Nancy Brochu Named Waterford School Teacher of the Year

This week Waterford School Kindergarten Teacher Nancy Brochu was named Waterford School Teacher of the year! Please read more about the award and what Nancy's colleagues had to say about her. Congratulations Nancy!

Re-opening Waterford School Update #2 -- Parent FAQ

  ** This is the second update that includes the Re-Opening Structures FAQ

This Frequently Asked Questions document outlines a series of questions as they relate to the opening of school options. The questions are a combination of questions we posed at the school level as well as questions posed by parents. It is a fluid document that will be updated periodically as questions arise. Please monitor for updates. If you have questions that are not addressed through this document please refer to the Waterford School Parent Question/Feedback Form.

Respectfully,

Chris Miller

Principal

Waterford School

Waterford School Welcomes Connie Brantley

On Monday August 17th Waterford School welcomed Connie Brantley as our new Administrative Assistant. She takes the place of Connor MacDonald who will be moving into an IT role within the CCSU and Waterford School. 

While we will miss Connor we are grateful he will not be going too far away. 

We are very excited to welcome Connie to our Waterford School Team! 

Chris Miller

Principal 

Re-opening Waterford School Update -- School Meals

 ** This update includes School Meals for Onsite and Remote Students

Respectfully,

Chris Miller

Principal 

Re-opening Waterford School Update -- Fall Instructional Options/Structures

** This update includes fall opening structures/survey

Waterford Strong!

Shortly we will begin the 2020-21 school year in what is sure to be an opening of school unlike any other in our personal and professional experience. COVID -19 has presented many health and logistical challenges we have not had to consider. There are no easy solutions to these challenges. As parents you may have concerns about returning your children to school. I want to validate your concern for your children and also inform you that we are working to develop a plan that supports your students well being and promotes a healthy transition back to Waterford School.

It is evident that Waterford School Staff are an amazingly dedicated and gifted group of educators. Soon we will be together as a school community ready to educate the children of the Waterford Community during unprecedented times. I am confident, even in this short time of getting to know Waterford Staff and larger community that you are THE group I want to navigate this with! 

Fall Opening Structures

During the weeks leading up to the start of school there will be many important decision you will have to make. Please view the attached presentation for details on student options for learning this fall and take the survey attached. The deadline for the survey is Tuesday August 11. Your responses are important to us and help us continue to plan for the school year.

A downloadable version can be found here: Fall Opening Structures

A link to the survey can be found here: Fall Planning Survey

Waterford School Parent Question/Feedback Form

The purpose of the form is to provide Waterford School Parents/Guardians a place to ask questions and provide feedback as it relates to the reopening of Waterford School. Questions will be collected and responded to in a separate FAQ document. You can find the form here -- Waterford School Parent Question/Feedback Form

Respectfully,

Chris Miller

Principal

Waterford Teacher Recognized with National Award!

Last night I received word that one of our Waterford Teachers has been recognized at the highest level in our profession. Jennifer Wood has been awarded the Presidential Award for Excellence in Math and Science Teaching from the National Science Foundation! 

The award recognizes those teachers who have both deep content knowledge of the subjects they teach and the ability to motivate and enable students to be successful in those areas. Since the program's inception, more than 4,800 teachers have been recognized for their contributions in the classroom and to their profession. You can read Jennifer's Biography from NSF HERE. 

Please join me in congratulating Jennifer on this well deserved recognition! 

Eagle Pride shines bright today!

Chris

Reopening Waterford School Update -- New Start Date, Busing, Face Coverings, Preview of Fall Options

*This update includes information regarding new start date, face coverings, busing and a preview of fall options in preparation for the reopening of school. 

