Mary Hogan Family Newsletter

Dear Mary Hogan Families,

We are so lucky to have such an amazing community supporting the students and teachers here at Mary Hogan.

Last week, I put an announcement in the family newsletter seeking help clearing the path behind Mary Hogan of brush and within the afternoon Amanda and Colin Clohessy said they would help and by the end of the weekend the brush was cleared from the path! Thank you to Amanda and Colin for your quick work that helps our students get outside learning.

We are also working through the volunteer list. Julie Altemose, our Title 1 liaison, is reaching out to those of you who said you would be interested in volunteering to find out if you are open to a regular volunteer spot. Be on the look out for her email! And, if you want to volunteer but haven't signed up yet, here is the link.

Be well,

Jen

In the newsletter this week:

• Upcoming Events
• News from Mary Hogan
• Family Resources

Monday 10/2 - National Custodian Day!

Wednesday 10/4 - Walk and Roll to School Day

• Early Release Day - 11.30 for preschool, 12.35 for K-5

Friday 10/6 - NBC 5 Meteorologists will be broadcasting live from Mary Hogan from 5-8am!

Monday 10/9 - No School - Indigenous People's Day

Wednesday 10/11 - Fire Safety Day

Thursday 10/12 - Spirit Day - determined by Preschool - more info to come!

Wednesday, October 4th is International Walk and Roll to School Day. Participate with others around the nation and around the world by walking or rolling to school that morning. Additionally, Middlebury Safe Routes is working with teachers to conduct and walk and roll survey in your class. The class with the highest percentage of participation will win the Muddy Boot Trophy. Your class will have their picture taken with the trophy and the trophy will be displayed in your class. Walking, Biking, Scootering, Skateboarding, Riding the Bus, Rollerblading, Carpooling - it all counts! The winning class will be featured in an upcoming newsletter!

This week, Miss Tricia, the amazing children's librarian at the Ilsey library, was back in action at Mary Hogan, reading books with kindergarteners and doing crafts. The students loved seeing her and we are all excited for this start to a year of her visits! Thank you, Miss Tricia. (And, did you know she is also an ACSD school board member?!)

The 5th graders have been exploring identity in their unit of inquiry and one of the lines of inquiry has been around the identity of compounds and mixtures - how individual traits can combine and lead to a different whole. This week they experimented with vinegar and salt and how it can clean a penny and change steel to a copper-y color. This hands on experiment was a huge success with all the students.

It was great to be back and have our first All School Meeting of the year. We talked about the two learner profile attributes of the month - caring and risk-taker - and how we exemplify them each day. We had some students demonstrate this as well, as they came up and showed us all how to best jump rope - and important the quiet turners are to the success of the jumper!

Many 4th and 5th grade family members came to a training on Friday for folks who will be supporting the climbing program at Mary Hogan this year. They learned their knots, how to belay, as well as got a chance to climb the elements that they will be using to support students in just a few weeks. Thank you to everyone who is helping this year!

Graphic novels are extremely popular in our library. They can be a ticket to an incredible reading adventure for kids of all ages! Graphic Novels combine words and pictures and they provide a great alternative for children who are reluctant to read traditional novels. They help readers build their confidence and develop essential reading skills. With their colorful visuals and engaging storylines, graphic novels can draw kids in and keep them hooked. They often help children develop positive attitudes toward reading and help them become lifelong readers! If you would like to read more about the benefits of graphic novels, please visit the links below.

5 Benefits of Reading Graphic Novels

Power of Graphic Novels

Power of Visual Storytelling

Want to know more about the Volunteer Process? Check out more information HERE.

The Green Mountain Book Festival will take place in Burlington from September 29 through October 1.

On Saturday from 11-12, kids will have an opportunity to participate in our kids' parade on Church Street. (It is very likely that Champ will be joining us, too!) For the parade kids can dress up as a favorite book character, bring noise makers and colorful streamers, or wear colorful hats.

Sunday programming (10:30-3:45) is designed for kids and families with a great lineup of authors such as Jason Chin, Kate Messner, Joseph Bruchac, Kyle Lukoff.

We expect students and staff to stay home with any potentially contagious illnesses or symptoms including the following:

1. Vomiting/diarrhea-must be 24 hours symptom free before returning to school

2. Fever 100.4 or greater-home until fever free without use of medication for 24 hours

3. Any infection requiring antibiotic-keep your student home until they have been on antibiotics for 24 hours

4. Persistent cough that disrupts normal activity

5. Unexplained rash

6. Influenza-stay home until fever free without medication for 24 hours

7. Any other symptoms or illness that impedes a student’s ability to learn or staff’s ability to work.

You may return once feeling well enough to be at school and fever free for 24 hours without the use of fever reducing medications.

Click here to view our COVID and Contagious illness guidance infographic. We are currently waiting to hear if we will continue to have access to COVID tests to send home with families and staff as needed. At this time, the school nurse will no longer be able to test students or staff for COVID at school though this is subject to change.