Notes from the Principal
Hello Parents and Guardians,
Our International Night was a terrific event with a surprisingly large number of families sharing and visiting. I'm such a proud principal, and so delighted to have been part of such a diverse and harmonious event. And the variety foods were awesome and delicisous!! Thank you families and a special thank you to our PTO parents for getting this tradition started again.
I want to take a moment to clarify something about our budget and the media. There have been some incorrect news shared about Orchard. We currently have trailers (office trailers), they are not modular classrooms. Our hope is to have four Zero Energy Modulars approved by the South Burlington voters in March to have ready for the following school year. For as crowded as we are right now, we are projected to continue to grow in the coming years so modular classrooms will be essential to ease the pressure of a busting school. Check out Superintendent Violet Nichols' newsletter (attached below) for more information.
Have a great snow-day weekend; take some time to read with your child.
Mark T & Olivia K
I got it wrong, Hanukkah starts on December 18th (not the 8th). Happy Hanukkah again to all of our Jewish families and friends!
News from Our Medical Team
According to the Vermont Department of Health: Influenza-like Illness (ILI) activity level has increased from low to moderate in Vermont.
ILI is defined as the presence of a fever equal to or exceeding 100°F with the addition of cough or sore throat.
Influenza (Flu) is determined by fever, with the addition of cough or sore throat, and a diagnosis of influenza.
What can you do to reduce your risk of acquiring seasonal flu and its serious complications?
According to the CDC, the single best way is to get vaccinated.
Engage in other healthy habits, that we all learned so well during the pandemic, to help limit the spread of germs:
- Avoid those who are sick.
- Stay home when sick!
- Stay home 24 hours after fever is gone (without fever-reducing medicine)!
- Cover your cough (cover your mouth and nose).
- Avoid touching your eyes, nose and mouth.
- Wash hands often.
- Clean/disinfect commonly touched surfaces.
Take everyday preventative action to help stop the spread of germs.
Be well,
Kara Cassani &
Sarah Pineda, School Nurses
