Waitsfield Elementary

3rd & 4th grade students sharing books with their kindergarten classroom partners.

Dear friends and families,

We continue to settle into the routines and shared expectations that will be the foundation of our work together in this coming year. Much of our focus is on fostering a sense of belonging, identifying what we have in common and exploring how our differences play into how we work together. Our approach is grounded in The Responsive Classroom, a student centered approach to education that fosters a positive, engaging and inclusive environment by integrating social and emotional learning with academic instruction. You can learn more about "the first six weeks", during which we intentionally focus on these foundations, here.

Families sometimes ask, "What work should we have our child(ren) doing at home to support their learning?" We work hard during the school day; the best home support is helping your child come to school well rested (did you know that 6- 12 year olds typically need 9 - 12 hours of sleep?) and nourished. Beyond that, one of the best ways to support your child (ren) is to make a habit of reading every day. This can include reading a book together, setting aside a family reading time, or just helping your child building a routine of reading (before dinner, before bed, or first thing in the morning if you have an early riser). There is tremendous research on the MANY positive impacts of reading for 20 minutes a day -- it builds vocabulary, empathy, focus and world knowledge in addition to exercising one's reading "muscles". In addition to the work that we do at school each day, we ask every family to build a daily reading routine. Adults can support this by modeling what we are asking of our children; may you enjoy the reading!

Our all school hike is slated for Wednesday, September 24. Thanks to Mad River Glen for hosting us! If you'd like to join us, please let me know. Please remember that all volunteers in the school (or on the mountain) need to have a background check completed prior to volunteering; this is true for new volunteers or volunteers who have had a gap of a year since their last volunteering. Please visit this link to begin the volunteer background check process.

Respectfully, Kaiya

While we're only a week into the school year, there's a great deal of productivity already in place.

WES has an updated website! You can check it out at www.waitsfieldschool.org. We're still working out one or two glitches with it, but it should hold all the information you need about our school, including links for Pick Up Patrol (for attendance and dismissal plans), the school menu and more.

The cafeteria menu for August/September can be found online here, you can also print it out from that site or request a copy from school. All student meals continue to be free in HUUSD.

Please note that the opportunities/events listed below are not specifically endorsed or screened by school staff. As always, families should use their own standards and review processes to determine appropriate activities.

One Key has been placed in a unique envelope and hidden somewhere in the Mad River Valley. Starting September 5th, the lucky child who finds the key will be in charge of Inklings for one day & win a very special prize!

The Key is hidden in one of these participating businesses: 5th Quarter Butcher + Provisions - Bisbee’s Ace Hardware - Blockhouse Studio - The Collection - Deadrise Revival - Early Literacy Labs - Inklings Children’s Books - Moretown Memorial Library - Product Think Tank - Salt & Sand Studios - Three Mountain Cafe - Warren Public Library - Whipple Tree Designs

***NO PURCHASE NECESSARY***

FOLLOW @inklingschildrensbooks ON INSTAGRAM FOR CLUES

Join NBC5's Marissa Vigevani, on Saturday September 13th at 10:30am for Cloud Appreciation Day!

Marissa will be reading CYRIL, THE LONELY CLOUD. Afterwards, she'll talk with children about the fascinating work she does as a meteorologist.

A fun cloud craft will follow!!

Inklings is excited to welcome author Leda Schubert on Saturday, September 27th at 11am for a reading of her book, FIRSTS & LASTS, THE CHANGING SEASONS.
In this jubilant ode to seasonal rituals, Leda Schubert evokes the familiar, enchanting rhythm of the four seasons; each captured with evocative words and glorious cut-paper collages.
Following the reading, there will be a very special craft!

LEDA SCHUBERT was the school library consultant for the Vermont Department of Education, and she has an MFA in Writing for Children and Young Adults from Vermont College!

The Day You Begin

Written by Jacqueline Woodson & Illustrated by Rafael Lopez

“There will be times when you walk into a room

and no one there is quite like you.”

The book begins as young Angelina enters her new classroom with trepidation, worrying about how/if she will fit in. She is reluctant to speak as other classmates share their summer experiences, traveling to exciting places, while she had to stay home and take care of her younger sister.

But the more she listens to their stories, she realizes that, although there are many differences in their appearances and interests, their talents and struggles, there are also many common emotions and hopes. Angelina finds the courage to share her own stories, and by doing that, she discovers that, “in the room where no one else is quite like you, the world opens itself up a little wider to make space for you.”

“This is the day you begin to find the places inside your laughter and your lunches, your books, your travel and your stories, where every new friend has something a little like you - and something else so fabulously not quite like you at all.”

The illustrations are bright and beautiful, with details that enhance the story, and support the message of finding your own voice, and having the courage to use it.

We hope that you enjoy this StoryWalk®, and that it inspires you to say or do something new, even when that feels difficult.

The StoryWalk® Project was created by Anne Ferguson and developed in collaboration with the Kellogg-Hubbard Library in Montpelier Vermont. Storywalk® is a registered service mark owned by the Kellogg-Hubbard Library.

Author Tanya Lee Stone Visits Inklings
Inklings is thrilled to welcome award-winning author Tanya Lee Stone to Inklings on Saturday, August 30th at 10:30am!!

Join Tanya and help celebrate Women's Equality Day with a reading of REMEMBERING ROSALIND FRANKLIN, an inspiring nonfiction picture book about Rosalind Franklin, the groundbreaking chemist who helped discover the structure of DNA but was not credited for it.

In this wonderful book, Rosalind Franklin is remembered, and her story put back in the narrative where it belongs!

Following the reading, children will have the chance to create a fun, colorful DNA double helix - the kind that Rosalind's work made possible to discover. Tanya will also discuss her other wonderful books about women's empowerment.

Stardust

The Big MAC (Mad Arts Collective)

August 21- October 31, 2025
Open: Tuesday - Saturday, 1-5pm
Reception: September 19, 5-7pm

Mad Arts is excited to present "Stardust", a new exhibition on view from August 21 through October 31st at the Gallery and coinciding with the 2025 International Year of Quantum Science and Technology. Stardust is rooted in an age-old inquiry “Where are we going”?, a journey about the Self through the Cosmos and The Quantum World. Artists in the group ‘The Mad 802 Collective’ express their interpretation of the immaterial while engaging with the scales of the unimaginably tiny to the infinitely large in measurable and mythical time and grounded in the essence of nature itself. The Quantum World is one of uncertainty. One can’t really talk about where a quantum object is, we can only talk about where we might find it. Yet, our seemingly solid reality is built upon this tiny world of possibilities, stuff has form, the universe has form and we are solid. This show looks at the behavior of photons, particles and mysterious patterns of quantum phenomena. It inspires us to think about the magic of the quantum fundamental basis to reality and asks us to be curious about where the human species is going. Artists open up to their interpretation of the immaterial while engaging with the scales of the unimaginable tiny to the infinitely large.

Wed. Sept. 17th: School Photo Day

Wed. Sept. 24th: All School Hike @ MRG

Fri. Oct. 10th: NO SCHOOL. Teacher In-Service

Mon. Oct. 13th: NO SCHOOL. Indigenous People's Day

Sat. Nov. 15th: Ski & Skate Sale at WES

2025-2026 School Calendar

Website: https://www.waitsfieldschool.org/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/waitsfieldschool/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/search/top?q=waitsfield%20elementary%20school

Phone: 802-496-3643

Location: 3951 Main Street, Waitsfield, VT