IMPORTANT DATES TO REMEMBER

• September 24th ~ Zucchini Race (1:45p)

• September 24th ~ UCS Open House (6:00-7:00p)

• September 26th ~ School Picture Day

• September 27th ~ 3/4 Field Trip to Lake Champlain Maritime Museum

• October 2nd ~ School Picture (Rain Date)

• September 30th - October 4th ~ UCS Scholastic Book Fair 

• October 8th ~ Recycle Rhonda Visits UCS

• October 9th ~ Student Early Release Day/Staff PD

• October 10-11th ~ NO SCHOOL for Students

This year's Annual UCS Zucchini Relay will be taking place on Tuesday, September 24th at 1:45pm!  Once again we are looking for giant (or as big as you can grow) zucchinis for the relay.  If you have a zucchini to donate, please drop them off in the main office next week.  We always love spectators to cheer us on, so feel free to meet us in the outfield of the baseball field at 1:45pm on 9/24.  Thank you for your support!

The PTO hosted its first in-person meeting on September 10th from 6-7p . Here is a link to the meeting minutes: September 10 PTO Meeting Minutes ... This is a wonderful opportunity for you to get involved, meet fellow parents and teachers, and contribute to the success of our school community. We encourage all parents and guardians to attend and bring any ideas or suggestions you may have. Light refreshments will be provided, and children are welcome to join us as well.

We are also looking for volunteers to help organize the UCS Fun Run on October 19th. If interested in helping with this fun event, email ucspto@mmuusd.org ... Thank you for your continued support and involvement. We look forward to seeing you there!

The UCS PTO also creates a student directory every year. This is an opportunity to share your contact information with other students in your child's class and around the school to organize play dates, birthday parties, or just create a community. Please only share information you are comfortable sharing with the school community. If you have previously filled out this form (i.e. your child is in an older grade), you do not need to fill out a new form unless you have new contact information or you want to update what is shared. The directory will be updated as needed and shared with you in Dave Marlow's newsletter, so check it out! 

Please use this form to submit your information. (Link is: https://forms.gle/FSNBZuTY3N9wnWXH6 ) Thanks!

Please read the District Illness Guidelines.  This will help you to decide whether or not to send your child to school.  Please feel free to contact the health office if you have questions about sending your child to school after an illness.  You can contact us at 802-858-6316 or ucshealthoffice@mmuusd.org

EEE

Eastern equine encephalitis (EEE) is a rare but serious disease caused by a virus that spreads through the bite of an infected mosquito. Only a few human cases are reported in the United States each year. The disease also commonly affects horses, but it has been reported in other animals like alpacas, donkeys, pheasants, and emus. Please read this important information from the Vermont Department of Health about EEE.

There are no human vaccines to prevent or medicines to treat EEE. The best way to reduce your risk of infection with EEE virus is by preventing mosquito bites: limit time outdoors at dawn and dusk, use insect repellent, wear long-sleeved shirts and pants, treat clothing and gear with permethrin, and control mosquitos indoors and outdoors. 

Please read this important flyer from the CDC: How to Protect Against Mosquito Bites. If you wish for your child to use insect repellent, please apply it at home in the morning before school. 

Current COVID-19 Guidance

 If a person is COVID-positive, they may go back to normal activities after at least one day (24 hours) if:

• Symptoms are getting better overall and

• No fever for at least 24 hours (and are not using fever-reducing medicines).

• In addition, it is recommended to take extra prevention steps for the next 5 days after resuming normal activity: Practice good hygiene. Wear a mask. Keep physical distance. Improve air quality. Any of these prevention steps can help limit the spread of respiratory viruses. The more steps you take, the lower your risk of getting others sick. 

• The district has a supply of masks and antigen tests (limited supply) if requested.

• Please report all positive cases, student or staff, to the school nurse. 

District guidelines remain in place - If you are sick, please stay home.  Please read this link District Illness Guidelines. 

Additional Resources

Respiratory Virus Guidance Snapshot

Preventing Respiratory Viruses

Starting in September, UCS students and staff will be practicing our Emergency Safety Response plans. These drills are evaluated regularly by our UCS Crisis Response Team and follow all state and local guidelines. Here is the UCS Parent/Caregiver School Safety Letter outlining the importance of these drills we conduct throughout the SY.

The Y provides after-school programming at UCS.  HERE is additional information about the program.  The director this year is Harrison Griffith (HGriffith@gbymca.org). Harrison will alternate days between UCS and JES as we share such an overlap in the community. When Harrison isn't on site at UCS, Nick Irwin Testa, Assistant Program Director, will be at UCS.

We will keep our WEBSITE updated on a regular basis. We also invite you to follow us on our two main social media pages: TWITTER (X) and INSTAGRAM. I also encourage you to reach out to the classroom teachers as they all communicate in a variety of different platforms!