Hunt PTO Update, 11/24/14

Hunt PTO Update

November 24th, 2014

Remember there is NO school on Wednesday, Thursday 

and Friday of this week.  

Wishing everyone a very Happy and Safe Thanksgiving!

Winter concerts

The three December Wednesdays after Thanksgiving 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 3rd -- Chorus concert

Wednesday, December 10th - Orchestra concert

Wednesday, December 17th -  Band concert

Bake sales to benefit the Hunt Production of Hairspray! The Hunt Drama Committee will be selling baked goods and other edible novelties at the December Band and Chorus concerts noted above (December 3rd and 17th.) 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 3 or 17. Feel free to RSVP your item to huntmiddleschool@gmail.com.

Thanks for your generosity!

An invite from the Hunt Principals to YOU...

Parent Coffee

YOU ARE INVITED! 

Principal/Parent Coffee

Friday, December 5th, 2014, 8:15am

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, December 5th, 8:15 am.  

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      

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!

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

• 
  
• 
  
• 
• 
  
• Click hear to learn more about the VAST accomplishments of the Burlington School Food Project:
• 
  
• https://drive.google.com/file/d/0Byfwpn3brBE_MTEzaDhMcWQ3eXM/view

   

  

• November 26-28 - Thanksgiving Break - No School
• December 3rd - Chorus concert & Hairspray Bake Sale (kids to school at 6:30, show at 7)
• December 5th - Coffee with the Principal
• December 8 - Hairspray Planning Meeting - 6:30pm
• December 10th -  Orchestra concert
• December 11th - December PTO meeting
• December 12th - Hunt Dance - 7pm
• December 17th -  Band concert & Hairspray Bake Sale

Hunt PTO Update, 11/16/14

Hunt PTO Update 

November 16, 2014

Be sure to check out the November Hunt newsletter available here:

https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B0OT5BU2b--4Y0VubEdVSUQ5Vm8/view

Open UP to make the following discoveries...

What is VKAT?
When is Shrek the Musical?
What is the Lincoln Essay Contest all about?
What is happening in World Languages and Music this fall?
What is my child's team working on?

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      

Pay it forward fundraiser Keep it coming!  The Pay it Forward fundraiser has netted $360 so far.  As money comes in, we will be able to start adding back planned expenditures that have been put on hold.  Come to the next PTO meeting on November 20th and help us decide which items can be funded.

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

District Announcements:

Burlington School Board Selects Dr. Howard Smith to Lead City Schools
November 12, 2014

The Burlington School Board of Commissioners announced today that it has selected Dr. Howard Smith to be the Interim Superintendent of Burlington Schools.

Recently retired as Superintendent of the Public Schools of the Tarrytowns in New York, Dr. Smith brings to Burlington a record of strong instructional leadership around student-centered learning, demonstrated results in improving student achievement, a passionate commitment to equity and closing the achievement gap, and a deep focus on building partnerships between communities and schools — a body of work that solidly aligns with Burlington School District’s priorities and current major initiatives.

To read the full press release, click here.
To view Dr. Smith's resume, click here.


Superintendent Search Forum
November 11, 2014

The Burlington School District and the Superintendent Search Advisory Committee (SSAC) of the Burlington School
Board are convening three public forums as part of a collaborative effort to recruit and hire a new Superintendent by the end of the current school year. 

To facilitate the forums, the Burlington‐based Partnership for Change, a grant‐funded effort that supports innovation in the Burlington and Winooski Schools, has retained the Center for
Secondary School Redesign (CSSR), a nationally known educational consulting firm.

Parents and community members are invited to public forums that will engage school faculty and citizens in a process known as “position analysis", whereby community stakeholders come together to look at a set of documents that describe the array of skills needed in a 21st Century school leader, and prioritize what they think

are the most important for Burlington’s success. Feedback from all of the forums will be incorporated into the final job description that will be given to the School Board.

