The Core

I am sure you will agree that our evening performances of Peter Pan were amazing!. The music, singing and acting were done really well and I am impressed with every student performer who took the risk to be on that stage. Thank you to our PTO and the Drama Team for making this happen. It's hard to believe we just celebrated our 20th year of Orchard Drama. Every year we continue to have outstanding performances! Bravo!

Report Cards are being sent home next Friday, February 7th. We are just past the half-way point of the school year and our elementary teachers are putting a lot of work into student assessments and reporting.

Speaking of next Friday night, we hope you can join us for our annual Family Math Night. Everyone is invited to join us for a night of math related games! It will be a fun time for the whole family!

We've been working through student and staff illness. It isn't over, so the nurses' notes are included again. Also, the informational attachment on the MPV (Master Planning & Visioning) Project, see the link below for communication of informational meetings.

Have an awesome weekend; take some time to read with your child.

Mark Trifilio

Math Night: Math Night is next Friday evening, February 7th from 6:00-7:30PM. An information sheet went home in backpacks last week. To RSVP please return the sign-up sheet to your child's teacher, or email lisacharlebois1@gmail.com by Wednesday, February 5.

Save the Date for Skate Night 2020!! Skate Night will be held on Friday, March 20, 2020 from 5:30 - 8:00 PM at Cairns Arena in South Burlington. Please contact Kristen Landerman at klanderman3@gmail.com if you would like to help out with this awesome event.

Next PTO Meeting: Please come to the meeting on Monday, February 10 at 6:30 p.m. It's a great way to find out what's going on and how the PTO helps make Orchard a Wonderful Place to Grow! Everyone is welcome!

Do you have PTO questions? Please find us online or ask Mr. Trifilio to put you in touch:

Facebook: www.facebook.com/orchardschoolpto

Website: www.orchardschoolpto.org

Email: orchardschoolvt@gmail.com

Konstella: https://www.konstella.com

Join us Friday, February 7th from 6:00-7:30 p.m. in the Orchard School gym for Family Math Night! Come play lots of fun math related games, such as building 3D structures with gum drops, Rubik’s cube mosaics, chess, art, Lego marble mazes, estimation, and many more games that even the most reluctant math student will enjoy! Please RSVP with the number attending to lisacharlebois1@gmail.com if you would like to attend.

We are looking for donations of math related games for the raffle at the end of the night. Please email lisacharlebois1@gmail.com if you are able to donate a game. Not sure of which game to buy? Here are some suggestions: Rush Hour, Sequence, Mancala, Shut the Box, Rumikub, Racko, Chutes and Ladders, Dominoes, Chess, Yahtzee or Farkel. Thank you and we hope to see you there!

Thank you Berlin City Auto!!

Kathleen Collaro

Orchard School Literacy Coach

We are starting to hear of and see students with flu and flu-like illnesses in our school community. Please adhere to the 3rd bullet below regarding keeping your child home 24 hours fever free (without fever-reducing medicine) before returning to school. It is also not too late to get your flu shot!

Take everyday preventive actions to stop the spread of germs (click this link and see below):

• Try to avoid close contact with sick people.
• While sick, limit contact with others as much as possible to keep from infecting them.
• If you or your child is sick with flu-like illness, CDC recommends and our school guidelines are that your child stays home for at least 24 hours after your fever is gone except to get medical care or for other necessities. (Your child's fever should be gone for 24 hours without the use of a fever-reducing medicine before returning to school).
• Cover your nose and mouth with a tissue when you cough or sneeze. After using a tissue, throw it in the trash and wash your hands.
• Wash your hands often with soap and water. If soap and water are not available, use an alcohol-based hand rub.
• Avoid touching your eyes, nose and mouth. Germs spread this way.
• Clean and disinfect surfaces and objects that may be contaminated with germs like flu.

For example, if your child has a temperature of 100 degrees or more on Monday, then your child should not attend school on Tuesday. If on Tuesday, your child continues to have a fever, then he/she needs to stay home on Wednesday as well, and so forth.

Please also keep your child home if your child:

• Looks and/or acts unwell (even without fever)
• Has vomited 2 times in 24 hours
  
• Has vomited and is not eating or continues to look or act unwell
• Is unable to participate at school

For further information visit the CDC's website.

Be well,

Kara & Darcy

Are you looking to get more involved at your child’s school? Need a bit of extra income or additional work experience? Want to get out in the community a bit more now that your child is in PreK or Kindergarten? Apply to substitute now!

Seeking substitutes for:

• Classroom Teachers (all subjects)
• Paraeducators & Interventionists
• School RNs and LPNs (Must have appropriate licensure and/or certifications)
• Custodians
• Nutritional Services
• Bus Drivers (Must have current valid CDL with appropriate endorsements)

All SBSD substitutes are required to undergo a criminal record check and be fingerprinted for a VT public school District.

For more information and to apply, please contact Sarah McNally, SBSD HR Coordinator, at smcnally@sbschools.net or 802-652-7255

The South Burlington School District Pre-Kindergarten Fall Enrollment for the 2020-2021 school year is open.

We now have three STARS Accredited Licensed Programs, one in each of our three elementary schools. We offer 10 hours of Free Public Pre-Kindergarten Monday thru Thursday 8:00-10:30 and 12:00 to 2:30 throughout the school year.

Our classrooms provide a warm nurturing environment with a low student/teacher ratio.

We provide opportunities for purposeful play coupled with teacher-directed activities in an language-rich environment promoting social, emotional, physical and intellectual growth. The curriculum follows the Vermont Early Learning Standards and is taught by an Early Childhood Special Educator and Speech and Language Pathologist.

To register, your child must be a South Burlington Resident and 3 years old on or before September 1, 2020.

The Pre-Registration Form is located on our school district website www.sbschools.net and select the Pre-Kindergarten Quick Link. You might also want to take a sneak peek into our classrooms by visiting our school pages. For early placement, registrations should be received on or before February 7, 2020.