Cougar Chronicle

April 4 2025

The Principal's Office

Mud Season - Change of Clothes

Mud season is here! We are excited to have the students be outdoors in the warmer temperatures and feel the sunshine but with that comes... mud. Over the last week or two, we have had an uptick of students coming inside after recess, asking for a change of clothes. We are asking that everyone try to bring a change of clothes with them for a little while so that if they do get dirty/wet, they are able to change into clothes that fit them properly and are readily available as our supplies are limited.

Health Updates

Update on Streptococcus

Update on Measles

A Note from the Nurse

During the past two weeks we have been having a significant increase in two types of illnesses at school: strep throat and the norovirus. Please, if your child is ill, keep them home. Your child may not necessarily have a fever, so the lack of that symptom alone should not prevent you from keeping your child home.

Norovirus is a gastro-intestinal viral illness. Norovirus is the leading cause of vomiting and diarrhea, and foodborne illness in the United States. Typically there is an abrupt onset of vomiting and diarrhea. People of all ages can get infected and sick with norovirus.

Prevention:

Norovirus is very contagious, but you can take steps to stop it from spreading.
Wash hands well with soap and water; hand sanitizer alone does not work well against norovirus.
Do not prepare, handle food, or care for others when you are sick.

Wash your hands well

Wash your hands often with soap and water for at least 20 seconds, especially:

After using the toilet or changing diapers.
Before eating, preparing, or handling food.
Before giving yourself or someone else medicine.

Be aware that:

Hand sanitizer does not work well against norovirus.
You can use hand sanitizers in addition to hand washing, but hand sanitizer is not a substitute for handwashing, which is best.

Be aware that:

Noroviruses are relatively resistant to heat and can survive temperatures as high as 145°F.
Quick steaming processes will not heat foods enough to kill noroviruses.
Food contaminated with norovirus may look, smell, or taste normal.
Cleaning should include bleach, left on a surface for 5 minutes for disinfecting.

Strep Throat is a bacterial infection from Group A Streptococcus (GAS) (group A strep bacteria) and is contagious.

GAS is the most common cause of sore throats in children and adolescents. In temperate climates, the incidence of strep throat peaks during the winter and early spring [5]. Although Strep throat is most common in school-age children, it may occur in younger children, especially if they have contact with school-age children [5,6].

Symptoms

It usually takes 2 to 5 days after exposure to become ill with strep throat.

Common symptoms may include:

Fever
Pain when swallowing
Red and swollen tonsils
Sore throat that started very quickly and may look red
Swollen lymph nodes in the front of the neck
Tiny, red spots on the roof of the mouth, called petechiae
White patches or streaks of pus on the tonsils

Less common symptoms, especially for children, may include:

Headache
Nausea or vomiting
Rash (scarlet fever)
Stomach pain

Complications

Complications can occur after a strep throat infection if the bacteria spread to other parts of the body. Antibiotics must be given to prevent these serious side effects:

Complications can include:

Abscesses (pockets of pus) around the tonsils or in the neck
Ear infections
Post-streptococcal glomerulonephritis (a kidney infection)
Rheumatic fever (a disease affecting the heart, joints, brain, skin)
Sinus infections

For more information go to:

CDC.gov/Norovirus

CDC.gov/goup-a-step/about

If you have any questions, please feel free to contact the school nurse, or your Primary Care Provider. Thank you.

In Good Health,

Kathryn Saunders, APRN, CPNP-PC

Calais Elementary School Nurse

Green-up/Clean-up Day May 1st - Volunteers and Tools Needed

We are looking for volunteers to help us with our Green-up/Clean-up Day!! Please see the information below:

Date: May 1, 2025

Rain Date: May 2, 2025

Time: 9:30-12:00

Where: On school grounds (gardens, and playground area), walking the roadside near the school and going by bus to a roadside in Calais.

If you are interested in volunteering for this event, please fill out this form here.

