![page background](https://cdn.smore.com/u/backgrounds/custom_bg-62fc1522b772a27068aed878-af1f9214ebc7.jpg)
![Logo](https://cdn.smore.com/u/thumbs/e65b/thumb-2c4570ab23a44e3fd84159ca04aa2095.png)
Cornwall News
February 9, 2024
Hello Cornwall School Families,
One of the highlights this week was visiting the grade 4/5 Diorama Museum! Classes were invited to a gallery walk, and students presented the messages and stories of the dioramas they had made.
Read on for information on Bingo and equity work, a class highlight, an update from the nurse, and an invitation regarding girls' hockey.
Have a great weekend,
Heather
Class Highlight - First Grade, Ms. Taylor
First grade has been growing our skills for 100 school days! One of the most exciting developments these past few weeks has been our introduction to computers. Our librarian, Ms. Abby, taught us about passwords, logins, clicking, scrolling, and searching. We now have the skills to get to Epic Books and find informational texts about our favorite animals! Each student is researching an animal to add a fact about their adaptations to a class book.
Bingo Night!
Dear Families,
It’s Bingo time again! On February 15th, the fourth and fifth grade students will be hosting an evening filled with bingo games from 5:30 to 7:00 P.M. to help raise money for spring field trips. There are three ways to get involved with this fundraiser.
We are in need of prizes. The prizes can be items in new condition that you already have and are willing to “regift,” items that you purchase yourself, or the prizes can be donations from local businesses. Past prizes have included everything from a gallon of chocolate milk, a movie certificate from the local theater, to a soccer ball. Feel free to get creative with the prizes.The prizes can be brought into classroom teachers any time before the event.
The second way to get involved is to bake a treat to be sold at the concession stand. Think cookies, brownies, and cupcakes.
Lastly, you are needed to come play and test your luck! We look forward to seeing you on February 15th and, of course, do not hesitate to ask questions.
Thanks for your support,
Kerry and Andrew
Equity Work at Elementary Schools
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.
An Update from Nurse Jones
Dear Parents/Guardians,
As we prepare for February break, it’s time for a reminder about head lice! The American Academy of Pediatrics suggests that parents are the first line of defense when it comes to head lice and we want to help empower our families to be just that. If you are informed, you can help identify and manage lice.
It is important to note that head lice are not a health hazard or a sign of poor hygiene and are not responsible for the spread of any disease. With information and education, we reduce the spread of lice and demystify the stigma around it. We hope to prevent children and families from being ostracized from their schools, friends, and other social events.
What are head lice?
Head lice are tiny, wingless insects that live close to the human scalp. The eggs, also called nits, are tiny, teardrop shaped eggs that attach to the hair shaft. Nits often appear yellowish or white and can look like dandruff that cannot be removed or brushed off. The nymph, or baby louse, is small and grows to adult size in one to two weeks. The adult louse is the size of a sesame seed and appears tan to grayish-white. An itchy and inflamed scalp is a common symptom of lice; however, it may take 4-6 weeks to develop this sensitivity reaction to the louse saliva. Louse eggs are incubated by body heat and will survive less than 1 day if away from the scalp.
Who is affected by head lice?
All socio-economic groups are affected by lice. Neither hair length, cleanliness, frequent brushing, nor shampooing influence its prevalence. Pets do not play a role in the transmission of human lice. Infestations can occur at home, school, or in the community. Lice move by crawling. They do not hop, jump, or fly. Therefore, head lice are mostly spread by direct head-to-head contact.
How can I help prevent lice?
Classroom transmission is low; however, it helps to teach kids not to share personal items such as combs, brushes, or hats and to limit or avoid head-to-head contact with other students. Parents should check their child’s head for lice regularly and when the child displays symptoms.
What to do if an infestation occurs?
If you think your child has head lice, it is important to talk to a healthcare provider to discuss the best treatment approach for your family. It is not necessary to keep your child home from school; but, educating your child on refraining from head-to-head contact is important. It is prudent to check other family members and treat if they are found to have live lice.
Our Role at School
Our goal is to educate and inform families. We will send periodic information such as this and welcome questions from families. During the school day, we will only check students that have demonstrated symptoms and the parent requests a screening. If your child is found to have lice, they will remain in school and we will talk with them about avoiding head-to-head contact and not sharing personal belongings. The school nurse will contact you via phone and/or letter to inform you that lice/nits were found and suggest you call your healthcare provider to discuss treatment options. No one other than you will be contacted. As there is no public health threat associated with lice, confidentiality is one of our main goals and will be maintained at all times.
As your school nurse, I want to provide you with the information you need to safeguard your child and pave the way for a continued healthy school year. Useful, family friendly lice information from the American Academy of Pediatrics can be found here. I hope you find this information helpful. Please do not hesitate to call with questions.
Sincerely,
H. Jones, BSN, RN, NCSN
ACSD School Nurse for Salisbury/Cornwall/Ripton
Girls Try Hockey Free Event
Important Dates
- 2/5-2/16/24 Kids Heart Challenge
- 2/12/24 6:30 (6:00 call) Elementary School band concert at Salisbury Community School
- 2/15/24 Skiing at Rikert
- 2/15/24 6-7:30pm Bingo Night (a KEEC/field trip fundraiser)
- 2/16/24 11-11:30am Band Concert at Cornwall School, families invited
- 2/19-2/23/24 NO SCHOOL, February Break
- 2/26/24 School resumes
- 3/1/24 NO SCHOOL - Teacher Inservice
Sometimes there are changes to the school menu. You can always click here to find the latest one.
Engage and Connect!
112 SCHOOL ROAD
CORNWALL, VT 05753
TELEPHONE: 802-462-2463
FAX: 802-462-2462