Cougar Chronicle
September 26, 2025
Next week, she will be at Calais on Tuesday 9/30, and Thursday, 10/2
- Tuesday 9/30 Breakfast was Sausage and Cheese on a Maple Waffle, now it will be Blueberry Mini Waffles
9/28 - Small Fry Basketball Camp - 3rd-6th Grade
10/4 - The Heat is On: Friends of Calais Inaugural Chili + Cornbread Cook-Off and Contra Dance!
10/8 - Open House at East Montpelier Elementary School
10/8 - Basketball Sign Ups Deadline
10/9 - Friends of Calais Meeting
10/11-10/12 - Rail City Fan Fest
10/17 - Coffee and Conversations with the Superintendent @ East Montpelier Elementary
11/7 - Picture Day Retakes
11/13 - Friends of Calais Meeting
11/21- Coffee and Conversations with the Superintendent @ Rumney Memorial School
12/19 - Coffee and Conversations with the Superintendent @ Berlin Elementary
1/16 - Coffee and Conversations with the Superintendent @ Calais Elementary
Hi Calais Cougars!
Today we are interviewing Owen.
His favorite color is blue (same!).
His least favorite color is yellow.
His favorite animal is a giraffe.
His least favorite animal are ticks (same!).
His favorite food is chicken.
His least favorite food is asparagus (yum).
His favorite sweet food is Twix.
His least favorite sweet food is bug candies.
His favorite sport is basketball.
His favorite show is Cocomelon.
Bye for now!
Ms. Scoop
We’re excited to announce that Calais Elementary will have a FIRST LEGO League (FLL) team this year! Phil Matheson and Luke Bennecker will serve as co-mentors, and we are looking for 4–5 more dedicated students (ages 9–16) to join. FLL is not just playing with LEGOs—it’s a hands-on challenge that combines robotics, research, and engineering. Team members must commit to 2–5 hours per week with meetings on Mondays at 4:00 PM at Calais and an additional weekend meeting added later in the season as we prepare for the December competition in Montpelier. If more students sign up than we have space for, we will hold a lottery and create a waitlist. Interested students should review the FLL challenge resources (linked below) and submit a short note about why they want to join the team. If your child is interested, please contact Phil Matheson at philej@gmail.com.
This weekend our 5/6 Boys Soccer Team will be travelling to Waitsfield on Saturday morning and travels to Berlin on Monday evening. On Wednesday the 1st the 5/6 Girls Soccer Team will be playing the Rumney/Doty team at Calais. The 3/4 Coed Soccer Team will be playing Thursday the 2nd against Rumney/Doty at Doty. All teams will be playing in a Jamboree in St. Johnsbury on Saturday, Oct. 4th. Good luck, Cougars.
Hey Families!
It is hard to believe that basketball season is just around the corner. If you have a child who is interested in playing Basketball this season please register NO LATER THAN October, 8th 2025. If you sign up later than this we will do our best to place your player on a roster. Basketball Registration Link
Also, WE NEED YOU! It takes a village to make a successful sports season happen, so we strongly encourage you to volunteer this year! Things like Jamborees are something that can really support our sports program. There will be a preseason coaches/volunteer meeting for our recreational department to meet/greet and Brainstorm! Date time and location TBD.
Sara Howard, Athletic Director Rumney/Doty/Calais
Wood Splitting Queen Kindling
Phone: 1-802-224-6718
The Calais Parent Advisory Team has met a couple of times already and there are many exciting opportunities being planned for this year. Be on the lookout for sign-ups and more information, but we are looking forward to great things happening this year. If you have any questions or would like to join the Parent Advisory Team, please let Jarrod know.
The Heat is On: Friends of Calais Inaugural Chili + Cornbread Cook-Off and Contra Dance!
Saturday, October 4th, 5:30 - 8:30pm
Memorial Hall on #10 Pond (aka Mirror Lake)
207 G.A.R. Road, North Calais
$10 Suggested Donation at Door
Strict occupancy limits. Please arrive promptly and carpool.
