I hope that you and your family had a wonderful summer and that this letter finds you well.  It was a wonderful treat to see our students’ smiling faces this morning and welcome them back.  I’m very much looking forward to collaborating with all of you this year to help your student be healthy, happy and successful at home and at school.  Please don’t hesitate to contact me at any point this year.

Here are a few important things that you should be aware of:

Change in food services:

The Hartford School District has contracted Cafe’ Services to manage food services in all of our schools and programs.  You shouldn’t experience any major changes in terms of money collection etc...  The State of Vermont has raised the cost of students’ lunch to $2.85.  Milk will cost $.55.   Please send money for your child in at the beginning of the week and make sure it is labeled with your child’s name and the teacher’s name.  Menus can be found on the HSD website:  www.hsdvt.com

Please see the forms for free/reduced lunch and fill them out if your family requires assistance.  The State of Vermont will cover the cost of reduced lunch if your family qualifies.  In other words, you won’t have to send in $.40  anymore if your child qualifies for reduced lunch.  After you send in the application and forms, Nancy Raymond will determine whether or not your family qualifies for free/reduced lunch and notify you soon.  Please send the completed forms in by Tuesday, September 3rd.   All students at WRS can receive a free breakfast.  Breakfast is served from 8:00-8:30.

Changes in Staffing:

Louisa Ledbetter will join us as a new special educator.  

Mrs. Kate Levy will now be our full time speech-language pathologist at WRS.  Mrs. Levy split time between DBS and WRS last year.

Mrs. Malia Timmerman will oversee the day to day operations in our after school program.  Mrs. Timmerman will work with Mrs. Burford to coordinate daily operations of CLASP.

Newsletters:

My newsletters will be posted on our school website:  www.wrsvt.com   I am not going to send home paper copies unless you notify Mrs. Taber by September 6th that your family needs a paper copy.  We will accommodate those of you that need this.  Most families have access to the internet and many families want to be able to access our newsletters while they’re at work.  This will save time, paper and hopefully the environment!  If there’s an urgent matter that requires your attention I will send home a letter with your child.  

The packet you receive today has a printout of your most current information that the Hartford School District has.  If there are any changes that need to be made please use the Student Information Update sheet.  Please be sure to fill out your email address on the form.  There will be times when I’ll send out timely information via email to those of you who share your email address.  The PTA also wishes to use this email address.  If you do NOT wish to share this email address with the PTA, please notify Sara Campbell, PTA President at:  campbellsarao@gmail.com by September 15th.

I’m excited for the new school year!  Please continue to communicate with me to let me know how I can assist you and your family to make your child’s school experience successful.

Sincerely,