Week of November 28, 2016

PTO POSTS

• Yearbooks:  The yearbook team is already working to create a treasure for every child.  More information about ads or ordering:  Yearbook

NEWS AND EVENTS

• Community Meeting:  Friday, December 2, at 8:20 in the gym.  Rory Shamlian from Grow Compost will be presenting.  You're always welcome to join us!
• SEF Holiday Open House:  December 6.  Start your holiday shopping and support local businesses and SEF at the same time!  SEF Open House      

                  What:  Holiday Open House Shopping Event, 5% of proceeds to SEF

                  When:  Tuesday, December 6 from 5-9 PM

                  Where:  Shops at Mountain Road Marketplace with pop-up shops

 

          Meet and Greet with SEF board members form 7:30 - 9:30 at Idletyme.  Come and               meet our board members, learn about our fundraising priorities for the year and sign             up for volunteer opportunities..  Stay tuned about an upcoming raffle for this event!

                 

• Pulsera Project:  The Pulsera Project is coming to Stowe again!  Fourth grade students will once again be selling colorful, hand-woven pulseras (bracelets) before school in the Spanish classroom beginning Monday, December 5.  The pulseras are made by over 150 artists in Nicaragua and Guatemala.  Each one costs $5 and comes tagged with the photo and signature of the artist who made it. Proceeds from this project sustain employment for over 150 artists in addition to funding educational programs, scholarships, workers' rights, environmental programs, fair trade advocacy, and human rights in Central America.  

• Latin Dancing:  Thank you to the PTO for sponsoring our artist-in-residence, Constancia Gomez, the week of December 12.  Students will be dancing during Spanish classes as they learn the steps of the Cumbia, Salsa, Regeton, Bachata and Tango.  All are welcome to attend our Community Meeting performance on Friday, December 23!

• Help Needed with Friday Ski & Snowboard Program:  We are looking for more volunteers to help with Friday Afternoon Ski and Snowboard groups.  Whether you can commit to certain days or can be on a substitute list, we need more volunteers to keep group sizes small (4-6 kids per group).   

What's required:

Attend a mandatory 1-day safety clinic on December 17 or 18

What you get:   

A day pass validated on the Fridays that you attend AND a 1-day lift ticket voucher than can be used Sunday - Friday, with the exception of some black out dates, and is transferable to family and friends!

Program dates:

Jan. 6, 13, 20, 27; Feb. 10, 17; March 10, 17

Please call SES at 253-4154 to receive more information!

• Stowe Children's Lantern Parade:  This event is sponsored by Stowe Vibrancy and Stowe Mercantile.  The parade starts at Stowe Elementary School on Friday, December 2 at 4:30 PM.  Please pick up your lanterns in the Music Room at 4:20. The parade, led by Mr. Dacales, travels up to Main Street to light the trees and the store fronts.  We are planning on singing a few traditional songs in front of the Memorial Building.  The parade ends on the Village Green when the lights on the big trees on Main Street will magically turn on at around 5:30.  Afterwards, the children can go back to the SES gym for cider, donuts and games.  Parents must accompany their children during the parade. 

• Stowe Land Trust:  Animals of the North. 

• Stowe Refugee Outreach Club:  This group is sponsoring a clothing drive.  For more information, please click HERE.

• Birthday Book Club:  The forms are in and I want to thank all the families who signed up.  Our first celebration will be December 8. Children who have birthdays in August, September, October and November will come to the library to choose one book to donate.  Any remaining money goes to the SES library. If you would still like to sign up, please pick up a form in the entryway at SES.  Thank you for making this program such a success.  If you have any questions about the BBC, please contact Diane lepikko at flashflud1@aol.com.

• Stowe Youth Hockey:  Skate Classes.  Learn about skate classes and House Mites. 

Important Dates

December 6 - Early Dismissal (12:00 PM)

December 24 - January 2 - No School

LINKS

Appletree Thanksgiving Adventure

November Lunch Menu

Yearbook Order Form

Hunger's Hard, Baking's Easy

Stowe Free Library Policy on Child Safely

Apple Tree November Adventure

Karate Kids

Lego Family Afternoon at Helen Day

Craft Fair Fundraiser

Counseling Groups Permission Form

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.

Week of November 21

Happy Thanksgiving!  

