THE NEWSLETTER
January 20, 2023
IMPORTANT BOLTON VALLEY SKI & RIDE PROGRAM INFORMATION WITHIN THIS NEWSLETTER
LOST AND FOUND WILL BE DONATED AT THE END OF THE MONTH
ADMINISTRATION UPDATE
Dear CCS Families, Caregivers and Community Members,
We hope this newsletter finds you all well (and warm!). Today’s snow created a beautiful blanket on our campus that entertained our students all day. We hope with this winter rejuvenation everyone can find some joy this weekend. Our message is short this week so you can take an extra minute to read through all of the additional updates we are including in today’s newsletter.
We wish you all a wonderful weekend,
CCS Administration
IMPORTANT DATES TO REMEMBER
Friday, Jan 20
Town Party & Community Dinner - see below for more details.
Tuesday, Jan 24
Bolton Valley Ski & Ride Program, Parent Meeting via Zoom, 7:00pm - see below for program details and Zoom information.
Wednesday, Jan 25
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.
Theater Production Auditions
Andy Smith's Music Rm, 2:00pm
Wednesday, Feb 1
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, Feb 8
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.
8th Grade Family Night, CVU Gym, 6:30 - 7:45
RECESS GEAR REMINDER
All grades will go outside for recess year round unless it is a steady rain, thunder and lightening or below zero.
Now that Winter has arrived, please make sure your child(ren) has the following each day:
* Warm Jacket * Snow pants (optional for Middle Level) * Mittens/Gloves * Hat or Hood * Snow Boots
Congratulations to the CCS students who competed in CVSD math counts competition held at WCS last Friday, January 13, 2023. They will be moving on to the Northwest Regional Competition at UVM on Saturday, February 4th.
CONGRATULATIONS!
Seba Zeigfinger - 7th grade, Riak Chol - 6th grade, Maz Fairweather - 6th grade, Lucy Cummings - 6th grade, Mateo Zeigfinger - 6th grade
SPELLING CLUB
A warm invitation went out to students in grades 3-8 to participate in the CCS spelling club.
Have you ever D-I-V-U-L-G-E-D to anyone that you love words?
Ever wondered if you would need to go to a hospital for C-O-L-L-Y-W-O-B-B-L-E-S ??
Or have you been criticized after trying a session of P-A-N-D-I-C-U-L-A-T-I-O-N???
Please don't P-R-O-C-R-A-S-T-I-N-A-T-E ! Get involved with the Spelling club.
Well, if you would like to stump your family and show your friends the beauty of our language,
then you should be part of the spelling club.
We will meet at lunch/recess on Monday and Fridays until the CCS Spelling Bee on Friday
February 24th at which point winners will be named and able to compete in the Vermont
Spelling Bee in March.
Thanks to the volunteers who are supporting this initiative and providing enriching experiences for our students. Lists were passed out to all homerooms but take a look at what the kids will be working on from the lists below.
03_2023_SLSL_Third_Grade_Words_Only.pdf
04_2023_SLSL_Fourth_Grade_Words_Only.pdf
CCS TAKES THE PLUNGE!
On February 4th, several CCS staff members are participating in the Penguin Plunge! This is an annual event hosted by Special Olympics Vermont where participants raise funds to take a dip in Lake Champlain! Now in its 28th year, the Special Olympics Vermont Penguin Plunge event series supports a movement that works year-round to foster inclusion and acceptance of people with intellectual disabilities (ID) by using the power of sport to showcase their gifts and abilities. Join us at the Burlington Waterfront on February 4th to cheer on our team and help us reach our fundraising goal by donating here: https://give.specialolympicsvermont.org/team/470373
NEW SPRING COURSE OFFERINGS FROM ACCESS CVU
Wow! Don't miss the new offerings from Access CVU. Access CVU is pleased to announce the Winter/Spring 2023 Catalog is now open for registration! With over 170 classes and 80 instructors, there is something of interest for everyone and all ages. There are 63 in February alone! Get information about the courses, how to sign up, and more on this CVSD Story blog post.
TOWN PARTY & COMMUNITY DINNER - ALL OF CHARLOTTE IS WELCOME!
To quote a line that needs no introduction, “There’s no place like home.”
What are the many and varied reasons you love this place we call home?
What drew you here and why do you stay?
We want to hear from you! As we consider the future of our beloved little town, there’s never been a more important time to share our thoughts on what matters to each of us. Please save the date and join us for chili, cornbread, and pie (provided!), live music, and community conversation about our special little town. Community Heart and Soul is a grassroots effort to unite all voices of the community toward a collective future. Let’s gather to share a meal and start the conversation by sharing what we love about Charlotte.
All are welcome- young, old, and everyone in between. Teens, please bring your Charlotte friends!
