• February 23rd-March 3rd ~ School Recess - No School

• March 20th ~ Half Student Day - Parent/Caregiver Conferences

• March 24th ~ BPMS Spring Concert, 6:00pm💐

• April 15th ~ Early Release

• April 20th-24th ~ School Recess, No School

Students should arrive at 7:20 AM to enjoy breakfast and social connection time with their peers. Our academic day begins promptly at 7:40 AM, and students should be ready to learn by that time. Dismissal begins at 2:15 PM for bus riders, and at 2:20 PM for students being picked up or attending Part 2.  If your student is going to be absent or there is a change to their after school schedule, please copy Sue (susan.brady@mmuusd.org) in addition to emailing their classroom teacher. 

While everyone is still making all their new year's resolutions, don't forget the resolution that you made to spend more time volunteering at your child's school! The kitchen is one of the best places to have fun at BPMS, if you haven't tried it, now is the time. We would love help to serve snack/breakfast from 8:15-9:30 and lunch from 10:45-12:30 (although SNOWMOTION Fridays will be slightly later than 12:30). Come see how much fun your kiddos have at lunch!

https://www.signupgenius.com/go/10C054AAFA92FA0FBCE9-58587547-bpms#/ SignUpGenius

Session times for the 3rd & 4th Graders will be at 11 AM - 12 PM. The Kindergarten, 1st, and 2nd graders will follow right after having their sessions at 12 PM - 1 PM. If you are helping us at Cochran’s please arrive 15 minutes early,if possible.  

Please make sure your child comes to school on Snow Motion days with long socks, gloves/mittens, snow pants, heavy snowcoat, neckwarmer/hat that fits under their helmet. If your child is using their own equipment they will be putting on their boots and helmets at school. Everything else like skis/poles & boards can be left in the front of the school on the fences. If your child is bringing equipment please have all of it labeled with their name, grade and “BPMS.” Mark will be transporting equipment to and from Cochran's. Please come and get equipment on Fridays after school. 

If you are volunteering at Cochran’s, please review the volunteer list to see which role you will be assisting with. Volunteers that are skiing/riding should have their own equipment and wear helmets at Cochran's. If you have an assignment on Mighty Might or assisting kids and you’re a skier/rider please bring equipment with you as we may need to change assignments depending upon if a volunteer is out. 

If you are leading a small group you can take 4-5 students on the T- bar or mighty might and ski/board down with them. Please do 1 run on Mighty Might to warm up. If you are unloading on Mighty Might and supporting students, you’re helping them get off the toe and possibly skiing/walking down the hill with them. 

When students first arrive we will all be helping them get helmets on, find their skis/boards, and then direct them to the Mighty Might. Students that are borrowing equipment will have a color patch on their boots that coordinates with the same color patch for skis. Snowboarders borrowing equipment will have their boots and snowboards at Cochran's already. Snowboarders will need to be fitted for their boots when they arrive at Cochran's. 

If you are having difficulty with a student not following directions, being disrespectful, or not feeling well, please notify one of the school staff members. School staff will take care of all behaviors and processing of incidents.  

Here is the Volunteer list URL: 

https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1fugOwNLF4RGI3ly2PlRaoK4RV4ShloU4-XfBRM9jtkI/edit?usp=sharing

Thank you again for helping to make our Snow Motion program a success. Please contact me at mark.howland@mmuusd.org if you have any questions.

FLU-LIKE ILLNESS in our COMMUNITY

Recently the Vermont Department of Health communicated with school nurses information regarding flu-like illness this flu season. We've seen an increase in flu-like illness locally and in other district offices around the state. This is not surprising: nationally, we've seen the highest number of cases of flu this season than we have in over thirty years, according to information gleaned from the CDC's data collection by Stanford. 

They also shared some influenza vaccination data from Chittenden County. Our average flu vaccination rate over the three previous years was 53% for Chittenden County children between ages 5 and 12, and 43% for those between 13-17. While this season is not over, most people get vaccinated in the fall - and as of 1/6/26, 46% of our 5-12 year olds are vaccinated and only 35% of our kids between 13 and 17. (Source: Respiratory Virus Vaccination Data | Vermont Department of Health) We also have a smaller percentage of adults vaccinated compared to the 3 year average as well, which impacts our staff in schools.

Please consider getting your flu vaccine - the season typically ends in March - it's not too late to get vaccinated against the flu. 

As always - WASH YOUR HANDS, COVER YOUR COUGH and STAY HOME WHEN SICK.

The K-2 classes continue to focus on fun ways to practice and visualize breathing during whole class Social Emotional Learning time. 

The 4-4-6 Snowperson Globe Breathing

      Show your family! 

• Inhale for 4 counts.

• Hold for 4 counts.

• Exhale blowing into the straw for 6 counts

These are short pauses to focus on your breath. 

This can help your body and brain reset when you have a big feeling or need a little break anywhere you are. 

Camels Hump principal, Gretchen Muller, will be at Brewster Pierce on Friday, January 30th from 7-7:45am.   Gretchen would like the opportunity to meet with families to strengthen the connection between Camels Hump Middle School and the Huntington community.  She would like families to share what's going well, and -most importantly- listen to your ideas and suggestions.  All current CHMS families are invited to sit down with Gretchen and talk about transportation, experiences at CHMS and more.  If your student is transitioning to CHMS next year, please join as well.  Gretchen will be in the library!

Our office has compiled a list of free food resources in Chittenden County with information about hours, location, accessibility and eligibility requirements that can be shared with families who need assistance.

You can find it on our Burlington | Vermont Department of Health website, or linked here: https://www.healthvermont.gov/sites/default/files/document/lh-burlington-Chittenden-County-Food-Resources.pdf