The Circle
Rutland Town’s Link between School and Community
October 2011
TOWN NEWS
By Carol Bam
Chairman of the Select Board, Stanley
Rhodes reported tropical storm Irene gave the town emergency personnel “quite a
test.” He patrolled the roads with Captain
Faignant, as did Road Commissioner Byron Hathaway and Fire Chief Joe Denardo
evaluating the damage. “Time recently spent on an emergency evacuation plan
came in handy. All town emergency personnel worked very well together,” said
Rhodes. “Irene presented a challenge, but we came through shining compared to
other communities.”
The Fire Dept. has ordered a new tanker
truck which will be delivered in 9 months and paid for from the Fire
Depreciation Fund.
In June, the
Select Board voted to dissolve the Recreation Committee and place operations in
the hands of a single director, Mike Rowe, who has served as director of
Northwood Pool for a number of years, and who also teaches PE at Rutland Town
School. Chairman Rhodes said the Board agreed to a one-year trial of the
reorganization. The Select Board sought to streamline operations, minimize
miscommunication, and have one person accountable for town recreation
functions. Rhodes pointed out that there is no additional cost to the new
system and that Rowe is doing an excellent job.
The pool facility upgrades were completed before the summer season opened
at Northwood. “The pool itself and the
building are in great shape for a
number of years to comesaid Rhodes. It was last November that
voters approved refurbishing of this important town asset. Funds of $125,00
were obtained from the 1% town tax to pay for the majority of the project.
The
Town has applied for a 50/50 grant to do major repairs to the slate roof of the
Town Office. The Town has received a
$7800 grant from the Regional Planning Commission to continue pursuing a zoning
document for the Town. Last year the Select Board rejected the zoning document
as being too restrictive. Rhodes said that the grant will facilitate gathering
further input from residents in order to determine what form a new zoning
document might take.
Rhodes
wants residents to know that behind the scenes efforts are underway to address
Flory Plaza in Center Rutland. A Brownfields Study has been completed assessing
environmental hazards that must be identified before the dilapidated buildings
can be torn down. The study concluded that there are minimal contaminants such
as lead, asbestos, and other hazardous materials at the site.
Chairman Rhodes has instructed the municipal department
heads to anticipate level funding next year’s budgets once again. Receipts from
the 1% local sales tax continue on target, raising about $1 million a year in revenues that go directly to reduce taxes on Town
residents.
From RTS Principal
Pati Beaumont
Welcome
back to a new school year. Education is
one of the few professions in which “first exposure” occurs every year! What a great opportunity as students
experience new classmates, possibly a new room and different teachers, teachers
have new students, possibly new curriculum, and new colleagues. This year we will get to know our new
Superintendent of Schools, Dr. Debra Taylor; Curriculum Coach, Noel Bryant;
Director of Information Technology, Greg Connors; as well as our new Assistant
Principal, Aaron Boynton. These people bring years of experience in their
respective fields. For our first
in-service day, all faculty and staff members from the Rutland Central
Supervisory Union met at the Holiday Inn where we discussed our newly adopted
mission and vision for the RCSU:
Our
Mission is:
We exist to ensure that all students learn at a high level.
Our
Vision is:
· Staff take collective responsibility for all student learning, actively
communicate the results of that learning with families, and partner with
families to achieve each child’s full potential.
· Strong
leadership that champions a supportive school
climate and professional teaching culture where data are utilized to
inform instructional practices.
· Instruction is research based, curriculum is closely aligned to standards,
and assessment outcomes are
directly linked to a comprehensive, cohesive support system.
We
look forward to working together in the future.
There
was quite a stir at RTS during the week before our opening day! Although our school building was not
directly impacted, our community certainly was! Approximately 50 employees from FEMA used our school (in its
other capacity as an emergency shelter) for a few days as they organized for the
tasks ahead of them to help rebuild our state after the destruction caused by
Tropical Storm Irene. We began school
three days later than planned, as the sewer system at the bottom of Post Road
was not working properly. Once we
began, children saw numerous disaster workers fixing utilities poles, cleaning
the silt and debris from Post Road to re-establish the access, and driving
truck after truck of fill and heavy equipment past our school. What an opportunity to educate our students
regarding the importance of civic and community commitment! The month ended with a number of students,
teachers and community members bidding farewell and thanks to the National
Guard as the last troops left Vermont.
One of our initiatives this year is to reduce bullying and harassment at our school. A new committee made up of teachers, administrators and community members has been created to support this initiative. Thanks to all the people who were able to attend our first day assembly where we explained some of the ways we would engage students in learning resiliency skills. Students were given “bully bands” to wear on their wrists to remind them that they should “Be a Buddy, Not a Bully” by standing up to and reporting bullies. Through the first week of school everyone signed a pledge banner of support which is hanging in the lower lobby. Students have created their own songs and pledges, which they recite daily. We look forward to a safer, supportive learning environment for everyone!
