Mrs. H’s Desk Drawer

We have some pretty incredible grown-ups at Grand Isle School, and we want to celebrate them!

Has a teacher or staff member gone above and beyond for your kiddo? Made them feel special, helped them through a tricky moment, sparked a love of learning, or simply made their school day a little brighter?

We want to hear about it! ❤️

Take a moment to nominate a teacher or staff member for their awesomeness! Your kind words mean more than you know, and it's a wonderful way to recognize the people who make our school such a special place.

A little appreciation goes a long way, so let's spread some love to our amazing school team! 🌟

We're settling into November, and it's hard to believe that Thanksgiving break is just a few weeks away. This stretch of the school year always seems to move quickly, even as the days get shorter and the mornings get a little colder!

November is a busy month at Grand Isle School, with lots of learning, some special opportunities for our kiddos, and time to connect with families. Before we know it, we'll be wrapping up our first trimester, sharing report cards, and welcoming families for conferences.

🥤A Little Morning Pick-Me-Up!

Thank you to everyone who stopped by our lobby on Friday for a morning drink from The Main Stop! Our 6th graders appreciate your support, and we loved seeing so many families stop in. We hope your infused drink added a little sunshine to your morning and made the rest of the day a bit easier!

🥫 Third Grade Food Drive!

Our third graders are hosting a weeklong food drive to support our local food shelf! This is a wonderful opportunity for our students to make a difference in their community, especially as we head into the holiday season.

If your family can contribute, you'll find a poster below outlining the items the food shelf needs most. We appreciate every donation, big or small. Thank you to our third graders for helping organize this effort and for reminding us what it looks like to care for our neighbors! Our donation bin will be in the lobby.

❄️ Colder Weather Is on the Way!

The weather looks like it's shifting this week, and we may even see some snow by Friday! As temperatures drop, please make sure your kiddos come to school dressed for outdoor recess or have the layers they need tucked into their backpacks.

Unless it's raining or the temperatures are dangerously cold, we plan to get outside. Fresh air and movement are important parts of our day, but we also want kids to be comfortable enough to enjoy that time. Warm coats, hats, gloves, and appropriate footwear will make a big difference!

⛷️ Ski & Ride Update

I know some families are starting to think about Ski & Ride! Sign-ups have not gone out yet, but I haven't forgotten about them. I'll keep you posted as soon as we have more information. We are looking forward to another fun season on the mountain!

❤️ A Season for Gratitude

November is also a nice reminder to slow down and appreciate the people who make our days a little brighter. We see so many small acts of kindness at school, from students helping classmates to staff going out of their way to make sure a kiddo feels supported.

Those moments matter, and they're worth noticing.

As we move through the next few weeks, I hope our kiddos find opportunities to show gratitude, extend kindness, and recognize the good things happening around them.

Thank you for being such an important part of our school community. We appreciate your partnership, your support, and the trust you place in us each day.

As always, my door and inbox are always open.

Mrs. H ❤️

🥫 November 9–13 – Third Grade Food Drive!

Our third graders are hosting a weeklong food drive to support our local food shelf! Families who can contribute are encouraged to send in donations throughout the week. You'll find a poster below with the items the food shelf needs most, and our donation bin will be in the school lobby. Thank you to our third graders for helping our school community come together to support our neighbors!

📸 Tuesday, November 10 – School Picture Retakes!

Picture retakes are happening on Tuesday! Whether your kiddo missed our original picture day or you'd simply like a new photo, everyone is welcome to participate. Please let us know if you'd like your child to have their picture retaken so we can make sure they're included!

🇺🇸 Wednesday, November 11 – Veterans Day Ceremony

Please join us at 9:30 AM in the gym as we honor the veterans who have served our country. Families and veterans are warmly invited to attend this special ceremony with our students and staff. We'll have coffee and some light breakfast refreshments available for our grown-ups. We hope you'll join us!

🎨 Tuesday, November 17 – Author & Illustrator Dan Abdo Visits Grand Isle School!

