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Monday, January 30, 2017

Hunt Middle School PTO Blog - January 30, 2017

A Letter to VT State Legislators from the PTO leaders of the Burlington School District

As PTO leaders we are deeply involved in local schools. We have firsthand knowledge of the day to day operations and understand better than many what impact the governor’s proposal that schools freeze spending at FY 17 levels, will have on our students and our families. The only way to accomplish the governor’s request is through more cuts to our schools. Period.

Knowing the issues to which our new governor professes to be committed, we are frankly shocked that he would propose a course of action that focuses solely on reducing spending but is bound to exacerbate several other serious problems with which the state is grappling.

In his inaugural address, Governor Scott promised to take on the opiate epidemic in our state. The public school system is where the fallout of the opiate epidemic is experienced. It is not possible to overcome the problems created by this scourge without addressing and investing in the children affected by it. This will require adding more teachers and mental health professionals, not cutting them.

The Governor also promised to “revitalize our approach to economic development” in part by, “ attracting and retaining working age people,” and “provid(ing) our businesses with the talented workers they need to thrive.” The governor’s proposal, however, makes Vermont less attractive to newcomers by diminishing the school systems and realistically causing an increase to property taxes. It further jeopardizes the viability of the workforce Vermont has to offer to potential businesses.

The governor promised to “transform our education system.” We expected a more creative approach than defunding. Finally, the governor argued “we have to build sustainable budgets that enable us to achieve these goals.” This reduction in education is neither sustainable, it will create more social costs in the long run, nor does it enable us to achieve our other goals.

We believe the governor is putting the cart before the horse. He must examine the education system, call on “frontline employees…who have valuable knowledge about what’s working and what needs improvement,” as he proposed on inauguration day, and then make calculated and educated, cost saving improvements to the education system. To create a situation that indiscriminately demands cuts to school budgets, without a commitment to what is working and what is necessary, is woefully inadequate.

The cost of educating our children is a concern to all Vermonters, as is a failure to do so. The governor should not undermine the work of local school boards and dedicated legislators and should instead take the time to work with these bodies to create successful and sustainable improvements to the state’s education system. We expect no less from his administration.

The legislature should flatly reject this proposed budget and insist that the governor and his office take a more careful and thoughtful approach to budget development. As active and involved participants in our schools, we, PTO leadership, can attest that further cuts will severelydamage both the educational outcomes and the reputation of local schools and will in turn drive aspiring families out of the district and out of the state. The governor’s proposed changes are destructive and contradictory to his own goals of protecting vulnerable Vermonters and enhancing the state’s economic climate.

If the governor is to earn the respect of the electorate, he will have to demonstrate more understanding and creative ability than revealed in this budget proposal.


How Can I Advocate for Our Public Schools?

All Vermonters should speak to their elected officials.

1. Contact your legislators NOW: Here's the link by SU: legislators by Supervisory Union

2. Write to Governor Scott NOW: E-Mail To Governor Scott

3. Call The Sargeant at Arms Office at the Vermont Legislature at 1-802-828-2228 or 1-800-322-5616 NOW and leave a message asking your state senator and/or your representatives to call you. Here is where number of calls received matter. Each one will prompt a legislative page to bring a note to the legislator. Of course, when you do receive a call, be prepared to have a dialogue about what freezing your budget, greater contributions for health insurance, voting on May etc. will do for you and your school. 



Sunday, January 22, 2017

Hunt Middle School Blog - January 22, 2017


Hunt Middle School Blog 

Principal’s Report January 2017

Title I

At Hunt Middle School we utilize federal Title I funding to address multiple needs. This funding is used to support:

  • The purchase of instructional materials.
  • The licensing fee for IXL Math accounts for every HMS student so they may access this web-based mathematics skill-building resource.
  • Salary for our Literacy and Mathematics interventionists and some paraprofessionals.
  • Mathematics and reading assessments that we use to track student academic need and growth.
These efforts support the academic success of Title I students, but also every HMS student.

The purpose of Title I under the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965 (ESEA) is to ensure that all children have a fair, equal, and significant opportunity to obtain a high-quality education and reach, at a minimum, proficiency on challenging state academic achievement standards and state academic assessments.

On Thursday, January 18, Hunt Middle School faculty and staff members participated in a day-long professional development session. The activities that the faculty and staff worked on included:

  • BSD Strategic Planning
  • Digital Storytelling with our partners from Digital Promise
  • An examination of student achievement data and SBAC English Language Arts tasks and achievement levels


HMS Makerspace


We are moving forward with the development of our Hunt Middle School Makerspace. This installation is being made possible by a $20,000 grant from the Verizon Charitable Foundation.

In addition to the Makerspace, which will be located in our Library-Media Center, we will have traveling carts which will enable our teachers to run maker activities in any location in our school building. The HMS Makerspace and materials will also be accessible to our after school and
summer programs.


MLK Observance

In honor of Dr. Martin Luther King Day students participated in a discussion of his “I Have a Dream” speech and created a reflection that they posted on a banner that was placed on display at the ECHO Center for their MLK Day celebration. This activity was developed in partnership with the Burlington Community and Economic Development Office. 

