Bridport Community Newletter

Happy Sunday!

This past week was CHOCK full of amazing learning, connections and joy. A few highlights were:

1. Our combined band and chorus concert on Wednesday evening was a phenomenal display of talent from both Bridport and Cornwall students. Thank you to Ms. Cunnigham and Ms Abby for all their hard work to organize this!

2. Thursday was our last day of VEEP with Ms. Janet. K/1 and 2/3 students were able to build and test boats and windmills. 4/5 students got to test out different tools to determine the amount of energy different things produce. Bruce Macintire worked with them to understand the impact of electricity, heating and water usage on our building.

3. In Math classes, students are digging deep into complex math topics and 3rd-5th graders were busy prepping and practicing for VTCAP testing. They explored the tools they will use, and even gave some practice tests a try. We are ready for tomorrow!

This upcoming week we are beginning VTCAP testing for 3rd-5th grade in ELA. If you are willing to donate any special snacks to our students- please sign up on this link: VTCAP Snacks

As always, thank you for your continued support

Jenny

3/30- VTCAP Testing Begins!

4/1- Early Release Day

4/2- Events Planning Committee Mtg- 5PM @ BCS

4/2- FOBCS Meeting- 6:00PM @ BCS

4/10- Combined Bridport/Shoreham Potluck & Game Night!

4/20-4/24- April Break

This past week, Bridport and Shoreham teachers got together to spend some meaningful time in their spaces for next year, and think deeply about both what they need, and how to set up spaces to maximize learning. Bruce Macintire, director of facilities, was there to outline the process for moving and we were able to spend time with one another to deepen our connections and continue building our community.

Please see the above flyer to sign up for summer program. We are offering a full day, five day a week program at Shoreham School that focuses on maintaining academic and social emotional skills. Breakfast, lunch and transportation are provided.

Upcoming events:

April 2nd @ 5PM- Events Committee meets at BCS

Tuesday April 7th @ 5:30- Transportation committee meets @ SES

Friday April 10th @ 6PM- Potluck & Game Night!

This upcoming week is our first week of VTCAP testing for 3rd-5th graders. Here are some reminders to help our students do their best on the test:

Testing week can be just as stressful for parents as it is for students. The best approach is to focus on consistency and calm. Parents are the "pit crew"—their job is to make sure the car (the student) is fueled, tuned, and ready to go without any extra pressure.

Here is a list of helpful reminders you can share with parents to help their kids shine.

🛌 The Night Before: Setting the Stage

Success starts the evening before the test. Encourage parents to prioritize a "low-drama" night.

• The 9-Hour Rule: Aim for at least 9–10 hours of sleep. The brain processes and stores information during deep sleep cycles.

• Zero Tech Hour: Turn off screens (phones, tablets, gaming) at least 60 minutes before bed to help the brain produce melatonin naturally.

• Prep the Bag: Pack the backpack, lay out clothes, and find those sneakers the night before to avoid a frantic morning search.

🍳 The Morning Of: Fuel and Vibes

How a child feels when they walk through the school doors sets the tone for the entire testing session.

• The "Protein Plus" Breakfast: Skip the sugary cereals or pastries. Aim for a mix of protein and complex carbs (e.g., eggs and toast, oatmeal with fruit, or yogurt).

• Hydration Station: Encourage a full glass of water before leaving the house. Even mild dehydration can lead to a 10% drop in cognitive performance.

• The "No-Pressure" Talk: Avoid saying things like "Do your best" or "This is important," which can trigger anxiety. Instead, try: "I’m proud of how hard you’ve worked this year. You’ve got this!"

• On-Time Arrival: Stress is contagious. Arriving 5–10 minutes early allows the child to settle in and breathe before the clock starts.

🧘 Emotional Support

Testing can make kids feel like their worth is tied to a score. Parents can help keep things in perspective.

• Normalize the Nerves: Tell them it’s okay to feel "butterflies"—it just means their body is getting ready to focus.

• The "After-Test" Plan: Give them something to look forward to that has nothing to do with the results, like a trip to the park or a favorite movie after school.

• Listen More, Ask Less: After school, instead of asking "How did you do?", try "How do you feel now that today is over?" Give them space to decompress.

Wednesdays concert was amazing, and full of talented musicians! Check out some photos of our stars!

We are thrilled to announce the start of the IB PYP Exhibition for our 5th grade students. This is a monumental milestone in our student’s elementary education—a "capstone" project that celebrates everything they have learned during their time in the Primary Years Program. Exhibition is a student-led, collaborative inquiry process. Students identify a real-world issue they are passionate about, conduct research, and take meaningful action to make a difference.

5th grade families will receive a longer email with more details, but our entire ACSD community can support our students: 1) If you know a student involved in Exhibition ask them what they are discovering and how it affects our world! 2) If you want to be a mentor or offer your real-world expertise for students whose topic relates to your work, contact your principal or Brandi Corbett, PYP Coordinator, bcorbett@acsdvt.org

Preschool Interest Survey

If you will have a child who will be 3 years old by September 1, 2026, and you are interested in enrolling in an ACSD preschool for the 2026-2027 school year, please read more here and fill out this interest survey by March 31st, 2026.

Hello everyone,

April is so close and that means Hip hop dance and tumbling is wrapping up for March. We had a great turnout for all the classes. We hope to offer again in the fall.

Baseball starts first week of April for Minors and Mighty Mites. Last week of April we will start Tball and Tiny TBall.

Last weekend we offered Intro to Wrestling for 4years-Kindergarten and they all had a blast.

Thanks

Molly

Shoreham Rec Director