Reminder! Tonight (May 10th)
You’re invited to the Slate Valley Unified Union School District Board (virtual) Meeting at 6:30 p.m.
Participation will be virtual only. Connect by http://meet.google.com/kbk-umff-mbp or join by phone (US) +1 617-675-4444 PIN: 565 144 524 6127#
Tonight’s Agenda: https://5il.co/sc46
Previous Meeting Minutes: https://5il.co/rril
The students in Ms. Robertson's class have been studying African culture, geography, animals, and plants. Recently, they read 'A Seed Is Sleepy' and planted African Marigolds! The book 'A Seed is Sleepy' by Dianna Hutts Aston was given to Castleton Elementary School through the CLIF Momentum Grant.
We are pleased to present the May 2021 CES Awards Assembly: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1iymmSsAScNQEJR_Gi3VVzeB8KnobFhGu/view?usp=sharing
Save the date! Please join CES and CVS in developing their family engagement procedures to support Slate Valley's Parent/Family Engagement Policy.
Prior to the meeting please review these draft procedures (https://5il.co/rx38) to be reviewed and revised at our meeting on May 13th from 5:30-6:30 p.m.
Join with Google Meet https://meet.google.com/kjc-vbuj-xha?hs=224 or by phone (US) +1 267-518-3495 (PIN: 800707020)
Vermont Forward Plan Clarifications to School Sports Guidance
With changes May 1 in the State’s COVID-19 guidance that included advancing to Step 2 of the Vermont Forward Plan, the transition of recreational sports programs to Universal Guidance, and an updated masking policy that requires masks outdoors when you are in a crowd or with other households where you can’t maintain a 6-foot distance, there have been a number of questions about how these apply to both recreational and school-based sports programs. Please review the following clarifications.
For athletes participating in school-based sports:
The most recent version of A Strong and Healthy Year Guidance, published by the Agency of Education states the following: All staff and students are required to wear facial coverings while in the building. They must also wear them when outside of the building if adequate physical distancing of at least six (6) feet cannot be maintained.
-Consistent with the Strong and Healthy Year guidance, athletes participating in low contact and no contact school-based spring sports (i.e., tennis, track and field, baseball and softball) are no longer required to wear masks so long as six feet of physical distance can be maintained. Baseball and softball players must wear masks while sitting in the dugout
-Athletes participating in sports involving moderate contact or close proximity (i.e., boys and girls lacrosse, ultimate frisbee) must continue to wear masks at all times during practice and game play.
All athletes must wear masks when being bused to a game or meet, in any indoor setting (i.e., locker room or training room), or participating in team-based meeting with six feet of physical distance cannot be consistently maintained.
For spectators at outdoor school-based or recreational sports events:
-Consistent with the Vermont Forward Plan, 300 unvaccinated people, plus any number of vaccinated individuals, can attend outdoor sports events as spectators.
Spectators are not required to wear masks at outdoor sports events so long as six feet of physical distance can be maintained between households.
For spectators at indoor school-based or recreational sports events:
-Consistent with the Vermont Forward Plan, one unvaccinated person per 100 square feet up to 150 unvaccinated people (whichever is less), plus any number of vaccinated people, can attend indoor sports events as spectators.
Spectators must wear a mask at all times while attending an indoor sports event.
If an event has no way of determining if an individual is vaccinated, assume all are unvaccinated for capacity limit.
5th Graders have been able to explore our pond at CES, live as well as under the microscope. More outdoor learning, at its best!
Save the Date!
Virtual Listening Tours with SVUUSD Board Members (Note: You are welcome to attend any of the meetings regardless of what town you reside in.)
Join board members for a conversation about Middle School Reorganization prior to their vote on May 24th.
