Cougar Chronicle
January 9, 2026
The Principal's Office
Important Links
Important Dates
1/9 - Arts Bash 2026 @ U-32
1/12 - Caregivers & Allies of LGBTQ++ young people meeting
1/15 - Craftsbury Field Trip - Kindergarten, 1st and 2nd Grade
1/15 - District Title I Meeting
1/16 - Coffee and Conversations with the Superintendent @ Calais Elementary
1/19 - No School - Martin Luther King Day
1/20 - No School - In-Service Day
1/29 - Ballin' For A Cure - U-32 Boys Basketball Game
1/29 - Craftsbury Field Trip - 5th and 6th Grade
1/30 - Ballin' For A Cure - U-32 Girls Basketball Game
1/30 - Spaghetti Dinner and Raffle
2/5 - Kindergarten, 1st and 2nd Grade
2/12 - Craftsbury Field Trip - 5th and 6th Grade
2/19 - 3rd and 4th Grade
Nurse Kathryn's Schedule
Nurse Kathryn will now be at Calais every Wednesday afternoon and all day on Thursday and Friday.
Community Connections In-service Day Camp
Craftsbury Cross Country Ski Field Trips
January 8th - 3rd and 4th Grade
January 15th - Kindergarten, 1st, 2nd Grade
January 29th - 5th and 6th Grade
February 5th - Kindergarten, 1st, 2nd Grade
February 12th - 5th and 6th Grade
February 19th - 3rd and 4th Grade
You only need to fill out the permission slip/waiver once and we will use them for both field trips!
(We will confirm with students that the lunch they wanted for the first trip is the same lunch they want for their second trip)
What your child needs for the field trip:
Warm outdoor snow gear (hat, mittens, ski pants, winter coat, boots, warm socks)
A water bottle, with water in it. Lunch, if bringing their own.
What will the day look like?
Arrive at Calais Elementary at 8:45 a.m.- 9:00 a.m. and eat breakfast in the classroom.
Load bus at Calais Elementary at 9:15 a.m.
Arrive at Craftsbury Outdoor Center at 10:00am
Eat snack upon arrival (Chef Dena will be able to send some extras for students who need one)
Get equipped with skis, boots, and (for older students) poles
New skiers shown how to put on and take off skis, how to fall and get up, etc.
Everyone starts in front of the lodge for safety reminders, warm up, and assess abilities
Form groups of skiers, those able/wanting to ski further and those staying near lodge
Return to lodge by 11:30-11:45, return gear, eat lunch and board the bus by 12:15
Return to Calais Elementary at 1:00pm.
All students will be using rental skis. Please do not bring gear with you.
Download MyRide App for Updated Bus Information
To receive the most current, real-time alerts and notifications regarding your student's bus schedule, families should download the MyRide app and create an account. Once logged in and your student is added, please ensure you set your notification preferences within the app. This is the official platform for immediate communication about bussing changes and delays.
Tiny Mic Interviews
Friends of Calais
Friends of Calais is a volunteer-led organization, collaborating to design fun, engaging events and programs intended to foster closer bonds within the Calais community. Click here for more information and to see a list of all of their upcoming events!
Calais Cougar and FOC Merch - Available Now!
Help support the Friends of Calais and show your Cougar pride by clicking the link below and ordering some merch!
How You Can Support Our Spaghetti Dinner Raffle!
Hello Calais friends and neighbors -
Friends of Calais is beginning to organize and request donations for the annual Spaghetti Dinner and Raffle to support ongoing Calais community programming and events. This year we want to tap into and connect with the MANY talented residents and resources we have available in our amazing community!
We are seeking donations of lessons or services that can be offered as raffle prizes - things like:
- Art, music, cooking, woodworking, fly fishing, or other lessons 🎨🎶🍳🪵🎣
- Fitness or yoga classes 💪🧘
- Home repair, gardening, or tech help 🔨💻
- Beauty, wellness, or pet care services 💅💆🐾
- Any other special skill or service you would like to share!
Your contribution not only helps us raise money for a great cause but also showcases your business or talent to the community, while strengthening connections within Calais. It's a win-win!
All donors will be thanked publicly at the event as well as on our website (unless you prefer to stay anonymous). Donor attendance at the event is welcomed but not required.
🗓️ Event date: January 30, 2026 5:30-7:30pm
📍 Location: Calais Elementary School - ALL ARE WELCOME, this is a community wide event!
⏰Deadline for Donations: January 15, 2026
If you would like to contribute please reply to this post or contact Friends of Calais at friendsofcalais2020@gmail.com Even a small offering can make a big difference!
Thank you for helping us make this yearly community fundraising event a success!
9th Annual Spaghetti Dinner & Raffle Fundraiser Reservation Form
- Paper copies will be sent home on Friday 1/9
- Link to Electronic form
- QR Code:
- PDF:
Girls on the Run - We are actively searching for coaches!!
Please see the information below if you are interested in helping out!!
Coach focused
Ready to help girls speak up with confidence? Through the Spring 2026 Girls on the Run curriculum, ‘Hello, Bold Heart!”, girls learn how to share their thoughts, feelings, and ideas and help others do the same. Speaking up takes courage, and being a Bold Heart is all about building the confidence to share what’s inside—even when she feels nervous. Want to use YOUR voice and empower girls to speak up like never before? Learn more about volunteering to be a Girls on the Run coach at Calais Elementary this spring!
