Family Newsletter

September 18, 2025
*Click here for a mobile-friendly view
In This Issue ...
🌿 District Updates
- Message from Mark
- EWSD Guiding Principles for AI Use
- School Breakfast and Lunch
- Complete the Annual Update in PowerSchool
- CTE Preschool Openings
- We Are Hiring!
✨ Happenings
📰 EWSD in the News
📌 Upcoming Events
- Understanding AI - Series for Families
- No School Reminder
- Special Education Parent Advisory Council (SEPAC)
- EWSD Inclusive Holidays & Recognition Days Calendar
Message from Mark
EWSD Guiding Principles for AI Use
As artificial intelligence (AI) is on people's minds these days, the EWSD Technology Department would like to remind you of the AI Guidance work the District undertook last school year.
We continue to learn more on this very relevant topic. Also, please see the 'Understanding AI' event for families below in the upcoming events.
School Breakfast and Lunch
Breakfast and lunch are available every day for every student at no cost to the student! We encourage your child to take advantage of these healthy, delicious meals that support focus, energy, and learning.
- Breakfast is quick and easy to grab each morning at school - a great way to start the day without the rush at home.
- Lunch offers a variety of balanced options to keep students fueled all afternoon.
Complete the Annual Update in PowerSchool
Reminder for Families: Please complete the Annual Update in PowerSchool if you haven’t already. Some students are unable to access classroom materials because the "Google Additional Services" question was left unanswered. You should have received several reminder emails with the link and details—please take a few minutes to complete this important step. Thank you for your support!
CTE Preschool Openings
The CTE Preschool has openings for the 2025-26 school year for children ages 3-5 years old. Our age cut off is three years old by September 15. Families do not need to live in Essex to attend, we have families from many neighboring communities.
Our program is Reggio Emilia inspired with a small class size & outdoor explore time daily with a low student to teacher ratio! Our school year runs from October 7- May 28 and follows the EWSD/CTE School Calendar
Our hours are:
10:30-2 p.m. on Tuesdays & Thursdays
10:30-1:30 p.m. on Wednesdays
Free Tuition! Full School Year Commitment Required. For more information, contact Melissa Brott.
We Are Hiring!
The Essex Westford School District has exciting opportunities for parents, family, and community members - apply today! Take a look at the following positions, and visit www.ewsd.org/jobs to learn more.
Currently Hiring:
CTE Student Earns Silver
CTE Dental Assisting student, Quyhn-Nhu Tran, won second place and a silver medal at the June 2025 SkillUSA Competition in Atlanta, GA. Her competition area was dental assisting. 🦷🪥😊
Celebrating Students
At the most recent Board meeting, Superintendent Mark Holodick celebrated two EHS ninth graders for their outstanding achievements - winning state-level poetry and art contests last spring! 🎉
PTO Event
The Hiawatha Parent Teacher Organization kicked-off its first event of the year - Popsicles on the Playground! 🍧🍧
Former NFL Player
The Essex Hornets football team met with former NFL player and Vermonter, Jason Foster. He talked to the team about the impact football had on his life as well as lessons it taught him. Jason pointed out that he would not be where he is today without football, the wonderful coaches and family support that he had around him.
EHS Junior to attend USC
Congrats to EHS junior Madeline Langlois, who recently committed to the University of South Carolina and will be a member of the school's equestrian team!
Westford Podcast
Westford Elementary School's Principal Marcie Lewis recently debuted her newest podcast - The Westford Way! Tune in to hear stories from Westford classrooms, SEL highlights, and math and literacy tips to try at home. Listen now on Spotify.
- 2025 back-to-school guide for EWSD: Building upgrades, extracurriculars and new staff (Essex Reporter)
- Property tax bills headed to Vermonters as education reform looms (WCAX)
- A hands-on learning project: Students build Center for Technology Essex's 30th home (Burlington Free Press)
- How much work goes into first day of school preparation? (WCAX)
- First day of school: EWSD welcomes back students (Essex Reporter)
- Varsity bass fishing hooks Vermont high school students (VPR)
- Vermont schools grapple with AI evolution (WCAX)
- Crossing guard finds keeping kids safe even more rewarding than expected (WCAX)
- Vermont school officials share safety plans after Minneapolis shooting (My NBC5)
- First Essex Westford school board meeting of the year sets committee assignments, announces EHS re-accreditation (Essex Reporter)
3 Essex High School students are National Merit Scholarship semi-finalists (Essex Reporter)
Albert D. Lawton’s seventh-graders establish food pantry on school grounds (Essex Reporter)
Meet Kolby Snellenberger: Hiawatha’s new principal (Essex Reporter)
Understanding AI - Series for Families
The EWSD is working closely with this group and our own Renee Langevin, a Digital Learning Leader at EHS, is one of the hosts of the podcast, ExplAInED. Tune in and learn!
No School Reminder
Reminder that there will be no school on Thursday, October 2. Please plan accordingly.
School will resume on Friday, October 3. For a full list of planned school closures, visit our school calendars online.
Special Education Parent Advisory Council (SEPAC)
The Special Education Parent Advisory Council (SEPAC) resumed meeting for the 2025-26 school year on September 15. Beginning in October, full SEPAC Meetings will continue to be held on the first Monday of each month from 6-7:30 p.m. All are welcome to attend. Complete this form to learn more about SEPAC and to receive the Google Meet details for each meeting.
EWSD Inclusive Holidays & Recognition Days Calendar
Sept. 22–Oct. 2 – Navratri: Hindu festival honoring Goddess Durga with vibrant dances and prayers.
-
Sept. 23 – Rosh Hashanah: Jewish New Year of reflection and renewal.
Oct. 1-2 – Yom Kippur: The most sacred day in Judaism, dedicated to atonement and fasting.
-
Oct. 2 – Maintenance & Custodian Appreciation Day: We recognize the hard-working people who help to take such good care of our buildings and facilities
-
Oct. 6–13 – Sukkot: Jewish harvest festival of gratitude, followed by Simchat Torah.
-
Oct. 10 – World Mental Health Day: Advocating for mental wellness worldwide.
Oct. 11 -- National Coming Out Day: Coming out means that someone is able to share with others who they are and what is important to them.
-
Oct. 13 – Indigenous Peoples’ Day: Reflecting on history and honoring Indigenous communities.
Additionally, during the month of October, we recognize Bullying Prevention, Domestic Violence Prevention, Down Syndrome Awareness, Dyslexia Awareness, Family History, Filipino-American Heritage, Italian-American Heritage, LGBTQIA+ History, National German Heritage, National Principals Month, and Polish-American Heritage.
For more information on each of these dates, visit the EWSD Calendar. If you’re aware of additional inclusive holidays or recognition days that are not already included on the EWSD calendar, please contact Sarah Warrington.
Event Information
More information on the work of the EWSD Board, which includes, agendas, minutes, and meeting takeaways, can be found online. Watch the meeting thanks to the Media Factory!