Volume 11| May 20th, 2022

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The First Branch Newsletter  
A bi-weekly newsletter from Principal Mark Blount and Principal Michael Livingston featuring photos, stories, and updates from the Chelsea and Tunbridge schools.
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Upcoming Dates to Note:


May 20th: Half Day, noon dismissal

May 21st : School Budget Vote, Tunbridge Fairgrounds, 1pm ( info below)

May 23rd: Haitian Cultural Event at Tunbridge

May 24th: Haitian Cultural Event at Chelsea

May 30th: No School, Memorial Day.


June 6th: Mary Poppins Production, 6pm Chelsea Town Hall

June 7th: Mary Poppins Production, 6pm Tunbridge School Gym

June 8th: FBUD Board Meeting, 6:30pm

June 11th & 12th: the Ranger First Branch Fundariser (sign up and info below)

June 13th: Chelsea 8th Grade Graduation, 6:30pm

June 14th: Tunbridge 8th Grade Graduation, 6:30pm


June 15th: Last Day of School, noon dismissal


Dear Parents and Guardians,


We’d like to remind you all about the upcoming school board discussion and vote this coming Saturday, May 21 at 1 PM to be held at the Tunbridge Fairgrounds. It is important for us to have as many people in attendance as possible. These discussions and votes help shape the direction of our schools and ultimately our communities.


You’ll have a chance to:


• learn about activities and events at our school this year,

• hear about goals and objectives for the upcoming year,

• review the school budget for 2022-2023, and

• vote on the 2022-2023 school budget.


We strongly encourage you to attend. It’s always helpful to have parental turnout at these events.


Lunch will be served at noon right after the Town Meeting. If you’d like lunch please contact Kathy Galluzo at: [email protected]



Respectfully,



~ Mark and Michael

An Update From Incoming Principal Janet Cash
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We are very excited to welcome Mrs. Kate Liptak to First Branch in the role of Associate Principal.  Ms. Liptak brings to First Branch comprehensive experience within social and emotional programs, principal endorsement within the state of Vermont, and has family ties to Tunbridge.  


As Mrs. Liptak finishes her current teaching role in the week to come, she will begin working with Mrs. Cash and the faculty in various capacities. Some of the roles Mrs. Liptak will take on are: plan opening day activities for our students and staff to build strong relationships, organize with our faculty monthly student celebrations of learning events, support the implementation of SU curriculum in mathematics and multi-sensory reading instruction, lead with our counselors universal social and emotional systems of support, support outdoor education experiences, create with Mrs. Cash tiers of consistent intervention and support for student learning, and in partnership with Mrs. Cash lead both campuses with fidelity.



Parent Volunteers Needed for the Ranger Fundraiser



On June 11th and 12th Tunbridge and Chelsea families and community members are invited to join a fundraising effort at The Ranger bike race on the Tunbridge Fairgrounds. The Ranger is excited to partner with our school support organizations to raise money for our First Branch Schools. Our groups support teacher requests for supplies, field trips, playground equipment, winter carnivals, field days, visiting artists, teacher appreciation events and more.


On Saturday, June 11th at 4pm, we will host a 5k fun run, with all proceeds to be shared between the schools and the Tunbridge Public Library. In the late afternoon we'll run a Lemonade and Cookie stand while Bow Thayer plays a free concert.


On Sunday, June 12th, the day of the bike races, we'll open up our Lemonade and Cookie stand again from 10am-4pm.


We hope this event serves as the first of many collaborative efforts to support our schools. We'll need volunteers of all shapes and sizes. Adults to register 5k participants, kids to hand out water to runners, adults to make lemonade, kids to sell cookies, adults to keep the kids from eating all the cookies...


If you can, please join us by signing up for a volunteer slot or two on either or both of the event days:


June 11 Ranger Volunteer Schedule

June 12 Ranger Volunteer Schedule


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May was Hulbert Outdoor Center month for the 4th-8th graders of both campuses. So much fun and bonding was had by all. It was a great way for Chelsea and Tunbridge kids to come together. Today, Friday May 20th the K-3rd graders will be having a Field Day hosted at Tunbridge.

Kindergarten News
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In Chelsea: This month, Ms. Crocker's students worked in teams to design and build bridges out of recycled materials. After building their bridges, students used unifix cubes to measure and record the length, height and width of their bridge. They enjoyed this engineering challenge! 


Second Grade News
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In Chelsea: The 8th graders taught Kayleigh DePaul 2nd graders how to play Wiffle ball. The 8th graders led the game, explained the rules, and helped their second-grade buddy throughout the game!

Third & Fourth Grade News
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In Chelsea: Christina Depoian's 3rd and 4th graders are detectives at work trying to figure out the polygon being described from a set of clues. They were practicing their geometry skills in preparation for the SBAC testing. 

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In Tunbridge: Jess Anderson's 4th graders studied a magnetism and electricity unit. The kids created temporary magnets with pins, making a compass and building electrical circuits. 

Library News
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Poetry Cafe came to fruition for 5th grade last week! They sipped lemonade or seltzer and read poetry in pairs. An audience member, Mr. Anderson, was even inspired to come up and read a poem he was reminded of. 6th grade will open Poetry Cafe  next.