RIVER RAIDER

Dear BRMS Families:

We have had an amazing first week of school at BRMS! It has been wonderful to start the year without any COVID restrictions and we are excited about the new school year with all of the possibilities that lay ahead. Our sports teams have started practicing, the marching band has begun to play, and our clubs will be starting up soon.

This year we will be hosting our first Open House event since 2019! We will be finalizing that date shortly and will publish it next week. The River Raider will be sent out weekly on Fridays and it will provide you with the most up to date happenings at our school. If you do not find the information that you are looking for in the River Raider please call us with any questions you may have about our school.

We look forward to meeting our new families and reconnecting with our returning students. Have a wonderful Labor Day Weekend!

Kevin

NEST

This year we will be introducing our students to our school wide advisory program which will be known as the Nest. We had planned on introducing this program last fall, but had to put it on hold due to COVID restrictions. Each Wednesday morning throughout the school year students will be meeting in small multi-grade level groups from 8:00-8:30. Students will have been randomly grouped in “Nests” of approximately nine students with one adult. Below you will find our goals and vision statement along with some links about the benefits of middle school advisory groups. We will be providing more information about Nest throughout the school year in our future River Raider.

Nest Vision Statement: To achieve a more cohesive and equitable school community for all students.

Nest Goal: To create fifth through eighth grade advisory groups that recover and reconnect our whole school community at BRMS. We aim to create and sustain lasting relationships with our students while they are with us over the time span of four years. Learning for Justice’s Social Justice Standards will guide our work in empowering students to amplify their voice, develop their identity, and build community through advisory groups and activities.

AMLE Advisory Information

Evolution of Advisory

School Emergency Information For Parents and Caregivers

August/September 2022

Dear Parents and Caregivers:

The safety of students and staff is our first priority. Therefore, the Mount Mansfield Unified Union (MMUUSD) schools follow the protocols and procedures contained in the current edition of the Vermont School Crisis Guide as well as VT Agency of Education safety requirements. Additionally, based on guidance and recommendations from the Vermont School Crisis Team, Vermont School Safety Center, FBI and US Department of Homeland security we will take an options-based approach to safety, i.e. Run/Hide/Fight. This methodology does not replace current safety protocols for evacuation, sheltering in place or other emergency response procedures, but does give additional tools that may be used to respond to an active threat. You can find a link to the Run/Hide/Fight protocol on the Homeland Security website here. We have learned that no one size response plan fits each incident and teachers, administrators and students need to have options so that they can effectively respond based on a specific set of circumstances. We will be practicing option-based drills during the school year in a developmentally appropriate manner in order to minimize anxiety for students. While the very unexpected nature of a crisis may make preparation difficult, MMUUSD believes that staff and students should be ready to respond quickly and appropriately to emergency situations. School violence and other emergency events can be difficult to discuss and consider, but we must do our best to be prepared.

Our Emergency Response Plan provides a comprehensive framework for school emergency crisis management. It addresses the roles and responsibilities of town and school organizations and provides a link to local, State, Federal, and private organizations and resources that may be activated to address school emergencies in the supervisory union.

Important details about the Emergency Response Plan:

1. The safety plan is not public information and copies will not be given out. Parents can be notified of the plan and some of the details, but specific parts will remain confidential for the safety of students and staff.

2. The safety plan was designed to be similar at all MMUUSD schools. This was done for the following reasons:

a) Responding police officers will have a general knowledge of how the plan works regardless of what school they respond to.

b) Substitute teachers and other district employees who move from school to school will also have a basic knowledge of how the plan works no matter where they are.

3. The safety plan is under constant refinement and will change as situations change or potential threats are determined.

4. While no safety plan can deal with all possible dangers, and while no safety plan can guarantee the safety of everyone involved, it has been shown that having a plan in place and practicing for potential emergencies helps ensure the safety of the students and staff. Further, it supports smooth operation in the event an evacuation is necessary.

Included with this letter is a guide that outlines the following:

1. When And Why Are Students and Staff Asked to Lockdown, Lockout, Shelter-in-Place, or Evacuate

2. Parent Responsibilities During a School Emergency and Reunification After a School Emergency

3. Safety Terms and Procedures

4. How You Will Be Reunited With Your Child

5. How Parents Can Help

6. Recommendations If a School Emergency Occurs

Please do not hesitate to contact me if you have any questions.

Sincerely,

Kevin Hamilton

Principal

Browns River Middle School

Monday, September 5 - Labor Day (No School)

Tuesday, September 6 -

Wednesday, September 7-

Thursday, September 8-

Friday, September 9- Clubs (5th Grade Field Hockey 3-4)