The Bobcat Den
November 15, 2024
Grateful Time of Year
Hello UCS Families!
As we near the end of November and look forward to the upcoming school recess, I want to take a moment to express how grateful I am to be part of this amazing school community. Each day, I feel fortunate to be surrounded by such dedicated staff, supportive families, and—most of all—our incredible students. Their energy and enthusiasm bring a smile to my face and inspire me daily!
Over the past two weeks, we’ve continued to build a strong sense of community here at UCS. One of the highlights was introducing the school to our Underhill snow plow, "Penguin Patrol." The students were excited to see it and take part in a fun winter tradition.
A special shout-out goes to Mrs. Giguere's Class, who led our All-School Morning Meeting. They did a fantastic job, and we were thrilled when they also introduced the new tetherball setup on the playground, which I have a feeling will quickly become a recess favorite.
It is important that your student is dressed appropriately for the weather and is prepared to play outside every day. During the winter season, students should have a jacket, gloves or mittens, and a hat. If there is snow on the ground, snow boots and pants are necessary. Also please remember to pack an extra set of seasonal clothing in student backpacks, including socks, for slips and spills.
Looking ahead to next week:
Due to the expected forecast, the UCS Lantern Walk has been RESCHEDULED for Thursday, December 5th at 5:30 PM. It’s a wonderful way to come together and celebrate the season. Please find more info on this event HERE
On Friday at 1:45 PM, we’ll hold our annual Turkey Trot! This fun event is always a favorite with students and staff alike.
Please note that there will be NO school the week of November 25th for the holiday recess.
Thank you for your continued support and for being a part of this wonderful school. I hope you all enjoy a restful and joyful break with your families.
IMPORTANT DATES TO REMEMBER
November 20th ~ Bus Evacs
November 21st ~ 3/4 Structure & Function Animal Show
November 22nd ~ UCS Turkey Trot
November 25th - November 29th ~ NO SCHOOL
December 2nd - December 13th ~ UCS Food Drive
December 5th ~ UCS Lantern Walk -> INFO LETTER
December 6th ~ All-School Meeting (Mrs. Bernier's Class)
December 11th ~ Student Early Release Day/Staff PD
December 13th ~ Hip Hop AIR @ BRMS (6:00p - more info to come)
December 14th ~ PTO Kids Day Out Fundraiser
ALL-SCHOOL MEETING UPDATE
Throughout the rest of the school year, each class at UCS will lead a Friday All-School meeting 1x a month. The meetings are on Fridays from 8:00-8:30. When your child's class is leading the meeting, families will be notified ahead of time, invited to join and be in the audience. Stay tuned for when your child's class will be leading a meeting so you don't miss out on this great opportunity!
** Mrs. Bernier's Class: Friday, December 6th **
UCS SCHOOL DRIVES
OPEN TUTORING POSITION
UCS is seeking an experienced and patient academic tutor to work with a primary-grade child for 2 hours a day. The ideal candidate will provide personalized support in foundational subjects such as reading, writing, and math, fostering confidence and enthusiasm for learning. If you’re passionate about helping children succeed academically, we’d love to hear from you! Please contact David Marlow at david.marlow@mmuusd.org.
NEWS FROM THE PTO
Thanks to everyone who joined us virtually on November 14th! It was great to see so many faces on the screen! 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.
We are also looking for volunteers to help organize with a variety of events throughout the year. 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!
Here is a link to the meeting minutes:
September 10 PTO Meeting Minutes
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!
GIRLS ON THE RUN: COACHES NEEDED!
UCS is looking for coaches to lead our Girls On The Run program for this coming Spring. The program can only run if we have community volunteers to coach. If you or someone you know are interested in signing up to be a coach for Underhill Central School, you can sign up here: https://www.gotrvt.org/coach
If you have questions about Girls On The Run or the possibility of coaching, feel free to ask Abbie Bernier at abigail.bernier@mmuusd.org.
FROM THE HEALTH OFFICE
Early next week, I will send home paper copies of the Annual Health Update Form to families who did not complete it online through PowerSchool this school year. Please complete the form and return it as soon as possible. Thank you.
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
Periodic Reminder to Check Your Child for Lice and Nits
This notice serves as a reminder to check your child’s head for lice periodically. Consider checking weekly. Head lice are tiny, crawling insects that live in the human hair. They do not fly or jump. The females lay eggs called nits on the hair shaft close to the scalp, often at the nape of the neck and behind the ears. The nits are small, oval-shaped specks that can vary from whitish to brownish in color, and are firmly cemented in place and cannot be brushed or flicked away.
Persistent itching of the head and back of the neck can indicate head lice. Most important is the examination of the hair and scalp, especially the nape of the neck and behind the ears, for nits. Lice outbreaks are common in school-aged children. Even the cleanest child can become infested. It is not a sign of poor health habits or being dirty. If you discover lice or nits, ask your pharmacist or healthcare provider about treatment options. School nurses can also answer questions about head lice
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
ONLINE SCHOOL STORE
GET YOUR BOBCAT GEAR!!!
Welcome to the UCS Bobcats Online Sideline Store, the place to score personalized Bobcat Swag and accessories from all your favorite brands 24/7/365. For a limited time, enjoy 20% OFF during your UNDERHILL CENTRAL SCHOOL store’s Grand Opening Sale with code SPIRIT20 ...
