PUTNEY CENTRAL SCHOOL
An exceptional PK-8 School located in beautiful southern Vermont
PCS NEWS 11/15/24
Dear PCS Community,
Thank you for another wonderful week here at Putney Central! Highlights included a visit on Thursday from the Brattleboro Coop Cooking Program in some of our elementary classrooms, a wonderful Forest Friday today in the beautiful fall sun, a great meeting with our middle school leadership team analyzing our student climate survey results, and really wonderful work happening across all of our classrooms.
Here is some information heading into the weekend!
Upcoming Dates
Tonight - Family Dance! 6:00-8:00
Wednesday 11/20 - Our farewell to the old playground structure!
Thursday 11/21 - Fall Family Feast! (see below)
Friday 11/22 - Coffee Talk with Jon @ 8:00 in the Staff Room
Monday 11/25 - Friday 11/29 - No School for Inservice and Thanksgiving Break
Fall Family Feast
We are thrilled to open our doors to families to come enjoy a traditional Thanksgiving Feast with our students on Thursday, 11/21. There is a flyer on the Newsletter with specific time for lunch seatings based on grade level. Please complete this very short survey to let us know that you plan to attend, so we can plan accordingly. SURVEY
Enrichment Clubs
We are nearing the end of our first session of enrichment programming. Thank you to our staff, community members and students for making it a great first session! Chorus will continue into the Winter, with Session #2 starting after the holiday break.
Winter Sports
Thank you to those families in grades 3-8 who have signed up - we have record participation in our off campus activities, which is great. This year we are not asking for payment based on choices, but instead will send out a fundraising campaign to support the program. Please consider contributing when that time comes to support the continuation of our Winter Sports Program!
Holiday Bazaar
We have scheduled the Holiday Bazaar for December 11, 2024. We are accepting donations of new and gently-used goods for our students' shopping pleasure. There is more information in our newsletter.
Please check our newsletter for an updated Counselor's Corner, new pictures, and flyers for upcoming events!
Thank you for your partnership and support. Have a wonderful weekend!
Jon
Upcoming Activities, Community Events and More!
Next Stage Cookie Swap, 12/7/24
Bring a little sweetness and surprise into your life this holiday season! The Next Stage cookie swap is a wonderful way to share some love with your community. This is a "drop off" swap: you drop off the cookies and we pack you a delightful mix to pick up. DROP OFF & PICK UP LOCATION: Next Stage 15 Kimball Hill Putney, VT
DROP OFF: Saturday, 12/7/24 11am-12pm
PICK UP: Saturday, 12/7/24 1-2pm (Snow day plan will be Sunday, same times)
—Bake! Make a cookie recipe of your choice. The form below has 2 options: Little Elf (2 dozen cookies) or Big Elf (4 dozen cookies).
—Drop off cookies and your recipe in the morning (between 11am-12pm).
—Pick up lovingly prepared box of mixed cookies that afternoon (between 1-2pm).
—Eat, share, and enjoy!
—Are you more of a baker than an eater? We can find a home for your extra cookies!! Any additional cookies will be donated to support a dinner for the families of volunteers of Putney Fire & Rescue!
Sign up to participate upset in the cookie swap:
Staff Highlight
Nicole Abelli- Intensive Seervices Interventionist
Hi everyone! I’m Nicole Abelli, but feel free to call me Nikki. I studied studio art at UMass Amherst, and I’ve always had a passion for both creativity and building community. I’m so excited to have joined the PCS team in January 2024, working in the I.S. classroom, and I’m incredibly grateful to be part of such a kind and caring group of people. I’m also a proud cat mom to my two little sidekicks, Peanut and Rigatoni!
Before coming to PCS, my career focus was directing summer camps, running inclusive and equitable outreach programs, and organizing large community events, all of which were incredibly rewarding. I have an adorable niece, a younger brother and an amazing mom, and we all share a love for film, art, and animals. Whether I’m making art, spending time with my family, or hanging out with my cats, I’m always looking for ways to connect, create, and enjoy life’s little moments.
Dear Parents and Guardians,
Happy December!
A few reminders from the Health Office;
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Head lice made an appearance at PCS this fall and although there has been a decrease in cases, unfortunately it has not been eradicated. Continue to check your child/ren and if you need help with anything regarding head lice please let me know. You can refer to my recent note home for more details.
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Winter gear- I have many extra hats, mittens and gloves. Students can request these from the Health Office anytime. Although I do not have many extra of the following; snow pants, coats or boots, these could be available if you let me know you are in need.
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Asthma- If your child struggles with asthma in the winter months, please be sure to send in inhalers for use at school.
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Should my child stay home? Symptoms that may keep students home include: fever, chills, cough, shortness of breath, fatigue, muscle or body aches, headache, new loss of taste or smell, sore throat, congestion, runny nose, nausea or vomiting, stomachache, and diarrhea.
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We recommend staying in touch with your medical provider if your child is sick. If your child has a chronic condition with these symptoms, please get documentation from their provider.
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During the school day, students might need to go home if they have these symptoms or if they can’t participate in their learning. COVID testing may be available with parent or guardian permission.
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Before coming back to school, students should be fever-free for 24 hours without medicine and should show clear signs of improvement. Contact the school nurse who will help with a return-to-school plan after any illness.
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Finally, I have included the link for our district website. Please check it out!
District Website for Health Services
Counselor's Corner
November 2024
Dear PCS Families/Guardians,
As we step further into November, I’d like to take a moment to reflect on what has been happening around PCS. This past month has been filled with valuable lessons and growth.
October was Bullying Prevention Month, and our school came together to engage in meaningful conversations and activities around bullying awareness, kindness, and empathy. Students spent the month learning about how bullying affects others and discovering ways to stand up for themselves and others in a positive way.
Our November 1st Community Assembly—held the Friday before November—was the culmination of this work. I feel fortunate to have our Middle School Leadership students take the lead in planning and facilitating the assembly. These students did an amazing job sharing key messages from our bullying prevention efforts, and highlighting the importance of kindness and
In addition to our bullying prevention efforts, we’ve been focusing on creating classrooms that promote emotional well-being and social growth. Our social-emotional learning work in the classrooms continues with lessons on emotional regulation, conflict resolution, and fostering healthy relationships through healthy communication.
What’s Coming Up:
Caregiver Conversation: We’ll be hosting our second annual Caregiver Conversation which will focus on the book “Anxious Kids Anxious Parents” by, Lynn Lyons.
Join Us for Our Discussion:
"Children are increasingly anxious, stressed out, and overly worried. Part of that has to do with increased pressures to excel in school, sports, and extracurricular activities. But part of it has a lot to do with parents/caregivers/us." We invite you to participate in a conversation about the research that shows that children with anxious parents are up to seven times more likely than other children to develop anxiety. You're welcome to read the book "Anxious Kids Anxious Parents" by, Lynn Lyons or watch the videos beforehand, but it's not required. Everyone is welcome, whether you've read the material or not!
Wednesday, January 8th
5pm-6:30pm
PCS LIBRARY
CHILDCARE PROVIDED
(If you prefer to listen to an audio podcast here is a link.)
As always, if you have any questions or need additional support, feel free to reach out.
All the best,
Counselor Marisa