Yesterday's celebration of music with the band and chorus was impressive! Having so many families and community members in the audience to hear our students voices and musical talents shine makes me happy!

Upcoming events:

No school on January 20th and 21st

Rikert days are still in the planning stages

We have held our Title 1 Annual Meeting. For those of you who missed it, here is an overview of our discussion points:

• RES is a Title 1 school.
• Title 1 helps to fund staffing and enrichment opportunities for students.
• Our goal is to create a successful partnership between our school and our families.
• Visit our website to read the Parental Guide to Title 1 programs in ACSD (http://ripton.acsdvt.org/families/new-page).
• Parent involvement is critical to the educational success of your child(ren).
• Our collaboration can make all the difference for our students’ success.

Please note that report cards will be sent home in students’ backpacks on January 31st. Parents should anticipate a phone call from their child’s teacher shortly thereafter. The purpose of this phone call is to follow up on students’ first semester progress reports and see if families have any questions. Thank you.

• Do you have a 3-5 year old ready for preschool? Every preschool age child in ACSD is eligible for 10 FREE hours of preschool at a pre-qualified preschool program and NOW* is the time to begin thinking ahead to the 2025-26 school year. Visit https://mbaker61.wixsite.com/uprek/partners for a list of preschools and more information. Reach out to Ashley Bessette, Universal Prek Coordinator, at abessette@acsdvt.org for support or to ask questions.
  *Most preschool programs will begin enrolling in February/March for the 2025-26 school year.

Do you have a child who plans to start Kindergarten in 2025-2026? Make sure they are on our incoming student list! If your child will be 5 years old by September 1, 2025 (or you know a friend or neighbor whose child will be) please reach out to our front office at 802-388-2208

Please join the Addison Central Special Education Parent Advisory Council (SEPAC) and Superintendent Wendy Baker to learn more about ACSD Administration’s proposed changes to the configuration and budget for Student Services and Special Education next year. This is your opportunity to learn more about the district’s vision for Student Services and Special Education and to share your perspective about what it might mean for your student(s) and family. Your perspective and voice are important! Please join us! Learn more about the SEPAC at https://www.addisoncentralsepac.org/ Sign up for SEPAC updates here.

Thursday, November 16th

6:00 – 7:30pm

MUHS library (virtual option: https://meet.google.com/gjk-ymhg-drj)

Learn more about ACSD Administration’s proposed budget HERE (see Block 5 on Student Services).

Learn more about ACSD’s budget development process HERE

A draft of the Fiscal year 2026 Budget was presented to the ACSD Board on January 6th. You can watch that presentation and find accompanying materials on our Budget Development page. A public Q+A was also held on January 9th, a recording will be posted on the budget page soon. The board is expected to continue the discussion and vote on the budget at their January 13, 2025 meeting at 6:30pm. Find details for that meeting here.

As the temperatures drop, please keep in mind:

We are expecting students to have on a coat, snow pants, hat, mittens and boots in order to play in the snow. On days that the "feels like temperature" falls below 0 degrees we are inside for recess.

T-shirts, shorts, crocs or sandals can be worn on their own outside (meaning no additional layers required) when the temperature is 40 + degrees

Long sleeves are ok to be worn on their own outside when the temperature is 39-32 degrees but it’s time to pack up the crocs & sandals!

Coats, hats, gloves & boots are required for temperatures under 32 degrees

• Water bottle
  

• A daily snack

• Sneakers on Tuesday & Friday PE days!

If you are looking to get winter gear for your student(s) please contact Haysal Jones hjones@acsdvt.org or Tammie Johnson tammiejohnson@acsdvt.org

Today we had our 2nd lesson in Tae Kwon Do with Master Thomas! The students are engaged and learning so much so quickly. They will be excited to share their learning with you in February.

Our fire/relocation drill has been rescheduled for Wednesday January 8th. We will talk with students ahead of time so they understand what we are doing. We will begin with a fire drill and connect with Fire Chief Pike for some additional fire safety learning when we have relocated. Then return to school and continue our day. If you have any questions or concerns feel free to reach out to me.

