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Clarendon Elementary
School Newsletter
October 2014
Clarendon Elementary School
84 Grange Hall Road,
North Clarendon, Vermont 05759
P: (802) 775-5379 F: (802) 747-7584
Fred Valastro, Principal • fvalastro@rssu.org
“Every Student, Every Day, Our Personal Best in Every Way!”
Hello Clarendon Families,
Welcome back to our monthly newsletter. We certainly cannot compete with the front page of the Herald – our
story on the Clarendon field trip – but we do have more action shots. As stated in our updates, it has been a great
start to the school year. For the first seven days, our entire staff worked with the students on community building,
establishing expectations and re-emphasizing our core values of Be Kind, Be Respectful, Be Safe, and Always Be
Your Best.
Clarendon Elementary has developed a word of the month. Persevere is our first
word and for good reason. We want everyone in our school community to understand
the value of perseverance. Inside you will find the word and a working definition. If
you could help support that word with positive chatter at home, that would be very
much appreciated. Heads-up, next month is Respect.
Please let me know if there are any other interested parties that want to receive this
newsletter. Let us know what information you would like to see in your newsletter.
Again, we welcome information and submissions from our community. Please send us your input or particulars –
two weeks before the end of the month is helpful. All of us are here to help educate, support and model for the students.
Bus information – We are still monitoring the bus schedule and there is a committee to study the effect and find palatable solutions to the arrival times and length of time on the bus. If you are providing rides - Please have your
children here by 8:20 AM
Report Card: As our district has implemented the Common Core State Standards, we needed a report card that accurately assessed the standards we are currently teaching. Our objectives in this endeavor were to create a report
card that is reflective of the Common Core and Next Generation Science Standards, and is parent-friendly. The
teachers will explain this new report card and get your input at your October parent conference.
See you soon,
Mr. Valastro
OPEN HOUSE
Thursday, September 25, 2014
6:30-7:30pm
IMPORTANT DATES
Carousel Board Meeting
Tuesday, October 21st- 6:30pm
MRUHS
NO SCHOOL FOR STUDENTS
Parent Conferences
Friday, October 17th
School Board Meeting
Tuesday, October 7th - 6:30pm
Open House
Reminder – Thursday, September 25th
Clarendon Elementary welcomes you to our open house. We are proud to share with you some student
projects and give you an opportunity to visit the classrooms. The teachers are here to share information
and answer any questions you may have of the program and the grade level plans.
The format for this evening will be designed for you to visit with friends, view student work, and see
what is happening in the classrooms and other areas of the school. Please feel free, as a family, to visit
teachers and coaches with general questions of programs and activities. Individual student information
will be shared at the parent conferences on Friday, October 17th.
6:30 – 7:15 Enter through the Cafeteria/Gymnasium and enjoy cookies, punch and
time with old friends
(Cookies were provided by our PTC / Fruit provided by our Abbey Group)
Visit our local groups for brochures or to inquire about their purpose
PTC – Parent Teacher Club, who we are, what we do for the kids and the school
Tooth Tutor – Dental resources, tooth paste, and Sammy the Snake
PBiS Team – Guidance information and student programming for this year
Mentor Connector – Information on the program and volunteering opportunities
Four Winds – Projects and possibilities for the children
Rock Climbing - information available
6:30 – 7:30 Move to Classrooms and view and enjoy the Art in hallways
7:20
Announcement – 10 minute warning – Thank you!
Drive carefully!
Thank you all for attending! It is only with parent and community involvement that we can maximize
the learning and social growth of OUR students. You are the village and we thank you for your part in
raising the children!
We want to hear from you. Please take a moment to fill out a 3 X 5 card with suggestions for improving our school. Ideas and proposed solutions are always welcome.
We want to keep you informed. Please provide us with any e-mail addresses that would like to receive our newsletter and weekly updates.
Clarendon Elementary School
84 Grange Hall Road,
North Clarendon, Vermont 05759
P: (802) 775-5379 F: (802) 747-7584
Fred Valastro, Principal • fvalastro@rssu.org
www.rssu.org
Every Student, Every Day, Our Personal Best in Every Way!
October 2014
Sunday
Monday
Tuesday
Wednesday
Thursday
Friday
1
2
3
8
9
10
Saturday
4
OPEN HOUSE
Thursday, September 25, 2014
6:30-7:30pm
5
6
7
11
Picture Day!
School
Board
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
No SCHOOL
Parent
Conferences
19
20
21
22
23
Carousel
Board
Meeting
6:30 MRUHS
26
27
28
24
Clarendon Fire
Department Bingo
4-10pm
29
30
31
25
We enjoyed our time with Mr. Valastro when he read Frog Principal
to grade 2 herpetologists.
