Calais Cougar Chronicle
April 12th, 2024
Chat with Ms. Cat
Hello Calais Cougars,
This week kicked off with the Total Eclipse of the Sun on Monday and Tuesday brought in many amazing stories from students and staff! So much excitement coming off the long weekend made it a little tricky to embrace the start of state testing in grades 3-6 but I am super impressed with our students. Sitting and testing for long periods of time, even when we chunk it up into smaller sections, is so hard. By today, we are down to just a few students needing to finish up and they will get a little more time to finish up next week while 5th graders do their science portion. We did sweeten the testing conditions a little by adding some fun snacks by Chef Dena, Ms. Danielle, and Ms. Dena and the students were happy to have them. Teachers also offered as many brain breaks and outside time as possible and our students deserved every minute of those breaks. I’m so proud of their hard work!
Next week, our 5/6 band will go to U32 in the morning to meet up with their peers from around the district to prepare for the annual WCUUSD Music Day. There will be a celebration of their learning with a concert at U32 on Thursday evening and all are welcome to attend. It should be fabulous.
Lastly, I’d like to call your attention to the monthly newsletter just sent out by Meagan Roy, our superintendent of schools. In that newsletter there is really important information about how you can help with our budget revote on May 7th. Please do your part by getting the word out on this vote. We need your help!
Ms. Cat, CES principal
Nurse's Note
Vermont Spring is in full swing - that means rain, snow, mud, sunshine and everything in between! Please remember to send in rain gear, mud boots, sneakers and layers EVERY DAY for your student. The temperatures during the day are pleasant, but not if you or your clothes are wet. For students in 3rd grade and under, please make sure your student has a change of clothes here at school.
This Spring we are also struggling with lice here at Calais. We have several students with lice in several different classrooms. According to the CDC, head lice are not known to transmit any disease and therefore are not considered a health hazard. However, they sure can be a nuisance!
Head lice infestations can be asymptomatic, particularly with a first infestation or when an infestation is light. Itching is the most common symptom of head lice infestation and is caused by an allergic reaction to louse bites. It may take 4–6 weeks for itching to appear the first time a person has head lice.
Other symptoms may include the following:
A tickling feeling or a sensation of something moving in the hair
Irritability and sleeplessness
Sores on the head caused by scratching, which can sometimes become infected with bacteria normally found on a person’s skin.
Please take the time to check your student for lice, or nits. Nits are small white eggs found within the first ¼ inch of hair growth. If your student has lice, our protocol is that they should be treated before returning to school. The CDC recommends treating active infestations twice, nine days apart. This takes into consideration the life cycle of a louse, and ensures the killing of all lice in all phases.
Please reach out to Nurse Maria with any questions or concerns at 802-454-7777 ext 116 or mmelekos@u32.org.
Menu Change
4/10 and 4/15 lunches that are on the lunch calendar will be swapped:
4/10 - Cheesy Noodles with Beef, Peas and Carrots
4/15 - Fish Sticks, Noodles, Peas
WCUUSD - Calais Pre-K Screening Details
Information, Registration, Introductions, and Screenings
The Washington Central Unified Union School District registration process is available online for the 2024-2025 school year.
The Pre-K and K registration process must be completed for students who are attending our public school programs and students who are attending private, pre-qualified programs through Act 166 in 2024-2025.
Registration for Pre-K 3 is for students who are 3 years old on or before September 1, 2024. Pre-K 4 is for students who are 4 or 5 years old (5 years old and not enrolled in Kindergarten) on or before September 1, 2024 from the towns of Berlin, Calais, East Montpelier, Middlesex, and Worcester.
Kindergarten is for children who turn age 5 on or before September 1, 2024. If you have not recently moved in to our district and your child already attends public Pre-K, they are already registered for Kindergarten in our district.
Please go to our website at www.wcuusd.org and follow the directions after clicking the icon titled "Online Registration" located under the slides on the right-hand side of our website or you will find more information, including forms, under the "Pre-K Information" in the same area.
