A newsletter from Stowe Elementary School

PO Box 760, 254 Park Street, Stowe, VT 05672 USA
P: 802­.253.­4154 F: 802.­253.­6915 W: www.stoweschoolsvt.com

Thursday, September 29, 2016

September 29, 2016

This blog is for students, parents, faculty and staff. Announcements are posted on Mondays with new items added daily. Always refresh this page to view the latest news. Please click the Archive link to view past announcements, and Follow By Email if you wish to be notified when there are new posts.



Community Input Needed


The Stowe Town Meeting Task Force, a group formed by the Stowe Selectboard to make recommendations to increase participation at Town Meeting, is currently engaging the community in order to better understand how the community values the annual meetings, whether there are barriers to participation, and how the meeting can be made more relevant in today’s digital and fast moving society. 

Please take a few minutes to complete their survey, which is also available at www.townofstowevt.org.

Participation in the Annual Town Meeting, which coincides with the Annual School District Meeting, has declined over the past ten years, from 10% of registered voters to 3.5%.
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Monday, September 26, 2016

Week of September 26, 2016

This blog is for students, parents, faculty and staff. Announcements are posted on Mondays with new items added daily. Always refresh this page to view the latest news. Please click the Archive link to view past announcements, and Follow By Email if you wish to be notified when there are new posts.
OPEN HOUSE 
This Thursday Evening, September 29
You're Invited!

We encourage you to visit our school according to the schedule of presentations.  There are many opportunities to attend presentations and meet teachers.  This is an evening to celebrate learning opportunities at Stowe Elementary School.  Children can accompany their parents to this event.  Please make sure that your children are supervised by you for the entire evening, and are quiet during the presentations.





Presentation Schedule

6:00 - 6:15  Kindergarten                                                    7:00 - 7:15 Grade 4
6:20 - 6:35 Grades 1 & 2                                                      7:20 - 7:35 Grade 5
6:40 - 6:55 Grade 3                    

K-3 Teachers will be here from 6:00 - 7:00;  4-5 Teachers will be here from 6:45 - 7:45 to greet you and explain programs. 
                  
Unified Arts and Other Visitation Options
6:30 - 7:30
  
Art - Mrs. Volansky                                                       Consulting Teacher - Mrs. Boerger
Band - Mr. Gagnon                                            Literacy Instructional Coach - Mrs. Casey
Library - Mrs. Faith                                                 Math Instructional Coach - Mr. Greene
Music - Mrs. LaClair                                                      School Counselor - Mrs. Monahan
Spanish - Señora Reina                                                  School Nurse - Mrs. Hedenberg   
Physical Education - Mr. Barney                   Speech/Language - Mrs. Crowder-Thomas   
PTO and Community Representatives in the Dining Area


SCHOOL BOARD BRIEF
September 20, 2016

Principal Search + Town Meeting Survey   A number of parents attended this week's school board meeting with questions about the search for a high school principal to replace Jeff Maher, who announced his retirement in August. Briefly, the process will begin in December with the formation of a search committee comprised of teachers, parents, and administrators. The committee will be appointed by our superintendent, Tracy Wrend, and board chair, Cam Page. As our schools are well regarded, we expect high interest and a quality pool of candidates. The committee, in consultation with Superintendent Wrend, will bring their recommended candidates to the school board for for a hiring decision as early as March. Mr. Maher sets a high bar for his successor and we are committed to finding the best possible principal for Stowe High School.

David Jaqua presented the board with information on the Stowe Town Meeting Task Force, a group formed by the Stowe Selectboard to make recommendations to increase participation at Town Meeting. Participation in the Annual Town Meeting, which coincides with the Annual School District Meeting, has declined over the past ten years, from 10% of registered voters to 3.5%.

The Task Force is currently engaging the community in order to better understand how the community values the annual meetings, whether there are barriers to participation, and how the meeting can be made more relevant in today’s digital and fast moving society. Please take a few minutes to complete their survey, which is also available at www.townofstowevt.org.


