October - Open House, Book Fair!

Our Middle Level Open House will be on Oct. 9th (which is different from the calendar we sent home) from 6:00 - 7:00.  Mrs. Curtis will have Parent Portal information and passwords this evening, if you haven't gotten them yet this year.  Also happening the week of the Open House is the Book Fair.  Our wonderful librarian has sent this note:

Students are already talking about the Book Fair!

The Book Fair is coming.......to the library! We haven't hosted a book fair at Peoples Academy Middle Level or High School for several years and I am excited to bring this experience back to our community. The book fair will be open during school hours and for the Middle Level Open House. There will be an opportunity to purchase books for your child's classroom as the teachers have an opportunity to create a wish list.  This would be greatly appreciated. Teachers will schedule times during the week to bring their classes, but PLEASE stop by during Open House! Please let me know if you have any questions - Shannon DeSantis

Memo from Vt. Health Department

Please fin a link to a memo regarding a virus called enterovirus-D68 (EV-68) that has been spreading in several states. 

 LINK TO MEMO

The memo highlights preventative measures for children, including proper hygiene and disinfecting tips.  It also outlines the symptoms and resources for further information.   

As always, if you have questions for our school nurse, Susan Trombley, please do not hesitate to contact her at 888-1401.  She's excited to be working with your children and in this community.

Senegal Visitor

Global citizenship - already in 6th grade! On Friday we were fortunate to have Adama back at Peoples Academy Middle Level. You may remember last year Adama, from Senegal, visited students in 6th grade.  They found her fascinating as she shared with them aspects of her cultural lifestyle growing up in Senegal.  Adama has been in the US for over 10 years and works at Fletcher Allen.  She told the teachers she gets tremendous energy from talking with students, and enjoys PAML immensely.  On Friday our current 6th graders had a wide-range of interesting questions for her and they did not want her to stop after 45 minutes!  I'm sure she'll be back through-out the year.

The whole 6th grade visiting with Adama on Friday afternoon!

After-school Options

What is there to do?

After-school time can be challenging for Middle Level students.  Some are too old for daycare, but not really ready to be home alone.  Others just crave opportunities to try out activities and be with their friends.  Unbound Program is our after-school programing, organized by Kate Tolland.  There are many classes for your students ranging from Cooking to Cartooning, from Whiffle Ball to Woodwork.   

Unbound Brochure <-------click there!

In addition to all of the activities at Unbound, Homework Club happens until 4:00 and Step It Up is offered by several of the teachers.  

Also, don't forget that this year the Youth Rocks Cafe is open 3 days a week- Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday as a place to go to spend the afternoon to play games, have a snack, and just hang with friends!

Open House at PAML - Oct. 9th at 6:00!

School is Underway!

We've had a great start to school this year at PAML.  We are enjoying getting to know our new 5th graders and do miss our last year 8th graders, but are settling in.  Yesterday we began the process of assigning lockers.  Students in 6th - 8th grade receive lockers, and it's always an exciting event.  Here's a few photos of the before, during and after locker distribution!

Locks ready to distribute

"Do I get a top or bottom locker?"

"Ahhh - got it open!!"

The finished locker - where do the books go?  On the shag carpeting, under the chandelier of course!

Upcoming dates:

September 11th -School Picture Day

September 11th - First Home Girls Soccer Games vs. Stowe
September 15th - First Home Boys Soccer Games vs. Hazen
September 16th - First Home Coed Cross Country Meet
September 12th & 26th - Progress Reports will be updated for all students (please stop in for a Parent Portal Password)

September 29th - Term 1 ends already!  On to Term 2 for Expos and Experts

October 9th - OPEN HOUSE at 6:00 - community welcome
October 15th - Early Dismissal - NOON - entire district
October 16th - No School - Student Led Conferences*

*What is a Student-Led Conference? Students conduct formal conferences with their parents to share their schoolwork, discuss their own learning, their goals, and strategies for meeting those goals.

Inservice

Mr. Maynard had us captured in a team-building activity one day this week.  Everyone loves a parachute!

We all have been hard at work getting ready for the return of the students.  We have had a focus this week on our Mission Related Goals, the School-wide PBIS practices, and the upcoming Student Portfolios that will be introduced this year.  There are a lot of exciting plans being made PAML and Monday can't come soon enough!  

Getting Ready

We are busy getting ready for the return of the students for the 2014-15 school year.  It's an exciting feeling as the building is prepared, teachers are in and out of their classrooms, and the calendar days seem to fly by.  The back to school mailing will be sent out  early next week.  Please book Monday, Aug. 11th on your calendar for the Sport Night for Fall Sports. We offer Soccer for grades 6, 7 and 8, as well as Cross Country for all Middle Level grades. This will be at 6:00 PM in the auditorium.  Another date to add to your calendar is our Open House on Wednesday, Sept. 24th at 6:00 PM. 

New Faces: This year we welcome Amelia Burns (7th grade Math), Joseph McLaughlin (Guidance), Casie Grossman (World Languages, World Cultures), Kim Beckley (Vocal Music), Susan Trombley (School Nurse), Lauri Thomas (receptionist), Chris Player (School-Based Clinician), Jennifer Clark (7-12 math Interventionist) and Lauren Griffin (para-educator). Introduce yourself if you see any one of these new folks.  We know they will be happy they have joined the PAML community of learners.

Enjoy these last weeks of summertime with your kids! We can't wait to see them again (and meet the new ones), but wish your family all the best as we continue with our preparations!