We
welcome visitors, as well as suggestions or ideas that help make our school
welcoming to the entire community. As
stated in our RCSU motto from opening day:
“Together, we’re better!”
Rutland
Town’s 250th Birthday Party
The party held
July 4 at Mill Village Chapel treated celebrators to sunny skies and a diverse
array of activities and stations that highlighted the history of the town and
good old family fun.
Pomp and
circumstance was brief as town officials opened the day and spoke of our
history. Ceremony gave way to fun with RTS children raising their voices in
patriotic songs. Then, the Groovey
Grannies’ line dancing inspired grins all around.
Children were
introduced to small farm animals, oxen and a wild mustang. Boy Scouts
constructed a rope bridge that was well tested by young volunteers. There was
wool spinning and music. Families browsed the Chapel’s multiple stations
displaying photos and artifacts of town history. A DVD featuring town residents
sharing memories of life long ago also played inside.
Donations from
the BBQ, the dunk tanks and from the sale of T-shirts featuring the town logo
benefited Rutland Town senior programs and the Mill Village Chapel maintenance
fund.
The party was sponsored by the Town Select Board and area businesses
including CVPS, Thomas Dairy, Hubbard’s, Celebration Rentals, and Hathaway
Farm. A committee of 20, ably chaired
by Irene Hathaway, made it all happen in just a few weeks. Three cheers for Rutland Town!
Annual
PTO Coat Drive
From Deb Wright
Want
to create more room in that closet?
Here’s the way to do it! RTS PTO
will be holding the 11th Annual Used Coat/Accessory Drive in late
October. The majority of the donations
will be taken to the Rutland County Women’s Network & Shelter, along with
the possibility of contributing to a flood relief assistance program.
We
will collect items from Mon., October 24th through Tues., November 15. Please look for “drop” boxes at the main school entrance lobby
and gym lobby during this time. For
your convenience in drop off, the coat drive will once again run during
parent/teacher conference times.
Needed:
· CLEAN, adult, children, and infant coats and winter accessories (mittens,
hats, boots, snowpants, etc.). All
items are appreciated, making special note of the need for children sizes 5
through 12. Please remember that we
cannot donate unclean items or coats with closures that are not in working
condition (snaps, zippers). We
appreciate your attention to this detail.
· Old cell phones can also be donated, as the Women’s Shelter participates in
a recycle program.
Please contact Deb Wright (773-5654) with any questions or if you would
like to help volunteer in this service project. Thank you!
What’s
the Circle ?
The Circle is a Town and School publication, informing the Rutland Town community
about items of school and
local interest. The Circle is not a public forum. The school administration
reserves the right to exercise editorial control over style
and content in keeping with a
proper educational environment.
The Circle staff includes Principal
Patricia Beaumont as Editor in Chief,
Carol Bam, Theresa Kulig, and Marie Pennington. Five issues are published
during the school year, in October, December, February, April and June.
For more information, mailing list changes, or to contribute
articles, call the RTS office at 775-0566, or email your request to carolbam@aol.com.
The
Circle, c/o Rutland Town School,
1612 Post Road, Rutland, VT 05701.
Introducing Aaron Boynton
Assistant Principal
I am excited
and honored to be Rutland Town School’s new Assistant Principal and Athletic
Director. Everyone has been very
welcoming as I get to know the learning community of RTS.
As a
child living and going to school in a small Vermont town, I felt the collaborative
support and positive school culture that existed between school, family, and
community. It had such a positive
impact on me that it has led me to what I am and what I do today. I believe a dedicated focus on our children
and their learning experience is the most important thing we can do for their,
and our, future. I hope that as a
learning community that extends beyond the walls of RTS, we work together to
continue to provide these excellent experiences.
My
professional experiences include teaching both first grade and sixth grade in
Rutland City Schools. I graduated from
the Castleton State College Woodruff Institute for School Leaders and was the
principal of Middletown Springs Elementary School for four years, prior to
coming to Rutland Town School. I work
hard to meet the expectations for school leaders that are outlined in the
Interstate School Leaders Licensure Consortium. Please visit the RTS webpage and my profile for more
information. Feel free and comfortable
to call me anytime, stop in, or e-mail
me with questions, concerns, or to just say “hello.”
I look
forward to a great year at Rutland Town School.
A Collage by Jarod Varin,
Kindergarten
Friends
of Music Wants YOU
Membership Drive
The
Rutland Town Friends of Music is conducting its annual membership drive. Friends
of Music (FOM) provides financial and volunteer support to the music programs
at RTS. Our young musicians are
enriched by playing for community
functions and invite those community members who enjoy their performances to
contribute to their ongoing success.
