Dear EMS Families,
Happy New Year! This week we swung in the New Year with UVM’s swing dancing team at Community Time. The energy of our community filled the room as we were then challenged to get up and give it a try ourselves.
On February 5th, EMS will raise the Black Lives Matter Flag, thanks to the work of a group of students in our Youth Participatory Action Research (YPAR) Collective. The board passed their proposal unanimously in November (see articles below for more details.)
In preparation for this significant moment, we will spend Monday, January 20th, Martin Luther King Jr. Day, and our community time in the coming weeks, to consider the why behind the raising of the Black Lives Matter flag.
We will start with the viewing of three different films. Students and families will choose a film to view. The choices include The Hate U Give, Akeelah and the Bee, and Remember the Titans. These films will provide context for upcoming conversations on race, equity, and the raising of the flag.
The Black Lives Matter Movement reflects our goal at EMS that all community members feel connected, safe, seen, heard, understood and respected. Specifically, as articulated by the movement on their site: “Every day we recommit to healing ourselves and each other, and to co-creating alongside comrades, allies, and family, a culture where each person feels seen, heard and supported.”
As our YPAR students identified in their research, racism is a reality in our community and silence would be an injustice. Thus, we seek this opportunity as a community to, as Martin Luther King, Jr. said “commit ourselves to the noble struggle for equal rights [thus] making a greater person of [ourselves], a greater nation of [our] country, and a finer world to live in."
In partnership and with gratitude,
Meg
Articles published based on the work of EMS’ YPAR students to raise the Black Lives Matter Flag:
Common Sense Media reviews:
Friendly Reminders
Students who chose to see The Hate U Give must have a Permission Slip signed by a guardian, given its PG 13 rating. Permission slips need to be turned in by January 17th.
Community Announcements
01/14 - 6th grade Performance Music concert 6:30 - 8:00 p.m. - EMS Gym
01/21 - Engage EMS meeting 5:30 - 7:00 p.m. - EMS Library/Makerspace
Agenda items:
Update regarding Foreign Language for 2020-2021
Review of Home School Compact
Review of Parent Involvement Policy
Review of the school’s participation in Title I and of the right of parents to be involved.
01/24 - School Dance details
Tickets sold before and after school next week in the lobby of the school for $5.
Location = EMS gym. Entrance through side door by the gym driveway.
Dance doors will be closed from 6-7:30 p.m.
Snacks and drinks for sale (range in price from $.25 - $1) throughout the dance.
Games offered in addition to dancing.
Students must stay in the dance until 7:30 after entering.
Suggested drop off and pick up location: South Union St.
Tie One On for Safety!
On December 18, our friends from the Edmunds Be Above Prevention Group headed out to the parking lot to tie red ribbons on cars. This red ribbon is a friendly reminder to drive drug/alcohol free, buckle up, ride with drivers who are sober and to stay safe today, tomorrow
and always.
Be Above reaches out to the Edmunds Community by engaging in projects that focus on Prevention, Wellness, Making Awesome Choices and Being Above the Influence. All are welcome to join Be Above. There is an in school Be Above Group coordinated by Angela Halsted, and there is an after school group that meets on Wednesdays coordinated by Jessica Summer from the Burlington Partnership for Healthy Communities. Both groups work together to celebrate prevention efforts at Edmunds and in the Burlington Community. Be Above supports, reaches out, cares and educates. If you have any questions, please feel free to reach out to Angela Halsted, Edmunds Middle School SAP Counselor/Prevention Coordinator, #864-8486 x41010, ahalsted@bsdvt.org.
Here are some 2017 Youth Risk Behavior Statistics (YRBS) to share that reflect our Youth in the Burlington Community:
- 14% of 9th Grade BHS Students reported riding with a drinking driver within the past 30 days of taking this survey, up 2% from 2015.
- 9% of 9th Grade BHS students reported riding with a driver who had been smoking marijuana within the past 30 days of taking this survey, down 2% from 2015.
- 7% of 9th Grade BHS students reported driving when drinking within the past 30 days of taking this survey.
- 7% of 9th Grade BHS students drove when smoking marijuana within the past 30 days of taking this survey.
To find out more detailed statistics reflecting our Burlington Youth, please check out the Vermont Department of Health Youth Risk Behavior Survey Website for Burlington, Vermont schools:
http://www.healthvermont.gov/health-statistics-vital-records/population-health-surveys-data/youth-risk-behavior-survey-yrbs