NEWS AND EVENTS
  • Community Meeting:  Friday, September 30 at 8:20 in the gym.  Mrs. Annetts' class will be presenting.  You're always welcome to join us!
  • Stowe Education Fund:  Please visit this NEWSLETTER to learn about the many ways the SEF supports our schools.
  • Student Council:  Our student council members for Fall, 2016 are:  Lucy Andrus, Molly Bryan, Izzy Choularton, Hannah Crawley, Macey Crowder, Enzo DeLena, Isabel Donza, Linnea Dreslin, Grace Evans, Maddox Gregory, Emma Roy, Andrew Weber, and Ian Zimmerman.  Congratulations to these students - you are playing an important leadership role in our school!
  • PM Plans:  Parents, please plan ahead and communicate clearly with us regarding your child's after-school plans.  If there is a change in plans, please let our office know no later than 12:00 PM.   We need your support in order to get all the students home safely.
  • Bus Riders:  If your child rides Bus 4 after school to a special program such as tennis, swimming lessons, or cooking classes, please try to make other arrangements on Tuesdays and Thursdays.  As long as there is room on the bus they can ride; however, the bus was past full capacity last week. If you can get your child to the activity another way, it would be appreciated.
  • Morning Drop-Off:  When dropping your children off for school in the morning, please drive by the front door rather than the parking lot near the bus lane.  If you are in the parking lot for another reason, do not drive between the cones.  These are important procedures designed to keep your children safe.
  • Nut-free Table:  Our nut-free table is set aside for children who may have allergies to food products containing nuts; however, an unintended consequence of providing this space is that children may not get to enjoy eating and socializing with their friends.  If you wish for your child to sit at the nut-free table with a friend, please complete this FORM for our office.
  • Morrisville Rotary Coat Drive:  For more information about this important community event, please click HERE  
  • Attendance:  Please take a few minutes to read this informative article by the National Association of School Principals about school attendance. Attendance
  • Mount Mansfield Ski Clubhouse:  You're invited to their Open House on October 2.
  • Birthday Book Club:  Thank you to the families that have already started to send in forms for participation.  Please click on the link and fill out the form with your child's information and send it back to school with a check or cash in your donation amount.  In the entryway at SES below the PTO bulletin board, there is a folder with paper copies. If you have any questions about the program, please email me at flashflud1@aol.com.  Thanks,  Diane Lepikko
  • Friday Program:  Materials for our Friday activities program will be coming soon! Please start to talk with your child about options for Friday Program so that you can return the materials to us soon after receiving them.



IMPORTANT DATES

Band Instrument Pick-up - September 27, 6 PM

Open House - September 29, 6-8 PM

 Community Meeting - September 30

School Board Meeting - October 3 

 Make-up Photo Day - October 10



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Monday, September 19, 2016

Week of September 19



This blog is for students, parents, faculty and staff. Announcements are posted on Mondays with new items added daily. Always refresh this page to view the latest news. Please click the Archive link to view past announcements, and Follow By Email if you wish to be notified when there are new posts.

LEARN MORE ABOUT OUR SCHOOL

I'd like to invite you to explore our website to learn more about Stowe Elementary School and Lamoille South Supervisory Union.  Go to the SES Home Page, click the "About SES" tab, and read our Mission Statement in the right column.


SCHOOL BOARD BRIEF
September 15, 2016

Act 46 Self Evaluation Process Begins  Over the summer, the State Board of Education published draft rules for school districts seeking an alternative to merging under Act 46. This week, the Stowe and Elmore-Morristown school boards met to begin the self-evaluation process required for an "alternative governance structure," in our case two separate school districts operating collaboratively under the umbrella of the Lamoille South Supervisory Union (LSSU). This process will continue for months to come and, as always, the meetings are open to the public. The LSSU board will continue the self-evaluation process at their next meeting on November 30, 2016. Stowe and LSSU minutes and agendas can be found on the new Stowe Schools website


NEWS AND EVENTS

  • Community Meeting:  Friday, September 23 at 8:20 in the gym.  Mr. Barney will be presenting.  You're always welcome to join us.
  • Birthday Book Club:  Thank you to the families that have already started to send in forms for participation.  Please click on the link and fill out the form with your child's information and send it back to school with a check or cash in your donation amount.  In the entryway at SES below the PTO bulletin board, there is a folder with paper copies.  You can grab on there too. If you have any questions about the program, please email me at flashflud1@aol.com.  Thanks,  Diane Lepikko
  • Friday Program:  Materials for our Friday activities program will be coming soon! Please start to talk with your child about options for Friday Program so that you can return the materials to us soon after receiving them.
  • Message from Stowe Vibrancy:  Calling all bakers for the 2016 Blue Ribbon Apple Pie baking contest!
    A special feature of our Stowe Foliage Art on Park this year: a first Blue Ribbon Apple Pie contest. This is OPEN ENTRY for any and all bakers (kids, grandparents, and you!). Simply bake a pie and bring the pie and the recipe to the Stowe Vibrancy judging tent at Stowe Foliage Art on Park on Saturday, 9/24. Submissions will be accepted from 11am - 11:30am. Tasting and judging occurs between 11:30am and 12:45pm. Winners are announced (Top 3) at1pm. 

    $150 prize to the Blue Ribbon Winner!
    $75 prize to the 2nd place
    Stowe Cider gift pack (non-alcoholic) to the 3rd place

    See registration form  Questions?  Please contact shari@stowevibrancy.com


IMPORTANT DATES

Community Meeting - September 23

Chorus - Monday for Grades 3 & 4, Tuesday for Grade 5
7:45 - 8:25

School Board Meeting - September 19 

Band Instrument Pick-up - September 27 









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Monday, September 12, 2016

Week of September 12


This blog is for students, parents, faculty and staff. Announcements are posted on Mondays with new items added daily. Always refresh this page to view the latest news. Please click the Archive link to view past announcements, and Follow By Email if you wish to be notified when there are new posts.