Share your culinary talents for a good ol' fashioned family evening of dining and dancing in Memorial Hall during Fall Foliage Festival on Saturday, 10/4!
- 5:30 - 6:30 p.m. - Chili and Cornbread Cook-Off, judged by attendees. Winners will be announced when ballots are tabulated.
- 6:30 - 8:30 p.m. -Contra Dancing! Music by Joanne Garton and Emmett Stowell, Called by Amy Cann
Calling all chili and cornbread contestants!
Please register for the chili and cornbread cookoff HERE!
There will be prizes for the varied categories and we will award the Calais Chili and Cornbread Champions!
We ask that contestants in the chili and/or cornbread contest (yes, you may enter both contests) just please complete the form twice - once for each contest.
HERE are the steps:
1.) Register your entries in the respective category
2.) Bring your entry with anything to honor your culinary feats (i.e. crockpot to keep chili warm, the likes of any toppings to be included in your tasting - cheese, sour cream, green onion etc.)
3.) Deliver your dish(es) between 4:30 and 5pm. We will have a valet-like drop-off at the hall so entries can be anonymously set-up before the contest starts.
4.) Label your entry and please disclose any known allergens and spice level. (Milk, eggs, fish, shellfish - crustaceans/mollusks, tree nuts, peanuts, sesame, gluten and soybeans.)
5.) Friends of Calais will provide serving utensils, tasting cups and spoons for chili. Small plates and forks for cornbread. Napkins for all.
Your friends and neighbors will taste test and cast votes for:
- Best cornbread - both adult and youth divisions
- Best meat-based chili (homestyle or traditional)
- Best vegetarian chili
- Best specialty chili
- Best youth chili
- Best overall - "Calais Choice" - for both Chili and Cornbread (adult and youth divisions combined)
Dear Calais Families,
We will be starting the Backpack program soon at Calais Elementary School. The Backpack
Program is designed to assist Calais families with food, clothing and necessary items
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. The Backpack Program also includes winter clothing and Holiday gifts in
addition.
There is no cost associated with this program. If you wish for your child to participate in the
program, please contact the Main Office or School Counselor for assistance.
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
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.
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/
Vermont Family Support Programs
Free VIRTUAL Parent Education Programs & Support Groups for Vermont Parents!
Free online Parent Education Programs to any parent/caregiver in Vermont who wants support and/or to learn new parenting skills.
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
Nurturing Parenting®,
Strengthening Families Programs &
Circle of Parents®
Curriculum-based, parenting education programs for families experiencing stress.
Upcoming Parent Education Programs:
All programs are offered virtually and FREE!
Programs are 2 hours per week for 14 weeks
Nurturing Skills® for Families
Wednesdays at 10am starting September 17th in-person at
Sunrise Parent Child Center in Bennington
Tuesdays at 9am starting September 30th in-person at
NEKCA in Lyndon Center
Wednesdays at 5:30pm starting October 8th
Wednesdays at 5pm starting October 22nd
Nurturing Program® for Families in Substance Use Treatment & Recovery
Wednesdays at noon starting September 17th
Thursdays at 4pm starting September 24th in-person at
North Central Vermont Recovery Center In Morrisville
Thursdays at 5:30pm starting October 16th
in collaboration with Turning Point Addison County
Tuesdays at 1pm starting November 18th
Mondays at 5:30pm starting October 13th
Strengthening Families Program Birth - Age 3
Mondays at 10am starting September 22nd
Strengthening Families Program for Teens
Tuesdays at 5pm starting December 2nd
Upcoming Circle of Parents Support Groups
Circle of Parents® is a network of professionally facilitated, peer-led, self-help support groups for using a strengths-based
approach and a shared leadership model.
All Circles are offered virtually and FREE!
Circles meet weekly for 60-90 minutes and are ongoing
*Participants may join anytime
Postpartum & Pregnancy Circle of Parents
2nd Monday of the month at 10am via zoom
Mondays 7pm via zoom
Wednesdays at 3pm in person at Turning Point Center
Franklin County, St. Albans
Postpartum & Pregnancy Circle of Parents
1st Wednesday of the month at 5pm in person in St. Johnsbury
