Elm Hill School Newsletter

Dear Families,

Welcome back! We hope you enjoyed a restful and joyful break and are settling back into our school routines. January has greeted us with mixed temperatures, but our students have been making the most of outdoor time—especially enjoying lots of sliding and fresh air when weather allows. Please remember to send snow gear daily - this includes extra socks and extra mittens if you have these available. It’s been wonderful to see their energy and excitement as we begin the new year together.

Over the next few weeks, students will be participating in our second i-Ready diagnostic for both math and literacy. This assessment helps us better understand each child’s progress and informs instruction so we can continue to meet students where they are and support their growth. Teachers will use this information to plan targeted instruction and celebrate the progress students have made since fall.

We are also excited to share an upcoming opportunity for family fun! Please save the date for Family Game Night on Thursday, March 12th. This will be a fun evening for students and families to spend time together at school. More details will be shared as the date approaches—we hope to see you there!

Best,

Miss Rachel

February 11- Early Release @ 11:30

February 18 - PTA Meeting @ Union Street School

February 20 - First Grade Field Trip to VINS

February 23 - 27 - Winter Break

March 2 - 3 - No School, Town Meeting

If your student has lost an item please reach out to Ryan Seaver at rseaver@ssdvt.org. Ryan is the keeper of lost and found.

It's Kindergarten Pre-Registration time. Follow this link https://ssdvt.powerschool.com/public/formbuilder/form.html?formid=133898 to pre-register.

Will be holding our "Off to Kindergarten Night" on Thursday, May 14. Stay tuned for more information.

Here is some great information on milestones for a 5 year old https://www.cdc.gov/act-early/milestones/5-years.html

Miss Gabby’s kindergarten class has been hard at work these past few months learning math and reading concepts. When we have the time we like to unwind and have some messy fun. This month we made sensory snow. It was so much fun to dump and mix these two simple ingredients together, hair conditioner and baking soda. We put it in our sensory table and added some penguins and rocks to imitate a winter habitat. We have had so much fun playing with it!

Class at the Springfield Area Parent Child Center starting 1/27/26 No cost - held virtually 11:30 am - 1pm.

https://sapcc-vt.org/event/how-to-talk-so-little-kids-will-listen/

Mrs. Whaley’s class has been learning about Vermont animals. Animals have adaptations to help them survive, we like to call them superpowers. Read about some Vermont animals and their superpower.

Foxes run really fast because they have to get their food.

By Kinsly

My animal is a bald eagle. It can fly and it can catch fish.

By Lucas

Blue jays bury acorns so they can find the acorns in the winter.

By Elizabeth

Coyotes are smart. They can sneak up on animals that they are going to eat.

By Sawyer

The snow owl’s power is when it is dark it can see and it can blend in with the snow so the prey cannot see it.

By Jax

A bee's superpower is stinging to keep people and animals away.

By Taylor

Raccoons can get into people’s trash. They want food.

By Lilly

Moose can run fast to run away from things that will eat them.

By Seamus

Rabbits can hop far to get away from danger.

By Norah

Cardinals sing a song. The male red feathers.

By Lilah

Wood frogs can camouflage into the wood. When predators come they camouflage into the wood.

By Phoenyxz

A deer’s superpower is protecting its baby. If it hears something the tail goes up and that means danger is coming.

By Mazlyn

A sharp shinned hawk is small and fast. It can eat a cardinal.

By Jasper

It's been a very exciting time in PE since we came back from our Holiday break. We have just wrapped up our basketball unit where we just purchased a couple new hoops that will be available for indoor recesses. And now for my favorite time of year, Bowling! We will spend a couple weeks working on our bowling skills and working on getting ready for bringing our Kindergarten and First Grades to Maple Lanes in Claremont when things slow down a bit. The PreK will be doing their own special bowling day at Elm Hill!

Our class has been busy learning about and playing in the snow! After playing in the snow and reading many books, students wrote an opinion piece on what their favorite activity is to do in the winter. Below are the sentences the students wrote:

In the winter I like to throw snowballs.

In the winter I like to throw snowballs.

In the winter I like to drink hot coco.

In the winter I like to build snowmen.

In the winter I like to go sledding.

In the winter I like to make a snowman.

In the winter I like to build a snow fort.

In the winter I like to play with friends.

In the winter I like to make snow angels.

In the winter I like to make a snowman.

In the winter I like to sled down the hill.

In the winter I like to throw snowballs.

In the winter I like to eat the snow.

In the winter I like to throw snow on my head.

In the winter I like to catch snowflakes on my tongue.

In Kindergarten we have been very busy working on our letter and work writing. We have learned how to write all of our letters, and are working on writing and reading words. Over the last few weeks we have enjoyed reading books about snowmen and winter. In math we have been learning about counting on from a given number. There are several friends who are interested in addition, and we’ve just introduced the addition machine to our math centers. Since we’ve started learning about basketball in P.E., my students have been really interested in learning more about it by watching a few minutes of basketball during our quiet time. We’ve learned that many people like many different basketball teams, and everyone gets excited when the team they like scores points. Students looking forward to building more skills in our reading and math, while also beating Ms. Sam during our weekly Kids versus Ms. Sam challenge.

