Brookside Blast

• Monday 2/3: Third and fourth grade Sugarbush ski day

• Wednesday 2/5: 2nd grade XC ski day at Trapps

• Thursday 2/6: 1st grade XC ski day at Trapps

• Friday 2/7: PBIS Bright Color Day

• Monday 2/10: FINAL third and fourth grade Sugarbush ski day

• Wednesday 2/12L 2nd grade XC ski day at Trapps

• Friday 2/14: PBIS Kindness Day

OPEN FOR REGISTRATION 2/21

As we usually see between January and February break, there are many staff and students who are feeling ill. Here are a few reminders about when to keep your child home, when to return to school, and when to seek your primary care provider. When submitting your child’s absence, we encourage you to include your child’s symptoms so that we can monitor the type of illnesses our students have.

Health Guidance for Going to School

When is sick too sick for school?

Here's what you can do to help keep your children healthy.

• Eat a healthy diet- eat lots of fruits and veggies and avoid foods with added sugar.

• Make sure your child gets enough sleep: sleep needs vary by age

• Help your child stay active: exercise keeps us healthy and less likely to get sick.

• Manage stress: encourage play and access to activities, spend time together

• Make sure your child is up to date on important vaccines: it’s not too late to get a flu vaccine!

• Don't forget the simple precautions

• Wash your hands.

• Cover your coughs and sneezes with your elbow.

• Stay away from sick people to the extent that you can.

Second grade: Wednesday, February 5

First grade: Thursday, February 6

On your child's ski day, please send your child to school with:

• Snowpants

• Jacket

• Warm gloves (possibly an extra pair, too)

• Dry, tight fitting socks

• Snacks that can easily fit in a pocket

All other ski equipment will be provided by BPS.

We are excited for our third Subarbush ski & ride day on Monday, February 3! A few important details:

Dropping off & picking up ski gear: If your child is bringing their own ski gear, PLEASE LABEL ALL ITEMS WITH THEIR FIRST AND LAST NAME. You can drop of equipment:

• Sunday after 4 pm; leave it in either airlock entryway

• Monday after 7 am; back drop off loop by the red shed

• Skis can be picked up at the end of the day near the red shed in the back of the building; skis not claimed will be left in the airlock.

If you are a parent volunteer, you can just bring your child’s gear to the mountain.

Dismissal changes? If you are going directly to the mountain with your child OR staying afterwards to ski with your child, PLEASE LET US KNOW VIA PICK UP PATROL! If you cannot access the website, email Karla kthomas@huusd.org directly. Thanks in advance for helping us keep track of all our students!

Gear: On Monday, please send your child to school with:

• Snowpants

• Jacket

• Warm gloves (possibly an extra pair, too)

• Dry, tight fitting socks

• Snacks that can easily fit in a pocket

If your child is renting equipment, they will get their gear at the mountain. Rentals include a helmet, goggles, skis/snowboard, and boots.

Time: Depart Brookside at 8:45 am; return to school at 1:00 pm

If you have any addition questions please reach out to your child’s teacher, or Kelsey at kguziak@huusd.org or Chris cneville@huusd.org

National School Counseling Week 2025, “School Counseling: Helping Students Thrive,” sponsored by the American School Counselor Association (ASCA), will be celebrated from Feb. 3–7, 2025, to focus public attention on the unique contribution of school counselors within U.S. school systems and how students are different as a result of what school counselors do. National School Counseling Week highlights the tremendous impact school counselors can have in helping students achieve school success and plan for a career.

The special week honoring school counselors provides recognition for school counselors who “implement comprehensive school counseling programs, a vital part of the educational process for all students as they meet the challenges of the 21st century.” School counselors are actively engaged in helping students examine their abilities, strengths, interests and talents; for working in a partnership with caregivers as they encounter the challenges of raising children in today’s world; for focusing on positive ways to enhance students’ academic, career and social/emotional development; and working with teachers and other educators to provide an educational system where students can realize their potential and set healthy, realistic and optimistic aspirations for themselves. School counselors are licensed, experienced educators with a master’s degree in school counseling. The combination of their training and experience makes them an integral part of the total educational program.

“School counselors work with all students to remove barriers to learning by addressing students’ academic concerns, career options and social/emotional skills,” said Jill Cook, ASCA executive director. “School counseling programs help to increase student achievement and provide a much-needed resource for students, caregivers, teachers and administrators. School counselors are integral to student success.”

More than 100,000 school counselors nationwide will be participating in the week’s festivities. Many schools will be hosting special events and activities to call attention to the countless benefits of a comprehensive school counseling program. Do not hesitate to reach out regarding the school counseling programming.

