Posted 3/30/23
Dear Families,
This week’s tragic shooting at The Covenant School in Tennessee is an all too painful reminder of the senseless acts of violence that can occur at any time and for which we always need to be prepared, even if this is a far cry from the ideal we would wish for our community and world.
We have not officially addressed this week’s tragedy with students in a school-wide manner, but this week teachers were already in the process of preparing students for a “Clear the Halls” drill, which was scheduled for this morning and took place as planned. “Clear the Halls” is the term our school uses for lockdown procedures. Practicing these procedures regularly is essential to our staff and students’ understanding of emergency protocols and expectations.
If your students ask you about the drill at home, I encourage you to address any questions or worries they may have, especially in light of this week’s tragedy. Below are resources that can provide some guidance if you choose to engage the topic at home, or if your child(ren) has questions. Please reach out to me if you have any concerns or if I can be of support to your family.
The pillars of our school’s constitution—to be safe, kind, and respectful—continue to be among the most important concepts we can teach our children and model for them. As I reflect on last night’s candlelight vigil mourning the loss of children and educators, I am grateful for our close-knit and supportive community.
Sincerely,
Tim
RESOURCES:
The following resources are recommended by the National Association of Independent Schools (NAIS):
Helping Children Cope with Tragedy
- Talking to Children About Tragedies (American Academy of Pediatrics)
- Helping Kids After a Shooting (American School Counselor Association)
- Promoting Compassion and Acceptance in Crisis (National Association of School Psychologists)
Media Consumption
- Children and the News (American Academy of Child & Adolescent Psychiatry)
- Explaining the News to Our Kids (Common Sense Media)
- Helping Children Cope with Frightening News (Child Mind Institute)
SCHOOL ANNOUNCEMENTS
Picture Day – Wednesday, April 12th
Order forms were sent home with students last week, or you can order photos online at mylifetouch.com using the Village School’s Picture Day code: EVT2WKMVT.
Chorus Practice – Wednesdays 3-3:45 p.m.
Current chorus students are reminded that practice will take place on Wednesdays instead of Thursdays starting next week (Wednesday, April 5). If your student (3rd-6th grade only) has not been a part of the program this academic year and would like to join, a parent/guardian should email their child’s name and grade to Music Teacher and Chorus Director Carla Boyle-Wight at cboylewight@vsnb.org. Teacher Boyle-Wight notes that current chorus students are already learning music for the spring concert, so there may be some catch-up needed.
COMMUNITY ANNOUNCEMENTS
Our Village Camp – Enrollment open for summer 2023
Join Lake Paran, Hiland Hall Gardens, the McCullough Library, and Vermont Arts Exchange for a week day-camp that includes swimming, gardening, summer reading, art, and lots of fun!
Each week, campers ages 6-12 will explore and travel to the unique places that make our village of North Bennington so special. Camperships are available on a limited basis so please register soon! For more information go to this link: https://lakeparanvt.org/programs-and-camps/2023-summer-camp. To register go to this link: https://lakeparanvt.org/programs-and-camps/.
Register now for the 2023 Lacrosse season with Mount Anthony Lacrosse Association (MALA)
MALA is a youth lacrosse club serving Bennington, North Bennington, Pownal, Shaftsbury, Woodford, and surrounding areas. Visit MalaVT.com for more information and to register for Spring lacrosse.
Student Art Street Banner Program
The Design Committee of the Better Bennington Corporation is inviting students to submit original art for the 2023 Downtown Street Banner program. All submissions will be juried, and the selected pieces will adorn Bennington’s new set of Downtown Street Banners. For more information, go to this link: www.betterbennington.com/post/student-art-street-banner-program.
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2022-2023 Business Partners in Education
Thank you to the following businesses for their support of the Village School!
PLATINUM LEVEL:
RCS Consulting: https://www.rcs.consulting/
Williams Financial LLC: https://williamsfinancial.net/
GOLD LEVEL:
Bank of Bennington: https://thebankofbennington.com/
D.B. McKenna & Co., Inc.: https://www.dbmckenna.com/
SILVER LEVEL:
Global-Z International: https://globalz.com/
BRONZE LEVEL:
Adam’s Lock & Security: https://www.adamslockvt.com/
Danielle D. Fogarty, PLC: https://www.ddfplc.com/
Madrus Masonry: madrusmasonry@outlook.com
Pangaea: https://vermontfinedining.com/
Power Guru: https://www.power-guru.com
Powers Market: https://powersmarket.com/
The Studio on Main: https://www.idenabeach.com/
West Oil Company: https://westoilcompany.com/
SPONSORS:
Bennington Express Car Wash and Repair: https://www.benningtonlubeandwash.com/
Bennington House of Tile and Carpet: https://bennington.abbeycarpet.com/
Bolio Propane Service, LLC: https://www.facebook.com/BolioPropaneServiceLLC/
The Bennington Bookshop: https://www.benningtonbookshop.com/
The Richards Group: https://therichardsgrp.com/