Volunteers
are needed to serve on the FOM committee through the school year, or you might
consider helping for a specific event. Help is needed chaperoning, videotaping
performances, with clerical tasks and record keeping, with the choral library,
and assisting in the Band Room. Volunteers are also necessary to the successful
presentation of Bistro Jazz Night, the Talent Show and other concert
performances.
If you
have a van or truck and can help transport equipment and instruments, your help
would be greatly appreciated.
If you
would rather make a financial contribution, there are many Membership Levels
and any donation, no matter how small, is welcome. At all levels of support,
donors will be listed in each concert program (unless they would rather not be
listed.)
Membership Levels
o Adult $
10+
o Friend $ 25+
o Family $
50+
o Associate $ 150+
o Sustaining $ 250+
If you would like to share in supporting music education at Rutland Town
School, please mail a check to:
Rutland
Town Friends of Music,
c/o Rutland Town School,
1612 Post Rd., Rutland, VT
05701.
PTO NEWS
From Ingrid Gallo, President
The
PTO welcomes our new Executive
Officers: Candice Moran - Treasurer
,and Stacey Greene - Secretary.
Remaining are Ingrid Gallo - President and Samantha Racine - Vice
President.
Many,
many thanks to Mary McGuiness Smith for
her years as PTO Treasurer and Kristen Rackliffe for her many years as
President, Vice President and Secretary! You both will be missed!
Our
next PTO meetings are Mon., November 7,
and Mon., December 5 at 6:30 pm in the RTS library. Check the school website
www.rutlandtownschool.org for other PTO events and meetings into 2012.
We
need volunteers to help with events. If you have new ideas for an event
or fundraiser, please come to one of our meetings or contact Ingrid Gallo at
775-0079.
Sales
of Calendars ($10 each) for November’s Calendar Raffle are
underway. We will begin drawing on
November 1 for prizes range from $25-$100 per day.
The Calendar Raffle has been a huge success in the past and with your help,
this Raffle can be one of our biggest fundraisers. If you have questions please feel free to contact Kristen
Rackliffe, at kmwally3@yahoo.com or call 770-5931.
Dear
Helpers,
Thank you for fixing the roads.
Thank you for fixing the power lines. Thank you for building the
bridges. To all of the firemen, CVPS
Workers, VELCO workers, Army National Guard, policemen and ALL of the
volunteers…… WE APPRECIATE YOU!
Sincerely, Mrs. Coughlin’s First Graders: Katelyn
V., Jacob W., Mia M., Grace F., Joey F., Tristan S., Izzy S., Anthony C.,
Anthony P., Abby L., Kate L., Dakota
M. and Jason W.
Sign Up for Tools for Schools!
By Linda Mullin
Price Chopper has committed $500,000 for
“Tools for Schools” with the goal of supporting schools in the communities they
serve. Parent and community participation is key to the success of the program
in Rutland Town.
You earn points every time you use your AdvantEdge
Card. Your points are combined with the points of others who have also
chosen to support your school. The school program coordinator uses these
redemption points to purchase new equipment for the school. In the past, we have gotten Ellison cutters,
cameras, videos, games, and instruments.
Last year we accumulated about 62,000 points. The more
points we get, the more the students will benefit.
Now is the time to register your AdvantEdge Card for
“Tools for Schools.” If you signed up
in the past, please re-register. There are two ways to sign up:
· Sign up at the Customer Service desk at the store.
· Go to https://www2.pricechopper.com/toolsforschools/single.shtml
The
school code is 15334. If you have any
questions, please contact Chuck Regula at 773-1742. Thank You!
Rutland NeighborWorks ~ Help with Home
Energy Efficiency
By Rich Dow, H.E.A.T. Squad Outreach Coordinator
In July 2010, NeighborWorks® received a grant
from the U.S. Department of Energy to
implement a county-wide effort to achieve wide-scale energy savings, create
jobs, and put in place the infrastructure for long-term energy savings in Rutland County. Within a 3-year period, NeighborWorks will
facilitate 1,000 homeowners undertaking home energy improvements.
Rutland Town has a chance to win up to $13,650!
NeighborWorks
of Western Vermont invites Rutland Town, and all Rutland County towns, to
participate in the County Energy Competition. Each participating town has a
target number of home energy improvements to reach.
Rutland
Town will win $50 for every completed improvement regardless if the target is
reached. All towns that achieve their target number are eligible to win one of
two $10,000 awards for the following categories:
· Town with the highest percent of home energy improvements completed per
capita
· Town with the highest average energy savings
(Please
note that a town can only win one category in the bonus round.) All financial
awards must go toward an energy efficiency improvement activity, such as
weatherizing a town building; purchasing materials for an energy curriculum at
your local school, or helping residents or businesses improve energy
efficiency.
