Waitsfield Elementary

Buddy classrooms have begun carving pumpkins, provided by the PTA. Look for their creations lining Old County Rd. this Saturday.

Dear families & friends,

With the end of daylight saving time this weekend (remember to fall back one hour when you reset your clocks!) and Halloween just around the corner, this seems like a good time to share a couple of reminders about WES procedures.

SCHOOL START TIME & TARDY ARRIVALS. We ask that students arrive between 7:25 and 7:40 a.m. each morning so they are ready to begin the day with their classmates. Class meetings, intervention and support services, and band/chorus begin as soon as students arrive.

When students arrive late, they can miss important parts of their morning routine, and their arrival can disrupt learning or activities already underway. Of course, we understand that occasional delays happen (hello, roadwork on Route 100!).

The time change can make mornings especially challenging as everyone's body adjusts. A little planning can help! Consider packing bags the night before, adjusting bedtimes, or setting alarms a few minutes earlier. You might even make it a family challenge to arrive on time all week!

Thank you for all you do to help your children start their school days successfully and honor their responsibilities to their classmates and school community.

HALLOWEEN CANDY & SWEETS AT SCHOOL. We ask that families please keep candy and other highly sugary snacks at home. We want students to have the fuel they need to feel good, stay focused, and be ready to learn throughout the school day.

FAMILY CONFERENCES. Family conferences will occur this coming Wednesday, November 4th and Thursday, November 5th, after school (2:40 - 6).

15 minute slots are slated to support our staff being able to meet with the families of well over 100 students in just two days. Thanks for arriving on time and respecting these time boundaries. This is a time to celebrate your child’s growth and discuss goals going forward. I encourage you to consider, in advance, any particular questions or concerns you’d like to discuss.

Please plan for students in 1st - 6th grade to join the conferences; there is childcare available for siblings as well as if you’d like to have a few moments alone with teachers. If you haven’t yet signed up for a conference slot, please do so, or reach out if you need assistance.

Respectfully,

Kaiya Korb, WES Principal

Hello there! My name is Abby Durand and I am the new band and chorus teacher for the Valley Elementary schools. I’m so excited to share some of the great work our fifth and sixth grade students have been up to since the beginning of the year.

Fifth Grade Band At the beginning of September, our fifth graders signed up for their new instruments and have not looked back since! We have been hard at work learning the correct way to hold both the instruments and our bodies while playing, along with how to play and read our first five notes! We have conquered classics like: Hot Cross Buns and Merrily We Roll Along (also known as Mary Had a Little Lamb) and are currently learning Go Tell Aunt Rhody and Good King Wenceslas.

Sixth Grade Band Our returning sixth graders have come back to band ready to take on more challenges. This year we started with “Dark Majesty” by Ed Roseman, a dramatic piece of music that highlights all sections with its mysterious melodic lines and rich harmonies. We have also begun a new piece called “Onward and Upward” by a recent UVM grad and dear friend of mine, Grant Mathews. This piece tells the story of a hero ready to embark on a new adventure portrayed by the opening melodic line. As Grant states, “While the road ahead may be scary and unknown, the hero’s bravery outweighs their worries.”

Chorus Our chorus has also been hard at work since the beginning of the year. We have been exploring a variety of musical styles and artists selected by the students. This has primarily been a student-driven ensemble, where our singing material is recommended by students. Some class favorites that we have covered include “We Will Rock You” by Queen, an edited version of “Stick Season” by Noah Kahan, and our favorite class warm-up…. The bumblebee tuna song! If you are not familiar with the Bumblebee Tuna song I encourage you to ask a fifth or sixth grader! :)

Battle of the Bands On Friday October 23, students in fifth and sixth grade travelled to the high school in anticipation of Battle of the Bands. The Harwood Assembly Band and the Glam Cowboys performed and answered questions that the students had about music or being in a band. This field trip also served as an instrument demo and introduction for our own popular music education project that we will be starting in the near future. Sixth grade students will be given the opportunity to join our WES popular music ensemble (also known as rock band or modern band)! This group will have instruments like guitar (or ukulele), electric bass, drum set, keyboard, and vocals. Students do not need to have any experience in order to join.

Overall band and chorus has been off to a great start this school year! I am very eager to continue growing throughout the year, and for the students to show off their mad skills at our Pajama Concert in December. If you have any questions, concerns, or just want to talk music, please feel free to reach out! My inbox is always open :)

Fifth and Sixth grade students from across the Mad River Valley for a preview of the Battle of the Bands last Friday.

As WES School Counselor, my job is to offer support to all students so that they can do and feel their best at school. Students have been coming to the school counseling space to participate in lunch bunches, WIN groups, receive academic support in finishing work, take a break, or share daily struggles. All are welcome; please encourage your students to ask me for help as needed- that’s what I’m here for!

Each October in Wellness classes, we work on our anti-bullying unit. Students learn to distinguish between conflict and bullying, report bullying, and stand up for themselves. We learn that a strong community is created when we stand up for one another. Together, we will practice what that looks like and how to be assertive respectfully.

Each year, WES participates in a Community Giving Drive. If you are willing to donate to our drive, please complete this form to donate. If your family is in need, please complete this confidential form for support. Due dates are embedded in the forms.

