Parent Newsletter
March 2006

In this month's newsletter:

Preschool News

Screening and Prioritization:
Barre Town screens and evaluates children throughout the school year. Referrals for screening and evaluations are made by parents, physicians, agencies, other preschool programs, and daycares. There are multiple purposes for screening. Screening provides parents and caregivers with information regarding general child development (norms and expectations in the areas of receptive and expressive language skills, and receptive and expressive visual skills), as well as specific information regarding areas of strengths and weaknesses. Hand-outs and exit conferences provide the opportunity to give parents and caregivers more information on how they can promote their children’s learning and development. Screening results are also used to prioritize the children for the Barre Town preschool, and are used during kindergarten placement. We attempt to screen all Barre Town children prior to their entrance into kindergarten. This early development information helps families and schools best meet the individual educational needs of all students by preparing parents, students, and teachers for the children’s entrance into our school. When a child is prioritized for preschool, many areas are examined. A score is assigned in each of the following areas: age, speech and language skills, motor skills, social involvement, special needs, physical/health-related issues, and parent concerns. This produces a list of children who are put on a waiting list.

From the Family School Consultant

Upcoming Parenting Classes:

At New Leaf Child Care Center, 260 Beckley Hill Road, Barre:

Wednesday, March 15, 5:30 -7:30 p.m. - Praise and Encouragement - Bringing out the best in your child.
Wednesday, April 19, 5:30-7:30 p.m. - Praise and Rewards - Motivating Your Children.
Wednesday, May 17, 5:30 -7:30 p.m. - Review and Catch up - Discuss sessions being presented in 2006-2007.
Food and child care provided. Call Dawn Johnson, 476-1480, ext. 308, to sign up and for information

At The Family Center of Washington County, 32 College St., Montpelier, Schulmaier Hall:

Five Monday evenings: March 13 through April 10, 2006, 6:30-8:30 p.m.  "How to Talk So Kids Will Listen and Listen So Kids Will Talk" - Six-week course in concrete parenting skills such as communication with kids, engaging kids' willing cooperation, disciplining without hurting, and fostering love and respect in families.

Fee for one $35, $50 for a parenting couple ---scholarships available. Participants receive the best-selling book "How to Talk So Kids Will Listen" by Adele Faber and Elaine Mazlish, plus the workbook. To register and reserve child care space, call 476-8757, ext. 115.

Music Department News

Small-Ensemble Recital

The Barre Town Music Department will be having a recital of small ensembles and solo performances on Wednesday, March 29, at 6:30 p.m. in the Barre Town band room. This program is free and open to the public. Please note the date change in the Music Department Calendar from March 22 to March 29.

Summer Music Camp

The Barre Town Music Department will be offering its first Summer-Singing-and-Instrumental-Music Camp for students entering grades 6, 7, and 8.  The camp will run from August 14 through August 18, 9:00 a.m.-12:00 p.m., at Barre Town Middle and Elementary School.

The BTMES Music Camp will allow your child to choose from the band and choral sessions, or both.  The day will include:

Brochures have been sent home with students providing more information. An application form can also be printed here. If you have any questions please call Adam Sawyer or Peg Mehuron at 476-6617.

Art Department News

Best greetings from the Art Department, where we're knee deep in another creative year. It's been a fruitful time, reflected in a variety of inspiring, colorful exhibits of student art currently displayed at school.

This year's additions to the school's "Permanent Collection of Children's Art" hang in the downstairs hallway of A wing. "Snowflake Symmetry," by grades 1-4, is displayed in the lobby. "The Circus is Coming," by kindergarten students, hangs in the hallway outside those classrooms. "Art in Advertising: Don't Smoke!" by Mrs. Brusetti's 4th graders, is in the following locations: the 7th/8th-grade hallway, outside the upstairs science lab, across from the main library entrance, in the downstairs computer lab, and on the bulletin board outside the main office just beyond the lobby (across from the dining room). A display of ceramics is exhibited in the lobby trophy cases, and 5th through 8th grade artwork is displayed on bulletin boards outside the art room and the upstairs administrator's office, near the entrance to the staff lounge. Work from these grades includes the projects "There's No Place Like Home" and pencil drawings of historically significant multicultural art and objects.

