You 🦦 Know

11/11 - Veterans Day - No School

11/17 - 2 hour Delayed start

11/19 - Picture re-take day

11/26-28 - Holiday Break - No School

12/11 - Winter Concert-All School-6:30 pm

12/15 - 2 Hour Delayed Start

12/22-1/5/26-Winter Break - No School

1/19 - Inservice - No school

2/16 - 2 Hour delayed Start

Happy Friday Otter Family!

Wow, this week has really flown by! Every day, we get to celebrate all the learning, growth, and amazing achievements our otters are making. Whether it’s academic or social-emotional, our students are showing us incredible things! From our Kindergarteners jogging and walking laps around the gym, to our fourth graders sharing during show and tell and asking such thoughtful questions, to our fifth graders tackling how to convert improper fractions into mixed numbers, there’s so much learning and growth happening all around us.

And of course, none of this would be possible without you! Your partnership and support mean the world to us, and we’re so grateful to work together to help our students shine.

We also want to take a moment to acknowledge that there’s some uncertainty right now with the federal SNAP program and the colder weather setting in. If your family could use a little extra support or help navigating these changes, please don’t hesitate to reach out. We’re here for you!

Wishing you a wonderful weekend filled with rest, fun, and family time. We can’t wait to see our otters back on Monday, ready for another great week!

Patrick Peters

Interim Principal
Dothan Brook School

The Upper Valley Haven has many supports available for families who might be having food insecurity.

Updated Food Market Hours

The Haven’s Community Food Market now has updated hours:

Monday–Thursday: 10 am–5 pm

The Market closes daily from 1–1:30 pm for restocking.

Want to avoid morning crowds and long waits? Shop the Community Food Market after 1:30pm, when our foods are freshly restocked, and you’ll have a more relaxed experience.

LISTEN Community Dining Hall is located at 42 Maple St. White River Junction, VT. LISTEN’s hearty three-course community dinners are served in the dining hall and on a "to go" basis Monday - Friday between 4:30pm - 5:30pm.

Haven Event Date: Thanksgiving Meal: Saturday, November 22, 2025
Time: 9:00 AM – 12:00 PM
Location: Hartford High School

Please Note:
The Haven will be accepting turkey and turkey breast donations during the first two weeks of November, during regular business hours.

The Vermont Food Bank site provides a list of other food shelves in our area along with hours of operation.

https://www.vtfoodbank.org/access-food/find-a-food-shelf/

In addition, we also offer Friday food bags. Please contact Mrs. Wood in the office @ dbsoffice@hartfordschools.net or fill out this form

Picture re-take day is Wednesday, November 19th. Please send in your unwanted packet of pictures and we will re-take their photo. If your child was absent, please visit the website to place an order or contact Mrs. Wood if you would like a paper order form.

This week, we’re thrilled to highlight Heather Thompson, one of our amazing Special Educators at DBS!

Mrs. Thompson joined the Otter family this year, bringing years of experience as both a paraeducator and special educator in another district. These experiences sparked her passion for helping every student succeed.

When asked what keeps her energized at DBS, she says:

“The students! Getting to know each one—their quirks, their breakthroughs, their stories—is what makes every day worthwhile.”

Mrs. Thompson’s favorite subject growing up was reading.

“My love for reading runs deep! Back in elementary school, library time and phonics were the highlights of my week. (Yes, I was that kid who got excited about sounding out words!)”

Outside the classroom, Mrs. Thompson loves relaxing on the beach with a good book and experimenting with new gluten-free recipes—some more successful than others! Most of all, she treasures time spent with her kids.

And here’s a fun fact: she recently discovered the joy of cat cafés!

“It sounds quirky, but there’s something calming about sipping coffee while cats lounge nearby. It’s become one of my favorite ways to unwind!”

We’re so lucky to have Mrs. Heather Thompson as part of the DBS team! Her positivity, creativity, and dedication brighten our school every day

Extended until Monday! This is the final stretch of the Meadow Farms Fundraiser.

If you haven't already, register at https://portal.meadowfarms.com/?page=authSignup&groupid=1227063 and watch this two minute video that explains how it works: https://vimeo.com/1001316057.

Week 9: Restorative Questions

There are three tiers to restorative justice.

Tier 1: Prevention: Community Building and Social-Emotional Skills through Circle Practice

Tier 2: Interventions: Address conflicts and harms through mediation and conversations to repair harm

Tier 3: Reintegration and Intensive Support: Using conferences and re-entry circles for individuals returning after a separation or prolonged absence

Last week, we looked at Circle Practice -Tier 1. This is where we spend most of our time and energy because without this foundation, it is not possible to engage in Tier 2 and Tier 3 effectively.

At the Tier 2 level, when responding to conflict or harm, a restorative approach consists of asking the following key questions:

1. What happened, and what were you thinking and feeling at the time of the incident?

2. What have you felt and thought about since?

3. Who has been affected by what happened and how? How have you been affected?

4. What about this has been the hardest for you?

5. What do you think needs to be done to make things as right as possible?

These are questions that can be asked at school, at practice, at home, and any other time when there is conflict. The most important piece is to remember that we are asking and listening with curiosity. We are seeking understanding and reflection, not compliance. If the person who caused the harm is not ready to engage in this dialogue, pause and try again at another time.

Resource: https://www.suffolk.edu/cas/centers-institutes/center-for-restorative-justice