Well, our inservice day was well timed, given the temperatures on Friday and into today. Burrr! Fortunately these frigid temps did not impact our 2nd graders' trip to Trapps this week and we are hopeful for an as-scheduled ski program to start at Sugarbush for 3rd and 4th graders next week!
While the HUUSD does not have a specific temperature or wind chill level that would call for an automatic closure, district administration looks at warnings issued by local and national weather services as part of the many criteria used in determining if schools should be closed.
With student safety as our top priority, when the temperature drops below freezing, outdoor activities are limited. Under the advisement of the administration and nursing staff, cold weather may impact recess, physical education, and other outdoor activities during the school day.
It’s important that we work together so that our students are prepared to travel to and from school in cold weather conditions:
We encourage you to remind children to dress warmly
The HUUSD will work to make sure that our buses are warm for your children when they ride
Your child’s bus should always arrive within a five-minute window of its scheduled time. You may consider waiting with your child in a car until the bus comes. If traffic or events will impact the bus schedule by more than fifteen minutes, we will message families who might be impacted via SwiftReach.
We hope you are staying as warm as possible this weekend, and look forward to the first full week of February beginning Monday! Thank you for sharing your child(ren) with us.
In Partnership,
Sarah & Chris
HUUSD Social Emotional Learning Task Force Updates
This January our district has been focusing on the theme of Relationship Skills. Last month we learned a bit about social awareness, this month we are learning about the action of interacting.
As caregivers, we know that relationships are everywhere. Relationships are cornerstones in our home, in our schools and workplaces and in our community. Children have many different relationships in their lives. Whether it's being a lab partner in science, a member of a team, club, cast or band, a friendship group, or a member of a family, developing healthy relationship skills is critical. Having healthy relationships is not always easy and takes skill and practice (even for adults!).
Relationship skills is the ability to establish new relationships, to maintain positive relationships and friendships, to avoid social isolation, to resolve conflicts, to accept differences, to
be a contributing member of the classroom and community in which one lives, works,
learns, and plays, and to work productively and collaboratively with others. Children are learning to:
Be able to make and keep friends
Work with others toward a common goal
Resolve differences quickly
Cooperate as a group leader or a member of the group
Exhibit helpfulness
Here are a couple ideas about how to help your child at home:
For younger students:
Cook with your child: Ask your child to help make their favorite dish by following your directions, one at a time. Make sure to say “please” and “thank you” and acknowledge all of their efforts. This will not only help them learn about the art of listening, but teach them about the importance of being polite to others, especially while working on group projects.
Read stories together and talk about the relationships and interactions between the characters.
For all students:
Build a strong protective circle of adults and youth to whom your child can turn for advice or support by talking to them very directly about the people you value who treat others with kindness, respect, and caring attention.
Complete the Who’s Great At This challenge: Who’s Great at This?
Talk about and share your own “Characteristics of a Healthy Relationship”. What’s most important to you? What do you value in a relationship?
Simply ask- “who is a friend you value and why?”
Quote(s) to talk about:
“The most basic of all human needs is the need to understand and be understood. The best way to understand people is to listen to them. -Ralph G. Nichols
“Each friend represents a world in us, a world possibly not born until they arrive, and it is only by this meeting that a new world is born.” — Anais Nin
“A friend may be waiting behind a stranger’s face.” — Maya Angelou
“Trust is the glue of life. It's the most essential ingredient in effective communication. It's the foundational principle that holds all relationships.” – Stephen Covey
We hope that some of these may be helpful and assist your children in growing in their Relationship Skills. We appreciate partnering with you in this important work!
Best,
The SELTF
Characteristics of Healthy Relationships
Trust. Each person in a good relationship should know they can rely on each other. They know they can count on this person to come through for them and be supportive. They feel their secrets are safe with this person and that they can believe what the other person says to them. They believe the other person will not do anything intentional to hurt them.
Respect. In healthy relationships, people talk to each other in ways that don’t put down, insult, or belittle. They value each other’s time and opinions. They protect each other’s privacy and personal space.
Honesty. Each person should always be truthful and open. They can express what they want, or discuss their hopes, without fearing how the other person will respond. They don’t feel like the other person is hiding things from them.
Growth. In a healthy relationship, people want each other to enjoy their favorite activities, learn new things, and spend time with family and friends alike. In life, our hopes, fears, goals, and interests will constantly change, and people who are in good relationships will understand, and even embrace, those changes.
