Berlin Bobcat Beat

Dear Berlin Community,

We have been busy at work since coming back from our November Break. Mrs. Downing's class (4th Grade) presented at out All School Meeting on Thursday on the topic of Kindness. They have started a kindness "blizzard" around our school. Leaving notes of kindness in cubbies and then encouraging the building to do the same.

Mrs. Dall our Librarian also hosted another community Library Night, this time focusing on board games and fun. It's really lovely to see out library used in such a fun way. We look forward to another night in January. We're grateful to our U-32 volunteers. If you'd like to come to one of these nights and transportation is a barrier please reach out and we will get you to school!

This time of year in a school building is always a busy one. As the building administrator I am working with my administrative team across the district to create a sustainable budget for our district. This is a particularly challenging budget season given the vast changes in education across the state. I would encourage you to attend the board meeting at U-32 on December 10th at 6:15. Please use this link https://app.smore.com/n/6tag2 to see the Superintendent's message around budgeting.

Lastly, please remember that this week December 10th we will be dismissing all students at 12:30. The teaching staff have a half day of professional learning. Please make sure to enter your pickup changes in PickUp Patrol.

Upcoming Events:

- December 8th-- December 12---Winter Spirit Week

- December 9th--- Growing Connections--- BES 4:30-6:30

- December 10th---Early Dismissal 12:30

- December 12th Gifts for Giving/Holiday Bazaar---School Wide Day of Community

- December 24- January 5th--- No School--Winterbreak

Be Well,

Celia Guggemos (Mrs.G)

Surprise! Next week is Winter Spirit Week.

Monday is Sports Day

Tuesday is School Colors Day

Wednesday is Hat DayThursday is Fancy Day

Friday is PJ/Comfy Day

To promote reading over Winter Break I am encouraging students to participate in a Book Bag Bonanza!

Students will bring home a form in order to receive a bag of surprise books to borrow from the library over winter break. I will pick out books for students based on the information from their forms and deliver book bags to students on Monday, December 22nd.

Students will fill out a reading log and be eligible for a prize when they return the books after break!

This is a great way to read with your students and have fun!

Please let me know if you have any questions.

Happy Reading, Ms. Dall

What's Your Name?

Amber Dessureau

What's your Role at Berlin Elementary?

Second Grade Classroom Teacher

How long have you worked in education?

Over 20 years

What's the thing that you love most about working in our school community?

The systems of supports.

What's your favorite thing to do outside of school?

Spend time with my family; attending my daughters' sporting events.

What is a fun or surprising fact about you?

I enjoy time period drama movies and TV shows.

What's your favorite book, movie or song you'd recommend?

Morgan Wallen---Up Down

Winter has arrived in our lobby! Lovely, sparkly snowflakes were hung by our Librarian, Jesse Dall. Students and adults alike have been dazzled by them!

Word detectives in action in the Literacy Room! Students practiced identifying closed-syllable exceptions in multisyllabic words, proving that even the toughest patterns don’t stand a chance.

Monday, December 8 - Friday, December 12 - Winter Spirit Week

Monday, December 8, 5:15-6:30 Caregivers and Allies of LGBTQ++young people-U32 Library

Tuesday, December 9, 4:30PM - 6:30 PM Growing Connections - BES

Friday, December 12 - Student Holiday Bazaar - BES

Saturday, December 13, 10:00-4:00 - Holly Jolly Holiday Craft Fair - BES

We are a community group of parents, caring friends, caregivers, and district staff gathering to share and think together. We explore our questions and concerns, share resources and experiences as we learn, love, and teach our LGBTA++ young people - from Pre-K to 12th graders.

Our meetings are on the second Monday of each month. Our next meeting is December 8th from 5:15-6:30pm. We will meet in the U-32 Library classroom.

Any questions? Please send an email to svermilya@u32.org

You are receiving this email because you are opted in to receive messages from your school. For more information, please contact your school.

Dear Schools and Communities,

Fall may have turned towards winter, but our wonderful community dinner at the end of September

still is vivid - the turnout of 400 residents of all ages, the contributions of all our schools, the produce of 20 of our farms, the cooking by amazing chefs from our schools and our local businesses. It was a feast of the land and the people and togetherness.

Now, we are looking forward to cultivating more opportunities for food to bring us together. On

Tuesday, December 9th we invite you to join us from 4:30 - 6:30 for discussions and dinner at Berlin

Elementary School. We will explore opportunities to put food in the center of learning and

wellness. What projects are underway for our youth? What do you dream of?

Faculty, farmers, families and friends... School chefs and support staff, restaurants and bakeries...

Town leaders and teenagers, neighbors and organizers, food pantries and parents...

Can you envision opportunities for kids to connect food and land and learning? For food to fuel fun in

summer programs? For food to help create more equity and belonging? Then join us!

Let’s keep GROWING CONNECTIONS! Please share this invitation!

The afternoon will include sharing classroom and afterschool activities, food access programs, dinner and more!

Please let us know if you can make it or if you are interested but unavailable this time. Come late,

leave early, bring kids, bring ideas. Please respond either on this form or by email wcfe@u32.org

Gratefully growing connections,

Erica Zimmerman, Washington Central Friends of Education wcfe@u32.org

Bec Dezan, WCUUSD Community-Schools Coordinator rdezan@u32.org

--

Erica Zimmerman (she/her)

Executive Director, Washington Central Friends of Education

wcfe@u32.org

cell/home office 802-595-5628

WCFE 73 Main St, Rm 29 Montpelier, VT 05602

A 501c3 since 1994, WCFE supports collaboration and innovation among schools and

communities to support youth opportunities. We offer communication, facilitation, resource

sharing, grant management and fiscal sponsorship/agency.

