Parent Newsletter
April 2006

In this month's newsletter:

From the Family School Consultant

Barre Area Head Start Program has openings in their home-based program for your pre-birth to 5 year-olds (not eligible for kindergarten). If you are interested in having a home visitor come to your home once a week to work with you and your child, call Jean at 476-8474, ext. 109, or Debbie at ext. 102.

Aldrich Library - Call 476-7550 to register.

Spring crafternoons will be scheduled in the Children's Room at the Aldrich Library on April 17-21. Crafts are planned for April 17-19. Bingo with small prizes is offered on April 20, and popcorn and a movie on April 21. All events/crafts are free of charge and large groups are asked to pre-register by calling 476-7550.

Central Vermont Medical Center - Registration is required for all classes: Call 371-4198.
Additional classes are listed on their website: www.cvmc.hitchcock.org.

Infant and Child Car Seat Inspections: First Friday of each month, 12:00 noon-4:00 p.m., Berlin Fire Station, Berlin Corners, free.

CPR, First Aid, and Babysitting Classes: Available through the American Red Cross in Berlin.

For information or to register, call 223-3701.

Medicinal Uses of Culinary Herbs: Thursday, May 4, 6:30-8:00 p.m., CVMC Conference Rooms 1 & 2, Free.

Taking Control of Your Eating: Wednesday, May 17, 7:00-8:30 p.m., CVMC Conference Room 3, $10.

Health Matters

"On the Move:" Many folks within our school community are committed to ensuring our students keep moving, stay active, and feel great! Some examples are:

• Mileage Club expanded to grade 4. This spring students in grades 3 and 4 will have the opportunity to participate in a structured recess program on the recreation field track. This year, they will monitor their progress with pedometers. Many incentives are given for their fitness commitment.
• Bikes are coming to Barre Town School physical education classes. We are excited about our new bike path, and the new fitness unit for PE classes.
• New SWIM Activity offered: Pre-Swim Team Group at First in Fitness, Mondays, 6:15-7:30 p.m., ages 6-10 for children who are comfortable in the water (level 4 swimmers). Contact parent Bryn Mayr @ 479-0233.

WELLNESS POLICY Update: All Vermont schools have been charged by recent legislation to establish a wellness policy by September 2006. The policy requirements bring a school's nutrition and fitness priorities together. Recently, the school health advisory committee hosted an open planning forum for the fitness portion of the new policy. A draft will be ready soon for review and revision. The nutrition policy, now two years old, will be examined in May in the same manner. The "full draft" will be viewed by the school board's finance, curriculum, and policy committees. It is our hope that information will be posted on the school website to increase feedback and comment.

Taste Testing: Whole wheat bread was featured in March. Students in grades 1-4 tasted homemade whole wheat bread and LOVED it! We thank Abbey Group for their participation in this effort. The survey results were: 91% liked it, and 86% will choose it more often. When asked why whole wheat is better many said, "because it tastes better," "because it has whole grains," "because it has more vitamins," and "because it is better for you.” We are already looking forward to this item as a regular menu feature!

Summer Camp Scholarships

Summer is a fantastic time for children to keep their minds and bodies active. The Barre Town Education Association (BTEA) has a limited number of summer camp scholarships available. If you would like to apply for one (based on financial need), please write a letter describing why your child should receive a scholarship and the benefits that your child would receive as a result of attending a summer camp. Please send a letter by May 1 to Barre Town Middle and Elementary School, c/o Laura Thygesen, 70 Websterville Road, Barre, VT 05641.

Crops by Kids ... of Barre Town

ANNOUNCEMENT! Remember our beautiful vegetable garden last year? Well, spring is here and we're gearing up again!

What will be planted this year? Come and find out --- participate as much or as little as you want.

We're opening our garden on Saturday, April 29, from 10:00 a.m.-12.:00 noon. Bring your own picnic lunch, gloves, shovels, and rakes, if you have them!

Our next meeting is Thursday, April 27, at 3:30 p.m. in the library. All BTMES students and families are welcome! For information, call Bryn Mayr at 479-0233.

Please watch for our fundraising efforts and help our garden thrive!

Music Department News

Congratulations to the following selected 7th and 8th students who will be participating in the upcoming Winooski Valley District Music Festival. The Festival is being held at St Monica’s School on Wednesday, April 5.

 
Congratulations to the following students for performing at the Barre Town Music Department Recital on March 29. We thank accompanists Tim Guiles and Rachel Rood.

School Bus Safety

Danger Zones:

We are still getting reports of students fooling around at the bus stop. We encourage parents and adults to have children wait in a safe area away from the roadway and not run or walk towards the bus as it approaches. Wait until the bus stops and the driver signals the students to come to the bus.

We have had several vehicles go through our red lights. Remember when the flashing red lights are on, there are children present. The flashing red lights on a bus indicate that all vehicles must stop. If you go through the flashing red lights of a school bus, you may be fined $192.00, and get points on your license.

Before crossing the road, children need to look both ways and walk in a straight line. When crossing the road, be ten feet in front of the bus. Safety first.
We have added a new Bluebird Vision school bus to our fleet. We strive to transport your children safely. We appreciate your continued support.
We are in the process of training two new bus drivers. We continue to look for substitute drivers as well. If interested, contact Steve Murray or Terrie Salvador at 476-6617, ext. 331 or ext. 304.

