THE CCS NEWSLETTER
Charlotte Central School - January 9, 2026
Message from the CCS Leadership Team
CCS Community,
SPARK Session #3 Is Off and Running! ✨
This week, we were excited to launch Session #3 of our SPARK After-School Clubs, and the energy across the building has been wonderful to feel. Students are diving into a wide range of offerings— K-8 Buddies activity group, Dungeons & Dragons, Chess, Guitar, Sewing, Math, Cooking, and Spanish—with curiosity, creativity, and enthusiasm.
We’re also especially grateful to welcome Constancia Gomez, our current long-term Spanish substitute, who has joined the SPARK program to allow us to continue to offer two K–4 Spanish clubs and one 5–8 Spanish club each week. We feel very fortunate to have her as part of our CCS team, and students are thrilled to be learning and using Spanish in such a joyful setting.
One club we’d like to highlight in particular is K–8 Buddies, which beautifully reflects the heart of
our K–8 school and the power of learning across nine grades. What began as a hopeful idea from kindergarten teacher Beth Rowntree quickly grew to 21 enrolled students, fueled by excitement from both younger and older learners. With that growth, 6th-grade Science and Math teacher Chris Evans joined to co-facilitate the group—an inter-grade partnership that mirrors the spirit of the club itself.
When the group met for the first time yesterday, students spent time simply being together—playing, creating, and making initial connections across ages. They also shared ideas for what they’d like future sessions to include, and the facilitators walked away with a long list of student-generated possibilities. It was a joyful, authentic example of how a K–8 community can learn with and from one another.
We’re proud of how SPARK continues to grow as a space for connection, exploration, and belonging—and we’re grateful to the staff and students who make it such a success.
With gratitude,
Tim O’Leary & Beth Slater
Charlotte Central School Leadership Team
Counselor Connection with Betsy Lloyd
My hope is to connect with families each week through the newsletter to provide information and resources to support kids and families. As always, please reach out if you need anything, have questions, or if I can help in any way.
Opportunities for Caregivers/upcoming events
Resources, Food for thought (and maybe some conversation starters)
Managing Big emotions - Thriving Kids podcast from the Child Mind Institute, talks with Dr. Marc Brackett (author of Permission to Feel and Dealing with Feeling) about supporting kids with emotional regulation. Listen and find more details HERE
Calm and Connected Podcast - This is a great resource on all topics related to children and families. Whatever the age of your child, there are topics to support you - ways for kids and teens to practice coping skills, self regulation and ways to connect, make friends and work on social skills. It will help guide you through all the stages of child development. There are also many resources and tools to dive into as well! Calm and Connected
Get in touch with me!
(802)425-6604
Mark Your Calendar
Wednesday, January 14th - CCS PTO Meeting, Cafeteria, 8:00 - 9:00am
Monday, January 19th - NO SCHOOL, Martin Luther King Jr Holiday
Tuesday, January 20th - CVSD School Board Mtg, 6:00pm
Wednesday, January 21st - Early Release
Friday, January 23rd - Field Trip, Grade 4 (Fraser/Grey) to Flynn Theater, 9:15 - 11:45am
Friday, January 23rd - Semester 1 Ends
Monday, January 26th - CVU Chorus Visit to CCS, 11:25 - 12:05pm
Wednesday, January 28th - Early Release
Friday, January 30th - K-4 report cards mailed to caregivers
Friday, January 30th - Winter Ball! Grades 7/8 only, MPR, 7:00 - 9:00pm
Wednesday, February 4th - Early Release
Friday, February 5th - Field Trip, CCS to UVM Basketball Game, Patrick Gymnasium, 10:00 - 2:00pm
Wednesday, February 11th - CCS PTO Meeting, Cafe, 8:00 - 9:00am
Wednesday, February 11th - Early Release
Wednesday, February 18th - Early Release
Monday, February 23rd through Friday, February 27th - NO SCHOOL - Winter Break
Head Lice Update
Dear CCS Caregivers,
We continue to see cases of head lice at CCS and want to share updated information to support families with identification, treatment, and prevention. Our goal is to partner with you in a practical, compassionate, and supportive way, recognizing how stressful and tiring this can be for families.
Head lice are spread through direct head-to-head contact. This most often occurs during activities such as sleepovers, sports, playdates, or other times when children are in close contact for extended periods. Head lice are very common among elementary-aged children and are not related to cleanliness or hygiene.
We encourage families to talk with their children about not sharing items that come into direct contact with the head, such as hats, brushes, helmets, headphones, or pillows. Open communication between families when lice are suspected or confirmed can also be incredibly helpful, as early awareness often leads to quicker resolution.
Regular head checks at home, even once a week, are one of the most effective ways to catch lice early. If you suspect or find head lice, please contact the school nurse for guidance. I am always happy to check a student by individual request or help families know what to look for.
Head Lice Facts
Anyone can get head lice, regardless of hygiene
Head lice do not carry disease, though scratching can sometimes lead to skin irritation or infection
Lice do not jump or fly and are spread through direct head-to-head contact
Lice can survive for one to two days on items such as pillows, clothing, or stuffed animals
Lice do not live on pets, and pets do not spread lice
Ways to Help Prevent the Spread
Avoid sharing combs, brushes, hats, towels, barrettes, helmets, uniforms, or pillows
Encourage children to avoid head-to-head contact when possible
Keep long hair tied back, braided, or pulled up
What to Look For
Frequent scratching, especially at the back of the neck or behind the ears
Nits, which are lice eggs, appear pearly gray or white and are firmly attached to the hair shaft close to the scalp
Live lice, which are about the size of a sesame seed
Lice are often more active at night, which can sometimes affect sleep
Caring for Head Lice at Home
There are several FDA-approved treatment options available. Families may choose the option that best fits their child’s needs, ideally in consultation with their healthcare provider.
