Hello Orchard Parents,

We had a good week here at Orchard despite our COVID challenges. I was at a conference for much of the week - a special shout out to my colleague, Joe O'Brien, for subbing for me.

I just want to remind everyone that we take the pandemic very seriously. We keep anyone who tests positive confidential and first notify those who may have been in close contact. Contact Tracing works and we have not yet had a transmissible case at school. There are a few new state guidelines coming out that we will share in the near future. Please let us know if you have any questions.

Parents - we are trying to tighten the arrival time. Our school day is short and we want to make the most of our day. Student breakfast makes the day even shorter so we are asking parents to work toward the 7:50-8:05 drop-off time. Thanks for this.

Don't forget, next Friday is an Early Release Day - Dismissal is at 12:30.

The Fun Run is coming! Check the PTO article for updates.

Have a good weekend and take some time to read with your child.

Mark Trifilio

Quote of the week:

"By all these lovely tokens, September days are here. With summer's best of weather and autumn's best of cheer."

~Poet, Helen Hunt Jackson

We deeply recognize the strain and concern that the current COVID situation has had on our SBSD community. Some of you have been directly impacted either by obtaining COVID test(s) due to symptoms or being asked to quarantine your students with a follow-up test. The frustrated and worried feelings surrounding these situations may present with a myriad of emotions.

We must continue to slow the virus through mitigation strategies and work as a whole community. The efforts of each of us can make a difference. Please consider what decisions you can make, outside of school, to help decrease exposure risk. Please also keep your student home if they are not feeling well. Consider contacting your student's health care provider if symptoms arise. Even when experiencing mild symptoms, a COVID PCR test may be needed. Refer to these guidelines and notify the school nurse of test results.

COVID-19 Testing Options:

A PCR test may be obtained by scheduling on the testing site on the VT Department of Health's website or through your student's health care provider*. Depending on the testing site, results may be released anywhere from 24-72 hours. Antigen tests are not accepted tests at this time.

*some providers are recommending testing occur through the health department rather than at their office.

Hang in there; we will get through this, with support from one another.

Be well,

Be well,

Kara Cassani, RN & Darcy Mazlish, RN

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

On Friday, October 8th at approximately 9 am , each Orchard student will experience the excitement of a run, walk or ride on a marked course around Orchard Elementary. Each student will receive race day swag. Families are more than welcome to join and cheer on their student(s)! Make a sign of encouragement or bring your cow bell – the more noise the better as the kids make their way around the course. This is the PTO's sole fundraiser for the year! Students will be asked to seek donation dollars of any amount for their participation. Sponsorship forms will go home next week but if you want to start fundraising now here is the link https://bit.ly/3CbhsYI

We need your help to make this a successful fundraising event!

• Encourage and help your student collect donations. Any dollar amount is greatly appreciated. You can share this link https://bit.ly/3CbhsYI with friends and family so that they can pay online easily. Please encourage family and friends to use our link through Konstella. Checks and cash are welcome and the donation forms will go out next week.

• We love our Volunteers! Sign up in Konstella please!

• Would your business or employer sponsor the event? Our generous sponsors help all student-raised funds go directly back to the school. Email Jessica McCloud jgmccloud@gmail.com if you can help with this!

Hello South Burlington Families and Friends!

Farm to School is back in session and we couldn’t be more excited to be working with all grades this year! As we learn about different foods each month, we will be thinking a lot about these three questions: “How do we nourish ourselves?”, “How can we help our neighbors?”, and “How can we reduce food waste?”. This month we are celebrating the apple harvest while making some delicious apple butter. The apple butter that we make in class is then being donated to the Common Roots Farmstand and the SB Food Shelf.

Another great way to enjoy the apple season is to visit your local orchard! Pick some apples, support our local farmers, and check out the wild ecosystems that surround an apple orchard. Humans aren’t the only ones that enjoy a good apple - deer, skunks, squirrels, birds, bees, and worms.

Slow Cooker Cinnamon Apple Butter

Makes ~ 1 pint.

The recipe is very simple - just two ingredients! - we hope you give this one a try at home.

Ingredients:

5 lbs of apples

2 tsp ground cinnamon

Directions:

1. Combine apples and cinnamon in a 6-quart or larger slow cooker.

2. Cover and cook, stirring once or twice, for 5 hours on high.

3. Set the lid ajar and continue cooking, stirring occasionally, until the apples are almost broken down, about 2 hours more.

4. If desired, puree in a food processor until smooth.

Come visit our Farmstand at South Village - We have lots of pumpkins, winter squash, tomatoes, watermelon and more! We are open Monday - Saturday, 8am-6pm.

Till next month, Nourish to Flourish

Lauren Jones, Farm to School Educator for Common Roots

Orchard School students have been participating in the global celebration of International Dot Day, which is based on a book, The Dot by Peter H. Reynolds. The story reminds students to take risks and try new things as they begin this new school year. All 400+ students have heard the tale and designed their own dots that now adorn the hall outside of the library. Many classes also have participated in dot activities from BreakoutEdu, StickTogether and QuiverVision. Please follow @OrchardVT on Twitter or @OrchardSchoolVT on Instagram to see images from this fun event.

We have openings!

Join the team, we are looking for:

• Support Staff employees
  
• Lunch/Recess Supervisors
  
• Substitute Teachers
  

All positions are decent pay, very rewarding, well supported and fun! Come join our team. Contact Mark Trifilio with any questions at mtrifilio@sbschools.net.

Parents -

Here is the link to the district transportation. We are thinking the bus routes will continue to be updated so check the transportation website on the district website for changes: https://www.sbschools.net/Page/1260

If you would like to try alternative transportation (AT), please complete this brief survey: https://forms.gle/YRpsk5U2ZCcziotL6