The Core
May 14, 2021, Volume 12, Issue 31
Notes from the Principal
Parents & Guardians,
Whew, we got through this first full week! A BIG standing ovation to our staff and students! The beautiful, Spring-like weather certainly helps! There is an adjustment to the end-of-year calendar. There will be two Early Release Days on Wednesday, May 26th, and Wednesday, June 9th. Dismissal will be at 12:30 and we will be serving lunch.
SBACs - All of our students in Grades 3 -5 will be SBAC testing for the next two weeks. SBACs (Smarter Balance Student Assessments) are an online assessment in literacy and math (and science for fifth grade students). The testing is extensive and nationally mandated, we will be going really light on classwork on testing days. Parents - please provide plenty of outdoor time and make sure your child gets plenty of rest for testing!
Big News - the PTO is about to make an incredible leap toward a playground upgrade - check out the news below!
Have a good weekend, take some time to read to your child.
Mark Trifilio
Quote of the Week:
"Once you replace negative thoughts with positive ones, you'll start having positive results."
~Willie Nelson
Student Placement Feedback
Annual Student Update Forms Are Open for the 2021-2022 School Year
Get started today! Please register your student for the 2021-2022 School Year by completing the Annual Student Update formsbefore August 17th. These forms help families verify and share important health and contact information as well as allow for permissions to be set for school technology devices. To start, click this link: Getting Started: Register a Returning Student. If you have questions or need assistance with this process, please contact your school directly.
Enhancing Communication: Texting Coming Soon!
In order to enhance our communication and engagement with families and staff, we will be adding SMS/text messaging to our SchoolMessenger notification system (the system the District uses to send phone and email communications to families and staff). We have established a "go live" date of May 25 at 6:30 pm. At that time, if you have a mobile phone number on file with the District, you will receive a one-time text message asking if you want to receive texts going forward. The message will come from the number 67587. Simply respond with the letter "Y" or the word "Yes" to opt-in. Ready to opt-in now? You can simply send a text to the number 67587 with the letter "Y" or the word Yes" to opt-in today!
PTO News
Hi Orchard Parents,
The PTO is excited to announce that after a year of lockdown and restrictions, with your help, this summer the Orchard playground may be getting a major (and long overdue!) upgrade so that more outdoor play is possible!
Starting now, through May 20, we will have a donation match happening!!
You can donate on Konstella - please go to: https://www.konstella.com/open/donations/606e045136bc69794fb9453c or you can send a check or cash into school with 'playground' on the envelope.
DONATIONS OF ALL SIZES ARE WELCOMED DURING THIS MATCH MONTH! Thank you - we look forward to seeing you on the playground this summer!
And please join us, the PTO, to help our Orchard community. We need YOU to join in! Pop into one of our monthly Zoom meetings and share your ideas! Meetings are usually on the first Monday of each month at 6:30 p.m. on Zoom. You don't have to stay for the whole meeting - you can join in just for a bit! Email Kristin at orchardschoolvt@gmail.com or suzanne@suzannelaw.com for the Zoom meeting link, or email to share your ideas and thoughts if you cannot attend.
HANNAFORD HELPS is happening now through May 29. Shop at Hannaford's, collect your School Dollars, and drop them in the Collection Tower at the store! Or, shop online at the store website.
Earn money for your local school. Now through May 29, 2021, choose from up to 1,500 participating products.
Help Us Raise $1 Million for Local Schools
4 Products = 3 School Dollars. If 100 families buy 4 products each week (3 School Dollars) for the entire program, your school will raise $3,300!
Learn how to shop, earn and redeem School Dollars.
Shopping In-Store:
SHOP – Look for shelf tags to shop up to 1,500 products in-store.
CHECK OUT – Collect your School Dollars from an associate at checkout.
DEPOSIT – Drop your School Dollars in the Hannaford Helps Schools collection tower in-store.
Shopping Online:
SHOP – Look for the apple icon to shop up to 1,500 products online.
CHECK OUT – Receive your School Dollars with your receipt.
DEPOSIT – Drop your School Dollars in the Hannaford Helps Schools collection tower on your next trip in-store, or send them to school with your child, if they're attending in person.
And, don't forget those BOX TOPS!
Join us in earning CASH for our school by using the Box Tops app. It’s an easy way to make a difference. All you have to do is buy Box Tops participating products (like Cheerios!) and scan your grocery receipt. Box Tops are worth $.10 each and they add up fast! Twice a year, our school receives a check to help pay for whatever we need - equipment, supplies or experiences the kids love!
