Announcements Regarding What to Expect for the Last Month of School and Student Art Exhibit Participation Reminder

May 12, 2020

Dear Families,

Good news has been coming down from the state over the last week or so. As state modeling continues to indicate a slowdown in the spread of COVID-19, Vermont is gradually reopening. Governor Scott announced that outdoor recreation and limited social interactions may resume under strict health and safety precautions, summer programs have been given the green light, and child care centers can begin to reopen on June 1st. With the loosening of restrictions and summer around the corner, we have some important information to share with you about winding down the academic year. Thank you for reviewing the announcements below. 

Inside Out: Student Art Exhibit

We are still looking for more art to display in the Village School-Vermont Arts Exchange (VAE) Student Art Exhibit titled “Inside Out.” Please drop off your submission by the end of the day on Wednesday, May 13th. The VAE art submission bin is located just outside the front door of the school. For more information, read about the art show at https://vsnb.org/student-art-exhibition-2020/. The art exhibit will be open for viewing outside of the school lobby on Wednesday, May 20th. 

Progress Reports – What to Expect

The last day of school will be Friday, June 12, bringing to a close a spring academic term that has been like no other before. Teachers have had to adjust not only how they are teaching in the distance learning model but also what they are teaching and how they are assessing that learning. In order to reflect these circumstances, progress reports will be modified. Each teacher will start with the school’s standard progress report (the one that you are used to seeing); however, students will only be assessed on the lessons the teacher was able to cover and a supplemental section may be added, as needed. For example, you might see a lot of N/As (Not Applicable) for content that could not be covered or assessed effectively. Each teacher will provide families with a comprehensive narrative describing what topics and skills they covered and how your student is being assessed. Encore subjects, such as Art, Music, and Physical Education, will not be assessed, because they have been considered optional activities during the school’s closure. Please expect more detailed information about progress reports when they are emailed to parents/guardians in June. 

Sixth Grade Graduation Ceremony

This graduating class is not only special because of its outstanding students; it is also the first official graduating class of the Village School of North Bennington since its establishment as a town academy. Many of these students attended the Village School for all seven years of their elementary school education, and we are excited to recognize and celebrate their achievement. Given the challenging times we are living in and the uncertainty about what social distancing measures will be in place in June, we decided to plan a virtual graduation ceremony. It will have many of the elements of a traditional, in-person commencement ceremony, and the event will be open to all who wish to attend. Detailed information about this event and the exact date and time will be sent out soon. 

Celebrating the Graduates and the Year

Our hope is that the Village School community will be able to come together in late summer to celebrate the Class of 2020 graduates in-person and this historic school year. We are in the “idea phase” and look forward to sharing more details as we get closer to this time. If you have any suggestions and/or would like to help out when the time comes, please email friends@vsnb.org. 

Meal Balances

Many students still have balances due to the school cafeteria. If you received an invoice in the mail at the end of April, please pay the amount due as soon as possible (instructions were included with the invoice). If you are experiencing financial hardship, please contact Mr. Newbold at tnewbold@vsnb.org or 802-442-5955.  If your student has a positive balance on their cafeteria account, the credit will automatically be rolled over to next year.  If you would rather receive a refund check, please send an email to info@vsnb.org.  

Returning School Materials

We are making a plan for what school materials will need to be returned before the end of the school year, and the best and safest way for this to happen. Please keep your eye out for further announcements about this. 

The 2020-21 School Year

We are already thinking about the fall, and we are hopeful that classes will resume for in-person instruction. We are closely monitoring all official directives and the Vermont Department of Health and Agency of Education guidance on ways to mitigate the spread of COVID-19. Please be assured that as we move forward, we will continue to adhere to the best and safest practices and communicate with you each step of the way. We appreciate the time everyone took to respond to the school’s enrollment survey. Online registration for the fall will begin in late July. The opening day of school and our First Day Celebration will be on Wednesday, September 2nd. 

If you have any questions, concerns, or suggestions, please reach out to me.

Warm Regards,

Tim Newbold

Head of School

The Village School of North Bennington

“Children are at the heart of all we do.”

phone: 802-442-5955 ext. 201

email: tnewbold@vsnb.org

https://vsnb.org/