EWSD News
News for EWSD Families and Community Members
February 17, 2020
*Reminder - School Break: February 24 - March 3!
In This Issue ...
District Updates
EWSD Budget Update and Open Board Seats
Prekindergarten Registration is Now Open!
FMS Students Look to End Homelessness!
EWSD Earns LED Light Grant
Summit Street Green Team Helps Reduce Waste
ADL to Host 50th-Annual Basketball Tournament
EHS Global Leadership Program Receives Italian Language Grant
Food for Thought: A Look Into Local School Lunches
EWSD In The News
Happenings
Upcoming Events
Save the Date - Fine Arts Night is March 17
Save the Date - Multicultural Potluck is May 30
Keep Up With the EWSD Board
EWSD Job Opportunities
Important Links
Having trouble reading the news on your phone? Click anywhere in the document to open a web browser for a mobile-friendly view!
District Updates
EWSD Budget Update and Open Board Seats
The EWSD Board will finalize the FY21 EWSD Budget and sign the annual warning at their next meeting on Tuesday, February 18 starting at 6:30 p.m. in the EHS Library.
Questions about the budget? Visit the budget page online for presentation slides, meeting videos, minutes, and more!
There are also four Board seats that will be open in April. If you know of someone who is interested in running, petitions are due by Monday, March 9!
Prekindergarten Registration is Now Open!
Fill out the registration form and learn more here!
EWSD Earns LED Light Grant
In December 2019, the EWSD took part in a program for schools and businesses offered by Efficiency Vermont in partnership with Needham Electric based in Rutland, VT. Under the guidelines, schools and businesses had the opportunity to receive 200 free LED 2' x 2' flat panel lights based on size.
The EWSD qualified for 3,000 lights through the program and so far, about 200 light fixtures have been replaced. Read more about this grant and its benefits.
Summit Street Green Team Helps Reduce Waste
ADL to Host 50th-Annual Basketball Tournament
The annual ADL Basketball Tournament is a timeless local tradition. For years, several schools from all around the area have gathered for four nights of electrifying fun. However, this year’s tournament is quite special: 2020 marks the tournament’s 50th anniversary!
Don't miss what is believed to be the oldest middle school basketball tournament in the country February 19-22!
EHS Global Leadership Program Receives Italian Language Grant
Essex High School's Global Leadership Program (GLP) has received a grant from the Centro Attività Scolastiche Italiane (CASIT), in conjunction with the Italian Ministry of Foreign affairs and the Consulate General of Italy of Boston.
The grant will allow GLP to offer instruction in the Italian language on a pilot basis during the second semester of the academic year at EHS, as 25 students were accepted into the class which started on January 29.
Food for Thought: A Look Into Local School Lunches
The stereotype that school lunches are gross is everywhere in mainstream media. This stigma, like any, has worked its way into the brains of students all over the country and manifested into a distaste for the food they put on their plates.
The EWSD sources its lunch ingredients from as many local sources as possible. From Chapin Orchards to Misty Knoll Farm, from Pastabilities to Pomykala Farm, our district is dedicated to ensuring that lunch is made from healthy, nearby sources.
Read more about this effort in a piece by EHS junior Mikaela Perrin.
EWSD In the News
Founders Memorial fourth graders bring concerns about homelessness to Vermont State House (Essex Reporter)
Essex High’s recycling, composting app selected as Vermont winner for national STEM competition (Essex Reporter)
Thank you' to Essex, Westford communities (Essex Reporter)
Winners Announced For 2019 BroadwayWorld Vermont Awards (Broadway World Vermont)
Essex’s Nathan Wu gets soloist gig in VYO’s Flynn concert (Essex Reporter)
Sixth-grade students make snow shelters (MyNBC5)
EMS takes first, EHS wins Metro Division at NVAC cheerleading competition (Essex Reporter)
Vermont Sports Hall of Fame unveils inductees for 2020 (Burlington Free Press)
GMT driver denies access, rides to EWSD students (Essex Reporter)
Essex students not required to show ID on city buses (WCAX)
Essex runner Henry Farrington repeats as Gatorade award winner for Vermont (Burlington Free Press)
Isham, Root to head EHS varsity boys' lax, baseball (Essex Reporter)
Twin Talents Nathan and Henry Wu Solo in Vermont Youth Orchestra (Seven Days)
9-year-old inspires fire department to host life-saving event (MyNBC5)
Essex sweeps indoor track and field championships for 1st time since 2013 (Burlington Free Press)
Happenings
2020 Presidential Scholar
CTE student Maryam Alchaderchi was honored as a 2020 Presidential Scholar Nominee - Outstanding Career and Technical Education Student.
The Vermont Presidential Scholars Program recognizes students for academic success, artistic and technical excellence, community service, and leadership. Students are selected based on nominations from teachers and administrators.
Drive for Education Grants
Kathryn Gray's fifth grade class at Founders Memorial School accepted a $1,500 grant through Berlin City Kia's Drive for Education grant program recently! The money will be used by the team for students who need financial assistance with the end-of-the-year Boston field trip.
Also, Angela Mack's class was awarded a $1,000 grant, which they will use for flexible seating.
Marine Biologist Visit
Solve for Tomorrow Winner
Community Service and Learning
Students at FMS took part in community service and learning projects on MLK Jr. Day. Students worked on a variety of kindness projects including:
- Decorating valentines that will be given to elderly residents and military personnel.
- Decorating 'kindness bags,' which is a paper grocery bag decorated with kind words.
- Making birthday treat bags with a cake mix, frosting, and candles to donate to Aunt Dot's.
- Dog treats and toys for both dogs and cats.
- Creating a "kindness mural" and posters.
National Art Honor
Congrats to Ronak, a student at Summit Street School, who was recently honored by finishing in third place in a national art competition for students who are blind or visually impaired!
The APH InSights Art Competition and Exhibition is an international contest that has allowed artists who have vision loss the opportunity to share their creative imagination with the world. Around 500 entries in all types of media are received each year. Judges from Louisville’s education and art community select pieces for display at the APH Annual Meeting in October.
Upcoming Events
Save the Date - Fine Arts Night is March 17
This extraordinary production will feature visual art, music, theatre, and film created and performed by the talented youth from our schools.
There will be a K-12 exhibition of 2-D and 3-D visual art in the library and the main hallways. Film presentations will be shown in the AV space. There will be musical buskers, a visual art installation, vocal and instrumental performers, refreshments, and more.
Save the Date - Multicultural Potluck is May 30
EWSD Social Media
EWSD Board Budget Work Session
Tuesday, Feb 18, 2020, 06:30 PM
Essex High School, Educational Drive, Essex Junction, VT, USA
EWSD Job Opportunities
Important Links
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