I am looking for a couple of rocking chairs for RES. If anyone has one to donate please let me know. I'm happy to pick it up.

Our band and chorus concert is rescheduled for 2 o'clock on Thursday January 9th.

Our FY26 Budget development process is underway and we invite the ACSD community to learn more and share feedback as we build toward a final budget:

• On January 6 at 6:30pm, the ACSD Board meeting will offer an overview of the full ACSD FY26 Budget spending plan (MUHS Library or virtual).

• On January 9th at 6:30, Superintendent Baker will host a virtual Public Input Session where the ACSD community can ask questions and share feedback. (Use this meeting link (password: ACSD)

• Find these meeting links and more information, resources, and opportunities for community engagement on our FY26 Budget webpage.

As the temperatures drop, please keep in mind:

T-shirts, shorts, crocs or sandals can be worn on their own outside (meaning no additional layers required) when the temperature is 40 + degrees

Long sleeves are ok to be worn on their own outside when the temperature is 39-32 degrees but it’s time to pack up the crocs & sandals!

Coats, hats, gloves & boots are required for temperatures under 32 degrees

• Water bottle
  

• A daily snack

• Sneakers on Tuesday & Friday PE days!

If you are looking to get winter gear for your student(s) please contact Haysal Jones hjones@acsdvt.org or Tammie Johnson tammiejohnson@acsdvt.org

I am looking for a couple of rocking chairs for RES. If anyone has one to donate please let me know. I'm happy to pick it up.

My apologies! The picture here is Ms. Johnson our school counselor not Ms. Jeannie as I said last week.

One of our 4/5 students and his parent delivered the food we collected last week to CVOEO. We donated 132 pounds of food and bathing supplies! More will be delivered today! Thank you members of our school and community for helping those in need in our larger community. Ms. Ogilvie's 4th & 5th graders.

Contagious Illness Guidance

There are several illnesses circulating at school, so we wanted to share some guidance and reminders during this time to help minimize the spread of these illnesses. We are seeing strep throat, influenza, viral colds, COVID, stomach viruses and pneumonia. Please remind your students not to share water bottles, food or anything else that can further contribute to the spread of illness. Please also encourage your students to eat well, stay hydrated and get plenty of rest. Good handwashing is the #1 way to prevent the spread of contagious illness!

We expect students and staff to stay home with any potentially contagious illnesses or symptoms including the following:

1. Vomiting/diarrhea-must be 24 hours symptom free before returning to school

2. Fever 100.4 or greater -stay home until fever free without use of medication for 24 hours

3. Any infection requiring antibiotic-keep your student home until they have been on antibiotics for 24 hours

4. Persistent cough that disrupts normal activity

5. Unexplained rash

6. Influenza and COVID-stay home until fever free without medication for 24 hours

7. Any other symptoms or illness that impedes a student’s ability to learn or staff’s ability to work.

You may return once feeling well enough to be at school and fever free for 24 hours without the use of fever reducing medications.

Please take a moment to read this information from the Vermont Department of Health regarding preventing transmission of Influenza. If your student tests positive for Influenza or COVID, it is very helpful if you are able to call or email the school nurses to report this so we can track trends and determine if we are having outbreaks.

Thanks for your help with keeping our students and staff as healthy as possible during this challenging time of year.

Haysal Jones, BSN, RN, NCSN

Addison Central School District

hjones@acsdvt.org

Our FY26 Budget development process is underway and we invite the ACSD community to learn more and share feedback as we build toward a final budget:

• On January 6 at 6:30pm, the ACSD Board meeting will offer an overview of the full ACSD FY26 Budget spending plan (MUHS Library or virtual).

• On January 9th at 6:30, Superintendent Baker will host a virtual Public Input Session where the ACSD community can ask questions and share feedback. (Use this meeting link (password: ACSD)

• Find these meeting links and more information, resources, and opportunities for community engagement on our FY26 Budget webpage.

-Tae Kwon Do begins on January 3rd for 8 weeks with Master Thomas as part of our PE time. We are very excited!