**Profits do go back to the UCS** Happy shopping!!!
FREE FAMILY SUPPORT/EDUCATION PROGRAMS
Circle of Parents® SUPPORT GROUPS:
Ongoing Support Groups (can join any time):
Circle of Parents® for Single Moms
(Thursdays at 5:15 pm)
Village of Mothers Circle of Parents®
(In person meetings monthly in St. Johnsbury & Newport and via Zoom)
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Free VIRTUAL/Online Parent Education Programs to any parent/caregiver in Vermont who wants support and/or to learn new parenting skills. Do you or someone you know want to learn more about the programs offered?
Visit the website at: www.pcavt.org/family-support-programs
Email at familysupport@pcavt.org
Call 1-800-CHILDREN
All programs are 2 hours per week for 14-18 weeks. Want to enroll in any of the programs offered?? Please complete THIS FORM to enroll today!
Upcoming Nurturing Parents Programs Available:
Participants are welcome to join up to 2 weeks after start date if space allows
(typically run for 12-14 sessions)
Nurturing Program for Families in Substance Use Treatment & Recovery - Tuesdays at 5pm starting October 22nd
Nurturing Skills™ for Families - Tuesdays at 5:30 pm starting October 29th
Strengthening Families With Children Birth to Age 3 - Wednesdays at 1pm starting October 30th
Nurturing Skills™ for Families - Mondays at 10am starting November 4th
Nurturing Skills™ for Families - Tuesdays at 6pm starting November 5th
Nurturing Program for Families in Substance Use Treatment & Recovery - Wednesdays at 8:30am starting November 6th
Nurturing Program for Families in Substance Use Treatment & Recovery - Thursdays at 9am starting November 7th in-person at Turning Point of Barre
Nurturing Skills™ for Families - Wednesdays at 11am starting November 13th
Nurturing Program for Families in Substance Use Treatment & Recovery - Wednesdays at noon starting November 13th
Nurturing Fathers - Wednesdays at 6pm starting November 13th
Strengthening Families With Teens - Thursdays at 5:30pm starting November 14th
Nurturing Program for Families in Substance Use Treatment & Recovery - Mondays at 5pm starting December 2nd
Strengthening Families With Teens - Tuesdays at 1pm starting December 3rd
UCS GARDEN HELP
Help Needed Fall & Winter Prep for the UCS Garden - We have a few remaining infrastructure projects for the Garden's renewal we'd like to finish before hard frosts set in. The projects require point people. If you're able to work with 3rd Grade Parent, Kristyn Achilich, to source, purchase (at least prior to reimbursement), and lead a project, please email Kristyn at kdachilich@gmail.com. The PTO leadership is working on finding a date to do this work and will send an update as soon as we have one. Our goal is to get these projects and resources set up prior to the work day so we can tackle them with many hands one weekend soon. For a quick look at all we need to do, read on!
Trellis System for Grapes and Raspberries - we need 8-10 cedar 4x4 posts, some cable and cable tensioners to be ordered and picked up. A donation of supplies would be appreciated, but we do have some funds! This team would also need a couple of post hole diggers and drill sets.
ADA Accessible Raised Beds - The Farm at Saint Michael's College donated many raised beds 3 years ago. The cedar lumber was rotted but the metal corners are still very good. We have three beds to build and add to the garden for our students with mobility support needs. The beds should be 3'x5' and about 36' high. Koenig Cedar on Limekiln Road is a great partner/source. In addition to the wood, we will need many many tiny screws. This team would also need drills and a skill saw to square some of the ends.
A Deck Platform between the Maples - Students from MMU's day of service planned and measured for this structure. It will require a skilled deck builder's eye and planning for pressure treated lumber. The team will need some build experience, drills, squares, and skill saws. It is roughly 10'x14'.
Welding the Metal Garden Gate/Structure Back Together - As the grape vine grew and grew over the last few years it pulled this metal structure apart. We believe we have found all the pieces in the soil but it could use some TLC! Welding skills and materials needed!
Tractor Work to Move Soil to Cap the Hugelkultur - in the spring, then custodian, Doug Spofford, did an excellent job digging out the earth for all the old garden materials to become the base of a new ecologically diverse hugelkultur. In the spring, the 1/2 and 3/4 students loaded all that old materials into the giant hole with the help of the summer fellows from the Leahy Institute for the Environment at Saint Michael's College. There's a small amount of old wood to toss in, then a little tractor work to move the soil back on top of all the old wood.
Rebuild the Stone Border - On the playground side of the garden, there was a stone border around those beds outside the fence. We dug up and reclaimed lots of the rocks this spring, but with only 3 folks weren't able to complete the project. This team would need many hands, a point person, and many shovels and wheelbarrows. We'd also finally transplant the lillies and rhubarb Rhonda Drake dug out in the spring for this area as well as add the raspberries from inside the garden!
A School-Garden Liaison - We are looking for a person to partner with Kristyn who would be the person on-site to help when teachers bring their students out to the garden, could organize the UCS community for work projects.
COMMUNITY NEWS & EVENTS
STAY CONNECTED with WHAT'S HAPPENING @ 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!