RIVER RAIDER

Dear Families,

A reminder that on Saturday February 8th many of our students will be jumping into Lake Champlain as participants in the Special Olympics Vermont Penguin Plunge.  This event has been an annual tradition at BRMS for 22 years and we have raised well over $200,000.00 for the Vermont Special Olympics.  Jeff Warren (7th grade BRMS teacher) will be recruiting students and parents to participate in this amazing, albeit frigid, event.  We will be providing more information in the coming weeks. Here is the link to the Penguin Plunge to register or to donate:  Penguin Plunge VT . (link directly to the BRMS Team Page.)  

If you are a  parent of  a 7th or 8th Graders attending the dance tonight, please take a moment to review these guidelines with your student:

Have a wonderful weekend and enjoy the warmer temperatures,

Kevin

Dear 6th, 7th and 8th Grade Parent or Guardian:

Our school is taking part in the 2025 Youth Risk Behavior Survey during the week of 2/17-2/21/25 during PE classes. This was developed by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and is sponsored by the Vermont Department of Health and Agency of Education. The YRBS has been administered every other year in Vermont since 1993. Separate versions of the survey ask middle or high school students about health behaviors and assets or protective factors. Topics include personal safety and injury prevention, mental health, nutrition, physical activity, sexual health, substance use, and protective factors.  

Results from the YRBS help us determine the extent to which adolescents engage in or experience  health risk behaviors. The results from the YRBS support public health officials, educators, and community organizations ability to assess and improve efforts to reduce health risk behaviors among adolescents throughout the state and nation. They help us develop and evaluate health-related programs and secure their future funding.

The YRBS is anonymous. It has been designed to be confidential and to protect your child’s privacy. Students will not put their names on the survey and student login information is not recorded. Individual survey responses will not be revealed in a report of the results or disclosed to any school employee. 

For this survey to be accurate, it is important that all students, regardless of whether they have engaged in health-risk behaviors, are given an opportunity to participate in the survey. We would like all students to take part in the survey to best understand the issues and experiences of youth, however, the survey is voluntary. Students may skip any questions they do not wish to answer or stop taking the survey at any point without penalty. As a parent, you have the right to view the survey before it is administered and to have your child opt out.  A copy of the survey is available on the Department of Health YRBS webpage (http://www.healthvermont.gov/yrbs). If you have any questions or concerns, please call or email Gregory Martin [802-899-3711, greg.martin@mmuusd.org].

Please visit the Vermont Department of Health website at: http://www.healthvermont.gov/yrbs for more information about the Vermont YRBS including previous reports. Links to the CDC’s YRBS page, FAQs, and other background information are available by clicking “Learn more about the YRBS” on the website. 

Should you decide to opt your child out of taking the survey, please complete the following form and return it to Gregory Martin  by 1/31/25. 

Thank you for your cooperation.

Sincerely,

Kevin Hamilton

20 River Road   Jericho, Vermont 05465   802.899.3711   brownsriver.mmuusd.org

Browns River Action Group (BRAG), the parent teacher organization at BRMS, helps promote student self-esteem, supports school staff, and assists in efforts to solve school needs through volunteering and fundraising.

Want more information? Email us at brmsbrag@mmuusd.org

4-H World Changers: Learn to Code

Join UVM Computer Science Professor Lisa Dion on this introduction-to-coding journey!

In this 4-H World Changers series, you will learn how to use foundational coding concepts to build your own customizable quiz game! You get to choose the theme, characters, questions, and animations using the Scratch coding platform. By the end, you'll get to test friends and family in a fun interactive game!

When: Wednesdays from 4:00-5:00 pm, February 5-March 5, virtual program 

For: Youth in 4th-8th grades

Free event but registration is required. You will receive a link to join via email. Sessions will be recorded and available after the live session. Register here: https://go.uvm.edu/0h7ei

VTeen Science Pathways Cafés, Jan 11, Feb 15- full, March 22, April 12 & May 10

Join us for monthly hands-on science workshops by UVM faculty, graduate students and other STEM professionals. These are excellent opportunities to learn about a breadth of careers and current research in a variety of STEM fields. Workshops are for teens age 13+. Cafés take place on UVM campus on Saturdays from 5:00-7:00 pm and pizza and soft drinks provided. Upcoming topics include: 

Jan 11 Disease Detectives: Genetically Engineering Bacteria in the Microbiome for Therapy

Feb 15 Finding Patient Zero: Tracking Disease Outbreaks

March 22 Medical Laboratory Science

April 12 Brain Parasites, Behavior, and Public Health

May 10 Stop the Bleed: Emergency Medicine

Please register for these free events here: https://go.uvm.edu/afe. Space is limited for some cafés. You will receive an email before the event with campus location, parking and other information (please provide your email address). To request disability-related accommodation, please contact Margaret at mcoan@uvm.edu, or (802) 656-7634, 3 weeks prior to the session you want to attend so that we may assist you.

Discover Engineering Day, February 22, 9:30-2:30, 2025

Discover Engineering is a day of hands-on learning and exploration for youth in 5th-12th grades to learn about engineering, build skills, and network with college students, professors, and professionals in the field. Organized by UVM’s College of Engineering and Mathematical Sciences (CEMS) and UVM Extension 4-H, the day includes an Engineering Scavenger Hunt (interactive exhibits showcasing various types of engineering and career pathways), and an afternoon of learning through hands-on workshops. Lunch provided. Sponsored by the Lola and George Aiken Fund. Register for this free event taking place on UVM campus here: https://go.uvm.edu/2025

To request language interpretation/translation assistance and/or a disability-related accommodation to participate in this program, please call or email Margaret Coan at 802-656-7634 or margaret.coan@uvm.edu before Friday, January 31, 2025 so we may assist you. Registration open until filled or Monday, Feb 17 at 5:00 pm. 

Hold the Dates: 

STEM Showcase on March 29

AgroTek Conference on June 28

Natural Resources Management Academy on July 11-13

GIRLS’ SOFTBALL IS BACK! 

After another successful season in 2024, Girls’ softball is returning to Browns River Little League for the 2025 season! 

Ages 9-12 (and advanced 8 year olds following evaluation) 

Registration is open now through January 31, 2025 https://www.brownsriverlittleleague.com/ 

Volunteers are needed across the program. 

Please contact league President Casey Knudsen if interested in helping out. (caseyknudsen@gmail.com)