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Wednesday, March 25, 2015

Hunt PTO Update 3/20/15

Hunt PTO Update
March 25th, 2015


What's happening at HUNT over the next two weeks?
Please check the HUNT activities calendar on the website for up-to-the-minute updates!


 Monday 
 Tuesday
 Wednesday
 Thursday
 Friday
23
24
25
Hairshpray School Workshop 1-2pm
26
Hairspray school performance 4pm

Early Release Day- 12:00

Parent Teacher Conferences
27

No School

Hairspray Performance- 7pm

Parent Teacher Conferences
30
31
1
2
3
 End of Quarter

Coffee Chat with Principals 8:15




Letter to Parents and Caregivers from 
Vermont Secretary of Education Rebecca Holcombe:
Also please see note from Liz Curry, Ward 3 school board member and former Hunt parent,  at the end of the Blog re: the VT State Board of Education passing a resolution on SBAC Standardized Tests and School Accountability on Tuesday, March 17, 2015.  (noted in full below.)

March Parent Teacher Conferences- Whether or not your child is having any school challenges, Parent Teacher conferences are a great opportunity to meet with your child's teachers to discuss progress, set goals and build relationships!
Please sign with the link below.  ​
If you have problems with the website you can email Mrs. Barcomb at tbarcomb@bsdvt.org
or call Guidance at 802-864-8470.
HAIRSPRAY coming to the Hunt stage Thursday, Friday and Saturday

You won't want to miss this upbeat musical featuring our own Hunt talent - and the buzz is that we have a Hunt staff member with a cameo roll - who could it be????  You have 3 opportunities to see the show:

School Show - Thursday, March 26 -4pm (great one to bring the kids, grandparents...)
Evening Performance - Friday, March 27 - 7pm
Evening Performance - Saturday, March 28 - 7pm


An invite from the Hunt administration to YOU...



Parent Coffee

YOU ARE INVITED! 
Principal/Parent Coffee

Friday, April 3rd, 2015 8:10am to 8:55am


Have coffee or tea with our Principals. Tell us what's on your mind. Let us know what's working or what's not working. Ask questions or just chat and relax with us in our library. 
Friday, April 3rd, 8:10am.

     Calendar Listings:
  • March 26 - Early Release  at noon- Parent Teacher Conferences
  • March 26 - Hairspray School Show - 4pm
  • March 27 - No School - Parent Teacher Conferences
  • March 27 - Hairspray Evening Performance - 7pm
  • March 27 - Hairspray Pre Performance Meal catered by Papa Frank's -5:30 
  • March 28 - Hairspray Evening Performance - 7pm
  • April 3rd - Coffee with the Principals
  • April 10 - Dance - 7pm
  • April 20-24 - April School Vacation




        VSBE Calls on Congress to Reduce School Testing Mandates
        From LIZ CURRY, LCURRY@BSDVT.ORG, SCHOOL BOARD MEMBER, WARD 3, BURLINGTON
        Regarding our community discussion about Common Core tests...I am pleased to report that on Tuesday, March 17, 2015, the VT State Board of Education passed this resolution on SBAC Standardized Tests and School Accountability. It is interesting to read the pre-amble provided here: http://susanohanian.org/core.php?id=793

        The Vermont State Board of Education proclaims; 
        • - WHEREAS, schools in the state of Vermont are still transitioning to the new Common Core Standards, a progression of various skills to be developed throughout an educational career, and this transition is not yet complete; and 
        • - WHEREAS, This test administration is the first time educators in the State of Vermont have been asked to administer a test using a computerized delivery system which is yet to be proven and the first time many students have experienced this testing format; and 
          - WHEREAS, the Vermont State Board of Education has already expressed in detail their views on the proper role of Standardized Testing on the Resolution on Assessment and Accountability on August 26, 2014; and 
          - WHEREAS, the appropriate and future use of these tests as required in the federal Elementary and Secondary Education Act is uncertain, which greatly influences both policy and expenditure decisions for states, and 
          - WHEREAS, numerous states have expressed similar reservations and the California Board of Education suspended the state's school accountability system on March 11, 2015 for one year to give teachers and students time to adjust to new standardized tests aligned with Common Core standards;

