Tiger News
 
May 8, 2008
Issue: 31
Calendar of Events: May 12th – Whole School Meeting @ 7:40 a.m. May 13th – School Safety Meeting @ 6:00 p.m. May 14th – Early Dismissal @ 11:55 a.m. May 20th – Grades 3 & 4 Field Trip to Shelburne Museum May 21st – 6th Grade Transition Night, Harwood Union High School @ 6:00 p.m. May 26th – No School, Memorial Day Obsv. May 27th - Preschool Visiting Day @ 1:00 p.m. May 29th - New Families Night @ 6:30 p.m. June 2nd – Whole School Meeting @ 7:40 a.m. June 3rd – Last Day for F.E.S. Playgroup June 5th – School Board Meeting @ 6:30 p.m. June 9th - 6th Grade Step-Up Day @ Harwood June 9th – Band and Chorus Music Night @ 6:30 p.m. June 10th – Kindergarten Visiting Day – 10:00- 11:30 a.m. June 10th – School Safety Meeting @ 6:00 p.m. June 11th – Field Days (a.m.) June 12th & June 13th – 6th Grade Field Trip to Montreal June 18th – Step-Up Day (a.m.) June 18th - 6th Grade Graduation June 18th – Placement Letters and Progress Reports Home June 19th – Last Student Day August 27th - First Student Day of the 08-09 school year. Every Tuesday - F.E.S. Playgroup, School Gym, 9:00 – 10:15 a.m. Contact Sharon Cote (496-3636) for more information Principal’s Passage: The Results Are In … Dear Fayston Families: You’ve spoken. The results from the 2008 parent survey are in, tabulated, and we have begun discussions about them. The percentages below are parents who either agreed with the statement or strongly agreed. Here’s what you said. The school is a bright and inviting place for children to learn ……98 % The school Principal sets a positive tone and provides effective leadership … …98% The Administrative Assistant is helpful and resourceful … …98% The School Board sets the right direction for the school … …94% Student discipline is handled fairly and effectively … …98% Students are learning useful social skills at school … …98% People at school want to know what I think and listen to my concerns … …94% I feel welcomed at school and feel treated with respect when I visit or call … …98% Meals served in the school lunch program are satisfying and appropriate … …98% Safe and engaging after-school activities and programs are offered for my child … …88% Bus transportation is safe and reliable and meets our needs … …70% Recess is safe and fun for my child … …89% My child knows and follows the rules … …98% My child is highly engaged in learning .. …91% My child is appropriately challenged … …92% I like the way the day is scheduled for my child … …92% Parents contribute positively to the school … …98% Report cards tell me what I need to know about my child’s progress … …96% School-sponsored community events and parent nights as well-organized and help me feel connected … …100% School newsletters and bulletins keep me informed of school events … …100% Parent-Teacher conferences help me monitor my child’s progress … …88% I have been able to make arrangements that work for my child during the early release days … …87% My child knows what is expected of him/her academically … …96% The school holds high expectations for the quality of work done by the children … …91% The amount of classwork that is expected from my child is appropriate … …95% The amount and type of homework assigned is appropriate for my child’s age … …89% My child is recognized for effort and the quality of work … …93% My child feels safe at school … …96% My child is treated with respect … … 96% My child wants to come to school every day … …90% My child likes his/her teachers … …100% Roughly 50 people responded to the parent survey. We thank you for your thoughts and assure you that we take this feedback very seriously. As always, we will be working diligently to maintain and improve the quality of education for your child(ren). Please let me know if you have any questions or thoughts about the survey results. Respectfully, Chris Dodge Principal Tradition By Cristal Vasseur Fifth & Sixth Grade Teacher The fifth and sixth grade students at FES are given the opportunity to be part of a wonderful tradition. They get to go on two incredible class trips! Both trips provide students a wonderful opportunity to get out of the classroom and to observe something on a firsthand basis, while at the same time experiencing enhanced camaraderie with fellow students, teachers, and chaperones. We see a lot of positive social interactions among students as they explore and learn together. Quite often we observe students interacting with peers outside of their immediate group of friends. As teachers and chaperones, we learn a lot about our students as we explore with them, and in turn, they learn a lot about us. The trips also have a positive educational experience, as they consist of a lot of hands-on activities. Studies show that these types of activities have a positive impact on student ability to recall information learned on the trips. Rather than simply reading about particular science topics, students are able to learn through hands-on science activities. Students are also able to experience the historical sites of a new city and learn about the culture at the same time. So where do we go and what do we do we actually do on these trips? The fifth grade class trip to the Boston Museum of Science occurs in October. The trip is a wonderful way for students and teachers to get to know each other and develop new relationships at the beginning of the school year. On this trip, students get to explore the entire museum and sleep over in one of the exhibit halls. There are a wide variety of exhibits for students to explore at the museum. The earth, machines and transportation, mathematics, the human body, dinosaurs and nature are some examples. The exhibits encourage curiosity, questioning and exploration. Students