Welcome

We extend our warmest SES welcome to Kingsley Sdankus, who will be teaching 4th grade for the remainder of the school year.  Mrs. Sdankus is from Colchester, Vt, where she currently resides with her husband and dog, Buca.  She attended Champlain College, graduating with a BS in Elementary Education.  After teaching for a year, she decided to earn TESOL (Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages) certification at UVM.  She lived and taught English in Tanzania for a year at a boarding school for girls.  In her spare time, Mrs. Sdankus loves to be outside, play field hockey, scuba dive and spend time with family.  She also volunteers as an EMT with Colchester Rescue.  

PTO POSTS

• PTO Meeting:  Monday, 11/28, 11:00 AM, Piecasso.

• Thank you:  We want to thank all of the families and kids who came to the SES movie night!  A special thank you to all those who donated food and time to make this movie night so successful, including Stowe Cinema, with a generous popcorn donation. Thanks to your support, we raised $607 to pay for each student to receive their very own yearbook!  We look forward to seeing all of you at the Spring SES movie night!

• Yearbooks:  The yearbook team is already working to create a treasure for every child.  More information about ads or ordering:  Yearbook

NEWS AND EVENTS

• Help Needed with Friday Ski & Snowboard Program:  We are looking for more volunteers to help with Friday Afternoon Ski and Snowboard groups.  Whether you can commit to certain days or can be on a substitute list, we need more volunteers to keep group sizes small (4-6 kids per group).   

What's required:

Attend a mandatory 1-day safety clinic on December 17 or 18

What you get:   

A day pass validated on the Fridays that you attend AND a 1-day lift ticket voucher than can be used Sunday - Friday, with the exception of some black out dates, and is transferable to family and friends!

Program dates:

Jan. 6, 13, 20, 27; Feb. 10, 17; March 10, 17

Please call SES at 253-4154 to receive more information!

• Stowe Children's Lantern Parade:  This event is sponsored by Stowe Vibrancy and Stowe Mercantile.  The parade starts at Stowe Elementary School on Friday, December 2 at 4:30 PM.  Please pick up your lanterns in the Music Room at 4:20. The parade, led by Mr. Dacales, travels up to Main Street to light the trees and the store fronts.  We are planning on singing a few traditional songs in front of the Memorial Building.  The parade ends on the Village Green when the lights on the big trees on Main Street will magically turn on at around 5:30.  Afterwards, the children can go back to the SES gym for cider, donuts and games.  Parents must accompany their children during the parade. 

• Stowe Land Trust:  Animals of the North. 

• Stowe Refugee Outreach Club:  This group is sponsoring a clothing drive.  For more information, please click HERE.

• Birthday Book Club:  The forms are in and I want to thank all the families who signed up.  Our first celebration will be December 8. Children who have birthdays in August, September, October and November will come to the library to choose one book to donate.  Any remaining money goes to the SES library. If you would still like to sign up, please pick up a form in the entryway at SES.  Thank you for making this program such a success.  If you have any questions about the BBC, please contact Diane lepikko at flashflud1@aol.com.

• Stowe Youth Hockey:  Skate Classes.  Learn about skate classes and House Mites. 

Important Dates

November 23 - 25 - Thanksgiving Break

December 6 - Early Dismissal (12:00 PM)

December 24 - January 2 - No School

LINKS

Appletree Thanksgiving Adventure

November Lunch Menu

Yearbook Order Form

Hunger's Hard, Baking's Easy

Stowe Free Library Policy on Child Safely

Apple Tree November Adventure

Karate Kids

Lego Family Afternoon at Helen Day

Craft Fair Fundraiser

Counseling Groups Permission Form

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.

The Road to Proficiency-based Learning at Stowe Elementary School

Welcome to the start of our monthly communication for personalized and proficiency-based learning in our schools.  As we continue to share information, we don't want to pass by a critical question; why are these changes being made?

Education in the 21st Century:

Twenty-first-century education is about responding and adapting learning to the way             technology, information access, and the global economy have changed over time, and         especially in the past few decades.  Education must infuse core competencies such as         critical thinking, digital literacy, research skills, collaboration and problem-solving into             learning so that students have the skills needed to succeed in today's world.

In addition, new cognitive research provides us with a better understanding of the brain, how children learn, and the conditions and environments that both promote and block growth and learning.  These insights give us the opportunity to engage students for better learning and design classes and curricula that best meet students' individual needs as we continue to inspire and prepare every student for success.