The
target number for each town is 5% of the number of households owning a home.
Rutland Town’s target is 73 and it’s off to a slow start but it’s not too late!
All
home energy improvements must be finished (with “test-out” complete) by May 31,
2012, and winners will be announced by July 15, 2012.
Getting
It Done
Under
the banner “NeighborWorks H.E.A.T. Squad” we have developed a “One-Stop-Shop”
for home energy improvements to include:
· Help scheduling a “home energy check-up” (at a discounted cost of $100) wherein a certified energy professional conducts a detailed
analysis of energy saving efficiency
opportunities in their home
· Help from an Energy Advocate about technical and financial resources, and
works with the homeowner throughout the entire process
· Help with construction management to ensure that the work is done to the
homeowner’s satisfaction
· Access to financing to help homeowners pay for the energy improvements.
Local partners plan to use a
wide range of techniques to reach people in their communities, including: door-to-door
campaigns, phone-a-thons, among other outreach methods. NeighborWorks will
provide educational packets conduct workshops, and maintain a website with
town-by-town updates on the competition.
NeighborWorks will be glad to come to your community to explain how the
competition works.
Join
your friends and neighbors. It starts with one call to the NeighborWorks
H.E.A.T. Squad for a Home Energy Check-Up. Stop wasting money on utility and
energy costs to keep your home comfortable!
Call (802) 438-2303 x 227 to schedule your check-up or visit our
website at www.heatsquad.org for more information.
Collage by Will Fuller,
Kindergarten
NEWS FROM THE REC. DEPT
By Director, Mike Rowe
Hello and
welcome to the fall season from the Rec. Dept.
Our soccer teams are off and running with over 100 kids participating in
grades K-6. I would like to thank the parents for helping make this a great
program for our town kids. Coaching the
K-2 program is Rob Labate; with U10 boys is Becky Regula and Rob Macpherson.
Coaching U10 girls is PJ Racine, Teddi
Lovko is with U12 girls, and Todd Knapp
has the U12 Boys. Without their help we would not have a strong program. Thank you.
The Annual
Halloween Party will be held Sunday, October 30 from 5-7pm in the school
gym. Please join us for a fun filled
event with a pumpkin carving contest (pre-carved), costume contest, games and
raffles these events are for kids in Pre-K to 6th grade. We will also have pizza and drinks, if
parents wish to bring a treat or two please feel free. We will have tables set
up. We are looking for people to help
serve refreshments, so if you would like to help please contact Michael Rowe at
779-2518.
Winter is just around the corner
which means that basketball season is near.
We are looking for coaches for grade 3-6 for both boys and girls. The K-2 basketball will start in January,
more info to follow.
Sign-up for basketball
will be November 1 & 2 from 5-6pm in the gym lobby of the school. If you have any questions, please contact Michael
Rowe at 779-2518. We hope you have a
great fall season.
Together We Are
Strong:
Lessons From Irene
By Emmie Lovko, Grade 5
When
tropical storm Irene devastated Vermont, many individuals put aside their
normal lives to help. Mrs. Ketchen's 5th grade class decided to use this opportunity to show these people how much
our class appreciates the help and dedication they have shown us.
We
began by selecting three organizations to write letters of appreciation to: The
National Guard, Rutland Town Volunteer Firefighters, and Vermont State Troopers.
Once we chose who would receive our letters we began to write. When our letters
were completed one of Mrs. Ketchen's students, Zachary Aiken, was chosen to
deliver them in person. My letter was selected for publication in The
Circle to represent all the hard work our class has put into showing
those people how much we care.
Dear Volunteer Firefighters,
Thank you so much for all your hard work and dedication to the Town of
Rutland. Tropical Storm Irene devastated Vermont and it's reassuring to know that
you are here to provide help to those who need it most. So many houses and
buildings were flooded and you were there to assist us. Working overtime so
that people and their pets could be rescued from their neighborhoods that
seemed to have been transformed into small lakes. Numerous buildings have had
to be pumped of water and still you were there. Fires have also been created as
a result of Irene washing propane tanks away, but you never gave up.
So many things have to be accomplished for Rutland to recover from Irene,
but we know you will be there providing relief and support. So many times I
have driven down the road and seen the disastrous effects Irene had on us. But
then I've seen you. Always working. Always helping. Therefore we are so
grateful to you for all you have done.
Your friend,
Emmie
From the Rutland Town Fire Dept.
By Michael J. Barron
In Tribute
Her name may mean “peace”, but there was nothing peaceful
about Irene’s visit or its aftermath. Nationally, there were over 40 storm
related deaths, with property and infrastructure damage in the billions.
