The Buzz

Happy New Year! It has been wonderful to welcome students back to school this week. Classrooms and hallways have been abuzz with stories about winter break, goals for the new year, and reengagement with learning. We are looking forward to a positive start to 2026!

Please see below for information about important upcoming events and dates, including kindergarten 2026-2027 registration, which opened on January 2. If you have a child that will be of kindergarten age for the 2026-2027 school year, be sure to take a look at the registration information linked below. And, if you know of any families who are not current BSD families but who will have a kindergarten student next year, please feel free to pass the information along.

During three windows during the school year, BSD elementary students participate in district-wide assessments that help us measure student progress and inform instructional planning going forward. Our fall window was in October/November and the winter assessment window will be January 20-February 9. On certain days during this window, your child will be taking assessments in literacy and math. There is no preparation at home needed - we just ask that students aim to come to school rested and ready for the day!

As always, please reach out to the school office at (802) 864-8473 with any questions. We will be happy to help. Best wishes for a nice weekend ahead.

Warmly,

Michelle Basile

Principal

January 12 - Morning Assembly, 8:15am (parents and caregivers welcome and invited)

January 19 - Martin Luther King, Jr. Day - No school for staff or students

January 20 - February 9 - Winter Assessment Window

January 22 - Early Release Day, 11:30am dismissal (no after school program)

January 31 - PTO Math Night

February 10 - Grades 3-5 Fine Arts Night, 5:30pm (snow date February 12)

Searching for additional calendar information? The calendars below may have what you are looking for!

Edmunds Elementary Website Calendar

Burlington School District 2025-2026 Calendar At a Glance

Burlington School District 2025-2026 Wall Calendar and Family Handbook

For the first time, parents looking for excellent preschool options are being invited to see BSD’s PreK classrooms and meet the staff. The Early Ed team is hosting Open Houses at all six schools in January 2026. No RSVP needed; parents just need to bring their children to any of the dates below!

January 7 - EES and Champlain, 8:30-9:30am

January 14 - SA and CP Smith, 8:30-9:30am

January 21 - IAA and Flynn, 8:30-9:30am

For questions about the open houses, contact Kate Fay at (802) 864-8463 or cfay@bsdvt.org. To learn more about BSD PreK, visit www.earlyed.bsdvt.org. Please note that attendance at an open house does not guarantee a placement in BSD’s PreK programs.

Kindergarten and New Student registration for the 2026/27 school year opens on January 2, 2026, and closes on February 27, 2026 (after this date, registration is on a rolling basis)

Burlington School District has six excellent elementary schools that families can choose from when registering their children. Please read the BSD 26/27 New Student Registration Information & Instructions to learn more about these schools, how to register online, and how to rank your preferences for which schools you would like your child/ren to attend.

If you do not have access to a computer or need assistance you may call or stop by the school office where there is access to a computer and help as needed with any questions.

Thank you to all families and caregivers who have been able to participate in our Food Support Gift Card Drive this year so far, whether it be through a donation or through a request for support. We feel fortunate to be among students, staff, and families coming together to be there for one another.

As a reminder, if your family may be in need of support , or if you are in a position to contribute, please click on the button below.

Thank you to the Howard Center School Services program for compiling and sharing this helpful list list of local community food resources. Please feel encouraged to use this list and/or to share this list with those who you may know that are seeking food resources information.

EES SPRING MUSICAL

We are excited to be collaborating with Very Merry Theater for our 27th year! This year's play will be Peter Pan. Performances will be March 13th & 14th; cast auditions were held this week January 8th & 9th. The cast will have rehearsals after school on Mondays and Wednesdays beginning January 12th (Please note that this year all cast members will be expected at Monday rehearsals BUT Wednesdays will be for smaller groups and we will send out the schedule each week), and the set crew will meet a few Wednesdays after school beginning in February. The 1st/2nd grade chorus will have 3 rehearsals during recess in February. More details can be found in the attached doc and links below to signups. We hope to have many students get involved with this super fun activity! Email Gretchen Platt with any questions: gshuman7005@yahoo.com

• CAST: https://forms.gle/Zugvu3rr9WXpNRsn8
• SET CREW: https://forms.gle/TzYgMWRTwgWQsbsD6
• 1st/2nd GRADE CHORUS: https://forms.gle/VLLGzjmd4McjEN7x9

NEXT MEETING

Friday, 1/16/26, 8:15am, Room 111

OTHER UPCOMING PTO EVENTS

January 31: Math Night

March 27: Community Traditions Night

May 1: Skate Night

May 29: End-of-Year BBQ

The Burlington School Food Project provides meals at no charge to all students 18 and under. Click below to see what's on the menu for upcoming weeks!

Dad Guild is a Burlington-based nonprofit organization that focuses on engaging dads and masculine-identifying caregivers in their parenting roles. The organization has many events coming up this winter, including a handful for all parents regardless of the age of their children. Attached is a flyer that highlights six events that may be applicable to many caregivers in the school district.

If you'd like to know more about what's going on at Dad Guild now through the end of March, please click here to check out our 2026 Winter Program Guide to check out the 100+ activities that will be taking place for dads, dads & kids, and entire families. If you have any questions, please feel free to reach out.

The Around Town information above is intended to be of community service. Burlington School District does not endorse nor sponsor these organizations.