** IMPORTANT REMINDERS:

·         AS SOON AS YOU ARRIVE ON CAMPUS MASKS MUST BE WORN AT ALL TIMES UNTIL YOU LEAVE CAMPUS AT THE END OF THE DAY, UNLESS IT IS A DESIGNATED MASK BREAK DURING A CLASS.

·         Also, the doors to the buildings will not open until 7:45 a.m. for students who walk or are dropped off in the mornings.

FREE BREAKFAST FOR STUDENTS will be served in the South Building Lobby from 7:45-8:00 a.m. and the Cafeteria from 7:00-8:00 a.m.

The Abbey Group is thrilled to announce that the USDA recently released the extension of their free meal program for the remainder of 2020.  This allows us to serve completely free and nutritious meals to all children, regardless of their situation, until the end of the year.

We know that many families were and continue to be impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic.  As we enter the 2020-2021 school year, The Abbey Group recognizes that our children are learning in completely new environments.  With the stress of adapting to long-term remote learning, hybrid model teaching, and various other changes to our normal routine, this move by the USDA allows us to help remove one key stressor:  feeding our children.  Whether that be in the cafeteria, in the classroom, or at home, The Abbey Group deeply values the importance of a nutritious and filling meal.  Quality nutrition has the power to help kids stay focused and do their best work under both ordinary and extraordinary circumstances.

The program is completely free to all children under the age of 18 with no application required.  Parents and guardians can also choose to pick up meal for their children.  Families are encouraged to complete free or reduced meal cost applications for future meal service beginning in 2021.

The BFA Library is now open after school until 4:00 p.m.!

2020-2021 YEARBOOK ORDERS:  You can order your 2020-2021 yearbook for $40 now through December 31st online at:  http://jostensyearbooks.com/?REF=A08772600  or the order form in your email.  The price will increase to $50 from January 1st - March 5th.

Auditions for the BFA Theater Company will be held today (9/25) in Taylor Park from 3-4 p.m.  No need to prepare anything!  Questions?  Contact Susan Palmer at spalmer@maplerun.org.

Gaming Club will meet in Room E-205 today from 2:50-4:50 p.m.  All are welcome and masks are required.

Norwich Virtual Open House – September 26, 2020:  You are invited to attend our Virtual Open House on Saturday, September 26th.  Students and families will have the opportunity to attend live sessions with academics, civilian life, the Corps of Cadets, ROTC, Admissions and Financial Aid.  By attending our Virtual Open House, seniors can earn our $500 Virtual Visit Award renewable for up to 4 years toward their Norwich education!

SENIOR CLASS MEETINGS will be conducted from the PAC during Enrichment at 8:30 a.m. on Tuesday (9/29) and Friday (10/2).  Topics will include:  the year and opportunities, senior privileges, Balfour forms and processes this year, etc.

The BFA Music Apparel Sale is on now!  Place orders online by 10/7:  https://bfamusic2020.itemorder.com/sale

The PSAT for Juniors will be held at BFA on 10/14/20.  Forms to sign up are available in your email or in the Guidance Office.

University of Vermont: Wednesday, September 30 and Wednesday, October 21 - Save the date!  UVM Admissions will be presenting a special program for Vermont high school juniors and seniors. This program will include a UVM overview, UVM faculty speaker and a student panel. Watch this space for additional details as they become available.

Virtual Open House:  Due to COVID-19, we have reimagined our Open House events for the fall to a virtual format.  Please save the dates of October 13, 15, and November 9, as each event will include a UVM overview, academic offerings, and a student panel.  Just as a reminder, UVM waives the $55 application fee for Vermont students if they apply Early Action, which has an 11/1 deadline.

Most Valuable Student (MVS) Contest:

The 2021 MVS application is now open. Applications can be found online at enf.elks.org/MVS. The application deadline is November 15th

The Elks National Foundation (ENF) awards 500 four-year scholarships based on academics, leadership, and financial need. National awards range from $1,000 per year to $12,500 per year. The national awards will be announced in April 2021.

MVS scholarships are for students pursuing a four-year degree on a full-time basis (minimum of 12 semester hours), at a U.S. college or university next school year. Some important applicant details include:

·  Current high school seniors (or equivalent) who are citizens of the United States are eligible to apply.

·  Applicants do not have to be related to a member of the Elks.

·  Male and female students compete separately. 

Applicants select from a list of the Lodges closest to their home address zip code. Please have your students choose St. Albans Lodge #1566 as their sponsoring Lodge. Complete details can be found at enf.elks.org/MVS.

Legacy Awards – The Legacy Awards program begins on September 1st.  Legacy Awards provide $4,000 scholarships for children and grandchildren of dues-paying Elk members. The ENF offers a total of 350 national awards. The application deadline is February 5, 2021 at 11:59 a.m., Central Time.  Please visit enf.elks.org/Leg for more details and the application link.

For any questions, please contact me at (802) 370-2267 or sptslt@comcast.net

Check out these opportunities from VSAC:

·         Managing College Costs (MCC) Presentations: Worried about the cost of postsecondary education?  Learn about how to pay for college and training programs by attending one of 8 virtual workshops hosted by VSAC Outreach Counselors from throughout the state. 

o   Any family can watch this pre-recorded version of this presentation here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8q5N9jrYyyI&feature=youtu.be

o   Each of the events are listed on VSAC’s Calendar of Events: https://www.vsac.org/events/list

o   Students and families may look for the event ‘hosted’ by the VSAC counselor that serves their specific high school (Counselor names are listed on the event, as well as counties they serve), or can attend any MCC event of their choosing.

·         FAFSA 1:1 Support:  Would you like 1:1 help completing your FAFSA or Vermont Grant Application?

o   Sign up for a 1:1 FAFSA help session with a VSAC Outreach Counselor here: https://calendly.com/chrisbarryvsac/financialaidhelp?month=2020-10

    • VSAC will let you know exactly what documents you need to bring to this meeting.
    • These meetings can be held by Zoom or by phone. If possible, we recommend using Zoom as it allows for screen sharing.
    • Students and families can also schedule a 1:1 FAFSA help session by phone by calling 877-961-4369.
    • Of course, Vermonters can always call VSAC’s toll-free FAFSA helpline at 833-802-8722 (Monday–Friday, 8:00 am–4:30 pm
  • Vermont Career Connect: A Statewide Career Exploration Event for Middle School Students

 https://www.vsac.org/vermont-career-connect

    • Students can take career interest surveys, review a repository of curated videos of different career fields, and participate in a ‘live’ virtual event on October 28th.

 ·         Mark your calendar!  Vermont Virtual College Fair will be held on December 2nd.  More info to come.