          Therefore be it -- 
          - RESOLVED that the Vermont State Board of Education will not use SBAC scores for the 2014-15 year for the purpose of annual school evaluation determinations; and 
          - RESOLVED that the Vermont State Board believes that until students' elementary through high school education has been guided by the new standards and schools have had practice with administering the SBAC test and interpreting SBAC results, the results of the SBAC assessment will not support reliable and valid inferences about student performance, and thus should not be used as the basis for any consequential purpose; and 
          - RESOLVED that until empirical studies confirm a sound relationship between performance on the SBAC and critical and valued life outcomes ("college and career-ready"), test results should not be used to make normative and consequential judgments about schools and students; and 
          - RESOLVED that the Vermont State Board of Education finds it inappropriate to use the results of this assessment, a pilot test, for any form of accountability that could misidentify and/or mislabel schools and divert attention from the more comprehensive Vermont Education Quality Review and any findings that might come out of that review; and 
          - RESOLVED that the Vermont State Board of Education supports the Secretary of Education's efforts to fully implement the Education Quality Standards, through an Education Quality Review process; an assessment that will reflect the values of Vermont and will give a more holistic view of the status of Vermont Schools than the SBAC assessments; and 
          - RESOLVED that the Vermont State Board of Education calls on Vermont state legislators to sufficiently fund the Agency of Education to provide the resources and capacity needed to implement the Education Quality Review Process; and 
          - RESOLVED, that the Vermont State Board of Education again calls on the United States Congress and Administration to amend the Elementary and Secondary Education Act (currently known as the "No Child Left Behind Act") to reduce testing mandates, promote multiple forms of evidence of student learning and school quality, eschew the use of student test scores in evaluating educators, and allow flexibility that reflects the unique circumstances of all states.

        Friday, March 13, 2015

        Hunt PTO Update 3/13/2015

        Yay for melting snow!
        Hunt PTO Update
        March 12th, 2015

        What's happening at HUNT this week and next?
        Please check the HUNT activities calendar on the website for up-to-the-minute updates!


         Monday 
         Tuesday
         Wednesday
         Thursday
         Friday
        9


        10
        11



        12
        Orchestra Night at BHS
        13

        Dance
        7-9pm
        16


        17
        18
        19

        PTO meeting 6:30 pm


        20








        Don't forget to check out the Hunt MARCH newsletter here.  Click on "newsletter" in the left-hand column.
        http://hunt.bsd.schoolfusion.us/modules/cms/announce.phtml?sessionid=e588e7fc106b8917753d7e57b4deaa8a&sessionid=e588e7fc106b8917753d7e57b4deaa8a


        Hunt Kids show off their Science Projects for
        WCAX in a program called
        Students Succeed Despite Lack of National Residency Programs
        Link: 


        March Parent Teacher Conferences- Whether or not your child is having any school challenges, Parent Teacher conferences are a great opportunity to meet with your child's teachers to discuss progress, set goals and build relationships!
        Please sign with the link below.  ​
        If you have problems with the website you can email Mrs. Barcomb at tbarcomb@bsdvt.org
        or call Guidance at 802-864-8470.


        ptcfast.com/schools/Hunt_Middle



        Newly released documentary The Mask You Live In (by Miss Representation director Jennifer Siebel Newsom) will be shown at South Burlington High School (SBHS) on March 17, 6:30 p.m. with teen-led dialogue to follow. The film looks at the media’s portrayal of society’s expectations of males.

        This Dialogue Night is a collaborative effort between the Vermont International Film Foundation, PACT (Parents and Adults Celebrating Children and Teens), and SBHS.  South Burlington High School is located at 550 Dorset Street in South Burlington. The event is free and open to the public. For questions, please call 238-1054.

        See Trailer below:



        HAIRSPRAY coming to the Hunt stage in 2 weeks!!!!  You won't want to miss this upbeat musical featuring our own Hunt talent - and the buzz is that we have a Hunt staff member with a cameo roll - who could it be????  You have 3 opportunities to see the show:

        School Show - Thursday, March 26 -4pm (great one to bring the kids, grandparents...
        Evening Performance - Friday, March 27 - 7pm
        Evening Performance - Saturday, March 28 - 7pm


        +Make Friday night less stressful, come to the Pre-Play Dinner!! - Friday, March 27
         Menu:
        Papa Franks Ziti and Garlic Bread
        Locally Grown Cabbage and Carrot Salad- Thanks Intervale Community Farm!
        Jello Desserts

        Only $8 for adults and $5 for kids
        Students in the play dine at 5:00, families at 5:30-6:30.
        Great food for a great cause.  Bring friends and family! 
        FOR GUARANTEED FOOD, PRE PAY BY SENDING YOUR CHECK INTO THE OFFICE (checks made out to Hunt Drama Committee)  We will keep a list of pre-paid dinners at the door.

