Nearly half of the Edmunds Elementary School student body—over 140 students--are busy learning their lines, practicing their steps and making last minute changes to their set as they prepare to perform the beloved Rodgers and Hammerstein classic The Sound of Music the week of March 11, 2011.   

This production marks the 15^th year that Edmunds has put on a school play directed by Very Merry Theatre founder Don Wright.  While offering summer theater programs in a barn, Wright had the idea to expand his vision to Burlington Schools when his son was in the third grade at Edmunds.  That first play launched a company, and has since exposed thousands of children to the gift of theater.
Fundraiser at American Flatbread for EES Drama Sunday, March 18

Come out and celebrate “The Sound of Music”!

Join us at American Flatbread’s Burlington Hearth for a post-play fundraiser for EES Drama: 5-10 p.m. Sunday, March 18, 115 St. Paul St. The drama program
will receive $4 from every large flatbread and $2 from every small flatbread sold from 5-10 p.m. Order takeout or bring your friends and family to mark another successful play season. This annual fundraiser
is always a fun time for all the parents and kids who have spent so many hours rehearsing, singing, dancing, sewing, painting, designing, building, directing, organizing and more for the EES spring play.
Thank you again for your support of the EES Drama Program!

These readers serve as powerful role models for students.   Through these presentations students had the opportunity to listen to literature, personal stories and insight about racism; participate in discussions about racism; brainstorm ideas for helping to eliminate racism; and gain reinforcement about the power of literature and the importance of reading. 

Some of the ideas generated from past presentations include: "don't laugh at mean jokes", “stick up for other people,"  "learn about other cultures," "talk to and educate others about racism".  
 
Volunteer readers checked in at the EES Learning Center to select a book to read to students in the classrooms.  A brief question and answer period followed on the issues of diversity and racism.  Organizing the event were Denise Dunbar and School Counselor Melissa Hathaway.  Volunteer readers included Meredith King, Charlie Rathbone, Carolyn Hanson, Dan Balon, Karen Flores, Marianne McCoy, Hinoel Mineya, Tess Bates, Michael Heath, Pat Hulbert, Meredith Hoisington, Rita Murphy, and Paij Wadley Bailey.  Books included The Colors of Us, My Name is Yoon, Skin Again, Black Angels, and the biography of Claudett Colvin, among others.  We want to thank all of our volunteers!

Below are Melissa Hathaway and Denise Dunbar, ready to greet our readers! Pictured below are Reading to End Racism volunteer readers Rita Murphy, Paij Wadley-Bailey and Hinoel Minaya Minaya.  

 A multicultural celebration at Edmunds Cafeteria Thursday, March 29th 5:00-7:00 PM

*Wear international clothing!!!*Bring an international food or drink to share!! *Around the world passports and activity booths!!! *Live song, music and dance performances!!!!  Can you dance? Sing? Play an instrument? Share a folk story or poem from another culture?

We are seeking parent volunteers for help with the following: purchasing paper plates, cups, tablecloths and silverware; set up and clean up; set up a water station and/or lemonade/fruit punch cooler; run a multicultural information booth about a specific country or target culture; run a multicultural arts/crafts booth; or offer multicultural entertainment.

For more information or questions about volunteering, please contact Chase Rosenberg, crosenbe@bsdvt.org  or through EES at 864-8473

Background for the All Our Voices Survey: 

The Family School Partnership Team (FSP-a group of teachers, parents, and administrators) at Edmunds Elementary School wants to learn how our families are feeling about their child's educational experience.  Our objective is to gather data from as many families as possible.  We will use this information as a starting point for an ongoing conversation about how Edmunds Elementary School (EES) can best serve the needs of all of its students and families. This is an exciting opportunity for our community to talk openly and honestly about what is currently working well at our school and what areas we can continue to refine.

 We have partnered with University of Vermont’s professor Jim Sinkula and several Business School students to create this survey to gather EES parents’ opinions.  They will collect and analyze all of the data.  This survey is anonymous and no one on the team or in the school will see individual survey responses.

If you have any questions, please contact Claudia Renchy Morton at 802-863-8224 or Claudiarenchymorton@gmail.com.  

Once again, thank you for your participation!  Together, we hope that we can build an even stronger community of students, faculty and families at Edmunds Elementary School.  

BE YOUR BEST!  Vermont Student-Athletes, in their pursuit for  excellence in the classroom, on the field, and in the community serve as outstanding role models for Vermont children who also strive to achieve their full potentials in these areas.  A partnership between Vermont athletic teams and Vermont school programs serves as a framework for all parties to pursue personal qualities of excellence in academia and in citizenry thus encouraging

 
"Rally" greets EES Kindergarten students