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Sunday, August 30, 2015

It's Going to be September Soon!!!

Children's Room and Young Adult Page

 
Jordan Hutchinson, Youth Services Librarian, keeps us up-to-date on what's happening in the Children's Room at the library.
 
http://jordanslibrarypage.blogspot.com/
 
It's going to be September soon and that means school will be starting everywhere, 
summer weather will start to become cooler, 
and things will start to begin anew here at the library after a rather humid summer. 

We'll begin Story Time September 16th at 10:30am. 

We have a new monthly kids' room newsletter called: What's Happening? Newsletter where dates, times, and the host of activities are all scheduled and emailed to parents who sign up. 

We'll have book groups for all ages who want to participate. 

And we hope to see you all again really soon here at the Weathersfield Proctor Library. 
 
 
Email Jordan at:  wplyouthservices@gmail.com 
 
 

Fond Farewell to Karin Fisher!

 
 
THANK YOU, KARIN
Friday September 4, 2015
4:30-6 p.m.
Cake and Punch
Please join the Friends of Weathersfield Proctor Library and the Board of Trustees Friday Sept. 4 to THANK Karin Fisher for her time as our Interim Library Director.

She will be leaving us for a new adventure at the Chester Library. She has been invaluable these last six months keeping our Library running smoothly while we search for a new Library Director.

So mark your calendars and stop by to say goodbye!
 
 
 

Friday, August 28, 2015

Tropical Storm Irene - 4 Years Ago Today

Weathersfield, VT

Intersection of Amsden School House Road, Route 131 and Amsden Hollow Road
 




Ticked Off - No More Venison...

Ticked Off: No More Venison

 https://www.qdma.com/articles/ticked-off-no-more-venison

On Thanksgiving Eve 2013, as I sat in the emergency room waiting area for the third time in less than a year laboring over each breath, I watched my forearms turn from pink to purple to almost completely black. I began to face the reality that I may have a tickborne condition that would change my life as a deer hunter forever. I know what you’re probably thinking: A life-changing tickborne condition… Lyme disease? Thankfully, no. Rocky Mountain spotted fever? Guess again. This recently-discovered condition is a game changer (pun intended) for any deer hunter who might contract it, and if it becomes wide-spread, it could have negative impacts on our entire deer hunting heritage. 
 
Three years before this, my dad had a similar experience where he stopped breathing and was rushed to the hospital. After months of running tests, doctors determined my dad, a fanatical deer hunter, had contracted a tickborne allergy to Galactose-alpha-1,3-galactose, or more commonly known as alpha-gal, a carbohydrate found in mammalian meat. My dad’s allergy is so sensitive that not only is venison, pork and all other mammalian meat off the table but so is anything that comes in contact with it. As you can imagine, this is a very inconvenient condition for any carnivorous person, let alone a Quality Deer Manager! Sadly, my dad is now a regular at the same vegan restaurants that he used to despise and poke fun at. Now, if that doesn’t scare you into tucking your pants into your socks and spraying your clothes down with permethrin, I don’t know what will! And now I’m sure you can relate to why I simply did not want to accept that I too had the alpha-gal allergy.

Around the same time my dad was diagnosed, I began struggling with some allergies, such as hives and itchy throat on and off but not anything as severe as what my dad was dealing with. Friends and family suggested I likely had the same allergy, but I refused to believe it. After all, if it were true, I would have to face the harsh reality of what that meant for me and my identity as a deer hunter.

You see, like most of you, I am very passionate about deer hunting and management; so much so that I pursued education in wildlife management and am now a professional wildlife biologist. That's me in the photo above, with a quality buck I killed recently.

con't...

 https://www.qdma.com/articles/ticked-off-no-more-venison


Thursday, August 27, 2015

Call for Vermont 50 Mountain Bike or Ultra Run Volunteers!

WE NEED VOLUNTEERS
The 22nd Annual Vermont 50 Mountain Bike or Ultra-run
September 27, 2015 at Ascutney Mountain Resort
It's Time to Spread the Word about Volunteering
Sign Up to Volunteer for the VT50
https://docs.google.com/forms/d/1rWfrxOr62lQkSyYsytzl9RP9_T7P5nd0U6vz3gA0XoI/viewform
Sign Up Online today and get your friends to sign-up too!
You'll get:
Get a FREE Commemorative Race T-shirt
FREE BBQ on Sunday (if you volunteer 2+ hours during the day with us on Sunday!)
Help out on Friday for set-up, Saturday at Race Registration or Sunday Race Day!
Whether it's your first time volunteering or your 22nd time, you have a blast!
See you Soon!!
Please visit our website for more info: http://www.vermont50.com/
The Vermont 50 is A Benefit for Vermont Adaptive Ski and Sports-Sports for Every Body!