have the opportunity to learn about live animals, as museum staff presents birds, snakes and other animals to students. Museum staff members also provide a workshop for students. In the workshop, students focus on a particular topic, such as the food chain or aerodynamics, and participate in a group activity. The evening ends with a lightning show that teaches the children about how lightning is formed, as well as how to remain safe during a lightning storm. The next morning students go to a planetarium show and then to a movie in the Omni theatre. The trip concludes with shopping at the gift shop. The sixth grade class trip to Montreal that occurs in June is a special experience because it is one of the last times that the class spends together prior to middle school. While in Montreal we visit the Science Center, Botanical Gardens, Biodome and Insectarium. The Science Center is another hands-on experience that we spend hours exploring. At the Biodome students get to walk through five different ecosystems; the Artic, Antarctic, Tropical Forest, Laurentian Forest, and the St. Laurence Marine Forest. The Insectarium exposes students to the wonders of the insect world. Through examining hundreds of different insects, students learn how they play an essential part in ensuring the earth’s ecological balance. Students end the day with a beautiful walk through the Botanical Gardens. Here students see and learn about many different plants. The Japanese Gardens and Bonsai trees are among some of the most interesting. For dinner, students get to experience the Hard Rock Café. The dinner discussions are quite interesting as students inquire about The Beatles, The Who and The Rolling Stones. Occasionally, singing and dancing become a part of this dinner experience. We end the evening with a few rounds of bowling and then head back to the Youth Hostile. The following day consists of a tour of Old Montreal and white water rafting. The tour is quite informative and teaches students about Montreal’s history. We even get to go inside Notre Dame! The final activity of the trip is white water rafting. This is a very exciting and memorable experience! Students and adults split up into several boats that are led by guides. Together everyone works hard to hit each rapid at the perfect spot in order to get the biggest splash. Both class trips are truly an amazing experience for all involved. Mr. B. and I have been coordinating and participating in these trips for many years, and we continue to have fun exploring and learning with our students each year. Fayston Board of School Directors June 5th Meeting Time Change The June 5th, 2008, meeting of the Fayston Board of School Directors will begin at 6:30 p.m. Questions about this delayed start may be directed to Chris Dodge, Principal, at 496-3636 ext. 103. Meeting Change – Fayston Board of School Directors The Fayston School Board will not meet during the month of July. The last meeting before summer break will be June 5th, at 6:00 p.m., at the school. Meetings will resume in August, the first Thursday of each month, at 6:00 p.m., at the school. Contact Chris Dodge, Principal, with any questions, at 496-3636 ext. 103. Seckler Nails Second Place at Geo Bee Neither a snowstorm nor the wintry Middlebury Gap stopped Fayston School fifth grader Jerry Seckler from participating in Middlebury College's Geography Bee last month. A great deal of excitement could not stop Jerry from answering seven questions correctly out of eight competition and one practice round. His mom described the atmosphere as "a room full of nail-biting parents and children trying to relax while they answered the questions." Current events, locations, and exotic plants imported from various countries well-describes the huge range of questions asked. Jerry tied for second place with one other student. "He knew quite a few of the answers," his mom said, but he was up against some eighth graders. Congratulations on an job well done, Jerry. Veterinarian Karen Anderson Visits Open Hearth At Fayston After School Program Veterinarian Karen Anderson surprised the students at the OHAF Elementary After School Program on Wednesday, April 30th. Dr. Karen brought her dog Porter, and showed the students what a wellness vet check looks and sounds like. At times, Porter would rather have played than have an exam, but for the most part he was an excellent patient. Dr. Anderson also brought along some plastic canine and feline teeth molds for the students to examine and educated the students about dental health in animals (that dog’s gums need to be pink for example). The students learned about Porter’s ears as well as the need for a moist nose for him to be healthy. It was an enjoyable time for all, and the program thanks Dr. Karen Anderson for sharing her time. We thank those in the community who come into the program and share their skills with the students. To give back, the students are doing Green Up Day cleanup on May 2nd. Our OHAF full day/ full summer camp program located at the Fayston School still has some available spaces. First come first served. Contact Deb Orr, Director, at 496-3636 ex.111. Lost and Found Final reminder that any items in the Lost and Found will be sent to the Salvation Army Wednesday, May 14th. If your child(ren) are missing any items, please be sure to check before that time. There are currently two full cupboards and several garbage bags of misplaced items. Open Hearth at Fayston Summer Program Grades: K-6 (2007/8 school year) This is open to all children, in all towns. 
Hours: 7:30am to 5:45pm 
Program Start Date: June 23, 2008. 
Program End Date: August 15, 2008 
Rate: $1,160 ($29/day) 2 snacks per day provided. Campers bring their own lunch.
