MORETOWN ELEMENTARY SCHOOL NEWSLETTER
March 20, 2008
School Website: www.moretownschool.org
Dear parents and friends,
Dear Families of Moretown Elementary School, Faculty, and MES Board Members,
It is with some trepidation, great excitement, a bit of sadness and lots of gratitude that I submit to you this letter of resignation from the Moretown Elementary School Board. My resignation will be effective at the close of the next regular meeting, April 1, 2008. I have accepted a position with Northeastern Vermont Area Health Education Center where I will be the new Executive Director.
This means lots of new responsibilities and commitments, a long commute and travel throughout northeastern Vermont – hence the trepidation. I am excited though to lead an organization whose mission is to ensure the provision of high-quality health care to our rural population. I have concluded that it is best for me to leave the school board because, simply put, I need to clear the decks to do it all justice.
The reasons for my sadness and my gratitude relate directly to my two years of service as school trustee. I have grown personally, and my respect for one of the beating hearts of the Moretown community, our school, has grown apace. I have observed the myriad ways that the Moretown Elementary School strives and succeeds in balancing the needs and encourages the participation of all of the stakeholders – children first, then parents, teachers, taxpayers and the board itself – and I am proud to have been a small part of it all. I am sad to leave so soon but for awhile at least, I need to narrow my focus to my family and my new endeavor.
Thank you for supporting me when I ran for school board. I hope to come back someday. Meantime, I trust that my departure from this position will not mark an end to the new friendships and professional collaborations that are such a satisfying part of service to the school. Don’t hesitate to let me know how I can help, and if I can I will!
Sincerely,
Amy H. Bolger
Starred Book Reviews from the Library Media Center
Hatchet by Gary Paulsen. Reviewed by Luke LeBeouf
The main characters are Brain Robenson and Jim or Jake. It takes place in a small plane, a Cessna 406 plane with a loud engine and also in Hampton, New York in an airport. Brian is 13 years old and the pilot is in his middle forties. I wonder what it would be like to be in a plane. This book I would recommend to some third and fourth graders because it is a good survival story and has won a few metals and is a book I wouldn’t recommend to 1st and 2nd graders because it might not fit that age and it might freak them out a bit.
Stormbreaker by Anthony Horowitz. Reviewed by Markus Helmken
I strongly recommend this book. Horowitz does a great job with description and includes plenty of action. Everyone I’ve spoken to who has read the series (yes, there’s more!) have loved it. And you will too!
Fourteen year old Alex Rider’s uncle has just died - Alex’s only relative as his parents died when he was young. Alex gets some suspicions about Ian Rider’s death and looks at his car in the junkyard. There’s only one thing fishy about that car. It wasn’t in a crash, but there are bullet holes in the windshield. After being recruited by M16, Britain’s intelligence agency, Alex is sent on a dangerous mission to spy on the multi-millionaire Herod Sayle. How will it end? You can find out if you read Stormbreaker.
Far North by Will Hobbs. Reviewed by Ephraim Jacobs-Moore
15 year-old Gabe Rogers and companion Raymond Providence, are forced to fend off Canada’s freezing cold weather. Their pilot and plane plunge into the misty abyss of the Nahanni’s 385 foot Virginia Falls.
This is a great book if you like survival stories. It brings you to the vast country of Canada. It tells you about some of the wild animals that stalk in this big ice block. The Deadman Valley is no place for Gabe and Raymond, but if they want to make it to safety they will have to dodge the vast amount of trees and a tricky pack of wolves and the freezing cold.
Soccer
Mad River Soccer has teamed up with the new premier club AC4472 to offer a soccer circuit training program. This is an effective new way to improve your soccer skills.
The program will start on March 10 or March 11 (see below). It will run for 6 weeks, and will cost $60. Your child will receive a ball and shirt as part of the package.
Training will be provided by Harwood High School boys’ coaching staff and varsity players to ensure a good participant/coach ratio.
3rd and 4th grade: two locations – Waitsfield Elementary and Thatcher Brook Primary School
Monday nights starting March 10
Girls – 6 to 7 pm, Boys – 7 to 8 pm
5th thru 7th grade: Crossett Brook Middle School
Tuesday nights starting March 11
Girls – 7 to 8 pm, Boys – 8 to 9 pm
Contact Mark Ewald (calcio19@comcast.net, or 244-1137) or Don Haddox (578-3587) for more information.
To sign up send your child’s name, age, phone#, email address and a check to Mark Ewald, 4270 Vt. Route 100, Waterbury, Vt. 05676.
FULL MOON FROLIC--THIS WEEKEND!
The Full Moon Frolic is almost here!
Come join us this Saturday from 7 to 10 p.m. at the Town Hall. The PTN is
hosting this contradance and silent auction as a fundraiser to upgrade our
playgrounds. We'll have live music and lots of auction items from local
retailers (see the list below). Please bring a dessert to share and a beverage.
