March 14, 2025
Spring is coming! This was a really magical week filled with sunshine which made for a beautiful day of skiing and riding at Sugarbush on Tuesday a
nd lots of penguing sledding at recess. With the impending transition to spring, now is a good time to make sure that students have rain/mud gear for when ECO resumes. We will return to Sugarbush two more times, March 18th and March 25th before our ECO restart on April 1st.
I want to remind families that there is no school next Friday, March 21st. While your calendars are out, be sure to make note of the dates listed below. I will be updating this list each week and posting in each Friday's Bobcat Bulletin.
Family Conferences are upon us and all teachers
have reached out to their student's families to schedule. We are not using Canyon Creek to schedule conferences this year to save money and simplify to process for families. We welcome any feedback you may have around this new system of scheduling.
I encourage all Moretown families to stay informed with the conversations at the HUUSD School Board level. The HUUSD Building Use and Visioning Committee (a sub 
committee of the school board) has been working with architecture firm Truex Cullins to reimagine our district to look for cost savings measures over the next several years while also enhacing the student learning experience, PK-12. This is still just a conversation, but it is important to stay informed. You can view agendas and minutes HERE, and watch previous meetings HERE.
I'd like to take a moment and thank Natessa
Cournoyer and Asheligh Bergstrom for coordinating the MES Winter Sports Program and to all of our volunteers that make this program operational. We have over 30 volunteers who join our program to ski/ride with kids. Without this massive volunteer effort and skilled facilitation, this program couldn't operate. Thank you!
The Moretown PTO is hosting a social event on March 25th
from 5-6pm. This event is designed to mingle with other Moretown parents and learn about how the PTO supports students and staff at the Moretown School each year (like the Winter Sports Program). Childcare and pizza will be provided! Please see the PTO message below and be sure to RSVP so that we make sure we have enough food:
https://forms.gle/3x1nkwQvg2BebQcZ7
I hope that you all take some time to enjoy the warm sunshine. While I'm not looking forward to the muddy roads, I welcome the transition to spring and warmer days ahead.
Enjoy the weekend. I look forward to welcoming our students back on Monday.
Ms. Kate
Upcoming Dates:
March 18- Winter Sports Program
March 18- District Choral Night
March 20, 1:00pm- VSO visits MES
March 21- No School
March 25- EXTENDING the ski program one more day!
March 26- ½ field trip to Living Tree Alliance
April 1- ECO restart
April 2-3, 8-11 VTCap Testing (grades 3-6)
April 18- Skating trip at the Ice Center
April 19- Spring Break
May 16- American Flatbread Art Show Field Trip
May 19-23 Troy Wunderlee residency at MES
May 22- Circus Performance, 5:30pm
June 5- MES Spring Concert
PTO Update - Social Event - March 25th
The PTO is excited to be hosting an in-person PTO social event on Tuesday, March 25th from 5:00-6:00pm. This event will take place at the Moretown School library. It will be a chance to mingle with other Moretown parents, meet the current PTO officers, and learn more about what the PTO accomplishes each year. To make this event more accessible to parents, childcare will be available. For kids, there will also be pizza, along with arts and crafts, in the cafeteria. This social event is free to attend, but please RSVP, so the PTO knows how much food to provide: https://forms.gle/3x1nkwQvg2BebQcZ7
If you're unable to attend the March 25th social event but are interested in participating, just let the PTO know at moretownpto@gmail.com. Monthly PTO meetings are held via GoogleMeet every second Thursday at 7:00pm. All voices are welcome. You do not need to commit to monthly meetings in order to participate in the PTO - you are welcome to help out as your schedule permits.
Measles Update
Measles is a highly contagious respiratory virus that can be dangerous, especially for babies and young children. Measles is almost entirely preventable with vaccines. Two doses of MMR vaccine are about 97% effective at preventing measles; one dose is about 93% effective. There are currently two measles outbreaks in the United States. Measles is also common in some countries, so make sure you’re protected against measles, especially before traveling. If you are unsure about your child’s vaccination status, you can contact your primary care provider or your school nurse.
You can read more facts about measles here.
From the HUUSD SEL Task Force:
HUUSD is committed to fostering students’ social-emotional growth alongside their academic success. This year, our schools are focusing on helping students develop personal responsibility—the ability to make thoughtful choices, take ownership of their actions, and follow through on commitments.
Personal responsibility is an essential life skill that empowers students to be accountable for their learning, behavior, and relationships.
Families play a key role in reinforcing these skills at home. We encourage conversations about responsibility, modeling it in everyday tasks, and celebrating progress, big or small. With Family Conferences coming up, here are some questions you might consider asking your child and your child’s teacher.