If registering for public Pre-K in your local elementary school, it is strongly suggested that families complete the online registration process by as soon as possible. We will begin offering placements to students in the late spring. For Pre-K placements 4 year olds are given priority until the 3/29/24 date and then students are placed on a first-come-first-served basis, space is limited. If necessary, we will create a waitlist and will offer spots in our public Pre-K programs, also on a first come, first served basis. All registration paperwork must be completed before a placement will be offered.
WCUUSD offers childcare options through Community Connections in order to increase access to public Pre-K programs.
Please contact Kim Bolduc, Coordinator of Early Education and Expanded Learning Opportunities at Kbolduc@u32.org or 223-7936 ext. 305 if you have any questions regarding Pre-Kindergarten, Act 166, or Community Connections before or after care options. Please include the town you live in your email or message.
We will be offering Pre-K play-based Introduction and Screening opportunities for each school as follows:
Berlin: Monday, March 25th & April 1st call 802/223-279 COMPLETED
Calais: Wednesday, May 15th call 802/454-1111
East Montpelier: Monday, April 15th call 802/223-7936
Rumney/Doty (Middlesex): Monday, May 20th call 802/223-5429 or 802/223-5656
Doty/Rumney (Worcester): Monday, May 20th call 802/223-5656 or 802/223-5429
Should you have any concerns about your child's development, please contact our Special Education Teachers Bess Powers and Dawn Bates at bpowers@u32.org or dbates@u32.org or call 802/223-2796.
Community Connections - Spring Day Camps
Green Up Day
Hello Calais Parents, Families, and Caregivers,
On Thursday, May 2nd (Rain date May 3rd) the Calais School (as part of Green-Up Vermont) will help to Green-up and Clean-up our school grounds and nearby roadways. The K-2 students will have a choice to stay on school grounds and help with various clean-up opportunities, or clean a roadway within walking distance of the school. The 3-6 grades will have the opportunity to stay at school and contribute, or take a bus into our community to clean-up a local roadway.
You will be receiving a permission slip on Monday if your child has chosen to green-up a roadway and will need permission to leave school grounds. Please sign and return the slip ASAP so we can get organized for this special day.
We are also looking for level 1 volunteers who would like to help on this day. You could walk the roadway with students, or help around the school. If you are able to volunteer your time please email dbarclay@u32.org. We would truly love to have you!
If you are unable to volunteer your time on this day, but want to help in another way the school will be looking to borrow the following tools for school clean-up:
Rakes (leaf and garden rakes)
Shovels (spades, and small garden shovels)
Wheelbarrow
5 gallon pails
Tarps (1-2 smaller sized)
If you have tools to lend, please clearly label the item and drop it at the front of the school anytime the week leading up to our work day (Monday, April 29th through Thursday May 3rd). We would greatly appreciate any time or tools you have to offer.
3rd and 4th Grade - Poem City
The third- and fourth-grade students recently wrote and submitted poems to be hung in Montpelier during the month of April as part of Kellogg-Hubbard Library's PoemCity celebration. We were one of only two schools to submit poems, and it is really neat to see the poems hanging in the main window of the Walgreen's in downtown Montpelier. This is a yearly event that aligns with National Poetry Month. To prepare for this, students learned to write Haikus, Acrostic Poems, Object Poems, and Feelings Poems. Students then chose their favorite poem to submit. The class's poems are also printed in the PoemCity 2024 Anthology! If you're in Montpelier, take a look at their awesome writing!
Important Dates
4/12 - U-32 Middle School presents "Matilda the Musical"
4/13 - U-32 Middle School presents "Matilda the Musical"
4/16 - Nurturing Program for Families in Substance Use Treatment & Recovery
4/16 - Nurturing Skills for Families
4/17 - Nurturing Skills for Families
4/18 - WCUUSD Music Night at U32
4/19 - Rumney Theater Club Presents "Dear Edwina, Jr."
4/20 - Rumney Theater Club Presents "Dear Edwina, Jr."
