Shoreham School Family Newsletter

Dear Shoreham Families & Community,

We hope this newsletter finds you well and thriving as we continue our journey through the school year. As we reflect on the first month of 2024, it is with great joy and gratitude that we celebrate the hard work and dedication of our incredible teachers, as well as the sense of community they have fostered within our school.

A Heartfelt Thank You to Our Teachers:

Our teachers are the heart and soul of Shoreham School, and their unwavering commitment to providing an exceptional education is truly commendable. From early mornings to late evenings, they pour their passion, creativity, and energy into shaping the minds and hearts of our children.

We want to express our deepest appreciation for their tireless efforts, adaptability, and resilience, especially during these challenging times. Their ability to pivot and adapt to various learning environments, whether in-person or virtual, showcases their exceptional dedication to our students' growth and well-being.

Building a Strong Community:

At SES, we understand that education extends beyond textbooks and classrooms. It is about fostering a sense of belonging and creating a supportive community for both students and families. Our teachers play a crucial role in building this community, and we are proud of the positive impact they have on shaping the school's culture.

Through various initiatives, events, and activities, our teachers have created an environment that encourages collaboration, inclusivity, and a shared sense of purpose. Whether it's attending sports games, organizing a bottle drive, hosting lunch bunch, playing games, or simply having a meaningful conversation they consistently go above and beyond to strengthen the bonds that make Shoreham School a special place for all.

Highlighting Moments of Joy:

We would like to take a moment to recognize some of the outstanding ideas and initiatives led by our teachers to create joy for our students this week:

• Jaclyn Countryman: Recognized a need for student/teacher connection, and organized and led a lunch bunch system in which students can sign up to spend time with different adults in our building.
• Jenny Muskopf & Martha Santa Maria: Worked with 5th and 3rd graders and created a fluency reading structure that not only supports literacy growth, but also positive relationships between grade levels.
• Kali Tubbs & Pam Salant: Worked together to plan a baking afternoon for first graders (and a few 5th graders!). They spread joy through the smell & taste of chocolate chip cookies on Friday afternoon!
• Irene Cadoret & Sarah Flinn: Planned and began implementing Friday Art Small Groups. Students are working with Ms. Flinn each Friday in small groups for bonus art projects and experiences.
• Makayla Broughton: Organized an author visit for her 4th graders by the writer of their read aloud book: Just like Jackie.
• Julie Hayyat: Led a bottle drive with student council to raise money for the outdoor classroom- they raised $103!

These are just a few examples of the remarkable efforts our teachers put forth to create a positive and enriching learning environment.

Get Involved and Stay Connected:

As caregivers, your involvement is integral to the success of our school community. We encourage you to stay connected, attend school events, and participate in our Parent-Teacher Group. Your support and active engagement contribute significantly to the vibrant atmosphere that makes SES a wonderful place for our children to learn and grow.

In closing, we extend our heartfelt gratitude to each and every teacher at Shoreham Elementary School. Your dedication, passion, and love for teaching do not go unnoticed, and we are incredibly fortunate to have such an outstanding group of educators shaping the future of our children.

Thank you for being a part of the Shoreham community. Together, we make a difference.

Warm regards,

Jenny Urban & Matthew Brankman

For the month of February, SES students will be participating in Kindness Month! Each day there will be a challenge for classes to try, as well as activities and books to explore. More info will be coming soon on how to participate at home!

SHOREHAM SCHOOL COMMUNITY MEETING- TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 13th at 6PM- This will be a chance to hear about current systems and be a part of planning forward. Please join us.

Early Release Day Reminder - Wednesday, February 7th - Students will be dismissed at 12:45pm and buses will leave around 1:25pm.

Shoreham Congregational Church:

Restorative Justice Publicity

What is Restorative Justice? It is an item found on the ballot at many town meetings in Addison

County, one of a list of local organizations asking for funds. But what does it do and whom does

it help?

Its goals are to provide an opportunity for program participants to fully appreciate the impact of

their offenses and behaviors, so that they can develop empathy for victims and the community.

Some of its programs include Court Diversion, Reparative Panel, Conflict Resolution, Victim

Services, and much more.

Jean Stone, the Executive Director of Addison County Restorative Justice Services, will

explain the program more fully at 2 PM on Saturday, February 17, 2024, at the Shoreham

Congregational Church. Everyone is welcome to attend this free program. Come learn more

about this program that you will be asked to vote on at your town meeting.

Currently offering basketball for K-5th grade Mondays and Wednesdays with 21 kids.

Toddler basketball (2-4years) with 18 kids.

March we will offer dance and pom/cheer for K-5th. Age groups will be split (K-2) (3-5).

Toddler dance as well for 2-4 years.

April we will hold baseball practices inside.

This year we will be having four teams which we are very excited about!

Tiny Tball 2-3 years

Tball 4years-kindergarten

Mighty mites 1st-2nd grade

Minors 3rd-5th grade

If we have enough players we are looking to try to schedule games for all teams except tiny Tball.

Shoreham Illness Alert and Guidance for Families and Staff

We are seeing a variety of illnesses circulating at school.. Our 5th grade classroom has been particularly affected with symptoms of headache, body aches, fever, sore throat and stomach ache. Please keep students home if they are not feeling well enough to learn or are potentially contagious. Please see the following ACSD illness guidance that can be found on the district health page and reach out with any questions or concerns. Thank you for keeping your student home to rest when ill and helping contain the spread of illness to others.

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

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

• Fever 100.4 or greater

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

• Persistent cough that disrupts normal activity and ability to learn

• Unexplained rash

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

• 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.

When can a student/staff return to school after COVID-19?

• Individuals may return to school when they have completed 5 full days of isolation. Day zero is the first day that symptoms began or the day you test positive, whichever is earlier

• You must feel well enough to be at school and be fever free without the use of medication for at least 24 hours prior to returning to school

• VT Department of Health and Centers for Disease Control recommends wearing a mask when around others for 5 days after completing 5 days of isolation.

• It is strongly recommended by the American Association of Pediatrics that a child's primary care provider be notified of their COVID-19 illness in order to discuss if further evaluation is warranted prior to returning to sports and physical exertion.

COVID Testing

• Please note that as of this school year we are no longer testing for COVID at school and we also no longer have COVID tests available to send home.

• Middlebury Regional EMS, located at 55 Collins Drive in Middlebury, has a large supply of free tests that can be picked up between 9a-3pm daily. You can also order free tests through the US Postal Service to be delivered right to your home at this link.

When to Seek Medical Care

• Viral illnesses typically resolve within one week. If your student has symptoms that persist for longer than that or are worsening after a few days of illness you should reach out to their primary care provider

• Call your primary care provider for fevers that are 105 or higher or last longer than three days

• Call your primary care provider if your student has vomiting that lasts longer than 24 hours or they are not adequately hydrated and not urinating at least every 8 hours

• Call your primary care provider if the illness is causing any breathing problems or your child is very lethargic

Please reach out with any questions you may have.

Kelly Landwehr, RN, MSN

ACSD Nurse Leader

klandwehr@acsdvt.org (802)382-1190