FCS Backpack EXPRESS October 9, 2015 STARS Continue to shine at FCS! Safe! Truthful! Accountable! Responsible! Super Citizens! Being a Super Citizen is really bringing all of the other stars into alignment. Super Citizens expectations in the classroom are: be a listener, be a team player, use appropriate language, be respectful, in the hallways: be quiet and be aware of others, at recess: include everyone, use appropriate language, in the bathrooms: keep it clean, use an inside voice, in the cafeteria: use an inside voice, use good manners, at assemblies: be a good listener, be aware of others, and on the bus: share your seat, use appropriate language. We have these expectations for every student at FCS and teach these expectations, acknowledge the students who are meeting them, and help those students who may need to make better choices. STARS has made a difference in the referrals to the office, with less than 10 students coming for redirection since the school year started. Please talk to your child about STARS and if they have any at home, ask them to bring them back to school to help fill the classroom jars as we are only 9 jars away from a whole school celebration. We are having a STARS studded school year! JoAnn Taft-Blakely, Ed.D. Principal

Just a reminder that there is no school next Thursday and Friday, October 15 and 16 for in-service and parent conferences. Fall is upon us…so frosty mornings are not far behind. Please make sure your child comes to school ready to be outside. Jackets, hats and even some mittens have already appeared for our morning recess. Students are outside each morning from 7:357:55 unless it is raining. Mark your Calendars: Hike for Hunger October 30th - information will be sent home soon Monster Mash October 30th 6:00-8:00 pm

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Evacuation Drill Notice The Ferrisburgh Central School will be doing an evacuation practice drill on October 14th in the afternoon. As part of our school emergency training, we will evacuate the building and walk to the Town Offices where we will have a short all school meeting and then return. This is part of the requirements of the state school emergency preparedness, just like fire drills and lockdown drills that are practiced here each month. Please contact Mrs. T. if you have any questions.

FCS BASKETBALL REGISTRATION OCTOBER 9-OCTOBER 30! Love basketball? Registration for the FCS Basketball program is open! The program is for Ferrisburgh boys and girls in grades 36. Registration will close on October 30th. All children who register on or before October 30th will be guaranteed a space on a team roster. Some of the teams will fill during the registration period and we will not be able to accommodate registrations received after October 30th. Please be sure to register your child during the registration period so they will not miss the opportunity to play. Practices will begin mid-November and the season runs through midFebruary. Registration materials were sent home earlier this week and will also be with this Newsletter. Please read through the materials and return the forms, to the school office, by October 30th. We are seeking volunteer coaches for 3/4 boys and 5/6 boys. Please contact Sue at [email protected] if you are interested in coaching or assisting. We are looking forward to a terrific season of basketball! Cathy Reitz and Sue Bergmans - FCS Basketball coordinators.

Reminder – Ferrisburgh Children’s Theater for Students in Grades % & 6 begins on Wednesday, October 14th, from 3:00 – 5:00 pm. Flyer and schedule went home a few weeks ago with students in grades 5 & 6. For more information, contact Kristina MacKulin at [email protected] or Jill Fonte at [email protected]

FCS Spelling Team Congratulations to the FCS Spelling team! Last Friday the FCS students beat Addison Central School and Champlain Valley Christian School in the ANWSU district spelling competition. The group of 6, 5/6 grade boys, are Cal Seyler, Xavier DeBlois, Shea McLaren, Parker Kayhart, Adam Clark, and Nate Muzzy. They call themselves The Vocabulators! They will represent our supervisory union at regionals Oct. 31st. They had to successfully spell some really challenging words such as tonsillitis, approximately, and occupation. Check out their rainbow tie dyed t-shirts and wish them well. They are working hard! Coach Mary Shields

Health Room News In the coming weeks, all FCS students will receive vision and hearing screenings in this health room. (Home schooled students are welcome for testing...just give me a call.) This yearly occurrence is adored by the kids, and provides a heads-up whether or not students are having difficulties. Vision and hearing problems are the “quiet debilitators.” Often, defects in these two important senses are so subtle that they go unnoticed until educational or significant medical implications emerge. Because vision and hearing problems generally begin in a child’s critical years of development, early detection and diagnosis are vital so that medical treatment and rehabilitation can begin sooner. Physical or behavioral complications can be avoided or minimized, and long-term educational implications can be eliminated or reduced. Parents, please observe your child’s reading habits, communication mannerisms, listening and attending patterns. If anything raises a red flag, please speak to myself, your child’s teacher, or your child’s physician. Such measures (parent, school, physician involvement) will ensure that your child will have a fuller and more productive school experience. Thank you, Anne Cohn, R.N.

