The Weekly Update #4
August 11th, 2026
Friday Newsletter
Reminder: No School November 2
Important Dates
Wednesdays: School dismisses at 1:00
November 2: No School
November 11: No School
November 25-27: Thanksgiving Break
Friday Reflection
Today was our Fall Festival, and what a wonderful day it was! Events like these are a great way to bring our school community together, and it was such a joy to see so many smiles, hear so much laughter, and watch our students enjoy the day.
Events like this take a lot of planning and teamwork, so I want to give a huge shout-out to our Programs Coordinator, Ralph, for all the hard work he put into making sure today was a success. Thank you, Ralph! I also want to extend a heartfelt thank-you to our community partners who joined us and helped make the day extra special for our students. We are grateful for your time, support, and partnership!
It is days like today that remind me what makes The Wilder School such a special place to be. The smiles, connections, and shared experiences are what make our school community so meaningful.
I hope you and your student have a wonderful weekend! We look forward to welcoming everyone back on Monday!
Patrick Peters
Principal
The Wilder School
Notes from Nurse Lisa
Dear Parents and Guardians,
As your school nurse, the health, safety, and well-being of our students are my top priorities. We are writing to inform you of our school’s strict policy prohibiting soda and energy drinks on campus.
Recently, health offices across the country have seen a rise in students visiting the nurse with racing heartbeats, high blood pressure, jitteriness, anxiety, dizziness, and stomach discomfort linked to caffeine and high-sugar intake.
Why Energy Drinks and Soda Are Not Allowed
High Caffeine Content: Many single-serving energy drinks contain up to 200 mg of caffeine, which far exceeds the daily safe limit for children and teenagers. The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends that children under 12 avoid caffeine completely, and adolescents aged 12 to 18 limit intake to under 100 mg per day.
Dangerous Stimulants: Energy drinks often contain added legal stimulants (such as guarana, taurine, and L-carnitine) alongside heavy amounts of sugar. These ingredients can overstimulate the nervous system, leading to rapid pulses, chest palpitations, and severe anxiety.
Impact on Learning: The crash that follows a high-sugar or high-caffeine spike makes it difficult for students to focus, stay calm, and engage in the classroom.
Policy Details
No Soda or Energy Drinks on Campus: Students are not permitted to bring soda, energy drinks (such as Monster, Alani, Celsius, Prime Energy, etc.), or similar heavily caffeinated products to school.
Action Steps: Any soda or energy drinks brought onto campus will be confiscated and disposed of, and parents may be contacted if a student repeatedly brings them to school.
Alternative Options: We encourage students to bring refillable water bottles or choose water and milk during the school day.
We appreciate your partnership in keeping our students safe, healthy, and focused. If you have any questions or concerns about your child's nutrition or health needs, please feel free to reach out to the school health office.
Fall Vaccine Clinic
Dear Families,
As we settle into the fall season, we want to help ensure our students and school community stay healthy, present, and ready to learn. Annual influenza (flu) and updated COVID-19 vaccines are strongly recommended by public health officials and pediatricians for everyone ages 6 months and older. Getting vaccinated reduces the risk of serious illness and prevents the spread of respiratory viruses across our classrooms.
Below is a guide to help you find convenient vaccine opportunities across the Upper Valley in both Vermont and New Hampshire.
1. Free Community Walk-In Clinics (Public Health Council of the Upper Valley)
The Public Health Council of the Upper Valley, in partnership with Dartmouth Health, hosts free walk-in flu clinics throughout local towns.
Who can attend: Open to community members ages 10 and older.
Cost: Free of charge; no insurance card or registration required.
Locations include: Plainfield Elementary School (Meriden, NH), Oxbow High School (Bradford, VT), Enfield Community Building, Windsor Welcome Center, and Orford Congregational Church.
Details: Visit uvpublichealth.org for dates and times.