Green Mountain Coffee Roasters will provide coffee. Admission is $10 per person;
children are free. For more information, call Sarah McNamee at 583-4134. Come
support your school!
FROLIC AUCTION ITEMS
Village Grocery --$25 gift certificate
High Country Hair --$30 gift certificate
Fitness On The Run --1 month free membership
Clear Water Sports--guided river trip for one
Mad River Glass Gallery -- vase
Ice Center -- 1 child 12-punch card and 1 adult 12-punch card
Ole's -- 2 trail passes, 2 ski rentals, 2 ski lessons
Jay's Restaurant --$25 gift certificate
Sweetwood --$50 gift certificate
Badger Gift bag set
Whole Life -- 2 bags of organic bean mix
Pam Barnes -- 3 knitted hand bags
John Egan's Restaurant --$50 gift certificate
Big Picture --$25 gift certificate
Bisbee's -- portable barbecue grill
Regi Orr -- Brass Star
The Collection -- Math Mat game
General Store -- 2 sweatshirts, 2 t-shirts
Warren Store -- bunch of kid stuff
Charles Martley -- 2 massages
Tina Palmerio -- Tile design session
Artisan's Gallery --$25 gift certificate
Patricia Lynn --$25 gift certificate
Shaw's --$25 gift card
Bongiorno's -- gift certificate value
American Flatbread --$40 gift certificate
NECI -- Dinner for 2 at any Neci restaurant
Mad River Botanical -- 2 gift sets
Deonne's Design -- Scarf and Hat
Village Hair -- 3 haircut gift certificates
Zoe's Pilates -- 10 group mat classes
The Store -- Wall Easel
Mad River Glen -- Mad Card for the 2008/09 season.
Mad River Garden Center -- women's Muck Boots, a garden & trowel set, 2 pair
of mud gloves, Yucca plant
*more items coming!
Kids and Critters Camp
We have begun taking registrations for this years Kids and Critters Camp! Once again we will have a week just for younger children (4 and 5 year olds) beginning June 23rd. The weeks of July 14th, July 21st and July 28th will be for children 6 to 10 years old. The camp runs from 8 to noon Monday thru Thursday and cost $125. We do many activities with animals from horseback riding to holding bunnies, nature crafts, hikes, swimming and archery! For more information or to register please call Karen Crowley at 496-3043 or Lisa Moreno at 223-4164, or email plnmdj@comcast.net .
Seminary Arts Program
Wednesday 3/26, 4/2 & 4/9 Assorted Art from 3 to 4:30 $66. Children will
use paper, paste, recycled objects and imaginations to create fun projects to
keep or give.
Thursday 3/27, 4/3 & 4/10 Clay for Kids from 3 to 4:30 $75. Children
will learn the basic properties of clay and have great fun making a mess then
cleaning it up!
Write or call Mame McKee for additional information.
Seminary Arts
201 Hollow Road
Waterbury Center, Vermont 05677
802-253-8790
Seminaryart@gmail.com
Lacrosse
Mad River Valley Youth Lacrosse – There’s still time to sign up for lacrosse this spring. Boys and girls in grades 3-6 can participate. FREE EQUIPMENT AVAILABLE! For registration form or information, please email
MRVYL@madriver.com, or call 496-5677. Lacrosse – the fastest game on two feet!From the Health Office:
Along with the viral illnesses that unfortunately affect so many during the winter months, we have seen some cases of strep throat in the last several weeks. Strep throat is caused by streptococcal bacteria as opposed to a virus, and is very contagious. It can be treated effectively with antibiotics; children can return to school after a diagnosis of strep throat once they have taken antibiotics for at least 24 hrs. and their temperature is less than 100 degrees.
Symptoms of strep throat include:
Severe and sudden sore throat; difficulty swallowing
Fever of 100 degrees or higher
Swollen lymph nodes in the neck
White or yellow coating on the tonsils
Headache
Nausea
If you or your child have had at least 3 of the above symptoms for more than 48 hrs., you should see your health care provider.
If a rash occurs with strep throat infection, it may be an indication of scarlet fever. Scarlet fever is treated with antibiotics.
Prevention:
*Drink at least 8 glasses of water a day
*Avoid irritants such as smoke, fumes or yelling.
Comfort Treatment at Home:
*Gargle with 1 tsp. Of salt in 8 oz. Warm water to reduce swelling and irritation
*Honey and lemon in hot water or ginger tea
*Avoid cigarette smoke
*Acetaminophen or Ibuprofen can relieve pain and fever. Aspirin should not be given to anyone younger than 20 to avoid the risk of Reye’s syndrome.
*Throat lozenges (Sucrets, Tyrobenz, Ricola) or sore throat pops can soothe pain and relieve dryness.
