| | | Principal's noteDear Shoreham Community!
This year is very different for me, and like everyone else, I am adjusting to being the principal of both Bridport Central and Shoreham Elementary Schools. I have been spending a lot of time in Shoreham, and Jenny (Ms. Urban) has been spending the majority of her time in Bridport. Both of us are learning a lot, and I think that we are putting our skills where they are most needed, minute to minute and day to day.
In all ways, Jenny is an skilled elementary teacher and her leadership strengths include expertise in curriculum and instruction, Responsive Classroom, IB, systems development, and supporting students who struggle with behaviors. With all those skills, one might ask, what is left for Matthew to do?!? I am finding ways to chip in and it has been SO fun to get to know our Shoreham students over the last seven days. Honestly, I feel so lucky to have Jenny as a partner this year. I think that our skillsets compliment each other, and I am certain that both communities will be better off because of the work that Jenny will do with students, staff and families.
As we continue the school year, I will be asking for your feedback in a variety of ways. We will rely on your feedback, the feedback from students and our teachers and staff to make sure that we are doing everything we can to helpf all our students succeed.
In the meantime, I continue to be thankful for the opportunity to serve Shoreham and Bridport!
Please have a safe weekend!
Respectfully, Matthew Brankman
Principal | | Talking PointsOver the next few weeks, we will begin offering a new way of communicating. The Talking Points app is a way for teachers, administrators and families to send and receive text messages. Over the last five years I have used Talking Points a lot and have found it be very effective. As we roll it out, we invite your feedback. This app has been approved by ACSD and is safe. If you would like to opt out, please let us know. Our goal is to improve transparency and communication in a way that works for you!
Follow the link below to check it out! | | | Panorama Parent Information and Opt OutAs parents, teachers, and caregivers, we know that social emotional learning (SEL) is crucial for our students’ success in school and in life. To support this learning, we first need to understand how students are doing. Last year, a group of teachers and administrators identified research-backed SEL measurement tools and selected the Panorama surveys. This year, we will again be using Panorama as a tool. The survey will be given a total of three times (fall, winter, spring), and it takes students about 10-15 minutes to complete. We will use the data we collect to reflect on student learning and strengthen our programs and instruction to help all students succeed.
In the next month, we will provide a survey to our K-12 students. Students in 3rd-12th grades will self-reflect on skills related to self-management, self-awareness, responsible decision-making, relationship skills, and social awareness. For grades K-2, teachers will complete a much shorter survey on the same topics about each student in their class. We ask that all students participate, because their feedback will provide valuable insights to help us improve and adapt our district to support all students.
Please notify us if you wish to opt your child out of taking the survey by emailing mcurran@acsdvt.org with your child’s name, grade, and class by September 15, 2023.
Thank you in advance for supporting this important work. If you have any questions please contact your school principal or Courtney Krahn, Director of Teaching and Learning (ckrahn@acsdvt.org; 820-382-1276). | | This week in SPORTS!We are adding this part of the newsletter to report to you on the happenings around the playground. Shoreham students are ACTIVE! Each day I am super impressed with the number of activities happening around the playground. Some students are reading books in the shade. Others are swinging and playing on the slides and tires. Groups of students are searching for bugs and frogs...this week we found many (possibly too many) insects to count!
In addition, there is a daily football game as well as a soccer game that include 20-30 students each day. With so many activities happening simultaneously, there are bound to be challenges. For students playing soccer, it is very difficult to tell what a goal is (because we don't have real goals). Students often disagree, which is fine, but wouldn't it also be nice if we had new goals? Yes, so Irene ordered some for us!
The football game is, as one student called it, "intense." In this week's heat, tempers flared, and we had some difficulties. That being said, we also had some great sportsmanship and conflict resolution. Students advocated for each other, stood up for fairness, and when things got out of hand, everyone came back together to solve problems together.
Next week I have asked our PE teacher, Mr. Bellomo, to work with the soccer group and the football group, and make sure everyone agrees on the rules, and how to settle disputes when they arise. There are so many positive things going on at SES, and our vibrant recess is just one! | |  | Shoreham Elementary School Facebook Page | |
 | Addison Central School District Facebook Page | |
 | ACSD Instagram | |
| |  | Principal Matthew Brankman Assistant Principal Jenny Urban |
| SHOREHAM ELEMENTARY SCHOOL 130 SCHOOL ROAD
SHOREHAM, VT 05770 TELEPHONE: 802-897-7181
FAX: 802-897-2463 |
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