2. Dartmouth Health / DHMC Clinics (Lebanon & Regional Centers)
Dartmouth Health offers combined flu and COVID-19 vaccine clinics for individuals and families.
Pediatric & Family Appointments: Pediatric clinics accommodate children and allow parents/caregivers to be vaccinated at the same appointment.
Scheduling: Appointments are required. Book online through myDH.org or call the scheduling line at 603-653-3731.
Locations: DHMC (Lebanon, NH), Heater Road Clinic, Mt. Ascutney Hospital and Health Center (Windsor/Woodstock, VT), and surrounding Dartmouth Health pediatrics practices.
Visit https://www.dartmouth-health.org/flu for more information.
3. Local Pediatric Practices & Drive-Thru Clinics
Vision and Hearing Testing Notice
Dear Parents and Guardians,
As part of our school health services, we will be conducting annual vision and hearing screenings next week, starting on October 26, 2026.
Vision Screening
Hearing Screening
How You Can Help:
Glasses & Contacts: If your child already wears glasses or contact lenses, please make sure they bring them to school and wear them on testing day.
Illness: If your child has a severe cold, earache, or sinus congestion next week, let us know—we may wait to screen their hearing until they feel better to avoid false results.
Results: You will only be contacted directly by the health office if your child does not pass a screening or if a professional follow-up/referral is recommended. "Pass" results are generally not sent home, though you may request them.
Learning at TWS
Inclusion Appaeral
Our Inclusion Apparel store is open until Friday, October 30th. Orders will be ready approximately two weeks after the store closes. Spread the word! Share the link! Get your orders in! Link Here
Curiosity Conner by Julia
Día de los Muertos, or Day of the Dead, is a vibrant Mexican tradition that honors and remembers deceased loved ones. Rooted in indigenous Aztec customs combined with Catholic traditions, the holiday is based on the belief that the souls of the departed return to the physical world during this time to reunite with their families. Celebrated annually on November 1st and 2nd, it is not a period of mourning, but rather a joyous celebration of life, love, and memory that views death as a natural part of the human experience.
The celebration is marked by colorful rituals, most notably the creation of ofrendas (altars) in homes and public spaces decorated with marigold flowers (cempasúchil), photos of the deceased, sugar skulls (calaveras), and the favorite foods and drinks of those who have passed. Families gather in cemeteries to clean and decorate graves, tell stories, play music, and share special treats like pan de muerto (bread of the dead). In addition, lively parades featuring elaborate face paint mimicking skeletal figures (La Catrina) bring communities together to celebrate their heritage and connection to ancestors.
Simultaneously, the living experience for many Mexican immigrants in the United States today stands in sharp contrast to this celebratory heritage, as they face an increasingly hostile environment. Expanded enforcement operations, strict border border restrictions, legal status revocations, and the threat of mass deportations have created widespread climate of fear and uncertainty for both documented and undocumented Mexican migrants. As rhetoric and policies continue to target immigrant communities, many families are forced to navigate the heightened risks of separation, discrimination, and economic instability while trying to maintain their cultural roots and daily lives.
Individuals and communities can take action by supporting the immigrant community by donating to established immigrant advocacy organizations—such as UnidosUS, the Hispanic Federation, and the Immigrant Legal Resource Center which helps fund free legal representation, provides "Know Your Rights" education and emergency assistance for families facing deportation or legal hurdles.
At the local level, people can volunteer with grassroots groups, food banks, or community centers that provide direct relief, English language learning, and healthcare navigation to newly arrived migrants and long-term residents. Additionally, engaging in civic advocacy by pushing local and national representatives to support fair immigration reform, humane border policies, and local sanctuary protections ensures that immigrant communities have a voice and a safer environment in which to live and celebrate their rich cultural heritage.
The National Museum of the American Latino: Immigration Stories
Small Truths: The Immigration Experience Through the Eyes of Children
Discover La Catrina: A Beautiful Symbol of Mexico's Culture!