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SCS Community Newsletter
Week of March 18, 2024
Principals' Message
Dear SCS Families and Caregivers,
Spring is such an exciting time when it comes to teaching and learning. With spring family conferences coming up, it’s a helpful time for us all to pause and celebrate student growth and movement towards proficiency (and beyond). At conferences, our teaching teams are looking forward to sharing how your child is progressing at school and what they can look forward to over the final few months of the year. Our goal is to meet with each family before the April break. In addition, Trimester 2 progress reports are being shared with all 5-8 families via email today.
On a related note, students will not be in school next Friday, March 22nd. This is considered a “Flex Day” for teachers, and a “Professional Development” day for our support staff. Teachers may choose to offer conferences on this day, but that is one of several options to provide more flexibility. Many teams offer a variety of days/times to meet (before school, during school, after school, etc.) over the next few weeks. All of the conference scheduling is between the teaching team and the families. Your child’s teaching team will be sharing their availability with you to set up conferences, if they have not done so already. Conferences can be in-person, remote, or hybrid - please specify your preference when you schedule your meeting. We encourage all 5-8 students to be present for their conference. At K-4, conferences may or may not involve your child participating - please confirm with the teacher in advance of your meeting.
Usually, this time of year also brings with it a passed budget for the following school year and a flurry of planning associated with that. As you all undoubtedly know, that is not the case this year. The initial $105.8 million CVSD budget for the 2024-25 school year did not pass on Town Meeting Day last week. On Tuesday, March 12, the school board (with more than 200 community members in attendance) met again to consider three different proposals, ultimately approving a revised budget of $101.8 million. This revision includes reductions at the central office and schools across the district, including SCS. That revision includes a cut of $317,000 to our local SCS budget for next school year, and it will go back in front of voters on Tuesday, April 16. We hope that everyone is able to exercise their voice by voting on that day. You can always request an absentee ballot here or from the town office if voting in-person is a burden.
We want to make sure the wider SCS community understands the implications of this vote - for our school, for the wider district, and for each of you individually. If you weren’t able to attend the board meeting on 3/12, you can still access the slides and recording. It’s complicated, for sure, and there is a lot of information to process. The three of us are trying to focus on what we can control. Right now, it feels like our decision-making falls into three main categories:
Adjusting our planning for next year due to the reductions we have had to make should this version of the budget pass. We’ve had many hard conversations and considered a variety of difficult options to make sure that any changes have the least impact on our students. It’s delicate work, for sure, as every position in our building has an impact - all of our staff members make positive contributions to the lives of our students that are impossible to quantify.
Communicating with staff members about proposed reductions. Even if their positions are not directly affected on paper, any changes will impact our staff as a whole. We are an interconnected, preK-8 building where everyone wears many hats. We want to be sure we are respectful of individuals’ privacy and communication preferences throughout this process while being as transparent as we can be about our decision-making.
Communicating with the community as a whole. Along with our district leadership, we want to keep you informed about how SCS may change next year. No final decisions can be made, of course, until we have a passed budget. When they are, we promise to share with you the ways that our school may look different and how we’re adjusting to make sure we continue to provide the best possible education for all kids.
No matter how you vote, we are heartened to be part of a community that so generously supports its schools! We’re here if you have any questions we can answer, and we hope you all get out to vote in April.
Take care,
Alison, Brett, & Emily
Mark Your Calendars
- 3/15 - CVSD DEI Event celebrating Somali community in Vermont (6-8 pm, Williston Central)
- 3/15 - 5th & 6th Grade Spring Fling (7:00-9:0 pm, Cafeteria & Gym)
3/19 - CVSD Board Meeting (6:00-8:00 pm, CVU)
3/20 - DEI Coffee & Conversations (8:00 am, SCS Cafeteria)
3/22 - No School for Students (Parent-Teacher Conferences)
3/22 - 4th/5th Grade VMEA Chorus Festival at CVU
3/22 - SpongeBob Square Pants play performance (7:00 pm, Shelburne Town Gym)
3/23 - SpongeBob Square Pants play performances (2:00 pm & 6:00 pm, Shelburne Town Gym)
3/29 - 7th/8th Grade Dance (7:00-9:00 pm, Cafeteria & Gym)
4/3 - CVSD Housing Support Drop-In Office Hours (1:00 pm, Conference Room)
4/3 - DEI Community Meeting (5:00 pm, Library)
4/6 - PTO 3v3 Basketball Tournament
4/8 - No School (Solar Eclipse)
4/10 - No School (Eid al-Fitr)
CVSD K-8 Calendar
Events Tonight
The SpongeBob Musical: Next Weekend
The SpongeBob Musical Tickets Are Now On Sale HERE!
Please Purchase In Advance Online to Reduce Challenges at the Door!
See Details Below
Our Grade 6-8 Musicals Raise Funds Exclusively for Future Music/Drama Productions
Updated COVID isolation/return to school guidance
Effective immediately, the Champlain Valley School District will adjust our isolation guidance post-COVID infection for staff and students to align with both the CDC and Vermont Department of Health recommendations.
When people get sick with any respiratory virus (including COVID, RSV and/or influenza), the updated guidance from the CDC recommends that they stay home and away from others. For people with COVID-19 and influenza, treatment is available and can lessen symptoms and lower the risk of severe illness (please contact your primary care for guidance on treatment options). The recommendations suggest returning to normal activities when, for at least 24 hours, symptoms are improving overall, and if a fever was present, it has been gone without use of a fever-reducing medication.
