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Family Newsletter 10.27.23

Updated: Oct 30, 2023

Harwood Families -

The Harwood Way reflects the culture of our community we seek to promote, model and maintain each day. Last week during Harvest Fest it showed up in so many different ways as we took time to strengthen relationships within Harwood and outside our walls with the larger community:

  • From pumpkin carving competition in TA

  • A Middle School Escape Room

  • Trips to all of our Elementary Schools

  • Partnering with Mad River Riders for trail clean up

  • Gleaning at a local farm

  • To Mountain Day at MRG for the Class of 2024

The Harwood’s Way is to be a community of BELONGING. Our new lobby mural, started during Harvest Fest will reflect that ALL are Welcome at HU. This week 16 Superintendents from Lancaster County visited us and remarked throughout the day on how this message was reflected in our community in multiple ways including deep dialogue through Harkness.


Let’s continue to live the Harwood Way as we care for each other and create space to check in with each other not always knowing how others are impacted by events going on in and out of school and around the globe.

In ongoing partnership,

Meg, Laurie and Bethany

 

Harwood is hosting conferences for families, guardians and students with their teachers on November 8th and 16th from 3:45 - 6:00



If you have a 7th or 8th grader please use Canyon Creek to sign up for conferences.

  • Please choose Harwood Union Middle School from the drop down list and click “GO”

  • Enter the school password which is: highlander

  • Enter your student’s “Student ID” which is their lunch account number. If you do not know their Student ID, use the LOOKUP STUDENT ID button to access the system.

  • Verify the student’s birth date

  • Check the box next to your student’s team teacher.

  • If you have more than one student at Harwood (in the middle school only), answer YES to the question when it appears on your screen: “Do you want to schedule a conference for another student?” then repeat the steps above for your other students. If you only have one student, answer NO to that question.

  • You will then see the available time slots for the team leader of your student(s).

  • Select the time that works best for your schedule.

  • Enter your email address (recommended) if you would like an email reminder sent to you. (Your email address is kept private.)

  • Once you have finished you can confirm your appointment details and print your conference schedule.

  • Write down the Confirmation Number (you will need this number if you need to cancel your appointment). Once you cancel, you can pick a new appointment slot.


If you have a 9th - 12th grader please use Sign Up Genius.

  • Scroll down the page until you find the name of the teacher you would like to meet with and book a time that works for you.

  • You will need to enter your name and email in order to confirm the conference.

  • Based on availability you have the opportunity to meet with all of your child’s teachers.

 
Calendar:
  • 10/27 - END OF QUARTER 1

  • 11/02 - 1:25 - 2:05 - Assembly

  • 11/08 & 11/16 - 3:45 - 6:00 - Parent Conferences

  • 11/20 - Staff Inservice

  • 11/20 - 11/24 - Thanksgiving Break - NO SCHOOL

 

Cultivating and maintaining a sense of belonging, pride and purpose:

Topics

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Reminder that the winter sports meeting for the high school and middle school is

November 15 at 6pm at Harwood.


Winter sports registration is live, please click here to register.


Congratulations to JV Girls Volleyball for finishing 2nd overall in the end of season JV Jamboree.


Bass Fishing State Champions




HHB Activity and Discussion with Middle School Students: In the coming weeks, members of the student services team will be meeting with the middle school students to engage in conversations and activities to provide education around inappropriate behavior, bullying, and harassment. The hope is that this will provide more understanding and increase healthy interactions with peers, supporting a more positive culture and climate.


Please don’t hesitate to discuss this important topic with your students, and encourage them to contact a member of student services with any questions or concerns.



Waterbury Ambulance Service, in partnership with the Barre Office of the Vermont Department of Health, will be offering 5 Vaccine clinics in Washington County. These are free and open to the public. They are walk-in clinics, no appointment necessary. Please help spread the word.

They will be offering Moderna and Flu Vaccines for those ages 6 months to 64 years. They will provide Pfizer when it becomes available.

Saturday, October 28th

Time: 9:00am-4:00pm

Location: Crossett Brook Middle School in the cafeteria

5672 Vermont Route 100, Duxbury, VT 05676

Sunday, October 29th

Time: 09:00am-4:00pm

Location: The Barre Universalist Church

19 Church St, Barre, VT 05641

Wednesday, November 8th

Time: 4:00pm-8:00pm

Location: Spaulding High School

155 Ayers St, Barre, VT 05641

Saturday, November 18th

Time: 09:00am-4:00pm

Location: Montpelier, Location TBD

(They are actively looking for a space, if you have a large, wheelchair accessible location in Montpelier and would be willing to host, please let them know!)

