Thank you to the many families who made it out for last night's dance performance! The students did amazing work with Artist in Residence Karen Amirault.

We are off next week. I wish everyone a safe, restful, and joyful April vacation!

The 6th grade students are creating a slideshow for graduation! It would be great if each graduate could collect 10-15 photos celebrating their accomplishments throughout elementary school. No naked baby pics, please.

Please send any photos to Ms. Emma ejanicki@orangesouthwest.org . If a student has paper photos they can bring them to school to be scanned. If you have any questions please email kbranstetter@orangesouthwest.org.

As you may have heard in a recent email from Superintendent Millington, Vermont's new end-of-year assessment is called Cognia. Students in grades 3-6 will take the Cognia assessment in literacy and math, and fifth graders will also take science. Each topic includes 2 test sessions. The entire literacy assessment (both sessions) are designed to take about 170 minutes total, math 125 minutes, and science 150 minutes. The data we receive from these assessments will help guide instructional and curricular decisions at the school and district level. As we near the testing window (April 12-May 26), you will see more information from teachers and myself about how to be best prepared. Students are taking practice tests so there are no surprises on test day and they familiarize themselves with the testing platform.

We have test sessions scheduled. If a student doesn't complete the assessment in the provided time, they will have up to five total school days to finish. (Students who require accommodations like one-on-one testing may test on a different day than below due to staffing needs.)

• Grade 3
• ELA 4/12 & 5/3
• Math 5/11 & 5/19
• Grades 4-6
• ELA 4/13 & 5/8
• Math 5/1 & 5/8
• Science (grade 5 only) 5/17 & 5/23

April 24-28 - April Vacation - No School for Students

May 2 - K-2 Trip to Montshire Museum of Science

May 10 - PreK-3 Concert - 6pm Braintree Multi-Purpose Room

May 16 - Half Day for Students - 11:05 Dismissal

May 17 - Grade 6 4H Field Trip

May 26 - Half Day for Senior Projects - 11:05 Dismissal

May 29 - Memorial Day - No School

June 1 - Music in Our Schools Concert - 6pm RUHS

June 19 - Sixth Grade Graduation

June 20 - Last Day of School - Half Day for Students - 11:05 Dismissal