Hey, GIS Families!

This week is a bit shorter for students. We have school on Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday. On Monday, October 14th, we have school for Indigenous People's Day. This might be different or new for some families. We have been in school for this holiday for a few years now.

On November 14th, we have our first half-day. Students will leave school at 11:30 and can take the bus home or be picked up.

Please remember to use the email address wildcats@gisu.org to let us know about any changes in your child's dismissal plans or other important information. This email goes to everyone in the main office, which is helpful if someone is absent.

I've included some events in this newsletter that families are welcome to attend, and please let me know if you're able or want to help with the fun run setup and take down. This will include setting up the course, setting up a hydration station, and clean up.

You'll also find other information below. I hope everyone has a great weekend!

My door and inbox are always open!

Mrs. H

Please use this email to communicate anything regarding dismissals, changes in plans, illness (or use our attendance form), or any other important information. This email goes to everyone in the main office which helps if someone is absent for the day.

Oct 10-11: No School

Oct 15: Fundraiser Starts

Oct 16: Open House 5:30-6:30 PM

Oct 16: Grand Isle Farm to Table 4-6 PM in the cafeteria

Oct 24: Fun Run at GIS 1:30-2:30

Octo 30: Halloween Parade

Nov 14: 11:30 AM dismissal for PD

Nov 25-29: No School

You can find the GISU calendar below in the Links section

Throughout the year at GIS, we practice safety drills to ensure our students and staff know how to be safe in an emergency. Some months, we practiced what to do to evacuate the building. In other months, we practice what to do when unsafe people or hazards enter our school.

This year, we must practice two options-based drills - one in September and one in January. Options-based drills introduce students to various strategies to respond to a threat, such as evacuating from the school or barricading in a classroom. Please know that all options-based drills are trauma-informed and age-appropriate. This means the drills are performed in a way sensitive to our students' emotional well-being.

Here are some questions that have been asked:

• What do kids do if they are in the bathroom during an event? Kids are taught that if they are in the bathroom when a drill happens, they stay in the bathroom, lock the door, and sit on the back of the toilet. The important thing is not to be seen or heard. Sometimes, kids transition from the bathroom to their classroom, and if they are in the hall, they go to the nearest room and join that group in their evacuation plan.

• How do you know a drill was successful? In the first drill, I look to make sure I can't get into classrooms, see anyone, or hear anyone. If those conditions are met, I call that drill successful.

• Do you practice outside of actual drills? Talking about situations that could occur brings situational awareness to kids and staff. Going over reminders of exits and how to get out of a building safely are conversations teachers can have with students at any time.

• Do you use the term "shooter" with the kids? We do not. Practicing options-based drills needs to be age-appropriate. Using this term with elementary kids is not appropriate. We use phrases such as "People who should not be in the building," "unsafe people," or even the use of animals.

A few moose have been on school grounds all over VT in the past few years!

• https://www.necn.com/news/local/moose-spotted-outside-of-rutland-elementary-school/3078815/
• https://www.waterburyroundabout.org/education/0dmyu1c80zqpxymob6ujw3yfyvx3w8

A moose is a situation is where we would alert the school to follow a protocol. Threats can be all shapes and sizes, and what is most important is that kids are familiar with protocols so they are ready to follow teacher directions. The options teachers have are what makes an options-based drill work. They can assess and make a decision.

As is typical at the start of school and the Fall season, we have a fair amount of illness circulating in our school. We are primarily seeing respiratory illnesses like common cold viruses, COVID, and strep throat. Please review the GISU illness guidance below. It is important to keep students home when ill and potentially contagious to prevent the spread of illness and to also help them recover more quickly.

We ask students and staff to stay home with any potentially contagious illnesses or symptoms including the following:

1. Vomiting/diarrhea-must be 24 hours symptom free before returning to school

2. Fever 100.0 or greater -home until fever free without use of medication for 24 hours

3. Any infection requiring antibiotic-keep your student home until they have been on antibiotics for 24 hours

4. Persistent cough that disrupts normal activity other than an asthma related cough

5. Unexplained rash-may return once evaluated by a healthcare provider and rash is not contagious or no longer contagious

6. Influenza, colds, COVID-stay home until fever free without medication for 24 hours feeling well enough to be at school

7. Any other symptoms or illness that impedes a student’s ability to learn.

You may return once feeling well enough to be at school and fever free for 24 hours without the use of fever reducing medications. There is no longer any isolation/quarantine requirement for COVID. If you suspect your student has COVID, please follow the guidelines above for all illnesses.

Your student should see a healthcare provider for a cough that is not improving, shortness of breath, wheezing or other abnormal breathing, sore throat that does not improve, fever 105 or higher or a fever of 100.0 or higher that lasts more than 3 days.

The read-a-thon is underway! You can send the names of books that your kiddo has read at home and they will add those titles to their bookmarks!

Please email Mrs. Lovejoy with questions: alovejoy@gisu.org

Our Fall fundraiser is through Boosters, an organization that aligned with our goal of building character traits (such as cooperation and respect) and continuing to prioritize health, fitness, and team building.

Sign up today and share your kiddo's link with friends and family near and far. We're hoping to get a donation from every state!

65% = School wide PJ day

80% = Evening fire and S'mores at school with families

The Fun Run is the culminating event of our fundraiser. Here are the event's details:

• It will be held at Grand Isle School
• The date is 10/24
• The time is 1:30-2:30
• Kids do not need to run, but are encouraged to participate (walking is fine)
• The event has music and fun challenges for kids to complete on different laps.
• The course will not be lengthy, the whole "track" will fit inside of the soccer field.
• Parents and families are encouraged to join and cheer on kids.

At GIS we have a yearly Halloween parade first thing in the morning. We parade through the school before going to homeroom and teachers clap and cheer in the hallways. Families are welcome to join us this year. Please arrive at 7:50 to take a place in the hallways of GIS. We do have some rules in place, mostly because we want Halloween to be fun, still allow the kids to attend to learning, and keep costumes safe.

• We do not hand out candy- there are too many allergies.
• No blood or gore
• No weapons
• No masks
• No face paint
• It is helpful if you send kids in with a bag to store their costume in for transport home.
• Please remember to pack sneakers for PE and recess.

Email: ahanlon@gisu.org
Website: https://www.grandisleschool.org/
Location: 224 U.S. Rte 2, Grand Isle, VT, USA
Phone: 802-372-6913
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/grandisleschool.org

Attendance Form: https://forms.gle/ABSvVURCxvqbMfXw7