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Wednesday, December 17, 2014

Hunt PTO Update, 12/17/14



Hunt PTO Update
December 17th, 2014

What's happening this week at HUNT?





Remember - Winter vacation  begins Monday, December 22nd through Friday January 2nd.    School starts up again on January 5th.  Have a safe and restful holiday break!




District Announcements
SCHOOL BOARD INVITES COMMUNITY TO FY16 BUDGET WORK SESSIONS

The Board is hosting two budget work sessions designed to provide community members an opportunity to talk with each other about the standards and values that they believe should be reflected in the school budget. Each participant will be asked to complete a brief worksheet that will be collected at the end of the session. The product of these work sessions will help guide the budget development process.

Wednesday, December 17 or Thursday, December 18, 2014 from 7-9PM
(attend one session only)
Burlington High School Cafeteria, 52 Institute Road
Please RSVP by sending an email to superintendent@bsdvt.org or by calling
(802) 865-5332, and indicate if you will need childcare and/or translation services.

Important Information from the 
START Prevention Club at BHS

December is National Impaired Driving Prevention Month. Data show that the time period between Thanksgiving and New Year’s Day includes some of the most dangerous days and evenings for drunk or drugged driving deaths. Alcohol and drug use impair perception, judgment, motor skills and memory ‐‐ skills critical for safe and responsible driving. And, as technology use increases, the distractions of texting and cell phone use continue to pose grave dangers on our roadways.

We at BHS are aiming to increase awareness of the dangers and devastating consequences of impaired driving in all of its forms, especially the growing, but often overlooked, problem of drugged driving. Illegal drugs, as well as prescription and over‐the‐counter medications, can be just as deadly on the road as alcohol. According to the 2013 Vermont High School Risk Behavior Survey,

*1 in 5 students (21%) reported riding in the same car with someone who had been drinking alcohol

*1 in 4 students (23%) reported riding in the same car with someone who was using marijuana

“Tie One On for Safety”: Members of START (Students Taking Action and Risks Together) tied red ribbons onto the side mirrors of staff and students’ cars and placed awareness cards on windshields. The red ribbon is a small, but powerful symbol. It signifies a person’s commitment to drive safe and sober during the holiday season and throughout the year. It also serves as a tribute to all victims who have been killed or injured in impaired driving crashes.

This holiday season, please make a choice to drive responsibly and encourage your friends and family to do the same, including designating a sober driver or making alternative transportation arrangement. For more information about prevention or the START group, please contact Jill Nye‐McKeown, Prevention Coordinator, atjnye@bsdvt.org





Come welcome our new PTO President, Paula Henry at the next meeting in January, 2015. Find out how you can take an active role at Hunt - Despite what your child tells you, he/she really does like you to be involved!

Mark Your Calendars
A presentation on Mindfulness by Marilyn Webb Neagley
Wednesday, January 21, 2015
Hunt Library - 6:30 PM

Why Mindfulness?
Current neuroscience research indicates that mindfulness can help to reduce stress, regulate emotions, increase focused attention and result in greater kindness.  All are assets for learning, living and for general well being.

One definition of mindfulness is “paying attention in a particular way; on purpose, in the present moment, and without judgment.”  Much of our stress, pain, and suffering come from being pulled away from the present moment, with regrets about the past, worries about the future, and judgments about the present.” (JKZ) Another definition might be that it’s the opposite of “mindlessness”.

This presentation will provide a simplified explanation of mindfulness, reported neuroscience research findings and an exploration of mindful applications. 

 Marilyn Webb Neagley, Education Consultant and Author.

Marilyn Webb Neagley is the director of Talk About Wellness, a Vermont based initiative that works primarily in public schools to deepen and support the inner lives of children.

In the early 1980’s Marilyn was introduced to meditation by Dr. Joan Borysenko and later, Dr. Herbert Benson.  Since then she has attended courses, professional workshops and retreats that focus on mindfulness and social/emotional learning.  She now leads mindfulness-based courses, workshops and seminars, under the umbrella of social and emotional learning.

Marilyn, with Aostre N. Johnson, is the co-editor of Educating from the Heart (2011), a compilation of essays by educators. She is a co-coordinator of the South Burlington School District’s new training manual, Mindfulness in Public Schools (2013).  She is also author of a children’s book, Loosie B. Goosie (2013) and of Walking through the Seasons (2008), a book of observations and reflections on nature that won an IPPY gold medal for U.S. North-East Best Regional Non-Fiction.

Previously, Marilyn was president of Shelburne Farms during its formative years as a non-profit organization. 






