INTERESTED IN SERVING ON ONE OF OUR SCHOOL BOARDS? Go to the school board page on rnesu.org to learn what seats are open and to get a petition. Petitions are due to town clerks by Monday - January 24, 2022.
➤ OVUU meets for a board candidate orientation on Wednesday, January 12th at OVUHS library at 5 PM followed by a board meeting to approve the budget at 6 PM. Meetings are in person and online
➤ BUU Board meets Wednesday, January 12th at 5 PM for a board candidate orientation at the Chittenden Library in Barstow School followed by a board meeting at 6 PM. Meetings are in person and online
Dear parents and guardians
Tomorrow's temperature at morning pick up are anticipated to be in the double digit negative numbers. Windchill has the potential of being 26 below 0.
We plan to stay open assuming our buses will start. We will take steps to ensure they start.
Please dress your child accordingly for the trip to school. Boots, gloves, coats are a must.
Do not allow your child to walk to a bus stop. If you are unable to drive your child to the bus and wait for it to arrive, or to the school directly, then please consider keeping them at home. This is quite dangerous weather.
Thank you. Be safe.
WHAT ABOUT QUARANTINING? Under the revised VDH guidance, quarantines for close contacts are now shorter.
➤ 5 days is now recommended and you can leave quarantine IF you have no symptoms or your symptoms are improving, including no fever for at least 24 hours unmedicated and you wear a mask for another 5 days. It is also recommended that you test again no earlier than day 4. This is a recommendation and not a requirement.
➤ Quarantine for positive cases has also been updated and can be found at this link. https://tinyurl.com/2p9n78t2
IS MY CHILD CONSIDERED FULLY VACCINATE UNDER UPDATED VDH GUIDANCE? To be considered fully vaccinated you must be boosted OR vaccinated with two shots of Pfizer or Moderna within 6 months or one shot of Johnson & Johnson within 2 months.
➤ Our students are only eligible for Pfizer. Boosters were only recently available to kids 16 and above; 12-15 year olds were approved for boosters as of this week.
➤ Thus, the majority of our students will need to quarantine if considered a close contact, unless their vaccination is within 6 months or they have the booster.
UPDATED COVID GUIDANCE FROM THE DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH: On Dec 29, CDC updated its guidance particularly around the definition of fully vaccinated and quarantine guidelines. Within a day or so, VT updated their guidance. We follow the VT Department of Health guidance in the RNESU schools. Click on the links below to learn what you now need to do if positive or a close contact:
VDH close contact page Jan 2022: https://www.healthvermont.gov/covid-19/symptoms-sickness/what-do-if-you-are-close-contact
VDH Positive COVID page: https://www.healthvermont.gov/sites/default/files/documents/pdf/COVID-19_What-to-do-if-you-are-diagnosed-with-COVID-19_final.pdf
As of today, the state's registration system has appointments available for parents/caregivers to register their children aged 12-15 for a booster vaccination appointment.
Per the CDC earlier this month, individuals are now eligible for a booster five months after completing their initial Pfizer vaccine series.
The RNESU Superintendent Search Committee is looking for your input on the skills and dispositions you are hoping the new superintendent will possess.
Please participate by attending a virtual input session:
Zoom on Thursday, January 6 at 6:00 PM.
Zoom link and details to participate can be found on the calendar at https://www.rnesu.org/events
If you are unable to attend, but have input you would like to share, please use the Thought Exchange or submit your input through Le'ts Talk at https://www.rnesu.org/page/superintendent-search.
Updated #RNESUVT COVID response guidance posted at rnesu.org and sent to all parents and staff on Jan. 1, 2022. Whishing each of you a healthy and joyous 2022!
Free Back to School Antigen Tests Available Dec 30 and 31 for all Vermont School Children
Registration and more information is available at https://tinyurl.com/yz7txb2w
A holiday message from Secretary Dan French and Teacher of the Year Sue Rosato
https://education.vermont.gov/sites/aoe/files/documents/edu-letter-rosato-french-holiday-message.pdf
Governor Scott Announces Holiday Vaccination and Testing Clinics
https://governor.vermont.gov/press-release/governor-scott-announces-holiday-vaccination-and-testing-clinics
#RNESUVT is seeking input for the superintendent search committee!. Please respond to this Thought Exchange and let the committee know your thoughts!
https://tejoin.com/scroll/995750830
REMINDERS : December & February Vacation Dates Confirmed! Here is the link to the full district calendar as released last year. https://tinyurl.com/vy56p2wk.