Exhibits are a wonderful way we celebrate the creative achievements of students. Exhibiting work provides opportunity for public dialogue and exchange of ideas, and offers support for the artists and for the arts more generally. Support for creativity education strengthens all subject areas. Creative thinking and problem-solving--foundational skills used in fine arts--are inherent in development, learning, and achievement across curriculum. Exhibits rotate periodically. Please stop by school and enjoy the fine works of our talented students!

Anne Leeds (grades K-4)
Jill Leona (grades 5-8)

The Barre Town School Cultural Committee would like to present:

“China Speaks Your Language!”
performed by The Silk Road Duo: Qiu Xia He and Andre Thibault

Recent research suggests that the Chinese explorers of the 15th century voyaged not only to India and Africa, but around the world to the Americas. This is a musical performance that will introduce audiences to different cultures through the experience, discoveries, and travels of the Silk Road Duo. The pipa, a Chinese lute with a wide range of expression, will be the focal point.

They will do two performances at Barre Town School on March 15, 8:30 a.m. and 10:00 a.m.

                       March PTO News                      

We apologize for any inconvenience your child may have had by the shortage of popcorn available on Thursday, February 9.  We appreciate your support by purchasing popcorn each week, and are happy to say we generally don’t run into any problems! We would like to point out that due to the age of the popcorn machine, and the fact that it is run by parent volunteers who have jobs and/or children to tend to, there is a possibility that popcorn may not be available. Due to any unforeseen circumstances that may arise, we would like to suggest that PTO popcorn not be relied upon as your child's only snack each Thursday. You may wish to send your child with a snack each Thursday regardless of it being “popcorn day.” Thanks!

The PTO Bookstore will be held on March 21 in the lobby.
R.I.F. dates for this month are Monday, March 13, and Tuesday, March 14.

Price Chopper "Tools for Schools" order was placed with the 96,652 points we earned from your qualifying purchases at Price Chopper! The items we were able to order include: a geared student clock, a math Jeopardy game, a DVD/VCR player, a utility cart, a read-around book display case, a Jeff Gordon book, a Lance Armstrong book, and a Peyton Manning book. Thank you for your support with this program and be sure to register your Price Chopper card for the Tools for Schools program next fall!

Revell Allen and three CSL students are going to hold a bingo night to raise money for the Vermont Food Bank on Friday, May 12, and are looking for volunteers to chaperone, help set up, and run the concession stand.  If you are interested in volunteering, please contact Revell Allen at 476-6617, ext. 278, or by email.

NEW COLORS FOR OUR SCHOOL LOGO WEAR!!  Be on the lookout for a school logo-wear notice and order form to be coming home soon.  There are new t-shirt and hat colors! Anyone who is interested in ordering T-shirts or baseball hats for spring/graduation should place their orders now since this will be the last order of the school year.

Be sure to check out our April Newsletter for information regarding T.V. Turnoff Week, Teacher/Staff Appreciation Week, and the Mother’s Day carnation flower sale! May is an exciting month!
 

The next PTO meeting will take place in the school library on Tuesday, March 21, at 7:00 p.m. We would love your input and ideas!

VINS-Montpelier North Branch Nature Center

The following eleven notices describe VINS activities. For more information or to register online at www.vinsweb.org, or call 229-6206, or email  for a brochure.

Preschool Discovery Program: Young children are insatiably curious! We’ll read a good picture book, explore the fields and forests, make crafts, and play games. Help your child develop a life-long sense of wonder in the natural world. Programs are held from 9:30-11:00 a.m. Ages 3-5. $7 members, $8 nonmembers.

Spiders: Weavers and Hunters – March 7 & 15.

Yummy! Discovering Animal Foods – March 21 & 29.

Turtles at Home – April 4 & 12.

Busy Beavers – April 25 & May 3.

Growing Up Gardening – May 9 & 17.

Buzz! Buzz! Busy Bees – May 23 & 31.

Summer Camps 2006: This year, we’re excited to offer 10 weeks of camp for kids ages 3 to 18. Former NBNC AmeriCorps member Abby Hade Terpstra returns to direct camps with current AmeriCorps member Matt Brantner.

