Cougar Chronicle

6/7 - Out Run the Floods 5k

6/9 - Caregivers and Allies of LBGTQ++ Meeting

6/10 - Unity Day for Rising 7th Graders

6/11 - Facilities Forum

6/12 - Friends of Calais meeting

6/18 - 6th Grade Graduation

6/20 - PreK Potluck

6/20 - 6th Grade Clap Out

6/24 - Last day of school for students

7/2 - Field Hockey Clinic @ U32

We’ve asked staff to share positive stories each week and this week there has been so much to share.

Students: There was a group of students who willingly helped clean up a bus one morning. They weren’t asked, they just offered to do it. It was such a nice gesture!

All of our students did a fantastic job on the field trip to the North Branch Nature Center this week. They seemed to have a lot of fun AND really showed what it means to Be Safe, Be Kind, and Work Hard!

Staff: Our staff was so great this week with the field trip to NBNC. They keep everything going as planned and really help the kids have a great time. Thank you, Ms. Curavoo for putting together such a fun trip!

For the past 18 years Calais Elementary School has been my second home and now it’s time for me to move on. I am retiring at the end of this school year. My last 3rd grade students are graduating from U32 this year, so it seems fitting that I should “graduate” too.

At Calais I have been a paraprofessional, a 3rd grade teacher, and a math interventionist. I have had memorable experiences in each role, working with great students and wonderful staff members. What I will miss most is the students that I have gotten to know. Calais kids are the best! Thank you to everyone in the Calais School Community for your kindness and support.

Thank you,

Mary Carpenter

As the school year comes to a close soon, I wanted to share that I won’t be returning next year. This decision was not an easy one, as my time here has been so incredibly special. I’ve felt a growing pull toward exploring a new career path, and I’ve decided it’s time for me to take that next step. That said, I will always carry the heart of a teacher with me.

It’s been such a joy to be part of this caring community, and I feel so lucky to have spent time learning and growing alongside your amazing children. I will always hold my coworkers, families, and each and every kiddo close to my heart. Thank you for the trust, the support, and the many smiles along the way!

With gratitude,
Ms. Gilmore/Blakely Gilmore

My name is Rory Woodard (Ms. Rory at school) and I am beyond thrilled to be joining the East Montpelier and Calais Elementary schools as the school librarian next year! As a life-long book lover, sharing the joy of reading and learning with young people is one of the most delightful experiences in the world. (Although I'll never have an answer to what my favorite book is - there are too many that have been perfect in the time and place that I read them!) I grew up in Calais and attended Calais, Rumney, and U-32 myself, and now live in Calais again! I'm a second generation school librarian (my mom, Mrs. Woodard, was the librarian at Rumney and Doty for many years), and I've spent the last three school years as the PreK-12 librarian at Cabot School. When I'm not being a librarian, I love reading, knitting, swimming, fishing, making jam, and playing both tabletop and video games. I can't wait to meet you all (and especially to learn what books you have loved)!

When we return from Spring Break, I will be teaching lessons during Guidance class that

will feature a state curriculum called Care for Kids and We Care Elementary programs for

all grade levels.

Care for Kids is a program for students K-2 that features a unit that teaches and

reinforces 2 to 4 simple, age-appropriate messages via a circle time, a book, and an activity

or craft. The activities are designed to compliment the fact that children of this age

group learn naturally through play and use schemas to assimilate new information.

Information is presented in a matter-of-fact way using anatomically correct language.

For students in grades 3-6, The We Care Elementary curriculum includes six lessons

at each grade level. Each grade focuses on different topics related to healthy

relationships. We Care Elementary moves beyond the concrete and physical nature of the

Care for Kids lessons, capitalizing on children’s capacity for generalizing information and

reflecting on their emotions and experiences.

*ACT One Vermont State Mandate: An Act Relating to Improving Vermont’s Sexual Abuse

Response System Educating Kids and Adults to Help Prevent Child Sexual Abuse in

Vermont (From the VT Department of Children and Families and Prevent Child Abuse VT).

