Parent Newsletter
October 2005

In this month's newsletter:

Music Department

The sale of the 2005-2006 Entertainment Books has been a success. Thanks to Nancy Fowler and Jodie Whitaker who helped us with this project. We have some books left over so if you want to purchase one please give us a call in the Music Department.

Thank you to the community for supporting the Music Department with our important programs and activities.

We want to welcome Rachel Rood who will again be volunteering in the music room one day a week. Thanks Rachel!

The Music Department 2005-2006 calendar has been recently added to the Barre Town School website (click here).

From the Family and Consumer Sciences Department

My 6th-8th grade classes are currently working on personal development, advertising, and nutrition poster projects. If you have any magazines (Sports Illustrated, Teen People, Cooking Light, Good Housekeeping, Skateboarder Magazine, etc.) you would be willing to donate to Family and Consumer Sciences, please drop them off at the front office. Thank you for your help and support.

Ms. Meaghan Kane

School Bus Safety        

What students should do at the bus stop.

	Be at the bus stop five minutes early. Train each child specifically what to do if he or she misses the bus.
	Stay back from the road. Have a landmark identified. For example: Don’t go past the big rock.
	Be observant of anything unusual. Know the rules for preventing abductions.
	No horseplay near the road or around the bus.
	Walk toward the bus only after the bus has stopped, the red lights are on, and the door has opened.
	Board promptly, politely, and quietly. No pushing or shoving.
	Promptly take your seat, stay seated, and buckle up. Keep yourself and your belongings out of aisle. Whisper talk only to the children in your seat.

When departing the bus.

	Be ready to depart promptly and quietly.
	Wait for the bus to stop and the door to open before unbuckling and standing up.
	When crossing, walk about 10 feet away from the bus, then walk at least 10 feet forward of the bus and stand out of the path of the wheels.
	Wait for driver eye contact and signal before crossing at least 10 feet in front of the bus.
	Remember, red lights don’t stop vehicles; look both ways when you cross the road.

If your child misses the bus, parents must not try to catch the bus. Students are not to run up beside the bus in an effort to catch up with a bus. The danger zones are 10 feet around the bus.

If you have any questions, call Terrie Salvador, Transportation Facilitator, at 476-6617, Ext. 331.

From the Family School Consultant

Story Hour has started up at Aldrich Library in Barre:
Mondays at 10:30 a.m., birth to two years.
Tuesdays at 10:30 a.m., three to six years.
Please call Adrienne to register at 476-7550. There will not be a story hour on Monday, October 10.

The Screen Door … Opening the Door to Human Services for Vermonters!
The Vermont Agency of Human Services (AHS) and its partners offer a variety of services to meet your needs. These include food and nutrition, health, mental health, family support, economic assistance, housing, employment, transportation, and childcare. To find out about AHS programs for you and your family, visit our new website: www.screendoor.vermont.gov. To find out about our other services in your community, call 211 or visit www.vermont211.org.

New Leaf Family Child Care Center’s Parent Informational Meetings (5:30-7:30 p.m.):
Meetings are on Wednesdays from 5:30-7:30 p.m. Food and childcare provided. Please call Dawn Johnson at 476-1480, ext. 308, to sign up and/or for information.

Central Vermont Medical Center Classes:
Magic 1-2-3 - Wednesday, October 5, 6:00- 9:00 p.m., Central Vermont Hospital Conf. Room 2, Free.
Experiencing behavioral problems with your children? This three-hour workshop presents the “Magic 1-2-3” lecture video by Dr. Thomas W. Phelan. Dr. Phelan is a clinical psychologist who is a renowned expert on Attention Deficit Disorder and child discipline. Presented by: Dawn Johnson, Director of Preschool, New Leaf Family Child Care.

