The Hiawatha Buzz!

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We missed getting our newsletter out last week, but it has been wonderful welcoming everyone back after the break. Our first two weeks of the new year have been great, and it’s been a joy to see students and staff settling back into routines together. Your children, and the adults who support them, bring so much energy and warmth to Hiawatha each day, and I’m grateful to be starting this new year alongside them.

January is a busy month as we wrap up the semester with assessments and prepare to share report cards, and our students have been working hard. As a reminder, there is no school on Monday in observance of Martin Luther King Jr. Day.

Thank you, as always, for your continued support of our school community.

Warmly,
Kolby Snellenberger
Principal

Monday, January 19, 2026 (Martin Luther King Jr. Day) - No School - Please plan accordingly

Dear Hiawatha Families,

As we return from December Break and enter flu season, I wanted to take this opportunity to send out reminders to help limit the spread of cold and flu viruses.

The flu is a highly contagious respiratory disease that usually affects people during the winter and spring months. It is spread person-to-person by coughing and sneezing, or by touching contaminated surfaces. It can be spread before a person even shows symptoms.

Symptoms of the flu include: fever, headache, chills, body/muscle aches, dry cough, and sore throat. A person may also experience nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea, but those symptoms alone without any respiratory symptoms are often caused by another disease.

The flu can be treated with antivirals which are prescribed by a doctor.

Here are some ways to keep your family and others healthy this flu season:

If your child is sick, keep them home from school.

If they vomit, have diarrhea, and/or a fever (> 100.3) they should stay home until these symptoms have resolved for over 24 hours AND they are feeling better.

Practice good hand hygiene.

Scrub all surfaces of hands with soap for 20 seconds and then rinse and dry.
Use hand sanitizer.
Wash before you eat or prepare food, after using the bathroom, after playing with pets, and when hands are visibly dirty.

Always cover your cough and sneeze.
Perform routine surface cleaning of commonly touched surfaces such as doorknobs, light switches, desks, computer equipment, etc.

Flu virus can remain on surfaces for up to 48 hours.
Common household cleaning products can kill the flu virus.

Get a flu shot each year.

For more information on the flu, contact the Vermont Department of Health at 802-863-7240.

Thank you,

Nurse Reyna

802-857-7740

rmaher@ewsd.org

Lice Update

Dear Hiawatha Families,

We have seen an uptick of lice in our school over the past couple of weeks. In order to prevent the spread of this nuisance condition, I wanted to share our EWSD Lice Information Letter.

Pediculosis (head lice) is a common problem in school-aged children. It is estimated that 6 million to 12 million infestations occur each year, in the United States, among children 3 to 11 years of age. The main mode of transmission of head lice is head-to-head contact with a person who is already infested. Contact is common during play (sports activities, playgrounds, at camp, and slumber parties). While it is a nuisance and inconvenient, having lice does not carry significant medical risks. Weekly checks at home are a great way to detect head lice early and to keep them from spreading.

HEAD LICE FACTS

Anyone can get head lice, no matter how clean they are.
Head lice do not carry disease. Secondary skin infections can occur from excessive scratching.
Lice crawl. They cannot jump or fly. They are spread by head-to-head contact.
Lice live for 1-2 days on pillows, furniture, stuffed animals, and clothing.
Head lice do not infest pets and pets do not spread head lice.

WAYS TO PREVENT THE SPREAD OF LICE

Do not share combs, brushes, towels, hats, barrettes, sports uniforms, or pillows.
Avoid head-to-head contact with anyone suspected of having head lice.
Keep long hair up or pulled back.

WHAT TO LOOK FOR

Excessive scratching of the head, especially at the back of the head just above the neck.
Nits on the hair. These are usually pearly-gray in color and are attached to the hair shaft near the scalp. Nits are distinguished from dandruff because they stick to the hair shaft instead of flaking off when brushed.
Adult lice are about the size of a sesame seed. Lice are active at night so your child may have trouble sleeping.

