Cougar Chronicle

On the Monday back from break there will be a menu change. Please see below:

Lunch

Chicken Patty on a Bun

Sweet Potato Fries

4/21-4/25 - April Break - No school for students

4/21-4/25 - Community Connections Spring Day Camp

4/22 - KB Basketball Training - April Break Camp

4/23 - KB Basketball Training - April Break Camp

5/1 - Pre-K Screening

5/1 - Green-up/Clean-up Day

5/2 - Green-up/Clean-up Day Rain Date

5/2 - A Break (For Parents) After April Break!

5/5-5/9 - Teacher Appreciation Week

5/7 - Donate Blood in Honor of Lei

5/9 - 3rd and 4th Grade Field Trip to the State House and Vermont History Museum

5/19 - Coffee and Conversations with the Superintendent

5/31 - Out Run the Floods 5k

6/24 - Last day of school for students

We’ve asked staff to start sharing positive stories each week and this week there has been so much to share.

Students: I came to school early this morning, and saw student near the front door. They were about to go in. They saw me at the very end of the sidewalk just starting to come up to the school. They opened the door and I expected them to just rush in and the door would slam behind him. Instead, they opened the door and just stood there holding the door open until I came up to the door and he let me in, holding the door the entire time I walked up the sidewalk! I was astonished as even most adults don't hold a door open for someone when they are so far behind them. Thank you, you made my day!! You're awesome!

Staff: To all of our staff - this week was one CRAZY week and you all handle it with such a positive mindset and with flexibility. Thank you all for making the best of a crappy situation!

Dear Parents,

Understanding our school’s culture, climate and the engagement of our students is important to us. Our district will be using climate surveys to gather information about how things are going in our schools. We will distribute these surveys to families, staff and students. The information we gather from these surveys will be reviewed and analyzed in our building so that we can set goals for ourselves; in addition, our WCUUSD Board will review district-level themes to inform their work.

Your participation in this survey is important to us! Your feedback will be confidential and anonymous.

Please find a link to the parent/guardian survey here.

When we return from Spring Break, I will be teaching lessons during Guidance class that

will feature a state curriculum called Care for Kids and We Care Elementary programs for

all grade levels.

Care for Kids is a program for students K-2 that features a unit that teaches and

reinforces 2 to 4 simple, age-appropriate messages via a circle time, a book, and an activity

or craft. The activities are designed to compliment the fact that children of this age

group learn naturally through play and use schemas to assimilate new information.

Information is presented in a matter-of-fact way using anatomically correct language.

For students in grades 3-6, The We Care Elementary curriculum includes six lessons

at each grade level. Each grade focuses on different topics related to healthy

relationships. We Care Elementary moves beyond the concrete and physical nature of the

Care for Kids lessons, capitalizing on children’s capacity for generalizing information and

reflecting on their emotions and experiences.

*ACT One Vermont State Mandate: An Act Relating to Improving Vermont’s Sexual Abuse

Response System Educating Kids and Adults to Help Prevent Child Sexual Abuse in

Vermont (From the VT Department of Children and Families and Prevent Child Abuse VT).

This act was signed into law in March of 2009 and is available to view at

http://www.leg.state.vt.us/docs/2010/Acts/Act001.pdf

It includes several mandatesfor Vermont school,including:

1. Educating children about sexual abuse

2. Educating school staff about child sexual abuse; and

3. Informing parents about child sexual abuse. Information available:

http://dcf.vermont.gov/sites/dcf/files/pdf/protectkids/GuideforParent.pdf

We are looking for volunteers to help us with our Green-up/Clean-up Day!! Please see the information below:

Date: May 1, 2025

Rain Date: May 2, 2025

Time: 9:30-12:00

Where: On school grounds (gardens, and playground area), walking the roadside near the school and going by bus to a roadside in Calais.

If you are interested in volunteering for this event, please fill out this form here.

We are also looking to borrow some of the following tools:

• Rakes
• Trowels
• Watering cans
• Wheelbarrows
• Garden Hoes

We will take gentle care of these items and will return them as soon as possible!! If you are able to donate any of these for a day or two, please fill out this form here or reach out to Danielle in the office at dmackay@u32.org.

Our Guidance Counselor, Ms. Ruth, is working on organizing a field trip for all of our students to go to Rhythm of the Rein in Marshfield, VT. Here is a link to their website which outlines what their non-profit organization does and how each student would benefit from this experience.

But, in order for us to be able to go we need your help in reaching our fundraising goal of $1,000. Check out the flyer below for a fundraising event that we are hosting at Calais Elementary on May 2nd. All proceeds will go towards this field trip.

Sign up form below

Please help us bring breakfast items throughout the week for staff appreciation week of 5/5-5/9. Doors are open 7-9am and will lock at 9am. There are 28 staff members. Thanks!

Link to sign up form.

Update on Measles

Dear Calais Families, Students and Staff,

Throughout the month of March, students will have the opportunity to explore college and careers in Guidance class. Students will learn more about different professions, college and skill requirements needed and a general description of the work entailed in each profession presented.

If anyone is interested in coming in to talk with students during Guidance class about their college or career, please complete the response form below. Presentations can be anywhere from 5-15 minutes in length. You may drop it off at the Calais Elementary Office or in the Counselor's room in the Learning Center.

I look forward to hearing from you and feel free to stop by or call if you have any questions at 802-454-7777 ext 105.

Kind Regards,

Ruth Frisenda

Link to the response form here.

Calais is home to an incredible Preschool program and we want all of our parents of 3-4 year olds to consider enrolling their children in our program for the 2025-2026 school year. The more children we have sign up for Preschool the more we might be able to offer.

