Family Newsletter

Calendar notes

Pizza and play nights - 5:00-6:30 - Informal grade level gatherings for parents and children, a time to eat, chat and play together.

• Tuesday, 8/18 - 2/3

• Wednesday, 8/19 - 4/5

• Thursday, 8/20 - K/1

Tuesday, August 25, 10:00-11:00 and 2:00-3:00 - Students and families are invited to drop by one of these times to check out their classrooms and say “hello”.

Wednesday, August 26, 7:45 - First day of school!

• FOWE will provide coffee and treats for families in the library at drop off time. This has traditionally been a lovely time to welcome new families and catch up with others. Please join us.

Wednesday, September 9, 6:00pm - Welcome back potluck hosted by FOWE. All are welcome.

Back to school nights, Thursdays, 5:30-6:30

• Thursday, 9/25 - K/1 Back to school

• Thursday, 10/1 - 2/3 Back to school

• Tuesday, 10/6 - 4/5 Back to school

ACSD Board dates - MUHS - 73 Charles Avenue, Middlebury

• Monday, August 24, 6:00-8:00

• Monday, September 14, 6:00-8:00

• Monday, September 28, 6:00-8:00

Dear Families,

These last few weeks we’ve begun scurrying around to get ready for the first day of school. Monte Many has once again done a miraculous job of cleaning the school from top to bottom - the floors are gleaming! The care he takes of the school is so wonderful. Shannon Minor also did a monumental job in packing up the art room supplies in preparation for the new art teacher to move in and cleaning out some closets that have accumulated lots of STUFF over MANY years.

New students: We have several students new to WES this year. Some have moved into town recently, a few have come to us through the C30 intra-district transfer policy and, of course, the Kindergarteners: K students - Oryn Gennarelli, Jack Hopkinson, Amelia Lowell, Tess McCallum, and Amelia Prime; Grade 1 - Malek Borni and Devon Gish-Bateman; Grade 4 - Ethan Castle, Everett Gish-Bateman, and Lyra Knapp; Grade 5 - Shep Robinson. Our enrollment this year is currently 50.

New staff this year: We are welcoming some returning and new staff this year. Mo Bissonette is returning to WES as a paraprofessional, working primarily in the 2/3 room. Rodrigo Placencia is our new Spanish teacher (Monday and Friday mornings) and Shavonne Kitchens is joining us as the new meals director. (Kathleen has moved into a new position with the ACSD meals program.) Miranda Moser, student teacher from Middlebury College, will joining the 4/5 class through December. There are one or two paraprofessional positions that have not been filled at this time, but hopefully will be this week.

Meals (breakfast & lunch) information: I will be sending out a second newsletter Monday, 8/24, which will include meal ordering and service information. Once again all school meals served to youth (up to age 18) will be FREE.

Indoor/outdoor clothing and gear - All students (K-5) need the following:

• Sneakers - especially for P.E Tuesdays and Thursdays to ensure safe movement. Students will not be able to participate in P.E. without sneakers.

• Best planning of all: Please send your child to school with sneakers or other shoes that are made for running and jumping starting on Day 1. The classroom teachers incorporate indoor and outdoor movement activities throughout each day. Students often choose to wear footwear that doesn’t lend itself to active play. That’s okay, but please be sure they bring active-play shoes, as well as boots for rainy and snowy days.

• A complete change of clothes (yes, for all grades!) including socks and underwear (to be kept in their backpack) - various spills and muddy play are part of school life.

• Rain boots, rain pants and rain jackets.

• Snowboots, snow pants, winter coat, hat, mittens or gloves.

We do have some outdoor clothes and extra sneakers on hand but their use should not become habitual. Please help your student become responsible for bringing the gear they need for the day. Thanks for your help with this.

School bus updates and routes: The Addison Central School Board provides students the opportunity to be transported on school-contracted busing. It should be understood that this transportation is a privilege. Route efficiency, safety, distance and time are taken into consideration when planning bus routes. New this year - BUS NUMBERS. The implementation of a streamlined bus numbering system replaces former color-coded and town-specific labels with a unified Bus #1–#19 sequence to simplify route identification for families. Weybridge bus numbers are #17 (Bobbie Jo) and #18 (Stitch). WES 26-27 bus routes linked here. Bus routes are posted at the beginning of each year and are sent to families, posted on the school website and are published in the Addison Independent. Parents are asked to please contact the Principal to discuss any concerns.

After school transportation: Be sure to notify Shannon Minor if there are any changes in your child’s regular after school plans well before the end of the day. Please call the school (802-545-3302), text the school cell phone (802-349-5305) or email Shannon: sminor@acsdvt.org.

Thanks.

Lunch volunteers: If you would like to volunteer to help with lunch prep and service (11:00-12:00) please sign up here for August/September dates. No experience needed! If you are new to volunteering, you will need to apply here.

Please look for another newsletter from me Monday 8 2024, and email me cjohnston@acsdvt.org or call if you have any questions (802-545-3301).

See you soon! Christina

Do you need child care for your 3-5-year-old? Our new Shoreham preschool has openings for children who will be 3-years-old by September 1, 2026! Our Shoreham preschool program will open in Fall 2026. It runs for 35 weeks per year and is free for all participants. The program has 2 licensed teachers and is open to all children. Read more about our ACSD preschool program here and fill out this form to apply. Share this link with friends and neighbors with young children!