$100 Deposit due May 1st, Balances due June 15th ($530) and July 1st ($530).   Location: Fayston Elementary School and surrounding natural environment (Mill Brook, Mad River Path, etc.) 
Description: a full summer, full day program offering an abundance of indoor and outdoor activities. Themes will be explored with flexibility, as the children will share in the responsibility for planning daily activities. Our program strives to allow “free play” time. Recent studies have shown that children need play time to explore themes on their own and have their own discoveries. We guide children through their explorations and are just as surprised as you to find what treasures they uncover. The Responsive Classroom approach is used to engage all children, and promote a safe environment. Contact: OHAFDirector@faystonelementary.org, 802 496 3636 x111 for more information and details. We recommend a visit to the After School program to see examples of projects the children may work on. Recent ones include candle making, knitting, play dough, sculptures, soap making, musical instruments, indoor gardening, and fort building. Student Art Show At Warren Store Featuring Fayston Elementary Students Artwork Nora McDonough Art Teacher Everyone is invited to the student art show at the Warren Store on Thursday, May 22nd. The art show will include artwork from FES students, as well as work from Waitsfield and Warren students. The time is tentatively set for 5:00 –7:00 p.m. Light refreshments will be served. I hope many families, faculty, and staff can make it to this event! Circus Minimus Summer Camp Returns to Warren School Circus Minimus – “The Circus Kids Create” – will return to The Warren School this summer for a two -week camp, running 9:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. from Monday, August 11th through Thursday, August 21st for children ages 6 to 13. Children learn a variety of circus arts, yoga and dance skills, and the camp culminates in a “big top” performance on the night of Thursday the 21st. The camp’s artistic director this summer will be Jen Taylor. Jen has teaching and educational experience in trapeze, Chinese acrobatics, and a broad range of circus and yoga skills. She is a certified CircusYoga instructor and holds a BA in philosophy from Vassar College. Jen will be assisted by Sheldon Foley. Jasmine Cohen and Cassidy Sargent will serve as camp interns. Attending both weeks is required. The camp fee is $400 for non-Warren residents. Limited scholarships are available for children eligible for free/reduced price school meals. Circus Minimus Summer Camp is sponsored by Open Hearth. To save your clown a spot in the act, please contact April Smith at aprilsmith@gmavt.net or call 496-5547. Summer Theater and Science Camps Moretown Elementary School Thom McAllister & Deb Fadden Week long theatre camp featuring theatre games, skits, acting skills and performance; week long science camp featuring hand-on science activities and design technology challenges. Theatre Camp: July 7th to July 11th Science Camp July 14th to July 18th Moretown Elementary School 9:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m., Monday through Friday Open to Students age 7 to 13 $125.00 for 1 week; $225.00 for both weeks For more information or registration forms contact Thom McAllister, 105 Snipe Ireland Rd., Richmond, VT 05477 (802) 434-4977, thommc@gmavt.net American Flatbread “Help your neighbors & feed your family!”   With food and fuel prices at or near all-time highs, many Vermonters are having to make tough decisions about how to feed their family.  It’s with that in mind that American Flatbread begins a series of community truck sales throughout the state where we will be offering our frozen pizza at a discount (individually or by the case) with a portion of the proceeds going to a local food shelf. We are kicking things off this Saturday May 10th at our bakery / restaurant in Waitsfield. The sale will be running from 1:00 – 7:00 p.m., so please spread the word. If there are any questions, please feel free to call me at 496-8856.   Thanks! Steve Andrews Celebrating Mother’s Day By Jean Thompson Instructional Assistant This Sunday, May 11th, is Mother’s Day. I hope that moms everywhere have a delightful and enjoyable Mother’s Day. Here are some quotes you may enjoy. Hundreds of dewdrops to greet the dawn, Hundreds of bees in the purple clover, Hundreds of butterflies on the lawn, But only one mother the wide world over. - George Cooper A mother is a person who seeing there are only four pieces of pie for five people, promptly announces she never did care for pie. -Tenneva Jordan A suburban mother’s role is to deliver children obstetrically once, and by car forever after. - Peter De Vries The moment a child is born, the mother is also born. She never existed before. The woman existed, but the mother, never. A mother is something absolutely new. - Rajneesh Mother – that was the bank where we deposited all our hurts and worries. - T. Dewitt Talmadge You don’t really understand human nature unless you know why a child on a merry-go-round will wave at his parents every time around – and why his parents will always wave back. - William D. Tammeus Making the decision to have a child is momentous. It is to decide forever to have your heart go walking around outside your body. - Elizabeth Stone Enjoy The Day! mailto:OHAFDirector@faystonelementary.orgmailto:aprilsmith@gmavt.netmailto:thommc@gmavt.netshapeimage_3_link_0shapeimage_3_link_1shapeimage_3_link_2