Upcoming forums include:

• November 17th, Burlington High School Cafeteria, 3:30‐5:30PM (For BSD Faculty and Staff)

• November 17th, Sustainability Academy, 6:30‐ 8:30PM (Open to the public, child care and interpreters for the following languages will be provided: Maay Maay, Somali, French, Nepali, Burmese and Karen)

• November 17th, Hunt Middle School, 6:30‐8:30PM (Open to the public, child care and interpreters for the following languages will be provided: Maay Maay, Somali, French, Nepali, Burmese and Karen.)

November PTO Meeting

11/20/14, 6:30 pm

AGENDA

• Welcome, Introductions – Kacey Boone

OPEN FORUM:

What’s on your mind?  Questions?  Comments?  Concerns?

-Homework update?

- Collective Punishment?

-Newsletters – translated?  If not, could Hunt select most imp info and have liaisons use alert now to read condensed message to families?

UPDATES

• Hunt Math Website – 5 minutes – Kim Hunt
• Harvest Dinner – Alternatives? – 15 minutes – Doug Davis
• PTO Leadership  - 5 minutes – Kate Belluche
• Treasurer’s report - 5 min –Dasha Zentrichova
• Principal’s Corner – 10 min – Len Phelan
• Fundraising Update/Annual Appeal  - 10 minutes – Tammy Kuypers
• Gardening /Grounds Update – Bella Nadworney/Kacey Boone  Campus Clean-up?
• Digital Sign Update/skirting – Gabi Baumann

Shrek Is Coming! The BHS Musical is next week, Thursday through Saturday, November 20‐22 at 7:00 p.m. with a matinee at 1:00 on Saturday the 22nd.  Tickets are $8 for students and senior citizens; $12 for adults.  Please come and see this Broadway‐level production featuring the work of about 100 students in the cast and crew!

C.P. Smith PTO is selling wreaths from Mark’s VT Christmas Wreath Company. Wreaths will be delivered the first week of December.

Go to http://cpsmithpto.wordpress.com/fundraising/yearly-fundraisers/ and you will find a link to purchase a wreath. Or contact Sue Chayer at suechayer98@gmail.com and we'll email an order form to you. Payment and orders are due by Tuesday, 11/18. You may drop off or mail your payment and order to: C.P, Smith PTO, ATTN: Wreath Sale, 332 Ethan Allen Parkway, Burl. VT 05408

22" Fully decorated, door size Balsam wreath $41

22" Balsam wreath with velvet ribbon only $38

26" Fully decorated Balsam wreath $50

26" Balsam wreath with velvet ribbon only $44

30" Fully decorated Balsam wreath $72

30" Balsam wreath with velvet ribbon only $66

Specialty Items

3 Candle, Balsam and Pine Centerpiece (red ribbon & candles) $39

Fully decorated kissing ball - approx. 18" in diameter & your choice of ribbon color $43

ALL PROFIT FROM THIS FUNDRAISER WILL GO TO C.P. SMITH PTO AND WILL BENEFIT PROGRAMS AT C.P. SMITH. PLEASE CONSIDER C.P. SMITH WHEN PURCHASING YOUR WREATH THIS YEAR. NOT ONLY WILL YOU BE GETTING A BEAUTIFUL WREATH BUT WILL BE BENEFITING YOUR COMMUNITY SCHOOL AT THE SAME TIME.

Thank you - C.P. Smith PTO

HAIRSPRAY, the musical, coming to Hunt!

 Auditions for the musical Hairspray start in January and the performance is in March.  

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, 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.

Interesting in getting involved?  

Contact Colby at ctkervick@gmail.com

Click on the Doodle Poll below to help us choose a meeting date for early December.  Also, email huntmiddleschool@gmail.com to be put on our play email list.

http://doodle.com/u9bxhxyvqe46c3km

...and if you want to get a jumpstart on viewing the Hairspray musical:

Movies at Main Street Landing is presenting Hairspray on Tuesday, Nov.  25 at 7pm.  It FREE to the public and kids do not have school next day. 