Please check out the website below for more information and if you have any questions, don’t hesitate to reach out.

WCUUSD Preschool Registration Information

We are thrilled to welcome Rebecca (Bec) Dezan as our new Community School Coordinator. Bec is a long-time educator and consultant who has worked with our community in the past. She has an array of experiences as a teacher and school culture coordinator in a diverse range of contexts. As you know, the Community School Model is designed to strengthen the relationship between schools and their surrounding communities, ensuring that students, families, and educators benefit from a holistic, well-supported learning environment. Bec is well-positioned to learn our community quickly and to work to build connections across the boundaries of schools and towns. Please join me in welcoming Bec back to the WCUUSD Community, and be on the lookout for more information from her about how you can be involved in the work.

The 5/6ers are working on projects that help out both CES and the Calais community. This week they decided to start with creating a mini food shelf at CES.

6th grader, Katie is taking the lead with a large donation from her family. If you would like to participate please drop of non-perishables at CES during school hours.

The food that is donated is available to everyone so please help yourself, at any time, no questions asked.

Today we are interviewing Myles (yay).

His favorite color is pink and brown.

His least favorite color is rose.

His favorite food is tacos.

HIs least favorite food is salad.

His favorite animal is a panda.

His least favorite animal is a cockroach.

His favorite sweet food is donuts.

His least favorite sweet food is almond joys.

When he grows up he wants to be a father.

Bye for now!

April Breakfast and Lunch Menus

We are continuing to move forward with our “Humanity & Justice Coalition” working to ensure all people feel heard, welcome, and safe at Calais Elementary and in our community. We’ve even got a new name - “Humanity and Justice, Calais”. This will be our celebration of all that makes us who we are and will work to ensure we will always be a community that welcomes and respects all people.

As we push forward we are engaging our students to gather their input and help them to drive the process. If you ever have any questions, please feel free to reach out to me and be sure to talk with your students - those conversations are going to be critical. This is something we believe is important and I personally want to ensure that all viewpoints are heard and all people have a stake in this work. Do not hesitate to reach out to me personally with any questions.

- Jarrod

This summer the U32 Boys and Girls Varsity Coaching Staff will be hosting a Summer Basketball Skills Camp July 14-18th. A summer basketball camp is a great way for our kids to get together, develop skills, play the game and have fun with friends. Establishing this camp as a way to build foundational skills, build culture and promote basketball in our local community. Coach Olivia, Coach Medosa and members of both varsity teams will be coaching, teaching and developing relationships with our upcoming hoopers!! Proceeds from the camp will be used to support both the Girls and Boys Basketball Programs at U32.

U32 Raider Basketball Camp

Dear Calais Families,

We will be starting the Backpack program soon here at Calais Elementary School for families. The program is designed to provide families with children who attend Calais, the necessary food and clothing that they may need throughout the school year. Food and Gift bags will be dispensed in a discreet and caring manner. This program runs the full school year on a weekly basis with exception to student breaks and summer. This includes winter clothing, Thanksgiving and Christmas presents, in addition. There is no cost associated with this program. If you wish for your child to participate in the program, please sign below and return this letter to the school in your child's folder or drop it off at the Main Office by next Friday. Thank you and please let us know if you have any questions or any needs for your child at any time.

Feel free to email me at rfrisenda@u32.org or call 802-454-7777 ext 105 at any time.

Sincerely,

Ruth Frisenda

School Counselor

Calais Elementary School

2024-2025 Family Handbook

Volunteer Program Form

Calais Parent Advisory Interest Form

Calais Cougar Online Merchandise Store

Elementary and Middle School:

Afternoon in the Children's Library

Join us every weekday between 3:30 and 5PM for games and activities in the Children's Library! Fuse Beads on Monday, Yarn Club on Tuesday, Chess on Wednesday, Pokemon on Thursday and Legos on Friday.

We're excited to share that we have openings for boys in Sessions 1 and 2 this summer! While our girls' sessions are currently full and have started waitlisting, we still encourage families to add their children to the waitlist in case spots become available.

Get some before Town Meeting!

Dear Colleagues and Neighbors - The Town of Calais has received hundreds and hundreds of at-home Covid-19 antigen rapid tests; plenty to share!

Expiration Date: July 2, 2025

Please reply via email to let us know if you would like some, and when you would like to come pick them up from the Calais Town Office (sorry, no deliveries). See our business hours below.

Let's keep everyone healthy and safe!

Barbara Butler, Calais Assistant Town Clerk

Teegan Dykeman-Brown, Town Clerk

Barbara Butler, Assistant Town Clerk / Assistant Treasurer

Town of Calais, VT

3120 Pekin Brook Road, East Calais, VT 05650

802.456.8720

www.calaisvermont.gov

Hours of Operation: Monday-Thursday, 9:00am to 4:00pm; Closed Fridays.

All Land/Title/Deed research or vault time is by appointment only.

No cash transactions.

Our staff spent time with Sally Russell from Youth First Mentoring. There are some incredible opportunities for our young people through mentoring and this is something we hope you explore if your child would be interested. We are happy to help connect you and help with the process if this is something you want to explore for your child. Check out this local organization at → https://youthfirstmentoring.org/

Type in your zip code or county to find different resources in your area!

https://www.navigateresources.net/211vermont/

https://resourcevt.org/essential-goods-program/#

https://www.amysarmoire.org/

Prevent Child Abuse - Vermont

5 Tips to Ease Back-to-School Anxiety

April Birthdays

2nd Grade ECO

Exploring Careers in Guidance Class