THE NEWSLETTER
December 1, 2023
MESSAGE FROM THE CCS ADMINISTRATION
Dear CCS Families, Caregivers and Charlotte Community,
The happiest moments for me are connecting with the students and the educators at CCS, being part of their learning, celebrating accomplishments, and hearing their stories. I purposefully grab my lunch while the kindergarten classes are eating because joy comes from watching kids debate the best toppings on a pizza or hearing about the animals that live at their house; pets and the uninvited kinds.
A group of third graders wandered purposefully through the halls this week handing out letters to individuals, expressing gratitude for what that person has done for these students. I received one of these precious letters because I frequently join a group for mindful puzzle time. I am slightly embarrassed to say, I am the least helpful member of this dynamic puzzle-solving team. While I admire the colors, match up a piece or two and listen to stories, they develop an algorithm for being fair, allocating zones and fitting together ten-times what I can do.
I share these anecdotes with you all, not to dismiss what is happening around our world, our state, our community. The emotional impact of all is very much alive in all that I do. I hope to simply plant a seed. We have 345 students enrolled at CCS with the potential to change the world. If every student had a mentor, community advocate or benefactor who believed in their potential, think about the exponential difference we could make for the future.
Charlotte Central School has been named the # one middle school in Vermont. To achieve this accolade, it takes dedicated educators, caregivers and your support. We are committed to taking care of each other. We are committed to making our community and the world a better place.
You frequently hear requests to be a volunteer, a mentor, or to support a fundraiser used to enrich learning opportunities. Many hands make light work. Check out some of the opportunities we would like to offer that require your support.
Scripps Spelling Bee - contact Julie Lin (juliehlin@gmail.com )
CCS Spring Musical- production/parent coordination - contact Jen Roth (jroth@cvsdvt.org)
Lunch/Recess monitors - contact Amanda Riggleman (ariggleman@cvsdvt.org)
One-on-one mentor for a student - contact Kate Rooney (krooney@cvsdvt.org)
Substitute Teachers - contact Naomi Strada (nstrada@cvsdvt.org)
Have a wonderful weekend.
Jen Roth, CCS Principal
Our PTO has worked hard over the last few months preparing for activities to bring us together. As with all big projects, many hands make light work and you are all valued members of this community. Please consider joining us for any of the following events:
- On Thursday, December 7, CCS will be hosting a discussion with CVSD Superintendent Rene Sanchez and Charlotte representatives to the CVSD school board, Meghan Metzler and Meghan Siket. With so many changes in the forecast for Vermont public education, it seems important to come together as a community to learn and put CVSD students at the center of our future decision-making process.
- Join us for the Holiday Craft Fair- Saturday, December 9th from 10:00-2:00. Both gyms will be filled with local artisans and small businesses to provide our community with some options for gift-giving or self-indulgences. Join us for crafts, food, silent auction and raffles.
IMPORTANT DATES TO REMEMBER
- Wed, Dec 6th - Early Release Day (1:45pm)
- Thu, Dec 7th - PTO Community Section Series Part II, 6:30 - 7:30 (see below for details)
- Sat, Dec 9th - PTO Holiday Market, MPR & Gym, 10:00am - 2:00pm
- Tue, Dec 12th - CVSD Board Budget Mtg, CVU Rm 160 or online, 6:00pm (Topic: Instructional Program) (Zoom information available at https://www.cvsdvt.org/budget)
- Wed, Dec 13th - Early Release Day (1:45pm)
- Wed, Dec 13th - 5-8 Winter Concert & Art Walk, MPR, 6:00pm - 7:30 (see below for details)
- Wed, Dec 13th - CVSD Virtual Town Hall, 6:30 - 7:30 (see below for more information)
- Tue, Dec 19th - CVSD Board Budget Mtg, CVU Rm 160 or online, 6:00pm (Topic: Operations & Maintenance) (Zoom information available at https://www.cvsdvt.org/budget)
- Wed, Dec 20th - Early Release Day (1:45pm)
- Mon, Dec 25th through Fri, Dec 29th - Early Winter Break - NO SCHOOL
- Mon, Jan 1st - New Year's Day - NO SCHOOL
- Tue, Jan 9th - CVSD Board Budget Mtg, CVU Rm 160 or online, 6:00pm (Topic: Summary & Tax Implications) (Zoom information available at https://www.cvsdvt.org/budget)
- Mon, Jan 15th - Martin Luther King Jr's Birthday - NO SCHOOL
- Tue, Jan 23rd - CVSD Board Budget Mtg, CVU Rm 160 or online, 6:00pm (Topic: Final Approval & Warnings) (Zoom information available at https://www.cvsdvt.org/budget)
2024-2025 PRE-KINDERGARTEN LOTTERY IS NOW OPEN
The CVSD Early Education Program is now accepting applications for a random prekindergarten lottery drawing for the 2024-25 school year. This lottery is for an opportunity to enroll in one of our school-based classrooms which run 10 hours per week. Our school-based prekindergarten classrooms are 5 STARs, licensed early education programs that provide play-based, developmentally appropriate environments for all children in an inclusive setting. Our curriculum is based on the Vermont Early Learning Standards (VELS).