Pay it forward fundraiser Keep it coming!  Thanks to you we have raised just over $700 to put towards Hunt programs.  It wasn't you?  Well, it is not too late to donate and help us fund those items on hold (like assemblies, 8th grade class trip, food baskets, team grants...)

Haven't donated yet?  Checks made out to the Hunt PTO can be sent into the office in an envelope marked for the PTO.   Thanks for your generosity!


   

  











  • December 18th - FY16 BSD Budget work session @ BHS
  • WINTER VACATION - December 22nd, 2014 through January 2nd, 2015
  • Monday, January 5th - School starts up again
  • January 21st - A presentation on Mindfulness by Marilyn Webb Neagley




Wednesday, December 10, 2014

Hunt PTO Update, 12/11/14





Hunt PTO Update
December 11th, 2014




Winter concerts

Due to inclement weather, the orchestra concert has been moved to Thursday of this week (Dec. 11th.)  The band concert is still scheduled for Wednesday, December 17th.   Please come out in support of the many Hunt musicians who have been preparing several weeks for these special performances.  

All concerts begin at 7 pm.  

Thursday, December 11th - Orchestra concert
Wednesday, December 17th -  Band concert



At the Band Concert there will be a Bake sale to benefit the Hunt Production of Hairspray! The Hunt Drama Committee will be selling baked goods and other edible novelties at the December  17th concert. This is a great opportunity for us to make a chunk of money that we can use to help pay for the Spring play.

It costs us over $6000 to put on a production and small fundraisers like this are a big help in getting us over the top!  Please consider signing up to donate a baked good, bottles of water, fruit or small bags of chips. Can you help? Bring your donation to the table between 6:30 and 7 on December 17. Feel free to RSVP your item to huntmiddleschool@gmail.com. 

Thanks for your generosity!



The PTO Meeting this week has been CANCELED.  Be sure to come welcome our new PTO President, Paula Henry at the next meeting in January, 2015. Find out how you can take an active role at Hunt - Despite what your child tells you, he/she really does like you to be involved!



GREETINGS FROM INTERIM SUPERINTENDENT HOWARD SMITH!

Apparently I did not get the memo about heading south for the winter, so I went north instead. I have to confess that I wake up some mornings feeling a little bit like a very bewildered and confused migratory bird. But although the temperature is cold, the reception from the community, School Board, and School District Staff has been very warm. For my part, I am already enamored when it comes to the School District. In meeting after meeting, I have encountered bright, talented, and dedicated Board and Staff Members who are enthusiastically engaged in doing some really great work with our students. I am looking forward to learning more about all of the good things that are going on so I can focus on how to support them. Clearly, there are also some challenging issues to deal with, primarily revolving around ensuring financial stability and equitable handling of situations related to our increasingly diverse student population. I am already working with our Board Committee structure to refine our goals for the remainder of the year so that they are aligned with priority concerns in these areas.


Finally, I just want to say a few words about the distinction between an “interim” superintendent’s role and a regular superintendent’s role. Particularly under the circumstances that triggered the need for an interim superintendent, my primary responsibility is to address the kinds of issues that need to be resolved in order to build a solid foundation that will provide the new superintendent with the support necessary to begin moving the District forward in a purposeful manner on July 1. In order to do that, I will have to be disciplined in maintaining a focus of time and energy that is aligned with priority foundational issues. At times, maintaining that focus will be at the expense of being as available and accessible as a superintendent ordinarily should be for certain kinds of events, functions, and activities. That said, what I used to consider my vacation home will now be my permanent home for the next seven months. So I will be out and about and I look forward to meeting and learning from as many community members as possible.


BOARD INVITES COMMUNITY TO FY16 BUDGET WORK SESSIONS


The Board and Administrators are hard at work developing a budget for the 2015-16 fiscal year. Once again, the District faces the challenge of producing a school budget that supports our community's educational standards and values, while also acknowledging our financial capacity.


In order to meet this challenge, the voices of community members need to be heard. Therefore, the School Board is hosting two budget work sessions designed to provide community members an opportunity to talk with each other about the standards and values that they believe should be reflected in the school budget. Each participant will be asked to complete a brief worksheet that will be collected at the end of the session. The product of these work sessions will help guide the budget development process.


WHAT: Budget work sessions to provide input for FY16 School Budget

WHEN: Wednesday, December 17 or Thursday, December 18, 2014 from 7-9PM (please attend one session only)

WHERE: Burlington High School Cafeteria, 52 Institute Road

WHO: Any Burlington resident


Light refreshments will be served and childcare and translation services will be provided. Please RSVP by emailing superintendent@bsdvt.org or calling (802) 865-5332, and indicate if you will need childcare and/or translation services.