Given this information, CVSD is no longer asking students and staff who have tested positive for COVID to isolate at home through day 5. Put simply, if you are sick, please stay home and return when you are feeling better.
As part of the guidance, CDC and the Vermont Department of Health provides active recommendations on core prevention steps and strategies:
Staying up to date with vaccination to protect people against serious illness, hospitalization, and death. This includes flu, COVID-19, and RSV if eligible.
Practicing good hygiene by covering coughs and sneezes, washing or sanitizing hands often, and cleaning frequently touched surfaces.
Taking steps for cleaner air, such as bringing in more fresh outside air, purifying indoor air, or gathering outdoors.
As always, if you are sick, please stay at home. When you feel better, you can return to school. Refer to the Health Services page of our website for the answers to frequently asked questions.
Solar Eclipse: IMPORTANT UPDATE About School on April 8, 2024
Information shared on behalf of Superintendent Sanchez and other local district superintendents
As Northern Vermont prepares for a rare total solar eclipse on April 8, 2024, school districts in the Champlain Valley are taking proactive measures. Initially planning for an early dismissal on that day, superintendents have continued monitoring regional developments. Considering the unique circumstances and in collaboration with local public safety officials, district officials have collectively decided to close schools for the full day.
As the day of the eclipse approaches, more businesses in the area have announced special viewing events, and state agencies are preparing for an anticipated influx of 150K visitors. Recognizing the potential challenges associated with the sudden surge in travelers, Vermont Emergency Management advised municipalities in their recent newsletter to prepare for possible stress on their emergency services and, in some cases, extreme traffic issues.
Given the unpredictable nature of the eclipse’s impact on our region, Champlain Valley superintendents have chosen to prioritize the safety and well-being of students and staff and mutually agreed to close schools on April 8, 2024.
Earlier this year, CVSD purchased solar eclipse glasses for each student. They will be distributed the week before the eclipse.
For more information on Vermont’s planning for the total solar eclipse, please visit vermont.gov/eclipse.
Pictures from the week
Artwork created by SCS students was chosen to hang up in the Southbound Welcome Center in Williston display as part of Youth Arts Month—a Vermont-wide Celebration of the Arts that happens every March. We encourage everyone to go check it out!
Second graders enjoyed learning at Shelburne Farms this week.
Students in cooking club making protein balls on Wednesday.
Thanks Bucky and musicians for a great performance Thursday evening.
Annoucement: Yearbook Permissions
For families who checked off "no photo" at the beginning of the year on your PowerSchool forms without a note saying the yearbook is okay, please note that your child's photo will not be included in the yearbook. If you would like your child's photo in the yearbook, please email Nancy Nakhleh at nnakhleh@cvsdvt.org to let her know. Please notify Nancy by March 25. If you have questions about the status of your child's permissions, you can check your PowerSchool account or contact Katie Schut at kschut@cvsdvt.org.
3v3 Spring Basketball Tourney: Saturday, April 6
- 3v3 tournament all day for grades 5-8, adults and staff
- $1,000 in raffle prizes
- El Gato Food Truck 11-1pm!
- Special K-4 Half time experience and basketball clinic with St. Mikes players
- PTO Bake sale and concessions
- Fun with your school community!
We have many volunteer roles for the event and would love any help on site! If you love basketball or enjoy supporting school events, this is your chance to make a significant impact! Sign up to volunteer here
For any questions or for more info please email hayleyc@shelburnepto.org
CVSD News
A message from Superintendent Sanchez about the Budget
Please see this video from Superintendent Sanchez for the latest information about CVSD's budget. We will provide additional, detailed information soon on the budget page of the district's website and through other methods as well.
Reminder NO Summer School Programming 2024
CVSD will not be providing Summer School Programming this summer 2024. ESY services will be provided for students who qualify through their IEP.
2024-2025 School Year Calendar
Approval of the school year calendar for 2024-2025 is on the agenda for the March 19, 2024, School Board meeting. Once approved, it will be published and made available to our community.
INTRA-DISTRICT K-8 SCHOOL CHOICE - Deadline April 1
Children entering grades K-8 who live in the towns of Charlotte, Hinesburg, Shelburne, St. George and Williston may exercise school choice. Our goal is to both allow options for families and also make balanced class sizes to provide a positive learning environment for all of our children. Processes for intra-district choice of school will be guided by the needs of students, space availability, and existing resources. Given this, we will work to meet as many families’ needs as possible. Guidelines and Application
Community Events
Howard Center Spring Community Education Series: March 27 & May 2
March 27, 6:30-8:00 pm - Mental Health is Community Health with Howard Center Chief Medical Officer Simha Ravven, MD
May 2, 6:30-8:00 pm - Substance Use and Our Community with Howard Center clinical staff: Moderator Beth Holden, MS, LCMHC, LADC and Panelists John Brooklyn, MD, Dan Hall, LADC, Heidi Melbostad, PhD., and others.
Free and open to the public.
Register here: Spring Community Education Series - Howard Center
Upcoming 4-H Events at UVM Extension
Check out the upcoming events at 4-H and bookmark the Upcoming 4-H Events page as more opportunities get added all the time!
SCS Useful Links
CVSD Info
Find information about monthly School Board Meetings, community forums such as the DEI Town Hall, and more on the district website. See the year at a glance on the 2023-2024 K-8 School Year Calendar. See The CVSD Story for the latest blog posts about what's happening across the district.
Let's Talk
Still Need More Information?
Website: https://www.cvsdvt.org/shelburne
Shelburne Community School Administration
Brett Cluff, 5-8 Principal
Emily Cogan, Director of Special Education