To read more about 'why,' including Act 77, Cognitive Science and 21st Century Skills, grab a cup of coffee and visit:  


https://sites.google.com/lssuvt.org/pbl/why-pbl/21st-century-education?authuser=0

As we head down the road to proficiency, we are starting to see great progress being made. At the elementary level, students are actively setting learning goals and reflecting on their own progress related to specific content.  Teachers are developing and utilizing learning scales to help students measure their accomplishments and determine their next steps as they approach the desired learning targets.

We look forward to keeping you informed as we go and answering your questions along the way.  Please visit this link to learn more:

https://sites.google.com/lssuvt.org/pbl/home?authuser=0

Week of November 14

THANK YOU FOR A GREAT FALL SESSION OF
PARENT/TEACHER CONFERENCES!

Testing the design

Building

Reflecting

PTO POSTS

• PTO Meeting:  Monday, 11/28, 11:00 AM, Piecasso.

• Yearbooks:  The yearbook team is already working to create a treasure for every child.  More information about ads or ordering:  Yearbook

NEWS AND EVENTS

• Thanksgiving Meal:  Please join us on Wednesday, November 16.  Link

• Community Meeting:  Friday, November 18, at 8:20 in the gym.  Mrs. Raymond's class will be presenting.  You're always welcome to join us!

• Improbable Players: Parent event:  Monday, November 14, 7:00 - 8:30, SHS Auditorium.  Every Teen Feels the Pressure:  Talking to your kids about drugs and alcohol is not a one-time conversation.  It's a discussion that needs to begin early and continue regularly throughout their time as students and beyond.  Join the Improbable Players, an interactive theater group, as they facilitate a discussion that explores the themes of experimentation, addiction, and how we as parents and community members can support our kids.

• Birthday Book Club:  The forms are in and I want to thank all the families who signed up.  Our first celebration will be December 8. Children who have birthdays in August, September, October and November will come to the library to choose one book to donate.  Any remaining money goes to the SES library. If you would still like to sign up, please pick up a form in the entryway at SES.  Thank you for making this program such a success.  If you have any questions about the BBC, please contact Diane lepikko at flashflud1@aol.com.

• Stowe Youth Hockey:  Skate Classes.  Learn about skate classes and House Mites. 

• Fall Family Hike:  Stowe Land Trust is sponsoring a family hike on November 19 at 10:00 AM.  The meeting place is Wiessner Woods parking lot off of Edson Hill Road. Don't let stick season get you down; get outside with SLT on a kid-friendly hike.  Free. All ages welcome!

A Turkey on Every Table: The Stowe Schools, in partnership with local churches and the Lamoille Family Center, are collecting food to feed 30 families. Please help by taking a feather and returning the item listed to that same location by Thursday, 11/17. We have freezer space available at each school. Please give gift cards to the office.

Important Dates

November 16 - SES Thanksgiving Meal

November 23 - 25 - Thanksgiving Break

December 6 - Early Dismissal (12:00 PM)

December 24 - January 2 - No School

LINKS

November Lunch Menu

Yearbook Order Form

Hunger's Hard, Baking's Easy

Stowe Free Library Policy on Child Safely

Apple Tree November Adventure

Karate Kids

Lego Family Afternoon at Helen Day

Craft Fair Fundraiser

Counseling Groups Permission Form

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.

Principal Search Committee Appointments

FROM THE SUPERINTENDENT

Tracy Wrend

Stowe High School
Principal Search Committee Appointments

As Jeff Maher will be leaving Stowe High School for new adventures, the School Board must make the very important decision of who will be the next principal at Stowe High School.  The board and administration have successful experience with administrator search processes, and have framed a thoughtful plan for attracting and selecting a strong educational leader who will strengthen and grow Stowe High School into the future.

The process includes the appointment of a search committee, comprised of teachers, community members and facilitated by an administrator, to give input into the process.  Search committee members will review applications and conduct initial interviews.  The committee will record their perceptions regarding the qualities and experiences each candidate might bring to Stowe High School.  The information from the search committee will direct additional exploration of candidates, and, ultimately, inform the decision of the board.

Dan Morrison will facilitate the work of the search committee.  Teachers Norm Williams, John Kennedy, Anne King and Jane Lambert will serve on the search committee.  Parents and community members John Chudzik, Kerry Glanz, Emily Rosenbaum and Terrie Wehse have also graciously agreed to serve on the committee.  Their very important role is to represent the perspective of the many community stakeholder groups in Stowe in the process.  Questions, concerns or suggestions should be directed to Superintendent Tracy Wrend at tracy.wrend@lssuvt.org.