Early Explorers: Monday-Friday, June 19-23, 10:00 a.m.-12:30 p.m., ages 3-5. $70 member, $80 nonmember. Every bug, flower, and rock is a world of wonder for young naturalists. This camp will be filled with crafts, books, and nature games, each day focusing on a different theme. We’ll include different activities than Animal Tales so kids can attend both camps.

Nature’s Palette: See it, Touch It, Make it! - Monday-Friday, June 26- 30, 9:00 a.m.-3:00 p.m., with a special event July 3, children entering grades 2-5. $155 member, $170 nonmember. This is for aspiring naturalists who want to tap into their creative spirit. We’ll make a daily craft, such as recycled art, natural dyes, beeswax candles, weavings, sculptures, and fanciful costumes for us to wear in Montpelier’s Independence Day Parade.

Drip! Drop! Splish! Splash! A Week for Water Sprites: Monday-Friday, July 3-7, 9:00 a.m.-3:00 p.m., children entering kindergarten, 1st or 2nd grade. $155 members, $170 nonmembers. We’ll explore the plants, animals, and rocks that call the North Branch of the Winooski River home, create wonderful watery art, and conduct experiments to uncover the amazing properties of water.

Wild about Water and Wildlife: Monday-Friday, July 10-14, 9:00 a.m.-3:00 p.m., children entering grades 2-4. $155 member, $170 nonmember. This week we’ll learn everything we can about birds, mammals and insects that make rivers, ponds and wetlands their home. We’ll find out who eats who in the field and forest, and make our own aquariums and terrariums.

Winged Wonders: Monday-Friday, July 17-21, 9:00 a.m.-3:00 p.m., children entering kindergarten, 1st or 2nd grade. $155 member, $170 nonmember. Hummingbirds, crickets, bumblebees, butterflies, and airplanes all fly. We’ll make and test airplanes, find out which bird migrates the furthest distance, look at all the life stages of butterflies, find out how our feathered friends defy gravity, and look closely into the lives of the only flying mammal, the bat!

Incredible Insects: Monday-Friday, July 24-28, 9:00 a.m.-3:00 p.m., children entering grades 1-3. $155 member, $170 nonmember. Calling all young entomologists! We’ll search the fields, wetlands, trees, and river in our quest for invertebrates while practicing different collecting techniques, noticing insect adaptations, and gaining expertise at insect anatomy. Campers will create bug sculptures and live terrariums to display at the 3rd Annual Bug Fest on July 30.

Green Mountain Kids: Monday-Friday, July 31-August 4, 9:00 a.m.-3:00 p.m., children entering grades 4-6. $165 member, $180 nonmember. If you love the natural world, what can you do to make it a better place? We’ll make a solar oven, visit local farms, make lunch with only local vegetables, visit a solar house, learn about windmills, make recycled art, help clean up the North Branch, and improve habitat for animals!

Packs, Maps, and Mountains: A Long Trail Adventure: Monday-Friday, August 7-11 (Includes overnight trip on August 10-11), youth entering grades 6-8. $180 members, $195 nonmembers. During the first part of the week we’ll learn how to survive in the woods. We’ll build a shelter, make a fire without matches, locate wild edible plants, and find our way with a map and compass. We’ll filter drinking water, tie handy knots, safely use a gas stove/lantern, pack for a multi-day backpacking trip, and have an overnight adventure on the Long Trail. We’ll hike the ridgelines of some of Vermont’s highest peaks!

Animal Tales: Monday-Friday, August 14-18, morning session from 9:00-11:00 a.m., ages 3-4 and afternoon session from 1:00-4:00 p.m. for ages 4-5. $70 member, $80 nonmember. Read any great nature picture books lately? During this camp for the littlest naturalists we’ll choose a favorite picture book each day, then add games, songs, outdoor explorations, and special animal guests to top off the fun

Costa Rica Conservation Camp: August 6-20, teens ages 14-18. $2,900 member, $3,000 nonmember. Experience the wonder of the tropics from highland cloud forest to steamy lowland rainforest. This two-week camp is designed to provide teens with the opportunity to explore the natural history, ecology, and culture of Costa Rica. A major emphasis will be hands-on involvement in several conservation projects, including a sea turtle restoration program. Participants will be offered lessons in conversational Spanish, Latin dance and Costa Rican cooking, as well as field trips to a highland cloud forest, national parks, and more. Contact Chip at 229-6206 for an information packet and application.