Gertrude Chamberlin School

It’s hard to believe that summer is already winding down and the halls of Chamberlin School are getting ready to come alive again! There’s something special about those first days of school—the fresh pencils, new backpacks, big smiles, a few nervous butterflies, and the wonderful excitement of seeing friends and teachers again.

As we begin a new school year, I am filled with gratitude and excitement for all that lies ahead. Our theme at Chamberlin, Sharing, Caring, Learning Together, captures so much of what makes our school community special. Every day, our students and staff learn from one another, look out for one another, and work together to make our school a place where everyone feels welcomed, valued, and ready to learn.

I am excited to start my 16th year at GCS as "Queenipal!" I've had a wonderful summer getting ready for the new school year, and also took some time out to be with family and grow my own leadership. I attended the National Association of Elementary School Principals' Conference in Orlando, Florida, and a Professional Learning Community Training in Denver, Colorado. I also visited family while in Florida, and my husband and I spent a week in the Poconos biking and hiking. I also went to the VT Principals Leadership Academy in Killington, VT for more learning with South Burlington colleagues. Here in VT, I enjoyed biking, kayaking and cheering on the Lake Monsters baseball team! Our Superintendent, Dr. Joe Clark, also enjoys baseball and I took the photo below at one of the Lake Monsters' games we were both attending. It's been a very productive and energizing summer and I look forward to leading GCS for the 2026-2027 school year!

Partnership between home and school is essential to student success. We encourage you to stay connected—read our newsletters, follow our school updates, and reach out whenever you have questions or ideas. Your involvement makes a world of difference, and together, we can ensure that every child feels seen, valued, and inspired.

Here’s to a fantastic school year filled with curiosity, kindness, connection, and lots of learning.

Warmly,

Holly Russell-Vroegop

If your child is coming to kindergarten, stop by our playground to meet some new friends and families!

If your child is a 2nd grader in Mrs. Custer's class, they can visit with Mrs. Custer from 1:00-2:00. She will be attending her own children's Open House at another school during our regular Open House Time (2:00-3:00). This is only a change for 2nd graders in Mrs. Custer's class...all others should stop by between 2:00 and 3:00.

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We will let you know which day your child's class is getting their pictures taken as the date gets closer.

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A small, but mighty group of parents, staff and students gathered on two occasions to make some much needed improvements to our baseball field on the playground! The PTO has funded new benches and materials to level out the field and make it a safer and more inviting field for baseball and recess games. The bench assembly will be happening on Wednesday and Thursday next week 5:30-7:00 PM...come join the fun!

Your child doesn't need to bring any school supplies, just a smile and a positive attitude! We will provide any learning tools they need such as notebooks, pencils, markers, etc. They will need a backpack, a lunch box, a water bottle and sneakers. Please be sure they are all labeled with your child's name! We have free backpacks for anyone who needs one - see information below if you would like one. Classroom teachers may reach out to families about donations they are looking for...things like good Kleenex for runny nose season (the ones we provide are a little thin!), wipes and extra snacks.

If your child needs a new backpack for the school year, please email Mrs. Baechle at lbaechle@sbschools.net or call the office at 8026527403 and we will schedule a time to have you drop by and pick one up!

Our goal is to have a process that results in balanced classrooms at all grade levels. Parent and teacher inputs about the needs of each child were gathered April - May. Grade level teams (teachers, principal, school counselor, and student support services) met to draft class lists, thinking first about academic needs for students and then taking into consideration friendships and social dynamics. We are making revisions as we continue to enroll students.

Placements are now in PowerSchool. Families who have registered or re-registered for the upcoming school year can log in to their Parent Portal on PowerSchool to see who their child's teacher is for next year!

If you received an email from Mrs. Baechle (Administrative Assistant) or Mrs. Farrell (School Nurse) saying that you are missing registration documentation such as birth certificate, immunizations, proof of residency, then you will not see your child's placement until your registration is complete. Please send us that documentation ASAP so we can place your child.

We are again doing a mixed start to the GCS kindergarten this year! The ultimate goal is to create a structure where the development of relationships, curiosity and achievement are not overwhelmed by other classroom demands. We want to build cohorts of students that will forge relationships well together for any of our two kindergarten teachers. We know we have the least amount of information about this group of children, so a “soft start” will allow us to get to know our K students better and make informed decisions to create balanced classes. What will this look like for your child? Children will have the opportunity to meet both teachers and mix with a variety of children the first few days of school. When kindergarten families log into Power School, they will learn the room number that their child will be in for the first day of school. Mrs. Bahrenburg and Mrs. Preska will rotate into both rooms throughout the day. At the end of the day, we will plan for what the groupings will look like for the next day. We will have lots of staff and use color coded nametags to help children make a morning transition. Families will find out their child's homeroom assignment at the end of the day on August 28th and begin with their teacher on Monday, August 31st. We hope this will allow us to get to know children and create balanced classrooms where they can build a wonderful community for the next 10 months of school!