*Keep cups and eating utensils separate and wash in very hot, soapy water.
Karyn Kaminski, RN
School Nurse
BRING YOUR FAMILY To the FAMILY COUNCIL MEETING WORKSHOP
WHEN: SATURDAY, MARCH 29, 9:30 – 12:00
WHERE: MORETOWN ELEMENTARY SCHOOL
A FAMILY COUNCIL MEETING IS WHERE ALL FAMILY MEMBERS ARE HEARD AND VALUED. FAMILY MEETINGS ENCOURAGE COOPERATION AND MUTUAL RESPECT AND AT THE SAME TIME REINFORCE FAMILY VALUES. THIS IS A CORNERSTONE OF ADLERIAN PARENTING.
THIS WORKSHOP WILL EXPLAIN FAMILY COUNCIL MEETINGS, DEFINE THE ROLES OF THE PARTICIPANTS, GIVE YOUR FAMILY AN OPPORTUNITY TO CREATE TOOLS TO USE DURING YOUR MEETING, AND TIME TO PRACTICE A FAMILY COUNCIL MEETING.
Open to 10 families. All children attending must be 5 years or older.
Cost: $60 per family including materials
Call Deborah Feldman with questions or to register: (802) 223-2288
Deborah Feldman, MA holds a Master’s degree in Counseling Psychology from the Adler-Dreikurs Institute in Bowie, MD and is a Certified Parent Educator. Deborah’s learning includes a B.A. in Education, an M.A. in Applied Healing Arts and over 30 years working with children and families.
Marlene Goldstein, BS is a Certified Parent Educator in Applied Adlerian Psychology. Marlene has been working with parents and families for 20 years and will be co-leading this workshop.
Important Dates
March 20 – 21 Parent / Teacher Conferences
March 21 NO SCHOOL
March 26 Early Dismissal
April 9 Early Dismissal
The Moretown Elementary School Board is seeking to appoint someone to fill a newly vacated position, for a term of one year (April 2008 – March 2009.) MES officials meet monthly to ensure the school’s viability and academic success by focusing principally on financial, legal and personnel related issues.
The Board’s major roles and responsibilities include:
Establishing and approving all major educational and operational policies
Setting appropriate standard(s) for achievement and being accountable for allocation of resources to facilitate adherence to those standards
Approving all major contracts
Approving the school’s annual budget in advance of a vote by Moretown residents
Overseeing the school’s other fiscal affairs
Chairing and serving on additional committees and groups as needed
Selecting and evaluating the chief administrator (s) including the principal and WWSU superintendent
Attending school and district functions
Qualifications for Board service might include:
Interest in, and demonstrated commitment to, serving the educational needs and causes of children
Experience in non-profit or business governance
Possession of professional or administrative skills relevant to the position
Belief in data-driven decision making
Strong skills relating to community relations and interpersonal communication
Fundraising ability, including proposal writing
Desire to represent and advocate for the values and beliefs of our community
All members of the MES Board serve on a volunteer basis for terms of either one or three years. The individual who is appointed to fill this particular vacancy is asked to consider filling the role of Board Clerk (principally, this means taking minutes at meetings.)
If you are interested, or would like to recommend someone for this appointed position, please email John Schmeltzer, Board Chair at
metsch@comcast.net. Or if you prefer, call John at 802-223-3976 (evening phone.)
Summer Camp Scholarship Application
Dear Students and Families,
Your local teachers of the Washington West Education Association would like to provide four scholarships of up to $125 each for summer camp during 2008.
Possible camps might include:
Wheels Around Waterbury (a biking camp: jbrightnow@yahoo.com.)
Waterbury Recreation Mini Camp (www.waterburyvt.com)
Mad River Glen Naturalist Summer Camp (www.madriverglen.com)
Warren School Summer Program (ljones@warrenschool.org)
Lotus Lake (central-vt.com/web/lotuslake)
Harwood Basketball Camp for boys and girls going into third grade through ninth grade for girls and tenth grade for boys. (tyoung@gmavt.net)
Alligator Summer Theater Camp & Science Camp (thommca@gmavt.net)
Another camp of your choice:_______________________________________________
Please complete the following and return by APRIL 11TH to one of the following people:
Warren Elementary: Beth Young
Fayston Elementary: Erin Koch or Justina Boyden
Waitsfield Elementary: Liz Belknap or Tom Young
Moretown Elementary: Kathi Orr
Crossett Brook Middle School: Eric Eley or Alex Houston
Thatcher Brook Primary School: Tom Thurston
What do you hope to gain from a summer camp experience?
Name______________________________________________Age_______
Parent/Guardian Name_______________________phone number________
Parent/Guardian Signature________________________________________
Parent/Guardian Signature________________________________________