We are also looking to borrow some of the following tools:

Rakes
Trowels
Watering cans
Wheelbarrows
Garden Hoes

We will take gentle care of these items and will return them as soon as possible!! If you are able to donate any of these for a day or two, please fill out this form here or reach out to Danielle in the office at dmackay@u32.org.

Important Dates

4/5 - U-32 Spring Craft Fair

4/6 - Play Reading: Murder By The Book @ Jaquith Public Library

4/10 - "Monty Python's Spamalot" @ Stage 16

4/10 - Friends of Calais meeting

4/11 - "Monty Python's Spamalot" @ Stage 16

4/12 - "Monty Python's Spamalot" @ Stage 16

4/14 - Selectboard Public Hearing on Proposed Town Plan and Zoning Regulations

4/17 - Coffee and Conversation with the Superintendent

4/21-4/25 - April Break - No school for students

4/21-4/25 - Community Connections Spring Day Camp

5/1 - Green-up/Clean-up Day

5/2 - Green-up/Clean-up Day Rain Date

5/7 - Donate Blood in Honor of Lei

5/31 - Out Run the Floods 5k

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April Community Connections Camp 2025.pdf

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Explore College and Careers in Guidance Class

Dear Calais Families, Students and Staff,

Throughout the month of March, students will have the opportunity to explore college and careers in Guidance class. Students will learn more about different professions, college and skill requirements needed and a general description of the work entailed in each profession presented.

If anyone is interested in coming in to talk with students during Guidance class about their college or career, please complete the response form below. Presentations can be anywhere from 5-15 minutes in length. You may drop it off at the Calais Elementary Office or in the Counselor's room in the Learning Center.

I look forward to hearing from you and feel free to stop by or call if you have any questions at 802-454-7777 ext 105.

Kind Regards,

Ruth Frisenda

Link to the response form here.

Preschool Enrollment and Screening

Calais is home to an incredible Preschool program and we want all of our parents of 3-4 year olds to consider enrolling their children in our program for the 2025-2026 school year. The more children we have sign up for Preschool the more we might be able to offer.

Please check out the website below for more information and if you have any questions, don’t hesitate to reach out.

WCUUSD Preschool Registration Information

Water Concerns in Classrooms

We have been made aware that several of our sinks in classrooms have tested at higher levels of lead than is allowable. At this time, those sinks have been restricted from use out of precaution. As of today, we are working with the Director of Facilities for WCUUSD on a remedy as soon as possible.

If you have any concerns, please do not hesitate to contact Mr. Weiss.

Power of Positivity at Calais

We’ve asked staff to start sharing positive stories each week and this week there has been so much to share.

Students: The student was very helpful in a situation where they didn’t need to help, but they did and I was very grateful.

Staff: Mr. Rod is just all around an amazing human! He does such a good job with every single kid, and he has the biggest heart!

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Identifying Students Social-Emotional Needs

As part of our commitment to supporting students’ social and emotional growth, we will be using the DESSA (Devereux Student Strengths Assessment) SEL screener. This research-based tool helps us understand and nurture key social-emotional skills such as self-awareness, responsible decision-making, and relationship-building.

The screener is strength-based and designed to identify areas where students excel, as well as areas where they may need additional support. Based on the results, our school will provide targeted support through classroom activities, small group interventions, and individualized strategies to help students develop essential life skills. Our goal is to create a positive, inclusive, and supportive learning environment where every student can thrive.

If you have any questions or would like more information, please feel free to reach out. Thank you for your partnership in fostering your child’s well-being!

WCUUSD/U32 Community Schools Initiative

We are thrilled to welcome Rebecca (Bec) Dezan as our new Community School Coordinator. Bec is a long-time educator and consultant who has worked with our community in the past. She has an array of experiences as a teacher and school culture coordinator in a diverse range of contexts. As you know, the Community School Model is designed to strengthen the relationship between schools and their surrounding communities, ensuring that students, families, and educators benefit from a holistic, well-supported learning environment. Bec is well-positioned to learn our community quickly and to work to build connections across the boundaries of schools and towns. Please join me in welcoming Bec back to the WCUUSD Community, and be on the lookout for more information from her about how you can be involved in the work.