SOLARIZE MAKES $EN$E


The five-town Solarize  team of Brownsville-Cavendish-Reading-Weathersfield-Windsor  is hosting an Info Table at the Weathersfield Proctor Library on Route 5 in Ascutney on Saturday, August 29, 2015 from 9am to Noon.  

Look for the Solarize table on the Library lawn - team members will be handing out material and answering questions.  Information and handouts will be available on home weatherization and cold climate heat source pumps.

The Solarize Makes $en$e volunteer town energy groups joined Vital Communities of the Upper Valley (a Sustainable Communities non-profit organization) to bring affordable solar to homeowners and small businesses in the five towns.  The goal is to double the amount of residential solar, bring down the cost of purchasing and installing solar systems, for those who sign up to participate this fall.

Homeowners can also take advantage of Federal tax credits (up to 30 percent for those who qualify) before they expire in 2016.  Sign up sheets will be available for a FREE home site visit.

Like us on Facebook and contact Vital Communities (http://vitalcommunities.org/solarize) to receive updates about the broader Solarize Upper Valley program.
 
 

Four Winds Seeking Volunteers!

Welcome to 6th Grade Science

Four Winds is expanding to include all students in grades K-6 this year! 

We will need some more volunteers. 

We promise to make it fun and educational for the volunteers as well as the students! 

Volunteer workshops will be the first Wednesday of each month, from 8:30-10:30 am. 

Then, you will have one class to teach (with another volunteer partner) sometime during the remainder of each month, scheduled at your convenience with the classroom teacher. 

About 4 hours per month will make a huge difference to a whole classroom of kids!! 

No expertise required -- it's great to learn right alongside the kids! 

The first volunteer training is on the first day of school -- Wed, 9/2, 8:30 am at the school

You are welcome to come to the first training to see what it's like before committing! 

Call Susan Hindinger at 802-289-1955 for more information or to sign up.

 If you are even considering it, PLEASE let me know, and feel free to come to the first training and check it out before committing.

You do NOT have to know a lot (or anything!) about science to be a great volunteer in this program!!

 You will learn everything you need to know in the trainings, the teachers are wonderfully supportive, and you will have a co-volunteer helping the whole time.

We'll make it easy for you!


The I-91 Slide Is On For This Weekend

The slide is on for this weekend...

The I-91 Northbound bridge over US Route 5 at Exit 11 in White River Junction will be replaced the weekend of August 28-31.

Contractor PCL has built the replacement bridge on temporary supports and will demolish the existing bridge and slide in the new bridge so the highway can re-open within 60 hours.

The highway will be closed at 6 p.m. on Friday, August 28 and reopen by 6 a.m. on Monday, August 31.

The closure will slightly delay travelers on I-91.

Motorists will exit the highway at the Exit 11 Off Ramp, cross Route 5 at the end of the ramp and go right back onto I-91 via the Exit 11 On Ramp.

See photo update on the move all weekend at www.i91wrj.vtransprojects.vermont.gov
 
 
 

Latest on Erika...

Here's the latest on ‪#‎Erika‬. Look out for that curve.
 
 
 

Dates Set for Vermont River Cleanups

Recapping The 10th Annual Clackamas River Clean Up

Activities marking Vermont’s River Cleanup Month are being scheduled for September, and volunteers are needed to help out.

Watersheds United Vermont, a network of local watershed groups, is working with American Rivers and the Connecticut River Watershed Council to coordinate the statewide effort.

Locally, the cleanups include two on Sept. 12.

The first is scheduled for at 8 a.m. at Springfield Shopping Plaza on Chester Road in Springfield. For more information, contact Kelly Stettner at blackrivercleanup@yahoo.com or 802-738-0456.

The second is set for 9-11 a.m. at the Vermont Law School parking lot downstream of the South Royalton bridge.

For more information, contact Mary Russ at mary@whiteriverpartnership.org or 802-763-7733

Cleanups on the Connecticut River are set for Sept. 25 at 8 a.m. and Sept. 26 at 8 a.m., with the locations to be determined.

