Current Announcements

2/5/2021

Dear Families,

We made it through another week, and we have been fortunate to keep school open thanks to the sacrifices and commitment of our staff, students, and families. We understand many people are growing weary of the COVID-19 precautions, and virtual Super Bowl parties are just not the same as the real deal, yet it’s critical that we adhere to the state’s recommendations and uphold best prevention practices—such as physical distancing, wearing a mask, and hand washing—as COVID-19 cases in Bennington County are at an all-time high.

Governor Scott’s executive orders and recommendations are still in effect meaning that Vermonters are not allowed to gather with people you don’t live with (except for socially distanced activities outside with mask wearing); and anyone returning to or traveling to Vermont for any purpose other than essential travel must follow the quarantine guidelines. Refer to the Department of Health COVID-19 website for prevention information and FAQs.

We are sending home a flyer with your students regarding Winter Break COVID-19 reminders and a distance learning reply form. If any member of your household engages in higher-risk COVID-19 activities or has COVID-19 exposure over the break, your student(s) will need to stay home until it is deemed safe to come back to school. The Health Department’s current recommendation is to quarantine and get tested as soon as possible and then again on day 7.

If you are a close contact to someone with COVID-19, the Vermont Department of Health states: “You need to stay home and away from other people to prevent further spread of the virus.” Here’s a link for testing information (https://svhealthcare.org/COVID-19/testing) and click here for information on what to do while you are waiting for test results.

Distance Learning will be available after the break for any student(s) who need it. If you know in advance that your student(s) will need this option, please fill out the form and return it to your student’s teacher next week or email info@vsnb.org. You can also leave a message at the school over the break.

Our plan is to return to in-person instruction following the break, but this will only be possible if our school community is staying safe and healthy. Thank you in advance for continuing to do your part to protect yourselves and one another.

Please contact the school at 802-442-5955 or info@vsnb.org if you have any questions or concerns. A few additional announcements are below.

Warm regards,

Tim Newbold

Next Week’s Meals Menu:

Click here for the breakfast and lunch menu for 2/8 – 2/14/2021

Notice to Village of North Bennington & Shaftsbury District 1 Voters:

Due to COVID-19 restrictions, the North Bennington Graded School District (NBGSD) Prudential Committee and the NBGSD Clerk have opted to mail ballots to district voters. Those ballots will be mailed to all North Bennington Village and Shaftsbury District 1 residents in early February. If you choose to drop off your ballot rather than returning by mail, the North Bennington Train Station Depot will be open for drop offs from 7:00 AM until 7:00 PM on March 2nd. One person will be allowed to enter the building at a time.

We STRONGLY encourage you to mail in your ballot. If you wish to receive an early absentee ballot for the Annual Town Meeting, the MAU Annual Meeting, and the Regional Tech Center Annual Meeting, you must request one from your Town Clerk.

North Bennington residents are reminded that they are part of the Town of Bennington and are entitled to vote for matters pertaining to the Town of Bennington, MAU, and also the Tech Center.

Shaftsbury District 1 residents must vote in Shaftsbury for all town matters. Neither the town of Bennington nor Shaftsbury are mailing ballots unless requested. If you wish to receive an early absentee ballot for the Shaftsbury Annual Town Meeting, the Bennington Annual Town and Tech Center Meetings, you must request one from the Town Clerks listed below.

Bennington Town Clerk (802) 442-1043
Shaftsbury Town Clerk (802) 442-4038

>> Click here for the VSNB Annual Report 2021

>> Click here for the Village of North Bennington Annual Report

Lake Paran Winter Break Camp – February 15-19 (8 a.m. – 4 p.m.)

Lake Paran is offering a week-long Winter Break Camp for North Bennington/Shaftsbury school students (K-6) featuring enriching environmental education experiences. The curriculum stems from place-based education focused on the ecological, physical, & cultural contexts of Lake Paran. For more information visit Lake Paran’s Facebook page. To Register, go to this link: https://form.jotform.com/210136480377150.

For questions, contact Camille Kauffman at lakeparanvista@gmail.

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THANK YOU TO THE VILLAGE SCHOOL’S 2020-2021 BUSINESS PARTNERS IN EDUCATION

All of these partners are helping to support many of our school programs. You can learn more about these partners at https://vsnb.org/bpie-sponsors

GOLD LEVEL:

Bank of Bennington: https://thebankofbennington.com/

SILVER LEVEL:

D.B. McKenna & Co., Inc.: https://www.dbmckenna.com/

RCS Consulting, Inc.: https://www.rcs.consulting/

Whitman’s / Poulin Grain: https://www.whitmansfeed.com/

BRONZE LEVEL:

Adam’s Lock & Security: https://www.adamslockvt.com/

Danielle D. Fogarty, PLC: https://www.ddfplc.com/

Global Z: https://globalz.com/

Maple Leaf Realty: https://www.mapleleafvermont.com/

West Oil Company: https://westoilcompany.com/