EWSD News
News for EWSD Families and Community Members
March 16, 2022
*Reminder - No School on March 18 or March 21
In This Issue ...
District Updates
Learn About the Proposed FY'23 EWSD Budget
Progress on LGBTQIA+ Affirming Education Practices & Environments
Chromebooks are Essential to Student Success
EWSD To Take Part in Online Climate Survey
A Resource to Help Foster Family Conversations about Current Events
Special Education Parent Advisory Council (SEPAC) Update
April Inclusive Holidays and Celebrations on the EWSD Calendar
Happenings
Upcoming Events/Resources
EWSD Social Media
Learn About the Proposed FY'23 EWSD Budget
On Feb. 15, the EWSD Board approved the FY'23 recommended budgets for the EWSD and Center for Technology, Essex, which will be presented to voters in April.
EWSD Budget Information
- Budget Work Sessions - Slides/Minutes/Video
- Approved Warning
- To help our families and community members learn more about the EWSD's proposed FY'23 budget, we have created a series of videos to help explain some of the focus areas.
Upcoming Dates
- Tuesday, April 5 - Public Informational Meeting at Essex High School (6:30 p.m.)
- Tuesday, April 12 - Vote (7 a.m. to 7 p.m.); Village of Essex Junction residents vote at Essex High School; Town Outside of the Village residents vote at Essex Middle School; Westford residents vote at Westford School
EWSD To Take Part in Online Climate Survey
We wanted to remind our families that the EWSD has partnered with YouthTruth, a national nonprofit organization that supports hundreds of schools and districts across the county by conducting anonymous surveys on a school/district’s behalf.
During the month of April, the EWSD will work with YouthTruth to conduct an online climate survey for students (grades 3-12), staff, and families! We will share more information once the dates have been finalized.
Their surveys are research-based, produce action-oriented data, and will help us compare our results with grade-level, school-level, and district-level reports, but also to other similar schools on a regional and national level. The student, family, and staff feedback will fuel inclusive school improvement. If you would like to view a list of the questions that will be part of the student survey, please email EWSD Communications Coordinator Ben Dickie (bdickie@ewsd.org).
Progress on LGBTQIA+ Affirming Education Practices & Environments
The EWSD Equity Policy calls for all of our educational environments to be LGBTQIA+ affirming. This means that families and students of the LGBTQIA+ community will see representation of their identities in the context of teacher practices, curricular materials, as well as in the school environment. Use of the pronouns requested by students, access to bathrooms and locker rooms based on students’ identified gender, and forms that do not situate people into a heteronormative forced-choice are all part of this work.
The EWSD has been participating in several areas of focus to ensure we are making progress toward being an LGBTQIA+ affirming educational space, although there is definitely more to be done. Click here to view some examples of the work. These examples are provided for information and not to deny that there is much to be done. This communication is designed to both reiterate the expectations of the policy as well as share how this is happening with our entire EWSD community.
If you have any questions about this, please be sure to speak to your building-based contacts, or you can also reach out to talk with Erin Maguire, Director of Equity & Inclusion.
Chromebooks are Essential to Student Success
The EWSD has provided a Chromebook computing device to every student in the EWSD. We are finding, chiefly at the middle and high school level, that students are often not showing up to class with their Chromebook, and often, if they do bring it, it is not charged.
The EWSD will not provide multiple computing devices for students to have one at home and one at the school. The expectation is that students carry the Chromebook with them at all times to be prepared for classroom and homework learning.
Please ask your student about their Chromebook use. We are missing a number of these devices and regularly 'run out' of the limited 'spares' that we have at EHS. Students need to bring the Chromebooks to class!
Please help remind your student about this expectation and IF you see a Chromebook in your home, please send it back in. We do keep a record and soon will need to charge families for Chromebooks that have been missing while recorded as being in a students' possession. Thank you for your help!
If you have any questions, please reach out to the EWSD Helpdesk (802-857-7777 or helpdesk@ewsd.org).
A Resource to Help Foster Family Conversations about Current Events
Special Education Parent Advisory Council (SEPAC) Update
April Inclusive Holidays and Celebrations on the EWSD Calendar
As March comes to an end, we recognize Transgender Day of Visibility on March 31. Also known as TDOV, this day of visibility is dedicated to recognizing the resilience and accomplishments of the transgender and gender-nonconforming communities. We encourage the use of this resource from GLSEN by educators and students to better understand gender terminology, the critical role of allies and advocates, and more about trans narratives.
Ramadan, observed by Muslims worldwide, begins on the evening of April 2 and ends on the evening of May 2 (the dates for Ramadan vary around the world because they are based on the moon cycles).
Utilize these links with helpful resources to talk about and recognize April awareness months at home:
Look for more information about Equal Pay Day (April 2), the National Day of Silence (April 8), and the Qingming Festival (April 10) on the EWSD calendar!
EWSD in the News
Vt. schools, parents weigh in on unmasking policy (WCAX)
Local Commotion: National Divisions on Race and Equity Are Roiling Vermont School Boards (Seven Days)
An Essex Westford school board subcommittee has drafted a monitoring report of the new code of conduct (Essex Reporter)
Montpelier's LaCroix, Essex shine at Vermont H.S. gymnastics state championships (Burlington Free Press)
Vermont schools respond to state masking guidance as students go on winter break (MyNBC5)
Journalist, author Aarti Shahani reflects on family, immigration and career with Essex High students (VPR)
Advocates say push for free meals in Vermont schools taking too long (WCAX)
EHS Global Leadership students get life advice from journalist Aarti Shahani (Essex Reporter)
Essex High School appoints Ethan Curtis as football coach following Richards' departure (Burlington Free Press)
Nectar's, famous for Phish and gravy fries, puts a finer touch on its food offerings (Burlington Free Press)
Essex Westford School District makes masks optional (WCAX)
With federal funding expiring, do Vt. lawmakers have appetite for universal school meals? (WCAX)
Vermont Students Walk Out to Protest Anti-LGBTQ Measures (Seven Days)
Happenings
Meeting the Lt. Governor
Sweet Work
Author Visit
Upcoming Events/Resources
“The Sum of Us” Community Book Talk (May 4)
Voices for Inclusion in Essex and Westford (VIEW) & Phoenix Books will hold a virtual, community conversation about the book, The Sum of Us: What Racism Costs Everyone and How We Can Prosper Together, by Heather McGhee on May 4 from 7-8 p.m.
A New York Times bestseller, The Sum of Us provides "a powerful exploration of inequality and the lesson that generations of Americans have failed to learn: Racism has a cost for everyone—not just for people of color."
Participants can choose to read the book or listen to/watch several author talks and interviews (i.e. podcasts, TEDTalks) chosen by the organizers prior to the conversation date. To register, go to tinyurl.com/viewbooktalk. Questions can be directed to Michelle Teegarden at mteegarden@essex.org.
EWSD Board Meeting
The Media Factory will broadcast the meeting on Facebook Live and it will also be available via Zoom Webinar.
More information on the work of the EWSD Board, which includes, agendas, minutes, and meeting takeaways, can be found online.
Tuesday, Mar 22, 2022, 06:30 PM
EHS Library
EWSD Social Media
About Us
Email: bdickie@ewsd.org
Website: www.ewsd.org
Location: 58 Founders Road, Essex Junction, VT, USA
Phone: 802-878-8168
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/essexwestford/
Twitter: @EssexWestford