THE NEWSLETTER
March 31, 2023
REMINDER: DO NOT PASS CARS IN THE PICK UP / DROP OFF LINES. THIS IS VERY UNSAFE FOR OUR STUDENTS.
ADMINISTRATION UPDATE
Good Afternoon Families, Caregivers and Community Members,
2023-2024 - First Glance and Placement Process
In anticipation of our placement process, we wanted to let everyone know that the teams we are planning on for the 2023-2024 school year are in place. We ask that all families and caregivers with students in grades K-7th grade complete the following parent input form by April 17th.
The K-4 teaching teams are as follows:
Kindergarten - Sarah Cota and Beth Rowntree
Grade 1 - Michelle Filardi, Monica Lubic
Grade 2 - Danielle Hall-Potvin, Shannon Spellman and Devon Davis
Grade 3 - Linda Poirier and Sophie Hatch
Grade 4 - Katie Fraser and Dana Hanf
Special Educators are Lizzy Healy, Doug Pierson, and SLP Alyssa Jones
The teaching teams for grades 5-8th are the following:
Grade 5: Dave Baird (Math and Science) and Brian Loughlin (ELA and Social Studies)
Grade 6 : Chris Evans (Math and Science), Conor Emerson (ELA and Social Studies)
Grade 7/8 : Matt Lutz and Julia Beerworth (Humanities), Sarah Pierson (World Language)
Rachael Miller (Math) and Andrew Lounsbury (Science)
Special Educators are Betsy Martin, Beth Slater, Allison Carr, Angie Morin, and SLP Caroline Homan
Safety and Security
The concept of security is multi-faceted and every individual experiences a situation in their own unique manner. Schools are always refining our practices with new information and training to meet changing patterns in our student groups. It cannot be limited to the hours we have students in school and we cannot do it alone. In response to situations we have navigated in the last few weeks, I’d like to share how partnerships support CCS in keeping students and our staff safe.
Relationships, Relationships, Relationships - Humans of all ages are constantly navigating interactions and expectations from the people they spend time with. Do I belong? Am I valued for who I am and for what I believe? Am I accepted? Can I disagree with someone and still feel emotionally/socially connected? Can I navigate my own challenges without being alienated from my peers? What will happen if I make a mistake? CCS has a Social Emotional Curriculum. We have time set aside every day for advisory and morning meetings. We are staffed with highly-skilled mental health and behavioral professionals. We have passionate educators and coaching staff who are deepening their learning to recognize the impact of race, economically disadvantaged, gender identities, visible and invisible disabilities, to be trauma-informed and more.
What we need is a unanimous and resounding message that all of us belong- every student and every family- every similarity and every difference. How can we unite in this community to offer grace and forgiveness, seek empathy and understanding and to ensure connections are stronger than criticisms. Uniting on this may be the key to our safety, security and enduring wellbeing.
Youth Vaping - Amy Sayre is the CVSD Parent In coordinator and our CCS SAP counselor. She works with students in 5th -8th grade supporting wellness rotations, ally groups and community service projects. She has organized a community forum on Zoom on Youth Vaping- on April 13th 7-8PM. In my six years as an administrator, the technology for nicotine and cannabis delivery has evolved into tools that are nearly unidentifiable. We all should participate in this one hour session to learn about what to look for with delivery systems, signs of addiction, and where to turn for help. More information is included in this newsletter. Registration
A Digital World - Many times a week, we are addressing questions and concerns about students and their screen time. Coming out of the pandemic, we found our students craving connection and they turned to their devices to fill time and a need. Pulled three resources from our DLL and Director of Communications.
School Violence - As much as we wish we didn’t have to address the recent act of school violence in Nashville, this news has appeared on many of the social media platforms available to students. As we know, an act of school violence anywhere hits close to the heart for all of us. We offer the following resources, should you wish to facilitate conversations with your students or be faced with complex questions at home:
National Association of School Psychologists' Talking to Children About Violence: Tips for Parents and Teachers
Common Sense Media's How to Talk to Kids About School Shootings
Child Mind Institute's How to Talk to Kids About School Shootings:Strategies for dealing with anxiety — your kids' and your own
Community Partners - Charlotte Central School has partnerships with the Vermont State Police, The Shelburne Police Department, The Charlotte Fire and Rescue, Howard Center, Department for Children and Families. We complete schoolwide and staff-focused training to work through an entire scope of scenarios, in hopes that we will never have to face them in reality. Our District’s website offers insight to the work being done on all of our campuses.
Kind regards,
Jen
The above link will bring you to a page on the CCS webpage and we will do our best to provide regular updates and information regarding PCBs at Charlotte Central School.
IMPORTANT DATES TO REMEMBER
Wednesday, April 5
Early Dismissal, 1:40 start loading buses, 1:50 car pick up begins. AM & PM, please do not enter the front parking lot until all of the buses have departed.
Wednesday, April 12
Early Dismissal, 1:40 start loading buses, 1:50 car pick up begins. AM & PM, please do not enter the front parking lot until all of the buses have departed.
Thursday, April 13
ParentIn Panel on Youth Vaping, Virtual, 7:00pm - see below for registration details
Friday, April 14th
Wizard of Oz - MPR, 7:00pm performance. More information to follow.
Saturday, April 15th
Wizard of Oz - MPR 2:00pm matinee, 7:00pm evening performance. More information to follow
Wednesday, April 19
Early Dismissal, 1:40 start loading buses, 1:50 car pick up begins. AM & PM, please do not enter the front parking lot until all of the buses have departed.
