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:

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

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!

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:


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

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):

(Thursdays at 5:15 pm)

(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? 



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)

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!


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!

Underhill Central School

Email: ucsoffice@mmuusd.org
Location: 6 Irish Settlement Rd, Underhill, VT  05489
Phone: 802.899.4676

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