Cavendish Corner

We are so proud to celebrate one of our CTES students who has been featured in the Brattleboro Reformer and will be sharing their talents on stage at Latchis Theatre as part of Windham County’s Got Talent on Thursday, February 19th!

At CTES, we love seeing our students shine — not only in the classroom, but in the wider community. It takes courage, creativity, and dedication to step onto a stage and share your gifts with others.

We’ll be cheering them on every step of the way! 👏✨

See Article Here

At Cavendish Town Elementary School, we are committed to helping every child grow academically, socially, and emotionally. Our School Improvement Plan is our roadmap for how we will strengthen teaching, learning, and student supports over the next two years.

The draft plan focuses on four key priorities:

• Early Literacy: Strengthening reading instruction and early intervention so all students build strong foundational skills.

• High-Quality Instruction: Ensuring every classroom provides consistent, engaging, and challenging learning experiences.

• Belonging & Well-Being: Supporting students’ safety, regulation, and sense of belonging so they are ready to learn each day.

• Family Partnership: Improving communication and opportunities for families to stay informed, involved, and connected to their child’s learning.

We will regularly review student data, family feedback, and staff input to monitor progress and make adjustments along the way. Families are essential partners in this work, and we will continue to share updates and opportunities for input throughout the year.

If you have any questions or would like to learn more, please reach out to Emma Vastola, Principal.

Kindergarten and First Grade visited the Montshire Museum of Science in Norwich on Friday, February 13th. Students explored a variety of hands-on exhibits, including Exploring Motion, Air Works, Discovering the Natural World, Bubbles, and the Creative Building Center. Their favorite exhibit was “Toys: The Inside Story,” where they investigated how different toys work and explored toys from the past. This experience connected directly to the Kindergarten's first EL module, “Toys and Play,” allowing students to deepen their understanding through real-world exploration and play-based learning.

~ Holly Falzo, Kindergarten Teacher and Amanda Gross, Grade 1 Teacher

On Friday, our 6th grade classroom transformed into a hub of Revolutionary intrigue as Margo from the Cavendish Historical Society visited to teach us about letter locking, ciphers, secret codes, and spies. Before Margo arrived, students grounded their learning in American history by watching short videos about the causes of the American Revolution and how the Patriots outspied the British. With that foundation in place, we were ready to dive into the secret world of 18th-century communication.

Margo introduced us to letter locking techniques — the art of folding and sealing a letter so it becomes its own envelope — along with ciphers, codes, and “masks” used to conceal messages. We learned about the operations of the Culper Spy Ring and even explored how Valentines were sent during the 18th century.

Then it was our turn.

Students picked up quill pens and carefully wrote notes, intentionally leaving space between each line of text. Using lemon juice as invisible ink, they crafted secret messages between the lines. Historically, heat from a candle flame would reveal these hidden words. In our classroom, we used a combination of turmeric and rubbing alcohol to uncover the messages. The room filled with audible oohs and ahhs as secret words magically appeared before our eyes — and ideas began flowing just as quickly.

The excitement didn’t stop there. Our 3rd and 4th grade classmates sent us ciphered letters sealed with wax. After cracking the seal, we worked together to decode their hidden message using our cipher key. Once revealed, we crafted our own coded response to send back — continuing a centuries-old tradition of secret correspondence.

Students were especially fascinated by a local connection: Hannah Lovell, buried in the Revolutionary Cemetery, was a Patriot spy who carried messages back and forth during the war. Can you imagine her carefully sewing folded notes into her clothing and riding off to deliver those secrets?

To bring history even closer to home, Margo shared a remarkable artifact from the Cavendish Historical Society Museum — the oldest item in their collection — a letter from 1815. Students were able to see firsthand how it had been folded and sealed, deepening their appreciation for the ingenuity and care behind historical communication.

By the end of the afternoon, our classroom was buzzing with curiosity, creativity, and a new appreciation for the courage and cleverness of Revolutionary spies. History didn’t just feel like something we read about — it felt alive in our hands.

~ Mrs. Harper, 6th Grade Teacher

Grade 5 students enjoyed a historical writing event with Margo Caufield from the Cavendish Historical Society. We examined a copy of a love letter from the 1700s with evidence of coding and possible spying for the patriots. We also looked at a primary source document, the oldest at the CHS museum, showing a series of business transactions. We looked at the expressive handwriting of that time. Students then made a puzzle purse valentine and used wooden quills and black ink to write messages.

~ Mrs Thompson, Grade 5 Teacher

~ Mrs. Cameron, 3-4 Classroom Teacher

We want to share an important reminder with families regarding lunch at CTES.

In the past, students have heated their own food and staff have occasionally assisted. At this time, heating food brought from home is no longer available in the cafeteria. This change is based on safety considerations related to staffing, student supervision, and food handling.

Students are welcome to bring lunches from home. We encourage families to pack foods that are ready to eat or that can stay warm in a thermos if needed.

Our goal is to keep lunch routines safe, predictable, and manageable while supporting all students.

Thank you for your understanding and partnership. If you have any questions, please feel free to reach out.

The Town of Cavendish continues to provide updates on the current water situation affecting parts of the community. According to the most recent notice on the municipal website, the Town has been monitoring ongoing water discoloration issues in the system. While the water leaving the treatment plant is tested, chlorinated, and clear, some areas of the distribution system may still show brownish or rusty water due to iron and manganese sediment being stirred up in the pipes.

For the full municipal update, please visit:
👉 Town Water Update — Town of Cavendish Website
https://www.cavendishvt.com/news/town-water-update-1302026

At this time, water at CTES is running clear. Out of an abundance of caution, and to prepare in the event discoloration returns, we are purchasing bottled water to have on hand for drinking.

~ Emma Vastola, Principal

We’re looking forward to welcoming families for Student-Led Conferences/Presentations on Thursday and Friday, March 5th and 6th!

Please use the link below to sign up for a 15-minute time slot.

• PreK families may reserve two consecutive slots.

• Please type your first or last name only (not your child’s name).

• The link includes both days:

  • Thursday: conferences run until 7:00 p.m.

  • Friday: conferences run until 3:30 p.m.

• Students will be dismissed at 12:00 p.m. on both days.

If you make an error, please contact Donna in the CTES Office for help with edits. Conferences will be in person, with Zoom available only for extenuating circumstances—please contact your child’s teacher if needed.

👉 Sign up for your conference time here

Families are encouraged to join the next CTES PTG meeting on Monday, March 2, 2026, from 7:00–8:00 PM VIA ZOOM to continue these conversations and support our school community.

Zoom Link: https://trsu.zoom.us/j/8022287925

The Two Rivers Supervisory Union (TRSU) Board meets on the first Thursday of each month at 6:00 PM at either Ludlow Elementary School or Cavendish Town Elementary School.

The Green Mountain Unified School District (GMUSD) Board meets on the third Thursday of each month at 6:00 PM in the Library Learning Commons at Green Mountain Union High School.

Both meetings offer a Zoom option. For details, including locations, agendas, and Zoom links, please visit the Cavendish Community Calendar or the TRSU Website.

25-26 Dismissal Form

2025-2026 CTES School Year Calendar

CTES Website

25-26 Bus Routes

25-26 CTES Student-Family Handbook

CTES Community Calendar

Powerschool Parent Portal

February Lunch Menu

March Lunch Menu