The Incredible Years: Praise and Rewards - Wednesday, November 2, 6:00-8:00 p.m., Central Vermont Hospital Conf. Room 1, Free.
The purpose of this program is to assist parents and other adults in learning how to use praise and other social rewards effectively with children. Come and learn more about the positive effects of praise and rewards. Presented by: Dawn Johnson, Director of Preschool, New Leaf Family Child Care

Healthy Meals for Picky Eaters - Wednesday, November 16, 6:30-8:00 p.m., Central Vermont Hospital Conference Room 1, Free.
Is your child a picky eater? Are you frustrated, and concerned that your child will not eat meals? We will talk about the “Division of Responsibility” in feeding, recipes and more! Most helpful for parents of children birth to six years. Presented by: Courtney Pletzer, Nutritionist, Vermont Department of Health, Barre District Office.

From the Fine Arts Department

New pieces of artwork have been added to Barre Town Middle and Elementary School’s “Permanent Collection of Children’s Artwork.” Thirteen new works have been selected from literally thousands of works produced through the course of last year by the 1,000 students who attend Barre Town School. These wonderfully inspiring works are current displayed in the lobby.

For their outstanding creative achievements, we heartily congratulate the following student-artists: Maggie Longchamp (cray-pas), Shelby Santor (tempera paint), Keegan Aldrich (colored pencil), Morgan Keene (cray-pas), Andy Gurin (cray-pas), Madison Smith (cray-pas), Brooks Mayo (mixed-media collage), Danielle Murray (marker), Natalie Wheeler (marker), Renee Burrington (marker), Spencer Cooley (pencil), Justin Joslin (colored marker), and Gabriela Lutostanski (cut-paper collage).

The “Permanent Collection of Children’s Artwork” was established in 1988 by Barre Town art teacher Anne Aversa, who retired in 1999. The collection’s purpose is to celebrate the effort and achievement of Barre Town’s student-artists, and to lift our spirits in awareness of the creative potential of our youth.

Creative potential is the transformational force at the heart of all human learning, leadership, and progress. Cultivating creativity is a central aim of art education. Broadly defined, creativity is a constellation of skills that allow us to learn and live in productive and constructive ways. Creativity is chief among skills required to transform information into learning, learning into meaning, and meaning into progress.

Selected works are excellent examples of children’s creativity, and make effective use of the full range of elements and principles of design.

Basketball News

There will be a parent information night about the basketball season on November 7 at 6:00 p.m. in the cafeteria. Please attend if your child plans on playing basketball this year. Tryouts will be held on November 15-17. Please bring all papers (physical forms and permission slip forms) to Mr. Carrier on or before November 7. Students who do not have these forms in by this deadline will not be allowed to try out.
 

PTO News

Thank you to everyone who helped support our fundraiser this year! Orders will be available for pick-up at school in the large gym on the following dates and times:

Wednesday, November 2nd from 2:30 p.m. to 6:00 p.m.
Thursday, November 3rd from 2:30 p.m. to 6:00 p.m.
Friday, November 4th from 2:30 p.m. to 7:00 p.m.

Please note that these items are NOT allowed to go home on the bus. They MUST be picked up at school. If you have any questions please feel free to contact Sheila Cross at 479-4313.

POPCORN IS BACK!
Starting Thursday, October 6 popcorn will be available to students every Thursday for .50 cents per bag.

Our school can earn a chance to win 10,000 Box Tops!! Next time you clip box tops from packages of your favorite General Mills cereals, keep your scissors out and clip a little more. Clip the Whole Grain symbols from the front panel of the cereal box from now until December 31, 2005, and send them to school. Every Whole Grain symbol gives our school another chance to win 10,000 bonus box tops.

Remember our school on your next shopping trip to HANNAFORDS. From now through December 19, designated products purchased can earn dollars that will go to helping BTMES. Simply put these register-generated coupons in the Barre Town Elementary slot at the Hannaford's door, or send them into school with your box tops. Call Barbara Petrie at 793-2718 with any questions.

The PTO is looking for a volunteer to chair its annual Fun Night next March. For more information please email Teresa MacAdams at markmacadams@innevi.com.

The next PTO meeting will take place in the school library on Tuesday, October 18. We hope to see you there!