Weathersfield School Newsletter - 9/20/13

Friday, September 20, 2013 at 2:32PM

Weekly News Letter from The Principal’s Corner

September 20, 2013 

Spelling Teams
On October 7th, five students in grades 5/6 and five students in grades 7/8 will represent Weathersfield School in the District Spelling Bee. This year, the bee will be held at Windsor State Street School in Room #210. The 5/6 Team will compete from 9:00 - 11:00 am and the 7/8 Team will compete from 11:45-1:45. The following students won a spell off contest to be on the teams:

5/6 WS Spelling Team
Johnathan MacLachlan, Morgan McKeen, Kate Murphy, Tori Amsden, Gunnar Waters, Virginia Snyder 

7/8 WS Spelling Team
Timothy Farren, Ben Millard, Skylar Swan, Rand Frazer, Brooke McKeen 
The winning teams in the district will go on a later date to compete at the state level.
Congratulations to all of our WS participants!  We are proud of you. 
Good luck and make our school PROUD!!!

Weathersfield School Advisors FY 14
 Math Team, Mr. Lambert &  Mr. Herbert
National Geographic Geography, Mrs.  Karaffa
Geo Bee Team, Mr. Herbert
Spelling Team Grades 5&6 and 7&8, Mrs. Gurney
Service Group, Mrs. Gurney
Student Council, Mr. Herbert
8th Grade Advisor, Mr. Berger
Drama Club, Mr. and Mrs. Yuengling
Yearbook, BJ Esty

PowerSchool Grades for 5-8
Parent portal is open for grades 5-8.  Parents can see their student’s grades as often as they like by checking their child’s grades in the electronic gradebook.  For more information, please call the school at 674-5400. Passwords and logins were sent out to grade5-8 parents last week.

Book Fair
Book Fair is October 3-9, 2013.  Special thanks to Karen McGee for facilitating this!

Nature Program
Here are some titles of books that would go great with our K-4 Nature Program – 
Thank you, Susan Hindinger!

Sunlight and Shadow
The Sun Is My Favorite Star, by Frank Asch, Gulliver Books, 2000.
Sun, by Susan Canizares and Daniel Moreton Scholastic, 1998.
Jump Into Science: Sun, by Stephen Tomecek. National Geographic Children’s Press, 2006.
Sun Up, Sun Down, by Gail Gibbons, Voyager Books, 1987.
The Sun: Our Nearest Star, by Franklyn Branley and Edward miller (illustrator), Harpertrophy Books, 2002.

Important Information
STUDENT ATTENDANCE

1. Vermont statute and local regulations require that all students attend school each day.
2. Parents should call the school whenever their child will be absent. If no call is received, the school will call home.
3. A student who is habitually absent may be considered truant. The school will contact the student’s family when a student has three unexcused or five excused absences or days tardy. Once a student reaches five unexcused or seven excused absences or days tardy, the truancy officer and the principal may be notified. The student’s family will receive a follow-up letter.
4. If a student has been absent two or more days due to illness, a note from a doctor will be required, or the absence will be considered unexcused.
5. In order to avoid being considered tardy, students must be in their homerooms by 7:50 or immediately following dismissal from the all purpose room. All students are expected to be in class at all times. 
6. Parents of students who miss school on a regular basis or exhibit a pattern of absence will be contacted by the school principal, guidance counselor, and/or nurse. Excessive absence may be reason for retention.
7. If a student leaves school early due to illness or is out sick more than half the day, he or she may not participate in any afterschool events or activities that day.
8. If parents elect that their students miss school for religious reasons, parents must notify the school in writing at least one (1) day in advance. If parents elect for religious reasons that their student remain in school but not participate in a particular activity, they must inform the school principal in writing at least one (1) day in advance, and the school will provide an alternate educational experience for that student.

APPROVED ABSENCES

1. Absences due to immunization and/or medical records attendance restrictions.
2. Confirmed religious observances.
3. Documented appointments (i.e. counseling appointment, court appointment, doctor’s appointment, etc.) that couldn’t be scheduled outside of school hours.
4. Documented family emergencies.
5. Documented illness.
6. School nurse’s documented recommendation that a student be sent home because of illness or injury.
7. Offsite educational activities approved by the principal or superintendent

MAKE-UP WORK
Students who are absent may have up to five days, based on their teacher’s discretion, in which to make up any missing work, including any classroom-based assessments.

VACATION DURING SCHOOL DAYS   16 V.S.A. 1123
Families who choose to schedule vacations when school is in session must request permission in writing from the superintendent of schools in advance of the trip, specifying the exact dates that their student will not be in attendance. If the absence is approved, the student is encouraged to obtain the schoolwork he or she will be missing before beginning the absence. In the case of extended prearranged absences, t is the student’s responsibility to complete all schoolwork and assessments within five (5) school days of their return to school. Requests must be in written form to: Dr. David Baker Superintendent, 105 Main Street, Windsor, VT 05089

DISMISSAL

1. Students are expected to be quiet and orderly during dismissal.
2. Students must walk when boarding the bus.
3. Walkers and other students who do not ride a bus will remain in their homerooms until dismissed.
4. Students involved in afterschool activities and sports may not change into uniforms or leave their homerooms until notified.

Halloween Dance
There will be a Light Up the Dance Night for Grades 5-8 on Friday, October 25^th sponsored by Service Group. The cost of the dance is $5.00 a person. 

Enjoy your week-end,
JeanMarie