Mini Food Shelf at Calais Elementary

The 5/6ers are working on projects that help out both CES and the Calais community. This week they decided to start with creating a mini food shelf at CES.

6th grader, Katie is taking the lead with a large donation from her family. If you would like to participate please drop of non-perishables at CES during school hours.

The food that is donated is available to everyone so please help yourself, at any time, no questions asked.

"Would You Rather.."

Plant a flower or a vegetable garden

Flower Garden

Vegetable Garden

date_range Voting ends in 7 days

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Flower Garden

Vegetable Garden

Would You Rather: Own a Boat or a Plane? RESULTS

Tiny Mic Interview with Mr. Weiss

Comic by Franny

Interview by Ms. Scoop

Hi Calais Cougars

Today we are interviewing Thomas/Carcus!

His favorite color is dark blue.

His least favorite color is white (ooh).

His favorite animal is a bronze dragon.

His least favorite animals are insects (same).

His favorite food is quiche (same).

His least favorite food is meat.

His favorite sweet food is Banoffee Pie.

His least favorite sweet food is anything with gelatin.

If he could be anything it would be the great god of dragons!

His favorite numbers are 6, 000, 004!

His least favorite number is 0!

Bye for now

Ms. Scoop

Breakfast and Lunch Menus

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March Breakfast and Lunch Menus

April Breakfast and Lunch Menus

Humanity and Justice, Calais (HJC)

We are continuing to move forward with our “Humanity & Justice Coalition” working to ensure all people feel heard, welcome, and safe at Calais Elementary and in our community. We’ve even got a new name - “Humanity and Justice, Calais”. This will be our celebration of all that makes us who we are and will work to ensure we will always be a community that welcomes and respects all people.

As we push forward we are engaging our students to gather their input and help them to drive the process. If you ever have any questions, please feel free to reach out to me and be sure to talk with your students - those conversations are going to be critical. This is something we believe is important and I personally want to ensure that all viewpoints are heard and all people have a stake in this work. Do not hesitate to reach out to me personally with any questions.

- Jarrod

Friends of Jaquith Play Reading

Come see your friends and neighbors acting silly, or at least acting, in this fun fundraiser for the library in Marshfield.

Play Reading: Murder By The Book
Sunday, April 6 at 2 pm at the Jaquith Public Library
Suggested donation: $10
A reception follows the performance.

The Friends of the Jaquith Public Library will present a staged reading of "Murder by the Book" by Laura Teasdale, sponsored by author Lousie Penny.

The play is a lighthearted play within a play about a group of amateur actors putting on a murder mystery production as a fundraiser for the library! Yet something happens that strangely mirrors what is happening in the play!
*Produced by special arrangement with Playwrights Guild of Canada

Cast:
Sandea Green-Stark
Melissa Seifert
Linda Moschelle
Ann Miller
Lloyd Potter
Michael Trupin
Goddard Graves
Jane Caron
Director: Bethany Bohall

Jaquith Public Library
122 School Street
Marshfield, VT 05658
802-426-3581
http://jaquithpubliclibrary.org
jaquithpubliclibrary@gmail.com

Donate Blood in Honor of Lei

U32’s MS Stage 16 Presents SPAMALOT!

Get your tickets now for Stage 16's production of SPAMALOT! April 10, 11, and 12!

TheaterEngine link for tickets: https://theaterengine.com/productions/2849

Taplin Theater Upstairs Presents - DRAGON!

