![page background](https://cdn.smore.com/u/backgrounds/custom_bg-65a826279439f8510d148aac-9f0c838e8a89.jpg)
SCS Community Newsletter
Week of February 12, 2024
Principals' Message
Good Afternoon SCS Families and Caregivers,
At the beginning of the school year, each of us shared a one word goal with the faculty and staff. Brett chose "clarity," Emily went with "curiosity," and Alison selected "celebrate," which is the theme of this week's newsletter. Even though February is the shortest month of the year (made even more so by the break at the end), there is so much to celebrate. We hope you enjoy the highlights and photos below.
Our first 4/5 musical production last week was a smash hit! Thank you to Ms. Sanders, Mx. Smullen, the PTO, and the many volunteers who helped bring a memorable show to the CVU auditorium. Based on ticket sales, there is a huge appetite for making this an annual event.
The PTO FoodSmart team met this morning, with several staff members in attendance as well. They put in a ton of work (along with volunteers from the Rotary) each morning preparing breakfasts. We're excited at the prospect of some additional upgrades in both the short and long term, and we'd like to thank this team for their efforts. We are serving more meals than ever before with the same size staff, who do an amazing job keeping our students well fed. They're also amazing at putting a smile on kids' faces - please check out the egg puns on the bulletin board outside the cafeteria next time you're in the building.
The SCS Read-a-Thon kicked off with a Book Swap on World Read Aloud day on Wednesday. Thanks to AnnMarie Anderson for organizing the swap and feeding all those who came to trade books. There are still some extra books on tables in the 5/6 hallway which students and staff are welcome to take home between now and February break. We're looking forward to welcoming up author Jason Chin next week as part of the ongoing festivities. He'll be spending the day with us on February 15 and leading three different assemblies to ensure that all students hear from him directly. Thanks to the PTO for supporting this author visit! Please make sure your student has signed up via PledgeStar if they're interested in participating in Read-a-Thon challenges.
Good luck to everyone who is jumping in the lake as part of the Penguin Plunge tomorrow! We'll have plenty more to celebrate next week.
Take Care,
Alison, Brett & Emily
Mark Your Calendars
2/13 - 3rd Grade Field Trip to the Flynn (8:00-10:30 am)
2/13 - DEI Community Meeting (5 pm, Library)
2/13 - PTO Meeting (6pm, Green Team Space)
2/15 - CVSD Author Visit: Jason Chin visits SCS
2/15 - ParentIN Digital Safety Workshop (7-8 pm, Register HERE)
2/16 - PTO Read-a-Thon: Virtual Story Hour 7pm (from home, in PJ’s)
2/20 - CVSD Board Meeting (6-9 pm, CVU)
2/21 - SCS DEI Community Coffee (8:00 am, Cafeteria)
2/21 - CVSD Virtual Town Hall (6:30-7:30 pm)
2/21 - 4th grade NAEP Assessment
2/22 - 8th grade NAEP Assessment
2/22 - SCS Concert Band & Stage Band Concert (7-8:30pm, Gym)
2/23 - PTO Read-a-Thon: Dress Like Your Favorite Character!
2/23 - Unified Sports Tournament
2/26 - 3/1 - NO SCHOOL - Winter Break
3/4 - School Resumes
FYI...Monday, April 8th - ALL CVSD faculty, staff, and students end the day at 11:30am for the Solar Eclipse event
Celebrations
Finding Nemo Musical
Congratulations to our 2024 VMEA DIstrict 3 Music Festival participants
on February 2 & 3 at ADL in Essex Junction!
Front Row (L to R): Luci SImmons, Bea Taylor, Raea Coakley, Abby Girard, Quinn Tyler
Second Row (L to R): Mr. Buckingham, Lara Martinez, Sadie Plante, Bella Hartwell, Jack Blazewicz, Jayna Heath
Third Row (L to R): Felix Haskins, Nadia Kono, Sarah Thant, Ellie Santoro
Fourth Row (L to R): Finn Cray-Budington, Martha Odachowski, Lily Sivo, Ellie Zweber,
Talania Mount-Namson, Alae'ah McGrath.