Empathy. Each person should be willing to understand and validate the other person’s perspective.
Balance of Power. In a healthy relationship, both people feel like they are on equal footing. They can make their own decisions without fear of retaliation or judgment. They feel physically safe. They respect each other’s opinions and independence. No one pressures the other person to do something that makes them feel uncomfortable. And they put equal effort into their relationship.
Compromise. Conflict is bound to arise in every relationship. People should be able to compromise and negotiate to a mutually agreeable solution when there are disagreements.
Communication. In a healthy relationship, each person can share their feelings, even when they don’t agree, in a way that makes the other person feel safe, heard, and not judged.
From Madame
Bonjour! We are halfway through the year, and I want to remind families about Linguascope. Here are the directions again. Please email me for the username and password at rchartrand@huusd.org.
Merci beaucoup!
Madame Chartrand
BPS T-Shirts!
A limited quantity of child small, child medium and child large t-shirts are available on a first-come, first-served basis. $12 each.
Please send cash or check payable to Brookside Primary School with the student's name and size indicated, to the main office.
Thanks!
Attention families of 4th graders:
Looking ahead to the transition to CBMS, their Ski & Ride program is in need of a new coordinator. Denise Rundle announces her departure from running this program: It's been a fun 6 years, even with Covid, we managed to make it happen. This program can not run without one or more persons willing and able to organize/run it. Ideally, it would be best as a group of 3 people to share the duties. One to handle ski transport and busing logistics, one for dealing with kids/parents, and the last to manage the volunteers. 1 Coordinator Epic local pass comes with every 50 kids that sign up so each of the 3 would get a pass. This program is limited to 150 kids at the moment based on the number of volunteers (some parents, teachers and a few community members) on the hill during the program, and the availability and cost of busing to and from the mountain. It could be larger or smaller based on who takes over and what their capacity is. It could also be moved to Sugarbush which was in discussion this year.
If you are interested please see me to start learning the ropes now. It would be a shame to see the program go by the wayside. Please contact me at ski_ride@wwsu.org to find out more information. Denise Rundle
COMMUNITY POSTINGS
Please note that the opportunities/events listed below are not specifically endorsed or screened by school staff. As always, families should use their own standards and review processes to determine appropriate activities
Please see detailed information and registration form below:
CLYDE WHITTEMORE LITTLE LEAGUE
It might not feel like spring outside just yet, but the start of the 2023 Little League season is right around the corner! Registration for all programs is open and can be found at clydewhittemorelittleleague.com. Programs are available for boys and girls aged 4-12. Information on each program can be found on the website. If you have questions about which program is best, please email Robyn Fulton at robyn@birchandpine.net with your questions.
To help you learn more about the upcoming season, here are some important dates to keep in mind:
3/4-4/15- Each Saturday there will be indoor trainings available at Crossett Brook Middle School for each age group. Participation in the indoor trainings is not required to play but helpful if you are able to attend. More information on timing for each session will be sent out as we get closer, but the sessions will be sometime between 9am-1pm.
4/1- Assessments during indoor training time for players looking to ‘play up’ into an older division.
4/15- Registration closes
4/22- Uniform pick up, picture packet hand out day, and opening day information day at Crossett Brook Middle School from 9am-1pm (specific times to be announced).
4/29- Opening Day! Picture day (Times to be announced). A little league parade and event will be held this day as well.
We are excited for a great start to the 2023 little league season. Typically, the season runs from 4/29-6/16.
T-Ball will be on Saturdays at Hope Davey in Waterbury Center.
Farm League will practice 1-2 times per week and will have games on Saturdays.
Minors and Majors Baseball and Softball will have 2-3 practices/week and a 10-14 game schedule with games against other towns.
Please consider volunteering to help coach a team. We will have coaches training and plenty of resources available to help you feel comfortable leading a team. We would love to have 2 coaches for each team and greatly appreciate parents who step up to help!
Harwood Hawks Youth Wrestling
Online Registration:
Who: Anyone in grades 3rd -6th
Where: Harwood Wrestling Room, Upstairs Gym
When: Tuesdays and Thursdays 5:45p-6:45p
Practice times will change as the season goes on, depending on gym availability.
First practice: Thursday February 16th
Cost will be AAU membership ($14) as well as tournament entry fee for wrestlers.
