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. |
|
To be sure you are staying up to date:
|
|
Upcoming Dates to Note:
March 14th : Masks become optional at all WRVSU schools.
March 16th/17th: End of Second Trimester/Beginning of Third.
March 18th: Half Day, noon dismissal.
March 21st: Art/Music Switch. Art to Tunbridge, Music to Chelsea.
March 21-31st: Parent Teacher Conferences.
March 25th: Report Cards sent home.
March 31st: Half Day, noon dismissal.
|
|
Dear Parents and Guardians,
Much has happened since our last newsletter sent just before Winter Break. To begin, a new principal has been hired for the FBUD. Janet Cash will start on July 1st. More on Ms. Cash, and opportunities to meet her, below.
We want to thank all of the Chelsea voters that came out to vote on Town Meeting Day. We are encouraged by the results. The question as to whether Chelsea should leave the First Branch Unified District was voted down. We are looking forward to the spring and the continuation of our Restructuring Efforts. To read more about this please visit the school's website.
Beginning Monday, when we return from the weekend, we will switch to a policy of optional masks. Please see a full communication from Superintendent Kinnarney in your inboxes as to the reasoning behind this decision. In short, our policies on illness and symptoms will remain as they were. And, we are highlighting to our students that the decision to wear a mask -or to not- will be a personal one, come Monday.
We are working hard to facilitate a community of compassion and non-judgement. As of Monday, we are a Mask Friendly school. Some students and families will choose to continue to wear them, some will choose to remove them. We ask that you have a conversation with your child this weekend in anticipation of Monday to communicate your family's decision as well as the importance of compassion in the days and weeks ahead. More on Mask Friendly schools below.
Respectfully,
~ Mark and Michael
|
|
|
|
Last month Janet Cash was hired as our new principal to begin July 1st and lead FBUD as we move to one Elementary school in Tunbridge and one Middle school in Chelsea in September of 2022.
|
|
The decision to have one principal for both buildings coincides with the restructuring. In November, Chelsea principal, Mark Blount and the Tunbridge principal, Michael Livingston announced their retirements at the end of this school year. Cash will lead FBUD along with an associate principal who will be hired early this spring.
Ms. Cash brings to the position her experience as a Director of Special Services and Counseling, Principal, Educator, and Outdoor Program Director. Her focus on community has led to enhancements to special education programming and school-community partnerships. Under her leadership her previous school was nationally recognized for these efforts.
Superintendent Jamie Kinnarney spoke of the new hire “It became abundantly clear during the interview process that Ms. Cash possesses the attributes that we all desired in our next Principal of FBUD. I am eager to work in collaboration with Ms. Cash and the faculty/staff of FBUD to implement the next phase of our merger.”
Ms. Cash will begin in her official capacity on July 1st. This spring, in anticipation of that start date, she will be joining the community on a listening tour to introduce herself and hear directly from families and members of the Chelsea and Tunbridge communities. Stay tuned for some opprotunities in April, May, and June to meet our incoming principal.
|
|
Mask Friendly Schools
Beginning next Monday, March 14th masking will become optional at all WRVSU schools. This will also include school buses. We will remain masked through the remainder of this week per AOE guidance due to the fact that we are still less than a week removed from our winter vacation.
The changes in guidance are due to several factors, of which include increased vaccination rates across the state, data specific to Covid-19 positivity, and recommendations from medical providers. We want to also make certain that the following are reviewed and discussed prior to this change in WRVSU masking expectations.
|
|
|
We are Mask Friendly schools. This means we understand that everyone will make their own choice about whether to wear a mask, and we can be friendly and respectful to everyone regardless of choice.
There are lots of reasons that someone might choose to wear a mask.
- You might wear a mask if you have been sick recently, or if someone at home is sick and you want to be careful not to spread germs at school just in case you are also getting sick.
- You might wear a mask if you, or someone in your household, is immunocompromised (might get sick more easily than other people) or is very worried about getting sick.
- You might want to keep wearing your mask for the next few weeks, just to get used to the idea of masks being optional.
- You might wear a mask in some classes or some places but not everywhere.