As the temperatures drop, please keep in mind:

T-shirts, shorts, crocs or sandals can be worn on their own outside (meaning no additional layers required) when the temperature is 40 + degrees

Long sleeves are ok to be worn on their own outside when the temperature is 39-32 degrees but it’s time to pack up the crocs & sandals!

Coats, hats, gloves & boots are required for temperatures under 32 degrees

• Our drill was cancelled. It will be rescheduled at a later date.

• Winter break is December 23-January 1st. See you on the 2nd!

• Water bottle
  

• A daily snack

• Sneakers on Tuesday & Friday PE days!

If you are looking to get winter gear for your student(s) please contact Haysal Jones hjones@acsdvt.org or Tammie Johnson tammiejohnson@acsdvt.org

This is the last week to donate to the food drive before December break.

We had an awesome time at Petrcliffs! We learned some new terms used for climbing and encouraged each other to be brave and try something new.

We read the book Love That Dog by Sharon Creech and wrote to her to ask some questions about her writing process. She wrote us back and created a poem especially for us!

Wednesday, December 18th: Gift-Making Extravaganza w/ FORS

Thursday, December 19th: School Store

Band & Chorus concert at 2:15

For specific information open this link.

As the temperatures drop, please keep in mind:

T-shirts, shorts, crocs or sandals can be worn on their own outside (meaning no additional layers required) when the temperature is 40 + degrees

Long sleeves are ok to be worn on their own outside when the temperature is 39-32 degrees but it’s time to pack up the crocs & sandals!

Coats, hats, gloves & boots are required for temperatures under 32 degrees

• Our drill was cancelled. It will be rescheduled at a later date.

• Winter break is December 23-January 2nd

• Water bottle
  

• A daily snack

• Sneakers on Tuesday & Friday PE days!

If you are looking to get winter gear for your student(s) please contact Haysal Jones hjones@acsdvt.org or Tammie Johnson tammiejohnson@acsdvt.org

We are beginning our exciting new Unit - How We Express Ourselves - in Art! Second through Fifth Grade students are learning about the ancient Japanese art of Shibori as we follow a family from the Edo period that overcame a silk ban with their ingenuity and utilized the beautiful embellishments of Shibori on common and tattered fabrics. Students will be designing their own Shibori art that reflects their personalities on wearable art. In Kindergarten through First Grade Art, it's art about color as they create their own beautiful color wheels and learn about the art and science of color mixing. Stay tuned!

"Cards For Caring" - For the Earth!

Caring for the planet that we all share has been the buzz in art classes! Our young Ripton student artists have been creating one of a kind blank greeting cards that are now available for purchase to support our service learning art project. Students are currently in the process of selecting a non-profit organization that supports a clean and healthy planet. Greeting cards are available for $5.00 for a pack of 4 cards. You can find them at the front desk at Ripton School, at the Henry Sheldon Museum in Middlebury, or by emailing Ms. Gombosi (egombosi@acsdvt.org).

Today we heard from 4th and 5th grade about collecting for the food drive. Our box is already getting full! You will find the letter requesting support for the food drive here.

In addition we talked about our next safety drill practice. We will be practicing a drill that begins with a Fire Drill that leads to a safe relocation outside our school. This drill will happen on Wednesday 12/11 and students will know exactly what time. We will quickly get back into school and back to learning. If you have any questions please let me know.

As the temperatures drop, please keep in mind:

T-shirts, shorts, crocs or sandals can be worn on their own outside (meaning no additional layers required) when the temperature is 40 + degrees

Long sleeves are ok to be worn on their own outside when the temperature is 39-32 degrees but it’s time to pack up the crocs & sandals!

Coats, hats, gloves & boots are required for temperatures under 32 degrees

• Early Release 12/11

• Water bottle
  

• A daily snack

• Sneakers on Tuesday & Friday PE days!

If you are looking to get winter gear for your student(s) please contact Haysal Jones hjones@acsdvt.org or Tammie Johnson tammiejohnson@acsdvt.org

Our very own Maryann and her husband Ken served up an incredible Thanksgiving meal for us today! After that we shared in a school wide Folk dance ld by Sarah Metcalf, our music teacher. A great big THANK YOU!!!!

