EWSD News
News for EWSD Families and Community Members
November 10, 2022
*Click anywhere in the document for a mobile-friendly view!
In This Issue ...
District Updates
- Help Provide Free Meals for Our Students!
- 2022 Equity Annual Report
- EWSD Child Nutrition Program Celebrating Vermont Harvest Day
- EWSD Libraries Welcome You!
- Starling Collaborative Efforts in the EWSD - Gr 6-8
- Special Education Paperwork Management System Shift
- Reminders of Diversity of Representation in Curriculum
- EWSD Calendar of Inclusive Holidays & Recognition Days
EWSD in the News
Happenings
Upcoming Events/Resources
EWSD Social Media
Help Provide Free Meals for Our Students!
In May 2022, Vermont implemented Universal School Meals for the 2022-2023 school year. This has enabled schools to offer free breakfast and lunch to all students, regardless of household income. However, even though meals are free to all students this year, our schools still need to gather household income data to help Vermont access the maximum possible federal dollars for school meals, which will reduce the burden on Vermont taxpayers.
2022 Equity Annual Report
We hope you’ll take a moment to review the 2022 Equity Annual Report.
As the introduction states, “the report provides information about how we are doing toward our {District} goals. It pulls information from across the District and supports us in considering our areas of strengths and weakness.”
You may also view the October 11 Board Meeting where Erin Maguire discussed the Equity Annual Report here.
EWSD Child Nutrition Program Celebrating Vermont Harvest Day
The EWSD Child Nutrition Program is proud to announce that we will prepare a District-wide Vermont Harvest Menu on Thursday, November 17! To celebrate our collaboration with local producers, we will serve cranberry bread with VT cranberries for breakfast. For lunch, we will serve spaghetti and meat sauce made with VT-grown beef, sweet potato souffle with maple syrup, and a warm garlic knot. You will also find fresh apples on our serving lines from Chapin Orchards.
We want to send a huge thank you to our local vendors and partners for helping to make this happen:
- Vermont Cranberry Company in Fletcher, VT
- Basin Farm in Bellows Falls, VT
- LaPlatte River Angus Farm in Shelburne, VT
- Tucker Maple Sugarhouse in Westford, VT
- Chapin Orchards in Essex, VT
- Food Connects in Brattleboro, VT
EWSD Libraries Welcome You!
Starling Collaborative Efforts in the EWSD - Gr 6-8
Starling Collaborative (SC) is working in Westford, ADL, and EMS this year to support the building of learning communities where both students and adults have the skills, capacity, and motivation to engage actively and meaningfully in learning/teaching as well as be able to name harm they see, acknowledge the harm they've done and work collaboratively to repair the harm and restore relationships.
Through an emergent process beginning with a school-wide assessment of assets and needs, SC is collaborating with school teams to lead monthly staff meetings focused on three points of engagement:
Develop an understanding of holistic restorative approaches and how they intersect with other initiatives: Equity, SEL, Trauma Informed, Developmental Design, Responsive Classroom, PBIS.
Apply understanding and practice skills through improvement cycles around the areas of need in the building and reflect on data for the next steps.
Strengthen the capacity, skill, and motivation of staff through restorative activities that foster connection, laughter, and joy and give them resources for using them with students.
Special Education Paperwork Management System Shift
The EWSD has transitioned to a new special education management system. We have had to do this because of a sudden and unexpected challenge with our prior service provider who redesigned a system that was no longer compliant with special education law in Vermont. Case managers have been doing a lot of work to ensure compliance with paperwork for families engaged in the special education process.
This transition should lead to a leveling out of any experienced bumps as we have a system that is fully compliant. If you have any questions or experience any irregularities with the paperwork component of the special education process for your child, do not hesitate to reach out to the assigned case manager to share your concerns.
Reminders of Diversity of Representation in Curriculum
Our Equity Policy calls upon the EWSD to do this critical work. If you have questions about the shifts or presence of new ways of thinking or experiences of people that feel unfamiliar, you are welcome to reach out to classroom teachers or school leaders to understand the materials, histories, stories, and perspectives shared through the educational experiences provided in the EWSD. Erin Maguire, the Director of Equity and Inclusion, is also available to talk about these topics with you.
EWSD Calendar of Inclusive Holidays & Recognition Days
Will you be wearing blue on World Kindness Day (November 13)? Blue is thought to be the color of kindness. World Kindness Day is intended to encourage all of us to go out of our way to be kind, at school, home, work, etc. We can pledge to be compassionate toward ourselves, each other, and the world! Here are some fun and simple ways to celebrate.
November 16 is recognized as the International Day of Tolerance. This day was proclaimed by the United Nations in 1994. November 16 also marks the birth date of Mahatma Gandhi, and the hope for the day is that people will bring to life values that Gandhi idealized such as peace, non-violence, and equality. Utilize this extensive resource hub from Learning from Justice to “help your students explore identity and diversity, recognize injustice and learn to take action.”
EWSD in the News
FIRST Robotics Prepares to Extend Its Reach to More Vermont Students (Seven Days)
Essex-Westford staff shortage leading to bus cancellations (MyNBC5)
Essex High School student spotlight: Varsity field hockey team captains (Essex Reporter)
Disproportionate suspensions within Vt. school district prompt questions about discipline and support (WCAX)
PHOTOS: Essex High School fall band and choir concert (Essex Reporter)
Essex High School student spotlight: Cheerleading seniors (Essex Reporter)
EWSD father uses flyers to accuse EMS curriculum of ‘promoting trans-lifestyle and Communism, district responds with equity messages (Essex Reporter)
Essex uses strong first set to power past Mt. Mansfield (MyNBC5)
Essex inks name in championship game with 3-1 win over CVU (MyNBC5)
Happenings
Donating Goods
School Spirit
Helping Hands
Upcoming Events/Resources
Let’s Talk: Community Conversation Series
On Monday, November 14 from 6-8 p.m. in the Essex High School Library, all are welcome to join this open community event. Local experts will share local data to help better understand what kids are experiencing and strategies for coping and thriving. There will be an opportunity to learn practical strategies for supporting mental well-being as well as a chance for small group discussions with other families. Bring your aspirations, concerns, and experiences to share and learn from each other - and leave with actionable ways to support the youth in your life and build their resilience for the future.
Free and open to all
Light dinner provided (A BIG THANK YOU to Essex Rotary for their generous donation to support this)
Space and toys will be provided for younger children
Interpretation provided for EWSD families - reach out to Tamara Parks at tparks@ewsd.org to request interpretation support.
The presenters are as follows: Heath Kirby - public health supervisor for the Vermont Department of Health’s Burlington Office of Local Health; Betsy Ferry - Howard Center School Services Supervisor; Emily Jones - Howard Center School Services Clinician *This event is organized by a local group of parents, caregivers, and providers working to increase connections and resources for families in our school district.
Better Toilet Teaching: A Parent-Caregiver Workshop
EWSD Board Meeting
More information on the work of the EWSD Board, which includes, agendas, minutes, and meeting takeaways, can be found online.
Tuesday, Nov 15, 2022, 06:30 PM
EHS Library/Zoom/Facebook Live
EWSD Social Media
About Us
Email: aboutwell@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