We're excited to welcome Vermont author and illustrator Dan Abdo for a day of creativity and fun! Dan is known for his graphic novels, including Blue, Barry & Pancakes and Barb the Last Berzerker. He'll spend the day with our kiddos and staff exploring illustration, storytelling, and comic design. What a fun opportunity for our students to learn from someone who brings stories and characters to life!

📚 Friday, November 20 – Report Cards Are Emailed Home

Our first trimester is wrapping up! Report cards will be emailed home, giving families an opportunity to celebrate their kiddos' growth and review progress before conferences.

🗓️ November 23 & 24 – Family Conferences

We're looking forward to connecting with families, celebrating student growth, and talking about what's next for our learners. There is no school for students on these days.

🦃 November 25–27 – Thanksgiving Break!

No school! We hope everyone enjoys some extra family time, a little rest, and the opportunity to slow down and appreciate the things that matter most. ❤️

We’re wrapping up our fall and winter fundraising season with the Island Youth PTA Craft Fair and Raffle, our biggest event of the year. It’s a wonderful day of community, creativity, and support for the programs our students rely on and we need YOUR help!

Think your chili has what it takes? Join the Chili Cook‑Off at the Island Youth PTA Craft Fair. We’re looking for cooks to bring the heat and the flavor. Chili Cook Off Sign up

We could also use a few extra hands at the Craft Fair. If you’re able to help with setup, vendor support, or cleanup, we’d be grateful. Even an hour makes a big difference for this community event. Sign up to help using this Volunteer Signup google form!

Questions or want to become involved? Email the PTA at islandyouthpta@gmail.com

The holidays can be filled with joy, excitement, and special memories, but we also know this time of year can bring some extra stress for families.

If your family could use a helping hand with food, gifts, or other essentials this holiday season, please don't hesitate to reach out to Val Hunter at mvhunter88@msn.com or call/text 802-372-7500.

We handle all requests with care and confidentiality. We want every family in our community to feel supported and cared for, especially during the holidays.

Our community is at its best when we look out for one another, and sometimes we all need a little extra help. ❤️

We are excited to welcome Dan Abdo to Grand Isle School on Tuesday, November 17th! Dan is a children's book author and illustrator, best known for co-creating the Blue, Barry & Pancakes and Barb the Last Berzerker graphic novel series with his creative partner, Jason Patterson.

Dan will spend the day with our students and staff exploring illustration, storytelling, and comic design. Students will have opportunities to learn how characters come to life, how illustrations help tell a story, and what it takes to create a comic of their own.

We're looking forward to a day filled with creativity, imagination, and plenty of laughs! What a fun opportunity for our students to learn from someone who makes a living bringing stories and characters to life!

The address is:

Grand Isle School

224 US RT 2

Grand Isle, VT 05458

Please mark your calendars! This year, Fall Parent-Teacher Conferences will be held on Monday, November 23rd, and Tuesday, November 24th.

This is a Supervisory Union-wide scheduling change, so all schools across our SU will be holding conferences on these dates.

Teachers will be reaching out to families with available conference times and scheduling information. We know families have busy schedules, so we're happy to offer both in-person and virtual conference options.

Conferences are a wonderful opportunity to celebrate your child's growth, talk about their learning, and work together to support their success. We look forward to connecting with you!

Raising kiddos is no easy gig, and just when you think you've figured something out, they grow and throw something new your way!

I'll be adding articles, tips, and other resources to our Family Resource Center that I think might be helpful as we navigate all the things that come with raising growing humans.

Now, I'm certainly not here to tell anyone how to parent! You know your kiddos best. I come across some pretty interesting things, and I figure, why not share it?

Take what works, skip what doesn't, and maybe you'll find a useful nugget along the way! ❤️

Mrs. H's Email- ahanlon@gisu.org

The Office's Email- ciuusdoffice@gisu.org

School Phone #- 802-372-6913