Locally, repairs of the destruction are
ongoing with costs yet to be determined. The devastation will in time become a
reminiscence to be shared with subsequent generations. But there are many other
Irene connected memories that we must pass on.
We must remember the actions of the emergency agencies
who responded to countless calls for assistance. Fire Departments (mostly
volunteer), Police Agencies, Public Works Departments, Highway Departments
worked tirelessly during the storm. Evacuating those in danger, rescuing
victims, dealing with hazardous materials, and barricading flooded roads are
but a few of the operations carried out that night. After the search and rescue
teams did all that could be done to locate people, affected areas were made
secure until deemed safe by appropriate authorities. All available help was provided to those in need, and
infrastructure was inspected and made safe before being opened to the public.
Thanks to groups like the Red Cross and Salvation Army
which manned shelters, fed victims and responders alike. They continue to
deliver aid where needed.
We must remember the National Guard from Vermont and
surrounding states who have diligently labored, moving thousands of tons of
earth in order to repair miles of road that had been reduced to rubble. In some
cases these soldiers left their own damaged homes in order to answer the call
to duty. Many are still on the job.
We must remember government response
from all levels. FEMA has set up sites around the state where those suffering
can start putting things back together. State and local authorities have taken
common sense approaches in reacting to the devastation. The usual drawn out
procedures have been set aside and the process of repair greatly accelerated.
Their ‘get it done’ approach is helping put lives back together.
We must remember those individual citizens who, when seeing the hardship in adjacent towns, banded together, developed solutions, and acted. Non-perishable food and other necessities were collected and transported via wilderness roads using pickup trucks and four-wheelers to where needed. Wooded trails circumventing washed out roads were quickly upgraded by townspeople, allowing those who had been stranded a way in and out.
Transportation to and from each
entry point was organized. Volunteer guides insured the safety of school
children on the trails. Neighbor reached out to neighbor in innumerable ways.
Money, food, clothes, and most importantly, time has been donated to those most
impacted.Lastly, and most importantly, we must remember the three local men who
died in the act of performing of a service to us all. Michael Garofano Sr. and
his son, Michael Jr., were lost while attempting to secure Rutland City’s water
supply at the peak of the storm’s fury.
Shawn Stocker, a Marine Corps veteran of the Iraq war and National Guard
Master Sergeant, died while effecting repairs to flood damaged roads. The
conduct of these men is emblematic of what is best about us. They answered the
call. No man can give more than they have given. Let us not forget.
Senior Corner
By Theresa Kulig
The Senior group continues to meet for weekly Tuesday
lunches. Serving begins at 11:45 am and
after clean up there is a chance to socialize with other citizens of Rutland
Town. Reservations are needed to
attend; you may make one by calling Ann Glagola at 775-1302 by noon on
Monday. The price is $3 for folks over
60 and $4 for those under 60 years of age.
Fitz Vogt still provides the food which is then transported to the
Cheney Hill Center lunch site by one of the lunch participants. Mrs. Glagola says as their group is “getting
along in years” and there is a need for
people to come and help transport the food.
If you have thought about joining the Tuesday lunch group, now is the
time to call Ann and join in the fun.
This group recently took a trip to Lake George and
enjoyed a lunch cruise. Many of them
traveled in style by limousine to New York. The group used the money that was
raised for them from the 250th Town birthday celebration. It was a
questionable day here, as it was
raining when they set out in the morning, but by the time they boarded the boat
the weather had cleared.
Mrs. Glagola told me they are
hoping to take a bus trip through Elders On The Go, but again they would like
some help with the planning. If you can
help out the Senior Group in any way, please contact Mrs. Glagola and let her
know.
Hazardous Waste Collection, Sat.
October 15
· Collection from 8 - 11:30 at the Transfer Station.
Residents can also utilize the Gleason Rd. facility during normal operating
hours at other times during the year, at
no fee.
· Car batteries are not collected
at the Transfer Station and latex paint is not considered hazardous.
· Drained oil can be brought to
the Transfer Station during regular open hours. Be sure the contents are
in a clear container, with no contaminates (water, gas, anti-freeze).
· A new state law
prohibits dumping electronic items (TV's, computers, monitors) in with
household garbage. The free collection point for these items is the
Gleason Rd. facility.
· Don't forget to bring
deposit bottles and cans to the Transfer Station and place them in the
Elementary School's PTO box. Money collected is used to support
school activities.
RECYCLE, RECYCLE. The more you separate items from the garbage, the less garbage we
pay to compact and haul away.
From Charley Shields
Elder
Focus
By Barbara Hanson, SVCOA
You know how much you value independence in your
life. Now you can help others stay
independent too.
