SCS Community Newsletter

Dear SCS Families and Caregivers,

What an energizing week it was here at SCS! From the field trips that enriched kids’ experiences through connections in the community to celebrations at the 5-8 assembly on Wednesday to bidding farewell to our goats today, it was a week full of action here at SCS. Hopefully your students are heading home today as fulfilled as we are.

With the shorter days of winter arriving and the Thanksgiving break around the corner, we often see an increase in screen time this time of year. This is a common challenge in every school and household, and we wanted to share a few proactive strategies for helping our students (and ourselves!) find a healthy balance.

Brain science shows that many passive high-interest activities, like video games, social media, or even sugary snacks, provide a big surge of a brain chemical called dopamine. Dopamine doesn't just create "liking," it creates powerful "wanting." It’s no accident that many drugs - both pain-relieving and recreational-target this same hormone.

The challenge is that the intense "wanting" dopamine produces can make lower-key (but deeply rewarding) activities like reading, playing outside, or working on a puzzle feel less interesting by comparison. It can also make transitioning off a screen a source of real frustration, as our brains are still in that high-"wanting" mode. Regulating this frustration can be a real challenge.

This isn't just a challenge at home; we see it at school, too. When a child's brain becomes accustomed to the constant, rapid rewards of screens, it can make the quiet, sustained focus required for deep reading, collaborative problem-solving, or planning out a long-term project feel much more difficult. Practicing these strategies at home directly supports your child's ability to engage, focus, and find satisfaction in the important work they do in the classroom.

Here are a few simple ideas to help find balance and manage those "I'm bored!" moments:

1. Find the "Goldilocks" Activities: The goal is to find activities that are "just right"—they're engaging and fun, but they don't create that compulsive "wanting" loop. This could be anything from a sport, to baking, to building with Legos, to playing a board game as a family, or learning a new song on an instrument.

2. Create "Tech-Free" Zones or Times: The old saying "out of sight, out of mind" is powerful. When devices aren't a constant visual cue, the "wanting" cycle doesn't get triggered as often. Many families find success by having a central "device basket" for evenings, keeping phones out of bedrooms, or protecting family meal times as screen-free.

3. Try the "5-Minute Reset": If you get pushback when it's time to turn a screen off, remember that you're competing with a powerful brain chemical! The good news is that these strong dopamine surges are potent but often fade quickly. Acknowledge the frustration, remove the device, and help your child transition to the next activity. You may find that after just a few minutes, the intense urge has passed, and they've successfully moved on.

We know every family is different, and we don’t want to be too preachy here. That said, being mindful of technology's powerful impact allows us to protect and nurture our children's ability to focus, create, and connect—skills that are foundational to their success both in school and out. If you want to learn more, the Screenagers Blog provides weekly updates with tips, tricks, and education that can help you strike the right balance.

In partnership,

Jen, Brett, and Antonia

11/9 - Sibling Photo Day (9:00 - 11:00 am, SCS Breezeway)

11/10 - Field Trip to New Village Farm - Ms Newman's class

11/10 - Robocats Field Trip to Global Foundries (11:00 am - 2:30 pm)

11/11 - PTO Monthly Meeting (6:00 - 7:00pm, Green Common Space)

11/14 - Last day of Food Drive

11/14 - Parents Night Out for K-4 Students (5:30 - 8:00 pm at SCS, Sign Up Here)

11/15 - SCS/New Village Farm Partnership Fundraising Event (see details below)

11/21 - Poinsettia Sale Ends

11/24-28 - NO SCHOOL

CVSD 2025-2026 Calendar

Please sign up by 9:00 am Monday if you would like your student(s) to ride the late bus next week on Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, &/or Thursday.

THIS IS THE ONLY WAY TO SIGN UP FOR THE LATE BUS.

If your student is signed up for the late bus, we expect they will be on the bus. Please notify the front office if there is an unexpected change in plans.

A big thank you to all of the familes that have supported our Food Drive.

We are overwhelmed by the generosity of our community.

The Shelburne Food Shelf invites you to participate in the Food is In When School is Out (FIIWSIO) program where you can shop for food for your students for each school vacation. Please sign up by completing this form.

YOU ARE ELIGIBLE TO SHOP at our regular food shelf shopping times which are listed on our website: https://www.shelburnefoodshelf.org/food/calendar

You are invited to shop on Saturday, Nov. 22, 11 am to 1 pm for THANKSGIVING. Please complete the form to indicate your choice of meal.

All residents of Shelburne may participate. We are excited to see you!

Next Friday, November 14, the 7/8th grade SLC is hosting a babysitting night for K-4 students.

This event will run from 5:30-8:00, and the cost is $10/child.

We will have movies, games and activities for your child.

Feel free to send your child with a snack as we won't be serving dinner.

Please Sign Up Here by Wednesday

Parents, come drop your kids off and have a night out!

Our Lost & Found collection is overflowing - please take a minute to come and see if any of the items belong to your students. Our PTO volunteers will be posting pictures at this link on the PTO website soon.

7/8 SLC members visited the Pre-K class to teach them about the Food Drive.

A small but mighty crew turned up on Wednesday for the

second Walk and Bike to School day this school year.

Some of the OVX club members had a great field trip to the

Youth Leadership summit on Wednesday.

Evan and Milo helped plant daffodils bulbs at the School Street entrance in honor of

Alice Browns’s many years of welcoming students at this door.

Milo and Evan were two students whom she greeted each morning.

The SCS middle school field hockey team cheering on the UVM field hockey team in the

America East Championship game on Friday.

Support our annual performance travel programs to Boston, Montreal and all around Vermont!

Purchase quality locally grown poinsettias and cyclamens at this link.

Please also sign up to join our volunteer team to collate orders and hand out plants.

Sign up for a Goat Snuggle or Family Photo at New Village Farm at our Fundraising Event on November 15. All proceeds fund our NVF/SCS partnership.

Interested in supporting or volunteering for Farm-to-School activities? Please contact devinb@shelburnepto.org

Please join the Shelburne Forward Bike & Pedestrian Task Force for a community walk through the beautiful LaPlatte Nature Preserve trails on Saturday, November 15. We will meet at the community garden parking area at 10:00 - all are welcome!

This is open to ALL families, not just Hinesburg residents:

Are you interested in having some fun learning alongside our students as a guest teacher (aka sub)? If so, please reach out to CVSDHR@cvsdvt.org or Louise Michaels.

Click here for more information on becoming a sub!

Shelburne Community School Administrative Team

Jen Roth, PreK-4 Principal

Brett Cluff, 5-8 Principal

Antonia Trono, Director of Special Services