• PTO Meetings 2nd Tuesday of the month at 6:00
• 12/12 – K-5 December Concert @ 6:30 pm
• 12/17-- Early Release
• 12/23 to 1/5 -- December Break
• 1/14--Early Release
• 1/20--Holiday--No School
• 1/24--Teacher Inservice Day--No School
• 2/7 @ 6:30--Movie Night
• 4/10 @ 6:30--School Musical
• 4/24--Spring Pictures
• 5/8 to 6/5--Walk and Ride
• 5/14--K to 2 Spring Concert
• 5/22--3 to 5 Spring Concert
• 6/13–Ice Cream Social

This afternoon the kindergarteners learned about the weather from a NOAA meteorologist.

Thank you to our family volunteers who made gingerbread houses and donated candy. The students are decorating the houses and they look fabulous. Check them out at the Family Place's Gingerbread Festival.

We are looking for lightly used sneakers for our loaner shoe fleet. We keep a collection of sneakers in the gym for students who forgot their sneakers at home. If you have shoes that your child is no longer wearing and would like to donate them, please send them to the office. Thank you.

First trimester report cards will be finalized and accessible in Infinite Campus this afternoon.

Here is a link to more information to help you understand your child's report card.

The PTO is hosting Happy Holi-dips as a staff appreciate on Tuesday, December 17. Please help us continue this fun (and yummy!) tradition by dropping something off. Sign Up Here.

Week 12: Gender 101 and FAQ

The world is ever changing and we are constantly trying to keep up with new terms and best practices to support our children. Here is a document with some Gender 101 terminology and Frequently Asked Questions ranging from “What does LGBTQIA+ stand for?” to “What is the transition process for a transgender person?” Perhaps one of the most important questions is:

How do I support a student/my child who comes out to me?

You can LOVE them. Meaning:

L- Listen to their experience, this means they trust you! Don’t say, “I always knew,” downplay the significance, or make any assumptions.

O- Be open to hearing something new. Don’t forget they are still the same person and this is just ONE part of their identity, not their whole identity. They are not just the “gay or trans kid”; they are “Sally” who also happens to be gay/trans.

V- Validate how they are feeling and ask how you can best support them. Don’t ask questions that are too personal that you normally wouldn’t ask.

E- Evaluate safety and ask if others know or if this is something just between the two of you. Don’t go tell anyone or “out them”. These can have serious harmful effects. And even if you stop being friends, this is still a secret you keep. (Rainbow Youth Center, Durango, CO)

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The Next District Equity Committee Meeting is on Wednesday, December 11th from 1:00-3:00 at the Superintendent's Office. Please provide sub coverage for any of your building equity leaders who may need it to attend. Thank you!

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Please share these Equity Learning Opportunities with your staff.

White Educators, (Mostly) White Schools, and Racial Justice - January 23 and February 13, $450 8:30-3:30, Montpelier, VT

In this series, we will consider how white identity intersects with white school leaders’ efforts to advance racial justice school reform. We will discuss the importance of redistributing important resources that educators control, including: the time dedicated to adult/student learning, the topics adults and students learn about, and the processes and pedagogies we use.

Understanding Vermont's Educational Quality Standards (EQS) - December 12 (5:30-7:00) FREE, Virtual

Join us for an informative virtual event about Vermont’s revised Education Quality Standards (EQS), set to go into effect on July 1, 2025. This session is open to educators, students, parents, and community members interested in learning what EQS is and how it will impact our schools and students.

The school board is starting to put together next year's school budget. Education funding in Vermont is difficult to understand. Here is a link to a video from Vermont Public that explains how the process works.

This December we are finding our voice! Having a voice is so important and it is our focus this month to use our voice to advocate for what we need.

In October students used their voices to stand up to bullying. This month we are going to use that same powerful voice to ask for help and get the tools needed for success.

Using our voice can look like, sounds like or feels like:

Advocating for what is best for you

Remaining calm and in control

Validating and reassuring

Being able to do your best work

Building trusted relationships

Asking for a break

Asking to have some space

Asking to go to reset

Asking for a tool to help with a hard math problem

At DBS we encourage students to use their voice to help them get what they need!

At Home, if you see a time when your child might use their voice to ask for what they want or need, be sure to point it out to them. Talk about what that might look or sound like.

Hello! The Vermont Department of Health wants to hear from you!

We want to hear from Vermont parents and caregivers! Use this link, or the QR code below to complete a survey that will help the Division of Family and Child Health better understand the needs of children, adolescents, young adults, parents/caregivers/guardians, and families so our programs and activities can better meet those needs. All individuals taking the survey can be entered into a drawing to win a $50 gift card. Thank you for your participation.

Please contact Emily.j.smith@vermont.gov with questions.

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