Hello Orchard Parents,

Thank you PTO! Our awesome PTO brought us a delicious COVID-safe Cookie Extravaganza today. What a great way to end our week! We are so appreciative of their thoughtfulness!!

The South Burlington District Team is in charge of handling the ESSR (Elementary and Secondary School Emergency Relief) Funds. One major component of ESSR regulations is that parent feedback is solicited. To get parent and community feedback, a webpage was created to answer questions and explain the updated plans. You can see them here: https://sites.google.com/view/sbsdrecoveryplanningesser/home

There is also a survey to get your feedback. The survey link is on the webpage but you can also go to it right here: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLScyB3fWkJoqN_DShAccoWfRJ8LNd8mA1Exk5pJTqzgWrzHEOA/viewform

I hope you will provide feedback about what you think priorities should be for ESSR funds.

I am so excited to announce that we made our Core Project Goal of 100 classroom apples. That's a lot of great work! We celebrated with a School-Wide Game Day this afternoon. It was a blast and we know there will be more to come.

Finally, the Drama Team is looking into the possibility of having a play. It will be for our oldest students. There are a lot of roadblocks but I'm sure the Drama Team will work through the challenges to get the show going. See the article and sign-up below.

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

Mark Trifilio

Quote of the Week:

“There is nothing in a caterpillar that tells you it’s going to be a butterfly.”

~ Buckminster Fuller

Hello 5th grade families & caregivers!

We are beginning some conversations about reviving the Orchard Play this year so that our 5th graders can have the opportunity for this important activity. We know that we'll need to be flexible and make many modifications but our hope is that we can make something happen for them. Early planning conversations have begun; while there is much to discuss, we do know that we are aiming for a later Spring performance so that we can be further into vaccinations and (hopefully) some pandemic relief.

An important first step is for us to gather some information about how many 5th graders may be interested in participating in either cast or crew. This will help us make some decisions about the choice of play as well as scope and space. Please fill out the following VERY brief survey with your child's interest. This isn't a formal registration and you aren't obligated to participate (we know things change) - it's just some early information to help us get started.

https://forms.gle/TACdhoEQU5GLZGtj7

Has your Student Received Two COVID-19 Shots?

If your student has received two COVID-19 vaccinations, please email us a copy of the vaccination card, so we may update their health record. Email to:

Orchard-Nurses@sbschools.net

OR

Call or email, to alert us of the completed vaccinations, so we can look up the dates on the Vermont Immunization ​Registry (however, not all COVID-19 vaccines are documented on the Registry).

OR

Send in or mail a copy of the vaccination card.

Be well,

Kara Cassani, RN & Darcy Mazlish, RN

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

Bolton Ski and Ride After School Program - we will be heading back to Bolton Valley this year, four Thursdays Feb 17, March 3, 10, and 17, 2022. The program offers rentals, lessons, and lift tickets for 4 weeks of evening skiing and snowboarding.

Please look for additional information on Konstella, Bolton Ski and Ride Program (preferred), or email OrchardSkiRide@gmail.com.

Teacher Appreciation Snacks: Thank you to those who brought in snacks for teachers during our November week! Sign up here for upcoming months: https://www.konstella.com/app/school/6053aecc105c0243ef2edbfa/recurring-signups/61689cb76afad907d5d48950

Still not on Konstella? Konstella is a parent portal for people to connect with one another (e.g., to set up playdates), for community event reminders, and for committee sign-ups. Add your child to their classroom today! https://www.konstella.com/cd/YHHCGJ

Questions or Comments for the PTO? Please email Orchardschoolvt@gmail.com

Exciting news! There is now a third easy way to donate to this year's Thankful Giving project. In addition to being able to send in a check or gift cards, you can now also use the following link to make a quick donation to the Thankful Giving program through Konstella if that's easiest for you: https://www.konstella.com/open/donations/617bee706afad907d625f78f

Please see the attached flyer for more details. Thank you in advance from Orchard's Guidance and Clinical Team for your generosity.

Please Join Us!

December 11, 11:00 a.m., South Burlington Public Library, Ashley Wolff will be reading aloud, drawing pictures, and signing books. Shelburne’s Flying Pig Bookstore will be there, too, with a full range of Ashley's storybooks available for purchase.

Ashley Wolff has been an artist since she declared herself one at the age of 5.

She grew up in Middlebury, Vermont, and holds a BFA from Rhode Island School of Design.

Ashley is the author and/or illustrator of over 70 children’s picture books including WILDFIRE!, How to Help a Pumpkin Grow, Compost Stew, Bear Sees Blue, Baby Beluga, and the Miss Bindergarten series.

Every summer Ashley teaches writing, drawing, and introduction to media in the Children’s Picture Book Writing & Illustration MFA and certificate programs at Hollins University.

One of Ashley’s favorite pastimes has been traveling to schools all over the US, speaking to children about finding, nourishing, and using their passion and imagination to help them find their own paths to the future.

She lives and works beside a lake in Leicester, VT.

www.ashleywolff.com