The Howler
Albany Community School News
August 8, 2025
Dear Albany School Families,
On behalf of our entire staff, I’m excited to welcome both new and returning students and families to the 2025–2026 school year! We can’t wait to see the smiles, energy, and enthusiasm of our Albany Wolves as we welcome everyone back on Wednesday, August 27 for the first day of school.
Our dedicated staff has been busy preparing for another amazing year filled with learning, laughter, and growth. A special thank you goes to our custodial team, Chad and Kim, for making sure our building is clean, safe, and ready for our students.
Important Back-to-School Information
School Day Schedule
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School Hours: 8:00 a.m. – 2:55 p.m.
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Drop-Off: 7:40–8:00 a.m. (after buses have arrived)
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Students will go directly to the gym for breakfast and then head to classrooms for advisory at 8:00 a.m.
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Please make sure your child arrives on time so they can be part of our morning community.
Transportation
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With the recent restructuring, there will be updates to our bus routes. Our administration team is working closely with Julie at Butler's to ensure school days are equitable for all students within the district and that bus routes are as efficient and streamlined as possible.
Julie is asking students to be at the bus stop 10 minutes early for the first two weeks until the busing schedule is figured out.
We will send additional information about bus routes as they become available.
Recently moved and need to be added to the route? Please contact Butler’s Bus at 802-754-6508. 🚌
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If you have changes to your child’s dismissal routine throughout the school year, please call the school office or email by 1:00 p.m.
Meals
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Lunch is free for all students.
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We are a peanut/nut-aware school—students bringing lunch from home will have designated seating areas to ensure safety for those with allergies.
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Extra milk is available for $0.50 (cash or charged to your child’s account).
First Day Packets
On the first day of school, your child will bring home a packet containing:
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Enrollment forms & emergency contacts
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Field trip permission slip for the year
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After-school program paperwork
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Athletic information
Please complete and return these forms promptly so we have accurate information. We also ask all families to complete the application for the free/reduced-price lunch program—even if you don’t think you qualify. This information helps determine our school’s eligibility for important federal funding and support.
Communication
Stay connected with Albany Community School by:
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Keeping your email address and phone numbers up to date for messages through Smore or School Messenger
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Following ACS on Facebook for updates and celebrations
Our updated OCSU website: https://acs.ocsu.org/o/acs
It has been my honor to serve as the principal of Albany Community School for the past four years, and I’m excited to begin another wonderful school year alongside you and your children. Our dedicated staff deeply values strong partnerships with families, and we believe that by working together, we can help every child reach their fullest potential.
Please don’t hesitate to reach out at any time—I welcome the opportunity to connect with you in person, by phone, or by email. Together, let’s make this a year full of learning, growth, and success for all of our students.
Take care,
Jessica Thomas
Contact Us
Email: jthomas@ocsu.org
Website: https://acs.ocsu.org/o/acs
Location: 351 Main St, Albany, VT, USA
Phone: 802-755-6168