Fifth Row (L to R): Ben Gardiner, Harrison Melo, Frank D'Amore.
World Read Aloud Day
Click below to hear our SCS students read a story in 16 different languages!
Zero the Hero visits SCS for the 100th Day of School!
Students had a blast celebrating the 100th day of school on February 8th! The day was filled with read alouds, counting 100 objects, a number scavenger hunt throughout the building, and a visit from Zero the Hero!
SCS Valentine's Delivered to Wake Robin residents
This has been a much-loved annual tradition, and we're so excited we were able to bring smiles to people's faces. It fills our buckets :)
February is Black History Month
Please feel free to join us virtually
Video call link: https://meet.google.com/uvf-icrd-iry
This Weekend
Math Counts Competition this Saturday - You've got this!
We are wishing the best of luck for all Math Counts Mathletes at this Saturday's UVM Chapter Competition! 🤞
"We start in November and conclude in Feb/March depending on how far we make it in the competition circuit. It is 5-8 but 5th graders cannot compete until 6th grade as Mathcounts stipulates the competition is for 6-8 only. We meet Wednesdays during lunch and recess and just work problems and eat lunch and laugh. During the season we head to Williston once for an interdistrict competition in January, the chapter competition is at UVM in February (this Saturday) and then if we do well there we go to the state meet in March. The competition team is composed of four mathletes and then four additional mathletes compete individually for a total of eight competitors."
Support SCS' Penguin Plunge Team this Saturday!
Once again this year SCS students will be participating in the Polar Plunge, scheduled for TOMORROW, February 10th, to support Special Olympics Vermont. Follow the links to: join the SCS team, or donate.
Here are some pictures of last year's SCS participants for inspiration!
Readathon Reminders
The SCS Readathon is off to an INCREDIBLE start! Thank you to all who attended the book swap-- we had a great turnout.
World Read Aloud Day
To celebrate World Read Aloud Day yesterday (Feb 7) and to launch the Readathon, SCS's English Language teacher Erika Monaghan and her students put together a beautiful video. Please take a minute to watch with your kids (you might see some familiar faces!)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tuVSH-fRJz0
Sign Up To Track Your Minutes
There is still plenty of time to sign up for the Readathon and join the fun! Registration on PledgeStar just takes a minute, and once your kids are signed up they can track minutes read and contribute to our schoolwide reading goal. So far after just ONE DAY we have read more than 3,000 minutes and raised more than $3,000! Way to go, SCS!
Virtual Pajama Party
Please mark your calendar for our next event. On Friday, February 16 from 7 - 7:45 pm we'll have a virtual pajama party with read alouds from SCS teachers and staff and some fun surprises.
For more info about the Readathon, go here. Questions? Please email scsreadathon@gmail.com.
Happy reading!
Registration Now Open for the SCS PTO 3v3 Spring Basketball Tourney! Join in on the action April 6th with our first-annual basketball fundraiser! Offering divisions for grades 5-8, adults coed 18+ and a special halftime experience for K-4. Whether a student, parents or a community member, come get in on the b-ball fun.
Tournament Divisions & Registration Details:
- Students: Grades 5-8 (Team Divisions: Girls 5-8, Boys 5-6, Boys 7-8)
- Adult Coed: Community members 18+ (parents, caregivers, school staff, alumni, etc.)
- Minimum 3 players per team, maximum 5 players
- We're aiming for a fair competition for players of all skill levels so If your child is looking for a team, we'll make sure to pair them up.
We're committed to making this event enjoyable for everyone, with plenty of basketball, food, and fun activities planned. Click here to register a team or individual or pick up a form at the SCS front office. Questions or want to help out with the event (yes we will need lots of volunteers:) email hayleyc@shelburnepto.org
PTO Grant News
The Shelburne Community PTO is excited to announce the receipt of a SCHIP Grant to renovate and improve the flower and vegetable gardens at the front of the Shelburne Community School. The $1,000 grant will supplement the work of volunteers to revitalize this shared natural space for students, teachers and community members to learn, discover and play in. This award was funded by SCHIP's Treasure Resale Shop, which turns life's discards into hope for organizations within our community.