Our second grade were herpetologists
and have published our first class book
"Carlos and Fluffy". We dedicated our
book to Our Nana and Mrs. Williams
because we love them and they taught
us all about amphibians and reptiles.
Mr. Bertelloni created an I-Movie with
us for our book.
Look who lost a tooth in Mrs.
Pratico's second grade Nicholas
The fourth grade has begun their investigation of predicting and measuring weather. We made
wind vanes and tried them out on the playground. Unfortunately the wind wasn't cooperating this
day. Soon we will be adding more weather instruments and get proficient at our predictions as we
continue to collect data in our journals.
Students in grades 4, 5 and 6 were introduced to the band
instruments on September 3rd by Katie from Ellis Music
in the new upstairs music room.
Kindergarten Warmups
Miss Corkum. Castleton State College student
teacher, teaching PE classes.
With Mike Clough
from
Southern Vermont
Natural History
Museum
RED-TAILED HAWK
"Piper"
Barred Owl
Kestrel
BALD EAGLE
"Molly Stark"
My name is Liz Fothergill and I'm excited to be at CES as the new Literacy
Coach. I'm looking forward to getting to know everyone in the CES community and sharing my passion for reading! When I'm not here at school, I live
in Pittsford with my husband Wayne, two cats, Socks and Smokey, and my
pug, Brady. I have two grown daughters, Emily and Alison. When I'm not
reading, I like to play golf, run, garden and enjoy the beautiful outdoors in
Vermont.
Hi my name is Joe Bertelloni and I am the new Technology teacher here at
CES. This class is about technology in all forms, from computers and iPads
to robots and machines. I originally come from New Jersey, but have lived
in Rutland for the past two years with my wife, newborn daughter, and our
dog, Jack. I am looking forward to a great year tinkering, designing, and
creating with the students of Clarendon Elementary School.
My name is Joe Reyes and I am the new special education teacher for the
5th and 6th grade. I am from Long Island originally and have spent the
last two years teaching in New Haven, Connecticut. I graduated from St.
Joseph's College on Long Island with a bachelor's in Child Study and a
concentration in Communication Studies. Before becoming a teacher I
worked as a lifeguard and still teach swimming lessons over the summer. I am excited to be living and working in Vermont and look forward to
all the new opportunities I will experience.
Denny McCullough, School Counselor
See newsletter insert from Clarendon Counselor
Clarendon Counselor
Dear Parents and Guardians,
Thank you for allowing me to introduce myself as your new School Counselor. My name
is Denny McCullough and I have been in education for 8 years working in both the Proctor Jr.-Sr. High School and Mount Abraham Union High school communities as a Family
and Consumer Science educator. My Master’s degree is in School Counseling from the
College of St. Joseph and I recently had the pleasure of working at Wallingford Elementary as an intern.
The school year has begun and I am excited to begin working as your School Counselor
and getting to meet every student and your families. As an educator I strive to make every
students’ learning a success and create a school environment that is fun and safe for all
students. My focus for this year’s school counseling program consists of helping students
become more able learners, assisting parents in their nurturing roles, supporting teachers
in providing beneficial instruction for all students and working with administration to lead
the school in continuing a positive educational environment. In addition, I will follow a
strength-based counseling approach that will allow me to get to know every student. In
building a relationship with each student I can help them identify their strengths and work
to build on these strengths.
Denny McCullough
Clarendon Elementary
School Counselor
Volume 1, Issue 1
Contact Info:
dmccullough@rssu.org
PBIS CORE VALUES
 Be Kind
 Be Respectful
 Be Safe
 Be Your Best
Please, I encourage each family to have regular contact with me so that I can support your
child’s needs. These early school years are key in the development of skills for good social and emotional growth. By working together we can build on these skills and make
this time in your child’s life a happy one. In the coming weeks I will be hosting a dialog
night to discuss various topics and will continue to host these events throughout the year.
Please look for more information soon.
Here’s to a great year!
Best,
BE CREATIVE!
“Why didn’t you tell me?”
Let’s face it……..kids are not
always reliable sources of
information. So when there
is a field trip, music concert, or their turn to bring
in cookies I bet you turn to
your kids and say, “Why
didn’t you tell me?” At the
end of a long day of learning I’m sure they forget to
share all that important
information
with
you.
Teachers will share this
important information with
you and it can be found in a
school
folder
a. k. a .
“homework folder” that is
placed in their backpack
nightly. This means……...yup
you got it! You have homework too. After a long hard
day you and your child can
sit down together and talk
about what is going on at
school. It will be time well
spent. I promise!
What is PBIS?
