Spring Fling!

We have earned another puzzle piece and it is time to celebrate. On Tuesday, March 31st we are celebrating spring!

To celebrate earning our next puzzle piece wear something that reminds you of spring next Tuesday!! Flowers in your hair, sandals, shades, sun hat, Hawaiian shirt, shorts are some ideas.

2015-16 School Calendar Update

 IMPORTANT - Letter about 2015-2016 Calendar

March 24, 2015

Dear Chittenden East Families,

On behalf of the Chittenden East Governing Board, we would like to apologize for our failure to effectively communicate about the two-hour delays included in the 2015-2016 school calendar. We should have provided more public information before we approved the calendar and posted the calendar on our websites.

The new Vermont Education Quality Standards (State Board Rule 2000) state supervisory unions shall provide professional learning for staff involved in student instruction that is embedded into the school day. Requiring professional development during the school day will force modifications to the school day and school year calendar. We will try to make this change as trouble-free as possible.

Like Chittenden East, some Vermont supervisory unions have delayed start times, while others have early release days, or half days, or a combination of those options. In some supervisory unions, there are different delay or start times by school building. Given a number of factors, we decided a delayed start once a month would be the best way to balance the needs of students, parents, and staff.

Each school building will have a safe space available for students on these mornings. Breakfast will be served, and some limited bussing may be available. Teachers and staff will be able to collaborate not only within a building, but in other configurations that will enable us to improve our educational delivery. Technology and planning will allow teachers from multiple elementary schools to work together on lessons, or teachers from the middle and high schools to collaborate in order to ensure a smooth transition for students. Other areas of focus for staff will include:

➢ Implementing Personal Learning Plans (PLPs) at Middle Schools and High School (state mandate)

➢ Implementing Proficiency-Based Graduation Requirements (state mandate)

➢ Implementation of Common Core (adopted by state)

➢ K-12 Data Teams (New Education Quality Standards)

➢ Effective training for Readers and Writers Workshop K-8 (local initiative)

We are resolute in supporting students and families with this change to the school calendar, considering community feedback, and providing updates throughout the adjustment process.

Sincerely,

Jon Milazzo, Chair              Andrew Pond, Vice Chair                  John Alberghini, Superintendent

Y EARLY CHILDHOOD PROGRAM AT JERICHO ELEMENTARY SCHOOL

Jericho Elementary School is partnering with the YMCA to provide a school-based pre-K.  There are full day and morning pre-K options.  For more information please contact Meg Edmunds at 652-8148 or medmunds@gbymca.org.

2015-2016 School Calendar (link to calendar)

Our school board approved the calendar for next year and we have posted it on the school website. 

There are a few changes we wanted to share with you.  First, Labor Day is very late, so it feels as though school is starting earlier than normal.  This is due to the way the days of the month fall.  Second, it is the mission of our school district to engage all learners.  In the next year we will be working on developing personal learning plans for students and personalizing our instruction so each child is challenged and supported.  Some of our changes require new learning for our teachers.  To assure the very best educational delivery we must allow time for training. 

You will see on the calendar two hour late start days on the second Wednesday of each month (Sept 9; Oct 14; Nov 11; Dec 9; Jan 13; Feb 10; March 9; April 13; May 11).  On these days, teachers will be engaging in professional development and training to better serve student needs.  On these mornings the school day and morning bus pick up will start exactly two hours later than the normal schedule. The in-school day will be adjusted slightly. 

We wanted to make you aware of the changes in our calendar next year as we look forward to our continued work together.  Please let us know if you have any questions. 

Math Strategies Parent Workshop

Check out the link for a  Math Strategies Parent Workshop on 3/25 and 3/26 at JES!

YMCA Prekindergarten Open House

We are exited to announce that the YMCA will be offering a prekindergarten at Jericho Elementary School for the 2015-2016 school year. They will be offering a full day and a half day program.
If you are interested in learning more about the YMCA prekindergarten at JES, please stop by the YMCA prekindergarten Open House on March 18, 2015 anytime between 4:30PM and 6:30PM. We will be in the music room.

MMMUSD Budget Passed

Thank you Mt. Mansfield Modified Union School Community for  supporting the 2015-2016 budget and your investment in our schools.  Your commitment to students and quality education make our school system special.  

Budget results below:

2015-16 MMMUSD Budget Passed
1842-Yes,   948-No

Winterfest Canceled

WINTERFEST CANCELED

The Winterfest that was scheduled for Thursday, March 5 has been canceled due to expected temperatures to be below zero.