Flynn PTO Update 4/1/13

Hey there Flynn Families - Sorry for the confusion last Friday concerning the skate night - some of us thought it was at 7pm and others at 6pm - it's no wonder you were confused too!  For those of you who made it, hope you had a great family outing!  For those that missed it due to confusion or Good Friday, we promise to have all our ducks in a row for next year.  Join us for the next Flynn Family Night - LEGOS! on Friday, April 12th from 7-9 in the stage gym.

Included in this post:

• Pajama Game at Hunt Middle school
• BSD restructuring?
• Free press article about possible school year changes being discussed
• Book Fair/ Hot Dog Dinner
• Frankenstein Lost and Found

Support the Hunt Middle School Drama Program next weekend by attending their spring musical, The Pajama Game.  Great family entertainment, low to no cost, tons of Flynn siblings and school alum starring in the show.  Friday show at 7pm with a pasta dinner fundraiser from 5:30-6:30 (show up or email Susan Rutherford to reserve your space!  susanrutherford@hotmail.com)  Saturday matinee at 4pm.


District Looking at restructuring of school days.  Interested?  More info below from Ben Truman of the BSD School Board

From: Ben Truman <btruman@bsdvt.org>
Date: March 27, 2013, 8:47:42 PM EDT
To: Kuypers5@yahoo.com, jlecuyer7@gmail.com
Cc: akbelluche@aol.com
Subject: School District Early Release Proposal

Hello Jennifer and Tammy,

Commissioner Bernie O’Rourke and I are hopeful you can share the following information with Flynn and Smith PTO members and the school community. We are always happy to attend PTO meetings to discuss this and other school issues.

Discussion is circulating about one of the options the school district is examining for increasing student achievement, a possible early release on Wednesdays. In addition to its ongoing efforts, the district is following up on Agency of Education recommendations, and conducting a restructuring analysis. A significant part of this is to find how best to create dedicated teacher time to review student data and adjust instruction accordingly. To do so may include expanding to the entire district the kind of change in the end of the school day that has already been in place at Hunt and the Sustainability Academy, and mornings at BHS.

Many people have contacted us about this, concerned that it will be implemented without public input. Rest assured this is not the case.

Here’s where things stand right now. This proposal – it may be more accurate to call it a pre-proposal – is still being vetted by the district’s administration. That process includes careful study of any district wide rollout, including identifying barriers to implementation, such as child and after school care, and CCTA’s ability to accommodate any changes.

It is important to understand that this is why the concept has not yet been widely circulated. The work to flesh the proposal out, and get answers to the important questions parents will have, is not finished.

Once that step is complete, the proposal will be brought forward to families and the public at large for input and a full discussion. How this proposal impacts family schedules and student learning time are important issues and will be a part of that discussion.

For an idea of what is being considered, here is an excerpt from a brief overview Superintendent Collins provided to School Board members:

“We are looking at all options of when this work (dedicated teacher time) can occur, and have piloted an early release with child care option at Hunt Middle and Sustainability Academy with success. For example, at SA the student day is extended by 15 minutes four days a week, and students are dismissed one hour early on Wednesdays with child care options for that hour in the school. In this way, there is no net loss of instructional time and children are still supervised during the early release, if parents wish. Teachers then have a 2-hour uninterrupted block of time to work in teams and review student data, instructional methods and adjust and align instruction. We are exploring if this option can benefit the district and looking at barriers such as child care and after school programming if we are able to do this, so that students would continue to have full days. “

Early release has been reviewed in committee, and any final proposal will be studied carefully by the Board and follow procedure to arrive at a decision that will be in the best interest of our students.

More information will be available once any proposal is ready for public input and comment. We recommend everyone visit the district website http://bsdvt.org to see committee and full board meeting and agenda information. Typically, our meetings are held on Tuesday, and all board members welcome input.

Thank you for sharing your thoughts with us about this and other matters.

Kind regards,

Ben Truman and Bernie O'Rourke

Ward 4 School Commissioners
 

School calendar changes would extend year, add vacations - Click on link to the article from the Burlington Free Press this week:
http://www.burlingtonfreepress.com/article/20130327/NEWS07/303270016/School-calendar-changes-would-extend-year-add-vacations?nclick_check=1

Flynn Book Fair and Dinner  This Thursday, April 4th from 5:30-7.  Come shop for some new books to beat Spring Break boredom!  Bring your appetite and support a joint grades 3/4 Hot Dog Picnic Dinner - including dogs, chips and lemonade (you'll have to get your veggies beforehand!)  There will also be a bake sale and popcorn sale.  All proceeds go to class team building/bonding trips.

Frankenstein Lost and Found  The following message was sent out to teachers last week...  Just FYI to teacher of grades 3-5. There is a Frankenstein Lost & Found box of items left over from the play. It is located in the hallway next to the other mounds of unclaimed clothing... Please let your kiddoes know it is there. For sure, there are items for: Mackaela Wheeler, Jeanette Abedi, Deborah, Seth and Chuck.


<sub>SAVE THE DATE

April 1 - Flynn School Geography Bee, 1:30 in the stage gym. 10 Flynn school finalists duke it out for the chance to go on to the next level. All friends and family invited.</sub>
 

_{April 1 - Chess Club in the Library from 2:45-3:45 - All abilities welcome!}

_{April 4 - Book Fair and dinner! Doors open at 5:30 for shopping and dining - great deals to be had!}

_{April 8 - Chess Club in Library from 2:45-3:45 - All abilities welcome!}

April 9 - Principal's Coffee, 8:30

April 11 - PTO meeting - 6:30 pm (note that this is a week later than usual due to the book fair) Free childcare and pizza!  Agenda will be posted next week

April 12 - Flynn Family LEGO Night! 7pm, stage gym

April 20-28 - Spring Break - No School!