5/6/22
Dear Families:
Thank you for your support this week in participating in indoor masking. Next week, starting on Monday, May 9, we will transition to HIGHLY RECOMMENDED OPTIONAL MASKING. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention monitors and updates community levels on a weekly basis and is recommending indoor masking, and you can find more information about the CDC’s reporting and recommendations here: https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/your-health/covid-by-county.html.
All students will have the option of wearing a mask at school, and we will continue to respect individual choice. If you want your child to wear a mask, please let your student’s teacher know so that we can assist in supporting your family’s choice. Disposable masks will continue to be available for students as needed.
There have been many changes implemented by the Vermont Department of Health and the Agency of Education in how our school can handle and report COVID-19 cases. Our school is no longer allowed to do class testing and contact tracing. An update on our COVID-19 procedures is now included in the school’s general Illness Policy, which was sent home with students today. It is also available on our school website at this link: https://vsnb.org/illness-policy/.
The following are a few items of particular note:
- Anyone who tests positive for COVID-19 needs to quarantine for five days. Close contacts do not need to be quarantined but should test on the positive contact’s Day 5. The VT Department of Health remains an excellent resource, and more information on COVID-19 can be found here: https://www.healthvermont.gov/covid-19.
- Students who had a positive COVID-19 case can return on Day 6, provided they have no symptoms and have had no fever for at least 24 hours without the use of fever-reducing medicines. They will be required to wear a mask within the school building until Day 10.
- Stay home when sick: If your student is experiencing any symptoms or is not feeling well, even if they have tested negative for COVID-19, your student should stay home from school until symptoms resolve.
Additionally, weekly antigen tests will be sent home with all students every Friday to be used at your discretion. For the most accurate results, you should give your student(s) an antigen test for two days in a row, 24 hours apart. This is true whether you are using them for surveillance or close contact purposes or because your student has symptoms.
Our community has been remarkable in weathering the challenges of the past two years together, and I want to thank you for your ongoing support as we continue navigating public health concerns as part of providing students with the in-person education they deserve. Please reach out to me or to Covid Specialist Kim Krall (covid@vsnb.org) if you have any questions.
Warm regards,
Tim
SCHOOL ANNOUNCEMENTS
2022 Smarter Balanced Assessments (SBACs) Starting Next Week
Village School students in fifth and sixth grades will participate in the SBACs for English Language Arts (ELA) and Mathematics between May 9-12 and third and four grade students will participate in these assessments from May 16-19. Students in fifth grade will also participate in the Vermont Science Assessment. If you did not receive an informational flier from our school with the SBAC schedule or you have any questions, please contact your student’s teacher.
Village School Spring Auction Preview and All-Student Art Show – Saturday, May 14, from 11 a.m. – 2 p.m. in the school gymnasium and at the Left Bank Gallery
Enjoy a first look at auction items, the 4th grade plant and crafts sale to support Ukraine, and delicious baked goods. Then walk down the road to see the all-student art show happening at the Gallery at the Left Bank in North Bennington. More information available here: https://vsnb.org/vsnb-auction-preview-5-14-22/.
Volunteers needed: We would appreciate contributions of homemade or purchased baked goods for the auction preview event. Baked goods can be dropped off at the school on Friday, May 13, at morning drop-off or pick-up. Or, baked goods can be delivered to the school gym on Saturday, May 14 between 10-11 am. Please email Jennifer Richmond (rafflesmom@comcast.net) if you can contribute a baked good.
If you can help out at the Auction Preview Event, please email friends@vsnb.org.
COMMUNITY ANNOUNCEMENTS
Bicycle Rodeo – May 14 from 11 a.m. – 2 p.m. at the Bennington Station Parking Lot
Kids are invited to come on down so they can learn how to safely ride a bicycle, receive a fitted helmet, enjoy some food, and possibly win a new bike! This event is sponsored by VSECU. For more information, please see the Bennington Police Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/BenningtonPolice
Lake Paran Summer Camp
Registration is open for Lake Paran’s “Our Village Summer Camp.” Weeklong sessions from June 20 – August 19, from 9 a.m. – 3 p.m. M-F for children ages 5-12. Get to know the Village of North Bennington! Join Lake Paran and North Bennington organizations for programming that will focus on outdoor recreation, place-based activities, and learning. Each week campers will explore hiking, swimming, food systems, art, and learning about the natural environment in the North Bennington area. Every camper will be able to enroll in a swim lesson and have meals/snacks provided.
The mission is for this camp to be accessible to every family in and near Bennington, therefore scholarships are offered on a needs-basis. More information is available at this link: https://lakeparanvt.org/programs-and-camps/. For questions, please email Camille: lakeparanvista@gmail.com
Summer Vacation Arts and Wellness Programs and Camps for Kids in SoulSpace at the Sage Street Mill
Registration is open for Soul Space’s weekly summer camps focused on yoga, art, nature, and wellness activities. Students ages 6-12 are welcome. Village School students are being offered a 20% coupon for a one-week session. Click on the following link for the 20% off registration discount and more information: sagestreetmill.com/summer-camps.
2021-2022 Business Partners in Education
Thank you to the following businesses for their ongoing support of The Village School:
GOLD LEVEL
Bank of Bennington: https://thebankofbennington.com/
RCS Consulting: https://www.rcs.consulting/
SILVER LEVEL
D.B. McKenna & Co., Inc.: https://www.dbmckenna.com/
Danielle D. Fogarty, PLC: https://www.ddfplc.com/
Whitman’s / Poulin Grain: https://www.whitmansfeed.com/
BRONZE LEVEL
Adam’s Lock & Security: https://www.adamslockvt.com/
Idena Beach Photography:: https://www.idenabeach.com/
Maple Leaf Realty: https://www.mapleleafvermont.com/
Pangaea: https://vermontfinedining.com/
Power Guru: https://www.power-guru.com
West Oil Company: https://westoilcompany.com/
Williams Financial, LLC: https://williamsfinancial.net/
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/
Casella Waste Systems: https://www.casella.com/casella
The Bennington Bookshop: https://www.benningtonbookshop.com/
The Roasted Bean: https://www.the-roasted-bean.com/