Our programs follow the CVSD school calendar. Children who will be age 3 or older by September 1, 2024, who are not eligible for kindergarten, and live in the communities of Charlotte, Hinesburg, Shelburne, St. George, and Williston are eligible to enter the lottery. Families who are selected for the lottery and choose to enroll their child in a CVSD program access their Act 166 publicly funded prekindergarten funds for the school-based program. (Note: Charlotte pre-k students will attend a program at another CVSD site.)
All applications must be received by February 5, 2024, and are located on the CVSD Early Education website under 2024-2025 Preschool Lottery . Paper applications are available upon request.
For additional information, questions about our program, or any concerns about your child’s development, please visit our website or contact Director of Early Education, Erin Gagne at egagne@cvsdvt.org. Our Early Education team is also available for developmental screenings in the areas of communication, social-emotional development, motor skills, adaptive development, and cognition. More information about an Early Multi-Tiered System of Supports is also available on the website.
MUSIC AND ART NEWS
Please mark your calendars for Wednesday, Dec 13, 2023. The annual 5 - 8 winter concert will take place in the Multi Purpose Room at CCS at 6:30 pm. The concert will feature the 5-8 chorus, jazz band and 5 - 8 concert bands. All performers should arrive at 6 pm and meet in the band room. Also at 6 pm we invite you to enjoy the K - 8 Art Walk in the East end of the building. This exciting event is free and open to the public. We hope to see you there.
Congratulations to Rory Donahue, Story Holmes, Owen Scriver, Nathaneal Akselrod and Odie Kallock for successfully auditioning into the District III Music Festival to be held the first weekend of February, 2023. We are proud of you all!
MESSAGE FROM THE CCS HEALTH OFFICE - HEAD LICE
We have recently learned of several cases of head lice at CCS. While this is a pretty “normal” childhood experience, we wanted to alert you so that you can keep an eye on your child and take the necessary precautions/steps for treatment.
As parents, we ask that you routinely check your child’s head and let the Health Office know if you do find that your child has it. We will check heads at individual request if you feel that you are unsure about what you are looking for but we do not check every child, every day...it’s simply not feasible. Head lice are small insects about the size of a sesame seed. They can vary in color from gray to brown. They cannot fly or jump but they do move quickly which can make it difficult to find them. The eggs are often mistaken for dry scalp but can be differentiated because, unlike dandruff, they do not flake off.
Head lice require direct head-to-head contact to be transmitted so we typically do not find that school is the source for transmission. Teachers have spoken with students about maintaining personal space and not touching each other (which is a good lesson anyway!).
Often slumber parties or other out-of-school activities where kids are in close contact for extended periods seem to be a more common route for transmission. Please talk to your child about the importance of not sharing hats, brushes, helmets, or other items that come in direct contact with their head. We also recommend talking with the parents of your child’s friends to see if they have been dealing with head lice. We often find that when parents disclose that information to others, cases are identified and resolved in a much quicker period.
If you are hoping to avoid this headache altogether, there are a few things that you can do…
- Remind your child about keeping their hands and heads to themselves. Students with longer hair can wear their hair back in a ponytail or barrette to minimize the chances of contact.
- Using products like hairspray or FairyTales can make hair less favorable for lice to attach to the hair shaft.
- Talk with families your child plays with to be aware if they are dealing with head lice. If so, keep a close eye on your child’s head. When head lice eggs are first laid, they are microscopic so it may take several days of checking for them to become big enough to be visible.
Help! My child has head lice!
