THE CCS NEWSLETTER
Charlotte Central School - March 13, 2026
NO SCHOOL - Thursday, March 19th or Friday, March 20th
CCS Community,
Sometimes at CCS we talk about the big things—schoolwide projects, community gatherings, and the many ways our students work together across grades. And sometimes, what matters most is zooming in on a single classroom project.
Recently, a collection of striking artwork appeared in one of our hallways. And, this happens often. The bold colors and mosaic-like patterns immediately caught the attention of many who walked by. When we learned more about the thinking behind the work, it became even more compelling—and we wanted to share this small but meaningful peek into one of our grades with all of you.
In honor of Women’s History Month, our second graders have been learning about artist Alma Thomas, who believed art could focus on color, beauty, and joy rather than the inhumanity we sometimes see in the world. Inspired by her work, students created their own pieces using small pieces of colorful paper arranged like mosaics, echoing the vibrant patterns and movement found in Thomas’s art.
The result is a hallway filled with bright, thoughtful work—and a reminder that powerful learning often begins with a single class exploring a big idea together.
With kindness,
Tim O’Leary & Beth Slater
Charlotte Central School Leadership Team
Counselor Connection with Betsy Lloyd
My hope is to connect with families each week through the newsletter to provide information and resources to support kids and families. As always, please reach out if you need anything, have questions, or if I can help in any way.
Resources, Food for Thought (and maybe some conversation starters)
Chittenden County Food Resources - list of free food resources throughout Chittenden county, with information about hours, location, accessibility and eligibility requirements.
Calm and Connected Podcast - This is a great resource on all topics related to children and families. Whatever the age of your child, there are topics to support you - ways for kids and teens to practice coping skills, self regulation and ways to connect, make friends and work on social skills. It will help guide you through all the stages of child development. There are also many resources and tools to dive into as well! Calm and Connected
Get in touch with me!
(802)425-6604
Spirit Week: March 23rd through March 27th
The CCS 7/8 Student council is proud to present a fabulous week of spirit for all of CCS!
Mark Your Calendar
Tuesday, March 17th - CVSD Board Mtg, 6:00pm
Wednesday, March 18th - PTO Mtg, CCS Library, 5:30pm
Wednesday, March 18th - Early Release
Thursday, March 19th - NO SCHOOL, Parent/Teacher Conferences
Friday, March 20th - NO SCHOOL, Eid, al Fitr
Tuesday, March 24th - Save the Date: Celebrate the Arts at CVU - New Time! 5:30 - 8:30pm
Wednesday, March 25th - Early Release
Friday, March 27th - DANCE! Grade 6-8, MPR, 7:00 - 9:00pm
Wednesday, April 1st - 2026 - 2027 CCS grades 1-8 registration opens. Watch for more details.
Wednesday, April 1st- Early Release
Wednesday, April 8th - Early Release
Wednesday, April 8th - Community Field Project Information Session, CVU Library, 6pm
Wednesday, April 15th - Early Release
Monday, April 20th through Friday, April 24th - No School - Spring Break
Wednesday, April 29th - Early Release
July 6-10, 2026 - Save the Date! - Student Summer Learning (more information below)
CCS Newscast
We have a new crew this week and they changed the format so that we have 5 trivia questions and some "field" interviews. We also have a pretty bad case of the laughs by our anchor in our blooper section.
Thank You to Our Yoga Volunteers!
A big thank you to Brie Gelinas and Erin Bleichfeld who recently joined Mr. Kent's PE classes to lead yoga sessions with our second graders. The experience was amazing, and students had a wonderful time learning new poses, practicing balance, and slowing down their bodies.
We are so grateful for the time they shared with our students and for the way our school community continues to support learning in so many different ways. Opportunities like this remind us how special it is when families bring their talents and energy into our classrooms.
Thank you again for your generosity and for helping make this such a positive experience for our students!
Ramadan Meals
For those who celebrate Ramadan, school meals are available for take home. To request meals from February 17 through March 19, students or caregivers should email CCS Site Manager Sherry Beatty (sbeatty@cvsdvt.org) in the morning, and meals will be available for pickup in the afternoon.
Lost and Found
Please have your child(ren) check the lost and found. We hate to give away families items.
Student Summer Learning - Save the Date! July 6-10, 2026
CVSD is excited to host the Summer Academic Growth Experience (SAGE) for students rising into grades 2-6 who benefit from additional support in math and literacy. Held at Williston Central School from 8:00 am to 11:30 am, this program offers engaging, high-quality instruction focused on building joy and motivation in math or literacy. More information about who is eligible for the program and how to sign up is coming soon!
CVSD Intra-District K-8 School Choice
Children entering grades preK-8 who live in the towns of Charlotte, Hinesburg, Shelburne, St. George and Williston may exercise school choice. Our goal is to both allow options for families and also make balanced class sizes to provide a positive learning environment for all of our children.
Processes for intra-district choice of school will be guided by the needs of students, space availability, and existing resources. Given this, we will work to meet as many families’ needs as possible. Guidelines and Application
Save the Date: Celebrate the Arts, Tuesday, March 24 - New Time! 5:30-8:30 p.m.
Join students from across the Champlain Valley School District for an evening of entertainment and celebration, showcasing performing and visual arts from the district’s six schools. This annual tradition returns to CVU on Tuesday, March 24, 2026, transforming the high school halls and theater into a vibrant gallery of learning, innovation and inspiration.
The 14th-annual Celebrate the Arts Night brings together art, music, theater, media, arts, foods, business, design and technology in a one-night-only exhibition of student creativity.
Community Field Project Information Session-April 8, 6 pm, CVU Library
The Community Field Project invites you to an information session to learn more about the proposed field at CVU. The event is open to all and is structured to provide details and research for those who are excited, concerned, or just curious. Join us in the CVU Library on April 8th at 6pm.
Champlain Valley Little League Gear Swap!
Got softball or baseball gear your player has outgrown? Bring it to our Little League Gear Swap and trade it in for something new to you! This is a great way to pass along gently used gloves, bats, helmets, cleats, and more while saving money and helping other families get ready for the season. All families are welcome, whether you're donating, swapping, or just browsing. Let's keep good gear in play and support our CVLL community! If you have any questions, please reach out to Elisa Miller at elisasheamiller@gmail.com.
2026 Summer Camp Information
It's that time of year again where we begin to share with you summer camp information that we are asked to pass along to our community caregivers. CCS does not endorse the following camps, this is shared with our community as informational only.
- CVU Lacrosse Summer Camps - August 3rd-6th, 9am-1pm
- Junior Redhawks Running Camp - kids finishing grades 4-8
- Livery Horse Farm - horse / pony day camp for ages 1st grade and up
- Sentinal Farms Youth Camps
- Vermont Youth Dancers - various dates and ages
Be A Substitute / Guest Teacher at CCS!
Are you interested in being a part of the CCS community and get paid? Consider being a substitute / guest teacher? Interested individuals should reach out to CVSDHR@cvsdvt.org.
CCS Caregiver Frequently-Used Resources
CCS Parent-Teacher Organization
Charlotte Community Resources
Tim O'Leary, Principal; toleary@cvsdvt.org
Beth Slater, Assistant Principal & Director of Special Services; eslater@cvsdvt.org