Cougar Chronicle
May 23, 2025
The Principal's Office
Important Dates
5/30 - Rumney Theater Club Presents "Winnie the Pooh"
5/31 - Rumney Theater Club Presents "Winnie the Pooh"
5/31 - Out Run the Floods 5k
5/31 - Black Bear - Try Hockey for Free Event
6/4 - All School Field Trip - North Branch Nature Center
6/10 - Unity Day for Rising 7th Graders
6/11 - Facilities Forum
6/12 - Friends of Calais meeting
6/18 - 6th Grade Graduation
6/20 - PreK Potluck
6/20 - 6th Grade Clap Out
6/24 - Last day of school for students
Menu Change 5/27
Breakfast will now be:
Blueberry Mini Waffles
Lunch will now be:
Chicken Nuggets
French Fries
Message from Ms. Carpenter
For the past 18 years Calais Elementary School has been my second home and now it’s time for me to move on. I am retiring at the end of this school year. My last 3rd grade students are graduating from U32 this year, so it seems fitting that I should “graduate” too.
At Calais I have been a paraprofessional, a 3rd grade teacher, and a math interventionist. I have had memorable experiences in each role, working with great students and wonderful staff members. What I will miss most is the students that I have gotten to know. Calais kids are the best! Thank you to everyone in the Calais School Community for your kindness and support.
Thank you,
Mary Carpenter
Message From Ms. Gilmore
As the school year comes to a close soon, I wanted to share that I won’t be returning next year. This decision was not an easy one, as my time here has been so incredibly special. I’ve felt a growing pull toward exploring a new career path, and I’ve decided it’s time for me to take that next step. That said, I will always carry the heart of a teacher with me.
It’s been such a joy to be part of this caring community, and I feel so lucky to have spent time learning and growing alongside your amazing children. I will always hold my coworkers, families, and each and every kiddo close to my heart. Thank you for the trust, the support, and the many smiles along the way!
With gratitude,
Ms. Gilmore/Blakely Gilmore
2025-2026 School Calendar
Power of Positivity
We’ve asked staff to share positive stories each week and this week there has been so much to share.
Students: Thank you, students, for sharing your talents and amazingness with us and your families at the Art & Music Show. You all have great talent and we love that you share it with us!
Staff: Mrs. G is always so kind to the Kindergartners, Preschoolers and any student she interacts with throughout the day. She helps Mrs. Weller out in the classroom by doing a lot of various tasks and also helps to teach the students both academic and life lessons. She is an important part of our school and we are very lucky to have her!
Thank you Mr. Kirk and Mrs. Campbell for putting together a wonderful Art & Music show to showcase our students’ talents. And thank you to all the staff for helping make the night run smoothly.
Counselor's Corner
When we return from Spring Break, I will be teaching lessons during Guidance class that
will feature a state curriculum called Care for Kids and We Care Elementary programs for
all grade levels.
Care for Kids is a program for students K-2 that features a unit that teaches and
reinforces 2 to 4 simple, age-appropriate messages via a circle time, a book, and an activity
or craft. The activities are designed to compliment the fact that children of this age
group learn naturally through play and use schemas to assimilate new information.
Information is presented in a matter-of-fact way using anatomically correct language.
For students in grades 3-6, The We Care Elementary curriculum includes six lessons
at each grade level. Each grade focuses on different topics related to healthy
relationships. We Care Elementary moves beyond the concrete and physical nature of the
Care for Kids lessons, capitalizing on children’s capacity for generalizing information and
reflecting on their emotions and experiences.
*ACT One Vermont State Mandate: An Act Relating to Improving Vermont’s Sexual Abuse
Response System Educating Kids and Adults to Help Prevent Child Sexual Abuse in
Vermont (From the VT Department of Children and Families and Prevent Child Abuse VT).
This act was signed into law in March of 2009 and is available to view at
http://www.leg.state.vt.us/docs/2010/Acts/Act001.pdf
It includes several mandatesfor Vermont school,including:
1. Educating children about sexual abuse
2. Educating school staff about child sexual abuse; and
3. Informing parents about child sexual abuse. Information available:
http://dcf.vermont.gov/sites/dcf/files/pdf/protectkids/GuideforParent.pdf
Health Updates
To all Parents and Guardians:
We have just been alerted that we have had some COVID cases within our school. PLEASE if your child is sick or has symptoms of COVID, PLEASE test them for COVID. We have many test kits available at school and there are also kits available at the Town Clerk's Office. Masks are available at the school as well.
More information is available at the Vermont Department of Health websites:
Symptoms and Treatment of Covid
If you are sick with a respiratory virus
Please feel free to contact Kathryn Saunders, School Nurse with any questions or concerns. Thank you.
Sincerely,
Kathryn Saunders APRN, CPNP-PC
802-454-7777 Extension 116
Please check out the updates on strep below as we are still seeing a lot of sore throats!