Additionally, the Mad River Valley Interfaith Council will once again provide Joys of the Season coupon booklets, valued at up to $80/child for designated stores in the area. Please let Sally know by 11/4/26 if you'd like to receive the Joys of the Season coupon booklets. You will only receive the booklets if you let us know that you need them. As always, your information is kept confidential. - Liz Crowley

In addition, the Mad River Valley Interfaith Council will once again offer Joys of the Season coupon booklets for local shopping. If your family needs this holiday support and would like a coupon booklet, please let Liz know by 11/13/26. You will only receive the booklets if you let us know. As always, your information is kept confidential.

Wishing you all a happy holiday!

Love your Waitsfield School Community!

When: Saturday, November 14, 2026, 9AM-4PM

• Volunteer Shop > 7-8 AM

• Ticketed Early Shop > 8-9 AM

• General Public > 9AM - 4PM

What: New and Used Gear: Alpine, Nordic, Skate, Backcountry, aznd hard/soft goods

More Info: http://www.waitsfieldpta.org/ski-and-skate-sale.html

Consignment Registration is Open!

Consignors are required to pre-register items online to receive item tags; no unregistered or untagged merchandise will be accepted onsite. You can register online to consign at https://sale.waitsfieldpta.org/register.

• Consignment registration deadline: Monday, Nov. 9th at 11pm

• Consignment tag pick up: Wednesday, Nov. 11th -Friday, Nov. 13th at WES

• Pre-registered consignment drop off: Friday, Nov. 13th from 4pm to 7pm at WES

Volunteer for the Earliest Shopping Access!

Volunteers get first dibs! We need support from all families to make this a success! This is the school’s only fundraiser for the year, and all proceeds support educational and enrichment programs for students, including our Winter Ski & Ride Program, ECO, and field trips.

• Tuesday November 3, NO SCHOOL (election day)
• Wednesday November 4 & Thursday November 5 2:40 - 6 Family Conferences
• Wednesday November 11, 11:30 dismissal (Staff development in afternoon)
• Saturday November 14 SKI & SKATE SALE Volunteer shop 7 a.m Early shop 8 a.m. Sale 9 - 4

2026-2027 School Calendar

The residents of Old County Road (Loop Road) in Waitsfield are looking forward to hosting another fun-filled evening of trick or treating this year! The road will be closed to traffic from 5:00-7:00 on Halloween night (Saturday, 10/31), with parking available at Waitsfield Telecom (please do not block the garage doors), the Health Center, & Waitsfield Elementary. Candy donations would be greatly appreciated and can be dropped off at the Village Grocery or Waitsfield Elementary lobby. Come join us in celebrating! Trick-or-treaters are asked to exercise caution and please stick to roads and drive-ways and to not cut across lawns.

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.

⚽⚽⚽It’s hard to believe, but it’s time to plan for spring soccer! MRVSA is holding tryouts for its spring 2027 travel teams on Saturday November 7th at 11am. Our travel teams will compete in the Vermont Soccer Association (VSL) Spring League. This is MRVSA’s only spring program for U10 through U16 players. Information on our U6 and U8 program will come out in the early Spring.

Any player interested in spring soccer must register for and attend the tryout. Team spots are limited, and not every player who tries out will be placed on a team. Register here.

About the season
The spring league is a local, affordable way for qualified players to have a more competitive experience and compete in the VSL. Each team will be placed in the division that best fits its skill level. Teams practice twice a week and play one or more matches weekly, with home games here and away games around the state. The season typically runs from the first weekend in May through the second weekend in June. Teams may also enter Vermont tournaments after the season for an additional fee. Additional information is available here.

The VSL sets all schedules and will release them in April. Games are typically on Sundays.

Age groups
Following US Soccer, the VSL now groups players by school year (August 1 – July 31) instead of birth year. Players may try out for an older age group but not a younger one (e.g. a 2nd grader ready for a more competitive experience can try out for U10).

· U10: born Aug 1, 2016 – July 31, 2018

· U12: born Aug 1, 2014 – July 31, 2016

· U14: born Aug 1, 2012 – July 31, 2014

· U16: born Aug 1, 2010 – July 31, 2012

Timeline

· Tryout registration is open now: link

· Tryouts: Saturday, November 7, 11 a.m.–1 p.m., at Mad River Park in Waitsfield. Please register in advance!

· Team invitations sent by Sunday, November 22

· Accept your invitation and complete registration by Sunday, December 6

· Uniform store opens in December

Scholarships are available. Contact registrar@madrivervalleysoccer.org for details.

Every Autumn, the teeny tiny woman’s, teeny tiny house in the forest is completely

buried by the falling leaves, which is not a teeny tiny problem. She tries making noises

of increasing intensity, but no one hears her. As she is loudly banging cookie sheets

together to no avail, she decides on a new strategy.The delicious aroma of chocolate chip cookies baking in her oven soon does attract three children who are out trick-or-treating. Soon, they are all enjoying a sweet Halloween treat together. We hope you enjoy this book, and stop by the library to tell us about some of your favorite Halloween stories.

Take a stroll along the Moretown recreation fields and enjoy this latest StoryWalk installation.

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