When: January 20, 2023, Doors @ 5 PM, Conversation @ 5:30
Where: Charlotte Congregational Church
Why: To activate our community and our voices in support of Charlotte’s future
Who: All of us
RSVP: CharlotteCommunityHands@gmail.com
For more information on Community Heart and Soul in Charlotte please reach out to us at CharlotteCommunityHands@gmail.com
DEAR EIGHTH GRADE FAMILIES
Happy 2023!
It is an exciting time of year for 8th graders! Over the next month we will begin the process of talking about the transition to high school and registering for 9th grade classes. While it is a time of excitement, it can also bring up feelings of uncertainty and trepidation, so please know that I am here to help support kids through the entire process, whatever they may need.
There are several events planned this year to assist in the transition from Charlotte Central School (CCS) to our district high school, Champlain Valley Union High School (CVU). Below is an outline of some of the events scheduled in the weeks ahead. Students planning to attend other high schools should attend one of the scheduled orientation meetings of their prospective school for registration information.
January 26, 2023: CVU school counselors will meet with our 8th grade cohort at Charlotte Central School to provide information about course selection and requirements for ninth grade. They will also learn about the great opportunities CVU has to offer.
February 8, 2023: Eighth Grade Parent/Student Orientation Night will be held at CVU at
6:30 PM. Additional information will be forthcoming, so please be on the lookout for information in the CCS weekly newsletter as well as Friday bulletins from the Omega teachers.
After the CVU counselor visit students will begin to start thinking about and planning their course selections for ninth grade. Eighth grade math and world language teachers will be meeting with 8th graders, as they recommend math and world language selections for ninth grade. Please discuss course selections with your child using the course selection sheet that they will receive during the counselor visit. Every 9th grader will be placed in a Science and Humanities class, and so the important things to consider are:
- Which math they want to take (Math 1 or 2, based on teacher recommendation)
- Do they want to take a foreign language?
- What electives are they interested in taking? They will have to opportunity to sign up for 2 credits of electives during their 9th grade year.
I will be meeting with all eighth grade students to review course selection worksheets and support students in the online scheduling process, which will occur the week of February 13th, 2023.
Please feel free to contact me with any questions throughout this transition process.
Sincerely,
Betsy Lloyd
School Counselor, Grades K-8
(802)425-6691
2023 BOLTON VALLEY / CHARLOTTE SKI & RIDE
We’re Back, and ready!
Important Parent Meeting and Registration
Tuesday, Jan. 24th, at 7:00 p.m.
By “Zoom”
Four week program, on Wednesdays - after school on March 8th, 15th, 22nd, and 29th. No make-up dates this season, (Bolton vouchers if we cancel due to weather). Open to students in grades
K-8. Kindergarten, 1st, and 2nd graders must be accompanied by a chaperone, or shared chaperone.
***(Forms link at bottom)***
● Cost is $119, **includes bus or car transport, and discounted lessons. Lessons are mandatory for new skiers and boarders ($50), optional for others at a reduced cost of $60 (available only up to “level 3” – (lift ready and linking turns). Students that sign up for lessons must commit to take them for the entire program. ** Students who hold a Bolton Season Pass or are 5 and under, the Program cost is $48. ** All checks made out to “Charlotte Recreation”
● All Chaperones must be fully vaccinated and are needed to maintain a 1-to-10 ratio of chaperones to students. Chaperones ski at sharply reduced rates and are expected to help and have fun. Some Chaperones are needed to ride the bus. Please help if you can. More information at the meeting!
● Buses leave CCS after school and return to CCS by 7:30 pm. Students MUST, unless pre-arranged, return the same way they arrived. If changes occur for the ride home, the Parent or Child MUST notify the bus coordinator or the driver of the car in which your child arrived.
● Program/School Equipment is available at no charge on a “first come/first serve” basis. We make every effort to outfit everyone who needs equipment. Helmets are now required to reduce head injury and keep heads warm. We have helmets for loan.
We can use more equipment… please donate if you can, (especially shaped skis & helmets).
Registration acceptance is on a first come/ first serve basis due to space availability.
Payment and Registrations are due in school Monday, January 30th , with signatures by parents and students. A late fee may be charged for registrations after January 30th. Forms will be given out at the meeting and will ONLY be available in the CCS office the day AFTER the parents’ meeting. Registration requires both parent or guardian signature and student signature of code of conduct. Please Note: Bolton Valley will not accept any registrations after Friday, Feb.3rd!
● Questions: Michael Krasnow, 802-425-3997 or email at: mkrasnow1@gmail.com.
* * * * Financial Aid / Scholarships are available for any student, call Michael Krasnow, 802-425-3997, or CCS School Counselor, Betsy Lloyd, 802-425-6613 for information.
