Welcome back Hunt Families!
We trust you had a relaxing Thanksgiving with your families.
It might be a bit hard to get back into the swing of things but more holidays are coming and along with that, some fun school activities!
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A sure sign that holidays are coming:
- However, we could use some help putting ribbons on the wreaths prior to delivery.
- If you can help, email huntmiddleschool@gmail.com or call the school @ 864-8469.
- Wreaths will be delivered soon.
Sweet, sweet music!
Mark your calendar now to see your favorite Hunt middle school musicians!
Just this Wednesday is the beginning!
- Chorus - Wednesday, December 2th
- Orchestra - Wednesday, December 9th
- Band - Wednesday, December 16th
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A Very Merry Theater Event
- from Don Wright
Hi 5th-8th Graders!
Do you have a talent you’ve been wanting to share? Well, Very Merry Theater is starting a new offering at our 333 Stage (333 North Winooski Ave). We’ll have open mic nights periodically on Friday nights, starting this coming Friday, Dec 4th. Sharpen up your circus, singing, instrumental, dancing, film, standup comedy, or any other performing art and bring it to the 333 Stage. It’s also okay to come and help with sound and lights, serving snacks or just being in the audience!
Here are the details:
What: Open Mic night for 5th-8th grade students
When: Friday December 4th 6-8pm
Where: 333 Stage
$5.00 Suggested Donation at the door
This is a drop-off event that will be kid-facilitated. A few kids have offered to help organize this first session (you may be getting this blurb from one of them). However, if you come on the 4th you’ll have a chance to sign up to help organize the next one.
There will be a couple of adult chaperone's hidden in the corners so tell your parents not to worry when they drop you off!
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News from the Burlington School District
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: Novembe
Media Contact:
Doug Davis
Burlington School Food Project Director
Burlington School Food Project Receives $100,000 USDA Grant to Increase Local Foods in School Cafeterias
Burlington, Vermont – The Burlington School Food Project (BSFP) is pleased to announce that they are one of 74 projects spanning 39 states receiving support this year through the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) Farm to School Program, an effort to better connect school cafeterias and students with local farmers.
The Burlington School Food Project will use the $100,000 USDA grant funds to implement a center of the plate project that focuses on making local beef accessible to all of Burlington’s District Schools. “Knowing where your food comes from is one of the most important aspects of creating a sustainable food system. Burlington has been working in Farm to School for well over 10 years, and this grant will help us to move our program forward and allow us to create a model that can be replicated around our state,“ says Doug Davis, Director of Food Service for the Burlington School Food Project. “Farm to School Programs work—for schools, for producers, and for communities,” said Secretary of Agriculture Tom Vilsack.
The implementation of these grant funds will be aided by BSFP community partners: The Center for Rural Studies at the University of Vermont, Intervale Community Farm and the Vermont Community Garden Network. Each organization is working to expand the District’s local food consumption through educational outreach, sustainable purchasing systems and product development.
The Burlington School Food Project is the largest Farm to School Program in Vermont. Widely recognized as a model program for the rest of the state and country, BSFP offers wholesome and nutritious meals daily to 4,000 students in the Burlington School District including breakfast, lunch and afterschool supper. More than one-third of foods purchased are sourced locally, and the Farm to School team runs a network of educational programming including a greenhouse, farm and orchard on three different school properties.
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November 2015 PTO Meeting Minutes
President’s Report by Paula Henry
• New Board member: Kathy Rossman (Treasurer), Patrick Henry (Blogger) Patrick and Kate Belluche need to connect to make the transition. Thank you for stepping up!
• Budget Variance Report was discussed.
• PTO tax exempt status – Jen L’Ecuyer- our PTO does not have a nontax ID#. Our EIN# 61-1628012 is simply an identifying number (similar to a person’s social security #). All other BSD PTOs are tax exempt through 501(c)(3) status, except for HMS. Although there is a one-time fee ($400-$800) the board agreed we should proceed with applying for this status. Kathy has the application and will begin applying. This will definitely help us with Silent Auction donations!
Fundraising Report by Paula Henry
• Innisbrook wrapping paper – product arrived 11/19 and will be distributed by Jen. Final invoice not in yet, so final profit not confirmed, but we anticipate ~$855 profit.