Families in every community struggle to care for their
loved ones. By becoming a companion to
a frail person, you help that person stay in his or her own home. Whether
you’re giving families or professional caregivers much needed time off, running
errands, or simply being a friend, you’ll make a difference that strengthens
and helps preserve an individual’s independence.
Think about it. Your kindness can create life changing
possibilities. If you’re 55 or older and want to share your experience and
compassion, you have what it takes to be a Senior Companion.
Senior Companions serve from 15 to 40 hours a week. Companions receive a tax free stipend of
$2.65 an hour which does not affect eligibility for Medicaid, 3Squares, SSI or
subsidized housing. Companions receive a mileage reimbursement, paid vacation,
holidays and sick days and also receive accident / liability insurance while on duty. Senior Companions
participate in pre-service orientation and training from the Southwestern
Vermont Council on Aging, where you will be serving.
When you volunteer, you’re not just helping others – you
are helping yourself. Volunteering
leads to new discoveries and new friends which can help you live a longer and
healthier life.
Last year, members of the Vermont Senior Companion
Program provided over 70,000 hours of service to over 400 frail seniors living
in communities across the State of Vermont. One of these elders said, “The
Senior Companion’s friendly visits are the high points of my week and help me
to remain living independently…just the way I want to be. I will be forever grateful for this
wonderful program.” Guy Isabelle, the State Director of Vermont’s Senior
Companion Program, in thanking the Senior Companions, called them real heroes
for giving of themselves to others.
If you
are a senior who wants to make a difference in the community, and would like
more information about the Senior Companion Program, please call Maureen Harvey
at 802-786-5990 and she’ll tell you all about it.
Barbara Hanson is Assistant Executive Director/ Community
Resource Development Director for the Southwestern Vermont Council on Aging.
For information about senior services, call the Senior HelpLine at
800-642-5119 or 786-5991 or visit the website at www.svcoa.org.
The Changing Seasons of Tapestry at RTS
By Lori McNeil, Site Coordinator
It was a wonderful summer for the Summer Tapestry Camp.
The weather was beautiful and many days were spent at our gorgeous Vermont
Lakes and our own Northwood Pool. One of the favorite activities of the
students was fishing. Volunteers at the State Parks showed students the art of
casting, baiting, catching, and releasing. For many it was their first fishing
experience. We even caught some fish.
At the end of eight weeks, the cafeteria was filled with
projects created by the students. Our theme of “The Solar System: Tapestry is
Out of This World” was a huge success. It was very exciting to watch the very
last space shuttle launch into space. We even were able to show them the very
first walk on the moon, which some of us even remember watching live in black
and white in July 20, 1969. As a part
of our study of the sun we visited CVPS to tour their solar energy project.
Summer Tapestry’s trip to the
CVPS solar center.
The Afterschool Tapestry program started this year on the
first day of school. With the late start to school due to hurricane Irene, we
all had to be a bit flexible. Our location has moved to the former FACS room at
RTS. This has been a wonderful change and will give us opportunities to do more
with the students because it is our own space. The program runs Monday- Friday
from 2:50 – 5:30. Each day there is
time allocated for recess, snack, homework or quiet activities, and scheduled
events or free choice time. Our schedule is flexible, and we adjust it according to the needs of the
children.
Fall offers so many naturally wonderful and exciting
activities to enjoy. Tapestry students will spend as much time outside as
possible fort building, hiking, playing group games, and jumping in a few
leaves. We look forward to apple
picking at an area orchard and creating lots of tasty treats made with our
apples. We hope to find our way through the Hathaway’s Corn Maze. We have not
been very successful other years but it is so much fun to try.
Tapestry students will go to Garden Time for a tour and
mask making in October. Also, Beth McReynolds, our art teacher, will lead some
very special art enrichment projects. She has planned a papier-maché structure
for Halloween to create with students in grades 4-6. In November she is planning a project for students in grades K-3.
October is also our special Lights On Afterschool/Halloween
celebration, to be held October 28, from 3:30 - 5:30. We will have games, crafts, food, and light bulbs to color to
show the importance of after school care for our children. We invite all of you
to come and help us celebrate.
Please stop in and visit any time. Feel free to call with any questions.
Lori McNeil – cell # 779-6102, or RTS 775-0566 (ext. 3016 or ext. 2037.)
Road
Notes
from Byron Hathaway,
Road Commissioner
Hurricane
Irene left Vermonters with much to clean up.
Here in Rutland Town we fared better than most. The damage to our infrastructure consisted
mostly of mud cleanup in the Post Road and McKinley Avenue area. Other damage consisted of damaged culverts
on Quarterline Road and on Timberlane;
a washout around the wing walls at the Post Road box culvert; shoulder
damage and a plugged culvert on the East Pittsford Road, a minor washout on
McKinley Avenue hill, and some erosion along the Curtis Brook next to the East
Pittsford Road on Sand Hill.