        Questions?  Contact  rpadnos@hotmail.com or 864-0214


        Who’s it for? The Nicest Kids in Town –at Hunt Middle School!!



        Update from Interim Superintendent of Schools, Burlington School District


        A NOTE OF THANKS FROM INTERIM SUPERINTENDENT HOWARD SMITH

        On behalf of the School District, I wish to thank all of the members of our community who voted in support of the School Budget. The budget development process benefited from thoughtful, respectful and constructive input from community members and the School Board. The views expressed reflected the full range of perspectives, ranging from those who felt that the budget increase should have been lower to those who felt it needed to be higher. From the School District perspective, we could always use more resources than will be available, but we are confident that we will be able to offer the kinds of programs and services in the coming year that will serve the needs of our students effectively. Having the support of the community behind us as we take on the challenges that lie ahead means a lot!

        WELCOME TO OUR NEW SCHOOL BOARD COMMISSIONERS!

        WARD 1: Mark Porter
        WARD 2: Kat Kleman
        WARD 3: Liz Curry
        WARD 4: Anne Judson
        WARD 5: Susanmarie Harrington
        WARD 6: Stephanie Seguino
        WARD 7: David Kirk
        WARD 8: Lauren Berrizbeitia
        NORTH DISTRICT: Mark Barlow
        EAST DISTRICT: Kyle Dodson
        CENTRAL DISTRICT: Brian Cina
        SOUTH DISTRICT: Miriam Stoll


        MOVING FORWARD

        Saturday, March 21, BHS - 8:30AM - 12:30PM
        An event to empower New American families to understand services and resources offered by local social service agencies. Families will have an opportunity to hear from agencies and ask questions.

        Participants will have the opportunity to:
        1) Understand the needs of generation 1.5 student immigrants.
        2) Discuss issues with members of many immigrant communities.
        3) Hear from the following agencies about how to access their services: DCF, Connecting Cultures, Burlington Police Department and more.
        Transportation and childcare provided. Breakfast and lunch served.

        For more information, contact:
        Linda Walsleben - lwalsleb@bsdvt.org
        Henri Sparks - hsparks@bsdvt.org
        Nijaza Semic - nsemic@bsdvt.org
        Chief Schirling - mschirling@bpdvt.org

        THE KIDS ARE ALRIGHT CONCERT

        Saturday, March 21, Higher Ground - Doors open at noon, show at 12:30.

        For grownups who used to be kids and kids who are still kids! Kids' music reinterpreted and ready to ROCK, all to benefit the Integrated Arts Academy, Vermont's one and only arts magnet school.

        Special live performances by Rough Francis, Swale, Colin & The Clarys, Steady Betty, Paper Castles, James Kochalka Superstar, The Cleary Bros. Band, Brass Balagan and DJ Necutron.

        Advance tickets: $10 adults, $5 kids
        Day of show: $12 adults, $7 kids
        Food/beverages available for purchase.
        See what people have to say about last year's concert:

                              
             Calendar Listings:
        • March 13 - School Dance - 7pm
        • March 17 - The Mask You Live In documentary, SBHS, 6:30 pm
        • March 19 - PTO meeting - 6:30pm in the Library
        • March 21- Moving Forward event for New American families
        • March 21 - The Kids are Alright IAA Fundraiser
        • March 26 - Early Release - Parent Teacher Conferences
        • March 26 - Hairspray School Show - 4pm
        • March 27 - No School - Parent Teacher Conferences
        • March 27 - Hairspray Evening Performance - 7pm
        • March 27 - Hairspray Pre Performance Meal catered by Papa Frank's 
        • March 28 - Hairspray Evening Performance - 7pm

        Saturday, March 7, 2015

        Hunt PTO Update 3/5/15

        Hunt PTO Update
        March 7th, 2015





        Hoping February Break was restful and fun for all Hunt families!




        What's happening at HUNT this week and next?
        Please check the HUNT activities calendar on the website for up-to-the-minute updates!


         Monday 
         Tuesday
         Wednesday
         Thursday
         Friday
        2


        3
        4
        Back to School!


