Shoreham Elementary School

Hello SES Community,

First, I would like to take a moment and say Thank you to you all for coming out and voting for the school budget. Your votes make a difference for our school and the district.

Next, it is so hard to believe it is March! In just a few weeks, we had daylight saving time and substantial changes in the weather as we get ready to embrace Spring. It has been wonderful to see and hear the changes in the environment.

This month, we had the pleasure of having a local poet, Ted Scheu visit our school. Ted went to every classroom and shared his poetry as well as gave students some ideas about how they can write poetry.

Lastly, our students have been very busy with learning and working hard to make our school community the best it can be by; lending a helping hand if someone needs support, making sure everyone has someone to play with at recess and that they have a place to sit with at lunch. All of these wonderful acts of kindness helps all students at Shoreham feel seen, heard, and valued !

Best,

Lashawn Whitmore- Sells

Principal

Hello from Kindergarten!

We have been having a wonderful and busy month! In math, we have been learning about flat and solid shapes, and how shapes are similar or different. During Number Corner we have been keeping track of how many days we’ve been in school. Did you know we’ve been in school for more than 116 days? The kindergarteners do! We’ve also been learning about the changing weather in March, and are keeping track to see if it really ‘Comes in like a lion and goes out like a lamb” and so far our observations show that we are getting more Lamb Days as the month goes on. Kindergarteners are having a blast reading and playing games with their big buddies, and are building independence through reading, writing, and math workplaces. Speaking of independence, we are working hard to keep our classroom clean by sweeping, mopping, and cleaning tables. Students are very excited to organize our library in the coming weeks. We are putting together an anthology of poems we’re writing. Students were star struck when they finally met Ted Scheu, who is a fun poet who is a poetry inspiration! We celebrated wonderful Pi Day by making Dirt Pie together. Don’t worry, we had enough to share!

March 17th - 21st - Neurodiversity Week

March 19th - Parent Coffee - 8 -9 am / AMS Room

March 20th - First Day of Spring

March 27th - Little Caesar PTF Fund Raiser ( Delivery week of April 14th)

March 28th - Shoreham School T-shirt Day

March 31st - No school

April 9th - Early Release

April 21st - 25th - Spring Break

Important Measles update from our ACSD Nurses

The VT Dept. of Health confirmed the first measles case in Vermont in 2025. Measles is an extremely infectious, airborne illness that can cause severe illness and even death. Babies, young children, and people with weak immune systems are at higher risk of getting very sick from measles.

Important facts to keep your family safe:

• Symptoms usually start with high fever, cough, runny nose, and red/watery eyes. The characteristic rash usually appears 3-5 days after first symptoms. Call your healthcare provider with any symptoms.

• Measles is one of the most contagious diseases. It is airborne and spread through direct contact with infectious droplets.

• Vaccination is the best way to prevent and protect your family against serious illness. The measles, mumps, and rubella (MMR) vaccine is safe and effective. Two doses are about 97% effective at preventing measles; one dose is about 93% effective.

• Contact your health care provider to ensure your family is up-to-date or to get vaccinated. Measles vaccines are free in Vermont.

Learn more about measles symptoms, spread, and prevention in the full update from our ACSD nurses and at HealthVermont.gov/measles

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802 Smiles Dental Program Returns in April!

802 Smiles Dental Hygiene Program is returning this Spring to offer free dental screenings and preventative care to all ACSD students.

Please complete the forms below if you would like your child to participate in this event. Any student that was enrolled in the fall will automatically be on the list to receive services and does not need to fill out the forms again, but if you do not want your student to receive services in April, you should reach out to the school nurse to take them off the list.

Enrollment deadline is April 1st.

ACSD 802 Smiles Letter

802 Smiles Consent Form

802 Smiles Enrollment Form

Please remember:

1. If your child will be late or absent please call Irene in the main office.

2. Send your child with proper footwear for school (including sneakers for PE).

3. Students are not supervised outside / inside before 7:30 am.

4. If you are picking up your child at school please make sure to pick them up on the southern

side of the school NOT the northern side by the church.

5. Pick up students from the main entrance only

6. Students need to bring proper clothing for outside recess.

Little Caesar PTF Fundraiser - brochures went home last week. Order forms and payments are due to Irene on Thursday, March 27th.

Delivery will be the week of April 14th (specific date will be determined once final order is submitted.)

Families will be expected to pick orders up on the delivery day, after school hours. Any questions, please contact Irene.

Come Join Us for our

Monthly Community Coffee

Where:

AMS Room

When:

Wednesday, March 19th

Time:

8:00 - 9:00 am

This is an opportunity for Shoreman Community members to connect with others and to learn more about what our GREAT students are learning and doing.

If you have questions, please contact Lashawn Whitmore - Sells

Happy March everyone!

Baseball sign ups will end by next week 3/20/25. Reach out if you have any questions or would like to sign your child up.

Mount Independence will host their annual Ham Bingo 4/11/25 starting at 6:30pm. Bring your friends and family to enjoy a fun night and try to win a ham. There will be 20 ham winners!

Thanks

Molly

Shoreham Rec Director

Shorehamrecdeptvt@gmail.com

Neurodiversity Celebration Week is a worldwide initiative that challenges stereotypes and misconceptions about neurological differences. The goal of the SEPAC in drawing attention to Neurodiversity Celebration Week is to recognize and celebrate the naturally-occurring neurodiversity among us. Please check out the SEPAC website for information about neurodiversity and what it means to celebrate it – and join us for the following upcoming event!

Neurodiversity Celebration Night

Marquis Theater Cafe (65 Main St, Middlebury)

March 19th, 7:00- 8:00 pm

Pop in for a short hello or to stay the whole time! Students of all ages are welcome!

If you have a child who will be 3 or 4 before September 1st, 2025, they are invited to attend our free developmental screening days. You can attend any of the following screening dates:

• Friday, April 4, 2025 at Bridport Central School, 3442 VT 22A. Contact Linda Barrett with questions 802-758-2331. Or;

• April 4, 11, or 18, 2025 at Mary Hogan Elementary School, 201 Mary Hogan Drive, Middlebury. Contact Deb Martin with questions 802-382-1761.

What to expect: Come and play with the ACSD Early Education team! They will engage in activities to help observe your child’s physical, social-emotional, speech/language, and cognitive development. Observations will be shared with the family/caregiver

ACSD Preschool Interest Survey

If you are interested in having your child attend one of our ACSD preschool programs, please read the informational letter and fill out our preschool interest survey.

All Vermont School Districts are required to administer the Vermont Comprehensive Assessment Program (VTCAP). This computer-based test is adaptive and will assess our state standards for English Language Arts (ELA), math, and science. ACSD schools will administer these assessments this year between March 10 and April 25. These assessments include:

• VTCAP Language Arts and Mathematics: Grades 3-9

• VTCAP Science Assessment: Grades 5, 8, and 11

Your school's principal will be in touch with specifics about the timing of the VTCAP at your school.

Substitute teachers are crucial for our students, staff, staff, and schools! We are increasing our daily substitute teaching rate to $160/day for unlicensed subs and $200/day for licensed subs. This flat rate replaces our sliding rate of pay for subs depending on the number of days worked. To apply, email HR@acsdvt.org with subject: "Substitute Position". Or visit this listing.