This act was signed into law in March of 2009 and is available to view at

http://www.leg.state.vt.us/docs/2010/Acts/Act001.pdf

It includes several mandatesfor Vermont school,including:

1. Educating children about sexual abuse

2. Educating school staff about child sexual abuse; and

3. Informing parents about child sexual abuse. Information available:

http://dcf.vermont.gov/sites/dcf/files/pdf/protectkids/GuideforParent.pdf

Invitation for June 9, 2025

Hi Parents, Friends, & Caring Community-

We invite you to join our small and mighty group for parents, caring friends, caregivers, and district staff. We meet and share experiences about loving and caring for our LBGTQ++ young people. We think together about what we need and what the kids in our lives are teaching us.

Our next meeting for Caregivers & Allies of LGBTQ++ young people is June 9th at 5-6:30pm. We meet in the U-32 Library classroom.

If you have an article, video, or topics you'd like us to discuss let me know so I can make copies and/or be sure our digital equipment is ready.

Please share this invitation with anyone you know who would like to join our gathering.

Looking forward to seeing you for our last gathering of this school year. We'll begin again next September.

Shelley Vermilya

Humanity & Justice Scholar in Residence

P.S. Questions? Please inquire: svermilya@u32.org

The time has come for us to reveal * ta da * our classroom configurations for the 2025-2026 school year.

As you have heard, WCUUSD made changes to the locations of Preschool in our district and while Calais will be a location for preschool, the larger district-wide change will require some change here at Calais as well.

To start, next year's Preschool will be a morning session Tuesday through Friday with Community Connections available all day Monday and Tuesday-Friday afternoon. This change is also requiring us to change who our Preschool teacher is for next year, as Mrs. Weller will be moving to another grade in the building. Additionally, Ms. Burroughs is returning to Calais from EMES to fill the position of Ms. Gilmore who is leaving at the end of the year.

As a staff we have wrestled with what changes to make, how those changes affect our staff, and most importantly, how those changes affect our students. We have been thorough and thoughtful with our classroom configurations and are excited for what next year will bring.

With that being said, the Calais classroom configurations for the 2025-2026 school year will be:

Preschool (AM) - Staff Joining from Rumney

Kindergarten/1st Grade - Mrs. Weller

2nd Grade - Ms. Burroughs

3rd/4th Grade - Mrs. Curavoo

5th Grade - Mrs. Jackson

6th Grade - Ms. Ecklund

These are some big changes, but we know with change comes opportunity. Opportunity to grow, opportunity to achieve, and opportunity to explore with curiosity. That is our goal for next year - to explore with curiosity - and it starts as we look at these new classroom configurations.

https://www.wcuusd.org/resources/prek-information

Breakfast and Lunch Menus

Link to registration google form.

Link to printable form

There are so many opportunities in Vermont for students in the Summer. Check out just some of the opportunities below. We will try to keep this updated as much as possible.

List of Summer Camps 2025

• Raiders Soccer Camp - 7/7-7/11
• Free Summer Theatre Camp at U32 - 7/8-7/9
• U32 Basketball Bamp - 7/14-7/18
• KB Training Summer Basketball Camp - 6/30-7/3
• Johnson Badgers Sports Clinics - 6/22-6/26 (Boys Basketball), 7/20-7/24 (Softball), 8/10-8/14 (Girls Basketball)
• Camp Downer - Sessions ranging from 6/22-8/15
• T.W. Wood Gallery - 6/23-8/22
• Elevate Movement Collective - Sessions ranging from 6/16-8/18
• Field Hockey Clinic @ U32 - 7/2
• 2025 Calais Swim Program at Curtis Pond - Sessions ranging from 7/7-8/22

Link to flyers

This summer the U32 Boys and Girls Varsity Thi Coaching Staff will be hosting a Summer Basketball Skills Camp July 14-18th. A summer basketball camp is a great way for our kids to get together, develop skills, play the game and have fun with friends. Establishing this camp as a way to build foundational skills, build culture and promote basketball in our local community. Coach Olivia, Coach Medosa and members of both varsity teams will be coaching, teaching and developing relationships with our upcoming hoopers!! Proceeds from the camp will be used to support both the Girls and Boys Basketball Programs at U32.

Link: U32 Raider Basketball Camp

Just Basics is partnering with Calais Elementary School along with The Humanity & Justice Calais Coalition to assist families in the Calais area with weekly food and household essentials.

