Waitsfield Elementary School Rocks! 






September 8, 2016
Students supporting one another as we practice a bus evacuation.

Dear Friends and Families, 
       At this morning's assembly, 5th and 6th grade students shared some thoughts on community and leadership. Over the first few weeks, we do much to review our common expectations-- from how we do a bus evacuation to how we want to treat one another. While it can be easy to identify that we should all treat one another with kindness, it is more challenging to make kindness be our first response always. Students spoke about the impact on our community when we do lead with kindness, or are committed to being engaged. . .  it can take real effort to maintain this approach consistently, but doing so makes such a better community for us all. When you speak with children about their days, I encourage you to ask them about where they feel they were successful in achieving our shared expectations and where they find it challenging. Those challenges are opportunities through which we can grow ourselves and our community.
Respectfully,    Kaiya 

   
3rd and 4th grade students observing the milkweed around our school. We are happy to report they found lots of signs of activity there!

The Waitsfield School Board: Looking Forward

             As the new school year begins, the Waitsfield Elementary School Board would like to share our plans and work for the transitional year ahead.  Following the yes vote for school board consolidation in June, our board, along with all individual school boards from Waterbury to Warren, will finish all business and eventually disband by the end of 2017.  By July 1, 2017, the newly elected Harwood Unified Union School Board will be functioning in its place, overseeing the newly formed Harwood Unified Union School District (HUUSD).
           On August 31, the HUUSD held its organizational meeting presided over by Secretary of Education Rebecca Holcombe.  This meeting was largely a formality to swear in newly elected board members, and elect district officers.   Christine Sullivan and Rob Williams are the new Waitsfield representatives to the unified board.  The first working meeting of the HUUSD board will take place September 13th and be held on the 2nd and 4th Wednesday of each month thereafter.  These meetings, like all school board meetings, are open to the public.
       Although there will be one budget presented to voters for the entire HUUSD at town meeting, the WES Board will work to present a budget to the unified board during this time of transition to support budget development for the new district.   We will also share the Waitsfield school capital improvement plan with the unified board to help them understand the direction and facility needs of the Waitsfield School.  We will be engaged with the unified board in identifying their priorities and ensuring that communication channels are open to convey community perspectives.  To this end, the current Waitsfield School Board will work to establish a Community Council as laid out in the Act 46 Articles of Agreement, which will represent our community voice to the unified board.  
             Although there are great challenges in implementing Act 46 and school board consolidation, there is also great potential in streamlining our educational governance system. We hope and anticipate that it will lead to improved transparency in decision making, streamlining certain services, identifying fiscal efficiencies, and ultimately delivering a more cohesive educational framework for students from PRE-K to 12th grade.  The Waitsfield Elementary School Board would like to thank the community for all the support the school has received over the years. We hope that you will continue your involvement by attending unified board public meetings and continuing to support educational endeavors throughout the Washington West Supervisory community—from Waterbury Center to Warren. We will work hard to facilitate this transition over the coming year.
         - The Waitsfield School Board: Jonathon Goldhammer, Jeremy Gulley, Eve Frankel, Barclay Rappeport, Christine Sullivan

Waitsfield Elementary School Parent Teachers Association (PTA)
September 13th, 2016, 6:00 -7:15 pm, school library
Meeting Agenda

  • Welcome, Sign In, and Introductions.
  • First Day Celebration for 2017 (5 minutes)
  • Mad River Path Celebration and Ribbon cutting (5 minutes)
  • Open House, September 27 (5 minutes)    -Sign & Board for Ski and Skate sale (volunteers, Sign Up Board, table, etc.)
  • Summer Garden Recap (5 minutes)
  • Teacher Stipends (5 minutes)
  • Directory (10 minutes
  • Path Sponsorship (5 minutes)
  • Set dates for our yearly calendar (5 minutes)
  • Welcome letters to new families (5 minutes)
  • Ski and Skate Prep Meeting:  Set Date & Discuss planning strategies (10 minutes)
7:15 p.m. Meeting adjourns

  
Enjoying new equipment, and old friends at recess.

