Parent Newsletter
December 2005

In this month's newsletter:

Dear Barre Town Parents:

. . . As if at this busy time of year you need to hear that our transportation system is having difficulty! We have said, both at board meetings and in conversation with many parents, we are acutely aware of the challenges that bus schedule changes bring to a family’s day-to-day lives. I suspect we’ll resolve this problem eventually, but it is going to take some time. In the meantime, some of you have called and written with suggestions on how to lessen the pain a little. Besides trying to find bus drivers, which, as you know is the problem, we are faced with trying to notify you about schedule changes, so you can react with as little disruption as possible. A parent suggested that we use our phone system to record a message every morning when there are changes in the bus schedule. It seems like a great idea, so we’re trying it.

You may now call the school at 476-6617 and press number “7” for transportation information. You will hear pre-recorded information about bus cancellations, delays, or any other bus information our transportation office feels would serve you.

Dr. Riggen, Mrs. Gossens, and I wish you all a safe and enjoyable holiday season.

Sincerely, Timothy P. Crowley, Principal

EMERGENCY SCHOOL CLOSING

Parents should have arrangements made for their children in the event of an early dismissal. Students should know where to go if the parents are not home when the students get off the bus.

When this occurs, an announcement will be made on the local radio stations: WDEV (550 AM), WSKI (1240 AM), WSNO (1450 AM), WORK (107.1 FM) WNCS (104.7 FM), WEZF (73.7 FM), WCVR (102.1 FM), WWFY (100.9) and WCAX-TV. Additionally, our web-site (btmes.org) will carry updated transportation information. However, we know that for a variety of reasons you might not hear the message and we want to make sure that the children clearly understand where they are to go if no one is home when they get off the bus. Due to the fact that there are close to 1,000 students here, we are not in a position to be able to call every family. Thank you for attending to this important matter.

LIBRARY NEWS

The library has been pushing full steam ahead with new projects. The fourth graders have been studying biographies, interviewing each other, and constructing personal biographies from the interviews. The final product was impressive. Third graders are getting a closer look at the importance of children's book illustration. Our featured illustrator was Eric Carle. He is the inspiration for a winter wonderland mural all third-grade students are helping to create.

Many older students are trying their hand at digital photography. Students select a theme of study, take photos, and learn to edit and print. Photo essay projects are on exhibit in the upstairs display case. Come, visit, and enjoy the work of our school community.                                                         Mrs. Herzig

HEALTH MATTERS

Marvelous Muffins, a.k.a pumpkin on the menu!

Taste testers in grades 1-3 learned amazing pumpkin facts, tasted REAL pumpkin, and test-tasted MARVELOUS pumpkin mini-muffins for lunch!! Early survey reports are very positive. Please try our new Barre Town recipe.

Pumpkin Muffins
Makes 12 muffins, easy to increase.

1/2 cup raisins 1/2 tsp cinnamon
1 1/2 c. + 1 tbsp. whole wheat flour 1/2 tsp. ground cloves
1 1/3 c. sugar (Use 1/2 sugar and Splenda or a substitute) 2 eggs
1/2 tsp. baking powder 1/3 can (29 ounce) pumpkin
1/2 tsp. baking soda 1/3 c. unsweetened applesauce
1/2 tsp. nutmeg

1. Preheat oven to 350°F. Grease muffin cups, or use muffin liners. Soak raisins in hot water for ten minutes to plump, then drain.
2. In a large bowl, combine the flour, sugar, baking powder, baking soda, salt, nutmeg, cinnamon, and ground cloves. In a separate bowl, mix the eggs, pumpkin, and applesauce until smooth. Add this mixture to the dry ingredients and stir thoroughly to make a smooth batter. Stir the raisins into the batter. Spoon the batter into the prepared muffin cups.
3. Bake for 30 to 35 minutes in the preheated oven, or until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean.

ENJOY!!!

SLEEP…..necessary for healthy growth in children.

Research shows that insufficient sleep is associated with major physical and cognitive impairment, such as difficulties focusing, irritability, and frustration, as well as problems with the control of impulses and emotions.

Sleep specialists recommend that most children and teens need at least nine hours of sleep each night. Sleep disorders and sleep deprivation often are not recognized in children, and symptoms related to sleep deprivation may be confused with hyperactivity, behavior problems, or boredom.

Adequate sleep IS associated with good health and performance, as well as fewer accidents. Here are some tips:

• Set regular bedtime and wake-up hours, even for teens, during the school week.
• Encourage exposure to natural outdoor light during the day.
• Avoid rigorous play or activity before bedtime.
• Provide a cool, darkened, quiet place to sleep.

NUTRITION MATTERS

Did you know:

Blueberry soup is coming to lunch?
On beef stew days, a vegetarian stew choice is offered?
On beef hamburger days, a garden-burger vegetarian choice is offered?
Vermont produce, when available, is purchased and served?
Vermont products such as Cabot Creamery's cottage cheese and yogurt are available?
Our milk supplier is a local company?
On pizza day, non-meat pizzas, cheese or veggie styles, are offered?

The School Health Committee continues to work with Abbey Group Food Service to provide healthy choices, new foods, and recipes. Come join us for lunch some day!!

FROM THE FAMILY SCHOOL CONSULTANT

Remember: Holiday Crafternoons during the week of December 12-16, 2005, at the Aldrich Library, 3:00-5:00 p.m. Please call Adrienne Scucces for more information at 476-7550.

Upcoming events in January

Wednesday, January 18, 2006 - Promoting Your Child's Thinking Skills – Playing. New Leaf Family Child Care Center, 260 Beckley Hill, Barre. Please call Dawn Johnson at 476-1480, extension 308, to register or for more information FOOD And Childcare provided.

Into the New Year….
Milk and Cookies @ The Aldrich Public Library
Wednesday, January 25, 2005 @ 6:00-7:00 p.m. More information to follow next month. Sponsored by Barre Area Success by Six Team.

Have a Happy New Year
Beth Campo

ESL TIP-OF-THE-WEEK # 1

The entire school community is responsible for helping English language learners (ELL) develop language proficiency. “What’s fundamentally different about ELL is that they are simultaneously learning the language in which they are being instructed.” (Claude Goldenberg, Reading Today, Aug./Sept. 2005). Teachers can also help ELL students by planning lessons that include explicit language and content objectives. More coming soon.

Jon Howell

VERMONT STATE MATHEMATICS COALITION LAUNCHES
VERMONT MATHEMATICS PARENT LINK LIST SERVE

The Vermont State Mathematics Coalition is launching a new list serve, or email bulletin board called Vermont Mathematics Parent Link. This site is designed to help parents obtain and exchange information useful in making decisions concerning their child’s mathematics education. Appropriate topics for the list serve might include questions about changes in the SAT, about the traditional sequence of mathematics courses versus the integrated approach, about summer enrichment opportunities, or about appropriate use of the calculator at various levels of teaching. It is not a place to complain or name specific individuals. The list serve is administrated by Bob Chaffee, Executive Director of the Coalition, and all submissions will be approved by him so that members will not be bombarded with SPAM. The mailing list will not be sold or used for any other purposes. Parents who wish to become a member of this list serve should send an email message to listserv@list.uvm.edu with a one-line message: sub vtmathpl First Last (where “First” is your first name and “Last” is your last name.). For further information, contact BobChaffee@aol.com.