The Hiawatha Buzz!

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We are officially down to just two more weeks before our February Winter Break! It is hard to believe how quickly this month is moving!

With Valentine’s Day coming up, I wanted to share a quick reminder for families. At Hiawatha, we will celebrate friendships and kindness throughout February. To support this focus and to keep things inclusive for all students, please do not send Valentine’s Day cards or treats to school. We are not able to accept food or treats, and we ask that traditional Valentine exchanges stay at home. Some classrooms may choose to mark the season by focusing on kindness, compassion, and positive communication within their classroom community.

Thank you, as always, for your understanding and support as we work together to create a welcoming and caring school environment for every student.

Warmly,
Kolby Snellenberger
Principal

February 23 - March 3, 2026 (Winter Break) - No School - Please plan accordingly

The Hiawatha PTO is excited to present "Screenagers" on February 12th at Essex Cinema at 6pm. Updated with the latest science, research, and expert insights, Screenagers is an award-winning documentary that dives into the challenges families face in this digital age. Free admission for the Hiawatha parent and caregiver community (not recommended for kids).

Data shows that taking care of teeth and gums protects against chronic diseases such as diabetes, cancer, and heart disease.

Tips for Families to Keep Smiles Bright at Home:

Protect your teeth from cavities. Always brush with fluoride toothpaste.
Children under 3 should only use a tiny amount of toothpaste, about the size of a grain of rice. Those under 6 need a pea-sized amount.
Remember to brush twice a day to keep the germs away! In addition, floss once per day.
Don’t brush off the dentist! Once babies get their first tooth, it’s time to schedule a dental visit. From there, schedule a dental visit based on your risk for developing oral disease.
Seeing a dentist at least every year is important for adults, too, even if you have dentures or no natural teeth.
Going to the dentist is safe and recommended for everyone. If you haven’t gone in for a while, make your appointment soon.

For additional dental health resources, educational videos, brushing calendars, and fun activities for the kids, visit: Oral Health Resources For Individuals & Families | Vermont Department of Health

We are celebrating Black History Month through music class this February! Students listened to Whitney Houston’s I Will Always Love You and took part in a drum challenge, learning about the importance of rests in music—how moments of silence can give music power and meaning.

They also explored movement by dancing to the jazzy tune Orange Colored Sky by Nat King Cole, feeling the beat and expressing the music with their bodies.

In addition, students have been practicing a traditional Japanese hand-playing game called “Omochi o Tsukimashō” (Let's make pounded rice cakes). The movements are inspired by mochitsuki, the rice-pounding tradition celebrated during the Japanese New Year. Working with partners, students practiced keeping a steady beat while tapping and swinging their hands together through the song. You can ask your child to show you how it goes—they would love to share!

I’m looking forward to introducing many more wonderful artists and musical traditions in the coming weeks.

Please feel free to reach out to either of us if you have any questions.

Megumi Esselstrom & Matt Torrez

Dear Hiawatha School Community,

We are thrilled to announce our upcoming Circus Artist-in-Residence Week with Troy Wunderle of Big Top Adventures, happening the week of March 9-13th.

From Monday through Thursday (March 9-12), Troy will be working with us right here at Hiawatha School. All students will have the opportunity to collaborate with Troy to develop a circus act. Students will work in cohorts of one or two classrooms for about 45 minutes each day, learning new skills and building confidence along the way.

Because of the small size of our gym, we will move to ADL Middle School for our final day and performance. On Friday, March 13th, all students will travel to ADL for morning rehearsals and a full dress rehearsal in the afternoon.

The final performance will take place at 6:00 PM on Friday, March 13th at ADL Middle School.. Students will need to arrive early, and we will follow up soon with specific timing details.

We are so excited to be planning for this incredible week of creativity, movement, and fun. A huge thank-you to the Vermont Council on the Arts and the Hiawatha PTO for their generous financial support, which makes this residency possible.

If you have any questions or needs related to our circus week, please don’t hesitate to reach out to either of us.

We can’t wait to share this experience with our students and families!

Warmly,

Alice Weston aweston@ewsd.org 802-857-7748

Timiny Bergstrom tbergstrom@ewsd.org 802-857-7727

This is a reminder that during the winter months, please send your student to school with a hat, a pair of gloves or mittens, a coat, snow pants, and boots. Students go outside for recess unless the ‘feels like’ temperature is below zero degrees.

Also, please pack extra shoes for your student to wear inside the school building. Wearing wet snow boots is not only uncomfortable but makes for wet floors, which can lead to injury.

If you need assistance with obtaining winter coats, please contact me.

Thank you,

Reyna Maher, RN

rmaher@ewsd.org

802- 857-7740

Please click the link below to see the hot lunch menu, be sure to select the correct month you need and select lunch in the drop down in the top of the page. If needed, there is a print option. The menu can also be found on our website :-)

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