May 17th, 6 PM - Fair Haven/West Haven - Connect by going to https://meet.google.com/pdu-abre-xnm or by phone (US) +1 585-532-5413 (PIN: 713397202)
May 18th, 6 PM - Castleton/Hubbardton - Connect by going to https://meet.google.com/gee-acpe-ota or join by phone (US) +1 442-900-4083 (PIN: 398252852)
May 19th, 6 PM - Orwell/Benson - Connect by going to https://meet.google.com/djm-sekz-bca or join by phone (US) +1 786-563-9119 (PIN: 104762513)
Good afternoon, as of this moment the Agency of Education has not changed their stance on mask wearing outdoors even though it was changed for the general public. Masks are still required for spectators at all Slate Valley athletic events. We will notify families when the Agency of Education changes their guidance. Thank you for your help with this.
Save the Date!
Virtual Listening Tours with SVUUSD Board Members (Note: You are welcome to attend any of the meetings regardless of what town you reside in.)
Join board members for a conversation about Middle School Reorganization prior to their vote on May 24th.
May 17th, 6 PM - Fair Haven/West Haven - Connect by going to https://meet.google.com/pdu-abre-xnm or by phone (US) +1 585-532-5413 (PIN: 713397202)
May 18th, 6 PM - Castleton/Hubbardton - Connect by going to https://meet.google.com/gee-acpe-ota or join by phone (US) +1 442-900-4083 (PIN: 398252852)
May 19th, 6 PM - Orwell/Benson - Connect by going to https://meet.google.com/djm-sekz-bca or join by phone (US) +1 786-563-9119 (PIN: 104762513)
Save the date!
On Monday, May 3, 2021, Slate Valley will hold a special screening of the documentary, “Angst: Raising Awareness Around Anxiety," online to open up a dialogue between local families, community leaders and experts. The event will feature a viewing of the 56-minute film, followed by an informative panel discussion, led by Kristin H. Benway, Director of Special Services, with special guests Megan Oldenburger, RMHS School Based Clinician, Michael Kell, School Counselor, and former Slater Cael Christian.
Register at https://us02web.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN__ElOViTuQDG2QTV7IWdFqA. iNDIEFLIX Education has sparked a global conversation about anxiety through screenings of its documentary, “Angst: Raising Awareness Around Anxiety.”
For more information: https://5il.co/rpnd
Please join CES and CVS in developing their family engagement procedures to support Slate Valley's Parent/Family Engagement Policy. Prior to the meeting please review these draft procedures (https://5il.co/rx38) to be reviewed and revised at our meeting on May 13th, 5:30 pm - 6:30 p.m.
Join with Google Meet https://meet.google.com/kjc-vbuj-xha?hs=224 or by phone (US) +1 267-518-3495 (PIN: 800707020)
Good Evening,
Please read the following letter regarding the special airing of “Angst: Raising Awareness Around Anxiety” on Monday, May 3: https://5il.co/ry3u
Students in grades K-4 read the Red Clover Book, Planting Stories, the Life of Librarian and Storyteller Pura Belpre. Pura became a bilingual storyteller at the New York Public Library and retold folk stories from Puerto Rico. She made her own puppets to recreate these wonderful stories. Our students created puppets to retell the story of the Tiger and the Rabbit.
Dodge House Donation Drive - A FHUHS Student’s R.E.A.L. Project
Please view the flyer here for more information: https://www.smore.com/xpe32
This drive is being held by the Slate Valley Unified School District. We hope to raise awareness of homeless Veterans, and support the Dodge House in Rutland, which "provides shelter, clothing, food, and an individualized program to reintegrate veterans back into the community and help them to achieve self sufficiency" (http://www.chcrr.org).
Donation boxes will be located in the front offices of all Slate Valley schools from March 29th and April 25th.
Save the date!
iNDIEFLIX Shines the Light on Anxiety with Must-See Documentary,
“ANGST: RAISING AWARENESS AROUND ANXIETY”
ANGST will screen live on:
Monday, May 3, 2021 AT 6:00pm
Register at https://us02web.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN__ElOViTuQDG2QTV7IWdFqA
iNDIEFLIX Education has sparked a global conversation about anxiety through screenings of its documentary, “Angst: Raising Awareness Around Anxiety”.
