Mary Hogan Family Newsletter

Dear Mary Hogan Families,

Mary Hogan is an International Bacalaureate (IB) Primary Years Program (PYP) School. You will hear a lot about the PYP from your child(ren)'s teachers. One part of all IB programs is the Learner Profile. The Learner Profile contains 10 attributes that we hope all members of our learning community (including families) are continually working to develop. Each month at Mary Hogan, we focus on one attribute to spotlight what it is and how we are developing that attribute in ourselves.

The Learner Profile attribute for September is CARING. The Learner Profile defines caring as: "We show empathy, compassion and respect. We have a commitment to service, and we act to make a positive difference in the lives of others and in the world around us."

I have seen so many examples of caring this week. The one that sticks with me most clearly was a 2nd grader who stayed with 2 new kindergarteners as they got off the bus on Tuesday and made sure a staff member helped them to their new classes. She didn't run off with friends but was compassionate and thoughtful. She made a difference in the lives of those around her. Pretty awesome, huh?! More stories of caring will fill the newsletter this month.

This week you will find a lot of information below. I hope to see you all at our Open House on Thursday 9/12 from 6-7pm.

See you soon!

💙, Jen

Thursday 9/12 - 6-7pm - Back to School Night

Thursday 9/19 - 6/30-8pm - MESA Meeting - MH Library

The Early Breakfast arrival at 7.50am is available for all students who want to get an early breakfast. Students should enter the building through the South Gym door - across the porch from the main entrance. They go directly from Early Breakfast to their classes when the bell rings.

Siblings may enter the building together at whichever entrance works best for the siblings.

We ask that all families say goodbye to their children at the entrances starting on Monday 9/9. Please be thinking about how you can say bye to your child and talk with them about this. There will be staff to support Kindergarteners getting to their rooms next week so no one will lose their way.

We are working hard to keep our students safe. This means limiting the number of people in the building and following a visitor procedure. This helps keep all of our students safe. Thank you for your help with this.

If your child arrives after 8.10, they will need to enter through the main entrance.

In order to prevent the spread of communicable illnesses and to help recover from illness, we require all employees and students to stay home if they have any of the following:

• fever of 100.4 or higher-can return once fever free for 24 hours without the use of fever reducing medication
• diarrhea-can return once symptom free for 24 hours
• vomiting-can return once symptom free for 24 hours
• persistent cough that interferes with learning or work and is not asthma related. Can return once symptoms are resolved enough to be able to engage in work/learning
• infection requiring antibiotics-may return after taking antibiotics for 24 hours
• rash of unknown origin-may return once a healthcare provider determines the rash is not contagious
• Influenza and COVID-may return once fever free for 24 hours and feeling well enough to be at school/work.

• Per the recommendation of the Centers for Disease Control and Vermont Department of Health, there is no longer a requirement for 5 days of quarantine when you have or suspect you have COVID-19

• You should feel well enough to be at school/work and be fever free (<100.4) without the use of medication for at least 24 hours prior to returning to school

• Please visit the Vermont Department of Health website for more information on current guidance for COVID-19 including testing

• Schools no longer have test kits available, but they can be found at the Ilsley Library and in the foyer at Middlebury Regional EMS (55 Collins Drive). You can also order a free supply from the postal service at this link.

Mary Hogan School offers a climbing program for our 4th and 5th grade students. This program nurtures teamwork, problem-solving, and goal setting in a challenge-by-choice environment.

The success of the climbing program depends on the involvement of trained volunteers. Since each climbing station must be manned by a trained adult, the more volunteers that we have, the more opportunities we can offer our students.

This year our annual volunteer training will be held on Friday 9/27 from 7:45 am to 12:30pm at Mary Hogan School. This training is designed to familiarize our volunteers with the equipment, safety procedures, advancements in the field, and the climbing elements. Volunteers do not need to be classroom parents; however if you are a parent or guardian, this is a great opportunity to share this experience with your child.

If you are interested in volunteering, reach out to Cyndi (cpalmer@acsdvt.org) before Friday 9/20.

All programs are offered virtually and FREE! - Programs are 2 hours per week for 14-18 weeks

• Strengthening Families Program for Families with Teens - starting September 5, Thursdays 12pm
• Nurturing Skills™ for Families - starting September 9, Mondays 5pm
• Nurturing Skills™ for Families - starting September 11, Wednesdays 6pm
• Nurturing Skills™ for Families - starting September 19, Thursdays 1pm
• Prenatal Nurturing Parenting Program - starting September 24, Tuesdays 6pm
• Nurturing Fathers Program - starting October 7, Mondays 6pm

Upcoming Circle of Parents Support Groups:

Circle of Parents® is a network of professionally facilitated, peer-led, self-help support groups for using a strengths-based approach and a shared leadership model. All Circles are offered virtually and FREE! Circles meet weekly for 60-90 minutes and are ongoing *Participants may join anytime

• Perinatal Circle of Parents - Tuesdays 630pm
• Circle of Parents/Single Moms - Thursdays 515pm

Reach out to familysupport@pcavt.org for more information and to register.

Do you volunteer in our schools? Join Superintendent Wendy Baker for a discussion about how to streamline, strengthen, and improve our volunteer program at ACSD schools. We will schedule a time to meet this fall to gather your feedback. Interested?

You can always access our Family Handbook on our Mary Hogan Website. It had A LOT of important information about Mary Hogan and how we do things, including:

• Arrival and Dismissal,
• Health Information,
• Code of Conduct,
• Student Supports, and more.

Take a minute when you have a chance to check it out. Read what feels pressing now and explore so you know how to find things later.

Each month, we will send home a lunch menu. You can also access the menu on the ACSD website under Families>School Meals (HERE).

Want to know more about the Volunteer Process? Check out more information HERE.