Cornwall School News 3.13.26
Message from the Principal
In a few weeks, our third and fourth graders will start five sessions of state required testing known as VTCAP; our fifth graders will do seven such sessions. I have often talked about assessment - the word we use when we’re trying to figure out what students have learned - like it’s a photo album with snapshots of different moments in time. We could think about the VTCAP as a collection of photos taken with the same backdrop.
We could also think about assessment like cleaning the house. At my house, there are small, everyday jobs like washing dishes and wiping the counters after dinner; putting away the clothes at the end of the day, taking out the trash, making the bed. We do these all the time (hopefully). Once every couple of weeks, we do a bigger clean - vacuum, mop, dust. And there are bigger jobs that we only do once or twice a year, like pulling everything out of the closet, or laundering the curtains.
Assessments are the same - we have small ones we’re doing the time, and then there are some big ones we do several times a year. The VTCAP is one of those big, once-a-year jobs. In the coming weeks we will talk with students and families about the VTCAP and how we use that information in comparison with the information we might use, say, from a set of spelling tests.
In partnership,
Nadya
Important Dates
Wed, 3/25 Combined Cornwall/Bridport Band & Chorus Concert, 6 pm, Middlebury College (see below)
Wed, 4/1 Early Release
Thurs, 4/2 Start of state "VTCAP" testing, grades 3-5
Reminders and Useful Bits
Dressing for the weather
- Help us keep kids warm at recess! It's is STILL cold!
- If it is in the 30s, K-2 students must wear snow pants
- Everybody needs hats - Cornwall has run out of extras and we don't lend hats.
2026-2027 ACSD Districtwide Calendar
The 2026-2027 ACSD Calendar is available and can be found on the website here.
Snapshots from Cornwall School
5th Grade
The IB program's exhibition for Grade 5 is 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 graders started their Exhibition Project by selecting areas of interest and getting into groups with other students that share similar ideas. There are five groups, so Ms. Jenny will be looking for five mentors. (See How to Help Cornwall School below).
"Volume Town," is a creative math workshop in which 5th graders create a "building" and then figure out the total volume of their creation. The class will then put them all together and see how much three dimensional space we have made.
Many 5th graders participate in our combined Cornwall/Bridport band and chorus, so they have been busy trekking to Bridport (where there is space for the whole group) in order to rehearse. All are invited to the combined concert this coming Wednesday!
The IB program's exhibition for Grade 5 is 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.
FOCS: What's going on...
Sign-Ups in Progress
- Staff Appreciation - Meeting Snacks openings starting in April!
- After School Scholarship, up to $100 reimbursement: please fill out this form
FOCS Monthly Meetings- Monday 6:30pm at the school library
We are currently looking for an FOCS treasurer if you have any interest please reach out for more info!
- April 6
- May 4
- June 1
Events
- April/May - Grounds clean up, TBD
- May 5- 9 Teacher and Staff appreciation week (Zara D. + vacant)
- June - 5th Grade Promotion (FOCS Officer)
- June - All Out Day - Button Bay? (Alison D.+ vacant)
Questions? Contact focs.vt@gmail.com.
Ways to help Cornwall School
Support a 5th grader with their Exhibition Project!
To offer your real-world expertise for students whose topic relates to your work, contact Nadya or Jenny!
nbech@acsdvt.org
jmuskopf@acsdvt.org