For more information, email molly.blanchard@kingarthurflour.com.

To find other events, call Watersheds United Vermont at 802-585-3569 or go to www.watershedsunitedvt.org, where new cleanups will be posted weekly.

Wednesday, August 26, 2015

Looking for Vendors - Fall Craft Fair, September 19th, Ascutney, VT





































For those who want to sell your crafts I have room for 20 vendors one table each and tables and chairs are supplied.

If you want more than one table you will be charged for it.

Tables are $10.00 each to rent for the day so send me a message if you are interested as you will need to pay in advance.

As soon as I recieve your money then you are guranteed for a spot.

Contact Robin Daniels at  603-477-4556 to reserve your space :)

Let's have fun selling our crafts!

And the food vendor is awesome so bring some extra money with you for when you get hungry...




Cats or Dogs to be Spayed or Neutered? Contact VSNIP

most of the local clinics only cover cats VSNIP does cover both dogs and cat. If you or someone you know owns a pet that needs to be spayed or neutered be sure to check out VSNIP and see if you qualify.
If we determine you're eligible for VSNIP, you'll get a voucher that allows you to have your companion...
 
 http://dcf.vermont.gov/esd/vsnip
 
 

Chevy Impala Police Cruiser For Sale

2009 Chevy Impala Police cruiser. 118500 miles. Recently inspected. Maintained every 3,000 miles by highway department, records available.

Asking $1500.00.

If interested contact the Town of Weathersfield at 802-674-2626.

Vehicle is sold AS IS.

Help Out Our Library, Serve As A Trustee


http://www.weathersfieldproctorlibrary.org/2015/08/help-out-our-library-serve-as-trustee.html

Thank You
Susan Whittemore
At the last Trustee meeting, a letter of resignation was read and with deep regret was accepted by the Board of Trustees. Vice Chair, Susan Whittemore has resigned.
The Trustees ask you to join them in offering a big thank you to Susan for her time volunteered and dedication to our library.

Her resignation opens up a spot on the Board until the March 2016 Town Meeting. Anyone with interest should please contact Ernie Shand, the Board's Chair email: shand@myfairpoint.net
Thanks Susan, good luck in your future adventures. 
 
 

Tuesday, August 25, 2015

Careless and Negligent Operation of a Motor Vehicle

Date: August 24, 2015
Offense: Careless and Negligent operation of a motor vehicle
Subject: Hunter Ward

On this date witnesses provided sworn written statements that they observed a vehicle allegedly travelling in excess of 100 miles per hours on US 91 southbound.

The operator was stopped by a Weathersfield Officer and issued a citation to appear in Windsor Court at a later date.

Next Storm to Watch, Tropical Storm Erika

Next system to watch, Tropical Storm Erika. Forecasted to be Hurricane by Sunday over the Bahamas.

Antlerless Deer Permit Application Deadline Friday, August 28th

Don't forget the antlerless deer permit application deadline is this Friday, August 28!

Apply for a permit at www.vtfishandwildlife.com

First PTA Meeting of the New School Year

First PTA Meeting of the New School Year: The first Weathersfield School PTA meeting for the 15-16 school year will be September 8th. http://dlvr.it/ByJ4Jv

The WS PTA will meet in the AP room at 6:00 pm on Tuesday, September 8th.  First on the agenda will be the Boston Trip.  We are respectfully requesting that all 8th graders and their parents attend this meeting to discuss the October Car Show and future fund raising efforts.  Also, we are hoping more teachers and parents will join our PTA this year, too.  We are all about KIDS!

See you then!

JeanMarie Oakman
Principal, Weathersfield School

Saturday, August 22, 2015

FOUND - DECEASED - Trevor Farrell, Brookline, VT



http://www.wptz.com/news/police-missing-person-found-dead/34869668?utm_source=Social&utm_medium=FBPAGE&utm_campaign=WPTZ%20NewsChannel%205

 BROOKLINE, Vt. —Police say a missing man from Brookline, Vermont was found dead behind his home.

Police had searched for Trevor Farrell, 21, throughout the day Saturday.

Officials say around 11 p.m. they came across Farrell's body in an area off Grassy Brook Road.

Right now the manner and cause of death remains under investigation. An autopsy will be conducted by the Office of the Chief Medical Examiner.

