Dear Families,
The first day of school is fast approaching! I am excited to welcome our new and returning families for the 2022-23 school year! It is an especially momentous year, as the spring of 2023 will mark the Village School of North Bennington’s 10th anniversary as an independent school. Reaching this milestone would not be possible without our committed and caring faculty and staff, families, and friends of the Village School. Our school community’s support and partnership is what ensures that we continue living our mission of keeping “children at the heart of all we do.”
Please take note of the important information below for the start of the school year. I also encourage you to review the Village School Student and Family Handbook for our school’s complete policies and procedures.
I look forward to your students’ journey ahead of purposeful and joyful learning!
Warm Regards,
Timothy J. Newbold
Head of School
First Day of School
The first day of school for students in Kindergarten through Sixth Grade (K-6) is on Thursday, September 1st, with the school doors opening at 8 a.m. (Pre-K children will start school the week of September 6th). The official school day begins at 8:15 a.m. with children expected to be in their classrooms at this time.
The Village School First Day Parade will take place at 11 a.m., with students in grades K-6 leaving the school grounds from the basketball court and encircling the community. It’s a beloved tradition, and all family members and friends are welcome to join in the celebration. We encourage everyone to wear their Village School T-shirts or school gear (*see School Store below for purchasing information).
Dismissal and BBQ at 11:30 a.m.: Following the parade, students will be dismissed at 11:30 a.m. and students, families, and staff are invited to the school for a free BBQ lunch on the front lawn (weather permitting; otherwise, the lunch will be in the cafeteria).
Please note: There will be no breakfast, Morning Gym, or After School Program on September 1st. Morning Gym and breakfast will start on Friday, September 2; the After School Program (see registration details further below) will start on Tuesday, September 6. School will be closed on Monday, September 5, for Labor Day.
Arrival/Dismissal/Visiting the School:
The School Day procedures for Arrival, Morning Gym, Dismissal, and Visiting the school are posted at this link: https://vsnb.org/back-to-school-info-2022-23/. Please be sure to review this information, as changes have been made from last year’s procedures.
The After School Program:
The Berkshire Family YMCA manages the After School Program at the Village School. The program starts on Tuesday, September 6 and runs Monday-Friday from 3-5 p.m. The cost is $40/week (families may apply for financial assistance if needed). Half days will require an additional sign up, but the cost will be 50% off for families already enrolled in the After School Program. For more information and registration, use the following link: http://www.bfymca.org/vsnbsa.
Meals:
Breakfast and lunch are FREE for all students this year. If students purchase milk only, there will be a charge of .50¢. The breakfast and lunch menu will be sent home with students at the beginning of each month, and you can always find it posted online at this link: https://vsnbfood.abbeygroup.info/menus.aspx.
Village School T-Shirts & School Store:
We encourage students to wear their Village School T-shirts. If your student needs a new T-shirt, they will be on sale for $10 in the lobby on the first morning of school. You can also check out the new Village School Store for a fantastic selection of T-shirts, sweatshirts, bags, hats, outerwear, face masks, and even baby clothes in a variety of colors and styles! Our school does not require that your students buy any school clothing or supplies.
Health & Wellbeing:
The Village School takes the health and wellbeing of our students, families, and staff members very seriously. As such, we will continue to follow Vermont state guidelines surrounding COVID-19 and other infectious diseases. As we have throughout the pandemic, we will continue to communicate any changes to our operations quickly and clearly. We will continue to require students and staff to stay home when sick, as well as to encourage and support vaccination against COVID-19 and other infectious diseases. Please review the Village School’s Health Services and Illness Policy posted on our website at this link: https://vsnb.org/health-and-wellness.
We will continue to focus on keeping the school clean and safe for all who enter. And, we will continue to keep social-emotional learning at the forefront of our educational practices as we move beyond and recover from the impact of the pandemic. It is our most ardent hope that Village School operations will return to protocols that are more similar to those that were in place prior to the pandemic: masking will continue to be optional for all students and staff members; visitors will no longer be required to show proof of vaccination at the door; parents/guardians will be allowed to enter the school building during student pick-up time; and many in-person events and field trips will take place once again. While we cannot guarantee a complete return to pre-pandemic protocols, we are looking forward to resuming more favorite activities and far fewer restrictions than we have been able to in the previous couple of years.
Communications:
Our main method of all-school communications to parents/guardians is via email and text message. Every week, the school sends “current announcements” to families, and these announcements are also posted on the school website. Events, activities, meetings, and schedule changes are announced via email/text and posted on the website, as well.
Friends of the Village School (FVS):
Our school is overjoyed to be able to welcome volunteers back to our school this year! FVS is an organization that welcomes family members, friends, teachers, staff, and community members—any one who loves our school—for the purpose of providing community-building events and activities, as well as supporting students and classrooms with special activities, opportunities, and experience. We would love to hear from folks who wish to volunteer, as well as those who may have more time and interest to take on leadership roles. If you are interested in getting involved, please contact friends@vsnb.org.
Registration and Required Documents:
All students must be officially registered by September 1st. You should have received an email and text message from our school asking you to register your student(s) online. If you are having any difficulty with registration, please contact info@vsnb.org or 442-5955. Registration information and instructions are at this link: https://vsnb.org/registration-2022-23.
North Bennington Graded School District residents are asked to provide a recertification residency of affidavit or a residency affidavit and/or two proofs of residency. These requirements are listed on the “Forms” section of the school’s website for reference: https://vsnb.org/forms.
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If you have any questions or need assistance, please contact the school at info@vsnb.org or 802-442-5955. The school office is staffed from 8 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. from Monday-Friday while school is in session.
Testimonials
Mission
Children are at the heart of all we do. We nurture a child's curiosity, ignite enthusiasm for exploring, develop tools for inquiry, for invention, for achievement. We welcome families into a community-wide collaboration to help our children grow into their best selves - responsible citizens and stewards of the greater world, makers of the future.
