THE CCS NEWSLETTER

Dear CCS Community,

A new school year is like a blank page—full of possibility, ready for each of us to make our mark. Whether you are brand new to CCS or returning for another year, we’re excited to start this year together.

Below this opening, you’ll find important information to ground us in the practices, routines, and expectations at CCS. But before you scroll down, we want to pause and share some big-picture thinking—and our excitement for all that’s ahead.

As a district, our leadership at all levels—board, administration, faculty, and staff—has been sharpening our focus on engagement. We are building systems and experiences for students, staff, and families that reflect our four CVSD pillars of engagement:

• Identity – Understanding and valuing self and others

• Connection – Building meaningful relationships and support systems

• Proficiency – Developing skills and knowledge with awareness of progress

• Direction – Gaining a sense of purpose through relevant learning experiences that connect to interests, goals, and future pathways

The four pillars are not goals in themselves, but they guide us in our work. Our goal is to help every student and staff member grow in identity, connection, proficiency, and direction—and the real excitement comes in designing experiences that bring these pillars to life.

This year, CCS is launching several school-wide initiatives that reflect these pillars and aim to shape experiences for staff, students, and caregivers. Here’s some of what’s underway:

• Hiring an Activities Director to expand and organize more non-athletic clubs, complementing our athletics program and providing new after-school opportunities for younger students. More details will be shared in September.

• Weekly, in-school, and choice-based clubs for all middle school students.

• Morning movement opportunities during “ease in” time for K–4 students who want to start the day by moving their bodies to settle their minds.

• A second World Language teacher this year will allow us to offer Spanish language and culture instruction in dynamic ways for students both in the middle school and beyond. You can learn more here and share your interest in the after-school Spanish club through this survey.

• Continued work to revitalize the light and sound equipment on the CCS stage, ensuring our performance space supports student productions and community events with high-quality sound and lighting.

• A new partnership with Very Merry Theatre to produce our middle school musical—and potentially build a long-term tradition.

• Personalized staff learning opportunities during some of our Wednesday Professional Learning Time that center their ideas, strengthen relationships, and directly benefit our students.

• New staff working groups are poised to launch this year. One is a Rowland Foundation Fellowship committee exploring Project-Based Learning in upper elementary through middle school. Another begins with grades 3–5 math educators, with the potential to expand. Others will emerge from inviting more choice and collaboration during regular Professional Learning Times.

• Monthly invitations for caregivers to come into CCS when their child’s grade is leading an All-School Meeting, helping to strengthen the home–school connection.

• Welcome to Middle School - Adding a new informational meeting for all caregivers of incoming 5th-grade students on the Tuesday before school begins and using this fall to explore how to expand this to other grades in future years.

All of these are ways we are making adjustments to how we build engagement for students, staff, and our community. We’re thrilled to begin the year with you on this journey, and we can’t wait to see all of our students and you back in the building. Here’s to making this a year we’ll all remember—together.

Tim O'Leary & Beth Slater

CCS Leadership Team

New this year: We’re offering a special time just for caregivers of 5th-grade students, as this is a unique moment in the life of a CCS student—the transition into middle school. Please join us the day before school—Tuesday, 9/26, from 2:15–3:00 PM—to meet the core Alpha 5 team, our Essential Arts teachers (including the Athletic Director), student support staff, and members of the administration. Together, we’ll share what it looks like to move upstairs and into the middle school at CCS. Arrive anytime after 2:00; we’ll get started in Brian Loughlin’s classroom at 2:15.

We’re excited to begin with 5th grade this year and are already exploring ways to expand this kind of opportunity to other grades in future years.

Thank you for your patience as we worked with CVSD Transportation on updating our bus routes.

The updated routes are now available on the CCS webpage.

A healthy start to the school day begins on time, giving students the chance to ease into the morning, connect with peers in advisory, and feel settled for learning. To support this, we ask for your partnership in arriving before 8:00 AM each day.

The attendance, arrival, dismissal part of our CCS Handbook includes detailed information about drop-off and pick-up times and locations, traffic flow plans and maps, and what to do if a student will be absent or late. You’ll also find our Attendance Clerk’s contact information there for quick reference.

You can also find the information below in our CVSD/CCS Handbook.

Hello CCS Families,

Keeping our school community healthy is a team effort, and I’m grateful for your partnership. Your child’s health and safety are always my top priority, and I’m sharing a few quick reminders so we can work together to make CCS a safe, healthy place where every student can feel their best and stay ready to learn.

Medication at School

If your child requires medication during the school day, please follow these steps:

• Forms Required:

• Ask your child’s healthcare provider to complete a Medication Permission Form before the medication comes to school.

• For inhalers, please provide an up-to-date Asthma Action Plan from your child’s pediatrician.

• For Epi-Pens, please provide a current Allergy Action Plan from your child’s healthcare provider.

• How to Bring Medication to School:

• All medications (prescription or over-the-counter) must be delivered by an adult to the Health Office.

• Medications must be in their original, labeled containers—no baggies or unlabeled bottles, please.

• Over-the-Counter Medications (OTC):

• CCS can give school-supplied OTC medicines (such as acetaminophen, ibuprofen, and antacids) with permission granted through the PowerSchool portal under Health Authorizations.

• If your child needs an OTC medication that CCS does not stock, please bring it to school with an OTC Medication Permission Form signed by a parent/guardian.

Returning to School After Illness or Injury

If your child has any activity restrictions after illness, injury, or surgery, please send a doctor’s note with:

• The nature of the condition

• Any specific activity limits (e.g., “no gym” or “no playground”)

• How long will the restriction last

This ensures we can support your child’s safety and recovery at school.

Celebrations Without Food

We have students and staff with food allergies to peanuts, tree nuts, eggs, wheat, dairy, soy, seafood, and more. Reactions can range from mild to life-threatening.