Please note that I divide my time between WCFE and my farm, and my work schedule varies.

If you haven't heard back from me in 48 hours, please don't hesitate to reach out again by

email or text. Thank you!

Good day!

My name is Sharone Bailey and I am the Bolton After School Ski & Ride coordinator again this year. Enrollments in the program are open NOW and close on Jan 15th. However, I encourage you to sign up as rental equipment for the season is available now and a sweet deal until Dec 14th. Details below.

SIGN UP HERE:

The full program and FAQ’s are listed on this google sheet.

Highlights below.

· Payment is due to me in a check or cash by Feb 19th – drop off in an envelope to BES front desk with children’s names.

· Email me so I know it’s been dropped off. SharoneLBailey@gmail.com

Sign ups ask for some detailed information on height & weight. Ok to approximate.

………..

PROGRAM DESCRIPTION

Bolton runs an afterschool program where students can get significant discounts on lessons, lifts and equipment. Every year BES has aprox 15 students that participate in the program. This year BES program is Session 2, Wednesday dates below:

DATES / TIMES & LOGISTICS

· Wednesday 330 pm ~730 pm (Lessons start at 4 & 5pm)

· Feb 11, Mar 4, 11,18 (make up Mar 25)

COSTS

· Lift ticket $90 (4 days) *Recommended for all participants if they don’t otherwise have access to lift pass ie season passes.

· Lesson $ 75 (4 lessons)

· Ski / Snowboard rental $80 (4 days) – includes rental (or season rental below)

· Helmet only $25 (4 days)

SEASON GEAR LEASES

Bolton is really pushing this great deal to make it more accessible for families!

I recommend doing season rentals instead of above as you will have the gear for the entire season for $9 more. Costs below. Rental store is now open at Boltons Main lodge Fri, Sat, Sun 11 – 4 (check before you go). Please sign up BEFORE you pick up your gear- they will need to confirm your name and school when you pick up season rentals so you will need sign up first!

· Early season: Nov 1 – Dec 14th $89 for entire season!

· Program rate after Dec 15: $109 only available before season starts , beginning Dec 15th

· Normal rates after session starts: $149

More info: https://www.boltonvalley.com/winter/rentals-leases-tuning/

BONUS: Bolton will fix your gear on the mountain and provide you with changes as needed (ie size upgrades!). However, many people also rent locally from Slopestyle Ski & Ride which is also nice! If you decide to do daily rentals (only $80) you will need to get gear from the rental office before lessons every time.

VOUCHERS:

For each student in a session, the family will receive a family ticket voucher + 30 % rentals that accommodates 3 family members!). These will be loaded on RFID cards with lift tickets.

LOGISTICS

BES does not provide buses and this is not a student drop off. Students must always have a caregiver present on the mountain (in the lodge). We chose Wednesdays as it is an early dismissal day and allows more time for parents to kids to lessons. Participants generally leave about 20 mins early, ie 240 pm. This allows plenty of time for driving, parking, getting gear on and a snack.

BES will have a marked table inside the main lodge where you can store water bottles and snacks etc. Lockers are also available - bring a lock. This is a nice common area for the parents and kids to hang out.

We typically get 2 chaperone tickets which I rotate with the parents so parents can ski free on some days. Single price visits for lift and gear available.

FOOD:

Bolton is not doing its buffet this time around. Instead parents can load money onto ski passes and students can buy food at lodge either pizza or burgers/ fries. Or students can bring their own food. Students are always hungry and should have snacks and water. Bolton is a cashless resort so we will provide directions for loading RFID cards with cash as needed.

GEAR:

Participants should have proper gear: waterproof ski pants, ski jackets, ski gloves, ski mask/neck, warm socks and thermals, highly recommended helmets (keep heads warm) and goggles are nice for older kids.

Sharone Bailey

E: sharonelbailey@gmail.com

T: 847.322.0015

We are looking to fill a vacant School Board Seat. Berlin has three seats on the board and we are looking to fill the last one! If you are interested in serving our community in a different way please reach out and we can connect!

Bring your kids aged 5-11 to Green Mountain Community Fitness for an adventure filled Winter Break! Five full days (February 23-27th from 8:00am-3:30pm) of exciting activities: swimming, obstacle courses, snow forts and snowmen, and even a field trip to Sunrise Gymnastics! Check out our website https://gmcf.life/camp/#winter-camp for more information and to register, or email camp@gmcf.life to request more information. We look forward to having your child(ren) join us at Green Mountain Community Fitness for an awesome week!

I’ve also attached a flyer that you’re welcome to include or share as needed.

Thank you so much for your support! We truly appreciate your help in spreading the word to families who may benefit. Please let me know if you need any additional information.

Warm regards,--

Maddy Cooley (she/her)
Kids Program Coordinator
Community Partnership Specialist
Green Mountain Community Fitness
maddy@gmcf.life

www.gmcf.life

Email: cguggemos@u32.org, dlane@u32.org
Website: https://www.wcuusd.org
Location: 372 Paine Turnpike North, Berlin, VT 05602
Phone: 802-223-2796