Hello Clarendon Families,

A special thank you to Rhonda Leavy for the beautiful wreaths that adorn our main entrance!

Happy Holidays! We hope this newsletter finds you and your family happy, healthy and doing well. This time of year

can be very busy and stressful, for both the students and the adults. Take time to relax and talk with your children and

your significant others. Enjoy the peace that comes with this time of year. The hectic schedules and hurried timelines

will always be there. Enjoy your time with your children and please bring them back to us next year (January 3rd).

This would be a nice time to share a book or several stories with the kids. Any story works. Best Wishes!

I would like to share this poem from my collection of favorites. As a parent of grown children, it makes me think and

gives me direction as to my responsibilities as a grandparent.

IF I HAD MY CHILD TO RAISE OVER AGAIN

By Diane Loomans, From the book, Full Esteem Ahead

If I had to raise my child all over again,

I'd finger paint more, and point the finger less.

I'd do less correcting, and more connecting,

I'd take my eyes off my watch, and watch with my eyes.

I would care to know less, and know to care more.

I'd take more hikes and fly more kites.

I'd stop playing serious, and seriously play.

I'd run through more fields, and gaze more at stars.

I'd do more hugging and less tugging.

I would be firm less often, and affirm much more.

I'd build self-esteem first, and the house later.

I'd teach less about the love of power,

And more about the power of love.

You are raising your children right now. So PLAY, PAINT,

CONNECT, GAZE, HUG AND LOVE! Enjoy the holidays

with your family and enjoy the time you have together! We

hope to see you before year’s end.

Your principal, Fred Valastro

Clarendon Elementary School Newsletter

Holiday 2016 Clarendon Elementary School

84 Grange Hall Road, North Clarendon, Vermont 05759

P: (802) 775-5379 F: (802) 747-7584 Fred Valastro, Principal • fvalastro@rssu.org

“Every Student, Every Day, Our Personal Best in Every Way!”

School Board Meetings

Wednesday, December 7th, 7:00—8:00 @ MRUHS

Tuesday, December 20th, 7:00—8:00 @ CES

EARLY DISMISSAL—12:15pm

Professional Development

Monday, December 19

IMPORTANT DATES

NO SCHOOL

Holiday Vacation

Thursday, Dec. 22—Monday, Jan. 2

Pre K loves to

look at books!

4th annual

Preschool

Thanksgiving Feast

Arts and crafts lead

to fine motor development

and learning

Giving thanks is important all year round, but especially at Thanksgiving. We

remember the pilgrims who journeyed to America in search of freedom, and

we remember the Native Americans, like Squanto, who helped them to sur-

vive. In kindergarten we are thankful for many things, including one another.

Mrs McLaughlin's first graders are all smiles as they sing a song about the

Pilgrims' journey to America.

Mrs. Gedney's first graders....

Studied the Pledge of Allegiance

Participated in Election Day

Discussed veterans and why we honor them

Learned about the First Thanksgiving

And celebrated Gaige tying his shoes inde-

pendently!!!

The Rotary Club of Rutland South came to Clarendon Elementary School to visit the Third Grade and give each student a dictionary. This wonderful book not only helps with the regular use of a dictionary, but also has some very special features! It contains the longest word in the dictionary, which is 1909 letters long! The dictionary has maps and information about a variety of subjects including United States presidents, Braille, weights and measures, and the Constitution. Students love owning their own copy of this interesting and useful book.

Ms. Lind's and Mrs. Hogan's third-grade classes participated in the Annual Fire Safety Poster contest. Students from across the State of Vermont were invited to create posters that promote fire safety and prevention. A team of judges then selected 12 post-ers based on each month's designated fire safety mes-sage. Evelyn Bruckerhoff's poster was selected as an honorable mention for the month of December and will appear in the 2017 Vermont Robert Howe Fire Safety Calendar. On Monday, November 7th, Evelyn was recognized in the House Chambers at the Vermont Capitol Building in Montpelier

STEM- AQUARIUM DESIGN Before the Thanksgiving break,

the fifth and sixth graders presented designs for an aquarium pro-ject. Each group designed an aquarium which they would present in hopes of winning a job at an aquarium design facility. They had to col-laboratively design an aquarium that would fit within a cost range of a chosen audience, demonstrate an understanding of volume and explain their use of operations of decimals when critically thinking about cost efficiency. Students worked on these projects during their Friday STEM times throughout October and November.

