Super News
February 2025 Issue
Super Message
As we return to school on Monday, February 3rd, we will be entering National School Counselors’ Week! This is an opportunity for all of us to appreciate the varied work that our school counselors do in our schools. Ask any teacher or principal, and they will tell you that the school counselor is one of the busiest people in any building! They work hard to ensure that every student feels like they belong, can express themselves, and be a good friend to others. Counselors also work closely with families who are going through difficult times so that the school can better support the students. Counselors support their principals with their work on crisis teams, HHB work, 504 case management, Title IX compliance, and many other tasks. They are often behind the scenes supporting kids as an advocate so that teachers can better serve the students. All in all, there are many hats they wear and they wear them all with style! So, take a moment and thank your school counselor for the work they do!
School Budget Votes
The Districts of the WCSU will be meeting to vote on school budgets in the coming months. Please refer to this schedule. See your town or district warnings for specific times and locations.
West River - 3/25/25 Annual Meeting (L&G)
River Valleys - 4/28/25 Annual Meeting (Dover) [Informational Meeting in Wardsboro 4/21)
Marlboro - 3/4/25 (Town Meeting Day)
Windham - 3/4/25 (Town Meeting Day)
Stratton - 3/4/25 (Town Meeting Day)
Abbey Larson, School Nurse
Abbey Larson is the School Nurse at Townshend Elementary, but to say she is the school nurse doesn’t seem to do justice to the role she plays within our school community. Like many other people at our school, she fulfills many other responsibilities above and beyond those of her job description, and she does them all with incredible care and love for our students. She not only fulfills the daily duties of the school nurse by maintaining our school health records and tending to the daily medical needs of our students by taking temperatures, administering ice packs, band-aids and required in-school medications, but she also provides a sympathetic ear for troubled young hearts and minds, and administers boosts of encouragement and self-esteem to the downtrodden. She has not only responded to sprained ankles on the playground, been the first responder to a broken arm, and accompanied another student and parent in their car to the ER, but is also an extra pair of hands around the school, always willing to help answer the phone, greet a visitor, or temporarily cover a class. She helps teach our Act 1 health classes, helps lead our School Wellness Team, and is a member of our school Crisis Team. During her five years with the WCSU, she has been more than just a nurse to students; she has grown into a trusted confidant, and served as tutor, coach and friend.
Abbey graduated in 2010 with her LPN from Vermont Technical College, and went back to school in 2014 after working for a few years to pursue her RN degree. She graduated in 2015 with her RN Degree from Vermont Technical College. She completed her BSN in January of 2021 through Western Governors University. In her soon to be 15 years of nursing she has always specialized in pediatrics. In addition to school nursing, she has experience in pediatric psychiatric inpatient, pediatric and family medicine and experience at a day treatment facility for medically complex and fragile children. She was inspired to become a nurse because of her medically fragile nephew. Although he unfortunately passed away in 2015, there were many medical professionals that made a difference in his life and their families.
Abbey is married and has two sons, ages 12 and 15 months, and enjoys working and living within the WCSU.