Families who are interested may contact Caroline Munroe at Just Basics through her cell at: (802)917-8164 or by email at caroline@justbasicsvt.org or feel free to stop by Counselor’s Office or Main Office at Calais Elementary School or email Ruth Frisenda at rfrisenda@u32.org if you wish to complete intake form to receive items.

Dear Calais Families,

We have a Backpack Program here at Calais Elementary School designed to provide families with children who attend Calais, the necessary food and clothing that they may need throughout the school year. Food and Gift bags are dispensed in a discreet and caring manner. This program runs the full school year on a weekly basis with exception to student breaks and summer. There is no cost associated with this program. If you wish for your child to participate in the program, please sign below and return this letter to the school in your child's folder or drop it off at the Main Office. Thank you and please let us know if you have any questions or any needs for your child at any time.

Feel free to email me at rfrisenda@u32.org or call 802-454-7777 ext 105 at any time.

Sincerely,

Ruth Frisenda

School Counselor

Calais Elementary School

Print and Fold Passport

Digital Passport

2024-2025 Family Handbook

Volunteer Program Form

Calais Parent Advisory Interest Form

Calais Cougar Online Merchandise Store

Elementary and Middle School:

Afternoon in the Children's Library

Join us every weekday between 3:30 and 5PM for games and activities in the Children's Library! Fuse Beads on Monday, Yarn Club on Tuesday, Chess on Wednesday, Pokemon on Thursday and Legos on Friday.

In partnership with Hunger Free Vermont, the Essex Westford School District will be distributing FREE seven-day meal boxes in your area this summer!

• All meals are federally funded

• First come, first served and meal kits will be available to pick up rain or shine

• People accessing the meals do not need to reside in the area of distribution

• These meal kits are not intended for students already receiving their free meals in summer school or summer camps

• This is a collaboration between Hunger Free Vermont and the Essex Westford School District

Available to children 18 and under. Parents can pick up without the children present, and there is no registration required.

Boxes Contain: The equivalent of seven breakfasts and seven lunches. The meals are made up of proteins, grains, vegetables, fruits, and milk. Items like cereal, muffins, bagels, wraps, deli meats and cheese, nut butter, whole cucumbers, baby carrots, apples, raisins, and cantaloupe. Each box contains a gallon of milk.

*Please note that these free meal kits are not only for families in need, and you won’t be taking away a meal from someone in need. By picking up the meals, you will be supporting your community.

Federal funding is based on participation, so the more people who take the free meals, the stronger we can be for those who need us the most.

Locations/Dates:

Washington Family Center
383 Sherwood Drive, Montpelier
Mondays from June 23 - August 11
10 a.m.-2 p.m.

Brookside Primary School
47 Stowe Street, Waterbury
Tuesdays from June 24 - August 12
10 a.m.-2 p.m.

Roxbury Village School
1559 Roxbury Road, Roxbury
Fridays from June 27 - August 15 (no distribution on July 4th)
12:30 p.m.-2 p.m.

On Logic

435 Community Drive, South Burlington
Wednesdays from June 25 - August 13
11:30 a.m.-2 p.m.

Waitsfield Elementary School
3951 Main Street, Waitsfield
Fridays from June 27 - August 15 (no distribution on July 4th)
10-11:30 a.m.

Bombardier Park
40 Park Place, Milton
Thursdays from June 26 - August 14
10 a.m.-2 p.m.

Our staff spent time with Sally Russell from Youth First Mentoring. There are some incredible opportunities for our young people through mentoring and this is something we hope you explore if your child would be interested. We are happy to help connect you and help with the process if this is something you want to explore for your child. Check out this local organization at → https://youthfirstmentoring.org/

Type in your zip code or county to find different resources in your area!

https://www.navigateresources.net/211vermont/

https://resourcevt.org/essential-goods-program/#

https://www.amysarmoire.org/

Prevent Child Abuse - Vermont

5 Tips to Ease Back-to-School Anxiety

All programs are offered virtually and FREE!

Printable Flyer

Chicks hatching in 2nd grade!

6th grade bluebird boxes as part of a math project

Elementary Music Night @ U32

All School Field Trip to the North Branch Nature Center