9/3/21
Dear Families,
It’s wonderful to be back together in person with your students! Their smiles are once again shining through colorful masks, and there’s a palpable sense of energy buzzing throughout the school!
The teachers and students got right back into the swing of things, establishing routines and diving into core subjects, as well as specials like art, music, and physical education. A lot happened in a few short days, and I encourage you to talk to your students this weekend about what they are learning and what they enjoyed most about being back at school!
Before sharing some nuts and bolts information below on topics like morning gym, meals, and after care, I want to remind you that school will be closed on Monday, September 6 for Labor Day.
When school reopens on Tuesday, September 7, please continue to do the great job you have been doing dropping off your students and picking them up at dismissal time. The procedures are below for your reference, and this information is also posted on our website. We appreciate your cooperation and support in helping this busy time of day flow safely and smoothly.
Importantly, please continue to be vigilant about monitoring your children at home before sending them to school. If your child has any of the following COVID-19 symptoms, keep them home from school and call the school to report their absence: fever (100.4°F or higher), nausea, cough, vomiting, shortness of breath, diarrhea, sore throat, fatigue, runny nose, muscle aches, headache, or loss of smell or taste.
Your child must be free of any and all of these symptoms for 24 hours before returning to school. If your child has any COVID-19 symptoms for longer than 24 hours, they should obtain a COVID-19 PCR test. Please communicate with our school nurse or the office if you are having your child tested for COVID-19. I encourage you to review the Vermont Department of Health’s COVID-19 information for families, which also includes information for returning to school following illness.
With all that business behind us, I hope your family stays healthy and enjoys the holiday weekend!
Warm regards,
Tim
Nuts & Bolts Reminders
The Village School is in session from 8:15 a.m. – 3 p.m., Monday-Friday. The school calendar is available at this link: https://vsnb.org/calendar.
Morning Gym (7:45 a.m.)
The gym/cafeteria is open at 7:45 a.m. for morning gym and breakfast, and students can be dropped off by using the gym/cafeteria entrance on School Street.
Morning Drop-off (8 – 8:15 a.m.)
• The Church Street “Drop-off Zone” is for families with students in Pre-K through First Grade. Staff members will escort these students into the school building. If you have older students, they should be dropped off here, as well.
• School Street is only for families with students in Second Grade through Sixth Grade.
As a reminder, students are expected to exit their vehicle wearing a face covering and will be required to use hand sanitizer at the entrance of the school building.
Afternoon Pick-up (3 p.m.)
All students will be dismissed at 3 p.m. They should be picked up at the same location at which they were dropped off in the morning.
- As a reminder, if your family has students in Pre-k – First Grade, you should pick up all of your students on Church Street. If your family only has a student(s) in Second Grade – Sixth Grade, you should pick them up on School Street.
- When the weather is inclement, students will wait in their classrooms and will be contacted when an adult arrives to pick them up. We will do our best to keep everything moving quickly and smoothly, but please understand that pick up may take longer than usual.
PLEASE NOTE: All students will be released to parents/guardians or a contact designated for pick up. Students in second grade through sixth grade can be dismissed to walk or bike home ONLY if the school office has permission from a parent/guardian. Please fill out this Google permission form if you give permission for your student to walk or bike home.
After Care Program
The After Care Program starts on Tuesday, September 7th. If you haven’t already registered, it’s not too late to sign up. It will be run by the Berkshire Family YMCA on-site at the Village School. The program includes outside play and gym time, gross motor games, crafts, homework help, and more! The After Care Program is available five days a week, from 3-5:30 p.m., with an option for early pick-up at 4:15 p.m. for a reduced rate. Registration is available on a weekly basis, from September 7 through December 21, and then registration will open again after the Winter Break.
>> Click here for After Care Program rates and registration.
Meals
All students have access to FREE breakfast and lunch for the 2021-2022 school year thanks to the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA), the Vermont Agency of Education (AOE), and the Abbey Group.
Breakfast is served in the gym/cafeteria from 7:45 – 8:15 a.m. Students do not need to order breakfast in advance. They can go directly to the cafeteria and order based on the daily menu options.
Lunch is served in the cafeteria, where students eat with their classes at appointed times. Students can order lunch on a daily basis directly from their teachers. The teachers collect lunch orders from students by 9 a.m. each day, and parents/guardians do not need to submit any paperwork or information online for lunch orders. For students who want to purchase milk only, there will be a cost for milk of 50¢.
>> Click here for the monthly school menu.
Water Bottles
Students should come to school with a reusable water bottle each day. If you are not able to provide a water bottle for your student(s), please reach out to School Nurse Kaitlyn Hewson at khewson@vsnb.org or 802-442-5955.
