3/23/23
Team -Harwood Hacks Weekly 5-4-3-2-1: On a piece of paper, ask students to write 5 things that made them smile this week, 4 words to describe their week, 3 things they plan to do in the next week, 2 things they’ve learned, and 1 hope for next week. Invite students to share one section of their list. |
While hiring season comes with spending too much time behind a closed door it also provides a continuous reminder of what makes Harwood unique since committees are asked repeatedly what they appreciate most about our community. Again and again your colleagues and students say: our spirit, the kindness among students, the camaraderie and care for each other.
From the Middle School Winter program extending their days on the mountain, to the incredible support of Winter festival festivities and watching Sr. TA’s lead their students in taking home the spirit challenge during assembly - you all make Harwood special.
Specifically I want to highlight the amazing spirit of Chris Rivers and Bruce Sklar during their incredible tenure at Harwood. Today they were honored at the State House and on July 4th they will be marching in the Warren parade!
Thank you!
Duane, Meg and Laurie
Calendar:
03/24 - No School
03/31 - End of Quarter 3
04/4 - Central VT College Fair field trip
04/11 - College Process Overview, evening event
04/13 & 4/19 - Family/TA Conferences
04/20 - 5:30 - 7:30 - Rising 7th grade transition Evening
04/24 - 4/28 - April Vacation - No school
*Please note VTCAP details will be forthcoming.
Appreciations:
Staff Member | Appreciations |
Elizabeth King | For her incredible advocacy and relentless support of 2 students - it made the difference |
Skylar and Jen | For your care and ongoing support of our students |
April | For the above and beyond communication required during hiring season - you balance it ALL! |
Danielle | For your meticulous work generally but your attention in preparing the Special Ed team for grouping and case management |
Safe - seen, heard, respected & understood:
Topics | Information/Links |
Student Support Services Health Office Updates | Student Support Collective: Please see our SSC Agenda and Notes - If you have any questions or want to learn more related to the notes/agenda items, please contact our team using this Email: hu-collectivess@huusd.org.
Student Voice Collective: Please see SVC Agenda and Notes - If you have any questions or want to learn more related to the notes/agenda items, please contact Melody Frank or Ellen Berrings
Hello from the health office! *Please remember to use the huhs-nurses@huusd.org for general health office communication; i.e. field trip inquiries, student medical updates. Sleep and Springtime: We are seeing many students come to us feeling like they need a nap or reporting they did not sleep well. With the recent time change, longer days, and general excitement that comes with the arrival of Spring, sleep hygiene can be tricky. One study found “the strongest seasonal effects for wake time and sleep duration, especially during the spring season: wake times are earlier, and sleep duration decreases (compared to the reference season winter). Sleep duration also modestly decreases when day lengths get longer (between the winter and summer solstice). Bedtimes and wake times tend to be slightly later as outdoor temperature increases.” Don’t forget, Ramadan is March 23-April 22. 9 Ways to Support Students During Ramadan |
TA update | APPRECIATION! To all the TA teachers and staff who stepped up to make our first Winter Carnival a success. Your flexibility, creativity and participation have helped to raise some Harwood spirit! Major props to Peter and Lynda for stepping into the crazy role of facilitating snow volleyball and snow bowling. Finally a big shout out to the weather for being absolutely spectacular! March Theme: Kindness to Yourself and Others This week we began thinking about Random Acts of Kindness to offer to others in our school community. Thursday 3/30 is the day we hope to see lots of kindness occurring in many pockets of the building. Next week we begin the process of considering kindness for ourselves with a look inward using the Self Care Quiz, followed by a circle conversation. Students and staff can benefit from this reflection on how we can take care of ourselves. Practicing self care helps us to be more available to care for others… Hopefully this is just a reminder of the importance of kindness as a daily practice; not just an event! TA SLIDESHOWS |
Rigorous & Robust Academic Program:
Topics | Information/Links |
Staff Meeting  | Objectives: Re-Visit DESSA: Share out plan for DESSA Spring Administration; opportunity to reflect on Data and next steps; review & practice strategies to support students 1:1 and as a whole TA Where: Library When:3:30-4:30 Staff Meeting Agenda (To be updated prior to meeting with more details) |
ELO Series | Quarter 4 is coming! And along with it, there is an opportunity to offer an ELO series again! Staff throughout the building are invited to think about possibilities for flex-block-like optional enrichment options for students, which can be offered through what we are calling “ELO Series”. Check out this document with more information and a timeline for Quarter 4 ELO Series. Proposals are due by next Friday 3/31 (put proposals here), and series will start the week of 4/17! Reach out to Jess Deane if you have any questions! |
Positive school climate and culture:
Topics | Information/Links |
WHO's WHO at the Project Design Lab Here's a sampling below of the teaching artists you could work with at the Project Design Lab and in your school next year. At the Project Design Lab an educator team from your school will collaborate with a teaching artist to design a creative project that strengthens student engagement with your curriculum or school initiative.
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Harwood Middle School Team Advances in National Stem Challenge! Read the article below! | |
Upcoming Events for Sophomores, Juniors and Seniors Central Vermont College Fair - April 4th Sign up to attend! On Tuesday, April 4, 2023 the Central Vermont College Fair will take place at Norwich University. Over 70 different colleges will be in attendance. Harwood students interested in attending will depart from Harwood via bus at 8:45 AM and return to school by 12:30 PM. This is a wonderful opportunity to explore a wide array of college options and interact with admissions representatives from various schools. There will also be an opportunity to take a campus tour of Norwich University. Permission slips are in the School Counseling office and are due by March 29th. Spaces are limited. Try a Major Day at Vermont Tech - April 14th. Try a Major Day is for high school sophomores and juniors and gives students a chance to experience, first-hand, programs leading to careers and pathways in many exciting fields. Students participate and interact with faculty and current students in a major that they would like to “try out” for the day. If you have an interest in exploring Vermont State University or any of these majors sign up today. Space will be limited to 25 students. Anticipated sessions include:
If you want to help us chaperone, let us know! | |
Hiring Update | Please welcome our new Middle School English Teacher - Meredith Vaughn was born and raised in Roxbury, Vermont. She earned her BA in Education with a concentration in English from State University of New York at New Paltz. Meredith moved to sunny San Diego after college, but she eventually ventured back to Vermont to be closer to family and begin a teaching career in her home state. She started teaching high school in 2008, and in 2014, Meredith got a MA degree in English from Southern New Hampshire University. She has taught in the classroom for twelve years, both at the high school and middle school level. Meredith believes in the power of stories: the stories we tell others and ourselves, the stories we write, and of course, the stories we read. She aims to create a safe and open environment, with the hope that students discover their voices, express themselves with confidence, and embrace their community. For the past seven years, she's lived in Jeffersonville. She loves spending time with her husband, Chris, her five-year-old son, Silas, and her playful dog, Gusty. She enjoys yoga, writing, traveling, and spending time outside. She is happy to be returning back to Central Vermont, and especially excited to be joining Harwood Middle School, a school she knows promotes compassion, curiosity, and a love for community. This week:
Posted positions:
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The Sunshine Committee has been in touch with Darn Tough Socks regarding discounts for our purchases. They have been enthusiastic about supporting Harwood and donated some free socks to our cause. Also, they offer a lifelong discount for teachers on darntough.com. If you love warm feet and supporting a new Waterbury business, check them out! https://darntough.com/pages/exclusive-discounts Now that we have your attention, please consider donating to the Sunshine Committee (money can be given to April). We spread a little cheer or support to our colleagues during life's big moments. |
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