THE VIKING
Hinesburg Community School - August 23, 2023
THE PRINCIPAL'S CORNER
Greetings HCS Students, Families and Staff,
It is our honor and pleasure to welcome you to the 2023 – 2024 school year! We hope you had a relaxing and fun summer break and have been able to enjoy making memories with your children.
We would like to welcome all of our families, whether you are returning to HCS or joining us from another school. We are excited to share all that Hinesburg Community School has to offer with you and believe you will soon feel, as we do, that HCS is a special place for all children. We will be holding our traditional Ice Cream Social on Monday, August 28 from 4:00 - 5:00 and hope to see you there! All students are welcome to have a sneak peak of their classrooms from 4:00 - 4:30.
Hinesburg Community School is such a special place to learn and grow. Our students are kind, compassionate, and eager to learn. Together with our caring staff, we strive to make connections with students to help them feel valued, accepted, and safe.
The dedicated staff has been working tirelessly to finalize classes and schedules, engage in professional learning opportunities, clean the building and set up classrooms, and update class routines and expectations; all with the goal of fostering academic success. Our teachers and staff are eager to meet their new students and begin this year’s journey with them.
We look forward to the start of the new school year and to continuing our collaboration of providing your children with an effective and engaging educational experience. As always, we will look to our families to be positive partners in this year’s journey. The Hinesburg Community School staff has always made a priority of working together as a caring and compassionate learning community with professionalism, teamwork, action, and expertise. Join us in ensuring the success of all of HCS students. Stay healthy, stay positive, and stay connected.
Warmly,
Suzan Locke Pk-4 Principal
Tim Trevithick 5-8 Principal
SAVE THE DATE!
Monday, August 28: Ice Cream Social (4-5pm) and K-8 Classroom Sneak Peak (4-4:30)
Wednesday, August 30: First Day Of School - EARLY RELEASE DAY
Monday, September 4: Labor Day Holiday - NO SCHOOL
Wednesday, September 6: Early Release Day (1:45)
Wednesday, September 13: Early Release Day (1:45)
Wednesday, September 20: Early Release Day (1:45)
Monday, September 25: Yom Kippur - NO SCHOOL
Tuesday, September 26 and Wednesday, September 27: School Picture Days
Wednesday, September 27: Early Release Day (1:45)
Thursday, October 12: K-4, Essential Arts Open House (5:30 pm - 6:30 pm)
MORNING ARRIVAL AT HCS
7:30-8:00 Parent Drop Off - Side Door
7:50 -8:00 Bus Drop Off - Front Door
Unless your student is riding the bus, our side parking lot is the designated drop off and pick up location for students before and after school. Please bring your student to HCS no earlier than 7:30 and no later than 8:00. If you arrive after 8:00, please drop your student off at the front door and we will write a late pass for any tardy student before heading to their classroom. Students who ride the bus in the morning will be dropped off at the front door and will directly go to their classroom.
ATTENDANCE INFORMATION & FAQ's
To report any and all attendance updates for your child, we kindly ask that you do one of the following:
- email us at hcsattendance@cvsdvt.org
- call 802-482-2106 and select option 1
It is not necessary to let the teacher know that your child will be late or absent. It IS necessary to let the office know. Please let us know the first and last name of your child, their grade or homeroom teacher and the reason they will be late/absent.
If there is a change of plans for end of day transportation, please let us know (using one of the two options above) by 12:45 on early dismissal days and 1:45 on regular dismissal days, so that we have time to process bus notes, contact the classroom teacher and ensure the student has a change of transportation form to give to the bus driver.
If you would like to pick your child up during the school day, please call 802-482-2106, option 3, FIVE TO TEN MINUTES BEFORE YOUR ARRIVAL AT HCS. This will allow us enough time to locate your child, have them pack up their items and meet you in the HCS office, where they can be signed out.
