Third and fourth graders in Allyship club got outside early this week to "graffiti" positive messages on the front walkway. Thank you for spreading kindness and encouragement!
The Leap Energy Fair was last Saturday 4/13 at CBMS. BPS students participated in the LEAP-BPS Poster Contest, and the winning LEAP poster was created by Samuel Butterfield (below, left) and Andrew Long (below, right) in Hopkins/Cunningham! They did a great job of summarizing much of the information from our presentation and of sharing the information in a creative and colorful way and have earned a Pizza Party for their 4th grade class! Congratulations!
Further information about the very important April 30 HUUSD Budget revote online here.
As many of you know, the school budget failed on Town Meeting Day. There is another vote that closes on April 30--for a revised budget that reduces expenditures by approximately $2 million. As we move towards the vote I encourage everyone to remain informed, encourage community members to do the same and to get out to vote. We have posted and found great candidates for the following positions for next school year:
2 Special Education teachers
Preschool teacher
PE teacher
Kindergarten teacher
Early Childhood Special Educator
Music Teacher
We can neither hire these candidates, nor offer contracts to our current awesome staff, without an approved budget. Another failed budget would result in loss of staff, both through not being able to secure contracts and as any further cost cutting would mean eliminating programs/positions.
The new budget represents a 7.63% increase in education spending and a projected 2.1% tax rate increase--prior to the State of Vermont applying the Common Level of Appraisal (CLA) for each town. Please keep in mind that the school district has no control of the calculation of the CLA; it is a result of a statewide comparison of homes' appraised values to recent sale prices for each town. See this link for more details on this specific budget.
Absentee voting is open now at town offices. Check out this district page to learn how you can attend informational meetings, find out where to vote, and learn additional details about the budget. You can also get to that page by going to the district home page and clicking the Budget Vote picture.
Please vote by April 30! If this budget does not pass, additional reductions to the budget will need to be made--which will have a direct impact on student programming See this link for more details on this specific budget.
Finally, spring break is 4/22-4/26 and we'll welcome you back on 4/29!
With appreciation,
Sarah & Chris
Music Notes
Concert videos - if you missed the Spring Concert last week, here are links to the videos!
T shirts - 4th grade students should return the t shirts they were given for the concert to their classroom teacher as soon as possible.
Chorus - Both 4th Grade Chorus and 3rd Grade Chorus will continue after vacation. More details to come from Mrs. Palumbo.
Happy Vacation, everyone!
-Mrs. Palumbo
Measles
The CDC is reporting a higher number of U.S. measles cases in 2024 compared to all of 2023. Many countries and travel destinations are experiencing measles outbreaks. Most cases reported in 2024 have been among children aged 12 months and older who had not been vaccinated against measles. Many of these cases have been linked to international travel.
Here's what you need to know:
Understanding Measles: Measles spreads through respiratory droplets and is characterized by symptoms like high fever, cough, runny nose, and a distinctive rash. It can lead to serious complications, especially in young children.
Vaccination: The most effective way to protect against measles is through vaccination. The measles, mumps, and rubella (MMR) vaccine is safe and highly effective. Ensure your child is up-to-date with their MMR vaccinations before traveling.
Travel Considerations: Before traveling, research the measles situation in your destination. Check for any travel advisories or outbreaks in the area. Avoid travel to places with ongoing measles outbreaks, especially if your child is not vaccinated.
Precautionary Measures: Encourage proper hand hygiene, covering coughs and sneezes, and avoiding close contact with sick individuals. These simple measures can help reduce the risk of contracting measles during travel.
Seek Medical Advice: If you're unsure about your child's vaccination status or have concerns about traveling to a measles-prone area, consult with your healthcare provider. They can provide personalized advice and recommendations based on your child's health needs.
Remember, staying informed and taking preventive measures are key to safeguarding your child's health while traveling. If you have any questions or concerns, don't hesitate to reach out to your school nurse or healthcare provider for guidance. You can find more information here.