Today we revisited our school and recess expectations. We talked about what we are thankful for and heard from Kid President who shared his top 25 things to be thankful for. Lastly we took some time to chat about safety drills that are required throughout the school year.

As the temperatures drop, please keep in mind:

T-shirts, shorts, crocs or sandals can be worn on their own outside (meaning no additional layers required) when the temperature is 40 + degrees

Long sleeves are ok to be worn on their own outside when the temperature is 39-32 degrees but it’s time to pack up the crocs & sandals!

Coats, hats, gloves & boots are required for temperatures under 32 degrees

• Thanksgiving break November 25-29

• Water bottle
  

• A daily snack

• Sneakers on Tuesday & Friday PE days!

If you are looking to get winter gear for your student(s) please contact Haysal Jones hjones@acsdvt.org or Tammie Johnson tammiejohnson@acsdvt.org

Please join the Addison Central Special Education Parent Advisory Council (SEPAC) and Superintendent Wendy Baker to discuss the important topic of home-school communication for students that have IEPs and 504 plans. ACSD administrators are actively working on finding solutions that address the concerns of both families and school staff. If you have a student on an IEP or 504 plan, please join this conversation and help shape solutions moving forward. Your perspective and voice are important!

Wednesday, November 20th

6:00 – 7:30pm

MUHS library (virtual option: https://meet.google.com/gjk-ymhg-drj)

Learn more about the SEPAC at ​​https://www.addisoncentralsepac.org/.

Sign up for SEPAC updates here.

Parent /Caregivers are invited to NEASC/IB Learning Principle Teams!

ACSD is working toward joint accreditation with the New England Association of Schools and Colleges (NEASC) and International Baccalaureate (IB). NEASC and IB are independent nonprofit organizations that support schools with best educational practices, guidance, and resources. They each offer their own process to evaluate schools. (Read more details here). Now we are in the assessment and evidence gathering phase of accreditation. We are seeking parent and community involvement! There are two main actions this year:

1. Evidence gathering: We will assess the ACSD community on 5 of NEASC’s Learning Principles. Our teachers and staff will submit evidence toward the 5 Learning Principles. Later this year we will also introduce opportunities for students, caregivers, and community members to submit evidence.

2. Learning Principle Teams. We will create 5 Learning Principle Teams made up of ACSD teachers, staff, students, parents, and community members. They will assess the evidence that is submitted and present back to the ACSD community how we are doing toward each standard. They will meet from December-April. All team members will be compensated $40/hr. If you are interested in joining a Learning Principle Team, please fill this form out by November 30th, 2024.

The Weybridge Barn Dance on Saturday, November 16, 5:30-8 pm. For more information go here for the flier.

Come out to support our MUHS students! There are two shows left: Friday Nov 15 @ 7:00 PM

Saturday Nov 16 @ 2:00 PM Link to purchase Tickets

• Thanksgiving break November 25-29

• The weather is changing please remember to send your child with warm clothing.

• Water bottle
  

• A daily snack

• Sneakers on Tuesday & Friday PE days!

If you are looking to get winter gear for your student(s) please contact Haysal Jones hjones@acsdvt.org or Tammie Johnson tammiejohnson@acsdvt.org

Dear RES Community,

It's hard to believe that our final week of the school year is here! The end of the year always brings so many emotions for students, families, and staff. From hearing the excitement from our fifth-graders as they returned from a great visit to MUMS, to watching Mrs. Metcalf's students shine in their final concert of the year, to seeing our students explore together in these last learning experiences of the year, I am finding that while many of the emotions may be bittersweet or reflect excitement, there is also a strong sense of gratitude. Gratitude for our teachers and staff who approach each day with dedication and student-centered care. Gratitude for our staff who consistently, tirelessly, and with kindness, go above and beyond to ensure our school is running smoothly. Gratitude for families who are invested, care about, and support, their child's education. And gratitude for our students who come to school each day with such caring hearts, curiosity, and openness to explore the world together with us. As we head into this final week of the school year I invite us to reflect on all that we have to be grateful for here at RES. Thank you!