Not a runner? Haven’t coached before? No problem! Girls on the Run VT (GOTRVT) provides training, easy to follow lesson plans, supplies and support for a transformational season. The season begins the week of March 16, 2026 and ends with a celebratory 5K on Saturday, May 30th. Over the 10 week season our team will meet twice weekly for 90 minute sessions to connect, move, learn and have FUN! Girls on the Run at Calais will be open to girls in grades 3-6.
Visit gotrvt.org/coach to learn more or sign up to volunteer. Interested participants can complete GOTRVT's Participant Interest Form and learn more about the program at gotrvt.org/programs Have more questions? Contact GOTRVT at info@girlsontherunvermont.org or 802-871-5664.
Participant Focused:
Girls on the Run Vermont (GOTRVT) is gearing up for another empowering and fun season this spring, and we are looking to bring their programming to our community! GOTRVT's programs inspire girls to become their most confident selves, foster new friendships, and build life skills to use at home, in the classroom, and beyond. Girls gain these skills through an innovative blend of engaging lessons, team discussions, impactful community projects and fun physical activities. Each season culminates with a joyful 5K event where participants, coaches, families, and community members unite to celebrate how far girls have come and will continue to go. Bonus, Girls on the Run coaches agree the program has helped them enhance their own life skills, too!
Teams meet twice a week for 90 minutes each session for 10 weeks, starting the week of March 16. If you are interested in having your child participate, please complete the general interest form by clicking on this link: GOTRVT Participant Interest Form. Girls on the Run will be open to grades 3-6 at Calais Elementary. If you’d like to learn more about GOTRVT programs, or about volunteering to coach, check out gotrvt.org/programs or email GOTRVT at info@girlsontherunvermont.org.
Athletics and Extracurriculars
Ballin' For A Cure
Arts Bash 2026
Caregivers and Allies of LBGTQ++ Meeting January 2026
Caregivers & Allies of LGBTQ++ young people
We are a community group of parents, caring friends, caregivers, and district staff gathering to share and think together. We explore our questions and concerns, share resources and experiences as we learn, love, and teach our LGBTA++ young people - from PreK to 12th graders.
Our meetings are on the second Monday of each month. Our next meeting is January 12th from 5:15-6:30pm. We will meet in the U-32 Library classroom.
Any questions? Please send an email to svermilya@u32.org
District Title I Meeting
Berlin Elementary School and Doty Memorial School are served with Title I federal funds this school year. The purpose of Title I is “to provide all children significant opportunity to receive a fair, equitable, and high-quality education, and to close the achievement gaps” (Vermont Agency of Education). Title I funds supplement local funds, and schools are eligible based on poverty rates. The measure that we use in Washington Central is eligibility for free or reduced meals.
We are required to hold a Title I meeting each year. This year we will host a virtual Title I meeting. We will explain the purpose of the funds and how we use them in Washington Central, and we will welcome your questions and thoughts. We will also share information about Title II and Title IV funds and seek input regarding our district's Title I school compact.
The meeting will be facilitated by Jen Miller-Arsenault, Director of Curriculum, Instruction, and Assessment. It will take place on Thursday, January 15 from 4:30-5:30 p.m. via Google Meet, and a recording will be posted on our district website.
Here is the Google Meet link:
Video call link: https://meet.google.com/xqy-mago-ebf
Or dial: (US) +1 475-441-4834 PIN: 979 964 543#
More phone numbers: https://tel.meet/xqy-mago-ebf?pin=2637969762166
Please reach out to Jen Miller-Arsenault at jmillerarsenault@u32.org or (802) 229-0553 if you have any questions. We hope to see you there!
Coffee and Conversations
Just Basics
Just Basics is partnering with Calais Elementary School along with The Humanity & Justice Calais Coalition to assist families in the Calais area with weekly food and household essentials.
Families who are interested may contact Caroline Munroe at Just Basics through her cell at: (802)917-8164 or by email at caroline@justbasicsvt.org or feel free to stop by Counselor’s Office or Main Office at Calais Elementary School or email Ruth Frisenda at rfrisenda@u32.org if you wish to complete intake form to receive items.
Help Stave Off Hunger in Vermont
As many as 65,000 Vermonters are faced with losing SNAP (Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program) benefits on November 1st.
Vermonters who rely on SNAP to feed their families are about to go hungry. That's because the government shutdown means that states have run out of funds to distribute to the more than 42 million Americans who need SNAP to put food on the table.
If you have the financial means, please consider buying a $25 gift card for groceries from Shaws, Price Chopper, Hunger Mountain Coop or another grocery store that Just Basics can distribute to Central Vermont residents who may lose their benefits. Just Basics is located in City Center with the Vt. League of Cities and Towns, 89 Main St., Suite 4a, Montpelier. You can slide a card under the door or mail it to them at that address. https://www.justbasicsvt.org/
Links and Resources
Type in your zip code or county to find different resources in your area!
To help with essentials
Pictures
Sunrise at CES this morning! (Taken by Chef Dena)
⛄Outdoor Recess
Celebrations Around the World - 3rd/4th Grade (Before break)