Invite from the Fletcher Free Library

Invite from the Fletcher Free Library:  
Please join us to discuss the future of Fletcher Free's services and programming.
We have engaged the services of Maureen Sullivan, a national Library consultant, to lead a community planning process guiding strategic directions for the next five years and beyond. Through a series of forums we will develop a strategy focusing on Fletcher Free's strengths and stakeholders’ shared values and vision for our Public Library.

Please join us at an 'Open Community Forum' on December 11th from 5:30-7:00pm at the Library.

Your perspective on our services and programming as Library users is crucial to our planning process. We will discuss opportunities for Fletcher Free to contribute to community growth by: 
  • enhancing literacy and lifelong learning;
  • facilitating access to and exchange of knowledge;
  • and strengthening community connections.
For more information please contact Barbara Shatara at bshatara@burlingtonvt.gov or on 865-7211. 


Mark Your Calendars
A presentation on Mindfulness by Marilyn Webb Neagley
Wednesday, January 21, 2015
Hunt Library - 6:30 PM

Why Mindfulness?
Current neuroscience research indicates that mindfulness can help to reduce stress, regulate emotions, increase focused attention and result in greater kindness.  All are assets for learning, living and for general well being.

One definition of mindfulness is “paying attention in a particular way; on purpose, in the present moment, and without judgment.”  Much of our stress, pain, and suffering come from being pulled away from the present moment, with regrets about the past, worries about the future, and judgments about the present.” (JKZ) Another definition might be that it’s the opposite of “mindlessness”.

This presentation will provide a simplified explanation of mindfulness, reported neuroscience research findings and an exploration of mindful applications. 

 Marilyn Webb Neagley, Education Consultant and Author.

Marilyn Webb Neagley is the director of Talk About Wellness, a Vermont based initiative that works primarily in public schools to deepen and support the inner lives of children.

In the early 1980’s Marilyn was introduced to meditation by Dr. Joan Borysenko and later, Dr. Herbert Benson.  Since then she has attended courses, professional workshops and retreats that focus on mindfulness and social/emotional learning.  She now leads mindfulness-based courses, workshops and seminars, under the umbrella of social and emotional learning.

Marilyn, with Aostre N. Johnson, is the co-editor of Educating from the Heart (2011), a compilation of essays by educators. She is a co-coordinator of the South Burlington School District’s new training manual, Mindfulness in Public Schools (2013).  She is also author of a children’s book, Loosie B. Goosie (2013) and of Walking through the Seasons (2008), a book of observations and reflections on nature that won an IPPY gold medal for U.S. North-East Best Regional Non-Fiction.

Previously, Marilyn was president of Shelburne Farms during its formative years as a non-profit organization. 






Pay it forward fundraiser Keep it coming!  Thanks to you we have raised just over $700 to put towards Hunt programs.  It wasn't you?  Well, it is not too late to donate and help us fund those items on hold (like assemblies, 8th grade class trip, food baskets, team grants...)

Haven't donated yet?  Checks made out to the Hunt PTO can be sent into the office in an envelope marked for the PTO.   Thanks for your generosity!
  • Want to follow Hunt Middle School on Facebook or Twitter?

    copy and paste the Hunt web site and scroll down about halfway....

    http://hunt.bsd.schoolfusion.us/modules/cms/announce.phtml?sessionid=da489fd54df9374d3ef3afb07fb35429&sessionid=da489fd54df9374d3ef3afb07fb35429      






   

  











  • December 11th -  Orchestra concert - -7pm
  • December 12th - Hunt Dance - 7pm
  • December 17th -  Band concert & Hairspray Bake Sale
  • December 17th - FY16 BSD Budget work session @ BHS
  • December 18th - FY16 BSD Budget work session @ BHS
  • January 21st - A presentation on Mindfulness by Marilyn Webb Neagley



Friday, December 5, 2014

Hunt PTO Update, 12/5/14

Hunt PTO Update
December 5th, 2014




Winter concerts

These upcoming Wednesdays  in December will be filled with music!  Please come out in support of the many Hunt musicians who have been preparing several weeks for these special performances.  

All concerts begin at 7 pm.  

Wednesday, December 10th - Orchestra concert
Wednesday, December 17th -  Band concert



At the Band Concert there will be a Bake sale to benefit the Hunt Production of Hairspray! The Hunt Drama Committee will be selling baked goods and other edible novelties at the December  17th concert. This is a great opportunity for us to make a chunk of money that we can use to help pay for the Spring play.

