Calais Cougar Chronicle

I had the opportunity to travel with our 5/6 band to U32 this week where they came together with peers from across the district to perform. It was so impressive to see. Each student learned how to play or sing three different songs in their sending school and were assigned to individual pieces that played in different timing and ways. They took this very individualized learning and came together with peers they didn’t necessarily know…with a teacher they didn’t necessarily know…then practiced and performed collectively. At the risk of overusing the word, it took a concerted effort, for students to work in concert with each other, to pull together the concert performance. Just wow! I’m equally proud of our music teachers from K-12, they planned and orchestrated this event and it was pretty magical. We are lucky to have such talented educators in WCUUSD.

I had the opportunity to travel with our 5/6 band to U32 this week where they came together with peers from across the district to perform. It was so impressive to see. Each student learned how to play or sing three different songs in their sending school and were assigned to individual pieces that played in different timing and ways. They took this very individualized learning and came together with peers they didn’t necessarily know…with a teacher they didn’t necessarily know…then practiced and performed collectively. At the risk of overusing the word, it took a concerted effort, for students to work in concert with each other, to pull together the concert performance. Just wow! I’m equally proud of our music teachers from K-12, they planned and orchestrated this event and it was pretty magical. We are lucky to have such talented educators in WCUUSD.

We had a little excitement at Calais today with a visit to our 3/4 classroom by the Stalberg/McLeod family and some of their newly hatched chicks. There was enough excitement (and peeping) that the entire school wanted in on the fun. Each classroom had a little time to see the chicks and do a little learning about the life cycle of the egg and chickens. The chicks were fluffy little balls that seemed to enjoy the student enthusiasm. It was an adorable way to kick off the last day before break and embrace spring.

Next week we are off for April break! Once we return from break, I think it is important to note that this stretch from April 29th until our last day in June (June 18th) is perhaps the longest uninterrupted block of our school year so the instruction during this time is critical. Learning will continue right up until the last day. We will plan to hold 6th grade graduation on the evening of Tuesday, June 18th. Please hold this date in your calendar. While I plan to spend a little bit of time working this week, I am also planning to take some time to relax too. I hope you all get time to rest, relax, and rejuvenate as well and I am crossing my fingers that by the time we all return to school, that any lingering illnesses will have left the building.

Ms. Cat, Principal

Information, Registration, Introductions, and Screenings

The Washington Central Unified Union School District registration process is available online for the 2024-2025 school year.

The Pre-K and K registration process must be completed for students who are attending our public school programs and students who are attending private, pre-qualified programs through Act 166 in 2024-2025.

Registration for Pre-K 3 is for students who are 3 years old on or before September 1, 2024. Pre-K 4 is for students who are 4 or 5 years old (5 years old and not enrolled in Kindergarten) on or before September 1, 2024 from the towns of Berlin, Calais, East Montpelier, Middlesex, and Worcester.

Kindergarten is for children who turn age 5 on or before September 1, 2024. If you have not recently moved in to our district and your child already attends public Pre-K, they are already registered for Kindergarten in our district.

Please go to our website at www.wcuusd.org and follow the directions after clicking the icon titled "Online Registration" located under the slides on the right-hand side of our website or you will find more information, including forms, under the "Pre-K Information" in the same area.

If registering for public Pre-K in your local elementary school, it is strongly suggested that families complete the online registration process by as soon as possible. We will begin offering placements to students in the late spring. For Pre-K placements 4 year olds are given priority until the 3/29/24 date and then students are placed on a first-come-first-served basis, space is limited. If necessary, we will create a waitlist and will offer spots in our public Pre-K programs, also on a first come, first served basis. All registration paperwork must be completed before a placement will be offered.

WCUUSD offers childcare options through Community Connections in order to increase access to public Pre-K programs.

Please contact Kim Bolduc, Coordinator of Early Education and Expanded Learning Opportunities at Kbolduc@u32.org or 223-7936 ext. 305 if you have any questions regarding Pre-Kindergarten, Act 166, or Community Connections before or after care options. Please include the town you live in your email or message.

We will be offering Pre-K play-based Introduction and Screening opportunities for each school as follows:

Berlin: Monday, March 25th & April 1st call 802/223-279 COMPLETED
Calais: Wednesday, May 15th call 802/454-1111
East Montpelier: Monday, April 15th call 802/223-7936 COMPLETED
Rumney/Doty (Middlesex): Monday, May 20th call 802/223-5429 or 802/223-5656
Doty/Rumney (Worcester): Monday, May 20th call 802/223-5656 or 802/223-5429

Should you have any concerns about your child's development, please contact our Special Education Teachers Bess Powers and Dawn Bates at bpowers@u32.org or dbates@u32.org or call 802/223-2796.

4/19 - Rumney Theater Club Presents "Dear Edwina, Jr."

4/20 - Rumney Theater Club Presents "Dear Edwina, Jr."

4/20-4/28 - April Break - No school for students.

4/22 - Community Connections - April Camp

4/23 - Community Connections - April Camp

4/24 - Community Connections - April Camp

4/25 - Community Connections - April Camp

4/26 - Community Connections - April Camp

5/2 - Calais Green Up Day

5/3 - Calais Green Up Day Rain Date

5/4 - Green Up Day

5/7 - Budget Revote

5/15 - Pre-K Introduction and Screening

6/11 - Unity Day

6/13 - Rising 7th Graders - Trip to Wrightsville

Enzo

Kiley

Lincoln

Hi Calais Cougars

How are you!

Today we are interviewing Kiley.

Her favorite color is green.

Her least favorite color is salmon pink (same)!!
Her favorite food is seaweed/cherries (same)

Her least favorite food is brussels sprouts (yum!)

Her favorite sweet things is soda/brownies.

Her favorite season is summer!!
Bye for now!

Second Grade has written and published a book about our nature names. Through this process we researched different Vermont bird species. We learned so much about birds! We worked with a publishing company to create an actual book! We were excited to have the opportunity this week to share our hard work with our friends throughout the school! We plan to donate our book to the library so that ALL the students in our school can learn from it! We are so proud of all of our hard work

5/6 Band practicing for their concert!

We had some special visitors today! Hazel hatched chicks on Sunday before the solar eclipse, April 7th.