Bridport Community Newletter

Hello, Bridport Community!

It was so great to see folks come out for our concert on Monday. It was a joyful evening! A BIG thank you to Ms. Cunningham for her hard work to get our kids ready to perform. We are so proud of them!

The concert was a wonderful reminder of the power of music in bringing our community together. We look forward to many more performances in the future!

Best,
Jenny

Neurodiversity Celebration Week is a worldwide initiative that challenges stereotypes and misconceptions about neurological differences. The goal of the SEPAC in drawing attention to Neurodiversity Celebration Week is to recognize and celebrate the naturally-occurring neurodiversity among us.

At BCS, we will be learning about how brains are different and students will have a chance to share about what makes them different and unique!

Please check out the SEPAC website for information about neurodiversity and what it means to celebrate it – and join us for the following upcoming event!

Neurodiversity Celebration Night

Marquis Theater Cafe (65 Main St, Middlebury)

March 19th, 7:00- 8:00 pm

Pop in for a short hello or to stay the whole time!

Students of all ages are welcome!

This spring Bridport Central School will be working with local Middlebury artist Kate Gridley as our artist in residency. Our students will be learning the art of drawing from nature. Throughout our residency students will be going on 2 field trips to a nature trail to observe, interact, learn, and create art. The Otter Creek Audubon Society will also be supporting our residency field trips as they will have learning stations for students and their members will be sharing their knowledge. During the residency Kate will be coming to school to work directly with students 5 separate times to work on learning how to sketch, learn to draw from life, and create a piece of work based on nature. Our students will each create their own work of art as well as a culminating class mural on the last day. At the conclusion of the residency students will have their own sketchbook, art kit, and newly found skills to take home to continue practicing and exploring.

The VT Dept. of Health confirmed the first measles case in Vermont in 2025. Measles is an extremely infectious, airborne illness that can cause severe illness and even death. Babies, young children, and people with weak immune systems are at higher risk of getting very sick from measles.

Important facts to keep your family safe:

• Symptoms usually start with high fever, cough, runny nose, and red/watery eyes. The characteristic rash usually appears 3-5 days after first symptoms. Call your healthcare provider with any symptoms.

• Measles is one of the most contagious diseases. It is airborne and spread through direct contact with infectious droplets.

• Vaccination is the best way to prevent and protect your family against serious illness. The measles, mumps, and rubella (MMR) vaccine is safe and effective. Two doses are about 97% effective at preventing measles; one dose is about 93% effective.

• Contact your health care provider to ensure your family is up-to-date or to get vaccinated. Measles vaccines are free in Vermont.

Learn more about measles symptoms, spread, and prevention in the full update from our ACSD nurses and at HealthVermont.gov/measles

A story about a young Muslim girl who is fasting for the first time during Ramadan. She is far away from where she grew up, missing her friends and is unsure if her teacher and classmates will understand what Ramadan is and why she is fasting.

• Ramadan Video: Young children explain what Ramadan is and how they celebrate it

• A Mentor Text Activity

• Read it on Epic!

• Teacher’s Guide (from the Anti-Defamation League)

• Ramadan and Eid Teach-in is a recording of a webinar with Asma Elhuni that was sponsored by the Vermont Coalition for Ethnic and Social Equity in Schools. It’s excellent information to understand the month and the holiday.

802 Smiles Dental Hygiene Program is returning this Spring to offer free dental screenings and preventative care to all ACSD students.

Please complete the forms below if you would like your child to participate in this event. Any student that was enrolled in the fall will automatically be on the list to receive services and does not need to fill out the forms again, but if you do not want your student to receive services in April, you should reach out to the school nurse to take them off the list.

Enrollment deadline is April 1st.

ACSD 802 Smiles Letter

802 Smiles Consent Form

802 Smiles Enrollment Form

1. Preschool Screening for 3 & 4 year olds

If you have a child who will be 3 or 4 before September 1st, 2025, they are invited to attend our free developmental screening days. You can attend any of the following screening dates:

• Friday, April 4, 2025 at Bridport Central School, 3442 VT 22A. Contact Linda Barrett with questions 802-758-2331. Or;

• April 4, 11, or 18, 2025 at Mary Hogan Elementary School, 201 Mary Hogan Drive, Middlebury. Contact Deb Martin with questions 802-382-1761.

What to expect: Come and play with the ACSD Early Education team! They will engage in activities to help observe your child’s physical, social-emotional, speech/language, and cognitive development. Observations will be shared with the family/caregiver.

1. ACSD Preschool Interest Survey

If you are interested in having your child attend one of our ACSD preschool programs, please read the informational letter and fill out our preschool interest survey.

Substitute teachers are crucial for our students, staff, staff, and schools! We are increasing our daily substitute teaching rate to $160/day for unlicensed subs and $200/day for licensed subs. This flat rate replaces our sliding rate of pay for subs depending on the number of days worked. To apply, email HR@acsdvt.org with subject: "Substitute Position". Or visit this listing.

Did you know Bridport School has an instagram!? Follow us- @bridportschoolvermont for pictures and videos :)