It costs us over $6000 to put on a production and small fundraisers like this are a big help in getting us over the top!  Please consider signing up to donate a baked good, bottles of water, fruit or small bags of chips. Can you help? Bring your donation to the table between 6:30 and 7 on December 17. Feel free to RSVP your item to huntmiddleschool@gmail.com. 

Thanks for your generosity!



"MISSREPRESENTATION" AT BHS
Tuesday, December 9th 7:00 pm
Burlington High School 

The Greater Burlington Women's Forum is partnering with Burlington High School to show a special screening of "MissRepresentation", a must-see film on how the media is educating yet another generation that a woman's primary value lay in her youth, beauty and sexuality-and not in her capacity as a leader. Trailer can be viewed here. For additional information, contact btvwomen@gmail.com


PTO Meeting this week - Thursday, December 11th at 6:30 in the library.  Come welcome our new PTO President, Paula Henry and find out how you can take an active role at Hunt - Despite what your child tells you, he/she really does like you to be involved!



District Announcements
SCHOOL BOARD INVITES COMMUNITY TO FY16 BUDGET WORK SESSIONS

The Board is hosting two budget work sessions designed to provide community members an opportunity to talk with each other about the standards and values that they believe should be reflected in the school budget. Each participant will be asked to complete a brief worksheet that will be collected at the end of the session. The product of these work sessions will help guide the budget development process.

Wednesday, December 17 or Thursday, December 18, 2014 from 7-9PM
(attend one session only)
Burlington High School Cafeteria, 52 Institute Road
Please RSVP by sending an email to superintendent@bsdvt.org or by calling
(802) 865-5332, and indicate if you will need childcare and/or translation services.


Invite from the Fletcher Free Library:  
Please join us to discuss the future of Fletcher Free's services and programming.
We have engaged the services of Maureen Sullivan, a national Library consultant, to lead a community planning process guiding strategic directions for the next five years and beyond. Through a series of forums we will develop a strategy focusing on Fletcher Free's strengths and stakeholders’ shared values and vision for our Public Library.

Please join us at an 'Open Community Forum' on December 11th from 5:30-7:00pm at the Library.

Your perspective on our services and programming as Library users is crucial to our planning process. We will discuss opportunities for Fletcher Free to contribute to community growth by: 
  • enhancing literacy and lifelong learning;
  • facilitating access to and exchange of knowledge;
  • and strengthening community connections.
For more information please contact Barbara Shatara at bshatara@burlingtonvt.gov or on 865-7211. 


Mark Your Calendars
A presentation on Mindfulness by Marilyn Webb Neagley
Wednesday, January 21, 2015
Hunt Library - 6:30 PM

Why Mindfulness?
Current neuroscience research indicates that mindfulness can help to reduce stress, regulate emotions, increase focused attention and result in greater kindness.  All are assets for learning, living and for general well being.

One definition of mindfulness is “paying attention in a particular way; on purpose, in the present moment, and without judgment.”  Much of our stress, pain, and suffering come from being pulled away from the present moment, with regrets about the past, worries about the future, and judgments about the present.” (JKZ) Another definition might be that it’s the opposite of “mindlessness”.

This presentation will provide a simplified explanation of mindfulness, reported neuroscience research findings and an exploration of mindful applications. 

 Marilyn Webb Neagley, Education Consultant and Author.

Marilyn Webb Neagley is the director of Talk About Wellness, a Vermont based initiative that works primarily in public schools to deepen and support the inner lives of children.

In the early 1980’s Marilyn was introduced to meditation by Dr. Joan Borysenko and later, Dr. Herbert Benson.  Since then she has attended courses, professional workshops and retreats that focus on mindfulness and social/emotional learning.  She now leads mindfulness-based courses, workshops and seminars, under the umbrella of social and emotional learning.

Marilyn, with Aostre N. Johnson, is the co-editor of Educating from the Heart (2011), a compilation of essays by educators. She is a co-coordinator of the South Burlington School District’s new training manual, Mindfulness in Public Schools (2013).  She is also author of a children’s book, Loosie B. Goosie (2013) and of Walking through the Seasons (2008), a book of observations and reflections on nature that won an IPPY gold medal for U.S. North-East Best Regional Non-Fiction.

Previously, Marilyn was president of Shelburne Farms during its formative years as a non-profit organization. 