With gratitude,

Meg

6/11: Day of Play and Lip Synch at 1:45 - 2:45

(Families are welcome to come and watch if they would like!)

6/14: Last Student Day! and 6:00pm 5th Grade Graduation

(We are hoping to have our Water Fun Day, but will have alternative indoor activities if it rains)

Tiger Football Youth Skills Clinic

Sponsored by – Friends of Middlebury Football (FOMF) and Middlebury Union High

School (MUHS) Athletics

Date & Time: Tuesday - Friday, June 18 - 21, 8:30 AM - Noon

Ages: Grades 4 - 8 (for the 2024-25 school year)

Location: Doc Collins Field - MUHS

Cost: $20.00 ($40.00 max for immediate family) *Scholarships available upon request: contact John Nuceder - 802-989-8642 or jnuceder@acsdvt.org

Register: https://forms.gle/KwZ8S17Qdp4vCSai9

MUHS Assistant Varsity football coach, John Nuceder, other High School and Flag Football coaches, and former Tigers will instructor clinic participants. The emphasis is for young athletes to have fun, be active, and learn skills for each position, offense and defense. Each clinic session will be station based learning organized by age. No equipment is needed. Please wear comfortable footwear for a lot of movement, as well as weather appropriate clothing. No previous experience necessary.

Dear RES Community,

Students have been spending outdoor time enjoying the newfound Spring weather! Our recess time find students exploring the woods, working through challenges and talking through conflicts on the basketball and gaga courts, learning how their bodies move and balance on our play structure, creating elaborate sand feasts, and exploring their natural surroundings and the many ways we position ourselves in it - both individually and as a member of a community. So much learning takes place during these unstructured and seemingly "playful" times - as Fred Rogers famously noted, "Play is the work of childhood" and it is so exciting to watch our children as they explore, grow, learn, and with the help of our amazing school community, problem-solve, every day.

In addition to our outside time, we have had a packed few weeks here at RES, and the coming final weeks are just as full! Fourth graders explored a local beaver pond, second and third graders are learning all about bridges - and are exploring so many different bridges and locations thanks to the magic of the world wide web! Kindergarten and First graders continue to embraced the written word and are excitedly reading and sharing their knowledge and embracing their new identity as readers! Fifth graders also had a transformative week at KEEC where they learned so much about themselves, made connections, and had a blast!

I also want to extend my gratitude for the thoughtful and helpful feedback that caregivers have shared with regards to next year's grade configurations. We are proceeding thoughtfully and with intention as we bring concerns, ideas, constraints, and realities together in planning forward together with district leadership. An email will be forthcoming that will detail work being done, and as always - please reach out at any time -phone, email, and in-person!

With gratitude,

Meg

Our next few weeks are sure to fly by quickly - here is a snapshot of what we have on deck:

5/30: Grandfriends Luncheon (12:00 - 1:45)

6/4: K/1 Terrahana Field Trip (morning)

Isley Library visits RES

6/5: Fifth Grade visits MUMS

6/6 and 6/7: Book Swap

6/6: Band/Chorus Concert (2:00pm)

6/7: Bike for Books (12:45 - 1:30 = 3-5th) and (1:45 - 2:30 = K-2nd)

6/11: Day of Play (all-day fun at school :) )

6/14: Last Student Day!

Outdoor Fun Day!

6:00pm 5th Grade Graduation

At recess last week, a group of energetic students gathered together on the basketball court for an impromptu game of basketball. From the outside, one could observe a gaggle of young people smiling, yelling, and bouncing back and forth together. Upon closer observation though, what is revealed is a community of young people who - on their own, but with adult supervision nearby if intervention was needed - were negotiating relationships, advocating for needs, listening to each other, making compromises, and working through feelings. Of course there were disagreements and bumpy moments, this is how learning happens, but this amazing group of kiddos spanning ages from six through eleven were coming together to listen, process, and create together. This is the important work of school. These are the moments where we feel so much joy and gratitude for this amazing school community - its members both young and old. Dear RES Community,

Dear RES Community,

This past week was a busy one at RES! We welcomed some furry visitors, enjoyed a celebration of music and performance by our band and chorus, watched as K/1 students evolved into elephants, and enjoyed lots of outside snow-filled fun! It also seems hard to believe, but we also "crossed the decade" with our hundredth day of school! I hope this winter break is filled with many opportunities for rest, connection, fun, and joy, and I look forward to what these next months have store for us!