Hairspray   (click for more details)

• • 
  • Date: 11/25 | Starts at: 7pm
    
    Director: John Waters | Cast: Divine, Ricki Lake, Deborah Harry, Sonny Bono
    
    Plot: Forever interested in the kitsch built into past eras, director John Waters chooses the TV dance show craze of the early '60s for his playful focus in his most popular and iconic film Hairspray.

   

  

• November 17 - Superintendent Search Forums at both Hunt and SA, 6:30-8:30 pm.
• November 17 - Bus Riders need a Bus Pass or pay per ride
• November 18 - Deadline to order wreath from CP Smith PTO
• November 20 - PTO Meeting 6:30-8pm
• November 22 - Shrek the Musical, 1 pm and 7pm (fundraiser before 1 pm)
• November 25th - Hairspray movie at Main Street Landing
• November 26-28 - Thanksgiving Break - No School

Hunt PTO Update 11/9/14

Hunt PTO Update

November 10, 2014

Pay it forward fundraiser Keep it coming!  The Pay it Forward fundraiser has netted $360 so far.  As money comes in, we will be able to start adding back planned expenditures that have been put on hold.  Come to the next PTO meeting on November 20th and help us decide which items can be funded.

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

Share your feedback on the new bus policy 

with the BSD school board 

Recently the Burlington School Board announced it was implementing a policy to make some students pay to get to and from school on the bus.

This policy will impact those Hunt students who do not live within walking distance of the school.

There are three things you can do:

1. Sign this petition: https://actionnetwork.org/petitions/buses-for-all-burlington-students

2. Send an email to the Burlington School Board. Patrick Halladay phalladay@bsdvt.org is the chair. Full list of Board members here: http://bsdweb.bsdvt.org/Board/Boardstart.php

3. Come to the School Board Meeting at 7 pm on Tuesday, 11/11, at 150 Colchester Ave to speak out during open comment period. 

http://www.boarddocs.com/vt/bsdvt/Board.nsf/Public  

Heather

______________________________________
Heather Riemer 802.343.1705

Parent of Eliza and Simon Kissam, Hunt/BHS students

Harvest Dinner THIS Thursday, 5:30-7pm.

Help Still Needed!!!  

Hunt needs servers and recycle\compost monitors to work from 5:15-6:45 and people to help tear down tables and chairs from 7-7:30.  

Contact Deb Anger at danger@bsdvt.org to sign up!  Hope to see you there!

Superintendent Search Update

Media Contact: 

Brian Cina, Search Chair and Ward 2 Commissioner

bcina@bsdvt.org

www.bsdvt.org

Burlington Schools and Board Identifying Knowledge, Skills and Talents Required for 21st Century Superintendent

Burlington, Vermont - The Burlington School District and the Superintendent Search Advisory Committee (SSAC) of the Burlington School Board are convening three public forums as part of a collaborative effort to recruit and hire a new Superintendent by the end of the current school year. To facilitate the forums, the Burlington-based Partnership for Change, a grant-funded effort that supports innovation in the Burlington and Winooski Schools, has retained the Center for Secondary School Redesign (CSSR), a nationally known educational consulting firm. 

CSSR is currently providing the District, the Board and the SSAC with guidance in identifying the job requirements and qualifications for a Superintendent in a system that is moving toward student-centered and proficiency-based practices.

“Research says that the single biggest predictor of job satisfaction and productivity is role clarity,” said Patrick Halladay, Chair of the Burlington School Board. “As schools are changing to meet the demands of a rapidly changing society, districts must carefully identify the knowledge, skills and talents needed in today’s school leaders.” 

CSSR has found that most school systems in the country approach the hiring of a leader with only vague expectations in mind. The result is that schools often hire people who are good at getting a job, but not good at doing or keeping it. The extremely high rate of turnover in principals and superintendents across the Country are evidence of this.

The public forums will engage school faculty and citizens in a process known as “position analysis", whereby community stakeholders come together to look at a set of documents that describe the array of skills needed in a 21st Century school leader, and prioritize what they think are the most important for Burlington’s success. 

A first forum was held on Saturday, September 27th, at the Sustainability Academy. Approximately 45 people attended the forum on a glorious fall morning.

