CES Weekly Update

The 2026 Vermont Jr. Iron Chef competition is being held this coming Saturday, March 14th at the Blue Ribbon Pavilion of the Champlain Valley Exposition. 105 Pearl St. Essex Junction, VT. CES has two teams competing this year. Team A: Inara Shukun, Chloe Verge, Mariah Edwards, Gulliver Baron, and Grace Hutchins. Team B: Bryce Hickman, Yazmin Yupangui Guaman, Olivia Chamberlin, Eppie Grey, and Millie French. Our students have developed and refined some very delicious dishes and Saturday is their time to showcase them to the judges. Their competition will be held in the morning from 9:30-11:00. Doors open at 9:00. There is a suggested admission fee of $3 for individuals and $5 per family. We invite you to attend the competition to help cheer on our Wildcat teams! Many thanks to Kelly Shortsleeve and Santha Dahlin for the countless hours they have spent coaching our teams this year. More information about the Iron Chef program can be found here: VT Jr. Iron Chef Info. Go Wildcats!!!

This week our NCAL volunteers were Luke Ducharme, Finn McCarthy, and Max Cota. They scrubbed the meet and greet floor, completed the fun, but messy task of stuffing "kong" toys with pumpkin puree. Finally, they were treated to some time with a very sweet puppy named "Little Miss Cheesesteak". If you or someone else is in need of assistance with pet food, please contact NCAL to learn more about the pet food pantry program which is open to everyone. They have a basement filled with donated pet food that needs to be given away before it expires! More information can be found here: NCAL Pet Food Pantry

Additionally, CES students have been loading up our van with pet food during our NCAL visits and it is then transported to the Cambridge food shelf where it is available for anyone who needs it.

To Complete the Annual Update Process:

1. Log in to your Infinite Campus Parent Portal Account.
2. In the left menu, select More → Online Registration Update, and click Start next to Annual Update Forms.
3. Be sure to click SUBMIT when finished.

If you don’t yet have a Parent Portal account, email IC-support@lnsd.org for assistance.

Registration is open for Girls on the Run in Cambridge! Find details and register online at https://www.gotrvt.org/. Space is limited!

Our 10-week program is for Cambridge and Waterville students in grades 3-6. Our season begins Tuesday, March 18. Our team will meet on Tuesdays and Thursdays from 4 to 5:30 p.m. at the Cambridge Elementary School gym.

The registration fee is $62. GOTRVT provides financial assistance directly on the registration form for qualifying families as well as a payment plan. GOTRVT is committed to being accessible to any student who wants to participate and is dedicated to ensuring that program cost is not a barrier. Please contact GOTRVT directly at 802- 871-5664 regarding financial assistance options.

Resource: Vermont Family Network – Support for Families

Vermont Family Network offers free information, education, and peer support to families of children and youth with special health, mental health, or educational needs. Their resources help caregivers navigate school systems, access services, and strengthen family voice - with a focus on connection, advocacy, and belonging.
Learn more here

Save the Date! HLV Games Gala: Families are invited to join Healthy Lamoille Valley for an evening of fun, connection, and games!

Date: Saturday, February 21
Time: 5:30–8:00 PM
Location: Jenna’s Promise

Admission: Choose your own adventure! Suggested Donation of $10/person or $25/family (Financial assistance is available). This includes game play, costume contest, entry to door prizes and snacks.

More details will be shared in February’s newsletter or keep an eye on HLV’s Facebook page for updates.

Feeling the Winter Blues? You’re Not Alone.

Winter can feel heavy - shorter days, colder weather, less time outside, and changes in routine can affect mood and energy. It’s normal to notice shifts in how you’re feeling during this time of year.

Some signs to watch for include:

• Feeling more tired than usual
• Losing interest in things you usually enjoy
• Feeling down, irritable, or disconnected
• Sleeping more (or less) than usual
• Wanting to isolate or withdraw from others

If these feelings last more than a couple of weeks, or start to interfere with school, friendships, or daily life, it’s important to reach out. Talking with a trusted adult, school counselor, coach, or friend can make a real difference.

Small things can help too - staying connected, getting outside when possible, keeping a routine, and doing something kind for yourself or someone else. You don’t have to handle it alone.

Sharing Priority

Cambridge Area Rotary – Bike for Friends Program: This collaborative community program connects gently used high-end bicycles with individuals who may not otherwise have access to them.

• Donating a Bike: Those with gently used, high-quality bicycles they no longer need can

contribute to this meaningful community initiative.

• Each BFF recipient will also receive a new bike helmet!

• Individuals or families in need of a bike or bikes are encouraged to reach out to learn about available options and the application process.

• No questions are asked about income levels.

• On behalf of recipients, social service agencies, case managers, youth leaders, educators, and the like are encouraged to make requests too!

• For both bike requests and donations, interested parties should contact: Sam Lotto, swlvt57@gmail.com, Phone/Text: 802-793-5509

• Resources

• United Way Resource Page

• Vermont 211

• Lamoille Area Recovery Network (LeARN) is available to support flood survivors with recovery resources: learn@uwlamoille.org, 802-730-9513

• Flooding Resources: All other resources previously sent can be found here