Positive Behavior Interventions and
Supports is an evidenced based
framework for developing positive
behavior. It is used nationwide to
create a positive climate for learning.
The Clarendon PBIS Core Values consist of a universal message shared
throughout our school, which includes:
*Be Kind
*Be Respectful
*Be Safe
*Be Your Best
Our framework rewards students for
modeling these values. Students are
recognized with a ticket when they
are seen following these guidelines.
When a student has earned 5
tickets, they are awarded a
“PAW” and will be recognized at
our school wide meeting once a
month.
When a student has
earned 3 PAWs, the student’s
name will be placed in a drawing
where they could win a prize in a
monthly drawing.
Every teacher also has classroom
wide expectations for following
our core values. When a teacher
sees that the class is modeling
positive behavior the class is
awarded a marble. Marble jars
are in every classroom. Together
as a class, students brainstorm
what kind of celebration they
want when their marble jars are
full.
PARENT NIGHT
Let me help you!
Come out to meet me on Oct
8th from 6:30pm until 7pm.
Child care provided. Let’s
talk about what resources I
can share with you and identify what your needs for resources are. I look forward to
serving you and the school
community.
Does your child need to meet with me?
If you notice changes in your child
please feel free to call me. Children don’t usually come and ask for
support. Sometimes we need to ask
questions like:
Is everything at school or home ok?
Do you feel safe at school or home?
Are you sleeping at night?
Has your appetite changed?
Can you concentrate at school?
These are great questions to ask
older children and things to watch
for in younger children. When your
child seems different at school we
will do our best to check in on them
in the same way. I will notify parents directly if anything is suspected.
Student to Counselor Confidentiality
I review with students the following:
What you say in here stays in here, except……...if someone is hurting you, you
want to hurt someone, or you want to hurt
yourself.
I will encourage students to share their
concerns with a trusted adult at home. I
will also call home and encourage an
adult to have a supportive talk with their
child.
Phone & Internet Safety Info:
Do you know what SnapChat is?
Did you know people can save pictures
that are sent to them?
Did you know kids are doing this?
Word of the
month:
Perseverance
Check out this article and learn more:
http://fatherhood.about.com/od/
fathers-social-media/p/Snapchat.htm
Clarendon Counselor
The Nurturing Parenting Program
Is About To Start!
Come to Learn & Grow!
The Nurturing Parenting Program gives support and educational
options for ways of parenting.
If you want to change the way you parent and
let go of old ways that are not working for you
Call for more information and/or to register!
CLASS STARTING!
Nurturing Parenting for FAMILIES IN RECOVERY
Beginning September 18, 2014
(held THURSDAYS, 6:00-8:30pm for 12 weeks)
FREE, FREE, FREE!!!!!
*** DINNER PROVIDED each week!!!
LOCATION: Rutland, VT
PLEASE CALL TO REGISTER OR MORE INFORMATION:
Prevent Child Abuse Vermont
…because being a child shouldn’t hurt
Suzan Marshall, Family Support Programs Coordinator
Bennington, Rutland, Addison Counties
smarshall@pcavt.org
802/ 498-0608
CHILD CARE AVAILABLE!!
A.S.K.
After School Kids
We are off to a great start in our Afterschool programming which began September
8 . The programs will run for the month. Each month parents and children will be able
to review the choices,. We encourage a student voice in each month’s selection. Some of
the new additions are Creation Station with Legos which is a trial program based on the
Lego robotics league. We have opted to start with a trial kit and see how we do. So far so
good! Any volunteers for this program are welcome as there is some programming and
Lego building involved!
th
Another new addition is a second art teacher. Linda Evans has joined us for the fall
season. She has a background in teaching and practical art design as she is a practicing
artist. We are happy to have her. Please come and see the work she has begun with the art
class. Linda will also offer a week long workshop for the older students; this will be focused on drawing skills. See flier on next page.
Parent volunteers are always welcome as well as course/ program suggestions.
Please contact Erin at eshimp@rssu.org or 802-775-5379 extension 202
HOURS
Monday
5:00 - 7:00
Tuesday
11:00 - 4:00
Wednesday 11:00 - 4:00
Thursday
11:00—7:00
Friday closed
Saturday
9:00 - 2:00
Sunday closed
Along with the newest best sellers, check out this year’s
Vermont Red Clover and DCF nominees.
http://baileylibraryvt.wordpress.com/
After-school Art Camp
October 20– 24 2014
The course will run every day (M-F) from 3 to 5 PM
Do you like art and want to experiment more with drawing
techniques?
Here’s your chance !
Open to All in Grades 4-6
.
Push your drawing style AND the way you look at things
around you.
Learn how composition, line and texture can make your drawings really unique.
