The Hiawatha Buzz!

Dear Hiawatha Community,

We have three holidays coming up that your child will learn about: Yom Kippur, Dashain and Indigenous People's Day. While we do not celebrate holidays in EWSD, we are committed to learning about specific holidays/days of recognition. For example in relation to Halloween: Learning the history and making masks in an art class is okay, but going class-to-class and getting candy, or dressing up in costumes would not be okay. We strive to foster appreciation and not appropriation.

• Appreciation vs appropriation?

• Appreciation is the act of learning about and understanding another culture to broaden one's perspective and connect with others across cultures. Appropriation is the act of taking something from a culture that is not one's own for personal gain, such as financial or social gain. The main differences between appreciation and appropriation are intent, approach, and impact.

• Example in relation to Indigenous Peoples Day: Learning how to weave a basket may be okay because that is an art and a trade, but learning how to create a dream-catcher may not be okay because that is a sacred practice and symbol.

• Example in relation to Hannukah: Playing Dreidel would be okay because that is a game that is intended to be played as a game, but lighting a menorah as a class would not be okay.

To learn more about these holidays, check out the resources our librarian Susie Snow has provided:

Yom Kippur

Indigenous Peoples' Day

Dashain Slideshow

Enjoy your weekend,

Katherine

* October 8, 2024 - Title 1 Meeting from 6:00 - 6:30 PM

* October 8, 2024 - PTO meeting from 6:30-7:00 PM

* October 10, 2024 - Teacher Inservice - NO SCHOOL - please plan accordingly

* October 11, 2024 - Yom Kippur/Dashain - NO SCHOOL - please plan accordingly

* October 19, 2024 - Cardboard Challenge - from 1:00 to 3:00 PM

Come have a chance to give feedback and participate in our Title 1 Engagement and School-Parent Compact. See the updates here: Hiawatha FY25 School Engagement Plan and School-Parent Compact

Come get involved! We are excited to announce that our school will be participating in the Walk for Ruby Bridges Day and we need your help! Come find out how to get involved in this community event which will be a Title 1 community event. To learn more about The Walk for Ruby Bridges Day click here

Updated 10/4/24

9/20/24

Dear Hiawatha Community,

Hiawatha is a Title 1 School. We are required to send information about our School Parent & Family Engagement Procedure and School-Parent Compact to all families. I invite you to read through our DRAFT Hiawatha FY25 School Engagement Plan & School-Parent Compact and to provide any feedback through this survey. We will be reviewing all survey feedback at our next Title 1 Parent meeting on Tuesday, October 8, 2024 at 6:00pm in Mr. Caforia’s second grade classroom. All parents and guardians are invited to attend. Below are the full links to the documents referenced above as well as additional links with information about Title 1.

Title 1 Information from the Vermont Agency of Education: https://education.vermont.gov/student-support/federal-programs/consolidated-federal-programs/title-i-part-improving-academic#:~:text=Through%20Title%20I%2C%20the%20federal,help%20students%20meet%20state%20standards.

EWSD Parent & Family Engagement Procedure and School-Parent Compact:

https://docs.google.com/document/d/1vn8_VrtZCZ8xNVn5P6V0bBxzgSS2XUA53d8FPvSm1OY/edit?usp=sharing

Hiawatha *DRAFT* Parent & Family Engagement Procedure and School-Parent Compact:

https://docs.google.com/document/d/1ZGr3-myijJ5QxYmn8tN8ToTUOVXcv7PzMRj1MxVl3os/edit?usp=sharing

Survey for feedback on the 2024-25 *DRAFT* Parent & Family Engagement Procedure and School-Parent Compact:

https://forms.gle/6ifJouR4Xc9XQBjZ7

Thank you!

Katherine Grykien

All teachers will be sending out family conference sign ups on Friday, October 18th using Sign Up Genius. Nov 6th from 1:45-7:30 PM is our family conference day. There will be times outside this day in November for conferences to occur.

The Cardboard Challenge is right around the corner on October 19th from 1:00–3:00 PM!
Join us in the Hiawatha gym for this fun, free event. We’ll provide the cardboard, recyclables, and supplies—just bring yourselves and your creativity! If you’d like, you are welcome to bring your own additional supplies, too. This can help cut down on wait time for things like scissors and tape. Please stay with your child(ren) for the duration of the event.