 The investigation remains active but police say there are no threats to the community or the residents of Brookline.

Anyone with information about the incident is asked to contact Vermont State Police at 802-254-2382


WCAX-TV
MISSING PERSON: Vermont State Police are looking for 21 year old Trevor Farrell.

He was last seen Thursday morning leaving his home in Brookline.

Authorities say his yellow Suzuki motorcycle was found parked on the side of River Road in Newfane, approximately five miles from his home in Brookline and that he never arrived at work as planned. 

Anyone with information is asked to call Vermont State Police – Brattleboro barracks (802) 254-2382

DUI on I-91S

Date: August 22, 2015
Offense: DUI
Subject: Bruce Fleming

On this date the operator of a motor vehicle stop along 91 South bound at mile marker 50.0 was contacted by our Officer.

Upon further investigation the operator, Fleming was arrested for alleged DUI.

The operator was issued a citation to appear in Windsor Superior Court at a later date.

September 9, Inn at Weathersfield Donates 10% of Proceeds to Weathersfield Proctor Library

 The Tavern

Wednesday, September 9th, the Inn at Weathersfield will donate 10% of the proceeds from their meals and drinks to the Weathersfield Proctor Library.
Tell your friends; bring your friends; order the fancy stuff; and go ahead, order another bottle of wine, and of course, get dessert!
To make a reservation, call the Inn at Weathersfield at (802) 263-9217 or email us at stay@weathersfieldinn.com 
Check the Inn and Tavern menus here: http://www.weathersfieldinn.com/dining/
Seatings for the evening meal begin at 5:30 PM.


Three People Injured at Cornish Fair

Three people injured at fair.

Three people have been taken to the hospital after an accident at a New Hampshire town fair.
www.wcax.com|By Cat Viglienzoni
 CORNISH, N.H. - Some tense moments Friday night at the Cornish Fair in N.H.

According to police a 28 yr-old mom and her 8-yr-old daughter fell from the Zipper ride as it was loading. Their car was about 8 to 10 feet off the ground at the time of the incident.

 Police say the problem appeared to be mechanical.

A fair employee working the ride attempted to break one of the rider's fall.

All three people were taken to local hospitals, were treated and released with minor injuries.

Officials with the N.H. State Fire Marshal's office are investigating the incident.

Police say all of the rides passed inspection Friday, however as of 2:00pm Saturday, the Zipper ride was not running.
 
The Cornish Fair continues through Sunday.

Friday, August 21, 2015

Driving while suspended and Violation of conditions of release

Date: August 21, 2015
Offense: Driving while suspended and Violation of conditions of release
Subject: Michael Hodgkins

On this date a motor vehicle stop was conducted on Route 11 in Springfield.

The male was charged for allegedly operating while under suspension and for violating conditions of release.

He was cited into court at a later date.

Driving while suspended and Poss. of a Controlled Substance


Date: August 21, 2015
Offense: Driving while suspended and Poss. of a Controlled Substance
Subject: Britain Stocker

On this date a motor vehicle stop was conducted on Wellwood Orchard Road. 

The operator was subsequently charged for allegedly operating while under suspension and for allegedly being in possession of a controlled substance. 

He was cited into court at a later date.

Volunteers Needed! Springfield VT Steampunk Festival 2015!

http://springfieldvtsteampunkfest.com/volunteerapp.html

Volunteers are so important to making a Festival successful.

thank you to the many who have already signed up to volunteer!

We offer our volunteers who work 4 hours a free ticket to the Festival for the weekend.

Basically we need runners, floaters, parking assistants and few more people to check people when they come in the door.

Also need people to help with the children's games on the lawn at Hartness House and also to help with the Tea Dueling events.

We need people for every shift and since the Festival is for two full days and an evening ... that's a lot of 4-hour shifts!

 Come on and help us out and help yourself out in the meantime ...

 Here is the volunteer app ---> http://springfieldvtsteampunkfest.com/volunteerapp.html

Thursday, August 20, 2015

REVISIONS! The Northbound Bridge Slide Has Been Changed To Next Weekend, August 28-31


8/21/2015
There is a revision to the to the bridge slide schedule:

I-91 at Exit 11 in White River Junction to be closed weekend of August 28-31

The I-91 Northbound bridge over US Route 5 in White River Junction will be replaced the weekend of August 28-31.