Mrs. Kimball’s class has been busy blending CVC words as they begin their journey into becoming readers! We love to sound out, spell the words, and then write the words to show our understanding! If you see us making a roller coaster motion with our hands, we are just sounding out each sound in a very strategic way!!! We can’t wait to become the best readers and writers we can be!!!

Wishing a ” Happy New Year” to our Elm Hill Community! 🎊

Winter = Illness, Especially Respiratory Illnesses 🤒: Current illnesses that are circulating in the Elm Hill Community: Strep Throat, Flu, Pneumonia, COVID, and Norovirus

A few friendly reminders to keep yourself and others well this winter:

• Stay home if you are not feeling well; (Return to school: when fever-free x 24 hours without taking fever-reducing medications (fever = temperature of 100.4 or greater), cough has improved, and any prescribed medications have been taken for at least 24 hours), without vomiting x24 hours, and feeling better. Thank you for helping to keep Elm Hill healthy!

• Wash, Wash, Wash your hands with soap and water for at least 20 seconds prior to touching the “T-zone.” (eyes, nose, mouth);

• Cover your mouth and nose with your elbow if you cough or sneeze;

• Drink, Drink, Drink those fluids!

• Get plenty of rest;

• Practice social distancing when in crowded areas;

• Clean frequently touched surfaces;

• Consider available vaccines;

• Get tested early, for early treatment with antivirals/antibiotics to help you feel better sooner **(There are OTC Flu/COVID tests that can be purchased at pharmacies and other stores.)

***There is currently a flu surge in the United States, with many cases being a subtype of Flu A (H3N2)- Subclade K. This type of flu is infecting many more people than other years, due to it not being recognized by our bodies. In other words, it is a very sneaky virus, with the ability to bypass our immune systems, so that the ability to fight against it is compromised.

**Please be aware that diarrhea/vomiting can be symptoms children experience with the Flu.**

For concise, comprehensive information about the flu, see: https://www.cdc.gov/flu-resources/media/pdfs/2024/07/flu-you-brochure_2019.pdf

Head Lice 🪮 (Reminders): Sporadic cases of head lice continue to be reported throughout the year…It can be helpful to routinely do head checks at least weekly or more with symptoms. Early, prompt treatment is recommended. If routine treatments are not effective, it may be time to check with your child’s primary care provider for a prescription treatment. Head lice have grown very resistant over the years to many treatments. Information/Treatment of head lice can be found here: https://www.cdc.gov/lice/about/head-lice.html

Vision/Hearing Screenings 👀/👂: Vision and Hearing screenings are recommended by the VT Department of health for all students grades Pre-K-1st grade. I have begun to do these, and I will do as many of these as time permits prior to the end of the school year. Vision screenings will be completed only for those students who were absent or were not given permission to participate in the Lions’ Club SPOT vision screenings. Referrals will be mailed to families of those students who do not pass either of these screenings.

Outerwear 🧥🧣🧤 : Please send your child to school with appropriate outerwear, such as coats, hats, gloves/mittens, boots, so that they can be warm during the cold winter months while waiting for the bus or playing outside at school. We have limited clothing to share. Also, we would appreciate that any clothing borrowed be washed and returned to the Health Office. Thank you!

Some Suggestions for Fun Winter Family Activities ❄️:

• Go outside and play! (Snow Angels, Winter Hikes, Build a snowman or snow fort–hopefully we will have snow soon!

• When the weather or temperature does not allow for outdoor activities, some fun learning activities and videos can be found at: https://pbskids.org/

• Watch a fun movie together

• Cook a meal together, or bake some yummy treats!

• Work on a puzzle together

• Arts and Crafts

Tips for How to Help your Child Have a More Restful Sleep 😴 and Happier, More Productive Day: I think most would agree that getting a good night's sleep helps make facing our work/school/ our responsibilities a bit easier. See the tips below and more at https://healthychildren.org/English/healthy-living/sleep/Pages/Sleep-and-Mental-Health.aspx

• Use the bedroom for only sleep (remove TV, electronic devices)

• Keep the bedroom at a cool temperature and dark

• Avoid TV, electronic devices at least one hour before bedtime

• Consider a light snack two hours before bedtime

• Help your child create a unique, predictable and soothing bedtime routine

Free Parent Webinar and Podcasts for Parents🎙️: You can sign up for a free upcoming webinar about Kids’ Vaccines for Families. This webinar is scheduled on Friday, 1/30, at noon. Other webinars and information about children’s health are offered at https://www.healthychildren.org/English/Pages/default.aspx. There are interesting and informative podcasts for parents, as well, including the Healthy Children Podcast sponsored by the American Academy of Pediatrics.

Have a Safe, Warm, and Healthy Winter ❄️!

With Kind Regards,

Nurse Mary