On Monday, May 3, 2021, Slate Valley will hold a special screening of the documentary online to open up a dialogue between local families, community leaders and experts. The event will feature a viewing of the 56-minute film, followed by an informative panel discussion, led by Kristin H. Benway, Director of Special Services, with special guests Megan Oldenburger, RMHS School Based Clinician, Michael Kell, School Counselor, and former Slater Cael Christian.
For more information: https://5il.co/rpnd
Reminder! Tonight (April 19th)
You’re invited to the Slate Valley Unified Union School District Board (virtual) Meeting at 6:30 p.m.
Participation will be virtual only. Connect by going to http://meet.google.com/nmr-haqy-umb or join by phone (US) +1 617-675-4444 PIN: 151 630 604 3623#
Tonight’s Agenda: https://5il.co/rpa2
Previous Meeting Minutes: https://5il.co/ranl
Dodge House Donation Drive - A FHUHS Student’s R.E.A.L. Project
Please view the flyer here for more information: https://www.smore.com/xpe32
This drive is being held by the Slate Valley Unified School District. We hope to raise awareness of homeless Veterans, and support the Dodge House in Rutland, which "provides shelter, clothing, food, and an individualized program to reintegrate veterans back into the community and help them to achieve self sufficiency" (http://www.chcrr.org).
Donation boxes will be located in the front offices of all Slate Valley schools from March 29th and April 25th.
Dear Slate Valley Families,
I hope this letter finds you well. As we head into April break I would like to update you on new Guidelines released from the Agency of Education yesterday, April 8th. These guidelines are part of Vermont’s Reopening Plan. Starting on April 19th all students will need to be screened at home. We will not be doing temperature checks in schools. We will no longer require the form for entrance to school each day per the state guidelines. We ask that you continue to check temperatures and check for any signs or symptoms of COVID-19 and keep children home that have even 1 symptom. The Department of Health guidelines remain the same in managing illness. Please call your child’s school nurse with any questions as they can guide you in safe school attendance.
Additionally schools are now required to follow ACCD guidelines and Vermont’s Reopening Plan as such there is no quarantine requirement for travel. However, if your unvaccinated child does travel you are required to obtain a COVID test within 72 hours of return. Your child will be able to continue to attend school if symptom free. If you have planned travel, we encourage you to sign up on the Department of Health website for return testing before you leave and as the site allows. Documentation of the negative test may be required if a case of COVID-19 occurs in the school and your child is considered a close contact. Physician offices for the most part will not perform testing unless your child is symptomatic. Please continue practicing the best prevention measures of mask wearing, 6 foot distancing and hand cleansing during your travels to remain healthy and safe.
Social distancing has moved to 3 feet for all students with the exception of 7-12 students when eating. That will remain at 6 feet. Contact tracing is still determined based on the 6 foot standard so we will continue to keep all 7-12 students 6 feet apart whenever feasible. Adults will still need to maintain the 6 feet social distancing.
Masks continue to be required of students and staff at all times in the buildings regardless of vaccination status.
For more information please visit the Department of Health and ACCD.vermont.gov websites for more detailed and specific information on travel, quarantine, and vaccines. The Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) sections are very helpful.
I know this has been a hard road this year and your support for the school district has been very much appreciated. I truly hope you have a wonderful week with your children next week.
Best,
Brooke Olsen-Farrell
Superintendent
Students in Grades K-4 have been learning about Hummingbirds, with this year's Red Clover book, Hummingbird by Nicola Davies. Students created masks to celebrate this amazing little bird! Thank you to Miss Burke's 2nd grade class.
Tree Project Presentation Day - Thanks to Mr. Canty, 5th Graders have become expert researchers as a result of this project!
