Cougar Chronicle

5/30 - Rumney Theater Club Presents "Winnie the Pooh"

5/31 - Rumney Theater Club Presents "Winnie the Pooh"

5/31 - Black Bear - Try Hockey for Free Event

6/4 - All School Field Trip - North Branch Nature Center

6/7 - Out Run the Floods 5k

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

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

To all Parents and Guardians:

We have just been alerted that we have had some COVID cases within our school. PLEASE if your child is sick or has symptoms of COVID, PLEASE test them for COVID. We have many test kits available at school and there are also kits available at the Town Clerk's Office. Masks are available at the school as well.

More information is available at the Vermont Department of Health websites:

Symptoms and Treatment of Covid

If you are sick with a respiratory virus

Please feel free to contact Kathryn Saunders, School Nurse with any questions or concerns. Thank you.

Sincerely,

Kathryn Saunders APRN, CPNP-PC

802-454-7777 Extension 116

Please check out the updates on strep below as we are still seeing a lot of sore throats!

Update on Streptococcus

Update on Measles

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

The 5/6ers are working on projects that help out both CES and the Calais community. This week they decided to start with creating a mini food shelf at CES.

6th grader, Katie is taking the lead with a large donation from her family. If you would like to participate please drop of non-perishables at CES during school hours.

The food that is donated is available to everyone so please help yourself, at any time, no questions asked.

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

We are continuing to move forward with our “Humanity & Justice Coalition” working to ensure all people feel heard, welcome, and safe at Calais Elementary and in our community. We’ve even got a new name - “Humanity and Justice, Calais”. This will be our celebration of all that makes us who we are and will work to ensure we will always be a community that welcomes and respects all people.

As we push forward we are engaging our students to gather their input and help them to drive the process. If you ever have any questions, please feel free to reach out to me and be sure to talk with your students - those conversations are going to be critical. This is something we believe is important and I personally want to ensure that all viewpoints are heard and all people have a stake in this work. Do not hesitate to reach out to me personally with any questions.

- Jarrod

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 will be starting the Backpack program soon here at Calais Elementary School for families. The program is 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 will be 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. This includes winter clothing, Thanksgiving and Christmas presents, in addition. 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 by next Friday. 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

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.

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

May Birthdays

1st Grade Book Buddies

Some of our staff's baby picture's for a fun guessing game to play!!

Memorial Day Presentation

Random Pictures of the Week

Author Tobin Anderson visiting 5/6