Rumney Memorial School ~ 433 Shady Rill Road, Middlesex, VT 05602 ~ Phone: 223-5429 ~ www.rumney.org
 
Print-friendly edition generated November 20, 2008 ~ Managing Editor: Laurie Fielder ~ Submissions to lfielder@rumney.org or fax to 223-0750 by noon on Thursdays

 
Christine Landon, resident instructor from Circus Smirkus, coaches a Rumney student as part of the ongoing all-school circus residency.



Dear Rumney Families,

This was a great week at Rumney.  We had the great hum of activity that happens when children are engaged in many different ways: literacy groups that buzz with activity, new frontiers in computer instruction, and challenge and adventure in the gymnasium!

ALERTNOW is the new family notification system for the WCSU supervisory union.  We had 20 families as part of a small test this past Monday, and since it went well for them, we will be conducting a test on Wednesday, November 19 at 10:00 a.m. for all Rumney families.  Please see the attached letter for more information.

Some reminders and announcements: 
Winter weather is here.  Please don’t let your child wear shorts to school until after the April break.  Warm coats, hats, mittens, and boots are now needed daily, and soon snow pants will be needed every day.  Rumney students of all ages need to dress so that they can play outside all winter long.

The Circus Smirkus performance is this coming Friday.  I hope many of you will be able to leave work early and attend the performance.  We will begin at 2:30 sharp!  Please arrive as early as 2:00 PM so that we can get everyone seated and ready for the performance.  The children have really enjoyed their time so far with Christine Landon.  I even saw the DVD of her high wire and trapeze performances.

Thanks to the Vermont Arts Council, we received a grant of $900 to support this residency.

There are still a few spots left in our Destination Imagination Program.  It will be Wednesdays, right after school.  Coach Lauri Scharf is going to his training this weekend.  Please let me know if your child is interested, so I can send home a permission slip.

Basketball will be starting after Thanksgiving. Our girl’s team will combine with Doty Memorial School's, and will be coached by Chris McVeigh and Jeff Alberghini.  We have several boys in grades 5 and 6 who want to play basketball, but we still don’t have a coach.  If you love kids, love basketball, and are organized and responsible, then maybe you could give coaching this crew a try.  Please contact Mrs. Joslyn for a more complete list of coach’s responsibilities.  But please don’t look at me—I wrestled for six years and our basketball players deserve someone who actually knows the game!

Finally, we will begin planning for our school play soon.  Our coordinating team hasn’t met yet this year—so we haven’t yet made any major decisions.  One decision we made last year was that we do want this year’s play to include fourth graders.  Once the drama committee meets, there will be volunteer opportunities both great and small.  Stay tuned for a time and place.
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November  
Fri 21  Circus Smirkus final performance, 2:00 p.m., gym
Mon 24  Community Connections Council Meeting, 5:30-6:30 p.m., library
Wed 26  NO SCHOOL: half-day for staff
~Trimester 1 ends
Thu 27  NO SCHOOL: Thanksgiving recess
Fri 28  NO SCHOOL: Thanksgiving recess

December  
Mon 1  Classes resume
Tue 2  Rumney School Board meeting, 6:00 p.m., library
Mon 15  Winter Concert, 7:00-8:00 p.m.
Thu 18  Holiday Feast - 12:30- 1:30 p.m.
Fri 19  All-School Meeting, 9:10-9:40
Mon 22  SNOW DATE: Winter Concert, 7:00-8:00 p.m.
Tue 23  1/2-day for students
Early Dismissal
Wed 24  Holiday vacation begins

January  
Thu 1  Happy New Year!
 
Sink or float? Primary science students enthusiastically test a variety of objects to see which float and which don't, as part of a continuing exploration of water.
Reminder...There will be NO SCHOOL on Wednesday, November 26, as well as November 27-28 for the Thanksgiving Holiday!

There will be no Friday Notes newsletter next week--Happy Thanksgiving!

SEASONAL BUS ROUTES BEGIN MONDAY, DEC. 1st!
The following consolidated stops begin the Monday after the Thanksgiving break:  E. Bear Swamp Rd., Upper Sunnybrook Rd., So. Bear Swamp Rd.  They will re-open the first week of May, 2009.

POPCORN!
As a holiday treat the Rec committee is having free popcorn day for all students & staff on Tuesday, Nov. 25.  Happy Holidays!  ~Middlesex Rec Committee

2009-2010 Rumney School Entrance
We are currently budgeting for the 2009-2010 school year, and we need to get an accurate count of the number of new students who will be entering Rumney in the fall.  Please notify us if you are a Middlesex resident and have a child who:
a.) Is 5 years old by September 1, 2009 and will be entering Kindergarten
b.) Is 3 years old and you would like to be considered for Pre-Kindergarten (final entrance decision is based on screening in the spring).
NOTE: This is NOT registration, which will be scheduled for both Pre-K and K in late-winter, early-spring.

We DO assume that if your child is currently enrolled in the Rumney Pre-K and will be 5 by 9/1/09, that he/she will be attending the Rumney Kindergarten.  Please contact the school (email:  office@rumney.org or 223-5429, ext. 0) to let us know about your child.  Also, please spread the word!  If you know of anyone in town who may be a first-time parent, please tell them to contact us.  Thank you!