Contractor PCL has built the replacement bridge on temporary supports and will demolish the existing bridge and slide in the new bridge so the highway can re-open within 60 hours.

The highway will be closed at 6 p.m. on Friday, August 28 and reopen by 6 a.m. on Monday, August 31.

The closure will slightly delay travelers on I-91.

Motorists will exit the highway at the Exit 11 Off Ramp, cross Route 5 at the end of the ramp and go right back onto I-91 via the Exit 11 On Ramp.


 8/20/2015
Hi all,

The northbound I-91 bridge move (and closure) weekend has been delayed a week to August 28-31.  See below for more details.



placeholder


Thanks,

Katharine

Katharine Otto, AICP                                                      Planner
Southern Windsor County Regional Planning Commission
PO Box 320, Ascutney, VT 05030                 (802) 674-9201

From: Jill Barrett [mailto:jbarrett@fhiplan.com]
Sent: Wednesday, August 19, 2015 8:04 PM
To: Jill Barrett <jbarrett@fhiplan.com>
Subject: BRIDGE MOVE CHANGED TO WEEKEND OF AUGUST 28-31 - Secretary Minter briefs press on upcoming I-91 bridge slide

Hello,

Vermont Agency of Transportation Secretary Sue Minter shared her excitement with the media this morning about the pending I-91 bridge slides at Exit 11 in White River Junction. She said the innovative construction techniques used in this project is faster, smarter, cheaper and less inconvenient for travelers than traditional bridge construction methods. Local media were briefed on the project and walked the site where they saw the sliding beams and hydraulic jacks that will enable the bridge to move into place.

The Northbound bridge slide has been set for next weekend, August 28-31, to allow the contractor more time to evaluate and use methods that will improve the efficiency of removing both 1960’s era bridges.

In the meantime…there will some delay on Route 5 tonight, and long delays tomorrow evening as the construction crew continues removal of the left lane of the existing bridge. Motorists should avoid the area and seek alternative routes.

Jill

Jill Barrett
Public Outreach Coordinator
(802) 272-1248

Eight Arabian Horses Still Available for Adoption

https://www.facebook.com/120936714590513/photos/pcb.1200926279924879/1200925676591606/?type=1&theater
 
·
We still have eight Arabian horses available for adoption.

Six are with us at our shelter and two are in a temporary foster.

Please contact us today if you or somebody you know is interested, 802-484-5829 or info@lucymac.org.

This video explains why they are here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Gtq8GaEbBpw

More than anything, we want to find these horses safe and loving homes, and like all our animals, they are incredibly deserving of the best.

 Please help us spread the word!

Robbery Outside Walgreens Pharmacy in Keene, NH - Do You Have Information?

Nearly one month after a robbery outside the Walgreens pharmacy in Keene, police continue to ask for the public's help as they try to identify the suspect.

Police issued a news release Tuesday saying their investigation revealed that several witnesses saw a man matching the suspect's description loitering at the entrance to the West Street pharmacy just before the robbery July 21 at 2:15 p.m.

Responding officers spoke with at least one witness, who they did not identify at the time because of the emergency response, the release says.

That July afternoon, a man forcibly took a woman’s purse as she was walking in the parking lot, and then fled in the direction of the West Street Shopping Center across the street, according to police.

The suspect is described as a white male, skinny and approximately 5-foot-9 inches tall. He has a light complexion, red or blond hair, a goatee, and was wearing a gray sweatshirt and black pants, police said.

Police are asking anyone who saw the man near the store entrance to contact Detective Joel Chidester at 603-357-9820 or email him at jchidester@ci.keene.nh.us.

4 -Day Heat Wave? Probably Not...

Inside The Forecast:

We made it an official heat wave by getting up to 90° for a high in Burlington on Wednesday. That was our 3rd day in a row of 90° or higher, and that means it was indeed a heat wave.

Now, can we extend that into a 4-day heat wave? Probably not. It will still be hot & humid today, but it looks like we'll come up a few degrees shy of that 90 degree mark.

One thing that will be different about today is the wind, which will be strong out of the south, ahead of a cold front that's approaching from the west.

That cold front will move through with rain & possible t-storms starting in the pre-dawn hours on Friday and continuing through the day, especially the first half of Friday.