Preschool Registration
Mini Food Shelf at Calais Elementary
The 5/6ers are working on projects that help out both CES and the Calais community. This week they decided to start with creating a mini food shelf at CES.
6th grader, Katie is taking the lead with a large donation from her family. If you would like to participate please drop of non-perishables at CES during school hours.
The food that is donated is available to everyone so please help yourself, at any time, no questions asked.
"Would You Rather.."
Go to the beach or the pool?
Would You Rather: See a sunrise or a sunset? RESULTS
Tiny Mic Interview with Mr. Weiss
Interview by Ms. Scoop
Hi Cougars!
Today we are interviewing Nathan the new kid.
His favorite color is blue (same).
His least favorite color is brown.
His favorite animal a turtle!
His least favorite animal is a naked mole rat?!?!
His favorite food is pasta.
His least favorite food is turtle soup.
His favorite sweet food is a milkshake!
His least favorite sweet food is dark chocolate.
If he could be anything in the world, it would be a turtle.
Bye for now!
Ms. Scoop
Breakfast and Lunch Menus
Summer Camps 2025
There are so many opportunities in Vermont for students in the Summer. Check out just some of the opportunities below. We will try to keep this updated as much as possible.
List of Summer Camps 2025
- Raiders Soccer Camp - 7/7-7/11
- Free Summer Theatre Camp at U32 - 7/8-7/9
- U32 Basketball Bamp - 7/14-7/18
- KB Training Summer Basketball Camp - Sign up your town
- Johnson Badgers Sports Clinics - 6/22-6/26 (Boys Basketball), 7/20-7/24 (Softball), 8/10-8/14 (Girls Basketball)
- Camp Downer - Sessions ranging from 6/22-8/15
- T.W. Wood Gallery - 6/23-8/22
- Elevate Movement Collective - Sessions ranging from 6/16-8/18
Humanity and Justice, Calais (HJC)
We are continuing to move forward with our “Humanity & Justice Coalition” working to ensure all people feel heard, welcome, and safe at Calais Elementary and in our community. We’ve even got a new name - “Humanity and Justice, Calais”. This will be our celebration of all that makes us who we are and will work to ensure we will always be a community that welcomes and respects all people.
As we push forward we are engaging our students to gather their input and help them to drive the process. If you ever have any questions, please feel free to reach out to me and be sure to talk with your students - those conversations are going to be critical. This is something we believe is important and I personally want to ensure that all viewpoints are heard and all people have a stake in this work. Do not hesitate to reach out to me personally with any questions.
- Jarrod
Just Basics
Just Basics is partnering with Calais Elementary School along with The Humanity & Justice Calais Coalition to assist families in the Calais area with weekly food and household essentials.
Families who are interested may contact Caroline Munroe at Just Basics through her cell at: (802)917-8164 or by email at caroline@justbasicsvt.org or feel free to stop by Counselor’s Office or Main Office at Calais Elementary School or email Ruth Frisenda at rfrisenda@u32.org if you wish to complete intake form to receive items.
Backpack Program
Dear Calais Families,
We will be starting the Backpack program soon here at Calais Elementary School for families. The program is designed to provide families with children who attend Calais, the necessary food and clothing that they may need throughout the school year. Food and Gift bags will be dispensed in a discreet and caring manner. This program runs the full school year on a weekly basis with exception to student breaks and summer. This includes winter clothing, Thanksgiving and Christmas presents, in addition. There is no cost associated with this program. If you wish for your child to participate in the program, please sign below and return this letter to the school in your child's folder or drop it off at the Main Office by next Friday. Thank you and please let us know if you have any questions or any needs for your child at any time.
Feel free to email me at rfrisenda@u32.org or call 802-454-7777 ext 105 at any time.
Sincerely,
Ruth Frisenda
School Counselor
Calais Elementary School
Rumney Theater Club Presents "Winnie the Pooh"
Out Run the Floods 5K
Black Bears - Try Hockey For Free Event
Important CES Links
Events at Kellogg-Hubbard Library
Elementary and Middle School:
Afternoon in the Children's Library
Join us every weekday between 3:30 and 5PM for games and activities in the Children's Library! Fuse Beads on Monday, Yarn Club on Tuesday, Chess on Wednesday, Pokemon on Thursday and Legos on Friday.
Calais Community
Food Assistance for Families
Youth First Mentoring
Our staff spent time with Sally Russell from Youth First Mentoring. There are some incredible opportunities for our young people through mentoring and this is something we hope you explore if your child would be interested. We are happy to help connect you and help with the process if this is something you want to explore for your child. Check out this local organization at → https://youthfirstmentoring.org/
Links and Resources
Type in your zip code or county to find different resources in your area!
To help with essentials
Vermont Family Support Programs
Do you or someone you know want to learn more about the programs we offer?
Visit our website at: www.pcavt.org/family-support-programs,
email us at familysupport@pcavt.org or
call 1-800-CHILDREN
All programs are offered virtually and FREE!
Pictures
Career Presentation for Guidance
Art and Music Show
Crazy Hair Day