MORETOWN ELEMENTARY SCHOOL NEWSLETTER

MORETOWN ELEMENTARY SCHOOL NEWSLETTER

February 15, 2008

School Website: www.moretownschool.org

Dear Parents & Friends,

Caution…snow banks

I love watching our kids play in the snow. During recess they can be seen sliding, building snow forts, making snow angels and generally basking in the delight of having more snow than anyone knows what to do with. The one place where this delight turns to potential tragedy is our parking lot. Lately, we’ve seen children, before and after school, running up the high banks of snow and sliding gleefully down into oncoming traffic. Please be aware that although you may know that your children are playing on the banks, vehicles driving into and out of the parking lot are not expecting a child to slide in front of them. Please ask your children to use caution any time they are in our parking lot and continue to delight in our snow on our fields and playgrounds.

Enjoy!

Calling all bikers, walkers, and general fitness enthusiasts! Moretown is applying for a grant to increase walking and biking to school by improving safe access and promoting knowledge of bike safety and the sport of biking in general. Please come to an info meeting on Tuesday, Feb. 19th at 6:30 p.m. in the multipurpose room to share your ideas and learn more about this opportunity.

BACK BY POPULAR DEMAND: The Town Clerk is coming to you!

Assistant Clerk, Jamie Wimble, will be in the MES lobby on Feb. 18 from 2:45 - 3:45. You can register your dog. You will need a check or cash in the amount of $7.00 for spayed/neutered dogs, or $9.00 for unspayed/unneutered. (The price will go up to $9.00 and $15.00 respectively after April 1.) You will also need proof of current rabies vaccine and spaying/neutering if that information is not already on file in the Town Clerk's office. Other sevices offered on that day: Landfill Permits for 2008, cost = $1.00; Absentee Ballot Request forms- if you will be on vacation, working out of town, or feel you may not be able to make it to the polls for any reason on Town Meeting Day we will mail you a ballot; Voter Registration-for anyone not currently registered to vote in Moretown.

The Warren Public Library is sponsoring a Free 1941 movie of the Big Read book,

The Maltese Falcon. A classic film noir, in black and white, starring Humphrey Bogart as Sam Spade, Peter Lorre as Joel Cairo, Mary Astor as Brigid O’Shaughnessy, and Sidney Greenstreet as Caspar Gutman, will be shown at 6:30 PM on Monday, February 11^th at the Big Picture Theater for those taking part in the Big Read, or any classic film buffs. A short discussion will follow, comparing it to the book.

Valley libraries are deeply indebted to The Big Picture Theater for making their theater available for this free event.

Mark your calendars now for a mystery writer guest appearance March 11^th at the Warren Public Library. Barre writer, Jennifer McMahon, author of Promise Not To Tell, will talk about her experiences writing mysteries.

As stated previously, the three Valley book discussions of The Maltese Falcon, are scheduled for: Wednesday, January 30^th at the Warren Public Library;

Wednesday, February 20^th at the Moretown Library; and Wednesday, March 12^th, at the Joslin Memorial Library in Waitsfield. Books, CD’s, and reader’s guides are still available at all libraries to prepare for the discussions. "This is a community read, so whether you are a high school student, elder, winter visitor, farmer, or newspaper editor, you are invited and encouraged to take part in this great opportunity sponsored by the National Endowment for the Arts." Said Deborah Kahn, Warren librarian and discussion leader. "With three chances to join discussions, residents from all towns may come to their own town library or attend one at their convenience at a nearby site." she added.

The series is brought to Vermont libraries through a grant from the Vermont Arts Council which will soon have a Lost Nation Theater presentation of the drama sent out to all public access television stations as well. For more information, contact your local Valley library. The Warren Public Library is totally wheelchair accessible.