 

 


Waits Way is OPEN
       Under the direction of the Mad River Path, Brooke Scatchard and his team from Sinuosity have completed construction of Waits Way, the new half mile 6’ wide, gravel based trail that runs along the river and through the fields behind the school.  Thanks to MRPA Board members and the Concord, MA High School soccer team for building the new bridge on Waits Way. 
         The Mad River Path Association reminds everyone to stay on the path and respect Waitsfield School and the private landowners neighboring this new section. Parking for the path is available at the General Wait House or Waitsfield School; or park along the sidewalk or one of the other great Path trails that network with this new addition.


Community Announcements
Please note that the opportunities/events listed below are not specifically endorsed or screened by school staff; as always, families should use their own standards and review processes to determine appropriate activities.

Fall Swim Lessons at the SHaRC       Lessons for preschool, Level 1, Level 2, and Level 3 will be starting next week on Tuesdays and Wednesdays.  Prices are $50 for members and $89 for nonmembers.  For more information about specific times or to register, call the SHaRC at 583-6700.

September Clay Classes with Leslie Montalto.  3 - 5 p.m., 4 classes for $130.
Mondays Sept 12, 19, 26 and Oct 3rd
Tuesdays Sept 13, 20, 27 and Oct 4
Wednesdays Sept 14, 21, 28 and Oct 5
All supplies included. vtclaymobile@hotmail.com or 496-6948.

TRY OUT FOR THE USA LUGE TEAM      Boys and girls ages 9-13 are invited to try out for the USA Luge Team. Try outs will be held September 10th, 9am-12pm and 2pm-5pm, and Sunday September 11th, 1pm-4pm, at the Champlain Valley Exposition Center.   No experience necessary and it is free!  For more information call 800 USA-LUGE ext. 105.

PreK-Kindergarten Soccer      Registration is still open for the PreK-Kindergarten soccer program.  The program will meet on Saturdays ,September 10th - October 22nd, 9:00-10:00,at the Waitsfield School. You may come to the first practice to register.  For more information contact Dan Sullivan at sully@romesnowboards.com

The Instrument Petting Zoo        The Joslin Memorial Library presents a fun and interactive way for children and adults to see and hear a variety of musical instruments up close and get a chance to try playing them supervised by adult and high school musicians.  Please come and join the zoo on Saturday, September 10th, 2:00-4:00, at the Joslin Memorial Library.

Kids Night Out       Celebrate National Gymnastics Day at Regal, September 17, 6:00-9:00, ages 6+, minimum donation is $30 for 1 child, $55 for two siblings and $75 for three siblings.  All proceeds to benefit the Emily M. Lyman foundation, a non-profit foundation that helps provide financial support to Vermont families enduring cancer.  Register online(www.regalgym.com) or at the front desk.


Cello Lessons   Lessons with Suzanne Smith, at 449 Moretown Comon Road, will start the week of September 12th.  Two scholarships and two sliding scale placements will be available.  For more information contact Suzanne at 802-496-5273 or email cellochan3b@gmail.com


CALENDAR


9/13  6 p.m. PTA meeting (school library)



9/15 PK4 Photos
9/16 School Photos K-6th
9/19 School Board Meeting, 6:30pm
9/26-9/30 Way To Go Carbon Challenge
9/27 Open House; 5:30-6:30
9/29 5th/6th grade trip to Audubon Center
10/3-10/6 Way To Go Carbon Callenge
10/7 No School
10/10 No School


 
Congratulations to the food service programs in all schools in the Washington West Supervisory Union for being awarded the USDA “One in a Melon” award for having outstanding farm to school programs. 

Parents, teachers, community stakeholders, and students were invited to visit USDA’s Farm to School Census website and nominate their favorite farm to school program to receive the award.  According to the Farm to School Census, a total of 5,254 districts participated across the U.S. From that pool 50 school districts received the “One in a Melon” award.  

All over the country schools are redesigning their menus to incorporate local foods, harvesting vegetables out of school gardens, visiting farms, and meeting farmers/food producers to learn more about where food comes from.  The "One in a Melon" Winners are those with exemplary farm to school programs. Yum!
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Waitsfield Elementary School · 3951 Main Street · Waitsfield, Vermont 05673 · USA

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