Striiiike!!

Bowling Fun!

Jump Fore

Fun!

Here we are creating

collage masterpieces

inspired by Leo Leoni.

Author studies are

so much fun!

“Up-cycled” CD art by

4, 5 & 6th graders

for scenery for their

concert!

Yarn baskets by 3rd graders: Aaron,

Domonick, Isabel and Sophia.

Oil, pastel Turkey drawings by 2nd graders:

Shannon, Jennah, Collin, Makayla & Stella!

Turkeys in clay by 1st graders,

Haylee, Demarco, Justin, Isabelle

and Lily.

In library classes during November we began reading books that teach lessons about money as part of the Reading is an Investment Program that the Vermont State Treasurers Office funds each year. We will be wrapping this up as we come back from Thanksgiving Break (see below) The Series Book Read-a-Ton is still going on for students in Grades

K-4 and will be wrapping up at the end of December! Please see the following attachments! Please enjoy your holiday breaks and remember to keep your kiddos reading! Over break stu-dents will benefit from snuggling up with a good book, or will enjoy being read to, or reading aloud to you! Thank you for your help, support and encouragement!

Dear CES Families & Friends!

Clarendon Elementary School is participating in a statewide program called Reading is an Invest-

ment! The goal of this program is to teach elementary school children personal finance concepts and

money skills. Clarendon Elementary is one of over 130 elementary schools in Vermont who will be using

the program this school year. The Vermont State Treasurer's Office manages this program. They provide

participating schools with three new books each year that highlight a specific personal finance theme.

Through lessons and activities in library students are introduced to basic financial concepts. The 2016-

2017 personal finance theme is “Saving to Make Goals a Reality.”

There are two parts to this program - personal reading and school instructional activities. As the “grown-

up” you have the opportunity to help your student complete a reading log that will then be entered into a

drawing for a $250.00 college savings plan account! Last year, more than 5,600 students statewide com-

pleted logs and entered the drawing. Twenty prizes will be awarded this year. In order to complete a read-

ing log, a student must read at least three books from a recommended money reading list and complete

additional free reading requirements.. The reading logs and recommended money reading list are available

through our school library. Reading logs and recommended reading list may also be printed by visiting

www.MoneyEd.Vermont.gov. The deadline to complete a reading log and mail it into the State Treas-

urer's Office is March 15, 2017.

The titles and authors for the 2016-2017 school term are:

Curious George Saves His Pennies, by Monica Perez

A Chair for my Mother, by Vera B. Williams

The Yoyo and the Piggy Bank, by Susan Werner Thoresen

Financial literacy is so important! I hope the combination of personal reading and instructional

reading and activities in the library will help our students to expand their knowledge of personal finance.

If you have any thoughts or questions, please don’t hesitate to reach out!

Sincerely,

Jamie Therriault

CES Librarian Jtherriault@millriverschools.org

November’s PBiS prize was an

extended recess for all!

December Word of the month is...

