Brookside Blast

Your attendance matters! Kids who miss too much school in Pre-K and kindergarten are less likely to be reading by 3rd grade. Help your child build a habit of good attendance! Elementary School Attendance

Brookside Primary School is again sponsoring, free of charge, a "weekend of food" for your child through our Backpack Program. We are able to offer a supply of nutritious meals and snacks for children of the weekends and extended breaks no cost.

Any child enrolled at Brookside Primary School is able to receive these weekly bags of food for themselves and each child in their family. If you believe your child could benefit from this program, please complete the form linked below.

If you have questions or concerns or need help with this form, please email Eliza Chittenden at echittenden@huusd.org or call BPS at (802) 244-7195.

https://forms.gle/vbkSNVD97qepJ4zu6

Bus route information can be found here: https://huusd.org/bus-routes. Please take a moment to review your child’s route so that the first days of school run smoothly. Additionally, please familiarize yourself with Pick Up Patrol, as it is the system we use to manage absences, tardies and dismissal plans. Please ensure your child has adequate default plans!

We are delighted to remind families that both breakfast and lunch are provided free of charge every day for all students. This ensures every child is nourished and ready to learn. The August/September menu can be found here.

Are you interested in volunteering this year? There is a formal process that must be complete before you are able to volunteer with our students. Please follow the link below to get started!

https://huusd.org/apply-to-volunteer

Four Winds Nature Education Program @ BPS: Volunteers needed for 2026-27 school year!

Calling all parents, grandparents and community members! Do you enjoy the outdoors and want to get involved in the classroom? Brookside Primary School's Four Winds Nature Education program is seeking volunteers to help teach students about our natural world in the 2026-27 school year.

The theme for the year is “Patterns in Nature” and we will be teaching 6 different lessons over the course of the academic year. Curriculum materials including background information and activity descriptions are provided by the Four Winds Institute and are accessible online. We have an in-person training session prior to teaching each of the 6 lessons. The training sessions are led by a professional environmental educator and naturalist. There are a variety of different activities for each lesson, including an informative puppet show, hands-on experiments, games, crafts, dances, songs, examination of provided specimens, and observations in nature.

Our training sessions are on Thursday mornings, and if you can’t make the in-person meeting you can study the materials at home to prepare for teaching the lesson. Ideally each class is taught by a team of two or more volunteers.

The classroom teacher is always there to help with managing students as well. Applying to be a volunteer in the HUUSD district and getting your background check complete is the first step, which sometimes takes a while, so start now.

Please email Heather LaRocca at fourwindsbps@gmail.com to let us know if you are interested in volunteering this year or if you have any questions about the program.

Please note that the opportunities/events listed below are not specifically endorsed or screened by school staff. As always, families should use their own standards and review processes to determine appropriate activities.

FAYSTON, VT. September 4, 2026 — Join Stark Mountain Foundation for a family-friendly presentation “Owls and Their Calls” by the Vermont Institute of Natural Sciences (VINS). The presentation will take place at 11 AM on Saturday, October 3rd on Green & Gold Weekend. Held on the third floor of the Basebox at Mad River Glen, the family-friendly program offers community members an up-close look at native nocturnal raptors. Register at https://www.starkmountain.org/news-events.

Contrary to popular belief, not all owls hoot—some screech, whistle, or bark. Attendees will meet live owls, hear their unique calls, and have the chance to handle biological artifacts to discover how these apex predators hunt and thrive in Vermont's forests.

The event will occur during Green & Gold Weekend at Mad River Glen, which will feature a variety of events including the MRG Annual Shareholders meeting, scenic lift rides on the single chair, and a naturalist-guided hike down Stark Mountain starting at 1:00PM.

“Owls and Their Calls” is free and pre-registration is required. Please reach out to contact@starkmountain.org if you register and are unable to attend. Donations to Stark Mountain Foundation are encouraged to support various projects, including future environmental educational programs! To register or learn more about upcoming events visit: https://www.starkmountain.org/news-events.

About Stark Mountain Foundation

Stark Mountain Foundation is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit whose mission is to preserve and protect the environment and ecosystem of Stark Mountain, in Fayston, Vermont, including its recreational access and historic value, and to support programs that promote and sustain that environment for the enjoyment of present and future generations. Find out more about Stark Mountain Foundation at https://www.starkmountain.org/.

About Vermont Institute of Natural Sciences

Vermont Institute of Natural Sciences (VINS) is a Quechee-based non-profit whose mission is to motivate individuals and communities to care for the environment through education, research, and avian wildlife rehabilitation. Learn more at https://vinsweb.org/.

When: Sep 30, 2026, 6 to 8 PM

Where: 28 North Main Street, Waterbury, Waterbury, Waterbury, VT

URL: http://bit.ly/planWTB

The Waterbury Planning Commission is seeking your feedback on the Draft 2026 Town Plan.

Website: https://bps.huusd.org/

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Facebook: HUUSD

Phone: 802-244-7195

Location: 47 Stowe Street, Waterbury, VT