Three HMS students, Lani Keomanyvanh, Moneja Grant and Kelemua Summa read Dr. King’s “I Have a Dream” speech at ECHO during the celebration following Mayor Weinberger’s greeting.

Respectfully Submitted,
Leonard H. Phelan, Principal

Tuesday, January 17, 2017

Hunt Middle School Blog - January 17, 2017



Hunt Middle School Blog
January 17, 2017
 
 
 
Happy New Year!
 
 
 
Here is the link to the Hunt January Newsletter

 

 
 
 
=======================================================================
 
Here are some quick announcements for all!
 
 
  • A quick reminder to parents - No school Thursday, January 19, 2017
 
  • The next PTO meeting is this Thursday, January 19 at 6:30 PM in the library. We hope you can join us!
 
  • The marking period ends Friday, January 20.
 
  • Student report cards come home with students January 27
 

 
 
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

 
DRAMA CLUB ANNOUNCEMENTS
 
 
Special Screening of Charlie and the Chocolate Factory!
 
When: Afterschool January 20th 3:15-4:45
Where: Meet in the cafeteria after school and then we will walk down to the room as a group
Who:  All Hunt Middle school kids who are interested in being in the musical  
 
Sign-up packets for the play will also be available  (there will also be copies of the sign up forms for students to pick up in the office beginning the week of January 23rd).
 
==================================================================
 
Willy Wonka Production Kick-off meeting!
 
When: January 24th 6:30-8:00pm 
Where: Hunt Middle School Library
 
Come find out how you can be involved with Hunt Middle School's spring production of Willy Wonka! 
We need all sorts of volunteers to help with all aspects of the production including, costumes, playbill, hair/makeup, set-building, fundraising and more. 

There's a job for everyone wishing to help bring this wonderful musical to life!
 
Auditions are January 31 and February 1 after school. 

Every child wishing to have a part will get one. 

Sign-up packets will be available at the January 24 production meeting and
then will be posted the next day outside the main office. 

All students who wish to participate need to complete a sign-up packet.
 
Questions?  Email: huntdramaclub@gmail.com
 
==================================================================
 

DANCE PARTY Fundraiser for Willy Wonka Play

 

Saturday, February 11 at 7 PM - 11 PM

St. John's Club

9 Central Ave, Burlington, Vermont 05401

 

ADULTS only dance party to support Lyman C. Hunt Middle School Play - Willy Wonka!

 
- You don't just have to be a parent of a Hunt student to attend! We appreciate everyone's support!


- $20 a person (checks made payable to Hunt Drama club).


- CONTACT Bella at bella@bellabueno.com to reserve tickets or to the main office at Hunt Middle School.

- One way you can help is to attend the dance!

- We are also looking for donations for the silent auction which is held at the dance.

- Scrumptious appetizers and desserts will also be served and we are looking for help from drama parents in cooking up these goodies. 

- Payment in advance is much appreciated but tickets will also be available at the door.
- Amy King is organizing the food, contact her at amyraeking@hotmail.com if you can contribute with this task.

- Silent Auction, snacks and desserts, dancing, cash bar, and FUN included

- Bring your dancing shoes and your wallets

- All proceeds go towards the play!


====================================================================

From Principal Len Phelan - Regarding French classes

 
Dear HMS Parent or Guardian:

I am writing to update you about the extended absence of our French teacher, Ms. Kimberly Chase. Unfortunately Ms. Chase has been out of school on leave for several weeks and therefore unable to meet with her students and classes. We currently are seeking a substitute teacher who is fluent in French and can continue to provide ínstruction to students so they do not miss out on the learning opportunities normally offered in this class. This has proven to be a difficult task, þut we are continuing our search. ln the meantime students have been working on building their knowledge of the French language through the online platform Duolingo and by working on various assignments with a daily substitute teacher.

While we know that this situation is not optimal, we are doing the best we can to identify a skilled teacher of French who is able to work with Ms. Chase's classes during her absence. ln the meantime please be assured that we are doing all we can to keep the learning going in our French class until Ms. Chase returns to school.

 
Thank you for your understanding.
Leonard H. Phelan
 



 
 
 

 



Monday, January 9, 2017

Hunt Middle School Blog - January 9, 2017



Hunt Middle School Blog
January 9, 2017
 
 
 
Welcome back to School!
 

We hope you had a great holiday break and are ready for winter!
 
This is a quick first blog of the year with some important information on our school play:

 
 
 
Willy Wonka Production Kick-off meeting!
 
When: January 24th 6:30-8:00pm 
Where: Hunt Middle School Library
 
Come find out how you can be involved with Hunt Middle School's spring production of Willy Wonka! 
 
We need all sorts of volunteers to help with all aspects of the production including, costumes, playbill, hair/makeup, set-building, fundraising and more. 
 
There's a job for everyone wishing to help bring this wonderful musical to life!
 
Auditions are January 31 and February 1 after school. 
 
Every child wishing to have a part will get one. 
 
Sign-up packets will be available at the January 24 production meeting and then will be posted the next day outside the main office. 
 
All students who wish to participate need to complete a sign-up packet.
Questions?  Email: huntdramaclub@gmail.com