Mary Hogan Family Newsletter

Dear Mary Hogan Families,

As May winds down, we're soaking up every bit of this beautiful weather. Students and teachers have been finding ways to take learning outside and enjoy some fresh air and play together.

Inside, the work has been just as lively: students across grades are writing longer and longer pieces, and our 3rd graders have been putting their engineering minds to the test with bridge building. This is the time all that hard work all year pays off in what students are learning and doing.

The highlight of the week? Our 5th graders visited MUMS to get a taste of what's ahead as they prepare for 6th grade. This is a big milestone worth celebrating! Photos of the visit coming next week!

Finally, don't forget to get your nominations in for our amazing teachers and staff — details below. They deserve all the recognition!

💙, Jen

Help us celebrate our Teachers & Staff all month!

1. Share an Appreciation: It's Teacher & Staff Appreciation Month at ACSD. Help us celebrate them by sharing a shout-out or appreciation with this form (by May 31, 2026).

2. Make a Nomination: Help us nominate the next Teacher or Staff of the Year. Each year in August, we recognize an Elementary and Secondary Teacher with our Annual Outstanding Teacher of the Year, and staff with the Barbara Whittemore Support Staff Award. Fill out this form by May 31st 2026 to help us nominate someone.

Tuesday 6/2 - 2nd grade to Branbury State Park

Wednesday 6/3 - Spring Concert All School Meeting

Thursday 6/4 - 5th grade to Shelburne Museum

• Mrs. Wisnowski's class goes to Green Peppers & Arcade

Friday 6/5 - MUHS Parade and Mary Hogan celebration of graduates

• 3rd grade to Crown Point
• Kindergarten Yoga
• Adam's class goes to Green Peppers & Arcade
• 3.30 - Preschool Art Gallery Opening

Monday 6/8 - Mrs. Flint's class class goes to Green Peppers & Arcade

Tuesday 6/9 - 3rd grade goes to the Town Pool

Wednesday 6/10 - 1.30 - 5th grade promotion

Thursday 6/11 - Last Day of School and Community Day

• Talent Show
• Mini-Golf at Mary Hogan
• 5th grade goes to the Town Pool
• 4th grade goes to the Marquis Theater

Summer reading builds a positive relationship with books. It helps children maintain and strengthen their literacy skills when school is out. Without regular reading practice, many students experience the “summer slide,” losing progress in reading comprehension, vocabulary, and confidence. Consistent access to books and engaging reading activities can make a measurable difference in keeping kids on track.

Reading Is Fundamental (RIF)is an organization that donates thousands of dollars in books for our students to take home free books! They also offer a summer reading challenge! Head to our Summer Reading Camp page to learn about our Summer Reading Challenge and discover easy, fun ways to build reading into each day. Get free virtual storybooks, recommendations, hands-on activities, and fresh inspiration to keep kids excited, motivated, and exploring, while avoiding the dreaded summer slide.

These 5th grade students had fun representing Mary Hogan School at the ACSD Golden Dome challenge this past Tuesday. They aced so many of the trivia questions about the 25 books!! It is so awesome to have kids from across ACSD come together to talk books together.

The Golden Dome list for 2026-27 is out and you can find these books this summer at the Ilsley library to get a head start on reading them. We will have multiple copies in our library in the fall as well!

PE classes soaked up the weather this week and got outside for classes. Some classes were finishing up their throwing unit and played disc golf outside on the field. Younger classes were out on the soccer field playing capture the flag and other teamwork games. It is so nice to have this great weather and enjoy the fields for PE!

The kindergarteners had their last Miss Tricia time for the year this week. As she does every year with our kindergarteners, she shared information about the Ilsley's summer reading program, how to check out books, and this year they got their own Ilsley book bags. Students had a chance to personalize them with fabric markers. It was a HUGE hit.

2nd Graders went to Peet's Greenhouse this week. This was a chance to celebrate their learning about plants, pollination, and their work around inventions using biomimicry. The students explored the greenhouses, learned about the plants and enjoyed a tractor ride together.

As we prepare for the upcoming summer season, we want to reach out about students and summer camps. The Vermont Department of Health has compiled resources and guidance to help camps prevent and manage common health and safety risks such as vaccine-preventable diseases, norovirus, heat, air quality, rabies, ticks, mosquitoes, and injuries.

Campers have a safe, healthy, and enjoyable experience by following these health guidelines:

• Campers and camp staff who are not up to date with vaccines should be immunized before camp to make sure they are protected against illnesses like chicken pox, whooping cough (pertussis), tetanus, and measles.
• Families should check with their health care provider to determine if campers are up to date.
• Norovirus is a very contagious virus that causes vomiting and diarrhea. It spreads quickly in group settings. To help prevent norovirus, remember to wash hands often with soap and water (hand sanitizer doesn’t work against norovirus!) and to keep children home from day camps for at least 24 hours after symptoms are gone.
• Families should have a communication plan to be ready in case of emergencies.
• Sign up for emergency alerts at VT Alerts.
• Know where to find information about exposure to ticks, mosquitoes, rabies, cyanobacteria, and about hot weather and air quality.

ACSD will again be providing summer meals to students 18 years and younger. Here are the dates, time and location for meal pick up.

Mary Hogan School: June 15th - August 14 Monday through Friday (Weekend Meals will be available for pick up on Fridays). Pick up time is 11:00 - 12:30. Lunch for that day and breakfast for the next will be available.

MUMS: June 15th - August 14 Monday through Friday (Weekend Meals will be available for pick up on Fridays). Pick up time is 11:00 - 12:00. Lunch for that day and breakfast for the next will be available.

Shoreham: July 6th - July 31 Monday through Friday. Pick up time is 11:00 - 12:00. Lunch for that day and breakfast for the next will be available.

We are so grateful to our family and community volunteers! If you plan to volunteer for an event or activity this year, now is a great time to apply or make sure your paperwork is up-to-date!

• Learn more about the volunteer process here.
• Check in with your front office if you've volunteered in the past to make your paperwork is up to date.
• Fill out this form if you've never volunteered before and plan to this year.

Want to know more about the Volunteer Process? Check out more information HERE.