Upcoming forums include:

• November 17, Burlington High School Cafeteria, 3:30-5:30(For BSD Faculty and Staff) 
• November 17, Sustainability Academy, 6:30-8:30 (Open to the public, child care and interpreters for the following languages will be provided: Maay Maay, Somali, French, Nepali, Burmese and Karen)
• November 17, Hunt Middle School, 6:30-8:30(Open to the public, child care and interpreters for the following languages will be provided: Maay Maay, Somali, French, Nepali, Burmese and Karen)

Feedback from all of the forums will be incorporated into the final job description that will be given to the School Board.  

“Especially as Burlington ‘remodels’ its education system to align with the needs of a rapidly changing society, we must find a leader who will fully embrace our vision of a student-centered system that benefits all kinds of learners,” said Hal Colston, Director of the Partnership for Change.

Shrek Coming to BHS!

Hello friends and family of the "Shrek" cast and crew

The BHS Drama Club is presenting a “Shrektacular Shreksperience” in the High School Cafeteria on Saturday, November 22nd, before the matinee performance of “Shrek.”

This event is a fundraiser for the Drama Club and will feature Games, Crafts, Food, Pictures with Characters from the show, Face Painting, Decorating “Gingy” cookies and a “Make Your Own” Parfait Bar.  It will be run like a fair with a small admission fee and then people will buy tickets for the food and activities.  Some activities are free, but most are one ticket ($1/ticket).

We are having this event to help promote the show and raise money for and awareness of the BHS Drama Club.

We would love to have you support this project in any way you can.

1.  Spread the word – this is a great family event

*  Tell your friends, family, neighbors

*  Distribute the poster (attached)at work, school, daycare

*  Post the event on Facebook and ask people to “share”

*  List it on your Front Porch Forum, Church Newsletters and any 

                          other ”lists” you have access to. (article attached)

              

 2.  Volunteer to help out at the event. 

                We have some family members of the cast and crew already signed up to participate.  We still need more volunteers – assisting with craft making and selling hot dogs, popcorn, soup and beverages.

If you would like more information or to volunteer to help out, please contact Margaret Welch at 862-2428 or tapwelch@aol.com.

HAIRSPRAY, the musical, coming to Hunt!

 Auditions for the musical Hairspray start in January and the performance is in March.  

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, 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.

Interesting in getting involved?  

Contact Colby at ctkervick@gmail.com

Click on the Doodle Poll below to help us choose a meeting date for early December.  Also, email huntmiddleschool@gmail.com to be put on our play email list.

http://doodle.com/u9bxhxyvqe46c3km

and for the many runners out there...

Run Your Can Off! 

Thanksgiving Trail Run

 Nov. 15th

Last year several Hunt students (and Hunt grads) ran the Run Your Can Off! event over near St. Mike's.   Cross-country coach Ms. Chayer ran as well! Now in its fifth year, the Run Your Can Off! Thanksgiving Trail Run is a charity event taking place in the Gilbrook Natural Area on Saturday, November 15, 2014. Participants are encouraged to run, walk, skip or stroll as many or as few 1.25 mile loops as they choose in six hours. Instead of a registration fee, we ask that participants bring cans, pantry items, frozen turkeys, cleaning supplies, etc. to donate to the Winooski Food Shelf.

Time: 9 am to 3 pm (registration/check-in starting at 7:30 am)
Location: Gilbrook Natural Area
Website (with location map/other details): http://www.runyourcanoff.blogspot.com
Runner's World Article: http://www.runnersworld.com/rt-columns/to-be-good
Questions?!?!: runyourcanoff@yahoo.com

• November 13 - FREE Harvest Dinner at Hunt - 5:30pm-7pm
• November 14 - Hunt Dance - 7-9pm
• November 17 - Bus Riders need a Bus Pass or pay per ride
• November 20 - PTO Meeting 6:30-8pm
• November 22 - Shrek the Musical, 1 pm and 7pm (fundraiser before 1 pm)
• November 26-28 - Thanksgiving Break - No School