Wyatt PM PreK

Lyla AM PreK

Cole 6-Bertelloni

Dom 5-Lannon

Evan 3-Hogan

Jacob 4-Redman

Wyatt 2-D’Amico

Rhys K-Doiron

Brynlee 1-McLaughlin

Joan-lee K-Loyzelle

Ali 6-Pritchard

Natalie 1-Gedney

Domonick 3-Lind

Anne 5-Moore

It's Robot Rodeo time again! This year CES was

presented with 2 Ozobot Bit robots to experi-

ment, play, and learn with. Our students have

been learning to use color patterns and codes to

help Ozobot navigate complex puzzles and solve

new problems. Problem-solving through coding is

a crucial Computer Science skill that will help our

students prepare for 21st Century job skills. For

more info visit RobotRodeoVT.blogspot.com

Also, December 5-9 is Computer Science Educa-

tion Week and CES will again be participating in

the Hour of Code. The Hour of Code brings excit-

ing puzzles and games that teach students how to

code their own apps. This year, our students in

Pre-K through 6 will be learning with the help of

Disney's Moana, Rey from the Force Awakens, and

Alex and Steve of Minecraft. For more informa-

tion and to continue the learning at home, visit

Code.org

Student Council Meeting - 11/09/2016 - 12:25PM until 12:45 PM

Votes: All votes had a motion and a second

1) If a student council member is not at a meeting, they do not get a vote in that day’s issues.

2) 50 percent of those present control the vote, a presidential veto can over ride the vote, and 2/3rd vote of the

representative body gets to over ride the president’s veto

3) The vice-president breaks all the tie votes.

4) Recommendation that the principal invest in more playground equipment. [We will need a way of control-

ling the equipment coming in and out of the building.]

5) It was voted down that every room get a bouncy chair.

6) As a fund raiser, it was voted that the student council use their popcorn machine and sell popcorn.

Executive Branch:

President Lacee

Vice-President Pink Slipped

Secretary/Treasurer Samuel

House of Representatives:

Kindergarten: Audrey Fourth Grade: Bronson

First Grade: Natalie Fifth Grade: Paige & Megan

Second Grade: Jennah Sixth Grade: Karina & Ayonna

Third Grade: Sophia & Evan

Student Council Meeting - 11/16/2016 - 12:25PM until 12:45 PM

Votes: All votes had a motion and a second

1) The meeting was called to order by the President, Lacee.

2) A question was raised as to daily luncheon pizza in the cafeteria. The President stated that pizza was going

to be served only once a week and on Wednesday. Other healthy food products would replace the pizza

slices.

3) It was stated that the student council will use their popcorn machine and sell popcorn. Bronson and Nolan

will head up a committee to see about: the popcorn machine, ingredients, cost factors, fund raising, and

other rules. The committee’s work is to be done by the Wednesday meeting after Thanksgiving.

4) It was re-voted to explore the possibility of every room getting a bouncy chair. A discussion was had as to

the care of the bouncy chairs. The ball-chair committee is Paige, Sophia, and Evan. The committee’s work

is to be done by the Wednesday meeting after Thanksgiving.

5) Ayonna and Megan will visit with Mr. Valastro on how an investment in more playground equipment

might occur. [We will need a way of controlling the equipment coming in and out of the building. – A

pink slip procedure was suggested] Ayonna and Megan’s work is to be done by the Wednesday meeting

after Thanksgiving.

6) It was voted to explore the possibilities of establishing a CES mini-store.

Student Council Meeting - 11/30/2016 - 12:25PM until12:45 PM

Votes: All votes had a motion and a second

Old Business:

1) The meeting was called to order by the President, Lacee.

2) The meeting notes of 11/16/2016 were approved and accepted.

3) Bronson Patch presented a report on the popcorn machine, ingredients, cost factors, fund raising, and

other rules. He talked about two brand new machines and which might be best for CES. Lacee asked

if there were any rules or regulations about popcorn sales and what kind of popcorn might be offered.

Lacee and Bronson are going to check on the student council’s popcorn machine’s cleanliness and

usability. Bronson will check with Lori for what we can offer students for popcorn sales (i.e. salt and

butter).

4) The report for exploring a bouncy-ball for each room was tabled for future discussion and the comple-

tion of the research. The ball-chair committee is Paige, Sophia, and Evan. The committee’s work is to

be done by the next Wednesday meeting.

5) Ayonna and Megan were absent from the meeting and therefore a report on their visit with Mr. Valas-

tro on how an investment in more playground equipment might occur was postponed.

6) A brief discussion was had on continuing the discussion for the possibilities of establishing a CES

mini-store.

New Business:

7) Bronson made a motion about having a board game raffle as a fund-raiser. The motion was seconded

and unanimously passed. The proposal was sent to committee for discovery of CES fund-raising pro

cedures.