Important Dates

February 22 Popcorn

February 25 – March 4 NO SCHOOL

Little League Information on following pages…

Mad River Valley Little League

P.O. Box 1562

Waitsfield, VT 05673

Dear Little League Parents:

Spring is just around the corner and it’s time for Little League registration! The division your child is eligible to participate in is based on Little League regulations and the child’s "League Age". Mad River Valley Little League offers the following divisions:

T-ball: age 5-6 born 5/1/01 - 4/30/02 National: age 11-12 born 5/1/95 – 4/30/97

Farm: age 7-8 born 5/1/99 - 4/30/01 Softball: age 9-12 born 1/1/95 – 12/31/98

American: age 9-10 born 5/1/97 - 4/30/99

There are now three ways for you to register your child(ren) for the upcoming season:

By Mail - In order to register by mail you must complete the registration form. Enclose your check made out to Mad River Valley Little League (MRVLL) for $40.00 for the first player and $30.00 for each additional player. There will be an additional charge of $10.00 assessed for late registrations per player. Registrations are considered late if they are received after March 11, 2008. New players must provide MRVLL with a photocopy of their birth certificate. Any returning players who do not have a birth certificate on file with the League must also submit one. It is important for insurance purposes, that a parent or guardian signs the registration/medical form. Mail all of this to MRVLL, P.O. Box 1562, Waitsfield, Vermont 05673.

Electronically – Will be available soon, please watch your school newsletters for an announcement with the web address. The registration fee will need to be paid via credit card. For new players needing to provide a copy of their birth certificate, a league volunteer will contact you to discuss obtaining one.

In Person - For those who prefer to sign up in person, Little League registration will be held at the Waitsfield Elementary School on Wednesday, February 20 and on Tuesday, March 11, 6:00 to 8:00 p.m. If you are a new player, we need a copy of your birth certificate or you will not be able to register at that time.

It is important that players are registered on time. Many decisions are based on how many players are registered to play - from how many uniforms to order, to team assignments of players. Please make every effort to register your child on time.

We are 100% dependant on volunteers, and have only had mixed success after asking all parents to ‘step up to plate’ to volunteer. Therefore, beginning two years ago we required participation from each parent of a player. This new policy responsibly ensures the League’s continued success beyond the present children’s experience. If participation is not possible, parents can Opt-Out of volunteering by paying an additional fee of $25.00 per parent.

Sincerely,

Mad River Valley Little League Board of Directors

Brad Belknap June Burr Judi Gross Paul Moreno Keith Munro

LITTLE LEAGUE – IMPORTANT NOTES

LITTLE LEAGUE SIGN-UP

The registration fee is $40.00 for the first player and $30.00 for each additional player. Late registrations (after March 11th) will be charged a late fee of $10.00. All returning players and new players must either register by mail, on line, or attend one of the registration sessions. New players and returning players, who do not have a birth certificate on file, must bring a photocopy with them to registration. If you missed a year of playing, you are considered a new player. Parents should be willing to volunteer to help the Mad River Valley Little League in various capacities during the upcoming season. You can sign up to help on your child’s registration form.

LITTLE LEAGUE DRAFTS: *BASEBALL ONLY – SOFTBALL DOES NOT NEED TO ATTEND

The draft for the 2008 Mad River Valley Little League will be held Saturday, April 5, 2008 at the Harwood Union High School gymnasium. The American League (9&10 year olds) draft will be from 9:00 to 10:30; National League’s (11&12 year olds) will be from 10:30 to noon. Please be on time.

The draft is used for team placement purposes only; all registered players will be placed on a team! At the completion of the draft, selected managers will assign players to the American or National teams.

Those who will need to be at try outs:

All first year players between ages of 8 and 12.

All players age 9-12 who have not previously played in the American or National League.

Any 8 year old player who would like to try out for possible American League drafting.

Baseball players who fit into any of the above three categories must be at this tryout. Players should bring sneakers no rubber spikes), their gloves, and be ready to run, catch and bat (please do not bring bats or balls – they will be provided). Coaches will be assigning players to teams based on these try outs so it is important that all players that fit into one of the above categories are present.

REQUIREMENT TO VOLUNTEER

Each parent is required to volunteer for several activities to ensure MRVLL can successfully continue its program. For those parents who can not fulfill this requirement, we are instituting an Opt-Out fee of $25.00 per parent.

