The Hornet Buzz

• November 22: Chicago Teen Edition Musical at 1PM & 7PM
• November 24 - 28: No School - Fall Break
• December 5: Bellcate School Dance & Pet Food Drive
• December 13: A Day at The Statehouse
• December 16: Tech Career Showcase Event
• December 16: Orchestra Concert at 7PM
• December 17: 1st Year College Experience at 10AM
• December 24 - January 2: No School - Early Winter Break

Dear Hornet Students, Families, and Caregivers,

Next week there is no school for students. I hope everyone enjoys a safe and restful break!

Last evening, the EHS Theater Department held its opening night of Chicago: Teen Edition. We had a wonderful community turnout, and our students did an outstanding job both on stage and behind the scenes. There is still time to see the show - performances continue tonight, and also both a matinee and evening show on Saturday.

Our winter athletic teams begin their seasons after the break. Please be sure to check the Athletics and Activities website for additional information. We look forward to cheering on our student-athletes throughout the winter!

Thank you for continuing to encourage your students to be EHS Ready - Engaged, Honest, and Safe - in everything they do. These core values guide our work and reflect the heart of our school community.

As always, thank you for your ongoing support of our students, staff, and the entire EHS community.

Best,
Donald S. Van Nostrand

• No School: 11/24 - 11/28
• Inclusive School Spirit Week: 12/8 -12/12
• EHS Winter Warmth Fundraiser
• Sportsmanship Reminder
• Senior Information
• National Honor Society
• Fund Your Future: Distinguished Young Woman Scholarship Program
• Updates From The Career Center
• Bellcate School Dance & Pet Food Drive - 12/5
• Winter Ball - 1/18
• The Hive
• No School: 12/24 - 1/2
• Important Links
• Administrator Assignments

Essex High School is holding its seventh annual gift card fundraiser to help support some of our

families with accessing essential goods, such as food and clothing.

This can be a hard time for families and we recognize that it may not be possible for some

families to donate at this time. If it is within your means, please consider purchasing a gift card to donate to support students and families this winter.

What type of gift card would work best?

Families have shared that gift cards to local supermarkets or chain stores (that sell essential

goods) are very helpful at this time. Please know that any gift card or certificate is welcome and

appreciated.

Where to bring them?

Gift cards can be dropped off at the Essex High School Safety Office (located just inside the first door of the main entrance) or can be mailed to Essex High School Counseling Office, ATTN: Brit Flynn, 2 Educational Drive, Essex Junction, Vermont 05452 from now until the end of the school day on January 16th. Our EHS School Counseling and Student Assistance Program Coordinator team will confidentially coordinate assistance to EHS students and families in need.

We are grateful to the EHS community for your kind donations in the past!

In past school years, more than 30 students have benefited from your donations each year!

Thanks for considering your fellow EHS families throughout the next few weeks!

As we approach our winter sport season, it is important to keep sportsmanship in mind!

Submit Recognition Ads - DEADLINE: February 6, 2026

Parents, families, and friends can submit pictures online and create a page to celebrate student achievements and milestones! Pages can be created using baby pictures, family photos, etc. Jostens is managing this portion of the yearbook so please DO NOT send any photos to the yearbook staff directly.

Please email us with questions

Attention Seniors!

Cap and Gown ordering is now OPEN!

No payment is due at this time. Payment will be collected when you pick up your cap and gown in May.

Orders need to be placed by the student using your EWSD student email.

Please use this Order Form to place your order.

Every year, the National Honor Society runs a program where students can receive help in the library with their academic endeavors. This assistance can look like direct help with studying and assignments, or just like sitting next to someone being productive.

Help is available every block except for flex. Peer help is located in the back of the library by the windows on the shorter tables.

Need help paying for college? Last year, an Essex High School graduate was named the Distinguished Young Woman of Vermont and secured a major scholarship to cover her college expenses!

This incredible opportunity is now available for current students! The program is seeking participants from the Class of 2026 this year.

Are you a current 11th-grade student? Start thinking about taking part in this rewarding scholarship program next year. It's a chance to earn significant funds for your higher education!

Please check this section for student job opportunities.

Student Job Opportunities

Students can stop in the Career Center in the Library to see Ms. Hemingway to learn more!

Attention youth in grades 9-12 in the 2025-2026 school year!

Essex CHIPS (Community Health Initiatives and Programs for

Students) is seeking youth board members. For over thirty years,

CHIPS has worked with community members to deliver substance

abuse prevention campaigns and activities that promote healthy

living. Essex CHIPS is regarded throughout the state and region as a

leader in positive youth development, serving primarily youth in

grades 4-9. CHIPS continues to engage a core group of volunteers,

community partners, state agencies, families, and students to

provide programs and initiatives that engage youth in meaningful

ways and create relationships that help steer them toward a positive

future. With a focus on substance abuse prevention, civic

engagement, youth leadership, and promoting healthy environments,

staff and coalition members strive toward CHIPS’ vision of creating a

community where all youth are healthy and positively engaged. Our

Board of Directors is made up of 33-49% youth representation so

that youth voice is represented in the decision making of Essex

CHIPS.

We are seeking new board members to assist with our governance

responsibilities including planning, fundraising and community

outreach. Currently we are meeting as a board on a monthly basis.

The time commitment is 2-4 hours monthly which would consist of a

combination of attending meetings, community outreach and

volunteering in our afterschool program.

This is a wonderful leadership opportunity for youth who are

interested in shaping programs for youth in our community and

learning about nonprofits and community service. Please email

amy@essexchips.org for more information. We look forward to

hearing from you!

For more information, please visit: www.essexchips.org

A Day at the Statehouse

December 13th, 2025

One Page Overview

Registration Link

A day of empowering youth voices and exploring social issues, activism, and the political process taught by legislators and local leaders.

Our annual 1st Year College Student Panel is being held on Wednesday, Dec. 17 from 10AM - 11AM.

An Intro to Cybersecurity

January 24th, 2026

One Page Overview

Registration Link

A technical exploration in combating digital attacks, cryptography and modular arithmetic models, diving into the latest tech tools and trends.

Email tony.volpone@casella.com with any questions.

Bellcate School is hosting a free beach themed dance on December 5th from 6:00PM - 7:30PM.

This dance is part of their mission to create meaningful opportunities for students with and without disabilities to engage and make friendships with other students with and without disabilities, especially other Unified programs and teams!

They are also making this year's dance a pet supply and food drive working with a local organization that aims to keep pets with their humans so people don't have to give them up when times are tough.

For more information contact: events@bellcate.com

Save the date! Winter Ball is on January 18th from 8PM - 11PM. The theme is Winter In Paris!

Stay tuned for more information.

Here is a link to the Hive which is the student news site of EHS!

The EHS Events Calendar is a good place to find many of the events at EHS. This is also where students can remember whether it's an A or B day.

The Essex High School website is a good place to find information about our school. Including handbooks, daily schedules and our staff directory.

Click the icons below to find our social pages!

Essex High School's mission is to engage students in learning that is intellectually vital, personally meaningful, and socially valuable.

Email: hornets@ewsd.org
Website: ewsd.org/ehs
Location: 2 Educational Drive, Essex Junction, VT, USA
Phone: (802)879-7121