Download the Box Tops for Education app at your App Store or here: https://btfe.smart.link/c2jjdifkw?referral_code=VI7J42XS
3rd Grade Tutle Art
School Nurse Notes
Vermont's Easing of Mask Requirement:
Masks are only required outdoors in situations* where a 6-foot distance cannot be maintained. According to Dr. Levine with the health department: “This is why, now when you’re outdoors, masks will only be required when you’re in a crowd or with multiple households, where you can’t keep a 6-foot distance from others. This is regardless of whether you are vaccinated or not.”
Examples of when you do not need a mask include:
- if you’re outside on a run, your family is on a hike or out for biking,
- if kids are having an outdoor playdate,
- if you’re on the sidelines watching a baseball game or
- if you are heading to the beach with plenty of space around you.
*Students and staff will continue to wear masks while on school property.
Travel:
If you are unvaccinated (including children) and traveled outside the state, you must have a COVID-19 test within 3 days of returning to Vermont. For more details, visit COVID-19 "Frequently Asked Questions" on the health department's website.
People who have returned from international travel should follow the "After International Travel" guidance from the CDC.
A message to parents/guardians: if you have any symptoms, no matter how mild, such as a headache, cough, fatigue, or a runny nose, it’s best to get tested. It’s also important to avoid going to work, school, or other places until you receive a negative result. COVID-19 is a highly transmissible virus, and this is how we can each protect our loved ones and our communities. If you have symptoms, talk to your health care provider. They can refer for testing.
COVID Vaccine:
People 12 and older can make appointments. Part-time Vermont residents, including college students, are also eligible to get vaccinated. The health department is arranging for more walk-in clinic opportunities. Visit the "make appointment" link above to find a walk-in near you!
The Vermont Department of Health is offering a series of online town hall meetings with local pediatric providers for parents who may have questions about the vaccine. Here is the DOH link to these meetings:
https://www.healthvermont.gov/covid-19/vaccine/about-covid-19-vaccines-vermont#vaccinesforchildren
Be Well,
Kara Cassani & Darcy Mazlish
Orchard School Nurses
News from the South Burlington Public Library
WELCOME BACK!
Our temporary location at the University Mall is now open for browsing, using computers and checking out materials. Curbside pickup will continue, but we hope to see many of you inside the Library. We’ve missed you!
This is a great time to renew your library card, or even better, to get library cards for everyone in your household. Any legal resident of South Burlington over the age of five may obtain a resident library card with identification that clearly shows name and current legal address. We encourage each household member to get a card, as we do not have “family” cards. Please come to the library to sign up.
We plan to be open at the Mall location through Friday, June 11th and then, re-open in mid-to late July at the NEW LIBRARY on 180 Market Street at the New City Center. We can’t wait to share this amazing community space with our patrons. Our updated policies regarding behavior and safety at the library will be available on our website in June.
In the meantime, we have exciting events planned in preparation for this move.
Our 2021 Summer Reading Program, designed to encourage and celebrate reading throughout the summer, features all kinds of animals. “Tails and Tales” begins on June 1 with Summer Reading Kits available through curbside or by visiting the library. Readers of all ages can log their reading through a new online tracking program called BEANSTACK. Read for fun and earn digital badges; once the library has reopened, enter your raffle tickets for the chance to win prizes. More information is coming soon, so keep checking the library website. This program is FREE and open to readers of all ages.
On Sunday, June 13 at 10am, we will kick off the move to our new library with a “Bag 'n Wagon Parade” It’s your chance to say “Good-bye!” to the old, and “Hello!” to the new, as we begin our move to the new library. After grabbing a bag of books, we will parade across Dorset Street led by Mike Randall’s “The Big Blue Train.” Readers can also pick up their Summer Reading Kits at the end of the parade. This family-friendly event is free and open to the public. Check out our library website for more details.
Celebrate with us at the official ribbon cutting and Open House on July 23rd. Stay tuned for more information. We look forward to seeing you soon!
For more information, please contact us at 846-4140 or email sbplinfo@southburlingtonvt.gov .
https://southburlingtonlibrary.org
Open hours
Monday, Thursday, Friday & Saturday 11 am – 3 pm
Tuesday & Wednesday 2 - 6 pm.
Kindergarten Registration
SBRP's Chalk the Walk Event
SBRP is holding a Chalk the Walk event at Veterans Memorial Park the Saturday from 11:00 am – 1:00 pm.
Families are welcome to decorate a sidewalk square or two.
Chalk is provided (Vermont Federal Credit Union)
Look for the SBRP blue tent near the park entrance.
https://www.facebook.com/events/858804398063001?active_tab=about