The Road to Proficiency at Stowe Elementary School

Families,

An important message follows from Lamoille South Supervisory Union regarding ongoing communication about Proficiency-based Learning. Proficiency fact sheets will be available at November parent/teacher conferences and through these convenient links:  Vermont's Shift Toward Proficiency and The Road to Proficiency in our Schools.  

As you explore the PBL website, we invite you to ask questions and share your concerns or ideas.  We are eager to communicate our new learning with you as we begin to implement the foundational aspects of proficiency-based learning at SES.  

Best,
Marty Lacasse

Welcome to the start of our monthly communication for personalized and proficiency-based learning in our schools. We know you have a lot of questions as we work toward implementation of proficiency-based assessments in our schools by the start of the 2017/18 school year.

As a start, we are pleased to announce some new tools:

• Go to the PBL Website for detailed information regarding the what, why and how of proficiency-based learning, FAQ's, and additional resources.
• Proficiency FACT sheet will be available at November parent-teacher conferences.
• Monthly updates and information through this newsletter.

There are several things to keep in mind as we embark on The Road to Proficiency:

• While development of proficiency assessment and grading is a work in progress, student learning and academic rigor will remain constant.
• Teachers are at different places with their development of proficiency assessment tools and learning scales, but your children will start to see proficiency scales introduced in their classrooms.
• While Act 77 requires us to move to a proficiency-based learning system, it is also designed to be flexible and allow us to implement in ways that meet the needs of all our students, teachers, and schools.

Looking back, we realize we missed an opportunity to share our progress along the way and keep you more informed. Going forward, as we implement the new tools for learning in the classroom, we will continue to provide information and updates, and invite you to speak with us along the way.

Week of November 7

PTO POSTS

• Clothing Swap:  Are you clearing your closets to prepare for new winter clothes and gear for your growing children?  The PTO is sponsoring a clothing swap on Movie Night, 11/10, before the show.  Everyone is welcome to join in recycling clothing, coats, boots, and shoes for our SES children.  We need your help! Please bring your donations to share or swap to the SES office by the end of the school day on 11/10. We ask that all donations are clean and in good working order.  Contact Carrie Noonan at 802.760.9300 or carriehospicern@live.com with questions or to volunteer your time.  Thank you!

• Yearbooks:  The yearbook team is already working to create a treasure for every child.  More information about ads or ordering:  Yearbook

NEWS AND EVENTS

• Thanksgiving Meal:  Please join us on Wednesday, November 16.  Link
• Community Meeting:  Friday, November 18, at 8:20 in the gym.  Mrs. Raymond's class will be presenting.  You're always welcome to join us!

• Parent/Teacher Conferences:  11/11: 11:00-7:00.  Please sign up through PTC Wizard on the Stowe Elementary School Website.  Go to "For Parents" and click on "Conferences" in the dropdown menu.

• Lost & Found:  All items are on a table between the dining area and the art room and will remain there until Monday, 11/14, after which they will be donated.

• Stowe Youth Hockey:  Skate Classes.  Learn about skate classes and House Mites. 

• Fall Family Hike:  Stowe Land Trust is sponsoring a family hike on November 19 at 10:00 AM.  The meeting place is Wiessner Woods parking lot off of Edson Hill Road. Don't let stick season get you down; get outside with SLT on a kid-friendly hike.  Free. All ages welcome!

• Play It Again STOWE:  A used gear sale, sponsored by SHS Chinese Program. Donate your child's outgrown equipment and gear up for the season.  Used Gear Sale

A Turkey on Every Table: The Stowe Schools, in partnership with local churches and the Lamoille Family Center, are collecting food to feed 30 families. Please help by taking a feather and returning the item listed to that same location by Thursday, 11/17. We have freezer space available at each school. Please give gift cards to the office.

Important Dates

November 10 - Movie Night

November 11 - Parent/Teacher Conferences (No School)

November 16 - SES Thanksgiving Meal

November 23 - 25 - Thanksgiving Break

December 6 - Early Dismissal (12:00 PM)

December 24 - January 2 - No School

LINKS

November Lunch Menu

Yearbook Order Form

Stowe Free Library Policy on Child Safely

Stowe Free Library Presents Author Willem Lange

Apple Tree November Adventure

Karate Kids

Lego Family Afternoon at Helen Day

Craft Fair Fundraiser

Play It Again, STOWE

Counseling Groups Permission Form

After School Art Classes at Helen Day Art Center

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.