        5
        6

        Principals' Chat
        9


        10
        11
        12


        Orchestra Night at BHS
        13


        Dance
        7-9pm






        Don't forget to check out the Hunt MARCH newsletter here.  Click on "newsletter" in the left-hand column.
        http://hunt.bsd.schoolfusion.us/modules/cms/announce.phtml?sessionid=e588e7fc106b8917753d7e57b4deaa8a&sessionid=e588e7fc106b8917753d7e57b4deaa8a



        March Parent Teacher Conferences- Whether or not your child is having any school challenges, Parent Teacher conferences are a great opportunity to meet with your child's teachers to discuss progress, set goals and build relationships!
        Please sign with the link below.  ​
        If you have problems with the website you can email Mrs. Barcomb at tbarcomb@bsdvt.org
        or call Guidance at 802-864-8470.






        Thank you to all who helped to pass the 
        school budget on Town Meeting Day...especially the VOTERS!


        The budget for the 2015-2016 fiscal year represents a 1.75% increase over the budget approved by the voters for the current year.   Most of the budget growth will be devoted to ensuring that future budget deficits can be avoided by properly accounting for all of the District’s actual spending obligations. 

        The historically low rate of growth was the byproduct of a different approach to building a budget. Instead of basing next year’s budget on last year’s budget, the proposed budget is supported by the following three pillars:


        • An appraisal of student needs and the resources required to promote success for all students
        • Regionally comparable standards that are generally associated with high-quality schools
        • Efficiency and productivity measures designed to reduce growth in spending to a sustainable level in keeping with local economic conditions



        TONIGHT!!!!!
        Friends, Families neighbors, come support the Hunt production of HAIRSPRAY by attending the upcoming:




        Mark your calendar and reserve the date for the Hunt Middle School's annual

        Dance party at the St. John's Club in Burlington

        This is an adult only party! March 7th, 7:00-11:00pm
        $20 per person/$30 per couple.

        Last year's dance was a blast, so don't miss the fabulous dancing, tasty appetizers & scrumptious desserts,
        all included in the ticket price.

        There will also be a silent auction, 50/50 raffle, photo booth and cash bar.

        ALL adults are welcome, not just parents of students in the play!!
        Don’t forget your ID.

        All proceeds from the dance benefit the Hunt Middle School Drama Club's 2015 version of HairSpray.
        Please purchase tickets in advance; limited number available. Any remaining tickets will be sold at the door. Buy now! Contact Bella at bella@bellabueno.com for tickets or send a check made out to Hunt Drama Committee to the main office at Hunt. (we will keep a list at the door)



        xternal image Silhouette20Dancing20People.jpg




        Newly released documentary The Mask You Live In (by Miss Representation director Jennifer Siebel Newsom) will be shown at South Burlington High School (SBHS) on March 17, 6:30 p.m. with teen-led dialogue to follow. The film looks at themedia’s portrayal of society’s expectations of males.

        This Dialogue Night is a collaborative effort between the Vermont International Film Foundation, PACT (Parents and Adults Celebrating Children and Teens), and SBHS.  South Burlington High School is located at 550 Dorset Street in South Burlington. The event is free and open to the public. For questions, please call 238-1054.

        See Trailer below:




        BSD Orchestra Night @ BHS on Thursday, March 12th

        Orchestra Night is coming up at 7 pm, March 12th at BHS.  
        This concert features all orchestra students in grades 4-12 and is not-to-be-missed!





        Request from Kathy Olwell, Afterschool Program Coordinator

        Do you have any  old battery-run toys that the after school program could use  for a toy hacking program?  If so, please place the toy(s) in the box in the office where they can be left.

        Need more information? Contact Kathy @:  


        Kathy
        Kathleen Olwell
        Afterschool Program Coordinator
        LC Hunt Middle School
        New North End Youth Center
        130 Gosse Ct.
        Burlington, VT 05408
        802/860-4986

        Don't forget to set your clocks one hour AHEAD at 2 am on Sunday morning!

                              

             Calendar Listings:
        • March 7 - Adult Dance Party at the St. John's Club - 7-11pm
        • March 8 - Start of  Daylight Savings Time
        • March 12 - Orchestra Night at BHS
        • March 19 - PTO meeting
        • March 26 - Early Release - Parent Teacher Conferences
        • March 26 - Hairspray School Show - 4pm
        • March 27 - No School - Parent Teacher Conferences
        • March 27 - Hairspray Evening Performance - 7pm
        • March 27 - Hairspray Pre Performance Meal catered by Papa Frank's (info coming soon!)
        • March 28 - Hairspray Evening Performance - 7pm