FOOD SERVICE/CHILD NUTRITION
We are excited to share that ALL meals will be FREE for ALL children 18 years and younger. We will provide daily breakfast, snacks, and lunch for any child who requests food. To contact the HCS kitchen/cafeteria manager with questions or concerns, please email contact Wendy Munsell at: wmunsell@cvsdvt.org
ATHLETICS INFORMATION
Dear HCS Families,
We hope you had a wonderful summer! Our fall sports season is quickly approaching. Here are the sports we are offering this Fall:
Boys soccer - grades 5-8. If there are too many players, we will only roster 6-8.
Girls soccer - grades 5-8.
Cross Country - grades 5-8
Field Hockey - grades 5-8
All players must be registered prior to the first day of tryouts/practice. Also, players must have a medical evaluation every two years. If you would like to check the status of your medical form, please email hcsathletics@cvsdvt.org. The first day of practice/tryouts is Thursday, August 31st.
Thank you,
Denise Farmer and Kerri Wallis, Athletic Directors
WELCOME BACK FROM THE HEALTH OFFICE
We hope everyone had a restful, fun and safe summer! Please read the following updates to help keep everyone healthy at HCS this year.
We are very excited to welcome Nurse Kelly Marcus to Hinesburg Community School. She will be at school every afternoon and is looking forward to working with all of our students and families. Nurse Kelly has many years of experience working in hospitals and schools and HCS is lucky to have her join us!
Annual Emergency Information forms need to be completed for all students. Please be sure to fully complete and submit the ‘Annual Student Health Update’ form through Powerschool as soon as possible. Having complete information on your child’s health, and how to reach you in case of injury or illness is essential. If this information changes during the year, please be sure to update your PowerSchool account. If you need assistance with PowerSchool please reach out to Libby at lkoch@cvsdvt.org
If your child will need medications (including inhalers) during the school year, please have your child’s physician complete a Medication Permission Form, or an Asthma Action Plan. A new form is required EVERY school year. If your child will carry their own inhaler or Epi-pen, the prescription permission form MUST indicate this, so that they are in compliance with our medication policy. All medications must be delivered to school by an adult, in its original container.
When your child is sick, please have them stay home from school to promote healing and to reduce the spread of illness. If students become sick at school we will notify the family. If your child is not well enough to fully engage with their school day expectations we will contact the family to have them picked up.
The health office is located at the end of the preschool/world language wing so your ill or injured child will be dismissed directly from the exterior door adjacent to the health office (by the flagpole). You will need to sign them out at the main office before picking them up from the health office entrance. When you are picking up your child due to illness or injury, please be sure your child calls from the health office rather than their classroom or their own phone. We ask this as a safety precaution so children do not call for a pick-up or leave without notifying adults. Anytime a student leaves the school, they must be signed out at the main office.
In addition, when your child is absent from school, please let the main office know the reason for their absence so that we can track illness trends. The office will let us know about illnesses or injuries and we will be able to appropriately care for your child when they return to school. Finally, if a child is to have any restrictions in activity during the school day due to recovery from injury or illness, please send a physician’s note with the child informing the teacher and nurse of the nature of the problem, requested restrictions, and duration of restrictions.
We want to remind parents that we have students (and adults) at school who are allergic to several different foods or food groups - peanuts, tree nuts, eggs, sesame, wheat, dairy, soy, and seafood. Reactions can range from mild to life-threatening. If students come into contact with or eat these products they could have a life-threatening allergic reaction that would require immediate emergency medical treatment. Strict avoidance is the best way to prevent an allergic reaction. We are asking you to remind your child to please not share food with their friends in the classroom or cafeteria, and to not eat or share food on the bus. Since students eat snacks in classrooms please be aware of what you are sending to school if your child is in a room with a student with food allergies.
If your child received any immunizations over the summer please send/email a copy of their vaccination record so that their health record can be updated. If you need more information and necessary forms regarding medical or religious exemptions, it can be found at http://healthvermont.gov/hc/imm/schoolentry.aspx. A new religious exemption form is needed each school year.