Monday, April 24th through Friday April 28th
NO SCHOOL - Spring Break!
Wednesday, May 24
Early Dismissal, 1:40 start loading buses, 1:50 car pick up begins. AM & PM, please do not enter the front parking lot until all of the buses have departed.
Opening Day of the Vermont Lake Monsters!! CCS Night to support PTO & featuring CCS band performing National Anthem. Buy your tickets in advance from a CCS student for $8.00 and CCS will receive $4.00! (5:30 gates open, 6:35 first pitch)
Thursday, June 15th
CCS 8th grade graduation (and last day of school) - more details to follow
Friday, June 16th
K-7 - Last Day of School
NEA-EDUCATION SUPPORT PROFESSIONALS CONFERENCE
On March 10th Ainaka Luna, the Diversity, Equity and Inclusion coach for Charlotte and Hinesburg schools opened the NEA-Education Support Professionals Conference. Her Keynote: Unlearning our history to build Social Justice addressed the importance of exploring our past to understand today's inequities. She focused on the origin of the concepts of race and normalcy to recognize how certain sectors of society were elevated and centered over others in the modern world, and how to break discriminatory practices through our daily actions.
On March 18th at the NEA Representatives Assembly, Ainaka received the Human and Civil Rights award for her commitment for Social Justice and advocating for historically marginalized communities and equity in our schools.
ParentIn PANEL ON YOUTH VAPING
We hear from parents and caregivers, school staff, and others who care for youth in our communities that increased vape use among youth is one of their top concerns. We recently surveyed parents and caregivers in the area who repeated the same message: We are worried about all the teens we see vaping.
In this virtual event we have brought together experts to help us all learn more about today's Electronic Nicotine and Cannabis Delivery Systems and help us have more informed conversations with children about the impact these devices have on developing brains and bodies. We'll talk about resources to help our kids and have a chance to answer your questions. Mariah Flynn, Director of Burlington's substance misuse prevention coalition, the Burlington Partnership for a Healthy Community will share:
- What vapes are, harms of youth use, and examples of commonly used products
- How to recognize signs of youth vaping and how to talk to your kids about nicotine addiction
- Resources to support youth who need help to quit.
A multi-district panel of experts who serve and support our youth every day will share what they are seeing in their work and answer your questions
Facilitator: Amy Sayre, CVSD SAP and ParentIN Coordinator for the CVSD schools
Panelists:
- Sunnie Lobdell, BSD Hunt Middle School Student Assistance Program Counselor
- Matt Meunier, CVSD CVU High School Student Assistance Program Counselor
- Dr. Leah Costello, MD, Pediatric Specialist
- Mariah Flynn, Coalition Director, Burlington Partnership for a Healthy Community
Please share this opportunity widely and be sure to REGISTER HERE in order to receive reminders leading up to the event on April 13th at 7pm. For improved security, only registrants will receive the Zoom link via e-mail about a day in advance, so please check your email and/or spam filters.
Direct any questions or access needs to one of the e-mail addresses below:
Sign up to receive first notification of all our events like these at bphc.link/news
ARE YOU INTERESTED IN HELPING WITH THE SPRING MUSICAL PRODUCTION?
Alex Hudson, the Director of CCS’ spring musical (The Wizard of Oz) is looking for parents and caregivers who are interested in helping with set design, set up and other production-related logistics. You can contact her directly at ccstheater@cvsdvt.org.
Last December, CCS received $536 from Hannaford that was used to cover field trip expenses for families who need assistance.
CVSD GRANTS
CVSD benefits from a number of federal grants to support our system. A key factor for some of these grants is the desire and need to engage students, families, and community members in decisions about how to best use these funds to support our students. We invite you to send your feedback to Sarah Crum, Director of Learning & Innovation, at scrum@cvsdvt.org or submit feedback through the Academics Let's Talk button on our website.
You can find information about all of our grants on our website, cvsdvt.org, under Curriculum: Grants. We are specifically seeking input regarding our investments for the Title IV federal grant which is intended to improve students' academic achievement by increasing the capacity to 1) Provide all students with access to a well-rounded education; 2) Improve school conditions for student learning; and 3) Improve the use of technology in order to improve the academic achievement and digital literacy of all students.
2023 SUMMER CAMPS
This list of summer camps is provided as a convenience to Charlotte families. CCS does not endorse any particular camp but provides the list as informational only.
CVSD Band Camp - August 14 - 18 - for more information please contact Tim Buckingham at tbuckingham@cvsdvt.org
Jazz Jivin' Summer Camp - June 26 - 30, Isham Family Farm. Available for rising 5th through 9th graders. More information and registration at willistoncommunitytheatre.com. $25 discount if registered by February 15th.
Must Love Yarn Fiber Arts Summer Camp - half day, one week long summer camps in Shelburne. Ages 8-12. See flyer.
Summer Symphony Camp - June 26 - 30 - learn more at www.VYO.org
UVM AgroTek Innovation Camps - UVM Extension’s 4-H Program invites rising 8th-12th
graders to apply for one of three, free, residential summer academies held on the UVM campus June 25-30. Deadline to apply, April 7th.Vermont Jazz Camp - July 24 - 28 - for details please visit www.vtjazzcamp.com
ABOUT US
Jen Roth, Lead Principal, Grades K-6
Courtney Krahn, Assistant Principal, Grades 7-8
Beth Slater, Director of Special Services
The Newsletter is published every Friday, when school is in session. It is delivered to our families via email, posted on our website, and on Front Porch Forum. A hard copy is available by contacting the school.