Topical ivermectin lotion, such as Sklice, is available over the counter and is effective at killing live lice and preventing newly hatched lice from surviving.
Prescription treatments such as spinosad topical suspension, including Natroba, are highly effective at killing both live lice and eggs and may be recommended by a healthcare provider.
Over-the-counter treatments such as RID or Nix are commonly used, though many families report reduced effectiveness due to resistance.
Wet combing with a fine-tooth lice comb is an important part of treatment and should be repeated regularly to help remove lice and nits.
Preventing Reinfestation
Check all household members for lice
Treat anyone who shares a bed with the affected child
Wash clothing, bedding, towels, hats, and jackets used in the previous two days in hot water and dry on high heat
Soak hair tools in hot water for at least ten minutes
Seal items that cannot be washed in a plastic bag for fourteen days
Vacuum carpets, mattresses, couches, and upholstered furniture
Support at School
Students who are found to have lice may remain at school for the rest of the day and should be treated before returning the following day. Students are encouraged to check in with the school nurse on the day they return to school and again about one week after treatment.
We are also incredibly grateful to families who have donated topical ivermectin lotion to support our school community. I currently have boxes available and can discreetly send one home with a student for any family who would like to try it or who may be facing cost or access barriers.
Please know that I am always here as a resource. If you have questions, would like your child checked at school, or need support navigating treatment options, do not hesitate to reach out. Thank you for your partnership and care for our CCS community.
In partnership,
Lauren Calkins, BSN, RN
CCS School Nurse
802-425-6644
lcalkins@cvsdvt.org
Spelling Club Is Back!
Spelling Club will start next Wednesday, December 17th. Students in grades 3-8 will be able to participate during their lunch/recess block next Wednesday and Friday and then continue in January after break. Kids in these grades who are interested in working with words are invited to join. We are still looking for a few additional parents to help run the club. The commitment would be one day a week from 11:20 - 1:00 (either Wednesday or Friday). If you are interested in volunteering, please email Margery McCracken at margeryg@gmail.com.
PreKindergarten Lottery is now open for 2026-2027!
The CVSD Early Education Program is now accepting applications for a random prekindergarten lottery drawing for the 2026-27 school year. This lottery is for an opportunity to enroll in one of our school-based classrooms which runs 4 partial days per week. Our school-based prekindergarten classrooms are 5 STARs, licensed early education programs that provide play-based, developmentally appropriate environments for all children in an inclusive setting. Our curriculum is based on the Vermont Early Learning Standards (VELS).
Our programs follow the CVSD school calendar. Children who will be age 3 or older by September 1, 2026, who are not eligible for kindergarten, and live in the communities of Charlotte, Hinesburg, Shelburne, St. George, and Williston are eligible to enter the lottery. Families who are selected for the lottery and choose to enroll their child in a CVSD program access their Act 166 publicly funded prekindergarten funds for the school-based program.
All applications must be received by February 5, 2026, and are located on the CVSD Early Education website under PreK Enrollment. Paper applications are available upon request.
For additional information, questions about our program, or any concerns about your child’s development, please visit our website or contact Director of Early Education, Erin Gagne at egagne@cvsdvt.org. Our Early Education team is also available for developmental screenings in the areas of communication, social-emotional development, motor skills, adaptive development, and cognition. More information about an Early Multi-Tiered System of Supports is also available on the website.
What's Mentoring All About
Bolton Valley Ski & Ride Dates - 2/11, 3/4, 3/11, 3/18 (3/25 Make-up Date)
Registration Fees:
$129 Program fee (for those 6+ or those without a BV season's pass)
$49 Program fee (for those under 6 or who have a BV season's pass)
No Charge/FREE to borrow equipment from CCS on a first come/first serve basis
BV rental equip. Optional: please see Charlotte Recreation website for details
$75 lessons - Levels 1 or 2, ski or snowboard
Chaperones:
Chaperones are needed to maintain a 1-to-10 ratio to students. Chaperones ski free or at a sharply reduced rate and are expected to help and have fun. Some chaperones are needed to ride the bus. More info for “1st timers” at the meeting!
Transportation:
Bus/Transportation leaves CCS after school and returns by 7:40pm. Students MUST (unless
prearranged) return the same way they arrived. If changes occur for the ride home, the parent or child MUST notify the bus coordinator or driver of the car in which your child arrived.
Equipment Donations:
As always, we are on the lookout for newer skis, boards, boots, and helmets. If you would like to
donate, please drop off at Charlotte Town Hall to the Rec Department (Gary Rogers), or contact
Michael Krasnow (mkrasnow1@gmail.com), who will be doing the fittings.
Registration:
Registration is now being done through the Charlotte Recreation website. Please head to
https://charlottevt.myrec.com/info/activities/default.aspx to register.
Financial Aid/Scholarships - Financial Aid is available for any student who would otherwise be unable to participate. Contact Gary Rogers at information below.
Need More information: email recreation@townofcharlotte.com or call/text: (802) 989-2929
Be A Substitute / Guest Teacher at CCS!
Are you interested in being a part of the CCS community and get paid? Consider being a substitute / guest teacher? Interested individuals should reach out to CVSDHR@cvsdvt.org.
CCS Caregiver Frequently-Used Resources
CCS Parent-Teacher Organization
Charlotte Community Resources
Tim O'Leary, Principal; toleary@cvsdvt.org
Beth Slater, Assistant Principal & Director of Special Services; eslater@cvsdvt.org