Out Run the Floods 5K

Central Vermont Youth Lacrosse

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Backpack Program

Dear Calais Families,

We will be starting the Backpack program soon here at Calais Elementary School for families. The program is designed to provide families with children who attend Calais, the necessary food and clothing that they may need throughout the school year. Food and Gift bags will be dispensed in a discreet and caring manner. This program runs the full school year on a weekly basis with exception to student breaks and summer. This includes winter clothing, Thanksgiving and Christmas presents, in addition. There is no cost associated with this program. If you wish for your child to participate in the program, please sign below and return this letter to the school in your child's folder or drop it off at the Main Office by next Friday. Thank you and please let us know if you have any questions or any needs for your child at any time.

Feel free to email me at rfrisenda@u32.org or call 802-454-7777 ext 105 at any time.

Sincerely,

Ruth Frisenda

School Counselor

Calais Elementary School

Important CES Links

2024-2025 Family Handbook

Volunteer Program Form

Calais Parent Advisory Interest Form

Calais Cougar Online Merchandise Store

Events at Kellogg-Hubbard Library

Elementary and Middle School:

Afternoon in the Children's Library

Join us every weekday between 3:30 and 5PM for games and activities in the Children's Library! Fuse Beads on Monday, Yarn Club on Tuesday, Chess on Wednesday, Pokemon on Thursday and Legos on Friday.

We're excited to share that we have openings for boys in Sessions 1 and 2 this summer! While our girls' sessions are currently full and have started waitlisting, we still encourage families to add their children to the waitlist in case spots become available.

SELECTBOARD PUBLIC HEARING ON PROPOSED TOWN PLAN AND ZONING REGULATIONS

Monday, April 14, 2025

7:00 pm

Calais Town Hall and Via Zoom

The Calais Selectboard will hold a Public Hearing to discuss the proposed new Town Plan and Zoning Regulations on Monday, April 14, 2025, 7:00 pm at the Calais Town Hall. All Calais residents are encouraged to attend.

Note: This Public Hearing will be held as part of a regular Selectboard meeting which begins at 6:00 pm and will continue until its conclusion following the end of this Hearing.

Link to the proposed Town Plan:

https://www.calaisvermont.gov/vertical/sites/%7B226D684E-C864-4AFA-B4A5-59BE32741B77%7D/uploads/Calais_Town_Plan_Final_Draft_Feb_2025.pdf

Link to the Zoning Regulations:

https://www.calaisvermont.gov/vertical/sites/%7B226D684E-C864-4AFA-B4A5-59BE32741B77%7D/uploads/1.8.24__FINAL_Amendment_to_Calais__LUD_Regulations_to_vote(1).pdf

To join via Zoom: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/82141865268

Closed Captioning on Zoom will be available for those who wish to use it.

Barbara Butler, Assistant Town Clerk

Town of Calais, VT

3120 Pekin Brook Road, East Calais, VT 05650

802.456.8720

www.calaisvermont.gov

Lots of Covid Tests at Town CLERKS to Share! Exp. Date 07-02-25

Get some before Town Meeting!

Dear Colleagues and Neighbors - The Town of Calais has received hundreds and hundreds of at-home Covid-19 antigen rapid tests; plenty to share!

Expiration Date: July 2, 2025

Please reply via email to let us know if you would like some, and when you would like to come pick them up from the Calais Town Office (sorry, no deliveries). See our business hours below.

Let's keep everyone healthy and safe!

Barbara Butler, Calais Assistant Town Clerk

Teegan Dykeman-Brown, Town Clerk

Barbara Butler, Assistant Town Clerk / Assistant Treasurer

Town of Calais, VT

3120 Pekin Brook Road, East Calais, VT 05650

802.456.8720

www.calaisvermont.gov

Hours of Operation: Monday-Thursday, 9:00am to 4:00pm; Closed Fridays.

All Land/Title/Deed research or vault time is by appointment only.

No cash transactions.

Food Assistance for Families

Youth First Mentoring

Our staff spent time with Sally Russell from Youth First Mentoring. There are some incredible opportunities for our young people through mentoring and this is something we hope you explore if your child would be interested. We are happy to help connect you and help with the process if this is something you want to explore for your child. Check out this local organization at → https://youthfirstmentoring.org/