8/16/21
*Scroll down for FAQs
Dear Village School Families:
I hope everyone is having a wonderful summer break! The teachers, staff, and I are excited to welcome back all of our students in just over two weeks! We are looking forward to a return to a more “normal” school year, with five full days of in-person instruction in the school building, and, hopefully, resuming some of our traditional activities, programs, and events.
The first day of school for students in grades K-6 will be Wednesday, September 1, with drop off between 8-8:15 a.m. and pick up at 11:30 a.m. It saddens me to say that we won’t be able to have our First Day celebration of an assembly, parade, and barbecue with families, however, we are still planning a fun and festive day for students’ return to school! Please keep in mind that Pre-K students will begin school on Thursday, September 2, and there will be no school on Monday, September 6 (Labor Day).
The safety and health of our students, staff, and community is still our number one priority. In the decisions that we make, we are following the advice of state and federal agencies, such as the Vermont Agency of Education, the Vermont Department of Health, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, and the Academic Pediatric Association. Among our mitigation efforts will be a requirement for students and staff to wear masks while indoors, social distancing of at least three feet between students where practicable, and regular hand washing and/or access to hand sanitizers.
Parents and guardians will not be permitted into the building for drop-off and pick-up, regardless of vaccination status. Fully vaccinated adults will be permitted into the building for scheduled meetings, volunteering, and chaperoning for field trips. Visitors, volunteers, and chaperones will be asked to provide a copy of their vaccination card to the school nurse.
We will not conduct health screenings this year, however, we are asking for your help monitoring the health of your students and family members on a daily basis. It will be of the utmost importance that students with symptoms of COVID-19 and other infectious illnesses, as well as those in direct contact with persons who have tested positive for COVID-19, remain away from campus and classmates for the number of days recommended by medical professionals, depending on their situation. If your child or a member of your family becomes ill, please contact the school office so that we can support your student and family. During the school year, the office is staffed from 8 a.m.-3:30 p.m. and you can reach someone by emailing info@vsnb.org or by calling 802-442-5955.
While I do not have a crystal ball for the year ahead, rest assured that our school team is prepared to come together to address any challenge and to pivot to distance learning if needed. We remain committed to keeping children at the heart of all we do in providing them with an excellent academic experience and a nurturing, enriching environment within which to learn and grow.
Please read below for important information on the school schedule, meals, COVID-19 protocols and procedures, and other FAQs to help you and your students feel prepared for the school year ahead. If you have questions or concerns, you can contact me at tnewbold@vsnb.org or 802-442-5955 (ext. 201). Enjoy the remaining weeks of summer!
Thank you,
Tim Newbold
Head of School
*FAQs for 2021-2022
Schedule:
The Village School will be in session from 8:15 a.m. – 3 p.m., Monday-Friday. Morning gym will be open at 7:45 a.m., and students can be dropped off via the gym door. The lobby doors will open at 8 a.m. The school calendar is available on our website at https://vsnb.org/calendar.
Morning Drop-off (8 – 8:15 a.m.):
Students and adults are asked to arrive at school wearing their face coverings. Drop-off and pick-up will happen on both School Street and Church Street. If you have students in multiple grades, please use the location designated for your youngest student.
- 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 School Program:
The Village School is currently working on trying to provide after school care. As soon as there is confirmation of a program and more details, this information will be shared with families.
Masks:
Students and staff will be required to wear a face mask every day within the school building, regardless of vaccination status.
Acceptable masks include: multilayer masks made of washable, breathable fabric (the CDC recommends masks with two or more layers); disposable surgical masks (multilayer are best)
Unacceptable masks include: bandanas, neck gaiters (cloth tubes that wrap around the face), masks with valves (these only protect the wearer), knitted or fleece masks
>> Click here to read the CDC’s flier on “How to Select, Wear, and Clean Your Mask”
On the first day of school, please send your student in with a Rubbermaid-type of container or a washed wide-mouth container, such as a large yogurt or cottage cheese container (without lids). During snacks and meals, students will remove their face covers and place them in their own individual containers. If you do not have a container, the school will provide one.
Meals:
All students will 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), the Southwest Vermont Supervisory Union, and the Abbey Group. Breakfast will be served in the cafeteria from 7:45 – 8:15 a.m. Lunch will be served in the cafeteria, where students will eat with their classes at appointed times. If your student(s) wants to participate in the meal program, they can order from the school menu on a daily basis. For students who want to purchase milk only, there will be a cost for milk of .50¢.
Water:
Please send your student to school with a reusable water bottle that must be brought home for cleaning at the end of each school 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.
Cleaning the School Building:
The school building has been thoroughly cleaned and set up according to the current guidelines and recommendations from the Vermont Agency of Education, the Vermont Department of Health, and the Vermont Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA), with a huge thanks to the Village School’s terrific custodial team!
Stay Home When Sick:
School health personnel will use the COVID-19 in Pediatric Patients Flow Chart (Pre-K – Grade 12) Triage, Evaluation, Testing, and Return to School in partnership with pediatric providers and families to guide medical decision-making.
All students and staff should stay home if they:
- Show symptoms of COVID-19;
- Have a fever (temperature greater than 100.4°F); or
- Are currently in quarantine due to close contact with an individual with COVID-19 or in isolation due to testing positive for COVID-19.
If symptoms begin while at school, the student or staff member will be sent home as soon as possible, and the individual will be isolated from other staff and students until they can go home.
Visitors and Volunteers:
Fully vaccinated adults will be permitted into the building for scheduled meetings, volunteering, and chaperoning for field trips. Visitors, volunteers, and chaperones will be asked to provide a copy of their vaccination card to the school nurse. Parents and guardians will not be permitted into the building for drop-off and pick-up, regardless of vaccination status.
Four Winds Nature Program Volunteers Needed:
Nature loving volunteers are needed to help teach natural science lessons to students during the upcoming school year. Each volunteer teaches approximately five lessons to different grade levels throughout the year, either in the classroom or outdoors, as they prefer and as permitted with COVID regulations. No previous experience is necessary, and it’s a lot of fun! Volunteers have the opportunity to participate in Four Winds Nature Program training sessions to learn everything they need to know for teaching lessons. Although the program means a great deal to the school and students, the time commitment for volunteers is minimal and the rewards are plenty. For more detailed information, click here. If you are ready to sign up, please contact Judie Brower, the VSNB Four Winds Volunteer co-coordinator at jbrower@vsnb.org.