If you have questions please email
Pencils, markers, ink, washes and colored
pencils will be explored to make some of
your best artwork yet!
JOIN Linda Evans October 20-24.
Linda is a local artist with degrees in art
education and design.
Course has a $10 fee—to be paid by October 10th.
Please send payment and complete and return the registration form below:
—- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - Student Name: ___________________________________________
Grade: ________________
Parent Contact Information : ___________________________________________________
Phone or Email:______________________________________________________________________
Clarendon Elementary School
PO BOX 7, 84 GRANGE HALL ROAD
NORTH CLARENDON, VERMONT 05759
Fred C. Valastro,
Principal
Every Student, Every Day
Our Personal Best in Every Way
Telephone (802) 775-5379
Fax (802) 747-7584
July 1, 2014
Pratico’s Landscaping & Fence Co.
586 Corn Hill Road,
Pittsford, VT 05763
Dear Skip,
The school community at Clarendon Elementary would like to thank you for your generous donation. The
two crabapple trees are beautiful in the front of the building. The trees are healthy and mature and will be a
wonderful addition for many years.
The children at CES were involved in all phases of the planting. Each grade level had a practical math problem to guess their age and the height at maturity, where the trees should be located, the proper fertilizer, how
wide and deep the hole should be, and final placement of the trees. Each was grade level appropriate and the
answers were actually used to position and transplant the two trees. The older students even dug the holes
and covered them with mulch.
Your trees will be highlighted in the newsletter and a big thank you goes out to you and your staff. It takes a
community and some to raise and teach the children. They really are the responsibility of us all and they are
OUR students.
Thank you for the lesson of service and giving for our students. I am sure the children and our community
will always remember this gift. We all will enjoy watching the trees and the children thrive and grow.
Gratefully,
Fred Valastro,
Principal
Clarendon Elementary School
PO BOX 7, 84 GRANGE HALL ROAD
NORTH CLARENDON, VERMONT 05759
Fred C. Valastro,
Principal
Every Student, Every Day
Our Personal Best in Every Way
Telephone (802) 775-5379
Fax (802) 747-7584
July 1, 2014
Mr. Robert Ruane
Middle Road
North Clarendon, VT 05759
Dear Bob,
The school community at Clarendon Elementary would like to thank you for your generous donation. The mulch your company
provided has beautified many areas around the school.
A few children at CES were involved in the distribution of the mulch. They were challenged with math problems to guess the quantity of mulch to be used in each area. Our science teacher had the students estimate and calculate the amounts. The children did the
digging and distribution of the attractive mulch.
Your mulch is in our rain garden, the peace garden and surrounding our two new trees in the front of the building. They all will be
highlighted in the newsletter and a big thank you goes out to you and your staff. It takes a community and some to raise and teach
the children. They really are the responsibility of us all and they are OUR students.
Thank you for the lesson of service and giving for our students. I know the children and our school community are both thankful for
this gift. We will enjoy the beautiful grounds all summer.
Gratefully,
Fred Valastro,
Principal
More Thank Yous
Thank you to the Rutland Area Prevention Coalition for generously
donating the additional bike rack. Through the Clarendon Recreation Department and the work of Dave Potter and Anne Bransfield,
the bike rack was made available to the Clarendon school community.
The safety of the playground was enhanced by the purchase of
wood chips. The chips were delivered for free by the town of
Clarendon. Thank you all for your partnership with the school.
These are two wonderful examples of the community and
school working together to improve the lives of children.
PTC’s magazine drive kickoff was held Friday, August 29th.
Funds made from the magazine drive are distributed
between the classrooms for special activities.
Hiking
around
Lake
George, NY
“C” for
Clarendon.
Looking at the Vermont’s Green
Mountains from atop Sleeping
Beauty. Can you see our school?
Can you identify this creature?
What’s it name?
Mrs. Murray ringing the CES bell
for the 45th sixth grade class!
Tech Corner
Our 5th and 6th graders have been learning about the basics of computer
programming. Both have learned about binary code and the 5th graders are busy
making programs in binary for their friends to follow.
The 6th graders are already moving ahead to basic computer programming,
working with Light-Bot and moving on to the Scratch language next week.
Kindergarten is learning about algorithms, while 1st grade is starting the
basics of keyboarding. 2nd grade has been working with audio recording. 3rd
grade has been creating charts using spreadsheets and the 4th graders are
exploring global weather.
GO TO:
http://www.pricechopper.com/savings/sign-up
Enter your Advantage Card Number and
Clarendon Elementary School Code: 15374
Tools for Schools
With our Tools for Schools program, you earn points to help your school get needed equipment FREE. This year, the
point earning period will run from July 27, 2014 through March 28, 2015.