URGENT NEED: Three of the five current board members will be stepping down after this season and this program will be in trouble without other parents stepping up to fill their slots, as well as some currently available slots. Current board members are willing to help make a smooth transition with incoming members but we need new board members in place asap so they have the ability to shadow current members for the remainder of the pre-season planning process. If the board is reduced to just two members we fear we cannot continue to run the program. Please consider volunteering for a board position so that we can ensure the program will remain viable for 2009. Feel free to contact Keith Munro at 496-2214 or 4munros@gmavt.net with any questions you may have about board responsibilities.

EVENTS TO REMEMBER: WHEN: WHERE:

REGISTRATION NIGHTS February 20, 6-8PM Waitsfield Elementary

March 11, 6-8PM Waitsfield Elementary

TRY-OUTS April 5 Harwood HS gym

ALL LEAGUE FIELD WORK DAY April 26 Couples Field

OPENING DAY* May 3 Couples Field

BOTTLE DRIVE May 10 Armstrong’s Redemption Ctr.

SKILLS CLINIC May 17 & 18 Couples Field

(open to National, American & Softball League athletes)

*Team photos will be taken on Opening Day, May 3rd. The league will provide a team photograph to every player. Individual player photography packages will be available for purchase

LEAGUE USE ONLY 2008 APPLICATION TO PLAY First Child $40

Photocopy of Birth Certificate MAD RIVER VALLEY LITTLE LEAGUE Each Additional Child $30

Fee _______ P.O. Box 1562 Please select:

League Age Waitsfield, VT 05673 Baseball

Other Softball

Please fill out one form per child.

Male Ht:

Female D. O. B. ____/ ____/ ____ Wt:

Player’s Name

Shirt Size (circle one): Youth Small Youth Med. Youth Lg. Adult Small Adult Med. Adult Lg.

_______________________________ _____________________ VT _____________ (____) ________________

Street Address City State Zip Phone Number

e-mail address: _____________________________________ Will your child be playing more than one sport this spring?________

___________________________ School: __________________ Name of Hospitalization Plan:____________________________

Town of residence

Participation in Little League baseball requires the ability to run, throw, swing a bat and catch a ball. Additionally, participation requires the capacity to understand the rules of the game. Does your child have any current condition that limits his/her ability to participate in this activity? Yes No

If "yes," please explain and identify any modification that would enable your child to participate: _____________________________

____________________________________________________________________________________________________________ Little League Baseball does not limit participation in its activities on the basis of disability.

Team Selections:

T-Ball and Farm League teams are generally grouped by town unless registration numbers require mixed teams. American and National League teams will be selected to maintain a balance of player skills. These teams will not be selected based on towns. We acknowledge that parents keep hectic schedules and carpooling options are an important means of getting children to their practices and games – that being said you may list one other child that would be beneficial to have on your son/daughter’s team for carpooling purposes. We will do our best to accommodate the request but top priority will still be given to maintaining a balance in the teams. Players Name: _____________________________________

PLEASE COMPLETE ATTACHED VOLUNTEER FORM

BOTTLE DRIVE

This year’s bottle drive will be held on May 10, 2008. One adult from each family is expected to participate in this event.

___________________________________ will drive his/her vehicle for the bottle drive.

(Adult Name)

___________________________________ will help sort bottles for the bottle drive (time slots to be assigned).

(Adult Name)

I/We, the parent(s) of the above name candidate for a position on a Little League team, hereby give my/our approval to participate in any and all Little League activities, including transportation to and from the activities.

I/We know that participation in baseball or softball may result in serious injuries and protective equipment does not prevent all injuries to players, and do hereby waive, release, absolve, indemnify and agree to hold harmless the local Little League, Little League Baseball, Inc., the organizers, sponsors, participants and persons transporting my/our child to and from activities for any claim arising out of any injury to my/our child whether the result of negligence or for any other cause, except to the extent and in the amount covered by accident or liability insurance.

I/We agree to return the uniform and other equipment issued to my/our child in as good a condition as when received except for normal wear and tear.

I/We will furnish a photocopy of the birth certificate for the above named candidate to League Officials.

