Notes from the Principal
Parents & Guardians,
Bravo to our students taking SBAC assessments! Our third through fifth-grade students were "all-in" on taking each of their tests this week. Their grit and determination were impressive and they should enjoy a well-deserved break this weekend. We have a few more days of testing next week and then we are done! Congrats students and staff!
This was announced last week: Wednesday, May 26th, is an Early Release Day. Students will be fed and going home at 12:30 so staff will have planning time.
The PTO's efforts are paying off and we are seeing some gains in our playground fundraiser. Check out their article to catch up with the positive work!
Finally, last call for Parent Feedback on Student Placement. See the link right below.
Have a good weekend, take some time to read to your child.
Mark Trifilio
Quote of the Week:
“With the right mindset, we can’t lose, we either practice what we’ve learned or we learn what we need to practice.” – Nuora
PTO News
PLAYGROUND FUNDRAISER EXTENDED UNTIL THE LAST DAY OF SCHOOL!
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!
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 your child - just mark 'playground' on the envelope.
EVERY DONATION COUNTS! Consider asking your friends, neighbors, and relatives for just $5 each - it all adds up! 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
News from Common Roots
Dear Parents and Guardians,
Farm to School, brought to you by Common Roots, has completed 9 lessons this year with students in grades K-2.
For students in grades 3-5, we have created food video lessons (approx 30 minutes each) www.commonroots.org/farmtoschool This is our 13th year of teaching explicit food lessons with taste tests to educate young children and expand their palates.
Please bring your child to our Common RootsFarmstand to receive your FREE Seed Starter Kit.
- We are located in the Farm at South Village, 55 Allen Road East.
- We are open Monday through Saturday 8 am - 6 pm.
- Feel free to bring a few fruit and veggie compost scraps to feed the chickens. (no bread please)
- Our farm-fresh produce is certified organic and available to the public.
Check out our Farm Hop on Saturday, June 5th. 11-2 pm
The flyer is attached - FYI. Start at any of the 4 farms in our Agrihood and receive your passport. Hope to see you there! Bring your friends and neighbors!
Nourish to Flourish!
Lauren Jones, Farm to School Educator and Farmstand Coordinator
Carol McQuillen, Director
Carol McQuillen
Co-Founder, Director
Common Roots
802-999-4270
School Nurse Notes
A COVID-19 vaccine clinic will take place May 25 at the SBHS Burleigh Gym from 11:00 am-6:00 pm. You can find an evolving list of vaccination sites and how to register here. Vermont residents 12 and older can also access vaccination walk-in clinics, but individuals in that age group should look for clinics that offer the Pfizer vaccine and bring a parent or guardian with them.
If you have questions about the vaccine as it relates to children, please take the opportunity to join local pediatricians for Zoom info sessions! The Vermont Department of Health began offering this series of online meetings last week and upcoming events will take place May 23 and May 26.
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