Cardboard drop-off will be available every morning from October 15th–18th.
Look for the drop-off area outside the concrete shed. Clean, flat cardboard only, please.

Rob Liberty

robliberty.dev

Hello Hiawatha Families!

In Health and Wellness this week we have been discussing personal space in all classes. In kindergarten and first grade, we read Personal Space Camp by Julia Cook. In the book, the main character, Louis, struggles with personal space but doesn’t realize it at first, only acknowledging that his teachers use a “cranky voice” sometimes. Through attending a “Personal Space Camp,” Louis learns to recognize that respecting personal space makes things better for him and for others. We then did some activities that model and practice respecting personal space.

In Grades 2 and 3, we read, My Body Has a Bubble by Nel Harris. This book highlights how our personal space bubble may differ depending on who we are with: family, friends, etc. We also discussed that if somebody needs or wants space, we give them that with no questions asked. Students did a great job sharing and acknowledging that their “comfort bubble” may be different than their peers, and that’s okay.

Next week, we will discuss how to fix a situation when the personal space bubble is broken.

A big thank you to Alice Weston, for creating the K/1 slideshow and K/1 lesson plan for this unit!

Mr. B and Mr. Lester

We will have no school on Thursday, October 10th (Inservice for faculty) or Friday, October 11th (honoring Dashain and Yom Kippur). Please plan accordingly.

Autumn is in full swing in the music room! Younger students have sung songs, learned rhymes and created movement with autumn leaves, pumpkins and apples. They have also played instruments and musical games that build singing and ensemble skills in a fun way. We love to learn through musical play!

Older students are working on beat and rhythm through songs, chants and instrumental ensemble work. They have enjoyed playing instruments to accompany one of their favorite games, Acka Backa. Students are also reading and playing rhythm patterns with quarter notes and eighth notes. They will continue to work on new challenges of playing rhythms with instruments, and they will have opportunities to improvise and compose rhythm patterns.

This month, all students will be visited by spooky, scary skeletons who will help us work on steady beat through movement and instruments! They will sing about the ghost of John and learn about Miss White, who had a fright in the middle of the night.

Mrs. Safer

Come Hang Out!

Hello Hiawatha! This year, I will be hosting an Affinity Space lunch bunch for students interested in discussing, learning about and engaging in activities that center the cultures and accomplishments of Black, Brown and Indigenous communities around the globe. This space will give students the opportunity to celebrate themselves and build community with others. Come and Join Us!

For more information or questions please contact me by

phone: 802-879-7312 or email: ptipton@ewsd.org

Multicultural

This year we will be offering a Multicultural Affinity Space designed to celebrate and honor the rich diversity of our students’ cultures and backgrounds at Hiawatha. This group will provide students with a safe and supportive environment to explore, share and learn about different cultures, traditions and languages. Students will also engage in fun, hands-on activities and build community with peers.

The Multicultural Affinity Space will meet Once a month during lunch time. If you are interested in having your child participate, or if you’d like more information, please contact me at ptipton@ewsd.org or fill out our form here: Google Form

LGBTQ+

Here at EWSD, we are dedicated to fostering an inclusive, supportive environment where every student feels safe, valued and celebrated for who they are. As part of our commitment to diversity and inclusion, we are pleased to offer an LGBTQ+ Affinity Space for Hiawatha.

This Affinity Space is a space where students who identify as part of the LGBTQ+ community, who have family members in the community or allies can learn about kindness and acceptance, engage in hands-on activities and games and build community with peers.

The LGBTQ+ Affinity Space meets monthly and will be facilitated by experienced staff who create an affirming and welcoming environment. If you are interested in having your child participate or would like more information, please contact ptipton@ewsd.org. Or fill out our form here: Google Form

Please keep an eye out for more information about these upcoming PTO events:

The Cardboard Challenge, 10/19, 1-3 PM

Community Meeting, in lieu of PTO Meeting, 10/8/2024 See Principal Grykien’s message for more details.

Looking to get involved? Come to the Community Meeting to learn about new and exciting opportunities coming up in the next few months.

Please click the link below to see the hot lunch menu, be sure to select the correct month you need and select lunch in the drop down in the top of the page. The menu can also be found on our website :-)

Menu

Email: hiawathaoffice@ewsd.org