Funding from FEMA will help pay for some of the projects at the rate of 75%
with 12.5% of additional funds coming from the State. Those projects along federally aided highways (Post Road, East
Pittsford Road) may be funded at 100% of cost through the Federal Highway
Administration. The Highway budget will
be affected by less than $10,000.00
By Mary Ashcroft
Spiders crept into K - 5
classrooms at Rutland Town School in September. Not an early Halloween trick, but the
opening of our Four Winds Nature Program for the new school year. Spiders create amazing natural patterns when
they spin webs to catch food. Students examined spiders’ body parts and
legs, and learned how they snare their food in a variety of webs. Outdoors, students
looked for elusive arachnids in their natural setting.
In October, students will watch falling leaves with a new
eye—looking for patterns. Leaves come
in a variety of colors in the fall, but also have unique designs in their
veins, lobes, size and shape. Leaves
are the factories of plants, manufacturing sugar and starches with energy from
the sun through photosynthesis. All
animals on earth ultimately depend on leaves to survive.
Reinforce these lessons of nature at home with your
family. Fall is a beautiful time to walk in the woods.
· Look high and look low for spider webs, and notice
their patterns and function.
· Try to capture a whole spider web on a piece of
construction paper to take home and display.
· How many different leaves can you collect? Look for
differences in color, vein pattern and
shape.
· Take home a few of the most interesting leaves, and
press them between sheets of waxed paper for display.
Volunteers and students will continue to explore Patterns
in Nature in this hands-on, classroom program throughout the year. Volunteers--parents and friends of
learning--are trained each month by Four Winds Nature Institute staff. They then team teach an hour long program in
the K-5 classrooms. Experiments, workstation projects, outdoor scavenging are
among the activities enjoyed by students.
New volunteers are always welcome. No prior experience is needed, and most
materials are provided. Join us for a
training session on the first Thursday of each month at Cheney Hill School on
Cedar Avenue.
For more information, call or
e-mail our coordinator: Marnie Roussel
at Maverickenterprises@comcast.net;
786-2423.
From the Guidance Department
By Stan Blicharz
Make Reading a Priority
Reading is a fundamental skill essential for success in
school and in life. The ability to read is necessary to master every
subject. It is also one of the most
inexpensive forms of education and entertainment. Why is it that reading takes
a back seat as a priority in our daily lives?
It is essential that parents encourage and support their
child’s reading at home. Reading is a
skill that gets better with practice.
It has been shown that kids who spend time reading every day become
better readers. Today, most families schedule their children with an after
school activity every day. Why not take the time every week as a family to
visit the local library? Checking out a
book for yourself sets a powerful example for your child about the importance
of reading.
Read aloud to your child. It is the most important thing you can do to promote your child’s
reading success. Begin reading to your
child as soon as possible—the younger, the better. Do it every day for at least ten minutes. Read stories about subjects your kids like;
they will remember doing this with you far longer than they will remember
watching television for two hours. Make
a big bowl of popcorn that everyone can enjoy while reading.
To help your child be a better reader, stop before the
end of the story to ask him to predict what might be the ending. When there are difficult words to
understand, ask her if she knows the
meaning from the context. At the end,
have a discussion about how she might have changed the ending.
Reading a story at bedtime is a great idea. I did it a multitude of times. Occasionally,
my daughter would fall asleep before I finished. Most times, though, it was three or four books read before we
turned out the light.
Squeeze reading in at breakfast by asking your child to
read the contents on the cereal box, or continue the story that was read the
evening before. Bath time is
another good opportunity for reading
aloud. While riding along in the car,
ask your child to point out certain streets and landmarks so they are focused
on reading. Keeping magazines and books
in the car while driving to karate or dance class is helpful to encourage
reading.
Start a family library, give books as gifts, or give a
gift certificate to a book store as a holiday present. These are all good ways to keep reading a
priority in your family.
Limiting TV, video games and computer time is essential
to include reading time in a child’s day.
Provide TV tickets that can be used for one half hour viewing. When the tickets are gone the TV or video
game is OFF for the rest of the day/week.
If your youngster is below school age, start reading
practice now. Have you ever played
“alphabet memory?” On a set of index cards, print the letters in lower case,
then make another set in capital letters. Shuffle the cards and set them out
upside down. The object is to match the
capital letter with the lower case partner. With preschoolers, don’t use all
the letters at first. What fun!
Promoting your child’s love of
reading is one of the most important things you can do to put your child on the
road to school success. Make reading a
priority for your child every day.
By Betty
A. Little
What
is wonderful about the Gables is not just meeting old friends and finding new
ones, but learning new things and doing old ones that you used to enjoy.
