Waitsfield Elementary

Some of our recent breakfast/snack options.

Principal's Message

Dear families & friends,

Did you know that students can choose a free breakfast every day? They may eat it in the morning or save it for a snack later in the day. Our breakfast bar features rotating options such as homemade sweet breads and muffins, breakfast sandwiches, and yogurt parfaits, along with daily offerings of cereal, bagels, assorted fresh fruit, cheese sticks, and more. Like school lunch, breakfast is free for all students.

We ask families not to send candy or other highly sugary snacks to school. Learning is harder when bodies—and especially brains—are not well fueled. Sugar may provide a quick burst of energy, but growing bodies also need protein, healthy fats, iron, calcium, vitamins, and water. We ask that you help your children come to school well rested and nourished. In turn, we commit to supporting their growth in myriad ways while they are with us—including providing delicious, healthy meals.

Next Wednesday, September 16, students will be dismissed at 11:30 a.m. Staff will spend the afternoon engaged in professional learning designed to improve student learning and experiences across our district schools. The areas selected for this focused work are based on our ongoing review of student data. Recent VTCAP scores show growth in writing and math—two areas identified through our action-planning process—and we are working to continue that positive trend.

There has also been significant growth in our understanding of how to teach executive functioning skills: the mental processes that help us plan, organize, manage time, remember directions, control impulses, adapt to change, and complete tasks. Several staff members will be learning about the latest developments in this area. The eight early-release professional learning days scheduled this year give staff opportunities to acquire new knowledge, apply it directly in their work with students, and then reflect upon and refine their practice during the following month’s session.

A variety of early-release activities for children are being offered in our community, including extended childcare through the OHASK program here in the building and other offerings around the Valley. Several are listed in the community section of this newsletter. Please let us know if you are aware of others so that we can help spread the word.

If early release changes your child’s after-school plans, please be sure to update Pick Up Patrol. Thank you!

Respectfully,

Kaiya Korb, WES Principal

News from the Library

Now that the start of the school year is settling in, our students have heard a lot about being safe, respectful, and responsible. One of the first topics we cover at the start of the year extends these ideals to book care; washing our hands, keeping food away from books, being vigilant about puppies and toddlers with markers. Our younger students have seen artifacts from the “No No Never Never Box” that show first hands when caring for our books goes awry.

We have also been talking about what it means to borrow something and why it is important to return what we borrow. Along those lines, some students have shared where they keep their library books at home and how they remember to bring them back. A lot of you parents get the credit for this, despite my persistence that it is an important responsibility for students to learn. Some helpful tips from our students include keeping library books in a special basket, on the coffee table, or a nightstand. Others suggested putting them on their own bookshelf but admitted they can sometimes get lost in there. Whatever your method, please help your child find a spot that supports them demonstrating how to be responsible library stewards.

All this talk about books at home got me thinking about the value of reading together at home. Bedtime rituals are clearly ripe for reading stories but so is the slow down after dinner or the mellow moments mixed into the weekend. Picture books are great to pile around on the couch, but a family novel can be a great extended option too; the kids can color or stretch out, the vocabulary is bound to be enriching, and the end of a chapter can often lend a bunch of excitement for what is going to happen next. Whether you are pouring over a picture book or making the journey through a novel, you are bound to foster a love of literature. Please don’t hesitate to ask for a recommendation that fits your family.

Kindergarten students enjoyed the first day of their ECO (Educating Children Outdoors) program yesterday.

VACANCY -- Please Consider Joining the HUUSD Board

The Harwood Unified Union School District (HUUSD) Board is seeking to fill one vacant seat representing the Town of Waitsfield following the resignation of Roberta “Bobbi” Rood, effective August 27, 2026. The Board is looking for a Waitsfield resident to serve until Town Meeting Day in March 2027. If the appointee wishes to continue serving beyond that date, they would then run for election on Town Meeting Day 2027 for the remaining year of the term, which expires in March 2028. To be eligible, applicants must reside in Waitsfield.

The HUUSD Board typically meets twice per month on Wednesday evenings from 6:00–9:00 p.m. in the Harwood Union High School library. Board members are volunteers who review materials in advance of meetings and participate in thoughtful discussion and decision-making about our schools. While no prior board experience is required, an open mind, a willingness to learn, and a commitment to serving our schools and communities are essential.

Serving on the HUUSD Board is an important way to contribute to local governance and make a meaningful difference for students, families, and residents across our six-town district. Members gain valuable insight into education policy, community engagement, and the democratic process.

Interested Waitsfield residents should submit a letter of interest and résumé describing their background, experience, and reasons for wanting to serve to HUUSD Board Chair Ashley Woods at awoods@huusd.org and Superintendent Dr. Mike Leichliter at mleichliter@huusd.org by Friday, September 4, 2026, at 4:00 p.m.

Candidates will have the opportunity to speak briefly at the HUUSD Board meeting on Wednesday, September 9, 2026, when a possible appointment will be considered. As required by law, the HUUSD Board will consult with the Waitsfield Selectboard before making the appointment.

Find more information about the district and the HUUSD Board at https://huusd.org, including answers to frequently asked questions at https://huusd.org/joining-our-school-board.

Upcoming Important Dates

Tuesday September 15. School Photos w/Ember photography
Wednesday September 16, 11:30 dismissal (Staff development in afternoon)
Friday September 25, 8:30 - Noon All School Hike
Tuesday September 29, 5:30 - 6:30, Open House
Friday October 9 & Monday Oct 12. NO SCHOOL
Wednesday October 21, 11:30 dismissal (Staff development in afternoon)

2026-2027 School Calendar

Please note that the opportunities/events listed below are not specifically endorsed or screened by school staff. As always, families should use their own standards and review processes to determine appropriate activities.

Kids’ Night Out! To participate, please register in advance: https://forms.gle/66C17rgvaKLm1xM1A

Owls and Their Calls

Green & Gold Presentation at Mad River Glen, Saturday, October 3rd At 11AM

Join Stark Mountain Foundation for a family-friendly presentation “Owls and Their Calls” by the Vermont Institute of Natural Sciences (VINS). The presentation will take place at 11 AM on Saturday, October 3rd on Green & Gold Weekend. Held on the third floor of the Basebox at Mad River Glen, the family-friendly program offers community members an up-close look at native nocturnal raptors. Register at https://www.starkmountain.org/news-events.

Contrary to popular belief, not all owls hoot—some screech, whistle, or bark. Attendees will meet live owls, hear their unique calls, and have the chance to handle biological artifacts to discover how these apex predators hunt and thrive in Vermont's forests.

The event will occur during Green & Gold Weekend at Mad River Glen, which will feature a variety of events including the MRG Annual Shareholders meeting, scenic lift rides on the single chair, and a naturalist-guided hike down Stark Mountain starting at 1:00PM.

“Owls and Their Calls” is free and pre-registration is required. Please reach out to contact@starkmountain.org if you register and are unable to attend. Donations to Stark Mountain Foundation are encouraged to support various projects, including future environmental educational programs! To register or learn more about upcoming events visit: https://www.starkmountain.org/news-events.