May 3, 2024
I want to start out this week's message with a thank you to all of the Moretown families and community members that showed up to vote on Tuesday. While
the vote did not go the direction that we had hoped, it was refreshing to see so many of our families show up to the polls. The district and HUUSD School Board is expeditiously preparing a new budget to be warned for vote. I encourage you all to listen in to the school board meeting on Wednesday night. Information can be found on the district website.
Next week we will be holding our spring Walk to School Day on Wednesday, May 8th. We are requesting that all students be dropped off at the store using the back entrance and will have volunteers and signs signaling directions. Moretown General Store has been very gracious with hosting this event and has shared concerns for safety in their parking lot. Please help us keep kids safe by dropping students off at the side ramp and not entering the parking lot in front of the store. If you wish to walk with your student please park either at the Town Hall, along the street or at the school. We will be gathering at 7:20 prior to starting our walk at 7:30.
Wednesday, May 8th is National School Nurse's Day and we are encouraging our students to celebrate by dressing like Nurse Phil! Nurse Phil always seems to be wearing shorts, sneakers and a ball cap. Participation is not required but is a fun way to thank him for his efforts in keeping Moretown students healthy.
Next week we all come together to celebrate our incomparable Moretown
Elementary School staff and shower them with a week of kindness. I encourage you all to engage your students in a conversation about the teachers and staff at our school and what they most appreciate about them. While the Moretown PTO has been working hard to show appreciation, sometimes the smallest gestures from the students themselves make the biggest impact.
I look forward to welcoming our students back to school on Monday. Enjoy your weekend.
Ms. Kate
PTO Update:
“Tick – Talk” from Your School Nurse:
Camping, hiking, gardening and just playing outdoors are all great spring and summer activities, but don’t forget about the ticks that may share your living and playing spaces! Vermont has had a large increase in the tick population, over the past few years, and has also seen a rise in Lyme disease (tick-borne illness). All ticks can transmit Lyme disease; it’s not necessarily limited to deer ticks. Ticks can also transmit much more serious diseases that can be life-threatening, so it’s important to practice prevention techniques, to prevent tick bites on you and your pets.
In some species and life stages, ticks are so small that they can be difficult to see, but they all hungrily look for animals and people to bite! You can find ticks in various environments, but most often they are in, or near, wooded areas. They hide under leaves, in the grass and on branches! Ticks also feed on birds and mammals, which plays a role in maintaining their existence, and the pathogens (germs and bacteria) they carry.
Prevention!
There are some simple steps you can take to protect yourself and your family:
* Avoid tick-infested areas, and sitting directly on the ground. I know this is hard to do when we have our outdoor classroom/ECO.
* Avoid sleeping with pets, and allowing pets on your furniture – ticks can travel from your furry animal and onto the skin of your family.
* Maintain your pet under a vet’s care, by getting prescription tick medicine , and applying it to them.
Frequent tick checks are probably your BEST protection from tick-borne illnesses.
* Perform an entire body (and clothing) check after being outdoors, even if you’re just in your own yard. Use a handheld or full-length mirror to view all parts of your body and remove any tick you find!
* Check children for ticks, especially in the hair.
*Removing ticks before they adhere to the skin prevents transmission of infection.
* Use EPA approved repellents with DEET (on skin and clothing) or permethrin (on clothing). Always follow product instructions!! (Parents should apply this product to their children, avoiding the hands, eyes, and mouth.) If you would like to do this prior to the school day, especially on Eco days, this would be preferred.
* Use all-natural substances (i.e. essential oils, vinegar, household oils, etc.), if preferred/indicated, to repel ticks. Lots of information and “recipes” can be found online. (Always check for sensitivity to any substance, before use!)
* Showering within 2 hours of coming indoors has shown to reduce your risk of being bitten by a tick.
What to do if you are bitten by a tick:
* Remove an attached tick as soon as you notice it—teach children to seek adult help for tick removal. (Improper removal can increase the chances of infectious transmission thus developing Lyme disease, or other related tick-borne illnesses.)
* Use fine-point tweezers and grasp the tick by the head. Remove the tick with a steady pull, straight up, away from the skin. (Never squeeze, twist, or yank the body of a tick, and never put substances or fluids on the tick.) Place the tick in rubbing alcohol, in a sealed container, for testing. Wash the bite site, and your hands, with soap and water.
* Watch for signs of illness such as rash, fever, or flu-like symptoms. Contact your health care provider if these develop. Many rashes that do develop after a tick bite may not present as the “classic bull’s eye rash.” You may see a solid red rash - possibly 3 inches in diameter or larger, and it may be smaller too. IMPORTANT: Rashes do not always present at the site of the tick bite. Check EVERYWHERE!
Thanks for your help! Your school nurse, Phil Stolz, RN.
**** (Above information taken from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention website and various Lyme Disease/
From Central Office:
**Attention Community Members! Your Input is Valued!**
As we strive to provide the best educational opportunities for our students, the Harwood Unified Union School District (HUUSD) is seeking to amend our American Rescue Plan Elementary and Secondary School Emergency Relief (ARP ESSER) grant to support our upcoming summer school program.
We invite you to review and provide feedback on the proposed amendment to our ARP ESSER plan. The plan and a feedback form are posted on the HUUSD website at huusd.org/esser-funds. The proposed amendment will also be discussed at the HUUSD Board Meeting on May 8th.
You are also welcome to send questions or comments to the HUUSD Director of Curriculum and Technology, Shannon Lessley, at [email protected] or 802-583-7947.
Thank you for your continued support and collaboration in ensuring the success of our students.