PTO Fall Fund Raiser - only two more weeks left! PTO Fall Fund Raiser forms were already sent home with your child a few weeks ago. However, if you need another one, you can find it on our website (click here) or by emailing us at [email protected]. Please help us reach our goal of 100% participation. We had to cut our budget this year due to shortfalls in fund raising from the past few years, so please consider a donation of any amount to help support all the programs the PTO funds. And don't forget to fill out the survey at the bottom of the form to help us understand what your priorities are for the school and where you'd like to see the PTO focus its limited resources. Thank you for your support!

Addison Otters Swim Team Summer may be over but you can keep swimming! If you love to swim, come join the Addison Otters Swim Team! We swim from November through February after school at the Mt. Abe pool. Open to swimmers of ALL abilities. Swimming at meets is not required...just a positive attitude and a love for the water! We will be hosting an Informational Meeting on October 20th at 6:00 p.m. at Mt. Abe. You can also come to our Try Us out Sessions on Oct. 27th and Oct. 28th at 4:00 p.m. - they're free and open to swimmers ages 5 and up. Come see and hear what the team is all about. All new Otters will receive a $50 discount! For more information contact one of our board members! See our website at www.addisonotters.com .

SAVE THE DATE – Monster Mash The PTO's annual Monster Mash will be held on Friday, October 30th from 6-8 pm at FCS. Come for a fun night of dancing in the gym and trick-or-treating around the school. Adults and kids dress up for this event so start thinking about your costume now!

FCS PTO Fall Fundraiser Last week, the information about the PTO's Fall Fundraiser went home last week. Included on the fundraising form is an opportunity for you to help us decide which PTO programs are most important to you. Please be sure to fill this section out and return it by October 23rd. We need to make cuts to our budget and we'd like your input. We're hoping for 100% participation by families in this fundraising effort in order to prevent further cuts. Thank you in advance for your support!

PUMPKINS IN THE PARK Get set for this year's exciting Halloween celebration on Saturday, October 24 at 4 pm. in the Vergennes City Park. Your family's carved pumpkin could be a winner in the contest with cash prizes. There will be a costume parade and treats for the kids. Storytelling, music and & crafts will take place as well as the new FiveTown Chili Contest featuring nine area area restaurants competing in this first ever event. Come and have some spooky fun with the entire family! For more information, contact Mike Reiderer at the Boys & Girls Club, 8776344.

Vermont’s Child Care Challenge Community Forum is taking place at the Vergennes Opera house on Thursday, October 29th from 5:30-7:30 pm (with dinner served). This forum is an event for parents, business owners, community members, etc., to start the conversation about the experiences/challenges that community members have faced with high quality, affordable childcare. For more information, contact Shayla MacDowell Field Coordinator, Let’s Grow Kids Cell: 802-448-4409 Email: [email protected]

Calendar of Events Oct. 12 - Four Winds Training, 9-11, Art Room Oct. 14 – Children’s Theater, 3:00 – 5:00 - Gym Oct. 14 – Take Your Parents to Lunch Day Adults/$5.00 each Oct. 15 - In-service Day Oct. 15 - Evening Parent Conferences Oct. 16 - Parent Conference Day Oct. 19 - Children’s Theater, 3:00 – 5:00 – Gym Oct. 19 – PTO Meeting, 6:15 pm, Staff Room

Oct. 21 - Children’ s Theater, 3:00 – 5:00 – Gym Oct. 21 – FCS School Board Meeting at VUHS 6:00 pm; ANWSU Bd. Meeting, 7:30 Oct. 23 – Tot Gym, 9:00 – 10:30, Gym Oct. 26 – Children’s Theater, 3:00 – 5:00 – Gym Oct. 30 – Hike for Hunger, 8:30 – 10:30 am Oct. 30 – “Monster Mash”, 6:00 – 8:00 pm Nov. 2 - Children’s Theater, 3:00 – 5:00 – Gym Nov. 4 - Children’s Theater, 3:00 – 5:00 – Gym Nov. 4 - K-2 Book-in-Bag Program, 3:00- 4:15 Nov. 4 - Basketball Coaches Mtg, 6:30 – 8:00