Nuts n'Bolts:

With gratitude,

Meg

Dear RES Community,

Despite the weather's playful twists of snow, fog, freezing rain, and slush, we kicked off the week with an exciting session of cross-country skiing – our first this winter, and students got to spend time learning and playing outside. Looking ahead, this week promises drier but chilly weather, so please make sure your kiddos come to school equipped with all their winter gear to make the most of the crisp days ahead.

Nuts n'Bolts:

2/5: 4th grade NAEP Assessment

Stay cozy,

Meg

ACSD schools are participating in the 802 Smiles Network, which promotes dental health programs in Vermont schools. This means your child is eligible for a free dental screening at school and may be eligible to receive preventive dental services at no cost to you.

All you have to do is to fill out the online consent forms by February 1st, 2024. We also have paper forms that will be sent home.

The registered dental hygienist can provide the following free services:

• Dental Screening (simplified dental check-up)

• Fluoride Varnish (brush-on liquid that can help prevent cavities)

• Silver Diamine Fluoride (SDF) (brush-on combination of silver and fluoride that can help stop cavities from getting bigger)

• Dental Cleanings (helps keep the mouth healthy and clean!)

• Oral Health Education (teaches students how to brush, floss, maintain good oral health)

• Dental Sealants (a thin layer of material placed on back teeth to prevent decay)

Our schools will be served by dental hygienist, Michael Messina. If you choose to participate, Michael will send you a follow-up letter after your child’s screening explaining the services provided, whether additional treatment is recommended, and help connect you to a dental professional, if needed. If you have any questions, feel free to contact the school’s dental hygienist, Michael Messina at michaelmessina.rdh@gmail.com or our school nurse.

Greetings, RES Community!

It may have been a short week, but it was packed with valuable learning for our students at Ripton!

This week, students from grades 2 through 5 had a special visit from Sylvie and Celia from United Way to discuss vaping prevention. It was heartening to see our students actively engaged in the conversation, sharing insightful comments and reactions. These discussions are vital for creating awareness and empowering our students to make informed choices about their health. This presentation made an even deeper impact on our fourth and fifth grade students. As students processed reactions to what they learned, together with Ms. O and Ms. C, they began discussions about steps that can be taken to channel frustration into positive action.

This spirit of action and voice is seen throughout our school - students are using their voices in powerful ways from advocating for a weekly Recess Magic the Gathering Club, to student-centered planning for a talent/lip sync show, to supporting each other when working through challenges in and out of the classroom.

I am so grateful for the collaborative spirit and positive energy that defines Ripton Elementary School. The active involvement of our students, parents, and staff, all go such a long way to together to support our kiddos!

With gratitude,

Meg

Students are skiing at Rikert on the following Mondays: January 22nd, 29th, February 5th, 12th and March 4th.

Skis and poles are provided for student use, at Rikert.

Please make sure that your student is dressed appropriately for the weather - thank you!

A huge thank you to Erin for all of her help and organization in planning our Monday Rikert ski days! This incredible opportunity for our students would not be possible without her planning and tireless efforts!

Our well-loved stove/oven will be retired this Monday as we make way for a brand new stove in the Ripton Kitchen! A huge thank you to Maryann, Eric, and Bruce for making this super-helpful addition possible!

A special thank you to Debi and Bryan Waters for purchasing and delivering school snacks generously funded by FORS. Your dedication to supporting our school community does not go unnoticed, and we appreciate your time and kindness!