• Go-Fund-Me project – donations have all but dried up, only $115 in since last month’s meeting. Current total $171. The fact that people cannot use their credit card makes it difficult. We may need to use funds raised by other fundraisers to fund some of these projects. Can revisit later in the year.
• Wreaths – fundraiser ended on 11/13. We sold 107 wreaths for ~$3,600 retail. We should make ~$1,080 profit. Wreaths should be delivered to Burlington
• Shutterfly – Jen has set us up with an electronic store front, where we get 13% of all online sales. Jen will write up instructions on how to shop, we will post in the blog, FPF, etc. This is good for one year and we can take advantage of personal holiday ordering.
• Bake sales – Kate Belluche has booked the 12/2 Chorus concert for the Play Committee bakesale. Paula has booked the band concert night: 12/16. We are looking for donations of baked goods or treats for these bake sales, and will need volunteers to work the tables. Bake sales at the concerts bring in BIG BUCKS!
• Pancake Breakfast & Silent Auction – Mark your calendars! This combined event is set for Saturday, March 12, 2016. This is a huge event that needs lots of helping hands. John Novotny & his team are heading up the pancake breakfast, and Kathy Rossman is heading up the silent auction. It is not too early to start reaching out to the community to solicit donations. See Kathy or Paula for details. Len will book the kitchen for this event. Paula will put a donation template on the blog for use with vendors.
Principal’s Report by Len Phelan
• Heineburg Senior Center concert – Our 7th & 8th grade chorus helped the Heineberg Center
• Basketball tryouts – were held this week, with HMS having 2 boys and 2 girls teams.
• Flynn Theater fieldtrips – coming up for 2 teams (Phoenix & Synergy?) , a Percy Jackson musical the first of December. Parent permission forms have come home, so ask your child about it.
• Doug Wilhelm, author- visited the school again this year on 11/19. He is the author of “The Revealers” a book read by our 6th graders. He is a school favorite. The PTO contributed $250 towards his visit.
• Principal’s coffee & chat – (first Friday of every month) Friday 12/ 4 @ 8:10am, all are welcome!
• Math forum – District level math forum, a discussion for parents on math curriculum, 12/16 @ 6pm in HMS library.
• Technology discussion –
1. BSD takes the approach of MONITOR vs FILTER of information on the new iPads
2. Digital citizenship- Len& his team are working on a growing set of guidelines for appropriate student use to help them use the tool wisely, and an “infraction” schedule with consequences. Len and teachers monitor students use daily, with random spot checks.
3. Daily “tech tips” are shared over the PA.
4. Digital Storyteller: Mr. Herton & Digital Coach: Val Lodish. Both are part of the Digital Promise project, both are great resources for staff and students.
5. Classroom teachers utilizing iPads for class projects that are new or were previously done on paper.
6. Professional development for teachers is ongoing.
7. Teachers are part of Google + Communities, where they are linked in with the other 20 schools that are participating in this Digital Promise project nationwide.
8. Science classes are following the new NGSS (Next Generation Science Standard) on a pilot program which works well with the ipads.
9. Len and his team are putting together pages on the school web page, that will provide parents resources surrounding the iPads. They will contain educational resources and possibly a review of some earlier materials sent home (i.e. the sample home agreement). The goal is to roll this out before the end of the year.
10. The iPads provide many families with their first in-home opportunity for access to the internet. Families are permitted to use the iPads as well.
11. Any parent who has a concern about their child’s iPad use can contact Len to discuss.
New Business –
• See above Technology/iPad discussion
Our next meeting is January 21, 2016
Have a great Thanksgiving Break!
Submitted by Paula Henry
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Upcoming Events
12/2/15 Hunt Chorus
12/9/15 Hunt Orchestra Concert
12/16/15 Hunt Band Concert
12/10/15 Hunt Girls Hoops - Home vs. Williston
12/10/15 Hunt Boys Hoops - Away vs. Williston
12/11/15 School Dance
12/14/15 Hunt Girls Hoops - Away vs. Shelburne
12/14/15 Hunt Boys Hoops - Home vs. Shelburne
12/16/15 Hunt Middle School MATH FORUM - 6 - 7 PM
12/14/15 Hunt Girls Hoops - Away vs. Christ the King
12/14/15 Hunt Boys Hoops - Away vs. Christ the King
FOOD DRIVE - All Month Long