Mr. Belt, our school counselor, will host a building tour for new students in grades 1-5 on Wednesday August 19th at 1:00 PM. Please email Mrs. Baechle, our Administrative Assistant, if you will be joining us for the building tour at lbaechle@sbschools or leave a message at 802-652-7403. There will also be a schoolwide Open House on Tuesday August 25th, from 2pm to 3pm if you are not able to make this building tour. We can't wait to meet our new to Chamberlin friends!

In Vermont, Law H. 480 prohibits students from using cell phones and other personal electronic devices during the school day, from arrival to dismissal, in all public and private schools. Cell phones and electronics, including watches or any other device that has the capability to text/call/record/take photos are not allowed at school. This includes on the bus and at school sponsored events. If your child needs to have a cell phone or watch for after school contact, it needs to be powered off and stay in your child’s backpack while they are here at school.

Stay Informed and Connected with the Konstella App

The GCS PTO uses Konstella to strengthen our school's sense of belonging and help families connect. This private, secure platform helps you get to know other parents and stay engaged. Whether you want to coordinate a playdate with a classmate's family or join a school committee, Konstella makes it easy to communicate and get involved.

With Konstella you’ll be able to:

• View PTO announcements and events.
• Access a school directory to connect with other parents.
• Easily sign up for volunteer opportunities.
• Message other families directly or in group chats.
• Choose your own notification and privacy settings

Joining is easy! It only takes a few minutes.

1. Download the Konstella app on your device.
2. Click on Register
3. Enter the invitation code: IY6J3Y
4. Check your email and tap Join

Existing Konstealla users-How to update your student’s teacher:

1. Open the App: Open the Konstella app on your mobile device.
2. Go to Settings: Tap the Gear icon (or your profile picture) in the upper-left corner of your screen.
3. Select Your Children: Tap on Your Children.
4. Choose Your Child: Tap on the name of the child whose teacher you need to change.
5. Update Classroom: Tap on the current classroom which will bring up all classroom teachers then select the new teacher/classroom from the provided list.
6. Save: Tap Back and then make sure to hit Done or Save to apply the changes.

Looking to label your child's clothing, water bottle, lunch box containers and other belongings? You can purchase labels from Mabel's Labels and earn money for our school! Mabel’s Labels tag mates are the perfect solution for your child's clothing, including outdoor gear! They are laundry-safe, peel-and-stick clothing labels that will keep your kids’ stuff out of the lost and found. Head over to campaigns.mabelslabels.com and search for our organization - South Burlington School District - Chamberlin PTO - to support us when shopping for your back to school labels.

The PTO has an awesome vendor for all of your SB gear needs! There are a variety of logos (see photo below) and items to choose from - you go online and pick your items and the logos you want on them, and then they will be shipped to your home for a flat fee of $4.95...and sometimes they run specials for free shipping! The PTO earns a portion of all sales which goes to support our school. This link will be open all year long, so you can order whenever you want! Click on the link below and get ready for our next spirit wear day!

Our handbook has been updated and you can find answers to many questions you might have about our school! It's a wonderful resource for families, so please take some time to check it out!

We have some wonderful additions to Team Chamberlin for the upcoming school year!

Hi, I’m Melissa O’Brien, and I’m excited to be joining GCS this year as a Speech Language Pathologist in Pre-K! I am a Vermonter that received my Bachelor's degree from UVM and Master’s degree in Speech Language Pathology from Northeastern University. I have been fortunate to support communication with ages 3 through 90+ over the course of my career. Along with supporting communication, helping every child feel heard and feel a sense of belonging are core values of mine. I love language and books and have a passion for supporting literacy across all ages. Outside of school, I enjoy biking, reading, and spending time with my husband, daughter, son and new dog, Penelope. I’m looking forward to a great year and am excited to get to know the students, families and staff in the GSC community!

My name is Melissa Conchieri (I also go by Mrs. C) and I’m very excited to be joining the wonderful community at Chamberlin School as a Special Educator! I worked as a long-term sub Special Educator for 4th grade for the Colchester School District last school year while finishing my licensing program. Previously, I worked as a Certified Occupational Therapy Assistant for several years in that district and got to enjoy preschoolers through 5th graders! I have 2 teens at home and have had lots of experience as a parent of kids receiving special education (13 years' worth!). I work hard to build trusting relationships with my students and enjoy using student’s special interests to engage them! I enjoy skiing, biking, and live music! I can’t wait for the school year to begin!

