Gertrude Chamberlin School
Family Newsletter September 11th, 2026
Safety is South Burlington School District’s top priority for students and staff, and we currently have plans and procedures in place managed through our school and district safety teams. One of those plans is practicing various drills throughout the year so everyone is comfortable with our emergency plans and able to react quickly in the event of an actual emergency.
In addition to traditional egress (or “fire”) drills, and in accordance with Vermont State legislation and Act 29, our schools also practice Options-Based Response Drills. An options-based response approach is one that allows for real-time decision-making based on the best option available at the time of the incident, and is intended to replace traditional “lockdown” drills that have been shown to be less effective during these unsafe incidents. The first of these options-based drills will take place during the month of September.
We understand the subject of emergencies and response procedures can be equally as uncomfortable for caregivers as it is for students. Therefore, we will communicate the date of the options-based drills prior to it taking place. As a district, we are committed to practicing these drills in a manner that is age-appropriate and trauma-informed and will be providing common language for educators of all grades to support these conversations. Further, there are ways in which you can support conversations with your student regarding safety at school:
Set the tone. Prepare your student by setting expectations, and reinforcing that school is a safe place. Let them know that part of the job of teachers and staff is to practice safety skills, just as we do in other areas of life (wearing a bike helmet, using our seatbelts in the car, etc.).
Follow your child’s lead. If they seem worried or uncomfortable, help them to identify their feelings and encourage them to use appropriate coping skills/strategies that work for them (taking a few deep breaths, asking for help/support, reminding themselves that the drill is just a way to practice, etc.)
Reinforce and reassure. After the drill, ask your child how it went. Reinforce any feelings they may have experienced, whether positive or negative. Acknowledge their feelings while possibly sharing your own experiences and how you dealt with your feelings appropriately and with support.
Although we hope to never have to use these practiced skills, we want to assure you that the district is prepared to protect students and staff under any circumstance. We will always provide the most accurate information possible, including contacting families as quickly as possible in the event of an emergency.
Our egress drill will happen next week without the alarm.
On Wednesday, September 16th, we will have a bus evacuation drill taking place in our parking lot. Students will practice with their classes, following the directions of our bus drivers.
On Thursday, September 24th, classroom teachers will discuss other safety options that might happen, such as holding in place or leaving the building. This will be in the form of a classroom discussion and teacher modeling.If you would prefer that your student NOT participate in Options-Based Drills or discussions, please notify your child’s teacher and/or school principal prior to the allocated date of the drill.
Here are tips and resources to support you at home with conversations around safety. I have also attached the social story that we use in our classes to prepare students for our safety drills.
Please take time to speak with your student/students about the importance of our emergency exercises, that they be taken seriously, as their safety and security is a responsibility shared by all of us. As a parent or caregiver, you are in the best position to help your student cope with these feelings. As you know, it is important for any conversation with a child to be developmentally appropriate.
Young children
Need brief simple information that should be balanced with reassurance. This includes informing children that their school and home are safe and that adults are available to protect them. Young children often gauge how threatening or serious an event is by adult reactions. Young children respond well to basic assurance by adults and simple examples of school safety, like reminding them the exterior doors are locked.
Upper elementary and early middle school children
May be more vocal in asking questions about whether they are truly safe and what is being done at their school. They may need assistance separating reality from fantasy. Families can share the information they have about the school's safety plan and any other relevant communication to ease their child's mind.
Upper middle school and high school students
May have strong and varying opinions about causes of violence in school and society. Adults can support by stressing the role that students have in maintaining safe schools by following the school's safety guidelines (e.g., not providing building access to strangers, reporting strangers on campus, reporting threats to school safety made by students or community members, etc.).
Please remind your child/children that if they see something in school or on social media that they feel is wrong or concerning related to the safety and security of our students, staff, and school buildings, they should immediately say something to a trusted adult whether a parent, bus driver, teacher, coach, principal, custodian, etc.
Further, please do not hesitate to have direct conversations with our teachers, administrators, and/or counseling staff including our guidance counselor, social worker and school psychologist about how to manage conversations or reactions to these conversations with your children.
Thank you very much for your continued support and partnership in working to ensure the safety of our students.
We’re proud to share that Gertrude Chamberlin Elementary School was recently recognized by the Vermont Department of Health as an Asthma Friendly School – Gold Status! This means we are doing our part to make sure every student and staff member can breathe easier and feel safe in our learning environments.
One way we can continue this great work is by being mindful about scents in school. Lately, we’ve noticed that some students are bringing in scented hand sanitizers, sprays, and other fragranced products. While these may smell nice at home, they can be overwhelming in classrooms and may even trigger asthma symptoms, allergies, or headaches for some students and staff.
👉 Our request: Please keep scented products at home. And remember, the best way to get rid of germs is good old-fashioned handwashing with soap and water.
Thank you for helping us keep our classrooms safe, healthy, and welcoming for everyone.
Stopfinder is an app available to SBSD families that provides information about their student’s school transportation.
If you want to get enrolled in Stopfinder, please email our Director of Transportation, Jonathon Mabbe at JMabee@sbschools.net. Please include your enrolled student's name in the email. You will then get an invite from Route Finder/Stop Finder. We can only send one invite to the main parent listed, and the invite will come from Route Finder / Stop Finder. The main parent can then use the functions in the app to include other family members if needed.
You can learn more at https://stopfinder.com/ or watch this short overview video below.
These resources are also available on the Transportation page of the district website, which is linked above in Arival and Dismissal.
We have an Artist in Residency this year, starting on September 28th! Every other year, students spend two weeks learning a skill with a local artist. This year, it will be a dance residency with Rose Bedard. Rose has coached the Mt. Mansfield dance team for 18 years, guiding them to numerous championships in jazz and hip hop. She owns her own dance company and has trained in Montreal, Boston and NYC. She has brought her positive energy to many area schools, universities and the Flynn Theater to teach movement skills and choreography. Rose is a dynamic figure in the dance community and we can’t wait to have her teach our students! Her residency will end with a dance performance by your children to showcase the skills they learn, at the South Burlington High School gymnasium on Thursday, October 8th at 6:00 PM. Save the date in your calendars and stay tuned for more information!
We are hiring for a few support positions for this year! Training will be provided for all new hires. Please contact me at hrussell@sbschools.net, (802)652-7403.
Recess Monitor - 3 hours a day, supporting recess. Starting pay is $19.28/hr. We are looking for someone 5 days a week, and also substitutes.
Lunchroom Monitor - 3 hours a day, supporting lunch periods. Starting pay is $19.28/hr. We are looking for someone on Wednesdays, and also substitutes.
Interventionists - Working with one or two students who have Individualized Education Plans with support from our Special Educators. This position comes with a comprehensive benefit package. Starting pay is $21.86/hour. We are currently looking for a full time interventionist, and a long term substitute interventionist to cover a maternity leave at the end of September.
Please go to https://www.schoolspring.com/ and search South Burlington School District or call 802-652-7403 if you are interested!
Gertrude Chamberlin School
Email: hrussell@sbschools.net
Website: https://vt01819219.schoolwires.net/Domain/10
Location: Chamberlin School, White Street, South Burlington, VT, USA
Phone: 802 652 7403