June 11, 2021

Dear Parents and Guardians,

This week’s email covers:

Summer message
P-EBT Benefit Update for Summer
Vaccine Resources for Families
New Website & App Coming
Board Updates

Wow, we are here. 15 months ago, the world turned upside down and as we entered this school year in September there was so much anxiety and so much still unknown about this virus. I can’t speak for you, but I don’t recall much sleep this past year with anxiety, worry and so much to do going through my mind each day and night. We constantly had to change course to respond to new information and new statewide messages. We never knew when we needed to close a classroom or program or a school. You, as parents, were also on edge all year- worrying about the safety of your child, the status of your work and needing to adjust to remote Wednesdays and unexpected school closures.

I am so proud of how we worked together through these past 15 months. People came together and willingly stepped into new roles, rules were bent and adjusted to accommodate and keep students learning. From my perspective, we became a tighter family, a richer community. And now, we have made it to the end of the school year.

I wish for you a peaceful and healthy summer. I hope for you laughter and rest, family and outdoor activity. Experience the things we could not do for the last 15 months, go places, see people, and, if vaccinated, do it without a mask.

I fully anticipate returning to a “normal” school year. The first day for students is Sept 1. I think we all look forward to celebrating that return to normal. We also have learned a lot. Masks and hygiene work. Let’s avoid the flu season! We have some new ideas that will carry forward to next year and onward as well.

For now, this is my final school year email. I will not continue the every Friday routine into the summer. Like you, I hope to take a bit of a break and I am not sure you want to hear from me all summer long anyway! If anything comes up, I will let you know and as we get into August, I will send an update for the school year.

For now, let’s celebrate. School is (Safely) Out for Summer!

P-EBT BENEFIT UPDATE FOR SUMMER

P-EBT Benefit Update

The State of Vermont will be issuing additional Pandemic-Electronic Benefit Transfer (P-EBT) cards to help with students’ food costs over the summer months. P-EBT benefits are funds provided on an electronic benefit transfer card that a household may use to purchase food items at grocery stores, convenience stores, online retailers and farmers markets where 3SquaresVT (SNAP) benefits are accepted.

For families receiving 3SquaresVT, P-EBT benefits will be added to existing EBT cards.
Families who have already received a P-EBT card this school year will have the Summer P-EBT benefit added to their existing card.
For other families, you will receive a special P-EBT card from the Vermont Department for Children and Families for students who qualify.

Households will receive a one-time allotment of $375 per eligible student. The Summer P-EBT benefit will be issued in late July 2021.

Eligibility for the benefit depends on a child’s eligibility for free and reduced school meals. All children are able to receive free meals this year due to special COVID-19 waivers obtained by the State. However, to receive the P-EBT benefit, students must either have an approved free and reduced meal application on file or have been directly certified for free school meals. Students may be directly certified for free meals if the household received 3SquaresVT or Reach Up benefits or because the student is state-placed foster, migrant, homeless, runaway or participates in a Head Start program.

If you are not already qualified for free and reduced price meals, you may still submit a free and reduced meal application now to see if you are eligible for the Summer P-EBT benefit. The application is available on our website at www.rnesu.org or the below link:

https://drive.google.com/file/d/1uF324F8UsEHhsXgoaIOFHoK1u83WFD6V/view

For households who have already received the P-EBT benefit this year, there is nothing more that you need to do, unless you would like to update your mailing address or head of household. In that case, contact (fill in contact info).

For eligible households that have not yet received the benefit this year, we will be contacting you individually to check that your mailing address, head of household, and student date of birth are correct. You can find out more about P-EBT benefits by visiting https://dcf.vermont.gov/esd/covid19/P-EBT.

REMINDERS:

VACCINE RESOURCES FOR FAMILIES

Vaccinations are now open for ages 12+ in Vermont. Here are some key resources for parents:

What You Need to Know about COVID-19 Vaccines and Kids from the Vermont Department of Health, the Vermont Child Health Improvement Project and the Vermont Chapter of the American Academy of Pediatrics.
Local Pediatrician Online Conversations on the COVID-19 Vaccine for Kids organized by the Vermont Department of Health.
Pfizer BioNTech Fact Sheet for Recipients and Caregivers (EUA) - FDA's Emergency Use Authorization for use in individuals 12 years of age and older.

NEW WEBSITE AND APP COMING!

Over the summer, we will be transitioning to a new website for RNESU and all schools! This website is intended to be easier to use and will have an accompanying mobile app. Stay tuned for more information.

BOARD UPDATES

BUU Board Meets June 14, 6 pm virtually
RNESU Board meets June 16 @ 5 pm virtually
OVUU Board meets June 16 @ 6:15 pm- TBD if virtual or in person
No July Board Meetings

Agendas can be found on the board pages at http://rnesu.ss16.sharpschool.com/district_information/school_boards

Enjoy the weekend!

Jeanné Collins, Superintendent

Commonly requested links:

Daily Health Screenings https://tinyurl.com/y3ju57zm
Learning Path Handbook on Remote, Hybrid, Distance Learning Days and In Person Environments https://tinyurl.com/y2uzmnts
RNESU Learning Guidance for Families https://tinyurl.com/yxa4brvl
Archived Parent Communications

Technology support http://www.rnesu.org/district_information/departments/technology

Otter Valley Union Middle and High School

Parent/Guardian Update from June 11th

MASKS and SAFETY PROTOCOLS FOR SUMMER PROGRAMMING