Parents and students will agree to abide by the rules of the program and all CCS and Ski + Ride
Covid protocols, subject to change before day of trips
Here is the “Zoom” link for the 7 p.m., Tuesday, Jan. 24th Parent meeting: CLICK HERE
Topic: Ski & Ride Meeting
Time: Jan 24, 2023 07:00 PM Eastern Time (US and Canada)
Join Zoom Meeting
https://us05web.zoom.us/j/88386318312?pwd=ZkdYYVM3bWFrci9hSW9GNjl4MnRUUT09
Meeting ID: 883 8631 8312
Passcode: Pv8YGu
Click Here for Link to Registration Forms:
CVSD STRATEGIC PLANNING - WE WELCOME YOUR INPUT!
The CVSD Strategic Planning committee has drafted some elements of the plan and is seeking input from all community members. That includes parents/caregivers, those without children in our schools, faculty/staff, and students.
Please view this set of slides, which were shared at last week's virtual Town Hall, and then use this form to share your thoughts. These links are also available on the Strategic Planning page of the district's website. Please contribute your input by February 15. Thank you!
UPDATE ON CVSD DIVERSITY EQUITY AND INCLUSION WORK:
As a team, the DEI Coaches and Director are working to move forward in the Equity Audit’s first recommendation of creating a shared understanding for Diversity Equity and Inclusion (DEI) work at CVSD as well as in each school individually.
Since the beginning of the school year 2022-2023, the DEI coaches at the schools have been working on collecting input from the school communities about what DEI means to them. This input, along with the equity audit report information, and the history of the school district’s DEI work will be used by the DEI team to create a draft document that represents a shared vision for DEI work in our district that will be no more than four pages. The shared vision draft will explain the focus of CVSD DEI work and provide shared definitions for all community members.
As part of this work, we are forming a committee to give us feedback on this document. Our goal is to have 17-20 members on this committee including teachers, students, parents, community, support staff, and admin. This feedback committee will not include CVSD leadership because they will have a separate feedback committee.
The rough timeline for the committee is as follows:
- Forming the committee in January.
- Share the draft document with the committee by February 1st.
- The committee will share their feedback via email and/or at a 2 hour in-person/hybrid by mid February. We will try to provide childcare for this meeting for those that attend in person.
If you are interested in being part of this committee, please contact Ainaka Luna at aluna@cvsdvt.org. If you would like to read the complete Equity Audit report click here
As an additional opportunity to be more involved and informed around Diversity Equity and Inclusion in our district you are also invited to attend our DEI Town Halls which occur every other month. The next Town Hall meeting will be held on Feb. 8 at 6:30pm. More information and a zoom link to the meeting will be posted here.
PRESCHOOL LOTTERY IS NOW OPEN FOR 2023-2024!
The CVSD Early Education Program is now accepting applications for a random preschool lottery drawing for the 2023-24 school year. This lottery is for an opportunity to enroll in one of our school-based classrooms which run 10 hours per week. (Note: Any Charlotte drawn eligible students would attend classes at the Hinesburg Community School.) Our school-based preschool 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, 2023, who have not enrolled in 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 pre kindergarten funds for the school-based program.
All applications must be received by February 3, 2023, and are located on the CVSD Early Education website under 2023-2024 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.
INTRA-DISTRICT K-8 SCHOOL CHOICE
Children entering grades preK-8 who live in the towns of Charlotte, Hinesburg, Shelburne, St. George and Williston may exercise school choice. Our goal is to both allow options for families and also make balanced class sizes to provide a positive learning environment for all of our children. Processes for intra-district choice of school will be guided by the needs of students, space availability, and existing resources. Given this, we will work to meet as many families’ needs as possible. Guidelines and Application
GIRLS ON THE RUN
Girls on the Run is a girl-empowerment organization that inspires participants to be joyful, healthy and confident using evidence-based lessons that combine relationship building, community strengthening, and goal setting with physical movement.
Through lessons that involve games, conversation and movement, your kiddo can tap into their full potential of being confident, joyful and healthy for their entire lives. The program takes place over 10 weeks, with teams meeting twice a week for 90 minutes each session. Programming is open to female identifying and non-binary 3rd-5th graders.
Participants connect, move, learn and have FUN each session. The Spring 2023 season begins the week of March 27th. Registration goes live on Wednesday, February 22nd , with a celebratory 5K event on Saturday, June 3rd in Essex.
Caregivers who volunteer to coach are guaranteed that their student has a spot on the team by coaching. Not a runner? No problem! Haven’t coached before? No problem! Girls on the Run VT (GOTRVT) provides training, easy to follow lesson plans, supplies and support from GOTRVT staff for a transformational season.
Visit gotrvt.org/coach to learn more or sign up to volunteer. Questions? Contact GOTRVT at stephanie@girlsontherunvermont.org or 802-871-5664.
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.