Bring: Shorts, Shirt, Wrestling Shoes and Water
See you in the wrestling room!
If you have any questions please contact:
Casey Moulton 802-522-5502 or truehumanacademy@gmail.com
Medicaid Rules are changing in April 2023! Learn more at the Town Hall.
Important Medicaid update for Vermonters!
Vermonters currently enrolled in Medicaid and Dr. Dynasaur will once again see renewal notices in their mailboxes. The renewal process has been on pause since March 2020. States have been required to keep people on Medicaid with a few exceptions. It has helped protect people from breaks in health insurance coverage and access to care. This is changing. Vermont is preparing for the end of this requirement. It is known as the Medicaid unwind process. The "unwind" is when states restart the Medicaid renewal process for members. This process will happen gradually and be spread out over a 12-month period. Starting in April, Vermonters will be contacted when it is time for them to renew. If a customer is no longer eligible for Medicaid, they will get a notice. The notice will tell them why they are no longer eligible or if more information is needed. If no longer eligible, they will learn how to apply for other health insurance with financial help. Many Vermonters who can’t get Medicaid may be able to get a plan for less than $25 a month through Vermont Health Connect.
The Medicaid unwind process for all Vermonters will take just over a year to complete. This process will impact the follow Vermont Medicaid programs:
Medicaid for Children and Adults (MCA), including Dr. Dynasaur
Medicaid for the Aged Blind and Disabled (MABD)
VPharm
Medicare Savings Program
Disabled Children's Home Care
Healthy Vermonters program
What should you do now?
Please update your address and pay attention to their mail for important information.
Look for social media posts, articles, and other tools designed to prepare Medicaid enrollees for this change.
Know and Understand what is happening and your options.
Got Soap?
Harwood has sent a cohort of students and chaperones over to Rwanda for the last 15 years as a cultural immersion. While we are in Rwanda, students practice ethnography by interviewing community members who work with local nonprofits. In return, we bring supplies that our partner organizations have requested. This year, A Friend Indeed is looking for SOAP. A Friend Indeed works to improve living conditions for single mothers, who are typically stigmatized in Rwandan society. We are looking to collect around 1,250 bars of unused soap for A Friend Indeed by Friday, February 10th.
Please drop off any donations at Brookside Primary, Crossett Brook Middle School, Moretown Elementary, Fayston Elementary, Harwood Union MS/HS, or Waterbury Public Library in the designated collection boxes. If you have any questions, please contact Tara Cariano at tcariano@huusd.org.
Eco Fest!
Friends of Eco at Moretown School is excited to announce the return of ECO Fest - a school wide celebration to raise awareness and funds for the outdoor education program at Moretown Elementary School. ECO Fest will take place on Sunday, February 19th from 1pm - 4p and will host activities such as sledding, herbal tea tastings, a slideshow, donut making, and indigenous drumming. Students and families from fellow HUUSD elementary schools are invited to participate and thereby learn about ECO's goals, benefits, and progress to date.
Girls on the Run
Coach Volunteers Needed
Volunteer to be a Girls on the Run coach for Brookside Elementary this spring! The impact of a Girls on the Run volunteer coach is as boundless as it is beautiful. The Girls on the Run program is an after school program that uses a research based curriculum to empower, increase self-worth and spark joy in its participants. Our 10-week season begins the week of March 27. Our team will meet twice weekly for 90 minutes each session to connect, move, learn and have FUN! Not a runner? Haven’t coached before? No problem! Girls on the Run VT (GOTRVT) provides training, easy to follow lesson plans, supplies and support from GOTRVT for a transformational season. Visit gotrvt.org/coach to learn more or sign up to volunteer.
Questions? Contact GOTRVT at Info@girlsontherunvermont.org or 802-871-5664.
Registration is now open for Harwood Youth Lacrosse (HYL)!
There are limited spots so be sure to sign up early!
HYL offers teams at the following levels:
U11 - for players in 3rd and 4th grades (2nd grade by permission);
U13 - for players in 5th and 6th grades;
U15 - for players in 7th and 8th grades.
Indoor practices begin late March. On average, teams practice two days per week and have games with other NVTYLL (Northern Vermont Youth Lacrosse League) teams on the weekends. Typically, games begin late April and run through early June.
No experience necessary! Financial aid is available.
To register or learn more, go to www.harwoodyouthlacrosse.org or email Michaela O'Brien at michaelatobrien5@gmail.com.