MORETOWN ELEMENTARY SCHOOL NEWSLETTER

December 6, 2007

School Website: www.moretownschool.org

Dear Parents & Friends,

Before School Care

Please don’t forget that we are now offering before school care beginning at 7:15

Becky Auger and Pam Remick will be in the multi purpose room with some quiet activities ready and waiting for you child. We hope this will decrease some of those rushed and hectic mornings that we all experience from time to time.

School Board meetings…agenda and minutes

The Moretown School Board generally meets on the fourth Tuesday of each month. Beginning this month, you will be able to access the meeting agenda and minutes on our website at www.moretownschool.org

The board is in the process of budget development and their next meeting is December 18th at 6:00 in the school library. As always, all meetings are opened to the public.

from the Times Argus…

Congratulations to Moretown paraeducator

December 6, 2007

MORETOWN – Big news for Becky Auger, classroom paraeducator at Moretown Elementary School. Auger learned this week that she has been named Vermont-NEA Education Support Professional of the Year for 2008.

Nominated by her peers, Auger will receive $1,000 and represent Vermont in the National Education Association ESP award program in Baltimore in March.

Auger is in her ninth year at Moretown, where she is a paraeducator for students in third through sixth grades.

She is a leader at the school who is making a difference in her students.

"Becky represents the professionalism and dedication that all educators demonstrate daily in our state’s excellent public schools, " said Vermont-NEA President Angelo Dorta. "I and the members of Vermont-NEA are extremely proud of her achievement."

Auger is one of three paraeducators who lead the school’s literacy program, which began in 2006.

She also heads two major school projects that help foster a sense of community at Moretown – she catalogs photographs of students as they grow up and she directs the school’s annual field day.

Flatbread Sale…..December 13th, 3:00 sharp. Gone by 3:30! $7.00 Large, $4.00 small. Limit 3 each size to allow more people to enjoy. All proceeds benefit Moretown PTN, Thanks for your support.

Moretown’s Artisan Sale on December 8th

Moretown’s Artisan Sale, held at the Moretown Town Hall on December 8th from 10am to 4pm, will feature nearly thirty artists and crafters. You will find fine locally made items including pottery, handbags, fine art, crocheted hats, quilts, photography, jewelry, natural body care products, fleece blankets, folk art, and stained glass. While you shop, enjoy the sound of live banjo and pedal steel guitar with Gordon Stone, winner of the best instrumental album of the year in Vermont in 2005 and Boston Emmy nominee! The refreshment table is free as usual, and donations will be accepted to support Vermont Food bank. There is no admission fee for this exciting event!

Popcorn dates

December 14th

January 25th

February 22nd

March 28th

April 25th

May 30th

Open Hearth Holds Holiday Benefit Featuring

Vermont Band Jenni Johnson and the Junketeers

Open Hearth will host its second annual holiday benefit on Saturday, December 15th at the Big Picture Theater and Café. This year the organization is asking the community to bring their dancing shoes! The event, which begins at 7 PM, features Jenni Johnson, a talented musical artist known for her powerful voice, charismatic performances, and diverse set lists. Jenni is joined on stage with her band The Junketeers.

Sue Gillis of Vermont Women’s Newspaper writes, "Jenni Johnson has been performing to enthusiastic audiences over the past decade, from Vermont to New Orleans to Russia. No one sits still when her band kicks in and Johnson’s voice takes hold of those present. She glides seamlessly from Cajun to blues or soft jazz to rock n’ roll."

Over the past year, Open Hearth, which is a local nonprofit organization, has worked to develop many resources and programs for the community. The organization launched the new after-school program at Fayston Elementary School, completed a community playground at the Big Picture Theater and Café, and offered a Circus Minimus camp for children this past summer. Open Hearth runs a Pre-K enrichment program and offers a variety of programming for all ages including yoga, karate, art, dance, women’s self defense, music, language, financial planning workshops and more.

The annual holiday benefit helps support Open Hearth’s community programs. Tickets for the show are $20 per person. Individuals interested in making a larger contribution to the organization may purchase tickets at $50 or $100 (all but $20 is tax deductible.) The ticket price includes music and food provided by the Big Picture Café.

Important Dates

December 8 Moretown Artisan’s Sale

December 12 Early Dismissal

December 13 Green Mountain Orchestra comes to Moretown

December 14 Popcorn Sale

December 24 – January 1 NO SCHOOL, December Break

January 21 NO SCHOOL

January 31 Winter Concert, 6:30 p.m.

PARENTING FORWARD

An Adlerian Parenting Series

Tuesdays 6:30-8:00 in January and February

Moretown Elementary School

January 15 Redefining in the 21st Century: Creating Possibilities for Families in the New Millennium

January 22 Everything is Possible: Motivating Our Children Toward Appropriate and Responsible Behavior

January 29 Listening Doesn’t Mean Agreeing: It is Possible to Hear Our Children and to Have Our Say

February 5 Loving Limits: Creating boundaries that Encourage Cooperation and Mutual Respect in Families is Possible

$15/person for individual sessions

$40/person for series with advanced registration

Childcare available with advanced registration

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. Deborah’s learning also includes degrees in Education and the Applied Healing Arts which combines theories and perspectives from East and West in science and philosophy.

M E M O R A N D U M

Date: December 4, 2007

To: Washington West School Board Members,

WWSU Central Office personnel,

WWSU Building Administrators

From: Ann Griffin, Chair

WWSU School Board & WWSU Executive Committee

Re: Superintendent Candidate Screening Committee

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

The Washington West Supervisory Union School Board has voted to open a search for a new superintendent and has contracted with the Vermont School Boards Association for consulting services for the search process. The WWSU Executive Committee has been charged with forming a Superintendent Candidate Screening Committee to work with the VSBA consultant and guide the initial search process that will conclude with recommending finalist candidates to the WWSU Board.

The Screening Committee shall provide information on the finalist candidates’ experience, specific skills, and related background details to the full WWSU board following completion of the initial screening process, although the committee will not rank order the candidate list. The WWSU Board retains the authority to hire the new superintendent.

Screening Committee membership shall be constituted as follows: 3 Board members, 1 Central Office professional, 1 Central Office staff, 3 Building Administrators, 2 teachers, 1 support staff, 1 community member/business leader, 1 parent and 1 student.

The WWSU Executive Committee will select members of the Screening Committee based on criteria that include geography, roles, and experience from the outlined list of members. The commitment required will be a minimum of 5 committee meetings over a period of approximately 90 days with additional time required to review search materials. Email and internet access is necessary for participation in the process.

School board members interested in serving on the committee should contact me directly via phone or email. SU Board members may also recommend interested individuals from their respective school districts. Letters of interest from Building Administrators, teachers, support staff and Central Office staff should be sent to Laura Titus, Washington West SU, 1673 Main St., Waitsfield, VT 05673 or via e-mail at laurawwsu@yahoo.com. Building Administrators should forward recommendations for parent and student representatives to Laura as well.

The deadline for submitting letters of interest is 10:00 a.m., Monday, December 10, 2008. The WWSU Executive Committee will approve the proposed committee slate at their scheduled meeting on December 11. Prospective committee members should be available for the initial meeting with our VSBA consultant within a week after returning from the holiday vacation.

I apologize for the short lead time on this but it is imperative that WWSU begin the search process immediately to maximize our ability to attract the best superintendent candidates available. On behalf of the WWSU Board, I appreciate your time and interest in participating in the search for a new superintendent. Please feel free to contact me with any questions or requests for additional information.

Sincerely,

Ann Griffin

WWSU Board Chair

(802) 244-8789

agriffinvt@aol.com