- You might wear a mask because your family at home has asked you to keep wearing your mask and you are doing what they asked you to do.
- You might just like wearing a mask!
- Whatever you choose to do is OK, and whatever your friends choose to do is OK, and we will all work together to keep school fun, safe, and healthy for our learning.
There are lots of reasons that someone might choose NOT to wear a mask.
- You might not wear a mask if you feel like it is harder to breathe with your mask on.
- You might not wear a mask because you want to be able to have everyone see your whole face.
- You might not wear a mask because you think it is easier to talk and have people hear you if your mask is off.
- You might not wear a mask because your skin bothers you with the mask on.
- You might not wear a mask in some classes or some places, and you might wear a mask in other classes or other places.
- You might not wear a mask because you just feel ready to take your mask off!
Whatever you choose to do is OK, and whatever your friends choose to do is OK, and we will all work together to keep school fun, safe, and healthy for our learning.
|
|
 |
OUTSIDE in Chelsea: Ms. Crocker's kindergarteners use teamwork building "mouse house" shelters. |
|
|
|
INSIDE in Chelsea: Ms. Crocker's kindergarteners use teamwork and persistence while stacking cups during choice time.
|
|
|
|
|
In Tunbridge : Elaine Howe came to Tunbridge for Winter Carnival and read to Ms Perkin's first graders as they enjoyed hot cocoa around a campfire. |
In Chelsea: In Ms. Connolly's lessons have surrounded ideas of Unity. Chelsea First Graders reached out to the Tunbridge First Graders. A few weeks earlier, the Tunbridge First Graders had written to us to introduce themselves. As the year progresses the future classmates will continue to keep in touch between the two schools.
Also on the idea of Unity, in the classroom they have a tradition of creating a book in celebration of each birthday. The birthday student creates the cover of the book and their classmates each create a page with positive statements and a drawing in celebration of the birthday student. On the day of the birthday, students are presented with the book to take home.
|
|
|
|
INSIDE in Tunbridge : Jess Anderson's 4th graders are making Alpanas, traditional Bengali designs used to celebrate Dawali and other holidays. The work ties in with their recent read aloud of Rickshaw Girl. |
|
Art is in Chelsea until March 21st, then Dee Rouelle will be back in Tunbridge!
7th and 8th graders are working on creating traditional Ukrainian Pysanky eggs-learning how to draw on an egg, use wax relief and dye baths from yellow to black, and add traditional symbols as well as ones we are accustomed to. This project is a way to learn about world arts culture and practice color theory while at the same time thinking about the present world actions in a thoughtful way.
Meanwhile, 3rd and 4th graders are creating mystery maps using primary literary sources as our inspirations but adding our own spin on what we think maps can teach us. Students are also learning how to use pen & ink to add textures, and outline our land and water formations.
Kindergarteners are using stamping to create pictures. Students are asked to think of the alphabet letters as shapes rather than letters and find ways to stamp with them to create images.
|
|
In Tunbridge: 5-8th graders are working on a Wax Museum Project. So far they have chosen their subject (a famous, accomplished woman, past or present), and are starting to research their achievements. Some of the women who have been selected are Ruth Bader Ginsburg, Betty White, and Princess Diana.
We are gladly accepting donations to help with costuming, wigs, period based clothing and accessories. Please send them labeled Wax Museum Donation.
In Chelsea: 5-8th graders are spotlighting some fabulous women, such as Billie Jean King and Misty Copeland.
In younger grades we are learning about Jennifer Keelan-Chaffins, who fought for the passage of the ADA when she was only 8. She is featured in one of our Red Clover Books, All the Way to the Top by Annette Bay Pimentel.
The library is holding a stuffed animal drive to add some reading buddies to both Libraries. If you have a stuffed animal that is gently used and no longer needed please consider donating them to the library so our younger patrons have a "buddy" to read with. Label them: Library reading buddy donation.
|
|
Kindergarteners practice yoga in Tunbridge with Ms. Sylvie
|
|
ICYMI: Please check Jan. 14th's Newsletter No. 4 or the homepage of the new website for a timeline on the Restructuring Process.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
