Cornwall School News 2.13.26
Message from the Principal
Dear Cornwall School Families,
I have often used this space to explain why we don't celebrate holidays at Cornwall School. We do find great joy, shared experiences and community-building around the school-based traditions that we all share. This past Tuesday was our one-hundredth day of school. It is a Cornwall tradition for all of us to celebrate our kinders’ learning on that day. Each kindergartener presented their work representing 100, and Mrs. C led the whole community in counting by 5s and 10s to 100 as she has every year. It was a joyful, bucket-filling time. To quote a first grader, it gave me warm fuzzies.
With love and in partnership,
Nadya
Important Dates
Week of 2/16 - 2/20 Spirit Week - See Details
Wed, 2/18 Cornwall School goes XC skiing at Rikert - 3rd of 3 times
Wed, 2/18 SEPAC Meeting, 5:30 (see details below)
Wed, 2/18 School Transfer information session, 8:30 (see details below)
Fri, 2/20 Vermont Symphony Orchestra performance for Cornwall School students!
Mon, 2/23 - Fri, 2/27 No School, ACSD February Break
Mon, 3/2 School resumes
Wed, 3/4 Early Release
Wed, 3/25 Combined Cornwall/Bridport Band and Chorus Concert, 6 pm
Spirit week
Next week is Spirit Week at Cornwall School!
Monday - OLYMPICS! Dress like your favorite sport or country or some other Olympic inspiration
Tuesday - Wild (“loud” shirts, headbands, hats, hair, animal print, go wild!)
Wednesday - Wear your favorite color(s) [this is a skiing day!]
Thursday - Pajama Day
Friday - Cornwall School Spirit (wear your Cornwall shirt, sweatshirt, or hat)
Snapshots from Cornwall School
Third Grade
Third graders are learning about the reintroduction of wolves into Yellowstone National Park as a part of their unit called Sharing the Planet. Wolves, an apex predator, played an important role in the park and their absence affected the ecosystem, both living and non-living elements! Ask a third grader about what happened in Yellowstone when the wolves were reintroduced in 1995. Apart from our ecosystem studies, we have been balancing our classroom learning with lots of physical learning! Third graders practiced taking risks and staying open minded as we headed up to Ripton to ski, both at Rikert and yesterday at the Snow Bowl.
Updates from FOCS
Dear Cornwall parents,
Friends of Cornwall School is pleased to announce after school scholarship funds to support Cornwall School students’ participation in afterschool activities. This is to help families cover fees for structured, educational, or enrichment after school activities (e.g., sports programs, music or art lessons, academic clubs, camps, etc.).
Scholarship details
Amount: up to a maximum $100 per student for the academic year 2025-2026, subject to available funds.
Eligibility: must be a Cornwall School students during the academic year 2025-2026
Important: Funds cannot be used to pay informal childcare/babysitting. Activities must be offered by a qualified organization or provider with a valid tax ID, unless they are Cornwall school-sponsored activities (e.g., Magic Club).
Requirements for reimbursement
To receive a scholarship, families need to:
Select an eligible after school activity for their child (this can be an activity from fall 2025)
Obtain a receipt or invoice from the activity provider that includes provider/organization name, provider address, provider tax ID number (EIN), student’s name, activity name and dates (or session), and amount paid.
The deadline for scholarship application is June 1, 2026.
How to apply
To request a scholarship, up to $100, please fill out this form.
Once your request is reviewed and approved, FOCS will issue reimbursement by check up to $100 per student. If total requests exceed available funds, scholarships may be awarded on a first-come, first-served basis or prorated at FOCS’s discretion. Allow 2-3 weeks for processing reimbursement.
If you have any questions about whether an activity qualifies, how to obtain a suitable receipt, or the application process, please contact FOCS at focs.vt@gmail.com.
Ways to Help Cornwall School
Volunteer for a XC ski day
Laundry!
We have two bags of unclaimed lost and found items. They need to be washed, dried, sorted (single mittens go in clothes recycling), and then anything donatable should go to the place of your choice. We try not to keep too much "stuff" at our building, so if laundry and donating is your jam, this is the volunteer job for you!
ACSD News
ACSD’s new Elementary School Transfer Policy
*Please note two changes to the Open House schedule below*
The ACSD Board recently revised Board Policy C30, School Assignment and Intra-District Transfer, to offer more flexibility to ACSD families when choosing an elementary school for their child(ren). If you are interested in having your child attend a different K-5 elementary school, please read more about the policy and the application process here.
To apply, use this form or visit your school’s front office or the ACSD District Office for a paper application. The application window opened January 30th, and all applications must be received by March 2nd, 2026.
There will be a second information session to learn more, ask questions, and get support filling out the application: Weds, February 18: 8:30-9:30am: at the Superintendent's Office (49 Charles Ave, Middlebury)
Schools have scheduled open houses for all interested families.
Thurs, Feb 12, 5:30-6:30: Salisbury Community
Mon, Feb 16, 5:30-6:30: Cornwall Elementary
Tues, Feb 17, 5:30-6:30: Mary Hogan
Weds, Feb 18 5:30-6:30: Weybridge Elementary
Thurs, Feb 19 5:30-6:30 Bridport Elementary
SEPAC Meeting February 18
The SEPAC invites all families and caregivers of ACSD students with disabilities to join them on Wednesday, February 18th.
Please join the Addison Central Special Education Parent Advisory Council (SEPAC) on Wednesday, February 18th. We will be joined by Dr. Sonya Oefelein, ACSD Director of Equity, Inclusion, and Restorative Practices. Sonya will introduce herself and share her goals for the year. We will also hear from Megan Hendee of the MUHS Best Buddies Club.
Wednesday, February 18th
5:30 – 7:00 pm
MUHS Library (virtual option: https://meet.google.com/gjk-ymhg-drj)
