Dear Parents/Guardians
Dense material this week! There seems to be a lot going on! We certainly have had several cases of COVID in our schools over the past week plus. Several classes have been quarantined, which is a disruption to the student and the family. Delta is very contagious and focusing on unvaccinated children, it seems. Please continue to use caution with masks and smaller groups when going out.
This email covers
Virtual Academy for 2nd Semester Enrollment
ARP/ESSER Plan Feedback Requested
Opportunity to Participate in Equity Audit Focus Group
Nov 19 Early Release Day Reminder
February Break Calendar Correction
Vaccination Updates and Clinics
Update on Test to Stay
School Board Meetings and Board Openings
Virtual Academy 2nd Semester Enrollment
Applications for Virtual Academy are now open for the second semester! If you are interested in having your student(s) enrolled from January-June, please visit the RNESU website to access the mandatory recordings and application. Please note that applications are due by December 22nd. This is a pilot program for the 2021-2022 school year only.
ARP/ESSER Plan Feedback Requested
RNESU has posted the draft ARP ESSER plans for COVID recovery funds on our website, and are actively seeking family and community input. Please visit the page below for more information or to provide feedback.
https://www.rnesu.org/page/covid-planning-recovery
Opportunity to Participate in Equity Audit Focus Group
You are invited to participate in a focus group on December 6th at 5:00-7:00pm. The focus groups are part of a study being conducted by the Mid-Atlantic Equity Consortium (MAEC) to understand how RNESU can support a learning environment focused on safety, belonging, and equitable access to high-quality instruction and supports across our district.
The focus group with Parents/Community will be held virtually and will last approximately 90 minutes. The focus groups will be led by MAEC facilitators. MAEC will keep your feedback and thoughts strictly confidential and anonymous. If you are willing to participate, please email swhite@rnesu.org
Nov 19 Early Release Day Reminder
Grades K-12 will have an early release day on Friday, Nov. 19. PreK will not have an early release day and will be in session on Nov 19.
February Vacation Dates Confirmed
The correct February vacation is the week of Feb. 21. Here is the link to the full district calendar as released last year. https://tinyurl.com/vy56p2wk.
Magnetic calendars distributed at the start of the school year indicated Feb 14. That was an error. We apologize this was not caught earlier!
Vaccination Updates and Clinics
As notified earlier this week, students ages 5-11 are now eligible for a vaccine. Ages 5-11 will get an age appropriate dose of the vaccine. The VT Department of Health web page is full of resources for parents about the vaccine. https://www.healthvermont.gov/covid-19/vaccine/vaccines-children Local pediatricians are also ready to answer questions and help parents with their decisions and can even give the shots.
VDH has chosen two of our schools to hold vaccination clinics, thus far: Neshobe and Leicester (OCA). Although we were first told these clinics would be closed just for our families, the state has opened registration to the public and slots are limited. Please use the state registration website VDH COVID-19 portal to register or call the Dept of Health 855-722-7878, Mon - Fri 8:00 am - 4:30 pm, Sat and Sun 10:00 am - 3:00 pm. to register and give consent or if you have problems with registration. We cannot register students ourselves as parents must give consent.
School Clinic dates:
OCA at Leicester School Nov. 18 (1st dose with the second dose scheduled for Dec 9)
Neshobe School Dec. 14 (with the second dose scheduled for Jan. 4)
Update on Test to Stay
With four classrooms in three schools out on quarantine this week, we are eager to start Test to Stay. We have complied with all of the advance work and are awaiting approval from the Agency of Education and the actual receipt of the test kits. We are aware of how disruptive closing a classroom is for kids and families and hope to get this option started very soon.
School Board Meetings and Board Openings
In August, Board meetings returned to in-person meetings with a zoom option for those who wish to attend virtually. Meeting information can be found on the district calendar or on the district website, www.rnesu.org,
BUU Board meets Nov. 15, 6 pm.
RNESU Board meets Nov. 17, 5 pm @ Neshobe School
OVUU Board meets Nov. 17, 6 pm @ Neshobe School
Interested in serving on a school board? Go to the school board page on rnesu.org to learn what seats are open and to get a petition.
Enjoy the weekend.
Sincerely,
Jeanné Collins, Superintendent of RNESU
School Safety Hotline # (844) 723-3488 or www.SAFE4VT.org or text to 274637, type in keyword SAFE4VT and then your tip