Our forecast data has been flip-flopping on what happens to that front once it goes by. It looks like it wants to stall to our east, but just how far to our east will make a difference in our weekend weather. Right now, it looks like it will be far enough away that we'll get a decent day on Saturday, although there could be a few showers in our eastern areas. But on Sunday, the front actually backs up a bit in our direction, giving us a little better chance for a few showers.

Then a weakening cold front will come in from the west, and finally kick out that stalled front to our east, but also bring its own round of showers & t-storms, some of which could linger into early Tuesday. Then we'll clear out after that.

Enjoy(?) this last day of heat & humidity! -Gary

Wednesday, August 19, 2015

Criminal DLS and providing False Information to Officers

Date: August 19, 2015
Offense: Criminal DLS and providing False Information to Officers
Subject: James Murphy

A motor vehicle stop was conducted approximately three weeks ago.

During the traffic stop the subject allegedly gave false information to Officers for allegedly having an active warrant and for allegedly operating while under suspension.

James was issued a citation to appear in court at a later date.

Arrest on Warrant


Date: August 19, 2015
Offense: Arrest on Warrant
Subject: James Murphy
On this date James Murphy was picked up on an active arrest warrant out of Windsor Superior Court. James was transported to court and released with a later court date.

Veterans Memorial Committee 08/25/2015 Meeting Agenda





    Veterans Memorial Committee Meeting
                      Tuesday, August 25, 2015 6:00 PM
                                Martin Memorial Hall
                           5259 US Route 5, Ascutney

                                        AGENDA

1. Approve minutes from April 28 2015 meeting
2. Additions or corrections to the agenda
3. Annual Chicken Barbeque preparation
4. Other Business
5. Set date, time, location and agenda for next meeting
6. Adjournment

Adequate Yearly Process Announcement for Weathersfield School for August 2015


 ... Jim) Carter , report some additional changes in HUD’s FHA program
http://www.wsesu.net/news/2015/8/19/ayp-letter-fy-16?utm_source=dlvr.it&utm_medium=facebook

Weathersfield School
JeanMarie K. Oakman, Principal

AYP Announcement for WS for August 2015

Weathersfield School did not take NECAP tests last year or the year before. Instead, we participated in the pilot for the new Smarter Balance Assessment, known as SBAC in FY 14, and we gave the SBAC to all students in grades 3-8 this past spring. The SBAC results for FY 15 will be announced soon. The VT Agency of Education has announced that the SBAC scores will NOT be used to determine AYP. However, by federal law, we must announce our AYP status each and every year. Thus, we are using FY 13 data to announce our AYP status, now 3 years old. Because we were in Year 2 School Improvement two years ago and remained in that holding pattern, we are obligated to once again share the results from previous years, see below. A full analysis of NECAP test scores over the last three years the tests were given can be obtained by calling the school at 674-5400.

AYP Announcement for Weathersfield School - August 2015

Adequate Yearly Progress, or AYP, is an accountability report given to each school by Vermont’s Agency of Education based on the Fall 2012 NECAP test scores in reading and math. The fall 2012 tests measured the progress of students from the FY 13 school year. This report tells whether or not a school has made adequate progress for various sub groups of students including the school’s free and reduced student population, students with disabilities, English Language Learners, all students, and various ethnic origins of the student population. 100% of our students in grades 3-8 participated. If a subgroup has a student number of less than 40, AYP is not determined. We do have some subgroups here at WS with a student population of less than 40.

Here are the Weathersfield School results:
• Weathersfield School did not make AYP in reading for free and reduced lunch students – 2011 and 2013 are the only two years that WS students in grades three through eight did NOT make AYP in Reading for free and reduced lunch students.

• Weathersfield School did not make AYP in math for all students, white students and free and reduced students – this is the third year in ten years that WS students in grades three through eight did not make AYP in Math for all students, free and reduced lunch students and white students. However, last year we made AYP in all those categories!

Just because we did not make AYP does not mean we are not an excellent school and improving daily. True, the target was raised and like most schools in Vermont, we did not make AYP. We did show growth and improvement, but we did not meet the target set by the federal and state government. We are NOT discouraged. We ARE determined to continue in our quest to help each and every child to meet high, challenging standards. Thank you to parents, teachers and students for your hard work this past year. I am so proud of how we tackled this as partners….we have made a difference!

Because we did not make AYP in 2013, we were a school in Year 2 of an Improvement Plan.