Kately Mosher, MA, NCC, LPC Ashley Bergeron, MA

kmosher@huusd.org abergergon@huusd.org

(802) 583-8065 (802) 583-8017

Check out the BPS Comfortship website for resources and more information. Learn more general information about school counseling on ASCA’s website.

Please see this note from John Berliner, HUUSD Directer of Student Services

Please note that the opportunities/events listed below are not specifically endorsed or screened by school staff. As always, families should use their own standards and review processes to determine appropriate activities.

We’re offering an Intro to Highland class, “just for the laddies.” This class is open to students ages 6-10 and was inspired by the desire of two young gents in our larger dance studio community to learn the sword dance

Classes will be held on Friday afternoons at Green Mountain Performing Arts in Waterbury. Join us! Registration information is available at www.greenmountainperformingarts.org/

My daughter, Libby, lives in Los Angeles, CA. Although she was not directly affected by the fires, she is striving to help those who were. She is trying to collect extra yarn you have at home to make blankets for kids who lost everything. If you have any yarn leftover from projects, you can bring it to the front airlock in the bucket labeled “Yarn”. Thank you for your help!

-Heather Morehouse, 3rd grade teacher

Brookside Primary School families and friends, we are gearing up for another empowering and fun spring season of Girls on the Run! Navigating through tough times takes perseverance. This season's curriculum inspires all participants to say “I can!” to every obstacle that comes their way. Participants will build confidence to overcome difficult situations, inspire others to keep going when it’s hard, and embrace their confidence to make a difference in their community.

Our season starts the week of March 17th and culminates May 31st in a noncompetitive, celebratory 5K event. Teams meet twice a week for 90 minutes each session for 10 weeks. Girls on the Run is open to girls in grades 3-5. If your child is interested in participating this spring, please complete GOTRVT's Participant Interest Form ahead of registration opening in February. To learn more about these programs, check out gotrvt.org/programs. Have further questions? Contact GOTRVT at anne@girlsontherunvermont.org or 802-871-5664.

• 2025 GOTR Brookside Flyer

• Video showing what a GOTR practice looks like

Siber Sled Dogs at Inklings Children's Books!
Join Siber Sled Dogs at Inklings on February 9th, from 10am - 11am. Owner
Milagro Amaya Turner will share her children's book, SIBER SLED DOGS and children will have the chance to meet Siberian Huskies!!

FREE and OPEN TO ALL

An Enchanted Lion Storytime at Inklings Children’s Books!

Enchanted Lion’s Claudia Bedrick will join Inklings on February 16th from 11am - 12pm, for a reading of their beautiful book, THERE WAS A SHADOW!

Selected by the New York Times as one of the best children’s books of 2024, this charming story invites readers to notice the position of the sun and the subtle ways in which light and shadow reveal and obscure things both in the world and in ourselves.

Following the reading, Claudia will talk to the children about why she finds children’s books inspiring, the power of storytelling, and what it’s like to work in publishing.

A very special shadow craft will follow!FREE and OPEN TO ALL

Presidents’ Week Art Camp at Inklings!

Join Inklings for our Presidents’ Week Art Camp – a knock out five-day course looking at Matisse!

Matisse may be best known for his work as a painter, but his decades-long work also explored drawing, print-making, sculpting, and paper cutouts.

During the week, each child will receive two books about Matisse. They will also work in each of the mediums that Matisse explored during his incredible career, to inspire them on their own creative path!

RECOMMENDED AGE: 6 – 10. Parents and caregivers are welcome to join!
DATES: February 17th – 21st, 4PM – 5:30PM
TUITION: $190 (includes books and materials)

SIGN UP using this LINK

Everybody Wins! Vermont is a statewide reading mentoring program. Here at Brookside Primary School, children read with their mentors every week throughout the school year.

In honor of National Mentoring Month, Everybody Wins! is raffling off a gorgeous quilt made and donated by Claremont coordinator Toni Williams. The drawing is Friday, February 14th.

Tickets are $5 each and 5 for $20, available online: https://bit.ly/QuiltRaffle25

Funds raised through the quilt raffle support children and mentors around the state.

Thank you, and good luck!

Jeannie Randall (she/her)

Site Coordinator

Brookside Primary School
802-585-9049 (cell)

Everybody Wins! Vermont www.everybodywinsvermont.org

• Monday 2/3: Third and fourth grade Sugarbush ski day

• Wednesday 2/5: 2nd grade XC ski day at Trapps

• Thursday 2/6: 1st grade XC ski day at Trapps

• Monday 2/10: FINAL third and fourth grade Sugarbush ski day

• Wednesday 2/12L 2nd grade XC ski day at Trapps

Website: https://tbps.wwsu.org/

Instagram: BrooksidePrimarySchool

Facebook: HUUSD

Phone: 802-244-7195

Location: 47 Stowe Street, Waterbury, VT