Cultural Event: Gary Dulabaum

The Cultural Committee and PTO will sponsor Gary Dulabaum, writer/musician/entertainer. Gary will do two performances on April 14: 1:15 p.m. for grades 3-5 and 2:15 p.m. for grades K-2. Performances will take place in the large multipurpose room.

Fourth Annual U-61 Language Arts Festival
Thursday, May 11, 6:30-8:30 p.m

This upcoming, family-oriented literacy event recognizes and celebrates outstanding effort in school-year writing pieces from fifth and sixth graders nominated by their respective language arts teachers.

Barre City, Barre Town, Berlin, and Worcester elementary schools will be participating, along with other schools, pending registrations due April 6.

After consideration of, and conferencing about, the key elements of Vermont’s writing standards with students, teachers submit exemplary pieces for display and discussion at the Festival.

Visitors will enjoy reading exemplary pieces, which have been completed gradually during the school year within various categories or genres including: narratives, reports, directions/instructions, personal essays, persuasive essays, responses to literature (book responses), and poetry.

The evening will also feature student-writer interviews with visiting authors including nationally-recognized musician, songwriter and author Gary Dulabaum, readings by student authors, the Barre Town Jazz Band under the direction of Adam Sawyer, Irish step dancing instructed by Meaghan Kane, refreshments by the Abbey group, and door prizes.

If you have questions and/or would like to be a volunteer helper for this special event, please contact Mr. Al Kaiman at Barre Town School, 476-6617, ext. 203.

PTO News

T.V. Turnoff Week is scheduled to begin on Monday, May 1, and end on Friday, May 5. Stay tuned for further information to be sent home.

Barre Town Staff Appreciation Week
Staff Appreciation Week is May 8-12. The administration has planned a staff breakfast on Tuesday, May 9, and the PTO has planned some special treats for our hard-working staff as well. These include a gift of potted plants, a morning of bagels, muffins, and coffee, and a day with special snacks. Staff Appreciation Week is a special week to show our staff how much we appreciate all their hard work throughout the year. We encourage you and your child to create a special poem, card of thanks, or draw a picture for that special teacher or staff member to show how much you appreciate them.

Mother’s Day Flower Sale
The PTO is holding their annual Mother’s Day carnation sale on Friday, May 12. Flowers are $1.00 each and will be delivered to the students’ classrooms on the 12th. Order forms have gone home with each student and need to be turned in by April 14 so we can order the correct amount of flowers. This year we are once again ordering our flowers through Flowers by Emslie & Co. of Barre. If you ordered last year, you will recall how beautiful the colors were. Plan ahead this year and order extra!! If you have any questions or would like further information, please contact Kerry Chaffee at 476-0406.

The PTO Bookstore will be held on April 11 in the lobby.

POPCORN REMINDER! Bags of popcorn are available to students every Thursday for 50 cents per bag.

Revell Allen and three CSL students are holding a bingo night for 5th and 6th graders on Friday, May 12, to raise money for the Vermont Food Bank. They 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.

Barre Town School logo wear --- new colors are coming just in time for graduation, and for spring and summer sports! We are now offering vests and pullover jackets. Look for order forms to be coming home with your child in April!

The next PTO meeting will take place in the school library on Tuesday, April 25, at 7:00 p.m. We would love your input and ideas!

Other Offerings

CLOSING CELEBRATION: Author Natalie Kinsey Warnock at the Aldrich Public Library in the Milne Room on Sunday, May 7, 2:00 p.m. The Greater Barre Community is invited to meet and discuss the book “As Long As There Are Mountains” with the author. Reception following.

April School Vacation Mini-Camps - VINS North Branch Nature Center. Call 229-6206 to register. VINS North Branch Nature Center, 713 Elm Street, Montpelier, Vermont; www.vinsweb.org Insect World Discovery Monday, April 17, 9:00 a.m.-3:00 p.m. Members $35, non-members $45, Aftercare $8. Discover untold wonders as we travel to the incredible insect world! On our trip to this mystical place, we’ll explore different insect habitats, notice insect adaptations, learn the parts of an insect, and make “buggy” crafts. Come and visit a place where bees are bountiful, dragonflies are dazzling, and crickets are cool! Ages 6 – 9. A Day for the Birds Thursday, April 20, 9:00 a.m.-3:00 p.m. Members $35, non-members $45, Aftercare $8. From waterfowl to warblers, this day is all about our feathered friends! Construct your very own nest box or birdhouse that you can take home and put up in your backyard. Go on a bird hike where you will use binoculars and a spotting scope to see wild birds up close. Ages 8-12. Scavenger Hunt Adventure Friday, April 21, 9:00 a.m.-3:00 p.m. Members $35, non-members $45; Aftercare $8. It’s an all-day scavenger hunt! Follow mysterious clues as they lead you to challenges and obstacles to overcome in your search for hidden treasure. Learn how to identify trees, hang a bear cache, use a compass, and work as a team to achieve goals in this fun and educational treasure hunt! Ages 8-12.

Central Vermont Solid Waste Management District

Spring collection dates for hazardous waste are as follows:

April 29 in Montpelier (Memorial Drive, Department of Labor parking lot)
May 13 at the Bradford Town Garage.
May 20 at the Tunbridge Transfer Station.
June 10 in Barre Town (Websterville Town Garage).

Please see the district’s website for a complete schedule and directions to the collection sites: http://www.cvswmd.org/resident_services/hhw1.html. Disposal fees: $10 per car for most residential loads. Please call 229-9383 for more information. Please note: Businesses must call ahead and pre-register.