Sugar and Shmooze : A Celebration of the Spring Equinox
Sunday March 23 1:30 pm Living Tree Alliance Collective Farm, Moretown ,VT
Join us as we gather in the Living Tree sugar bush to wake up Mother Earth and honor Vermont's great miraculous thaw. Hibernation season is over, so let's celebrate! We’ll have lots to do at this all-ages seasonal celebration:
Pay what you can: Register ahead.
https://www.eventbrite.com/manage/events/1261706862189/details
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Summer FUNd Applications Open for 2025 –
Give Your Child a Summer to Remember
Summer is just around the corner, bringing endless opportunities for kids to explore, learn, and have fun. From outdoor adventures to creative arts and sports, summer camps offer children the chance to build friendships, develop new skills, and make lifelong memories. However, many families simply can’t afford the cost of camp. That’s where the MRV Summer FUNd comes in. Now in its fourth year, this vital program helps ensure that every child in our community has access to enriching summer experiences—regardless of lack of financial resources.
Apply Now – Limited Funding Available
Due to overwhelming demand, applications will now be reviewed in batches at the end of each month rather than on a rolling basis. Submitting early is encouraged but does not guarantee approval. Apply today at www.mrv-ic.org under the Summer FUNd page.
Help Make a Child’s Summer Unforgettable
Do you remember the joy of summer camp? The thrill of exploring the outdoors, making new friends, and discovering new passions? Sadly, last year, limited funding meant we couldn’t support many deserving families. With your help, we can change that. Together, we can give every child the summer they deserve. Every donation—large or small—makes a meaningful difference in the lives of local children.
Ways to Give:
A Community Effort
The MRV Summer FUNd is made possible through a partnership between the Mad River Valley Interfaith Council and the Mad River Valley Community Fund, with generous support from the Mad River Valley Rotary Club and caring individuals like you.
Our camp is located on 93 acres where youth explore the 2-acre garden, swim and tube in the creeks and rivers, explore the wonders of summer in Vermont: harvesting berries, finding chrysalises, painting themselves in the clay deposits in the river, making maps and exploring the adventure playground and treehouse. Led by counselors with more than 2 decades of teaching experience and farm to school leadership, the camp inspires stewardship of the earth, community building and gratitude.
https://livingtreealliance.com/workshops/camps/
Parading Pollinators Camp June 30- July 4 - Intermixed with our garden experiences and swimming, youth will create their dancing vegetable and pollinator outfits to be a part of the Warren Parade!
Valley Teva Camp with Pre School Program August 4-8 Play games, engage on the farm, make healthy treats, and enjoy the bounty of the natural world. Intermixed with time on the farm and at the river will be stories and teachings inspired by universal teachings about tikkun olam: healing the world! Preschool and Elementary aged camp.
Farm and River Camp August 18-23 (this occurs the week when NOW is closed) Living Tree's signature summer experience full of cooking, swimming, crafts and play. It's the off- screen wholesome experience that creates the roots of hope and resiliency!
Highlander Lacrosse Spring 2025 Registration is Open!
Calling all young athletes, grades K–8! Registration for the 2025 Highlander Lacrosse spring season is now open.
Chillax Sundays for K–2: A fun, beginner-friendly co-ed program every Sunday starting in May, with sessions in both the Valley and Waterbury. Sticks available!
Boys and Girls Teams including:
Season Dates: Practices start in March/April and Jamboree-style games start the first weekend in May. Boys play jamborees on Saturdays, Girls jamborees are on Sundays. Practice times and locations vary by team.
Gear Provided: Equipment is available for K–4 players, and we offer gear borrowing for grades K–8 (while supplies last).
Learn more and register at: www.highlanderlacrosse.com
Thomas Jacobs
Hello neighbors!
We have arranged for a Toddler/Pre-K Gym Time (ages 2-4) starting on 1/10 every other Friday from Jan-March from 5 pm-6:30 pm at the Moretown Elementary School. It'll be a chance for our little ones to run around and play during the cold winter months. The plan is to have mostly free time with the occasional organized game.
The dates will be 1/10, 1/24, 2/7, 2/21, 3/7, and 3/21.
Please follow the signs and enter through the Owl Door. All you will have to do is sign a quick waiver and you'll be good to go. Please reach out with any questions.
Hope to see you there!
Thomas
2025 Harwood Summer Basketball Camps
It's hard to believe that we are already planning for summer! The registration for the 2025 Harwood Summer Baksetball Camps is open. This summer camp is open to players in 2nd grade through 9th grade. See the following for more information and to sign up:
https://docs.google.com/document/d/1DpCYjhWNG5NdTvHzaQtT3ASmuTKnY6UcNpUfIuHXspE/edit?tab=t.0
Vacation and summer camps at Camp Meade
