March 29, 2024
This week ECO returned to the Moretown School! On Tuesday, March 26th
our partnership with North Branch Nature Center continued and Moretown resumed Educating Children Outdoors (ECO). Students spent time in the woods learning about spring and the sweet treat that our forest provides us this time of year... sap! Students were able to tap a tree to investigate collecting sap and learned about the elements that create it. Additionally, students engaged in favorite outdoor games that had them running around the field and building forts in the woods.
Tremendous work has been put into creating a yearbook for this school year. Order forms have recently been sent home in backpacks or can be purchased online through: https://shop.memorybook.com/login using School Code 232833M. Each book is priced at $18 and orders will be accepted through April 12th.
Our PTO is hosting their last big fundraiser of the year, Calendar Days Raffle. Thanks to all that have purchased tickets! You still have until Monday to be considered for each day of drawings, but tickets can be purchased all the way through the end of the month.
This week a group of Moretown teachers and ECO supporters joined at the
Town Hall to celebrate the launching of Amy Butler's book 'Educating Children Outdoors'. Amy Butler (known to many as Amy Coyote) worked originally with Pam Dow to bring ECO to Moretown then supported additional grades as the program grew. Amy's book features many stories and photos from her time building ECO at Moretown School. Amy's support and inspiration has helped create what ECO is today at MES and in many other Vermont schools.
Recently we have seen an increase of students that have been arriving late. 
Please note that our doors open at 7:20 and students have between 7:20 and 7:40 to get breakfast, take care of their belongings and get ready before school starts at 7:40. The next two weeks our students in grades 3-6 will be engaged in VTCap state-wide mandatory testing. Some of these tests start promptly at 8:00 and cannot be started any later. We appreciate the extra attention spent on establishing positive routines that will get students here on time. If you could benefit from additional support, do not hesitate to reach out.
We hope you all enjoy the warm weather coming in this weekend. We look forward to welcoming our students back on Monday morning.
Ms. Kate
P.E./Health Updates
This April, we'll be starting a flying disc (aka Frisbee) unit in P.E. class. Thanks for making sure your student has sneakers on Mondays and Tuesdays! Be sure to check out the P.E. blog for recent posts, photos from winter sports and gymnastics during P.E. class as well as information on our health curriculum. https://zainopeandhealth.blogspot.com/
Laundry Po-Tips...and Health Class
Winter P.E. Photo Dump Part II
Moretown Girl Scout Troop Cookie Sale
The Moretown Girl Scout Troop will be having their final cookie booth on Monday from 2:15 to 2:45! The pickings will be thin but there will not be more cookies until next year! We appreciate your support at Moretown Elementary School!
Summer FUNd Applications Open for 2024
Is your child looking for an enriching and engaging summer experience? The MRV Summer FUNd is here to help ensure that any child who wants this opportunity is given it by providing financial assistance to families who find it challenging to afford these programs given the high cost involved. Summer programs are essential to combat learning loss during the summer break while nurturing the social, emotional, and intellectual growth of participants. By funding an array of activities, the FUNd offers opportunities for exploration, skill-building, and connection with nature.
Apply for a grant now to secure a spot for your child in the camp of their choice, as camps are starting to accept applications and can fill quickly. We want local families who need assistance to know we are here to help. The application can be accessed at www.mrv-ic.org under the Summer FUNd page or at https://forms.gle/NnzCDAcK1G17mbG18. If you have any questions, please reach out to Patty Giometti, the Summer FUNd coordinator, at [email protected].
View the Eclipse at Camp Meade! It's $10 for adults, free for kids, and admission includes eclipse viewing glasses. Click the link to see the fun lineup of events available to our community.
https://www.eventbrite.com/e/totality-2024-solar-eclipse-at-camp-meade-tickets-859452795447
July 8-12
Ages 8-15
Cost: $300 per session
9-12pm (mixed-media)
Instructor: TBA
Comics and Cartoon summer camp will allow participants to share a story. Discover the character’s voice, attitude, conflicts and what they look like. Channel your own emotional world through characters and plot step by step. At the conclusion of this camp, the participants will have completed a short cartoon, a series of 2D characters, perhaps a beginnning of a graphic novel idea, and all other illustrations from the entire week.
Mural Art Camp
July 8-12
Ages 10-14
Cost: $300 per session
1-4pm
Instructor: Allison Biondo
Kids engage in the making of a mural for the side of our building. This creative process involves designing with the language of art- shapes, patterns, line, and subjects both from the natural and human worlds.
July 15-19
Ages 11-15
Cost: $300 per session
1-4pm (indigo)
Instructor: TBA
Shibori is a dyeing technique. Shibori Indigo,involves folding, clamping, pole-wrapping, and the insertion of various objects into the fabric dye to create the patterns.
In this camp, students will learn the art of Shibori indigo.
Nature Inspired Design Stitching
July 15-19
Ages 11-15
Cost: $300 per session
9-12pm (nature/pattern/sachiko)
Instructor: TBA
Nature Inspired camp explores embroidery stitching and patterning on pre-washed cotton garments, linen patches, or aprons, bandanas, shirts, jeans or totes and pocket books. Give your garments or accessories a new look. Florals, geometry, animals, insects and fauna explorations can imbue new fashionable dimensions. Hand stitch Sashiko style ( running/rice stitch) overlays of decorative pockets, patches, sheets and pillow design sections from a variety of patterns.
You could invent a whole new look for your wardrobe!
July 22-26,
Ages 8-14
Cost: $300 per session
9-12pm
Materials required: iphone, smart phone for taking photos
Instructor: Barrie Fisher, artist, teacher, professional photographer
Build a personal work- story, landscape or portrait starting with your own photography adventures and merge visual elements with mixed-media techniques. This is an opportunity to employ collage with photos, drawings, found imagery.
July 22-26, Ages 11-15
Cost: $300 per session
1-4pm Macrame & Fiber Art
Instructor: Anna Nasset
Macrame and knot-tying with natural cord can create plant hangers, wall hangings, and so much more! In this class we will learn many different basic knots, how they can work together to create strength and beautiful projects. Students will create key chains, plant hangers, wall hangings, a market bag and their own special project.
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All art camps/classes at MRVArts are taught by art professionals with years of teaching experience with youth and young adults.
Scholarships are available on a sliding scale basis. Please call office: 802-496-6682
To register, go to https://www.madrivervalleyarts.org/summer-camps
Email: [email protected]
Phone: (802) 496-6682
Mailing Address: PO Box 238, Waitsfield, VT 05673
Street Address: 5031 Main Street, #2 Village Square, Waitsfield, VT 05673