Parent(s) or Guardian Signature(s): ____________________________________________________________

Please Print: ___________________________________________________________________________

Please make checks payable to Mad River Valley Little League. Payment must accompany registration form.

Mad River Valley Little League

2008 Volunteer Sign-up

The Mad River Valley Little League is an organization that is 100% dependant on volunteers. Our goal is to provide the structure necessary to offer a safe recreational baseball and softball option for the youth of the Valley. In order to meet the seasonal requirements of the program we need support from players, parents and the community at large. Please help us continue the success of this program by volunteering your time. If participation is not possible for you, parents can Opt-Out of volunteering by paying an additional fee of $25.00 per parent. Our objective is to increase participation not funds in order to involve families in a fair, collective effort. Most importantly, please be assured that no child will be prevented from playing should their parent not have the ability to neither volunteer nor contribute monetarily.

Instructions:

1. Print your name here: ___________________________Email: ___________________________Phone:_____________

2. Review the following table to determine which task (s) you would be interested to volunteer for.

3. To indicate your interest for a task, simply place an ’X’ in all the ‘Column X’ boxes on the same line as that task.

4. Return this form with your registration information, and we will follow-up with you to discuss the details.

Role commitment	Task overview	Column X
Board of Director	Works with other board members to make it all happen
Team Manager/Coach	Oversees team; requires a good understanding of BB or SB fundamentals and teaching methods; needs to work well with children, support Little League ethics and have good communication skills.
Assistant Coach	Supports team mgr/coach in all aspects of practice and game play.
Team Parent	Works with team coach to help with administrative tasks e.g. uniform & photo distribution, communications, away games, directions, equipment needs, etc
Umpire Manager	Point person for umpires; works with Schedulers to provide ump game coverage. Objective is to make sure umps get what they need to do their jobs.
Umpire	Plate and field umps needed for Amer. and Nat'l league team games. All those interested in training for field ump positions.
Safety Officer	Oversees all safety aspects of program. Communicate safety information to coaches, etc. Ensures all teams have full first aid kits.	Position Filled
Game Scheduler	Scheduler for both 'away' & ‘home’ games at the American and National team levels. Work with Ump Mgr. and individual coaches from neighboring towns (list provided). May need to reschedule games due to inclement weather. This person will shadow the existing scheduler in preparation to take over the duties.
T-Ball and Farm Team Scheduler	Coordinates the games at the T-Ball or Farm team level. These are all intra-league games.
Equipment & Uniform Coordinator	Order, monitor, and maintain inventory of League equipment and uniforms; distribute equipment and uniforms appropriately to each team. This person will shadow the existing coordinator in preparation to take over the duties.
Concession Stand Coordinator	Point person for concessions. Oversees general operation – ie. inventory, deposits, etc. Objective is to make sure stand has resources needed to be open for service. Also schedules volunteers for working concession stand.
Concession Volunteer	Co-manages a concession shift (3 hrs) from opening to closing with one other adult. Cook & serve burgers/hot dogs/beverages/candy.
Concession volunteer	Cleaning concession stand at season opening and closing (3 hrs each).
Communication Volunteer	Communication liaison between league and community using all possible media for publicizing league events, activities and notifications. People interested in writing articles for media, taping videos (channel 44), PR for events; press releases, etc.
Opening Day Volunteer	Work with LL board members to set up parade, ceremony, guest speakers, etc.
Little League Picnic Volunteer	Work with a group of volunteers (in liaison with the board) to coordinate Little League Picnic in June including communicating information to teams, purchasing food and supplies, run grill; set-up pot luck food, clean up etc.
Fund Raising Vol.	End of season thank you advertisement to volunteers & sponsors. With other volunteers, brainstorm new and creative ways to raise funds for the program.
Miscellaneous Vol.	Don’t see anything that is up your alley – let us know how you’d like to help out:
All League Bottle Drive	One adult from each family is requested to participate – see registration form
All League Field Work Day	One adult from each family is requested to participate in order to prepare the fields for play. See’ Important Dates’ Information in the registration packet for the work date