However, since SBAC tests will not be determining AYP in FY 15, all Vermont schools are writing a CIP, Continuous Improvement Plan. WS has completed their plan and it was sent to the AOE in July for approval. Once approved, the CIP will be posted on our school website. We will continue on with the excellent professional development work we started three year ago to improve teaching and learning and to ensure that our student scores show steady progress over time, as they have to date. This data has been tracked over time and is available to anyone, just ask! The WSESU has invested a great deal of time, money, and energy in establishing two new curricula: Eureka Math and Wheatley ELA for K-12 students in all four schools.

Here is a list of other professional development opportunities which will be the focus of our work in FY 16:
Professional Development Goals for the FY 16 School Year – Building Based and WSESU Supported
1. Improving Instruction and Assessment
2. Wheatley ELA – unpacking standards and materials for the first year in WS
3. Technology – Grade K-4 Standards Based Report Cards; PowerGrading Parent Portal Open to all in K-8
4. Eureka Math K- 12 – implementing this new curriculum with fidelity
5. WS Schoolwide Action and Continuous Improvement Plan FY 16, (CIP)
6. Building Developmental Assets for ALL Students
7. Act One- Protecting Children From Sexual Abuse
8. Professional Learning Communities – data collection, analysis and tiered instruction for remediation
9. Restraint and Support Training
10. Using the Inform Data Collection System
11. Mentoring
12. Multi-Tiered Support Systems – We have an MTSS Coach and a Leadership Team facilitating this work
13. Streamlining the transition into public school from EEE, Pre-Schools, Home Care Providers and others and from Grade 8 to Grade 9
14. Next Generation Science Standards
15. Supplemental Services for at risk students – SES and TIPS, Tier 2 and 3 Support
16. Track My Progress – assessing students in K-8, three times a year, to track progress and to tier instruction
17. Collaborative Problem Solving – Leadership team to bring new student-centered ways to address problems in school
18. School Safety – The Emergency Preparedness Team meets monthly to assess school safety and to conduct drills
19. WS to pilot a new social studies curriculum in FY 16 for the WSESU

Our PLCs, (Professional Learning Communities), are ready and poised to do the following this year:
1. Look at student work and data on every child/grade, and school data, too; refine units of instruction as necessary
2. Providing tiered and supplemental intervention with clearly defined entrance and exit criteria
3. Support teachers through collaboration coaching, resources and problem solving
4. Review school climate surveys
5. Training in teaching and learning, skill development, and strategies to maximize effectiveness

Required Action for Year 2 School Improvement Schools:
- Must have SU and School Based Improvement Teams.
- Must provide written notice to parents about not making AYP.
- Must offer school choice.
- Superintendent must sign off on assurances.
- WS must offer supplemental educational services.
- Review, revise and implement NEW school improvement plan, CIP.

The law requires schools to notify parents whose children are in a school on an improvement plan that they have the option to transfer to another school in the district if they are unhappy with the school, and that transportation will be provided. In telling you this, I have met the letter of the law, however, the only elementary school in the district is the Weathersfield School, and so there is not another choice for K-8 students. In the Bennington School District, there are several schools in the same district which makes this law more plausible for them, but not for us.

To give this some perspective, 2011 marked the final target AYP increase (before the 100 percent proficiency goal set for 2015) in Vermont. As a consequence, the department had seen a significant increase in the number of schools that did not make AYP. Two years ago, 214 schools were identified for school improvement in one or more areas. 17 of those were new schools entering their first year of school improvement. Additionally, 21 schools did not make AYP for the first time. Last year, the numbers were even higher.

Weathersfield School is a Title 1 Schoolwide School. If you would like a copy of our Schoolwide Action and Continuous Improvement Plan, please call the school at 674-5400, and we will make a copy available to you as soon as the state approves our plan. The plan was written by a number of local people, in and outside of the school community. Eventually, the plan will be on our school website. The plan speaks to a comprehensive way to address student achievement and to get parents, community and local businesses involved in the process.

We had 100+ volunteers work in our school of 220, K-8 students, last year. Some read to children, some worked in the library, some went on field trips, some coached sports, while others tutored children or helped in the classroom. There is an endless list of ways volunteers can help make a school better and we are thankful to have such a loving and involved community! We encourage volunteerism and welcome anyone and everyone who cares to join us in making Weathersfield School the very best school in the state of Vermont! I think we are half way there!

Sincerely,
JeanMarie

JeanMarie K. Oakman, WS Principal
August 19, 2015