Please take a moment to read the PTO meeting minutes from November 20th!  December's meeting has been moved up to December 11th (instead of the 18th) in the hope that more families will be able to participate.  

https://docs.google.com/document/d/1IFKhBikSFZ4mIFezTVnBXDaiqMR3nZeJOZv_E2m4_mw/edit 

...and here is the current PTO Budget (all the money stuff:)    

https://drive.google.com/file/d/0Byfwpn3brBE_M25tVTAweGh4Ync/view   

HAIRSPRAY, the musical, coming to Hunt!
 Auditions for the musical Hairspray start in January and the performance is March 26-28.  

Would YOU be interested in joining the planning committee for the production or getting involved in other ways?  We will be recruiting volunteers to spearhead different tasks related to putting on the production.  

If you are interested in attending a planning meeting or willing to assist with other aspects of the production please contact Colby at the address below.  

Some of the work that is involved: helping with costumes, set construction, lights, sound, supporting after school rehearsals, fundraising, selling ads for the playbill, helping with front of the house during the performance, baking, hair/makeup, helping provide transportation access to students who want to participate but may need rides home from rehearsals etc., playing an instrument in the pit orchestra etc.

The first production/planning meeting is scheduled for:

 Monday, December 8th at 6:30 in the library

  We'd love your help and I bet this is one event your child will "let" you volunteer for.  Don't wait, high school is just around the corner and then they are off to college and that adventure called life! (can you tell I have a high schooler???)

Interesting in getting involved?  
Contact Colby at ctkervick@gmail.com or Kate Belluche at akbelluche@gmail.com



Pay it forward fundraiser Keep it coming!  Thanks to you we have raised just over $700 to put towards Hunt programs.  It wasn't you?  Well, it is not too late to donate and help us fund those items on hold (like assemblies, 8th grade class trip, food baskets, team grants...)

Haven't donated yet?  Checks made out to the Hunt PTO can be sent into the office in an envelope marked for the PTO.   Thanks for your generosity!
  • Want to follow Hunt Middle School on Facebook or Twitter?

    copy and paste the Hunt web site and scroll down about halfway....

    http://hunt.bsd.schoolfusion.us/modules/cms/announce.phtml?sessionid=da489fd54df9374d3ef3afb07fb35429&sessionid=da489fd54df9374d3ef3afb07fb35429      


  • Click hear to learn more about the many accomplishments of the Burlington School Food Project:

  • https://drive.google.com/file/d/0Byfwpn3brBE_MTEzaDhMcWQ3eXM/view

An Important Message Regarding a Change to the MySchoolBucks.com Program
September 30, 2014

Dear Parent or Guardian,

MySchoolBucks.com is a convenient and easy to use credit/debit card prepayment system that allows parents to add money to their child’s meal account at the school. The service allows parents to set recurring payments based on a low balance amount that they determine or make manual payments as they choose.

The purpose of this letter is to inform you of a change to the MySchoolBucks.com program in Burlington Schools. Starting November 1, 2014, there will be a 3.75% transaction fee charged each time you make an online deposit to your child’s meal account at www.MySchoolBucks.com. The fee will be displayed at the time of your payment. For example, if you add $25.00 to your child’s meal account, your credit/debit card will be charged $25.94, and $25.00 will be deposited into the meal account.

In the past, the Burlington School Food Project has paid this cost – which has totaled over $12,000 annually. Since we are a self-funded operation, we are no longer able to absorb these fees. As with ATM, bank, or other services, convenience fees of this type are generally paid by the individual customer choosing to use the service. Additional MySchoolBucks.com services include checking a student’s meal purchase history, receiving low balance notification and setting up recurring payments. These services are FREE regardless of whether you use the site to make meal deposits, but you must sign up at www.MySchoolBucks.com.

If you have any questions, please feel free to contact me at the number below. For technical assistance, please contact MySchoolBucks Customer Support at 1-855-832-5226.
Thank you for your continued patronage and for allowing us to feed your children healthy meals every day!
Sincerely,
Doug Davis

Doug Davis
Director
Burlington School Food Project
52 Institute Road
Burlington, Vermont 05408
Telehpone - 802.864.8416 Fax - 802.864.8438






   

  











  • December 8 - Hairspray Planning Meeting - 6:30pm
  • December 9th - MissRepresentation at BHS, 7 pm
  • December 10th -  Orchestra concert - -7pm
  • December 11th - December PTO meeting - 6:30
  • December 12th - Hunt Dance - 7pm
  • December 17th -  Band concert & Hairspray Bake Sale
  • December 17th - FY16 BSD Budget work session @ BHS
  • December 18th - FY16 BSD Budget work session @ BHS
  • January 21stA presentation on Mindfulness by Marilyn Webb Neagley