To help protect everyone:

• Please do not send food treats for classroom celebrations.

• Remind your child not to share food at school.

• For the safety of all students, eating is not permitted on our buses. This helps protect students with food allergies from accidental exposure to unsafe foods.

Alternative celebration ideas include special games, crafts, extra recess, or other fun activities—check with your child’s teacher for suggestions!

Please don’t hesitate to reach out if you need help with any health-related paperwork or plans for your student. Together, we can ensure CCS remains a safe and healthy environment for all students and staff, and I thank you for your partnership in making that possible.

Warmly,

Lauren Calkins, BSN, RN

CCS School Nurse

(802) 435-2771; lcalkins@cvsdvt.org

CCS Picture Day is scheduled for Wednesday, September 10th. During the first week of school, each student will bring home a flyer that includes our school’s unique code. Once you receive the code, you’ll be able to order pictures online.

WOW! We have had an amazing submittal rate of 73% of caregivers filling out the Student's Annual Forms in PowerSchool. Thank you so much for your time and response.

If you have not had the time to fill out your child(ren)'s annual forms, they are still open.

Please log into your PowerSchool Parent Portal and click on the “Forms” tab in the left-hand menu.

Review, update, and submit the following required forms for each of your children before August 15:

• Annual Student Contact Update (do NOT mark parent/s as "Emergency Contact")

• Annual Student Health Update

• Annual Student Permissions Update (Required for your child to attend off-site field trips)

• Annual Student Transportation Update (Questions? Contact Naomi Strada at nstrada@cvsdvt.org) - This form closes on the 1st day of school. You must call or email the Main Office for any changes starting August 27th - 802-425-2771 or claware@cvsdvt.org

• Annual Household Income Form (HIF) from the Vermont Agency of Education

• Annual Google Additional Services Permission Update

If you need help navigating the portal or completing the forms, click here for detailed instructions.

Need assistance with the PowerSchool portal? Contact Naomi Strada at nstrada@cvsdvt.org

At CCS, to maintain focus and foster a positive school environment, we follow an “Away for the Day” approach for all personal devices, which is in line with other CVSD schools. This includes cell phones, tablets, e-readers, gaming systems, music players, imaging devices, and smart watches with Wi-Fi or cell capability. As caregivers, you play a critical role helping set these expectations for our students, too.

Students are expected to leave these devices at home or keep them turned off and stored in lockers (Grades 5–8) or backpacks (Grades K–4) for the entire school day, including during school events such as field trips, dances, and after-school programs. If a student needs to contact a caregiver during non-instructional time, a school phone is available. You can read more about this in our CCS handbook.

CCS 5th–8th Grade Families,

We are just a few weeks away from the start of school! If you are interested in registering your child for CCS Athletics, please use the links below. The Welcome Letter contains all the information you need to get familiar with our athletics program, and the Registration Form is where you can sign up for CCS Sports for the 2025–2026 school year.

Links:

2025-2026 CCS Athletics Welcome Letter

2025-2026 CCS Athletics Registration

Have a wonderful few days of summer break, and we look forward to seeing you all very soon.

Nicky Elderton, CCS Athletic Director

Wednesday, August 27th - 1st day of 2025-2026 School Year

Wednesday, August 27th - Early Dismissal, 1:45

Friday, August 29th - Field Trip - 7/8 Omega Team to Mt. Philo, 9:45 - 2:00

Monday, September 1st - No School - Labor Day

Wednesday, September 3rd - Early Dismissal, 1:45

Wednesday September 10th - Picture Day! Watch for more details.

Wednesday, September 10th - Early Dismissal, 1:45

Friday, September 12th - Field Trip - Grade 2, Shelburne Farms

Wednesday, September 17th - Early Dismissal, 1:45

Wednesday, September 17th - PTO Mtg, CCS Library, 5:30 - 6:30

Wednesday, September 24th - Early Dismissal, 1:45

Friday, September 26th - Dance!! Grades 6-8, MPR, 7:00 - 9:00

Tuesday, September 30th - Open House, 5:00 - 6:00 & CCS PTO Potluck - Outside on the Playground, 6:00 - 7:00

CCS has several opportunities for our caregivers and community members to be a part of our amazing school.

If you would like to volunteer at CCS, please fill out the associated forms. They can be returned to Cindy LaWare at any time and be sure to call or email Cindy at 425-2771, claware@cvsdvt.org if you have any questions.

If you would like to mentor a 5-8 grade student at CCS, please reach out to Jessica Phelan at jphelan@cvsdvt.org.

CCS is always looking for positive and energetic individuals to substitute teach in our K-8 grades. If you would like to substitute at CCS, please reach out to Naomi Strada at 425-6600.

Please view the CVSD pay rates for substitutes, which recently were increased.

• Athletics
• Bus Schedules / Routes
• Calendars: 2025-26
• CCS & CVSD Handbook
• Connecting Youth Mentoring
• CVSD School Board
• Food Service and Menu
• Health Office
• MySchoolBucks
• Volunteer at CCS

We welcome your feedback at any time. Whether it's intended for our school’s leadership team, district office, or a specific department, your message will be directed to the appropriate team members. We aim to follow up within three business days.

The CCS Parent Teacher Organization (PTO) is a partnership between parents, teachers, and staff, working together to create enriching experiences for our students. Visit our website, Facebook, and Instagram pages for the latest and stay tuned for upcoming opportunities to get involved!

• Access Community Education Classes and Registration
• Charlotte Food Shelf
• Charlotte Public Libary

• Town of Charlotte

Tim O'Leary, Principal; toleary@cvsdvt.org

Beth Slater, Assistant Principal & Director of Special Services; eslater@cvsdvt.org

Find CCS on Instagram and Facebook, too!