BPS is offering a yearbook again!
It will be free of cost to 4th grade students (you do not need to order one).
All others can preorder (for $12.76) at this link:
Yearbooks will be distributed when they arrive in June.
📢 Attention Community Members! Your Input is Valued!
As we strive to provide the best educational opportunities for our students, the Harwood Unified Union School District (HUUSD) is seeking to amend our American Rescue Plan Elementary and Secondary School Emergency Relief (ARP ESSER) grant to support our upcoming summer school program.
We invite you to review and provide feedback on the proposed amendment to our ARP ESSER plan. The plan and a feedback form are posted on the HUUSD website at huusd.org/esser-funds. The proposed amendment will also be discussed at the HUUSD Board Meeting on May 8th.
You are also welcome to send questions or comments to the HUUSD Director of Curriculum and Technology, Shannon Lessley, at slessley@huusd.org or 802-583-7947.
Thank you for your continued support and collaboration in ensuring the success of our students.
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.
BPS PTO Green Up and Boogie Down Event
Please join us on Saturday, May 4th, from 2 to 4 p.m. at BPS for the 'Green Up and Boogie Down' event hosted by BPS PTO. We have a lineup of exciting activities: dancing in the gym, playing fun lawn games outside, and a delicious bake sale. The proceeds from the event will be used to help fund the BPS Ski Program.
A few details:
-Please attend with your child or have a supervising adult join them.
-Bring green-up day bags to the school for drop-off. A town truck will be parked in the front of the school in the drop off loop.
-Do you want to contribute to the fundraiser by donating to the bake sale?
YES! Please drop off the Bake Sale item in the location TBD. Please indicate what it is (i.e., Brownies, Lemon Bars, etc.) and what allergens it contains (examples of major allergens: milk, eggs, fish, crustacean shellfish, tree nuts, peanuts, wheat, or soybean.) Also, label any dish with your name and retrieve the dish the following week at BPS.
-Do you want to play a fun yard game?
YES! Please bring any yard game (e.g., corn hole, or ladder toss), and we will set it up outside.
Vermont Green Up Day is Saturday, May 4
Volunteers can help clean up Waterbury's roadsides, neighborhoods, and parks on Green Up Day. Here are details for Waterbury and Duxbury.
Waterbury
A local online signup has all the details for getting bags, dropping off what you collect, and letting others know where you plan to work as well as tips for being safe while Green-ing Up. The short version:
- Get bags starting Saturday, April 20, at Sunflower Market on Rt. 100 and starting Monday, April 22, at the municipal offices.
- Drop off on May 4 at the town highway garage, 8 a.m. to 4 p.m., or at Rodney's TrWaterburyGreenUp2024ansfer Station on River Road (near the Ice Center), 8 a.m. to 2 p.m.
- Please try to bag returnable bottles and cans separately if possible. The Clyde Whittemore Little League will collect and redeem them. Feel free to drop off your household bottles and cans as well.
- Do not leave bags on roadsides as there is NO pickup service.
- Tires found doing Green Up are accepted free of charge. Anyone wishing to recycle their used tires can drop off for $5/tire at either location.
- Visit the online signup at tinyurl.com/WaterburyGreenUp2024
Questions: Contact Waterbury volunteer Green Up coordinator Lisa Scagliotti, lscagliotti@comcast.net or 802-373-5878.
Duxbury
Duxbury Land Trust organizes there since 1997. Duxbury residents typically volunteer to pick up trash along the roadsides and streambanks. Get bags from the mailbox at the front door of the Duxbury Town Office. Volunteers place filled bags in the dumpsters at the Town Garage. There is no roadside pickup. Please don’t leave personal trash or tires in the dumpster. There will be someone there to help if you need assistance.
Be safe: wear gloves and appropriate footwear; do not pick up drug paraphernalia; watch out for ticks.
To volunteer or for more information, please contact Duxbury coordinator Jessica Engels at 978-846-3430 or jessicaengels58@gmail.com