WHAT TO DO IF YOU FIND NITS OR LIVE LICE

Check all family members in the household.
Treat your child with a recommended lice shampoo following the package directions. Apply a second treatment when directed.
Do not use a combination shampoo/conditioner, or conditioner before using lice medicine. Do not re–wash the hair for 1–2 days after the lice medicine is removed.
After each treatment, check the hair and comb with a nit comb to remove nits and lice every 2-3 days. Continue to do this for 2-3 weeks.
For resistant infestations, contact your medical provider.
Machine wash and dry clothing worn in the previous 2 days and all bed linens. Use hot water at 130 degrees for 20 minutes and use a high heat setting on the dryer. Dry clean items, as needed.
Place all non-washable items such as stuffed toys and pillows in a sealed plastic bag for at least 2 weeks.
Soak combs and brushes in hot water (at least 130 degrees) for 5-10 minutes. Do not share combs, brushes, and hair accessories with the person who has head lice.
Vacuum rugs and upholstered furnishings.
Do not use fumigant sprays or fogs. They are not necessary and can be toxic.

WHEN CAN YOUR STUDENT RETURN TO SCHOOL?

Students found with head lice may remain in school for the remainder of the school day. The expectation is the student will be treated prior to returning to school the following day.

Resources:

Please let me know if you have any questions or concerns.

Sincerely,

Nurse Reyna

rmaher@ewsd.org

802-857-7740

Dear Families,

At Hiawatha Elementary, our goal is to ensure every child receives the instruction and support they need to grow academically, socially, and emotionally. One way we do this is through a framework called Multi-Tiered System of Supports (MTSS).

What is MTSS?

MTSS is a school-wide approach that helps us provide the right level of support for each student. It is proactive, data-driven, and designed to meet the needs of all learners through a tiered model:

A little more about Tier 3 Intervention…..

How do we determine which students need tier 3 intervention?
Three times a year (fall, winter, and spring) we gather information using:

Star Assessments (computer-adaptive tests for literacy and math)
DESSA (a Social Emotional Learning screener)

These screeners give us a snapshot of how students are doing. However, a single assessment is only one data point so we also use follow-up screeners and classroom assessments to ensure we have a clear picture of each child’s needs. This helps us identify which students may benefit from additional tier 3 intervention.

Communication with Families

If your child is recommended for Tier 3 intervention you will receive communication from the school and be invited to an Educational Support Team (EST) meeting. At the meeting you will learn about your child’s strengths/goals and have an opportunity to ask questions. Your child’s teacher, the interventionist providing the support, and our EST coordinator will also attend.
If you do not receive communication about tier 3 support, your child does not need tier 3 intervention.
We do not send communication for Tier 1 or Tier 2. Tier 1 is for all students and Tier 2 support is fluid, often changing as students progress. Families can always connect with classroom teachers if there are questions about tier 1 or 2.

If you have questions about your child’s learning, we encourage you to reach out directly to their classroom teacher. You are also welcome to contact me if you’d like to learn more about MTSS or our assessment process.

Thank you for partnering with us to support your child’s success.

Warmly,
Kaylie Bufano
RTI Coach

kbufano@ewsd.org or 802 857-7759

Last week, students started listening to books on the Red Clover list. The Red Clover Book Award is presented to the book selected by children in kindergarten through fourth grade. Each year, thousands of Vermont school children read the 10 nominated picture books and cast their votes for their favorite in the spring. The award has been presented annually since 1997. All Hiawatha students will vote for their favorite book on the list in April.

Ask your student how they liked the two books we have read so far, I’m Sorry You Got Mad, and We Are Definitely Human.

📬 Questions or Suggestions?

I’d love to hear from you!

Susie Snow
📧 ssnow@ewsd.org
📞 802-878-7734

This is a reminder that during the winter months, please send your student to school with a hat, a pair of gloves or mittens, a coat, snow pants, and boots. Students go outside for recess unless the ‘feels like’ temperature is below zero degrees.

Also, please pack extra shoes for your student to wear inside the school building. Wearing wet snow boots is not only uncomfortable but makes for wet floors, which can lead to injury.

If you need assistance with obtaining winter coats, please contact me.

Thank you,

Reyna Maher, RN

rmaher@ewsd.org

802- 857-7740

Please click the link below to see the hot lunch menu, be sure to select the correct month you need and select lunch in the drop down in the top of the page. If needed, there is a print option. The menu can also be found on our website :-)

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