SCS Community Newsletter

Dear SCS Families, Caregivers, and Shelburne Community,

As we settle into the new school year, our highest priority is laying a strong foundation for learning. We believe the most important bricks in that foundation are a sense of safety and belonging for every child. This is why we invest so much energy at the start of the year in getting to know our students' identities, engaging in activities to build connections, and establishing the predictable routines that create a calm and secure environment.

This focus on relationships and routines is, in our opinion, the best initial step we can take to promote school safety. Consistent daily routines help students feel secure, and when we practice safety drills, we are simply extending that principle. Strong relationships are the glue that holds these procedures together. When students know and trust the adults and peers in our building, they can follow directions with confidence and feel reassured during a drill or an emergency. While all our safety procedures align with guidance from the VT Agency of Education (AOE) and state and district policy, it is the culture of care and preparedness that truly keeps our community safe.

You will see this philosophy in action next week as we hold our first Fire Drill of the year. We always start slowly and intentionally: no alarms will sound, and teachers will know the date and time in advance. Throughout the year, we will gradually add complexity to our drills to build flexibility and critical thinking. For instance, the Shelburne Fire Department may join us to “block” an exit so classes have to adapt, or we might simulate what would happen if a student wasn't with their class.

The goal of every drill is not to cause anxiety, but to educate and empower our staff and students with developmentally appropriate steps. This approach is guided by our dedicated School Safety Team, a group of educators and community members who collaborate with local emergency responders. These partnerships ensure our plans are effective and that there is seamless coordination between the school and first responders should a need ever arise. If you are a member of our Shelburne Community who works in law enforcement, or as an EMT, firefighter, or other first responder, we would welcome your expertise on our team. Please reach out to Brett or Jen to be added to our communication list.

Additional information about school safety can be found on the CVSD School Safety Site or the Vermont School Safety Site.

In Partnership,

Antonia, Brett, & Jen

9/16 - CVSD School Board Meeting (6:00 - 8:00 pm, CVU)
9/15-17 - School Picture Days (more details below)

9/24 - 5th - 8th grade Curriculum Night (5:00- 6:30 pm)

CVSD 2025-2026 Calendar

Picture days are back at SCS on September 15th- 17th with AMV Photography!

Please find the picture day schedule here to find which day your child will have their pictures taken.

Please click the headers below to learn more about the 5th-8th band and chorus programs at SCS this year.

We were so happy to welcome our two classes of PreK students for their first day of school this week! The preK and facilities teams did an amazing job getting the new space (near the Kindergarten classrooms) outfitted and ready for students this week. As a reminder, PreK pickup and dropoff take place at the PreK playground (the one on the School Street side of the building that is closer to Harbor Road).

Middle level students and teachers will be gathering monthly to share celebrations and make connections across teams and grade levels. We kicked this off on Wednesday with our first in-person Assembly in the gym. Unlike last year, where there were NO student birthdays on an assembly day until June, we had three to celebrate on our first day as a collective group. We also shared some shout-outs from the first week of school and previewed our annual 5-8 hike up Mt. Philo, which will take place on October 1. Throughout all of our time together, we will continue to live the mantra, "Take care of yourself. Take care of each other. Take care of this place."

Seventh-grade students on Yellow Team began the year working both independently and collaboratively to create pattern block animals (and other assorted things). The use of pattern blocks can help develop spatial reasoning, logical thinking, and problem-solving skills. We start the year with this relatively low-stakes, fun, hands-on activity to help build a positive attitude toward math while increasing confidence and reinforcing that everyone is a "math person"!

The Parent Student Community Engagement group meets once a month throughout the school year. This is an opportunity for ongoing dialogue between parents, caregivers, and the school. All are welcome!

1. The focus area of the first meeting will be behavior systems and restorative justice practices at SCS. Date and time coming soon.

2. Other possible topics for the year include: student clubs; supporting multilingual learners; curriculum planning; data and systems; planning for potential school-based health clinic; CVSD Special Education Parent Advisory Council (SEPAC), engaging with local resources such as the Rokeby Museum, Shelburne Farms, and Clemmons Family Farm

3. Participants can join in person in the SCS library or remotely.

4. If you have topics of interest or concern that you would like to share with the school administration directly, you can fill out the CVSD Connect With Us Form.

To join the group’s email list, please fill out this form.

We are looking to hire an a.m. and/or p.m. crossing guard to support a safe arrival and dismissal at School Street. Hours would be 7:30-8:00 and 2:30-3:00. If you are interested, please reach out to scsinformation@cvsdvt.org.

Are you interested in having some fun learning alongside our students as a guest teacher (aka sub)? If so, please reach out to CVSDHR@cvsdvt.org or Louise Michaels.

Click here for more information on becoming a sub!

Shelburne Community School Administrative Team

Jen Roth, PreK-4 Principal

Brett Cluff, 5-8 Principal

Antonia Trono, Director of Special Services