CVSD News
Update on CVSD Proposed Budget
The CVSD School Board approved the proposed 2024-2025 budget to present to voters on Town Meeting Day ballots at the January 23, 2024 school board meeting. The proposed budget is now a warned article on the ballot.
However, the Vermont legislature is currently considering changes to Act 127, the new education funding law. Their review may require us to modify our proposed school district budget and possibly when we vote on the upcoming school year’s ballot articles.
We wanted to let all of our community members know that we are aware of this and will do our best to keep you informed as we learn more. We will reschedule community presentations about the proposed budget and will update associated materials when we have clarity.
The CVSD Annual report is now available on the district's website. https://www.cvsdvt.org/Page/1
If you'd like to request a hard copy, please contact Ashley Daniels at 802-985-1914.
In collaboration with the Chittenden Unit for Special Investigations, Detective Krystal Wrinn will facilitate a FREE and engaging virtual workshop on digital safety for youth and your whole family. Here’s what to expect:
Reinforce online safety: Learn practical tips to empower yourself and your child about cyberbullying, inappropriate content, and online predators.
Build a positive online culture: Foster respect and kindness in your family's digital interactions.
Create a safer online world: Make the internet a more positive space for everyone.
EVENT Details: February 15th @7:00p
Register HERE to be sent a meeting invitation and link.
Your participation is highly valued, and we look forward to working together to promote digitally safe school community. Thanks!
Student Assistance Program (SAP) Counselor
CCS and HCS Community Schools
CVSD ParentIN Coordinator
Community Announcements
Magic the Gathering Card Game Club at Pierson Library!
When: Mondays, 3:30 to 4:30 PM, starting Feb 12
Where: Pierson Library
Calling all students interested in Magic the Gathering!
Do you currently play - or want to learn - Magic the Gathering?
You're invited to a casual Magic the Gathering card game hosted by an SCS family on Mondays at the library from 3:30-4:30pm.
The next one is planned for 2/12. All ages 10 and up are now welcome!
Snacks will be served, and we will have extra cards and can help learners.
A parent will be available to walk with kids to the library after school.
If you can, register ahead of time by calling Pierson Library at 802-985-5124. Otherwise, it's fine - you're welcome to just drop-in.
Hope to see you there!
TOMORROW! UVM National Girls and Women in Sports Day: Saturday, February 10
We have a super fun game coming up that all your kids, teams, family, and friends are all invited to! Save the date for this season’s National Girls and Women in Sports Day that will take place on Saturday, February 10th when the Vermont Women’s Basketball team will host UMBC at 2:00 p.m. in Patrick Gym - admission is free for kids 12 and younger. Kids 12 and younger can claim their free tickets at the Box Office on game day. Adult tickets can be purchased online at www.uvmathletics.com/tickets or at the Box Office on game day. We would love to have all youth kids and fans join us in supporting women and girls in sports!
Teen Science Cafe for 7th-12th graders: TOMORROW!
We hope you will join us for our next teen science cafe!
When: THIS SATURDAY February 10
Time: 5:00 - 7:00 pm
Topic: AgroTek Innovation (Learn more here)
What do you get when you cross agriculture with technology? AgroTek! This café will introduce you to different ways that technology is applied in agricultural settings to create new products or improve our environment as a teaser to get you interested in 4-H’s free summer AgroTek Academy. Hear from three different UVM faculty in their research: one focused on converting agricultural waste into value added products like paper or hempcrete; one who uses coding and virtual reality in precision agriculture; and the third, focused on how experimental planting of perennial grains can be used to examine microbial diversity and soil health.
Make sure to register ahead of time so we know how much pizza to order.
SCS Useful Links
CVSD Info
Find information about monthly School Board Meetings, community forums such as the DEI Town Hall, and more on the district website. See the year at a glance on the 2023-2024 K-8 School Year Calendar. See The CVSD Story for the latest blog posts about what's happening across the district.
Let's Talk
Still Need More Information?
Website: https://www.cvsdvt.org/shelburne
Shelburne Community School Administration
Brett Cluff, 5-8 Principal
Emily Cogan, Director of Special Education