The Buzz

October is well underway at EES! As the weather begins to cool, students are now settling into routines that will help them as they learn this year. It is a joy to walk through classrooms and see the learning that is happening in various content areas as well as the positive relationships developing among students and staff across the school. Whether focusing on problem solving in math, critical thinking as it relates to what they are reading, or ways in which we build a strong school community, students are demonstrating that they are curious and engaged. They should be proud of their participation and their efforts to do their best each day.

During the next few weeks classes will be participating in fall literacy and math assessments. Combined with learning information gathered daily in class, these assessments will give teachers a better understanding of skills and knowledge students are bringing with them into the new school year and how to best design instruction and learning experiences that best meet student needs going forward. All parents and caregivers will have the opportunity to learn more about their student's beginning-of-year progress during Parent/Caregiver Teacher Conferences toward the end of November. Please stay tuned in the coming weeks for instructions on how to sign up for a conference. It is our hope to partner with every family - thank you in advance for signing up to meet with your student's teacher when the time comes.

As described in further detail below, we are looking forward to our annual Kindergarten/5th grade Pencil Ceremony at next Monday's assembly. Parents and caregivers are welcome and encouraged to join. We hope to see you there.

And, as always, please reach out the school office at (802) 864-8473 with any questions. We will be happy to help.

Have a wonderful weekend!

Warmly,

Michelle Basile

Principal

October 13 - Morning Assembly (8:15am) - K/5th Pencil Ceremony! (Parents and caregivers are encouraged to join.)

October 13-27 - PTO Dan's Chocolates Fundraiser

October 23 - No School for Students and Staff (Diwali)

October 27 - Morning Assembly (8:15am)

November 7 - PTO Meeting (8:15am, in-person)

Searching for additional calendar information? The calendars below may have what you are looking for!

Edmunds Elementary Website Calendar

Burlington School District 2025-2026 Calendar At a Glance

Burlington School District 2025-2026 Wall Calendar and Family Handbook

The annual EES Kindergarten/5th grade Pencil Ceremony will take place at morning assembly this coming Monday, October 13. Parents and caregivers are welcome and encouraged to join us as 5th grade students officially welcome their kindergarten buddies to the EES community. At the end of the year, kindergarten students will give their 5th grade buddies a joyful send-off to middle school at our annual Flower Ceremony.

EES Guitar Club Message from Ms. Nolan

Thanks to the generous donations from the community, EES now has a small fleet of acoustic and electric guitars. I am excited to be starting a guitar club for students in grades 4 and 5 which will meet before school or during recess one day a week. Students came to an initial meeting and I will be assigning groups based on their availability. There are 5 instruments which will be available for students to take home for extra practice. Students and families need to complete a "Guitar Sign Out Agreement" in order to borrow a guitar from the music room. The agreement asks that students take care of the instrument and return it to the music room the next school day so it is available for other students to use. Shout out to Joby Gallagher and Eric Zamore for volunteering to help!

Dan's Chocolates Fundraiser

Our biggest fundraiser of the year starts this week! Order forms will be going home with your children very soon. Each bag of chocolates costs $14. Order forms are due back to your child's teacher by Monday October 27.

As an added incentive, the top-selling class will also get an ice cream sundae party! Below are some notes about selling the chocolates. We also have a how-to video (featuring current and former EES students!).

• Stay safe while selling. Sell with a trusted adult and only to trusted friends, family, and neighbors.
• Funds raised help pay for EES community events and academic enrichment. Typically, this fundraiser provides 60-75% of our annual PTO budget. This fundraiser helps pay for educational opportunities (field trips, classroom supplies), community events (Welcome BBQ, Math Night, Skate Night, End-of-Year BBQ), and other extras that help make Edmunds Elementary such a wonderful school.

Please note that selling the chocolates is entirely voluntary. If you would instead prefer to donate directly to the PTO, please use this PayPal link.

Upcoming PTO Events

• January 31: Math Night
• TBD: Community Traditions Night
• May 1: Skate Night
• May 31: End-of-Year BBQ

Our next meeting will be held on Friday, November 7, at 8:15am in Room 111. Please join us!

Join our School Advisory Group and help improve the school experience for students and their families. EES School Advisory Group members provide input on school related matters and discuss a variety of topics, share information, and broaden understanding of school-related issues. It is a great way to become involved in way that directly impacts the school community.

We will meet several times during the school year at a time that works for group members. Our first meeting will be in October. If you are interested in joining this group, please click below to answer a few brief questions.

The Burlington School Food Project provides meals at no charge to all students 18 and under. Click below to see what's on the menu for upcoming weeks!

Burlington school students and their families are invited to hear the Vermont Youth Orchestra musicians at The Flynn, free-of-charge, at our first concert of the 2025-26 season on Sunday, October 19th at 3:00pm.Violinist Lisa Zhou-Hackett kicks off the season with Mendelssohn’s Violin Concerto, Mvt. III, leading the Vermont Youth Orchestra in a program that honors the deep roots of the VYO. Lisa is a senior at Burlington High School and Burlington Technical Center and has been a member of the Vermont Youth Orchestra Association since she was in first grade. She says that she loves her solo piece because of the way it builds anticipation. “Despite its fast tempo, each section foreshadows the emotion in the next, leaving the audience eager to hear the story unfold,” she explains.

It's easy to reserve tickets online. This can be done by the link below or the QR code on the attached flyer. Families do have to reserve their tickets ahead of time and cannot show up to the box office on the day of the concert. Registration will close on Friday, October 17th at 12pm (noon).

Vermont Youth Orchestra Symphony Students program

October 19, 2025 at 3:00 PM at The Flynn

Tickets are Free! (Reserve tickets Here by Friday, October 17th at 12:00 PM)

The Around Town information above is intended to be of community service. Burlington School District does not endorse nor sponsor these organizations.