Edmunds Elementary School Home Page
Upcoming Events
5/28/2012
6/13/2012
 
EES Announcements
Electronic Scheduling for Kindergarten Get Acquainted Day
Electronic scheduling for Kindergarten Get Acquainted Day on May 18th  is now available.  Please click on the following link to begin the scheduling process:

http://ptcfast.com/schools/Edmunds_Elementary_School  

If needed, please see the following page for support documentation related to signing up your incoming Kindergartener for Kindergarten Get Acquainted Day:  http://tinyurl.com/kdaysignuphelp 


Multicultural Night - Fun for all
The EES Multicultural Night provided an opportunity to celebrate the many cultures represented by the families of EES.  We shared food and customs and lively drumming and dancing.  Thanks to those who shared their culture and their food!  Check out the movie created by Avery Follett, a 7th grader at Edmunds Middle School and big brother of Alden. "http://www.youtube.com/embed/DH-3finFxwI?rel=0" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>
Sound of Music Performance this weekend!
SOUND OF MUSIC will be performed on Friday evening at 7 pm and Saturday afternoon at 4pm in the Edmunds Middle School gymnasium.  

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 15th 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!

9th Annual Reading to End Racism
Edmunds Elementary continued our tradition of hosting Reading to End Racism on Tuesday, March 13th.  The Reading to End Racism (RER) project provided engaging, age-appropriate forums in which to explain and explore racism with students.  This event consisted of interactive presentations led in each classroom by a community volunteer “reader”.  

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.  





4TH ANNUAL MULTICULTURAL NIGHT

 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

The Budget Passes! THANK YOU!
        I'm sure you've all heard by now that the Burlington School District Budget passed.  We want to thank all of you who helped get the word out about the importance of the budget in terms of how it will support our students. We know that many of you worked very hard to make sure that the budget passed; hosting informational meetings in your homes, talking to friends and neighbors, waving with signs on street corners, and much more. Every bit of what you did helped.  
        We are very excited here at EES.  This means that next year, we will have three third grade classes and three fourth grade classes with no 3/4 combination.  It means that we will have support in each of our Kindergarten classrooms.  And it means that our English Language Learners will have a bit more support as the amount of time for the ELL teachers has increased by a day and a half a week!  We are absolutely delighted that the community has made such a wise decision. We will work hard to make every dollar count in supporting the growth of each student.    
ALL OUR VOICES - EES COMMUNITY SURVEY
Over 70% of EES households have returned completed the All Our Voices surveys as of Feb. 25th!  This is fantastic and we are really excited that so many of you were able to take the time to share your opinion with us.  We know that more of you will be returning the surveys when the students return to school on March 7th. In order to allow the UVM Marketing students time to input the data, we ask that you please return the surveys by March 9th.   Our hope is that ALL families will give us their feedback. Each household has received one survey to fill out.  If you have more than one child at EES, you should fill out one set of child-related questions per child.   We ask for the child’s grade and gender at the top of each child-related section.

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.  

EES Rocks the UVM Women's Game!
The Edmunds Elementary School Community gave the UVM Women's Hockey Team a loud cheering section on February 11th at the game against Boston University.  In speaking with the University, we learned that attendance at the game was around 1,200 people, or 3 times the normal attendance!  Between the students, faculty and families, EES contributed significantly to that number, with the student section of the arena pretty filled.  


Wednesday Morning Assemblies
Please be sure to join us for our Wednesday Morning Assemblies in the gym whenever you are able.  They begin at 8:10 and we try to be finished by 8:25 so that students can be back in their classrooms by 8:30.  This is a time when we have an opportunity to be together and to gain in a sense of community.  Be prepared to sing with us!  All voices are welcome (and we try to make sure there are words).  
Announcement Archive
See the Announcement Archive for previous EES Announcements
UVM Women's Hockey Team Inspiring EES Students to Do Their Best!

Edmunds Elementary School and the UVM Women's Ice Hockey Team have joined in a partnership to  

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

all participants to "Be Your Best!" 
The EES community was delighted to meet the players in a Whole School Assembly on Thursday which also featured the UVM Mascot, "Rally".  The players introduced themselves and gave an inspirational message about the importance of doing their best in all they do.  Students enjoyed a fun competition as students representing each grade raced to put on their equipment with assistance from EES students. EES students showed the players what they could expect in terms of cheers as they chanted "Go Cat's Go!"  The players and students were able to meet, with each player focusing on the students in one of our classes.  Students and players will be writing to each other over the next few weeks.  Both groups hope to have additional opportunities to meet.   EES students will all have tickets to attend the UVM vs Boston University hockey game on February 11 at 2 pm at the Gutterson Field House. More details to follow!  

 
"Rally" greets EES Kindergarten students

Team and students watch highlights on the new screen that has been added to the EES Cafeteria/Gymnasium through the work of the EES Family/School Partnership at the Whole School Assembly 
Principal Search
Parents and teachers/staff have the opportunity to participate in the interviews being held on Wednesday, February 8th in the Learning Center Resource Room.  The time for teacher and staff participation will be at 3:15.  The time for parent participation will be at 6:00. See Principal Search link on left for the two candidates' applications.