“If you want the rainbow, you’ve got to put up with the rain.” -Dolly Parton

March 26, 2021

As we wrap up our last full week of March, we are grateful for the opportunity to have students back in-person. The past week was challenging and concerning as we learned of multiple positive cases in our school community. The reality of COVID fatigue is real and it’s hard, especially on our young students. However, we all need to work together to remain vigilant with modeling and following all safety protocols outlined by the state of Vermont, Vermont Department of Health, and the CDC. We have been successful with curbing any spread of COVID in our schools because of the continued practices of wearing masks correctly, creating spaces that allow for adequate physical distancing, using hand sanitizer and washing hands, and continuing with health screenings upon entering the schools each day. We need to have a partnership so these practices will be part of everyone’s lives outside of school too.

This week also brought us amazing spring weather. We took advantage of the warm temperature and sunshine yesterday by eating lunch outside and taking class breaks walking around the school grounds. We look forward to more spring weather that hopefully will return to us sooner than later. Spring is also a time for the start of another sports season. If your student is interested in participating in a spring sport, please be sure to complete your registration. Here are the Spring Sports Registration instructions.

Lastly, next week we will shift to our last quarter of the school year. Wednesday is the last day of quarter 3 and quarter 4 will start the next day on April 1st. Most students will continue with their same classes, however, some will start a new elective class so students should make sure they are checking their schedules for any changes. Next Friday, is an early-release day so classes for the Tuesday/Friday cohort will end at 11:30am.

The LSUU Board of Directors and Administration are again asking for your feedback. LSUU is seeking to better understand what families and students need, and want your feedback to establish more two-way channels for communication. Please complete the survey, LSUU Family Survey - Spring, 2021, by Friday, April 2.

Family Resources:

The United Way of Lamoille County maintains an uber-comprehensive list of all the resources around the area: food, mental health, housing, employment, substance misuse and recovery, domestic violence, and much more. If you have any questions about what is available locally and on a state level, head to the UWLC website first.

Youth Vaping Prevention

Lamoille Area Youth Council Kickoff Event

Live Your Why- Healthy Lamoille Valley

The Everyone Eats program offers free, delicious frozen meals at these locations in Lamoille County:

• Lamoille Community Food Share (197 Harrel St, Morristown): Monday-Saturday, 9-11:30

• Wolcott United Method Church (4023 VT Route 15): Fridays, 3:30-5:30

• Lamoille Health Family Medicine, Morrisville (formerly Morrisville Family Health Care): take from freezer in waiting room during open hours.

• Copley Hospital: Available for patients during appointments and on Tuesdays 3-5; call ahead 802-851-8894

No pre-registration needed, and all the food is made by local restaurants.

Questions: ereid@capstonevt.org

The Dads’ Group is a great place to connect with other Dads, share successes and challenges and have some fun.

• Every Tuesday 8-9PM on Zoom.

• Contact Rob Cary at rcary@LRCVT.org or (802) 730-3000 for the link to the Zoom meeting.

Please share this video with any father who may want to be part of this supportive group.

Vaccination, Quarantine & Testing

The state continues to increase vaccine access. Those 70 and up may make appointments for vaccination starting tomorrow:

• 20 Walgreens locations now are participating in the Federal Retail Pharmacy Program.

• Kinney Drugs, Home Health and Hospice, and Copley Hospital are among other vaccination providers, in addition to the Department of Health clinics.

• Sign up for appointments at all sites by clicking here or calling 855-722-7878. Do not call the Health Department or your doctor for an appointment.

• Seniors who need help can call Central Vermont Council on Aging 1-800-642-5119.

People who have been fully vaccinated and are exposed to someone with COVID-19 do not need to quarantine, as long as:

• They are fully vaccinated (have had two doses of the COVID-19 vaccine).

• More than two weeks and less than three months have passed since they received the second dose of the vaccine.

• They have not had any COVID-19 symptoms since the exposure.

Get tested to help keep track of the virus in the state. Click here if you have no symptoms to make an appointment. If you have symptoms, call your provider.

Take this survey to help researchers understand how Vermonters and visitors are understanding and responding to Vermont’s COVID-19 guidelines. Complete the online survey and be entered to win one of ten $25 gift cards.

Homelessness

The Lamoille Area currently has 73 households on the Coordinated Entry list for housing. Of these:

• 67 are eligible for a housing voucher or subsidized. Only four of those households could afford a fair market unit without those forms of support.

• There are 6 households not eligible for any type of voucher or subsidy, which means they'll be homeless indefinitely until something else is created for them.

• 25 of the households require long-term case management/voucher sponsorship.

• There are 13 youth experiencing homelessness.

To end homelessness in Lamoille, we would need:

• 52 additional vouchers or subsidized units,

• Two additional case managers that can do long-term sponsorships,

• Two additional case managers that can provide short term case management and sponsorship,

• 58 single bedroom apartments,

• 9 two bedroom apartments,

• Three 3 bedroom apartments.

Parents and educators

Healthy Lamoille Valley needs community feedback around preventing and reducing youth substance misuse in the Lamoille Valley. Participants in the survey can win a gift card. Click here for the survey.

Practical Positive Co-Parenting:

• March 30th, 2021

• 6:00-7:30PM

• Register here.

• Led by Life/Parent Coach Dustin Bruley

• Strategies and tools to improve (and in some cases rescue) your relationship with your co-parent (whether or not that’s your current partner).

Parents of children with a disability or special health need are asked to share their experiences accessing childcare or early education. The information they share through this survey will be used to inform system improvement recommendations to the state of Vermont.

Technology News:

Schoology: The Parent View in Schoology presentation is designed to help families understand and navigate Schoology.