To all of the folks who are volunteering to transport our students to Rikert and Salisbury - THANK YOU! We know the volunteer process is a cumbersome one, and cannot thank you enough for persevering through the red tape. We are so grateful for you all taking the time out of your busy days to come and help our kiddos get to and from skiing and rehearsals safely!

ACSD schools are participating in the 802 Smiles Network, which promotes dental health programs in Vermont schools. This means your child is eligible for a free dental screening at school and may be eligible to receive preventive dental services at no cost to you.

All you have to do is to fill out the online consent forms by February 1st, 2024. We also have paper forms that will be sent home.

The registered dental hygienist can provide the following free services:

• Dental Screening (simplified dental check-up)

• Fluoride Varnish (brush-on liquid that can help prevent cavities)

• Silver Diamine Fluoride (SDF) (brush-on combination of silver and fluoride that can help stop cavities from getting bigger)

• Dental Cleanings (helps keep the mouth healthy and clean!)

• Oral Health Education (teaches students how to brush, floss, maintain good oral health)

• Dental Sealants (a thin layer of material placed on back teeth to prevent decay)

Our schools will be served by dental hygienist, Michael Messina. If you choose to participate, Michael will send you a follow-up letter after your child’s screening explaining the services provided, whether additional treatment is recommended, and help connect you to a dental professional, if needed. If you have any questions, feel free to contact the school’s dental hygienist, Michael Messina at michaelmessina.rdh@gmail.com or our school nurse.

Dear RES Community,

Welcome Back, and a very happy new year to everyone!

It has been a busy return from break this past week! Our classrooms have been buzzing with questions, giggles, talk about resolutions, learning about fair trade, and exploring ways that we can use sticks and natural materials to craft creative objects! While the outside temperatures are chilly, our students help to make the inside of the building cozy with their kind and caring words and actions.

As we move into January we get into the heart of the year. We look forward to connecting with families for January conferences to gain a deeper understanding about each student’s progress, and go over the report card which will be sent home on January 12. In addition to the regular wintery fun that students have during recesses each day, all students will begin cross country skiing on Mondays starting January 22nd and continuing through February. We are also in the process of planning a Lip Synch Night later on in the month.

Please see below for a list of upcoming important dates:

With gratitude,

Meg

Nuts N’Bolts

1/12: Progress Reports go home

1/15: No School

1/16: No School (conferences may be held on this day)

1/22: First Cross Country Skiing Day @ Rikert

Please note we will be holding parent-teacher conferences between January 16th and February 9th for families to meet with teachers to discuss their child's January report card. We are putting the finishing touches on a revised report card that will show student progress towards grade level standards and the IB Approaches to Learning. Report cards will be sent home on January 12th. We will be reaching out early this month to set up conference dates and times for all families. Thank you.

ACSD schools are participating in the 802 Smiles Network, which promotes dental health programs in Vermont schools. This means your child is eligible for a free dental screening at school and may be eligible to receive preventive dental services at no cost to you.

All you have to do is to fill out the online consent forms by February 1st, 2024. We also have paper forms that will be sent home.

The registered dental hygienist can provide the following free services:

• Dental Screening (simplified dental check-up)

• Fluoride Varnish (brush-on liquid that can help prevent cavities)

• Silver Diamine Fluoride (SDF) (brush-on combination of silver and fluoride that can help stop cavities from getting bigger)

• Dental Cleanings (helps keep the mouth healthy and clean!)

• Oral Health Education (teaches students how to brush, floss, maintain good oral health)

• Dental Sealants (a thin layer of material placed on back teeth to prevent decay)

Our schools will be served by dental hygienist, Michael Messina. If you choose to participate, Michael will send you a follow-up letter after your child’s screening explaining the services provided, whether additional treatment is recommended, and help connect you to a dental professional, if needed. If you have any questions, feel free to contact the school’s dental hygienist, Michael Messina at michaelmessina.rdh@gmail.com or our school nurse.

There have been several changes this year, and while many of these changes are positive and helpful they can also come with some confusion. We are hoping this provides some clarifying information for folks with regards to breakfast, snack, and lunch at RES!

