ACSD Newsletter ~ Mud Season 2024
What would the world look like after a global pandemic with only a 1% survival rate? How would people organize themselves? What did we value before the pandemic that we would try to recreate after the pandemic? What happens when knowledge is lost -- knowledge of how the internet works, of how to make things, of history? What does it mean to be human when all of the things -- family, education, government, entertainment, technology -- that define our humanity no longer exist in their traditional forms? In 2015, Emily St. John Mandel imagined this world in her absolutely riveting novel Station Eleven. She explores the familiar: relationships between siblings, friends, romantic partners; memory and the role of art; and living with hope despite being cut off from the past. As Mandel (and Star Trek) posits, (mere) survival is insufficient--what else might this awakening world contain? Read it! You won't be disappointed. And you may find hope, curiosity, and promise in its pages.
If you've read Station Eleven or if you're intrigued, you can join Mr. Krahn and Ms. Stoddert's classes (who recently read Station Eleven) at an author event with Emily St. John Mandel at Middlebury College Feb 15th that is open to the public. Details here.
Our ACSD Dental Clinic is here! We are so excited to share a new service to support our students' dental health with cleaning, sealants, oral evaluations! Michael, our hygienist, is traveling to each of our schools so students don't have to leave to seek dental care. Information about how to sign up went home in principals' newsletters in January. If you missed it, check your principals' newsletters for another round of sign-ups soon or reach out to your school nurse.
This year, ACSD is partnering with Dr. Rebecca Eunmi Haslam of Seed the Way LLC to advance our commitment to equity and justice. Dr. Haslam’s focus is on understanding the impact of racial and bias-based harm in our schools. Her work is designed to inform ACSD’s policy and procedures, increase more inclusive classroom practices, and leverage decision-making in meaningful ways. We hope this work will increase the restorative and reparative experiences for students, staff, and faculty in the ACSD community.
Dr. Haslam has completed the first phase of her work at MUMS and MUHS which included meeting with students and staff directly. She is now set to begin phase two which will focus on students and staff in ACSD’s elementary schools. The complete announcement and plan for phase two will be shared with all ACSD K-5 families in March, with a phase two completion date of June 30th. Please be on the lookout for the invitation to participate in this work. Upon completion of both phases, Dr. Haslam will share findings with incoming Superintendent Dr. Wendy Baker in preparation for ACSD’s implementation of the ACSD Strategic Plan for Equity.
How many MUHS students will be eligible to vote in the 2024 primary and general election? 137! (Anyone who turns 18 before Nov 5, 2024!)
MUHS senior, Eddie Fallis, and Individuals & Societies teacher, Tara Martin, are leading Voter Registration efforts. If you know an MUHS student who will be 18 before November 5, encourage them to register to vote at the MUHS Voter Registration event on Feb. 28 & 29, from 11:15 a.m. to 12:15 p.m. or stop by Mrs. Martin's room. Read more in this week's Addison Independent article.
To help our community understand our school budget, we created a webpage dedicated to the ACSD FY Budget which includes the full Budget Book and a 4 page overview (click the picture to download). You can also find the budget warnings and your voting location. The ACSD School Board is also working to engage with the community around the budget, see their section below with information about a Virtual Q&A Session on February 15th at 7:00 p.m (password: ACSD).
The 1st annual Vermont Educator Job fair will be held at MUHS on March 22 from 1-5pm. This event is meant to match schools and educator preparations programs with interested teachers, future teachers, paraprofessionals, and administrators! If you know a educator looking for a job, we hope you'll join us!
ACSD is proud to host this event in co-sponsorship with: VT Agency of Education, VT Dept of Labor, VT Principals Association, UVM Dept of Education, Champlain College and the Teacher Apprenticeship program, Saint Michael's College, VT NEA, and VT school Human Resources Professionals.
Get ready...a total eclipse is coming to Vermont on April 8, 2024! What you need to know:
- April 8, 2024 will be an early release day! We will end school early because parts of our district will be in totality (darkness) around 3:30pm and Route 7 is expected to be busy with tourists visiting our area for the eclipse. We will follow our usual early release schedule.
- Salisbury 4th grade teacher, Amy Clapp is leading the way in partnership with colleagues across our schools to plan fun eclipse activities for our PK-12 students leading up to the eclipse. Check upcoming principal newsletters for more details about activities students will be doing at school and things we to do at home.
- We have eclipse glasses for every ACSD student! These will come home closer to the event. Thanks to our Salisbury students for modeling them!
Budget & Winter Updates
- Town meeting day is March 5th, which is the day the community can vote for our district budget. Despite the last-minute changes to State Education Funding legislation, the Board is proceeding with the March 5th FY25 budget vote. The Board encourages voters to take advantage of the following resources to learn more about the proposed budget, Act 127 and the new pupil weighting system, and other factors driving the FY25 budget.
- Voter information about the FY25 budget is available at https://www.acsdvt.org/district-link/fy25budget. The Board also invites you to submit your questions about the budget via this form (https://forms.gle/MXyVoQCZdpmErffy6)
- Participate in a Virtual Q&A Session on February 15th at 7:00 p.m (password: ACSD). The full budget presentation will be given at the ACSD Annual Meeting on February 27th at 7:00 p.m. in the MUHS Music Room.
- View additional Winter 2023-24 School Board Update to learn more about the hiring of Dr Wendy Baker and her upcoming visits to ACSD, details about the Strategic Plan which the Board approved in October, Board committee updates and details to attend or watch board meetings: www.acsdvt.org/school-board/about-the-board
Stay Connected!
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