Most parents get a little anxious when they first learn that their child has head lice, but there is no need to panic. If you learn about it at home and don’t know where to start, please call me in the health office (425-6644), I am happy to help work with you to eliminate your child’s case as quickly as possible. Like all other health information, this information is kept confidential. The majority of families require at least three weeks to fully and effectively treat a case so please be patient and understand that even under the best circumstances, it takes a while to treat.
Treatment Tips:
There are several over-the-counter traditional chemical shampoos available. These shampoos are typically the first line of treatment that many families choose (NIX and RID are the most commonly available). While they are generally very effective, most need to be left on the child’s head for a longer time than the instructions indicate (many say to leave them on for 10-15 minutes but most are not effective unless left on for at least 45 minutes). If you are unsure of what to do, please call your child’s doctor. These chemical shampoos kill all or most of the adults (depending on how long they are left on) but will not kill all of the eggs (or nits).
- Once you have shampooed the child’s head, you need to physically pick the nits out of the hair because most are not killed by the shampoo. This is very tedious and time-consuming work but is the most effective way to prevent re-infestation. Plan on picking for up to an hour the first night, depending on how pervasive your child’s case is, and then for 15 minutes every day for the next week. Using a straightening iron can help by making the nits easier to identify and pull off the hair. Also, tumble dry bedding, stuffed animals, and clothing/outwear on high heat.
- The life cycle of the nits/eggs is about 7-10 days. Plan to check your child’s head every night for the next 7-10 days after treatment and remove any eggs that you find. When the eggs are initially laid, they are microscopic so you may go through your child’s head and find nothing one day and then eggs the next. This does not mean that they have been re-exposed, it’s more likely the eggs are just maturing and growing.
- Nits typically are laid close to the scalp (within an inch) and are firmly attached to the hair shaft. They can be found anywhere on the head but are often found on the crown of the head, behind the ears, and at the nape of the neck. Parents often struggle to differentiate between nits and dandruff or cradle cap as they look very similar. Unlike dandruff, nits cannot be brushed off of the hair shaft because they are cemented to the hair. They are typically a pearly white color, shiny, and hard to pull off of the hair because they are glued to the hair shaft.
- Plan to retreat your child 7-10 days after your initial treatment, regardless of what you have found while nit-picking over the week. The American Academy of Pediatrics now recommends that parents use “alternative” treatments in addition to traditional treatments due to the increasing resistance that head lice are showing. Some types of “alternative” treatments include using Cetaphil, olive oil, mayonnaise, vinegar, and Listerine. There is a lot of information about these treatments available online or check in with me for more information.
- For the next week (days 14-21), again, check your child’s head every other night looking for eggs. Hopefully, you are entering the home stretch and are not finding anything but don’t be discouraged if you do. Persistence is key here. Consider yourself DONE once you have gone 10 days straight without finding anything. If you find something, repeat the cycle above.
CCS PTO PRESENTS - COMMUNITY CONNECTIONS
We would love to provide Mr. Sanchez with questions from parents and caregivers in advance of the meeting; please send along any/all questions to your grade rep or Damaris Herlihy. We encourage as many caregivers as possible to join in person, but we will have the option of listening in remotely by GoogleMeet. (Use this link, not the text in the graphic.)
Don’t forget: You can read a summary of the first community Connections series here.
PTO HOLIDAY MARKET AND SILENT AUCTION
Join us Saturday, December 9 from 10am-2pm at CCS for the PTO's annual Holiday Market. We will have two gyms filled with local artisans, a children's winter storytime corner, and on-site food options. Stop by for a fun day of holiday shopping while supporting local creators and the school's PTO.
In addition to in-person shopping, the Holiday Market will feature our second annual Silent Auction. This year's auction is filled with prizes from local friends, including Backyard Bistro, Elli Parr, Folino's, 4t2d, Golden Apple Farm, Monelle, Red Barn Kitchen, The Shelburne Fieldhouse, The Shelburne Tap House and many more. The auction will go live Saturday, December 2 and close Sunday, December 10.
CVSD VIRTUAL TOWN HALL - DECEMBER 13
Mark your calendars for December's Virtual Town Hall on Wednesday, December 13 from 6:30-7:30. We'll share updates about the budget development process and our strategic plan and engage in conversations with those attending. This is a great way to connect with Superintendent Sanchez and other district leaders! The Zoom information is posted on the CVSD website calendar.
CHARLOTTE LIBRARY
HELPFUL CCS LINKS
HELPFUL COMMUNITY LINKS
ABOUT US
Jen Roth, Lead Principal
Amanda Riggleman, Assistant Principal
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.