Hello Parents,

This week has been a much healthier than last week. We had only one positive case this week and we are very hopeful to keep things moving in the right direction. Don't forget to check our district's dashboard whenever you can: https://www.sbschools.net/Page/2023

We had a terrific week with our Artist-in-Residence, Master Lenny Yordan. His work is impressive and he approaches all six grades with intense positive energy and a large voice. Check out the photos and you will see how dynamic the lessons have been and the students have demonstrated a lot of progress in just one week!

Next Friday morning, we are having a presentation of each grade's skills! We are hiring Media Factory to provide a live stream from our gym. We'll send out more details and a link later next week so families can watch from your computer. We'll also be recording the performances and putting it on our webpage.

Check out school calendar below. There's a lot going on!

See you tonight at Spring Fling. Also, come join the Garden Club tomorrow morning!

Have a great weekend, take some time to read with your child.

Mark T

Quote of the week for Taekwondo:

“It’s not about being better than someone else, it’s about being better than you were the day before.”

~Anonymous

Volunteers welcome and needed for Saturday’s 9-12 Garden Work Day (Sunday is a Rain date)

No experience necessary and it would be helpful to bring gloves and a trowel.

Extra wheel barrows and large, pointed shovels are helpful too.

There are lots of hands (big and small) needed for weeding, and a focus will be planting butterfly attracting perennials in the courtyard

Feel free to drop in for any or all of it!

Contact Kasey Skidmore (kasey.m.skidmore@gmail.com) with questions

We are hoping to have "in school" spring concerts! We are scheduling morning concerts for two-grade shows with the hope that our Covid numbers are in a good place. The dates are:
Wednesday, June 1st - Grades 2 & 3

Thursday, June 2nd - Kindergarten & Grade 1

Friday, June 3rd - Grades 4 & 5

Show tentatively to start at 8:30, more details coming soon, parents are welcome!

Master Lenny Yordan is here at Orchard School for two week! He is a 7th Dan Blackbelt coming to teach us about the basics of Taekwondo. We are hoping this could be good timing to teach us about discipline and resiliency. Click the link below to check out Master Yordan's website.

~TICKS IN VERMONT~

This week's focus: Tick Removal

REMOVE the tick as soon as you can. Risk for disease is greatly reduced if removed promptly.

• Clean fine-tipped tweezers work very well.
• Grasp the tick close to the skin's surface where the mouth is attached.
• Pull upward, with steady, slow, even pressure (do not twist, jerk or wiggle it out).
• Thoroughly clean the site.
• Dispose of the live tick by flushing it, wrapping it tightly in tape, or placing it in a sealed bag or rubbing alcohol. NEVER crush a tick.

Avoid using a hot match, petroleum jelly or nail polish to remove a tick. Stick with the above method. Per the CDC, tick testing, for evidence of infection, is not recommended.

~CHECK OUT THESE RESOURCES~

Use the CDC's interactive tool: TICK BITE BOT which assists with tick removal and helping to determine if further care may be necessary. For a terrific TICK REMOVAL VIDEO: watch it here.

Watch for symptoms (any type of rash or flu-like symptoms) for the next 3-30 days. Contact your medical provider if symptoms occur and inform them of the date and location of the bite.

For more information, visit the Vermont Department of Health or the CDC.

Next week's topic: Transmission

~COVID INFORMATION~

FREE LAMP tests (similar to PCR, but results within 30 minutes) are available from the Health Department as are antigen and PCR tests, through the end of June. Find sites here (walk-ins allowed) or make an appointment here for pick-up. FREE Rapid Antigen tests are available from the school. Please contact us and we can send them home with your student or you can pick them up at school. With symptoms, if the first antigen test is negative, use the second at least 24 hours later. If they are both negative, and you still have concerns, get a LAMP or a PCR test.Please keep sick kids home.

Be well,

Kara Cassani, RN & Darcy Mazlish, RN

Orchard School Nurses
SBSD Elementary Health Services
p. (802) 652-7303
f. (802) 652-7354

Family Fun Events:

Kites in the Park 11:00 am – 1:00 pm Saturday 5/21

FREE

Join us in the park for our make/take kite event

We will meet under the large Arch at Veterans Memorial Park

Kite kits, markers and stickers will be provided

Thank you,

Brett

Brett Leonard, CPRP

Recreation Specialist

South Burlington Recreation and Parks

180 Market Street, South Burlington, VT 05403

Office: 802.846.4137 Cell: 802.233.4834

Parents,

Our Arrival and Dismissal routes are going much smoother these days so it is so important for parents to use our parking lot pick-ups & drop-off routes rather than dropping off your child on Baldwin Avenue. Our neighbors have been very patient with us and we need to keep off their lawns. It's also not safe so please support our neighbors like you support our school.

Thank you on this.