Harwood Families -
Amidst one pandemic the Harwood community has committed to the work of addressing the ongoing pandemic of Racism and Inequity that has existed in our country since its inception. This week Harwood students drove this work by leading two different community discussions:
A World of Difference students led a discussion with both faculty and other students on the film “I am From Here” - a documentary about the experiences of young black and brown people living in Vermont.
On Dec 15,Harwood students co-facilitated a public dialogue sponsored by WAARC (Waterbury Anti- Racist Coalition) The question that was discussed was, "How Do We React to the Information that Partridge Thatcher was a Slaveholder?" Over 100 people attended - including Harwood students and faculty - as students took a leadership role in the dialogue.
Additionally, this week during our staff meeting Harwood faculty also continued our work to create a community where all feel safe - seen, heard, understood and respected by considering our own understanding of race and thus our own biases. We are grateful to be part of a community where our students continue to model for us all the importance and necessity of engaging in difficult conversations and to the faculty for leaning in with humility. We again encourage you to join this work through community dialogue or your own self learning by watching the documentary “I am From Here” or investigating the resources provided during Harwood Advisory classes last week as students considered how to react to the fact that Partridge Thatcher was a Slaveholder. In partnership, Meg, Laurie and Duane
Curious
Progress Reports for Quarter 2
Progress Reports were emailed home today, Friday, 12/18. Current scores in JumpRope are a snapshot of students scores and will continue to change. Please reach out to your child’s teachers with any curiosities.
Connected
Wednesday Extended Learning Opportunities (ELO) Reminder
Students are expected to attend a minimum of 2 ELO’s each Wednesday.
Students are able to sign up for ELO 1-4 if they are seeking support from a specific teacher.
Teachers also assign students to specific ELO’s.
ELO 5 & 6 provide community and club opportunities for all Harwood students and are a great way of connecting with peers.
Enjoy Harwood’s final virtual Assembly of 2020.
Calendar reminders:
IMPORTANT - CALENDAR changes: in order to balance days of instruction please note that the week of Thanksgiving will have a different schedule:
12/21 - Black cohort day
12/22 - Gold cohort day
12/23 - 01/03 - December Vacation - NO School
1/29 - Last day of Semester 1/Quarter 2
Expectations for students when absent
Students are responsible for:
sending an email to all their teachers when they are absent.
communicating if they know they will be out multiple days they will let the teacher know and update as needed
checking google classroom to see what they need to complete
completing asynchronous assignments signing up for an ELO to work with their teacher
communicating with teachers if absent for more than three days to discuss what they need to complete to keep up with classroom expectations.
From Harwood’s Health Office
When making holiday plans, we ask that you consider the quarantine guidance as noted below.
Stay home for 14 days after the gathering you attended.
Alternatively, if you have no symptoms, you may stay home and take a test on or after Day 7. You must continue to stay home and wait for a negative test result before returning to school.
Example: If you host or attend a party on New Year’s Eve and your gathering ends on January 1st (Day 0), the first day you can be tested is January 8th (Day 7). It is currently taking about 3-5 days to receive test results.
Stay home for 14 days after your last day of contact with the person traveling.
Alternatively, if you have no symptoms, you may stay home and take a test on or after Day 7. You must wait for a negative test result before returning to school.
Example: If your guests leave your home on December 26th (Day 0), the first day you can be tested is January 2nd (Day 7). It is currently taking about 3-5 days to receive test results.
If you travel out of state and return, you must quarantine for 14 days from the time you arrive in Vermont. Day 0 is the day you arrive back home.
Alternatively, if you have no symptoms, you may stay home and take a test on or after Day 7. You must wait for a negative test result before returning to school.
Example: If you return to Vermont on January 2nd (Day 0), the first day you can be tested is January 9th (Day 7). It is currently taking about 3-5 days to receive test results.
Household Quarantine: Stay home if anyone in your household:
Is identified as a close contact of someone who tested positive for COVID-19
Has symptoms of COVID-19 and is waiting to be tested for COVID-19 or is awaiting results of a COVID-19 test.
Caring
We are very excited to announce that the Harwood Wellness Center is officially open!
The mission of the Wellness Center is to provide a safe space for students to practice self-care and self-regulation strategies for short breaks when needed and appropriate during in-person school days. The Wellness Center is a tier one support meaning it's available to all students and is a wonderful resource to help improve the social-emotional health of our students, who may need it now more than ever. Jen Dreimiller, Wellness Center Counselor, will be staffing the space most days please feel free to reach out to her with any questions at jdreimiller@huusd.org
As we all continue to charter the realities fo COVID - please find resources and opportunities offered through Hannah’s House below:
Kevin Gallagher's "Settling Into This New Normal" event from 11/13: https://mrvtv.com/600860-2/
Weekly bereavement group, 4:00 PM on Sundays. Open to anyone at anytime. Email cjrivers@gmavt.net or go to Hannah’s House Facebook page to sign up.
Partnership with Warren & Moretown Public Libraries to offer a 3-part virtual book study around "Respectful Parents, Respectful Kids" beginning 12/15 at 6:00 PM (currently full but there is a wait list). Learn more about this here: https://www.warrenlibrary.com/copy-of-events-1
Weekly "Parent Check-In" group beginning January 6 at 6:15 PM. This will be an informal peer-support group; open to all. Email me or go to our Facebook page to sign up.
Everyone Eats! Everyone Eats is a program that engages local restaurants to make to-go meals for anyone who has been impacted by COVID 19. Pick up is at Sugar Fish VT (not Sugarbush) on Saturdays from 11-1:00, 168 Fiddlers Green by the laundromat. You will receive one individually packaged frozen dinner for each person in your household. Also, Farmers to Families Boxes are available first-come, first serve. Sign up using the following link: https://tinyurl.com/vee-enrollment You will only need to enroll once. Please come each week to pick up meals. If you have questions, call Jess Tompkins at 802-793-1116 or email ShareMRV@gmail.com