This
year the Memoirs Group gave its second reading in the Common to residents and
friends. The audience was enthusiastic and many wanted to join the group to
further their writing. Others had ideas
and material such as letters and photos and were inspired to begin writing.
Yvonne Daley, journalist, writer and professor held a class at the Gables for a seven week session. Director of the Green Mountain Writers
Conference in Tinmouth, Yvonne is a professor at San Francisco State
University, and author of Octavia
Boulevard, a book about her life In San Francisco.
Every
year there are opportunities to do what we used to enjoy in the past --baking
and sewing, for example. Many here are famous for their brownies and apple
pies. The Activities Committee recently held a bake sale to benefit victims of
Irene. Marybeth Bloomer headed the
sale, and staff and friends made contributions. Those who didn’t bake bought.
We donated $750 to the Rutland Corner Cupboard. We are so aware that we have
been fortunate and that others have suffered losses and will continue to need
help.
The
bakers will be at work again for the Meadows/Ga-bles Holiday Fair on Saturday,
Nov. 19 from 10-3. Adrian Marks donated
quilting fabric and soon the sewing machines will be at work creating for the
fair. The Gables will have a table of
new and nearly new gifts for Christmas. The fair benefits the Rutland Free
Clinic. Come and make it a success.
The Activities Committee is holding an art show" again this fall.
Residents will display "Favorite Things" from their apartments or
from family and friends - pictures, quilts, travel memorabilia. Those who
paint, do handy work, wood work or write will show their new creations. There is a joy in sharing the things that
bring us pleasure.
Girls
on the Run 2011-2012
By Marcia Barron
We all know it’s been a wet year! Well, the June 11, 2011 Girls on the Run
5K in Brattleboro was a soggy event, too. The girls and their coaches were real
troupers and their parents, understanding and supportive. With the first time experience behind us, we
will work to be better prepared next year. Thanks to a kind donation from the
PTO fund, the team has a pop-up canopy to place at our RTS spot on the field,
helpful come rain or shine.
We capped off the year with a party which included Zumba dancing, pizza,
and awards. The girls appreciated their experience of being on the Girls on the
Run team. For many it was time for
being with friends and making new ones; for others it was an opportunity to set
and work towards a goal, and for some it was simply a fun thing to do after a
busy day at school.
This year we are looking for a few more coaches to step forward, as we need
two volunteer coaches for every fifteen girls. Joan Poczobut and Marcia Barron
plan to continue coaching Girls on the Run for grades 3,4,5. Student teacher, Jessica Berry has
volunteered to coach; Karin McGrath of
Carris Reels may be a part time or substitute coach. Thank you!
It looks like last year’s fifth
grade girls want to continue on with Girls on Track. Betsy Beattie and Julie
Williams are interested in creating that group of volunteers and a Middle
School team.
The coaches’ training is Feb. 6, 2012
from 9-3 at RRMC. If you are interested in volunteering for either team,
please contact Marcia Barron, PE teacher at RTS, at 775-0566, ext 2007.
Rutland Town Community Calendar October 15 Hazardous
Waste Collection, 8 -11:30 at Transfer Station 17 PTO Nov. Calendar Raffle sales
begin 18 School Board meets - 6:00 pm, at Legasse’s
Rest. - Goal setting meeting 18,25 Senior Lunch - 11:45, Cheney Hill Community
Center 20 Planning Commission meets - 7:00
pm Town Hall 21 No School - In Service 25 Select Board meets - 7 pm, Town
Hall 29 Halloween Parade - 6 pm Rutland
City 30 Rutland Town Rec. Halloween Party
5
-7pm, RTS gym November 1,8,15,22,29 Senior
lunch - 11:45, Cheney Hill 3 Four Winds - 12:15 pm, Cheney
Hill 3, 17 Planning Commission meets - 7:00
pm Town Hall 7 PTO meets - 6:30 pm, Library 8,22 Select Board meets - 7 pm, Town Hall 9 &10 RTS Early Release - 11:55 am for Parent/Teacher
Conference 11 No School – Veteran's Day Town
Hall Closed 14,28 School
Board meets - 6:30 pm, Library 23 No School - Thanksgiving Break December 1, 15 Planning Commission meets - 7:00
pm Town Hall 5 PTO
meets - 6:30, RTS Library 6,13,20 Senior
lunch - 11:45 am, Cheney Hill 6,20 Select Board meets - 7 pm, Town Hall 10 PTO Breakfast with Santa, 9-10:30,
RTS 12,26 School Board meets - 6:30 pm,
Library 22 RTS Early Release - 11:55 am for Christmas
Break 23 Town Hall Closed 26 Town Hall Closed