Please contact Meg with any questions, at any time! 🙂

Breakfast: School breakfast is served first-thing in the morning, at 8:00am. Any child is welcome to have breakfast, any day. This breakfast food is provided to the school through a government program and is free of charge for all students. We will not ask students to order breakfast in advance.

Snack: Students are welcome to bring a snack from home to be enjoyed during the class’ daily morning snack time. A granola bar or small snack item is available for students during this time, (thank you FORS!) should they be in need of a quick bite, thanks to a generous donation of small food items from FORS. The breakfast food provided through the government program is not served during this time.

Lunch: Students are welcome to bring a lunch from home, or to order school lunch. Lunch, just like breakfast, is funded through a government program and is free of charge. Students sign up for their lunch choice each morning, in the classroom.

Mondays: January 22nd, 29th, February 5th, 12th and March 4th.

K/1 and 2/3 classes are all set for drivers, but we are still in need of help driving the 4/5 class. If you are able to help, please let us know! Email us at riptonoffice@acsdvt.org or call at 388-2208.

For those who have already gone through the volunteer process, there is just the Volunteer Driver Checklist to fill out. The process is a bit more lengthy otherwise - it involves a Volunteer Form and fingerprinting, but can help walk you through the process and are so grateful for your help!

Dear RES Community,

I hope this newsletter finds you well. As the weather bounces back and forth from warm to wintry, having kiddos set with winter gear will be important so they can play outside safely and comfortably.

It is such a special sight looking out at our playground and seeing our kiddos engaged in all sorts of fun together. On the playground, in the lunchroom, and in the hallways, there is a genuine camaraderie and care between our younger and older students.

I am so grateful for this sense of responsibility and kindness that our older students model and share with the younger members of our community. It is one of the many reasons why our school is a special and wonderful community.

Wishing you a wonderful and healthy week ahead!

With gratitude,

Meg

Nuts n'Bolts:

Thursday 12/14 Band and Chorus concert (2:15)

Family fun Night (6:00 - 7:30)

Friday 12/22 Start of Winter Break

Tuesday 1/2 First Day back after break

Volunteers Needed: We are in need of volunteers to help out with Craft Day (12/20) and Cross Country skiing (January and February). If you are interested, please let Meg or Erin know! (no volunteer form needed for this event)

Mark your calendars! We’re having a game-filled Family Fun Night on Thursday, December 14th. Bring your favorite game to play with others and try out some new games as well! Families will be able to decorate cookies and enjoy hot chocolate while they play games, as well as have fun crafting at a puzzle-making station!

Ms. O'Neill will also be holding an information session about RES Title 1 right before the event, and will have some fun literacy games to share as well!

Title 1 Session: 5:45 - 6:00

Family Fun Night: 6:00 - 7:30

On Monday, we had the privilege of hosting Firefighter Chris from the Ripton Fire Department. He shared helpful safety tips, let us hear what a smoke alarm sounded like, and then showed us all of the many layers and gear that firefighters wear to keep them safe when they keep us safe. His message was an important one- even if he has a mask, tank, and full gear on her is still firefighter Chris; he hasn’t changed and is there to help. Students also had the opportunity to explore two of Ripton's fire trucks. A big thank you to the Ripton Fire Department for their commitment to keeping our community safe.

If you are looking for help with gifts for your children for the holidays there is a HOPE Holiday Shop in Middlebury where parents can shop for free for new gift items for their children. Parents can stop by the HOPE office on 282 Boardman Street in Middlebury to fill out a short form and set up an appointment for that same day to shop. The Holiday Shop will be open until December 22nd, 2023. If you have any questions feel free to contact Tammie Johnson at tammiejohnson@acsdvt.org or call HOPE at 388-3608.

With flu season upon us, it's important that we pay close attention to health and wellness. Please remind your children to wash their hands regularly, cover their mouths when coughing or sneezing, and stay home if they're feeling unwell, and if a kiddo has a fever, they should be fever-free (without medication) for 24 hours before returning to school. Thank you, everyone, for your help keeping our school community healthy.