Hello, I'm Annabelle Cressy, and I can't wait to be a part of the GCS community as a Special Educator this school year! I have my Bachelor's degree in Elementary Education and recently got my Master's in Special Education. I have worked with students in both preschool and elementary settings. I love creating a safe, inclusive and kind learning community where all students have the opportunity to thrive! Outside of school, I love to read, spend time outside, and do crafts. I am so excited to get to know the GCS community!

Hi, I’m Susmitha Cinthala, and I’m very excited to be joining GCS this year as a Paraeducator! I hold a Bachelor’s degree in Economics with a minor in History. I have worked as a business analyst and a private music teacher, teaching students of all ages. I enjoy teaching and have made a career shift to pursue this passion. I love creating a supportive, positive learning environment where children feel seen, heard, and encouraged! I enjoy hiking, baking, playing the violin, and connecting with others! I look forward to getting to know the students, families, and staff, and becoming a part of the wonderful GCS community!

Hi, I’m Lindsay McQueen, and I’m delighted to join GCS as a Paraprofessional! I have a Bachelor’s degree in Biology and a Master’s degree in the Science of Instruction. My experience working in schools spans math, science, and health education, all connected by my lifelong curiosity into the process of learning. Outside of school, I like to read, run, cook, and travel, especially if the travel includes seeing my 8- and 10-year-old nieces. I’m grateful to become part of the community and look forward to building connections with the students, families, and staff who make GCS such a welcoming place.

Hi, I am Kaitlyn McGrath and I am looking forward to working as a paraprofessional at GCS this school year. I have a Associates degree in Liberal studies at CCV Winooski. I have gained more and more experience working with kids over the past few years, and I am excited to see where this profession in education takes me. I am a former Chamberlin student, and last year, I was a recess monitor and substitute at GCS.

Outside of work I love being active, being outside, enjoying time with friends and family, traveling, and enjoying good food. I am very excited to meet the team, staff, students, and families who are all apart of the GCS community.

Hi, I’m Sara Colantuoni. I am excited to be joining the GCS community this year as an

Interventionist. I have a Bachelor’s degree in Liberal Arts and am currently getting my

Master’s degree in elementary education! Last school year, I worked for an after-school

program, and I am excited to take what I’ve learned into the classroom. I strive to create a

welcoming environment where all students feel safe to express themselves and

collaborate with their peers. Outside of school, I enjoy spending time in the mountains,

reading a good book, and spending time with friends and family. I’m looking forward to

working with and getting to know fellow staff members, as well as students and their

families

We are excited to announce the continuation of the School's Out morning program, School's In!

School's In, is a before school program for families who need care for their child(ren) in grades Kindergarten to 5th grade before school. School's In helps get your student off on the right foot for a focused productive day. Enrollment priority will be given to students not currently enrolled in School's Out!

Students will have choices of quiet or physical activities, i.e. card/board games, art, and individual or team sports. During this time, students can take part in the school breakfast program if desired.

School's In does NOT operate when school is closed or there is an emergency delayed opening.

Hours: 7-8 am

Cost: $6/day ($1 sibling discount)

Matt Bombardier a School's Out employee and GCS parent will be leading this program.

Click on the link if you are interested in registering for the program.

Allison Thomson

School's Out! Program Administrator

www.sbschoolsout.com

We are hiring for a few support positions for this year! Training will be provided for all new hires. Please contact me at hrussell@sbschools.net, (802)652-7403.

Recess Monitor - 3 hours a day, supporting recess. Starting pay is $19.28/hr. We are looking for someone 5 days a week, and also substitutes.

Lunchroom Monitor - 3 hours a day, supporting lunch periods. Starting pay is $19.28/hr. We are looking for someone on Wednesdays, and also substitutes.

Preschool Paraprofessionals - Working with small groups of students and classroom support. This position comes with a comprehensive benefit package. Starting pay is $21.25/hr.

Interventionists - Working with one or two students who have Individualized Education Plans with support from our Special Educators. This position comes with a comprehensive benefit package. Starting pay is $21.86/hour. We are currently looking for a full time interventionist, and a long term substitute interventionist to cover a maternity leave at the end of September.

Please go to https://www.schoolspring.com/ and search South Burlington School District or call 802-652-7403 if you are interested!

South Burlington's Cub Scout Pack 678 is a place where all students in kindergarten through 5th grade can flourish and have fun. The program offers fun and challenging activities that promote character development, love of the outdoors, and physical fitness. Cub Scouting helps parents make the most of the time they have to impact the lives of their children.

We are having an Open House on Thursday, September 3rd where families can explore all our Pack has to offer. It will take place at Veterans Memorial Park from 6-7:30pm and will include bottle rockets, Gaga ball, and lots of other fun activities as well as a chance to learn more about Cub Scouting!

Email: hrussell@sbschools.net
Website: https://vt01819219.schoolwires.net/Domain/10
Location: Chamberlin School, White Street, South Burlington, VT, USA
Phone: 802 652 7403