4/20-4/28 - April Break - No school for students.
4/22 - Community Connections - April Camp
4/23 - Community Connections - April Camp
4/24 - Community Connections - April Camp
4/25 - Community Connections - April Camp
4/26 - Community Connections - April Camp
5/2 - Calais Green Up Day
5/3 - Calais Green Up Day Rain Date
5/4 - Green Up Day
5/7 - Budget Revote
5/15 - Pre-K Introduction and Screening
6/11 - Unity Day
6/13 - Rising 7th Graders - Trip to Wrightsville
Comic by Franny
Interview by Ms. Scoop
Hi Calais Cougars.
How was the eclipse? Sadly we have no students of the week this week but I can still talk. So we had a bunch of tests!!! It was not fun. At least we got free snacks - yea!! Bye for now.
Pictures
Grades 3-6 were testing most of the week so the halls were quiet!
Community
Stage 16 presents: Matilda the Musical
U-32 Middle School is proud to present
Matilda the Musical
Friday, April 12th at 7:00 pm & Saturday, April 13th at 10:00 am
Admission by donation at the door
Arrive early to secure your seats
Families of the cast & crew will be seated 30 minutes before curtain
General public will be seated 15 minutes before curtain
Don’t miss this fun-filled production, good for the whole family!
For more information, contact Erin Galligan-Baldwin
Produced by special arrangement with Musical Theater International
Family Support Programs
Free online Parent Education Programs to any parent/caregiver in Vermont who wants support and/or to learn new parenting skills.
Do you or someone you know want to learn more about the programs we offer?
Visit our website at: www.pcavt.org/family-support-programs,
email us at familysupport@pcavt.org or
call 1-800-CHILDREN
Nurturing Parenting®,
Strengthening Families Programs &
Circle of Parents®
Curriculum-based, parenting education programs for families experiencing stress.
Upcoming Parent Education Programs:
All programs are offered virtually and FREE!
Programs are 2 hours per week for 12-18 weeks
starting March 28th, Thursdays 12pm
Nurturing Skills™ for Families -
starting March 28th, Thursdays 1pm
Strengthening Families Program for Families with Teens
starting April 2, Tuesdays 9am
Nurturing Program® for Families in Substance Use Treatment & Recovery
starting April 3rd, Wednesdays 5pm
Nurturing Program® for Families in Substance Use Treatment & Recovery
starting April 9th, Tuesdays 5pm
Nurturing Program® for Families in Substance Use Treatment & Recovery
starting April 16th, Tuesdays 9am
Nurturing Skills™ for Families -
starting April 16, Tuesdays 11am
Nurturing Skills™ for Families -
starting April 17th, Wednesdays 1pm
Nurturing Skills™ for Families -
starting April 17th, Wednesdays 5:30pm
Nurturing Program® for Families in Substance Use Treatment & Recovery
starting April 18th, Thursdays 9:30am IN PERSON TPC Barre
Nurturing Program® for Families in Substance Use Treatment & Recovery
starting April 22nd, Mondays 12pm
Strengthening Families Program Birth-3
starting May 1, Wednesdays 6:30pm
Prenatal Nurturing Parenting Program
starting May2 , Thursdays 9am
starting May 13, Mondays 5pm
Nurturing Skills™ for Families -
starting May 21, Tuesdays 5pm
Nurturing Program® for Families in Substance Use Treatment & Recovery
starting May 27, Mondays 11am
Upcoming Circle of Parents Support Groups:
Circle of Parents® is a network of professionally facilitated, peer-led, self-help support groups for using a strengths-based
approach and a shared leadership model.
All Circles are offered virtually and FREE!
Circles meet weekly for 60-90 minutes and are ongoing
*Participants may join anytime
Circle of Parents/Children with Special Needs
Mondays 12pm
Mondays 5:30pm
Tuesdays 630pm
Circle of Parents/Open to all Parents
Wednesdays 9am
Wednesdays 12pm
Thursdays 515pm
Reach out to familysupport@pcavt.org for more information