valley Regional Art Show
Art teachers throughout the area are proud to be displaying the work of kindergarten through high school students. Orchard School and Several area schools will be represented. A sample of K-5 Orchard Art will be on display. The exhibition opened this week and runs through Thursday, April 2nd. Exhibits are available for viewing during normal University Mall hours. Bring your family and friends to see this local artistic event. South Burlington displays are close to the mall entrance of Kohl’s. Congratulations again and enjoy the show.
Susie Ely
Art Teacher
Orchard School
MEMORY BOOK ORDERING TIME: Order early! Deadline by Monday, April 24th
Memory Books are a great way to commemorate your child's year at Orchard. Books cost $14 each and can be ordered using the link or QR code below. If you are able, please consider donating an extra book for a family in need.
Order Link: https://www.memorybook.com/online-pay/parent-pay/
School Code: 920771
You will need the school code above and then follow the directions on the screen to set up an account. If you already have an account from last year, please update your child’s information so their order goes to this year's classroom teacher. Do so by clicking on the “+Add/Update Information” purple button in your account and adjusting the teacher's name and grade. If you wish to donate a book, you can put it in your name or your child's name as the system requires a name be entered but we will be sure the book goes to someone in need. Thank you!
Volunteer Opportunity: This Memory Book coordinator is graduating in June! If you are interested and willing to take on the Memory Book in future years, please reach out to learn the ropes and be mentored in this current ordering season.
Orchard Students Enjoying the Ski and Ride Program!
5th Grade Rocket Launch
Monday, Mar 21, 2022, 01:15 PM
Orchard Recess Area
Ms. Barone's Kindergarten Class Sugaring
Hello Orchard Families!
We are entering the sweetest time of year in Vermont - Maple Season! As the air gets warmer during the day and cool at night, the sap in our native sugar maple trees begins to flow. The process of collecting sap and boiling it down to syrup is a long-time tradition here in Vermont, thanks to the discovery by the Abenaki people. For many years, this has been a time to bring the community together to share the first harvest from the Earth - a sweet treat that will wake us and energize us after a long cold winter.
This week in Farm to School, we found some energy in maple-inspired movement with a story and discussed the “Sap to Syrup” process. Did you know that it takes 40 gallons of sap to get one gallon of maple syrup?! We worked together to organize the thirteen moon cycles the Abenaki used as their way to keep track of time in an activity. We took some time to give gratitude to those who have worked so hard to collect and boil down all of that sap for us to enjoy - all while enjoying some corn pancakes with maple syrup drizzled on top! We hope you give this recipe a try at home.
Corn Pancake Recipe
Makes 10-12 pancakes
Ingredients:
2 cups corn flour
2 tsp baking powder
1 tsp baking soda
1 tsp salt
1 ½ cups milk (plant based or regular)
¼ cup olive oil
1 chia egg (1 Tbsp Chia seeds, 3 Tbsp water)
¼ cup maple syrup
Directions:
Combine corn flour, baking powder, baking soda, and salt in a large mixing bowl.
Make the chia seed egg in a small bowl. Let sit for 1-2 min to thicken.
Whisk together the milk, olive oil, and maple syrup in a separate bowl.
Add the chia egg and other wet ingredients to the dry ingredient bowl. Stir to combine.
Heat 1 tablespoon of olive oil in a skillet over medium low heat. Once hot, cook the pancakes (about 3-4 min on each side or until golden crispy). *This batter will be thicker than normal pancake batter. You may have to shape the patties with your hands or a spoon after adding to the pan.
Serve with an extra drizzle of maple syrup. Enjoy!
Fun fact: The Abenaki name for tree sap is “wskidakuam” (pronounced whs-kee-dah-koo-ahm). Can you say that? “Zinzibuckwut” is the Algonquian word the NY tribes use.
News from the Common Roots Farm at South Village: 2022 Farmstand Memberships are selling fast. Much like a CSA, but more flexible! Memberships can be used at any time throughout the season on any products sold in our Farmstand. To learn more and sign up: https://www.commonroots.org/farmstand
Till next month, Nourish to Flourish!
Lauren Jones & Nora Scully
Common Roots - Farm to School Educators
Ms. Antonioli's 1st Grade Class cooking in Farm-to-School
Maple Moon Festival Rescheduled for March 26th
MAPLE MOON FESTIVAL AT WHEELER NATURE PARK HAS BEEN POSTPONED UNTIL SATURDAY, MARCH 26TH DUE TO WEATHER
Common Roots, our Farm to School partners, have an exciting family opportunity for you and your family! Maple Moon is a Spring Festival at the Wheeler House
(1100 Dorset Street) with music, a scavenger hunt in the woods, maple sugaring, and cultural stations with taste tests. Dress for the weather.
The Maple Moon Festival will be held on March 26 from either 11 am-12:30 pm or 12:30 -2 pm (two shifts). The event itself is free. Lunch tickets are $6 for adults and $3 for children; children 2 and under are free, to cover the cost of lunch. The menu will be Flatbreads from our clay oven and maple lemonade. Common Roots has provided some complimentary tickets for families who would like to attend, for whom the cost of lunch may be challenging.
Please visit https://2022-maple-moon-event.eventbrite.com/ to reserve your free event tickets (11-12:30 or 12:30-2), or call the Orchard front office (802-652-7302).
Complimentary lunch tickets are available at each school on a first come first serve basis. See the attached flyer.
Parking will be at the Islamic Society on Swift Street. There is a light at the corner and sidewalks all the way.
Get your family out on the land at our beautiful Wheeler Nature Park. We hope you can join the fun! Invite your friends!
(Maple Moon - brought to you by Common Roots, SB Rotary, and SB Park and Rec)
Girls on the Run - Updated!
Girls On The Run Spring 2022 registration is officially open! This year's season will begin the week of March 28th and end on June 4th with a 5K celebration to be held at the Champlain Valley Expo in Essex.
Practices will be held on Mondays and Thursday from 3-4:30pm outdoors at Orchard Elementary. Registration is open to grades 3-5 only. You can register online at www.gotrvt.org or you can contact volunteer coach Patiance Johnson at 802-393-5223 to receive a paper copy of the registration form if you
Test Kit Use
Test kits are for you to use at your discretion, possibilities for use include:
- When you student has a COVID-19 symtpom.
- When your student is a presumptive contact at school.
- When your student is a close contact outside of school.