Sunday, November 19th

Time: 09:00-4:00pm

Location: Harwood Union High School

458 Vermont Route 100, Moretown, VT 05660​



​This week after a lot of painting and hard work by enthusiastic students, the Wellness Center has opened for its 4th year! The Wellness Center is a space where students that are feeling stressed or anxious can go for a tech-free mental refresh during the school day for 15 minutes (with permission and a pass from a teacher) so they can be optimally ready for learning. It has become a special part of the Harwood community.


We are accepting tea donations for this space. If you would like to donate, please drop unopened boxes in the box by the front office labeled “Wellness Tea donations”. Thank you!

We are so grateful that Harwood shows its support for students' mental health by providing this space for students grades 8-12. Please reach out to Jen Dreimiller with any questions at jdreimiller@huusd.org



​Our theme this month has been “Community and Belonging”. The many Harvest Fest activities created more opportunities for TA groups to continue to build our own small community. Pumpkin carving was certainly a high point!


This week we supported students in completing their DESSA self assessment in TA. DESSA is a tool that helps teachers and students determine their skill level in the CASEL standards. Teacher data helps to guide us in developing strategies to support student growth in these important Social Emotional areas.


Next week we will move into November with “Gratitude” as our theme. We will be engaging in activities designed to strengthen our appreciation of each other and an ability to realize the many benefits gained through expressing and receiving gratitude.




Do you have a senior planning on attending college or a training program in the fall? The Vermont Student Assistance Corporation (VSAC) provides supports and services for students to access financial aid for college and training programs.


Go to their website to learn more about their upcoming virtual and in-person info sessions. Topics include managing college costs and how to set up your Federal Student Aid (FSA) ID.

Strengthening and sustaining a rigorous and robust academic program:


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​The Governor’s Institutes of Vermont will be hosting two free 1 day programs for 9th-12th grade students GIV & NVTAHEC Present: First Aid Field Day: Saturday, November 18th Are you interested in pursuing a career in medicine? Join NVTAHEC and GIV for a First Aid Field Day! At this completely free one day event, you will have the opportunity to learn life saving skills such as CPR, bleeding control, and patient assessment from trained medical professionals, as well as gain insight into the inner workings of Vermont’s Emergency Medical Services. The day will conclude with a mass casualty incident simulation where you will have the opportunity to put your new skills into action by assessing and triaging patients during this fun and exciting scenario! Lunch will be provided. GIV Presents: A Day in Vermont's Capital: Sunday, November 19th Would you like to learn how to impact issues facing Vermont? Do you want to meet other students from around the state who want to work for a better Vermont? Are you concerned about the housing crisis in Vermont? Join GIV for “A Day in Vermont's Capital!” At this completely free event, you will:

  • Tour the Statehouse with a legislator as your guide.

  • Attend a panel discussion with policy makers about the housing crisis in Vermont.

  • Meet and share lunch with elected officials and students from around Vermont.

  • Learn about how VT government develops laws and the challenges to move legislation forward.

  • Engage in a floor debate for proposed bills in a Legislative simulation, addressing VT’s housing crisis.

  • Join a session on organizing and mobilizing youth for change, led by VSARN.

To register for both events go to giv.org

Quarter 1 comes to an end!



​It’s here! The end of Quarter 1!

This Friday, October 27th, is the official end of Quarter 1. What this means for both the high school and middle school:

  • JumpRope progress reports will be emailed to families next Friday, November 3.

  • It is a great time to review progress in classes with your student(s). Here is a guide to Understanding JumpRope to help with interpreting scores. If you have questions that are specific to a certain course, please reach out to the teacher. If you have general questions about JumpRope, you can reach out to Jess Deane (jdeane@huusd.org).

Community Announcements:

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Harwood’s Student Government worked with the Red Cross to hold their Fall Blood Drive. The drive was a great success thanks to many generous donors. We had 26 students as first time donors! A total of 37 units were collected. We appreciate the community members who joined in to help exceed the goal of 34 units. The group plans to hold another drive in the Spring!



The Harwood Boosters meet every two weeks on Monday at 7:30pm via Zoom. The last meeting was Monday, October 23rd. All members of the Harwood Community are invited to attend and participate. For more information email harwoodboosters@gmail.com.



Students attended CCV’s Medical Careers Access Day on Friday, October 20th. They were able to learn about nursing, respiratory therapy, physical therapy and phlebotomy.


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