The Core

We had a very enthusiastic MLK Celebration last Friday and we want to thank our members of the High School Social Justice Union (some who are Orchard School alumni) for the workshops.

The matinee of Peter Pan went really well - especially with so many sick performers this week! The acting, singing, dancing and fight scenes are impressive. We hope you are joining us for our 20th year of Orchard Drama!

Speaking of sick performers, we clearly have a couple of bugs running through our school community. Please read through our nurses' article below about preventative action.

There is more information on the MPV (Master Planning & Visioning) Project, see the link below for communication of informational meetings.

Have a Peter Pan type of weekend; take some time to read with your child.

Mark Trifilio

Congratulations, our Teacher of the Deaf, Annie Coppock, who had a baby last week. Mom and Ruthie Lou are home together for the winter.

A HUGE THANK YOU TO EVERYONE WHO HELPED WITH OUR PETER PAN PRODUCTION: It has turned out so well because of the enthusiasm and hard work of so many parent volunteers, especially Kelly Shonter, Carrie Lyon, Katherine Cooper, Robyn Kummer, Lisa Martinez, Laura Smith!

Save the Date: Math Night is coming soon! Make plans to come Friday evening, February 7. More information is coming home in your child's backpack today.

The Other Paper Needs Our Orchard News: The Other Paper would really like to include news from our Orchard community in its weekly paper. Once per month, would you be willing to submit a paragraph (or less) and a photo (perhaps from the Core, a teacher, or school staff - you don't need to come and take photos) and get it over to The Other Paper? This is a very small time commitment! Contact any PTO member for more information and to take this on for our school.

Next PTO Meeting: Please come to the meeting on Monday, February 10 at 6:30 p.m. It's a great way to find out what's going on and how the PTO helps make Orchard a Wonderful Place to Grow! Everyone is welcome!

Do you have PTO questions? Please find us online or ask Mr. Trifilio to put you in touch:

Facebook: www.facebook.com/orchardschoolpto

Website: www.orchardschoolpto.org

Email: orchardschoolvt@gmail.com

Konstella: https://www.konstella.com

We are starting to hear of and see students with flu and flu-like illnesses in our school community. Please adhere to the 3rd bullet below regarding keeping your child home 24 hours fever free (without fever-reducing medicine) before returning to school. It is also not too late to get your flu shot!

Take everyday preventive actions to stop the spread of germs (click this link and see below):

• Try to avoid close contact with sick people.
• While sick, limit contact with others as much as possible to keep from infecting them.
• If you or your child is sick with flu-like illness, CDC recommends and our school guidelines are that your child stays home for at least 24 hours after your fever is gone except to get medical care or for other necessities. (Your child's fever should be gone for 24 hours without the use of a fever-reducing medicine before returning to school).
• Cover your nose and mouth with a tissue when you cough or sneeze. After using a tissue, throw it in the trash and wash your hands.
• Wash your hands often with soap and water. If soap and water are not available, use an alcohol-based hand rub.
• Avoid touching your eyes, nose and mouth. Germs spread this way.
• Clean and disinfect surfaces and objects that may be contaminated with germs like flu.

For example, if your child has a temperature of 100 degrees or more on Monday, then your child should not attend school on Tuesday. If on Tuesday, your child continues to have a fever, then he/she needs to stay home on Wednesday as well, and so forth.

Please also keep your child home if your child:

• Looks and/or acts unwell (even without fever)
• Has vomited 2 times in 24 hours
  
• Has vomited and is not eating or continues to look or act unwell
• Is unable to participate at school

For further information visit the CDC's website.

Be well,

Kara & Darcy

Hello Orchard Community!

January’s Farm to School lesson was focusing on how foods can help you glow, go, and grow! After our herbal medicine lesson in December, this month we’re recognizing foods, as well, for their medicinal qualities. We also did had a focus on cooking tools such as the mortar and pestle, Japanese powdering bowl, ceramic grating plate, and peelers!

Here is the recipe for our delicious “Snap Attack Squash” (named by a creative student in Mr. Wrights class)

Ingredients:

Pureed Butternut Squash, Grated Fresh Ginger, Peeled Apple, Fresh Lemon Juice, Maple Syrup, McCormick Cinnamon sticks, Diamond Crystal Kosher Salt.

1. To puree squash, begin by cutting it open and scooping out seeds. Roast with the skin up for 45 minutes.
2. While the squash is roasting, grate fresh ginger (1 tbsp) and peel and chop 1 medium-sized apple into small pieces.
3. After the squash is roasted, scoop insides into a bowl and puree (or if it’s soft enough, it can go right into the pan)
4. Heat a skillet with olive oil and add squash
5. Add apple and lemon juice from 1 or 2 wedges of lemon
6. Add ginger, ¼ cup of maple syrup, powdered cinnamon, and a sprinkle of salt.
7. Enjoy!

Are you looking to get more involved at your child’s school? Need a bit of extra income or additional work experience? Want to get out in the community a bit more now that your child is in PreK or Kindergarten? Apply to substitute now!

Seeking substitutes for:

• Classroom Teachers (all subjects)
• Paraeducators & Interventionists
• School RNs and LPNs (Must have appropriate licensure and/or certifications)
• Custodians
• Nutritional Services
• Bus Drivers (Must have current valid CDL with appropriate endorsements)

All SBSD substitutes are required to undergo a criminal record check and be fingerprinted for a VT public school District.

For more information and to apply, please contact Sarah McNally, SBSD HR Coordinator, at smcnally@sbschools.net or 802-652-7255

The South Burlington School District Pre-Kindergarten Fall Enrollment for the 2020-2021 school year is open.

We now have three STARS Accredited Licensed Programs, one in each of our three elementary schools. We offer 10 hours of Free Public Pre-Kindergarten Monday thru Thursday 8:00-10:30 and 12:00 to 2:30 throughout the school year.

Our classrooms provide a warm nurturing environment with a low student/teacher ratio.

We provide opportunities for purposeful play coupled with teacher-directed activities in an language-rich environment promoting social, emotional, physical and intellectual growth. The curriculum follows the Vermont Early Learning Standards and is taught by an Early Childhood Special Educator and Speech and Language Pathologist.

To register, your child must be a South Burlington Resident and 3 years old on or before September 1, 2020.

The Pre-Registration Form is located on our school district website www.sbschools.net and select the Pre-Kindergarten Quick Link. You might also want to take a sneak peek into our classrooms by visiting our school pages. For early placement, registrations should be received on or before February 7, 2020.