➤ Dec break begins on Thursday, December 23rd
➤ The correct February vacation is the week of February 21st
Magnetic calendars distributed to staff at the start of the school year indicated Feb 14. That was an error. We apologize this was not caught earlier!
School Board Meetings and Board Openings: Board meetings returned to in-person meetings with a zoom option for those who wish to attend virtually. Meeting information can be found on the district calendar.
➤ Current School Board meetings are largely focused on developing the budget for next school year. Attend or watch on Peg TV!
➤ RNESU Board meets this Wednesday, December 15th, 5 pm at OCA/ Leicester Central School and online
➤ BUU Board meets Dec 20, 6 pm at Barstow School and online
Interested in serving on a school board? Go to the school board page on rnesu.org to learn what seats are open and to get a petition.
FORMS NEEDED - Test to Stay! To access this program:
➤ We need to have no more than a class or two affected at one time (we are limited in capacity in how many we can test at once)
➤ We must have parent consent for the test
➤ We must have parental agreement to either stay with their child when tested or return to pick them up if their test is positive.
In order to give parental consent for this program, please fill out this form. We cannot use the tests on your child without it and your child will need to quarantine as they do now. Please give consent on BOTH forms:
FORM #1 (all students must have - same form for all schools) VT AOE COVID Response Testing Consent Form: https://www.cognitoforms.com/.../SY22COVID19TestingProgra...
FORM #2 (all students must have for THEIR school) School Based Consent
➤ Barstow - https://www.simplereport.gov/register/WMN72
➤ Lothrop - https://www.simplereport.gov/register/Z2M73
➤ Neshobe - https://www.simplereport.gov/register/BJYUU
➤ OCA - https://www.simplereport.gov/register/AMYCD
➤ OV - https://www.simplereport.gov/register/KUZ8A
Virtual Academy 2nd Semester Enrollment Deadline Dec. 22
Applications for Virtual Academy are now open for the second semester! If you are interested in having your student(s) enrolled from January-June, please visit the RNESU website to access the mandatory recordings and application. Please note that applications are due by December 22nd. This is a pilot program for the 2021-2022 school year only.
Vaccination Clinic Reminder - SPOTS AVAILABLE AT NESHOBE CLINIC DEC 14
Pfizer vaccine for students 5-11 @ Neshobe Elementary School. 1st DOSE: Tuesday (12/14) Neshobe School (with 2nd dose scheduled for Jan. 4)
Interested? Register below or by calling VT Dept of Health @ 855-722-7878. Spots are limited.
https://vermont.force.com/events/s/selfregistration
School Board Meetings and Board Openings! In August, Board meetings returned to in-person meetings with a zoom option for those who wish to attend virtually. Meeting information can be found on the district calendar or on the district website.
➤ OVUU Board meets Dec 1, 6 pm at OVUHS, in person and online
➤ RNESU Board meets Dec. 15, 5 pm at OCA/ Leicester Central School and online
➤ BUU Board meets Dec 20, 6 pm at Barstow School and online
ARP/ESSER Plan - We Want to Hear From You! RNESU has posted the draft ARP ESSER plans for COVID recovery funds on our website, and are actively seeking family and community input. Please visit the page below👇 for more information or to provide feedback. https://www.rnesu.org/page/covid-planning-recovery?fbclid=IwAR0oRJWiKbkS79afUCO1Cd5R3JODyCR8P0i4hT2MS_IEyOL1xxNFycyce8o
FUEL ASSISTANCE AVAILABLE TO VERMONTERS - APPLY TODAY! If your household would benefit from fuel assistance, please check out the resource page below 👇
Fuel & Energy Assistance includes:
➤ Information about seasonal fuel assistance & weatherization
➤ Crisis fuel assistance
➤ Water and electricity assistance
➤ Where/how to apply for each of the above
Vermonters who apply and are approved for seasonal fuel assistance before December 1, 2021 will receive the full seasonal benefit. Individuals can apply for fuel assistance for the 2021-2022 winter season through February 2022; however, applications received and approved after Dec. 1 will get a percentage of the full benefit: Dec = 80%, Jan = 60%, Feb = 40%. Because fuel costs are on the rise and are likely to only increase as we get deeper into winter, we encourage people to look into seasonal fuel eligibility soon.
https://vermontfoodhelp.com/fuel-energy-assistance