Rumney Wildcat Store
The new Rumney Wildcat Store will be open in the lobby on Friday, Nov. 21 from 8:30-9:00 a.m. and during lunch/recess from 12:00-1:00 p.m. The store will be open every other Friday.  Come on in and redeem your Innisbrook tokens (cash also accepted--items for as little as $0.25) or do a little holiday shopping.  Proceeds benefit the PTO.

Council Meeting:  The next Community Connections Council Meeting is scheduled! Mark your calendars for Monday, November 24th at 5:30 pm in the Rumney Library.  We will discuss the Needs Assessment Survey that went out last month, including hours of operation and programs cost.  We will also discuss possibilities for programs for the upcoming Winter Session. 

Program Assistant Needed:  It is sad to say that Kelley, our current Program Assistant, will be leaving Community Connections in December.  We are looking for a new program assistant beginning in January after the Holiday Break.  The position could be filled by either one person or it could be a shared position.  The Program Assistant works from 3:00-5:00 pm, Monday-Friday.  If interested, please contact Karen Allen for details.

Planning for Winter Session:  The Winter Session is right around the corner!  Planning has begun and as always I’m looking for your suggestions.  If you have ideas for an enrichment program or would like to lead a program, please contact Karen Allen.

Jumping Beans Leader Needed:  Community Connections would like to help Rumney keep Jumping Beans as a continuing tradition! For those of you who aren’t familiar with Jumping Beans, it is a student jump rope team.  The Jumping Beans team creates and practices jump rope routines and then puts on shows for area schools. We are in the process of looking for the right person to take on the role of Jumping Beans Leader!  Training will be provided!  Please contact Karen if you are interested in this opportunity.

Homework Club  Homework Club for grades 3 & 4 will now be on Tuesdays and Wednesdays every week.  We have room for more students needing assistance with homework, academic enrichment, and/or study skills.  Please contact Karen to enroll your child.

If you have questions or comments contact: Karen Allen, Community Connections Site Coordinator, at 223-5429 ext. 322 or kallen@u32.org.

FREE Dental X-Rays & Sealants For Children 6-12 Years of Age!
Please contact Rumney parent, Heather Merrill at 229-4797  for more information. 

Central VT Skating Association--Learn to Skate Program  There are still openings available!  Join us for FREE one-hour sessions at the Central VT Memorial Civic Center on Gallison Hill Road (just down the hill from U32) on Saturdays/Sundays from Nov. 9-Jan. 31.  Check the website-- www.cvsahockey.org for more information, or call Veronica at 229-6211. Every skater needs a helmet and skates (these are not for rent). Parents who wish to be on the ice also need a helmet.

North Branch Nature Center  Please call 229-6206 for more info. and to pre-register.
Preschool Discovery Programs  Tues. & Weds., 10:00-11:30am; Fee: $10, $25 for 3 sessions (price adjustment beginning 11/18).  Children ages 3-5 are welcome with their families to join in a morning of nature investigations indoors and out. Come dressed for walking on trails near the center.
Meet the Animals  Fri., Nov. 21, 7:00pm; Fee: $5 adults, $3 children. Turtles and salamanders, one big snake and a toad! Get to touch, hold, see, and learn about the critters that live at NBNC during this interactive demonstration.
Thanksgiving Farmer's Market  Sat., Nov. 22, 10:00am - 2:00pm. Please stop by our table exhibit at the indoor Capital City Farmer's Market at Montpelier High School. (Or call to volunteer to help host our table.)  The shopping will be exquisite!
Moonlight in Vermont: the Geology of the Moon  Fri., Dec. 5, 7-9pm (cloud date: Sat., Dec. 6); Fee: $5 nonmembers, free for members.  Join us for a geologic tour of the surface of the Moon through a telescope. We’ll explore the craters, mountains and ancient lava flows of our constant nocturnal companion. Dress for standing around in the cold!
Full Moon Snowshoe Hikes  Dec. 12, 7-8:30pm,  Fee: $3 members, $5 nonmembers. Under a full moon, with the trees free of leaves, and surrounded by sparkling snow, let’s snowshoe by lunar light! Explore and enjoy Montpelier’s hillsides at night with Nature Center staff. Snowshoes are provided.
Holiday Open House  Sat., Dec. 13, 11-2pm, Fee: Free. Come one, come all! Drop by our holiday season open house and enjoy free refreshments and seasonal activities. There will be tours of the Critter Room and activities for kids – like making a holiday gift out of natural materials or building a birdfeeder.
Plainfield Christmas Bird Count  Sun., Dec. 14, all day,  Fee: $5 (to National Audubon).  Spend all or part of the day identifying and counting birds in the Montpelier/Plainfield area as part of the 46th annual Plainfield CBC. All ages and skill levels welcome – no experience necessary to participate. Please call to get on a team.
Winter Solstice Celebration  Fri., Dec. 19, 7-9pm, Donations accepted.  Come relax and enjoy the winter’s offerings around a campfire as we celebrate the solstice at the Nature Center with hiking, readings, and music. Snowshoes available.

Middlesex Food Shelf: Middlesex Methodist Church, across from the Town Hall; Every Saturday 9-10:30 a.m. Families do not have to give their names.