Principal's Newsletter

Hello and happy chilly Friday!

It’s been quite the week of winter weather. We have been humbly reminded that it’s impossible to predict the weather and all we can do is use our best judgement, drive safely and be patient… because in 10 minutes it’ll likely be different! Absences on days when there is a delay and/or hazardous winter weather are excused. If you anticipate there being recurring issues getting your child to school on days like this, please let us know and we can try to problem solve. We know everyone is doing their best to juggle so many things and if you could get your child to school on time, or at all, you would. Please be safe this winter and, again, let us know if there is anything you need to manage the cold and tricky winter conditions.

We had the opportunity to host three ACSD School Board members at SCS this morning along with Director of Teaching and Learning, Courtney Krahn. They were doing a “Learning Walk” by visiting classrooms and observing the great work our students and teachers do each day. We are grateful for the work they do to oversee our district and appreciate them coming by to see us in action. Speaking of the school board, this Monday’s board meeting, 12/8, will be the first time a draft budget gets shared for the 26-27 school year. We will also hear the findings of the facilities continuous improvement plan (CIP) for Salisbury’s school building given a number of possible scenarios. Join us at MUHS starting at 6:30, on Zoom, or find the notes on the district website.

Students started meeting with Nurse Jones today for their annual vision and hearing screenings. Please note that parents will not be notified of the results of these screenings unless there is a concern. If you have questions or would like to know more about your child’s vision/hearing, please reach out to the nurse directly at hjones@acsdvt.org.

Thanks for sharing your great kids with us. We’re looking forward to a fun few weeks before the holiday break!

Have a great weekend,

Tracey

1: Expand and grow our student’s technological prowess

2: Foster more creativity and team cohesion at recess

If you are able, please see our Amazon wishlist of items to help our students in both of these areas! We are also happy to accept any gently used items that would help in these areas, including any old cell phones that have the ability to take photos or old digital cameras. Please reach out to Kristen at kmc2513@gmail.com for any questions or for more information.

The VT Department of Health is reporting a significant rise in pertussis (whooping cough), a very contagious respiratory disease that often affects school-aged children. We are not aware of any cases in ACSD, and hope the information below will help prevent and treat any cases that occur.

Symptoms & Treatment: Early symptoms look like a common cold (runny nose, low fever, mild cough) and usually appear 5-10 days after exposure. Later Symptoms can include severe coughing fits with a “whoop”, vomiting during/after coughing fits, difficulty sleeping, struggling to breathe, and rib fractures. Early treatment is crucial to prevent severe symptoms and shorten illness. Students/staff diagnosed with pertussis must complete 5 full days of antibiotics before returning to school; without antibiotics, they must stay home for 21 days from the start of the cough.

Spread & Prevention: Pertussis spreads easily through respiratory droplets from coughs and sneezes. Help prevent illness by staying up to date on Tdap/DTap vaccines, washing hands, covering coughs, and keeping students home when sick. Good rest, nutrition, hydration, and time outdoors also support overall health.