And just like that, September ended this weekend. We hope you all had the opportunity to enjoy the beautiful weather this weekend and spot the foliage as it changes. We have a busy week ahead with NO SCHOOL for students on Friday 10/6 and also NO SCHOOL on Monday 10/9 in observance of Indigenous Peoples' Day.
BPS PTO
Are you interested in helping us get the PTO up and thriving this year at BPS? Please complete this short survey so we can schedule our first meeting of the 23-24 school year! Thank you!
Nurses' Notes
With a recent increase in illnesses, including COVID-19, across the state, we wanted to remind our school community of current guidelines.
Whether it’s COVID-19, flu, RSV or another contagious illness, everyday measures can protect you from getting sick or spreading germs:
Wash your hands often with soap and water.
Cover your coughs and sneezes with your elbow or tissue.
Avoid contact with others if you or they are sick.
Consider wearing a mask, especially if you or people you are with are at higher risk of serious illness, or if you have recently been around someone with symptoms of COVID-19.
Stay home when you are sick.
The Vermont Department of Health recommends that anyone with symptoms of COVID-19 stay home when they are sick.
If you test positive for COVID-19, you should begin the process of isolation. Please see Vermont Department of Health guidance on what to do if you test positive. Isolate at home away from other people for at least 5 days. Day 0 is the day your symptoms started OR the date of your test if you have no symptoms. Get medical care immediately if you have trouble breathing or chest pain. You can return to school on Day 6 if your COVID-19 symptoms have improved, and you have been fever free for 24 hours without using medication to reduce your fever.
Please see the Vermont Department of Health Close Contact guidance on protocols if you have been exposed to COVID-19. The school district has a limited number of COVID antigen tests available. Please contact your school nurse if you are in need of a test kit. You can also order one set of 4 free at-home tests from USPS.com. https://special.usps.com/testkits
The Vermont Department of Health recommends that if you do not have symptoms but have been in close contact with someone with COVID-19, it is recommended to test five (5) full days after the COVID-19 exposure.
If you use an at-home antigen test and the result is negative, test again 48 hours later.
If you have a negative PCR or LAMP test, no follow-up test is needed.
Vaccinations for COVID-19 are available at local pharmacies and your primary care provider’s office. The Vermont Department of Health supports COVID-19 vaccines as the safer way to build protection from serious illness. It is important to stay up to date on all of your vaccines, including Flu and COVID-19.
Music Notes
BPS Chorus
BPS Chorus will start on October 17th. Chorus is a singing group that rehearses once a week before school for 3rd and 4th grade students. If your child loves music or singing and would like to have more of it in their week, they should come to the first few rehearsals to see what it is like. Students may come without committing to the group during this trial period. If they decide they want to join chorus for the year, they can get a permission slip at one of the rehearsals and return it by November 17th* to officially be on the roster.
Chorus Rehearsal Schedule:
3rd Grade - Tuesdays from 7:40-8:10 starts 10/17
4th Grade - Blue Thursdays/Gold Fridays from 7:40-8:10, starts Friday 10/20
Please contact epalumbo@huusd.org with any questions or concerns.
*This has been changed from 11/22.
Greetings from Library Land!
It was lovely to see so many of you at Open House. I am very excited about this school year!
If you still have straggling books from the summer, please help your child get them back to school asap. Let me know how I can help. You should be getting a weekly notice from me. If this is not the case, please let me know.
Our second author visit was with Kelly Yang who wrote Front Desk this week. Last week was Peter Reynolds! What a wonderful opportunity BookBreak has been for us to hear from so many wonderful authors. These are virtual and varied. More to follow!
Are you organized? Do you like to tidy? How are your alphabetization skills?? I am looking for a volunteer or two to help with shelving here for a few hours each week. If this is up your alley, reach out. I train for free (but you do need to be an approved level 2 or 3 volunteer with HUUSD)!