New Start Date -- September 8th

On July 28, Governor Scott announced September 8th as the universal start date for instruction of students. Please note, as a result the following adjustments have been made:

August 21 - September 4: Teacher In-service

September 8th: First student day

Face Coverings

All staff and students are required to wear facial coverings while in the building, as well as outside where physical distancing cannot be maintained. CDC recommends facial coverings in settings where other physical distancing measures are difficult to maintain, especially in areas of significant community-based transmission. Adults doing drop-off and pick-up should wear facial coverings. Instructions for making, wearing and washing facial coverings can be found on the CDC website. PreK students require special consideration regarding age and child development when wearing masks. 

It is the responsibility of each family to provide masks for their children. 

The following stipulations are for students, as well as staff, where applicable and come from State of Vermont guidelines 

• Facial coverings are developmentally appropriate when children can properly put on, take off, and not touch or suck on the covering. 

• Students who have a medical or behavioral reason for not wearing a facial covering should not be required to wear one. These decisions should be made in partnership with the health care provider and school nurse. 

• Students/staff should not wear facial coverings while sleeping, eating or swimming (or when they would get wet). 

• Facial coverings with ties are not recommended for young children as they pose a risk of choking or strangulation. 

• Facial coverings may be removed during outdoor activities where students and staff can maintain physical distancing and have ready access to put them back as needed when activity stops. 

• Staff may take off their facial covering in select circumstances to accommodate specific needs, for example: when an individual is hearing impaired and reads lips to communicate. It is also recommended to use facial coverings with clear plastic windows to support communication when there is ongoing contact with individuals who are hearing impaired. 

• The use of clear facial shields for students and adults is allowable as long as they meet all of the health guidance of the Vermont Department of Health. Face shields should extend below the chin and to the ears laterally, and there should be no exposed gap between the forehead and the shield’s headpiece.

Busing

It is my understanding that this information along with the below survey may not have reached all parents. If you have already responded to this survey you do not need to submit another response.

Please complete this survey by August 7

We are currently planning the transportation needs for our upcoming school year. It is important for our school and Butler’s Bus Company to determine whether your child will require transportation or if you will transport your child to and/or from school. The state has shared specific guidelines for student transportation and social distancing while on the bus. Butler's will be designing bus routes and assigning seats on their buses based on these guidelines. Having a specific count of how many children will ride the bus to and from school will assist them in designing bus routes for our students. 

If you can provide transportation to your child, please consider doing so. A more limited ridership will allow us to provide a safer experience for those students who need bus transportation to get to school.

If your child(ren) will require the school provided transportation, please be aware of the following changes and requirements based on State guidelines:

• Buses will need to make multiple runs. This will result in delayed entry time for some students as well as early dismissal for others. Please keep track of when your children will be picked up and dismissed.

• Students on the buses will be physically distanced from each other as much as possible. Six feet of distance may not be the reality.

• Students will have assigned seats.

• Masks will be required of every person on the bus regardless of age.

• Each morning, students will need to have a slip signed by their parent stating to the best of their knowledge, the student does not have a high temperature or any symptoms of COVID 19.

• Failure to provide such a slip may result in students losing their bus privileges. 

• Parents will be responsible for their child(ren)’s care when they are not able to board the bus.

• Buses will be cleaned between runs and at the end of the day.

Please complete this survey by August 7. It is critical that you complete this survey whether you intend on having your child ride the bus or not. We only need one response per family. 

Preview of Fall Instructional Options --

For clarity, below are the three Instructional Options for Waterford students:

Option 1 - Return to Waterford School Building -- On Site, Full Day/Full Week

Option 2 - Full-Time Remote Learning with Instruction provided by a Waterford/CCSU Teacher

Option 3 - Enrollment in the Vermont Agency of Education Home Study Program

The details for each option above will be shared with you later this week. During the course of this week, both CCSU teacher representatives and administrators will be planning what the Remote Learning Option could look like and I will meet with Waterford Staff to review the plan. I will then share with families the full details. I will also be including a survey: The purpose of the survey is to learn more about your intentions regarding where your child(ren) will be accessing their schooling given the latest update on fall structures.

Respectfully,

Chris Miller