FIRST FULL WEEK OF SCHOOL

 We're ready for the first full week of learning together!

tower builders
and
cubby readers







Welcome - Alyssa Barnes
Long-term Substitute Consulting Teacher


Alyssa has been a special educator since 2005.  She received her elementary education license from Saint Michael's College in 2002 and a Master's in Special Education from Johnson State College in 2007. Alyssa is excited to be joining the SES community to support students, teams and teachers to experience successful, inclusive school opportunities.  She lives in Stowe with her husband, two children and dog.

Alyssa is filling in for Jana Alperen, who will return next month.



NEWS AND EVENTS
  • Community Meeting:  Friday, September 16 at 8:20 in the gym.  Ms. DeLena's class will be presenting.  You're always welcome to join us.
  • Photo Day:  Thursday, September 15.  Full school photo on the playground at 8:05 AM.  Don't miss this photo opportunity!  It will be on display all year.  Class and individual photos throughout the day.   Forms are available in the office if you haven't received one.
  • News from Mr. Gagnon, Instrumental Music Teacher: This info sheet is designed to help you figure out which band your child should play with this year.  
Beginning Band:
For students starting to learn a new instrument.
Rehearsals: Tuesdays and Thursdays, 7:45am in Mr. Gagnon’s room.  Our first rehearsal will be Tuesday, September 13th.  (Students should come regardless of whether or not they have their instrument yet).
Lessons: Tuesdays during the school day.
Here’s a link with info about our instrument rental night with Ellis Music: I’M A LINK!
Advanced Band:
For students with one or more years of experience playing their instrument.
Rehearsals: Mondays and Wednesdays, 7:45am in Mr. Gagnon’s room.  Our first rehearsal will be Monday, September 12th.  (Students should come regardless of whether or not they have their instrument yet).
Lessons: Thursdays during the school day.  (So, bring your instrument Mondays, Wednesdays, and Thursdays).
Here’s a link with info about our instrument rental night with Ellis Music: I’M A LINK!
As always, feel free to contact me with any questions.
Thanks!
-Andy Gagnon
IMPORTANT DATES

Community Meeting - September 16

 Chorus - Monday for Grades 3 & 4, Tuesday for Grade 5
7:45 - 8:25

 Band - Week of 9/12 (see info above)

Photo Day - September 15

 School Board Meeting - September 19 

 Band Instrument Pick-up - September 27 

Open House - September 29, 6-8 PM

LINKS


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Tuesday, September 6, 2016

Week of September 6

This blog is for students, parents, faculty and staff. Announcements are posted on Mondays with new items added daily. Always refresh this page to view the latest news. Please click the Archive link to view past announcements, and Follow By Email if you wish to be notified when there are new posts.
Thanks to Everyone!

We had a wonderful first week!
  We enjoyed enthusiastic and engaged children who were ready to learn. 
We ended our week with the Ices Social.

Learning Together
Playing Together

NEW STUDENTS!
We welcomed 18 new students in grades 1-5 this year.  They moved from the following places:  Vermont, Florida, Tennessee, New York, Maine, Ohio, Texas and England.  Our current enrollment is 330 students.

 FIRST COMMUNITY MEETING
This Friday, September 9 at 8:20 in the gym.  Ms. Limanek's class will be presenting.  You're always welcome to join us.


 PM PICK-UPS
We have a new procedure for students who are going to be picked up in the afternoon. Students will come into the gym and be seated on the bleachers in a designated area to wait for you.  We want this time of day to be safe, respectful and sociable for parents and children.  


 NEWS AND EVENTS

  • PTO News:  Please return the PTO Student Directory Form to the office by Friday, September 9, or email all of the information to Sara Teachout at sarateachout@gmail.com.  This is required every year in order for your family to be included in the PTO Student Directory.  Thank you!
  • Message from Diane Lepikko:  Birthday Book Club! Welcome to all the new and returning families!  I am happy to be co-facilitating the Birthday Book Club this year with Genevieve Thompson.  If you are not familiar with the program, here is what it is all about:  Parents/guardians will fill out the BBC form and donate money to purchase a book for the SES library in honor of their child's birthday.  Gen and I will come to school three times during the year for BBC celebrations.  Your student will come to the library during one of these designated times and pick out a book (pre-purchased by Mrs. Faith, our librarian).  We will put a sticker nameplate in the front cover of the book with your child's name, birthdate, and year donated.  This program, thanks to the generosity of the families at SES, has donated thousands of dollars worth of books each year (I am currently in my 11th year as co-chair).  So, print up those forms (link above) and send them in with a check made out to SES PTO.  If you send cash, please put it in an envelope with the form.  Thanks!
  • Message from Maria Sullivan:  Stowe Dance Academy classes begin Tuesday, September 6th.  Join us for Ballet, Jazz, Tap, Hip Hop, Lyrical, Contemporary & Creative Dance.  Info and registration HERE 

IMPORTANT DATES

First Community Meeting - September 9
Chorus - 9/12 for Grades 3 & 4, 9/13 for Grade 5
Band - Week of 9/12
Photo Day - September 15

Open House - September 29


LINKS AND ATTACHMENTS
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