Nancy Daigle
Last but not least, BACKGROUND CHECK: Tuesday 10/3 from 7:15 - noon, you are welcome to come to BPS to get your fingerprints done/volunteer paperwork completed. Bring your ID, $35 for background check fee and $13.25 for HUUSD to run a record check. If payment presents a hardship for your family, please reach out to Sarah Schoolcraft sschoolcraft@huusd.org. Background checks are taking 10+ weeks to be processed please come if you can!
In partnership,
Sarah & Chris
COMMUNITY POSTINGS
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.
Harwood Youth Basketball Association It's almost basketball season! Registration is open for 1st-6th graders to learn the game of basketball through October 15th!: https://go.teamsnap.com/forms/398110
The full list of age groups and options is below, along with pricing which helps cover insurance, equipment, referees, and uniforms the players will get to keep. We have scholarships available for anyone who needs one.
· 1/2 boys, 1 practice mid-week and 3v3 on Saturdays, MRV and Waterbury (2 days at Brookside) - $75 / player
· 1/2 girls, 1 practice mid-week and 3v3 on Saturdays, MRV and Waterbury (2 days at Brookside) - $75 / player
· 1/2 boys, mid-week only, MRV and Waterbury (2 days - at Waitsfield/Fayston/Moretown) - $75 / player
· 1/2 girls, mid-week only, MRV and Waterbury ( 2 days - at Waitsfield/Fayston/Moretown) - $75 / player
· 3/4 boys, mid-week only, both MRV and Waterbury (2 practice, no games) - Location TBD based on where players are coming from - $125 / player
· 3/4 girls, mid-week only, both MRV and Waterbury (2 practices, no games) - Location TBD based on where players are coming from - $125 / player
· 3/4 MRV boys, full program (2 practices, 1 game per week in Waitsfield/Fayston/Moretown/Waterbury) - $125 / player
· 3/4 MRV girls. Full program (2 practices, 1 game per week in Waitsfield/Fayston/Moretown/Waterbury) - $125 / player
· 5/6 MRV boys - Full program (2 practices at CBMS, 1 game per week) - $125 / player
· 5/6 MRV girls - Full program (2 practices at CBMS, 1 game per week) - $125 / player
· 3/4 Waterbury boys, full program (2 practices, 1 game per week) - In Waterbury - $125 / player
· 3/4 Waterbury girls. Full program (2 practices, 1 game per week) - practices at Brookside - $125 / player
· 5/6 Waterbury boys - Full program (2 practices at CBMS, 1 game per week) - $125 / player
· 5/6 Waterbury girls - Full program (2 practices at CBMS, 1 game per week) - $125 / player
All practices will begin in early November. Games schedules will be created in early November and games will begin in late November / early December. The season runs until the week before February break.
Harwood Youth Basketball is looking forward to another great winter of basketball, and we hope to have another great turnout! Please also consider volunteering to coach. Patience, enthusiasm, and availability are just as important as experience, and many hands make light work and more fun!
**Coaches are encouraged to visit BPS Next Tuesday 10/3 7:15am - noon for fingerprinting/volunteer paperwork - email Sarah Schoolcraft (sschoolcraft@huusd.org) for more info.
Please let me know if you have any questions.
Brian Godfrey
HYBA President
Children's Room Barn Dance
this Sunday!
Join the Children's Room this Sunday October 1st for a fun-filled family event at the beautiful Beard Family property in Waterbury Center. This is our biggest fundraiser of the year- $25 per family includes everything from harvest snacks to pony rides to face painting and more! Come support The Children's Room and have a fantastic fall afternoon:). Details are below.
Where: Beard Family Property, 1601 Barnes Hill Road, Waterbury Center, VT 05677 When: Sunday, October 1st, 2:00 to 5:00 pm What: We have TONS of family fun including harvest snacks, pony rides, hay rides, live music from the Valley Cats, games, dancing, face painting and more! Cost: $25 entry fee per family includes everything For more visit www.childrensroomonline.org