8) Paige made a motion, which was seconded, for students wishing to not go out doors for recess could

have a supervised indoor recess. The motion passed with a 4 to 3 vote. Lacee stated that this was a

big issue because supervision wasn’t going to be easy to obtain. In her opinion, teachers need and

deserved a break. She said that we need to have further discussions, in order to present an intelligent

proposal.

9) The representatives asked for the procedure necessary to replace the vice president or anyone else

who loses their student council position because of a pink slip.

Floor

Hockey

and

Running

in

PE

Students who bring in a certain

number of magazine orders get

to compete in a pig race to earn

a grand prize! Congrats Nick!

Beautiful sunset over Lake Bomoseen.

Hosted by the Clarendon Elementary School

6th Grade Class

Pancake Breakfast

With

Santa

Clarendon Elementary School

Saturday, December 17, 2016

8-11 am

$5.00 per person

$25.00 per family of 6

*pancakes * bacon/sausage *coffee/juice*cookie decorating

Santa arrives at 9:30!!

Fri.,

Join us for our CES community

Holiday Meal Friday, December 16th

Baked Ham

Roasted Red Potatoes, Scalloped Corn, Fresh Fruit, Whole Wheat Roll

Holiday Dessert

Luncheon Schedule:

K 11:25 a.m.

1 11:35 a.m.

2 11:45 a.m.

Pre KP 12:00 p.m.

3 12:10 p.m.

4 12:20 p.m.

5/6 12:30 p.m.

111 Moulton Avenue

North Clarendon

802-747-7743

HOURS

Monday 5:00 - 7:00

Tuesday 11:00 - 4:00

Wednesday 11:00 - 4:00

Thursday 11:00 - 7:00

Friday closed

Saturday 9:00 - 2:00

Sunday closed

The library catalog is now online! Visit the library’s website

and click on the link to search for books that we might have.

https://baileylibraryvt.wordpress.com

At the Bailey Memorial Library, you will find nonfiction and

fiction books for adults and children, as well as audio books,

DVD and VHS movies, and music CDs. Many of the best sell-

ers from the New York Times Best Sellers list. We also have

museum passes, computers for public use, and free wireless!

“Books To Go”

Bailey Memorial Library is starting two new pro-

grams this summer.

The first one is for daycare providers in our area.

Bags of books on different topics will be deliv-

ered to their daycare, along with some activities/

worksheets to go along with the topic of the

month. The topics will be random or the provider

may let the library know what they are interested

in.

The second one is for the elderly or shut-ins who

find it hard to get to the library. All they have to

do is call the library and let them know the type

of books they are interested or give the titles of

books they would like. The books will be bagged

and brought to their house.

The daycare provider and the elderly must have a

library card which the librarian will help you ob-

tain. They are responsible for the books they re-

ceive and the bags must be ready for pickup on

the assigned date.

Santa will be

visiting

the library on

December 17th

from 1 to 3pm.

Don’t miss the fun!

Please bring the children for a visit!

Santa and the staff

would love to see them.

Picture taking opportunity will be

available so bring your camera.

Raffle Baskets! Stop by the library and get

your tickets and find out about the

upcoming raffle baskets

available.

Clarendon Elementary School 84 Grange Hall Road,

North Clarendon, Vermont 05759 P: (802) 775-5379 F: (802) 747-7584

Fred Valastro, Principal • fvalastro@millriverschoolsorg

www.millriverschools.org

Every Student, Every Day, Our Personal Best in Every Way!

Sun Mon Tue Wed Thu Fri Sat

1 2 3

4 5 6

Holiday

Concert

6:00

7 8 9

Santa Store

10

PTO Holiday

Bazaar

11-3

11 12 13 14 15 16

Community

Luncheon

17

Santa Breakfast

8-11

Santa at Bailey

Library 1-3

18 19

EARLY

RELEASE

12:15

20 21

K-2 Field Trip

3-6 Field Trip

22

HOLIDAY

VACATION

23

14

25

26 27 28 29 30 Students Return

on January 3!