We will work on vision and hearing screenings in required grades throughout the year. If you have a concern about your child’s vision or hearing and would like them screened earlier in the year please let us know.
If you have any questions or concerns, please do not hesitate to call the health office at 482-6237. We are available during the school day (7:50 AM-3 PM). Immunization records or Medication Permission/Asthma Action Plans can be dropped off at school or faxed to 482-2003.
Thank You,
Shelley Torrey BSN, RN, NCSN
Kelly Marcus, BSN, RN
School Nurses
WELCOME TO NEW HCS STAFF!
Please help us give a warm welcome to our newest HCS members!
NEW STAFF
Dallas Brodhead - PE Teacher
Courtney Christie - Music Teacher
Jordan Cota - Behavior Specialist
James Costa - Behavior Specialist
James Daly - Grade 7/8 Teacher, Team Pathfinder
Mike Fife - DEI Coordinator
Shelley Henson - Early Childhood Educator
Katie Lamb - 1.0 Special Educator
Kelly Marcus - .5 Nurse
Megan McDurfee - Para Educator
Dorothee Meli - Behavior Specialist
Noreen Pirog -1.0 Math Interventionist / Coordinator (Professional level)
Kristen Pritchard - Spanish Teacher
Ben Psaros - Grade 7/8 Teacher, Team Curiosity
Elizabeth Reichert - 1.0 Special Educator
Lindsey Terreberry - Behavior Interventionist
Noa Urbaitel - Behavior Interventionist
COMPLETE YOUR CAREGIVER FORMS
In order to have the most up-to-date information when school starts on August 30th, please make sure you complete the annual forms update through the PowerSchool Parent Portal site. Click here to review where to find the forms once you have logged into your parent portal account. Each form should be reviewed and updated, then submitted ASAP. This will ensure that our staff has enough time to review and input your information into our system before the first day of school. Please note that the health form and permission form must be submitted before a student is allowed to go on any field trips.
If you have a smartphone, we suggest downloading the free powerschool app. Please click here for a short tutorial. This app makes it quick and easy to view your child's attendance and update the annual forms. Contact Libby if you need assistance.
LET'S TALK!
Let's Talk! is an always-on communication channel and we welcome your feedback at any time. You may remain anonymous or leave your contact information to receive a direct response within 3 business days. Click HERE to start a conversation.
SIGN UP TO RECEIVE SMS/TEXT MESSAGES
Please enroll to receive text messages from the district and/or our school. If you haven't done this yet or if you are new to CVSD, follow the easy steps on this flyer. We don't overuse this method of communication, but it is helpful for reminders and quick announcements. Don't miss out!
- Athletics
- Attendance and Front Office
- Bus Schedule/Routes
- Connecting Youth Website
- CVSD Diversity, Equity and Inclusion
- CVSD School Board
- Essential Arts
- Food Service and Menu
- Health Office
- Jump Rope
- Library
- Mentoring
- My School Bucks
- PiE - Partnership in Education
- School Counselors
- School Handbook
- Transportation Department
- Volunteer at HCS
About Us
Suzan Locke, HCS Co-Principal, Grades K-4
482-6299, slocke@cvsdvt.org
Tim Trevithick, HCS Co-Principal, Grades 5-8
482-6298, ttrevithick@cvsdvt.org
Alicia Kurth, HCS Special Education Administrator
482-6285, akurth@cvsdvt.org
Email: hcsinformation@cvsdvt.org
Website: https://www.cvsdvt.org/hinesburg
Location: Hinesburg Community School, 10888, Route 116, Hinesburg, Vermont, USA
Phone: 802-482-2106
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Hinesburg-Community-School-125786304154731/
The Viking Newsletter is published weekly, when school is in session. It is available on our web site and is also delivered via email. If needed, a hard copy can be provided for your child to bring home. The Viking includes upcoming events, after school opportunities, notes of interest for parents and the community and updates from our school administration.