Walden Middle School students kicked off their new unit, Human Body Systems, with an exciting visit from Rebecca from the Montshire Museum Tuesday.

Students in small groups engaged with 5 stations including human body models (the overall favorite station), the digestive system, the skeletal system (including real x rays), microscopes and human body books.

The 8th grade students will be studying cells and system interactions for the next month, then it will be seventh graders’ turn.

Dear Walden Families,

We are excited to start the Walden After School program on Monday, October 2. In keeping with previous years, this year our program will include the provision of a healthy snack, daily outdoor play, organized and individual sporting activities, as well as creative, educational and fun enrichment activities. There are a few changes this year, however, please read carefully below for details.

This year the Walden After School Program will be available four days a week to children in grades K-8. The program begins October 2, 2023 and concludes May 30th, 2024 and operates from 3 to 5pm. We do not operate on early release days or afternoons when Parent-teacher conferences are scheduled.

Each month you can expect an email from me with news/tidbits from the previous month, as well as a calendar that will serve both as a snack menu and a schedule of activities. Our goal is to establish themes, of a sort, so your child may decide whether to attend based on the types of things he or she may encounter that day of the week. Monday’s theme is Life Skills. Examples of activities include cooking, gardening, sewing and other handicrafts as well as health and wellness related projects. Tuesday will be our game day and kids will rotate between stationary games that require thinking and strategizing as well as more active solitary and group games or physical team building challenges. “Wide Wonderful Wednesdays” will focus on the amazing things in the world around us. We will build things, explore, do experiments and learn from people in our community who do interesting things. Thursdays will provide a choice between sporty things and craft projects.

I ask that you sign your child up for certain days of the week, then make an effort for them to attend that day on a regular basis. I understand that life happens and things come up, but my goal is to have a concrete understanding of how many kids will be in attendance on each day. If your child is absent (on that day) more than three consecutive weeks, they will be unenrolled from that day. This makes it easier to plan activities, keeps enrollment slots open for families who will utilize them and prevents miscommunication about dismissal plans.

It is expected that your child(ren) participates in planned activities. Phones and other personal electronic devices are not permitted at After School. Older children may ask to serve in a helper role if they would like.

Attached you will find a registration form, please complete and return to the school office. Your child(ren) may not attend the Walden After School Program until those forms are complete. You may also email photos of completed forms or questions/concerns to Emily.snodgrass@ccsuvt.net.

Save the date for the 3rd Annual Walden School Halloween Parade! This has been a huge hit for students, faculty, staff, parents and community members the last couple of years and we are looking forward to once again inviting the community to come hand out candy, dress up and celebrate with us.

The 2023 Annual Fall Foliage Festival is coming to Walden on Monday, October 2nd. There will be an open-spit Barbecued Beef Supper that starts at 5:30pm. This is a great volunteer opportunity for any of our 7th and 8th graders who want to represent Walden School and give back to their community. If any 7th and 8th grade students and parents are willing to volunteer please contact Judy Clifford at 802-563-2777.

Parent teacher conferences will be held from 4pm-8pm on Wednesday, October 25th and Thursday, October 26th. Based on your level of comfort and availability, you will have the option of having your conference in person or virtual. A link to sign up for a conference with your students’ teacher(s) will be sent out starting next week. We highly encourage all parents/guardians to take advantage of this opportunity to partner with us in your child's education.

After so much success last year, the PTA is bringing back their Auction Night for a second year! Please mark your calendars now for November 10th. Dinner will be served again and there will be a combination of silent and live auction items.

We are accepting donations now! If you, or someone close to you, owns a business that would like to donate, please let us know! (Call the front office at 802-563-3000)

If you're wondering, "what's it for?" We are happy to announce that we are fundraising for a new playground structure! Our goal is to raise money to support the purchase of new playground equipment so that our kids can get the best possible playground upgrade!

Oct 6: No school, teacher in-service

Oct 9: No school, Indigenous Peoples Day

Oct 9: CCSD School Board Meeting 6pm @ Walden School

Oct 16: School picture day

Oct 16: Nature's Classroom on Wheels program with the 5th/6th

Oct 17: Nature's Classroom on Wheels program with the 7th/8th

Oct 25, 26: Parent-teacher conferences, sign up coming soon

Oct 27: No school

The Walden Community Library is open to the public during the school year! Open hours are Monday to Wednesday from 10 AM to 5:30 PM, and Saturday from 10 AM to 1 PM. We have a wide selection of children’s, young adult, and adult books to choose from, as well as free WiFi, free passes to parks and museums, and more. Story hour for young children and their caregivers is on Mondays from 10:30 to 11:30 AM, and includes songs, stories, snacks, and crafts. Information about a new adult crafting club is included below. See you at the library, located in the building behind the school.

Email: anthony.fontana@ccsuvt.net
Website: https://walden.ccsuvt.net/
Location: 135 Cahoon Farm Road, West Danville, VT, USA
Phone: (802)563-3000