EWSD News
News for EWSD Families and Community Members
April 15, 2021
Don't forget - Spring Break is April 19-23!
In This Issue ...
District Updates
Last School Day for 20-21; New Calendar for 21-22 Now Available!
Increase in Student In-Person Learning Days
Thank You To Everyone Who Voted!
Outcomes for Equity in the EWSD
EWSD Welcomes New FMS Principal, New EHS Assistant Principal
The EWSD is Hiring!
EWSD in the News
Happenings
Upcoming Events/Resources
Important Links
EWSD Social Media
Last School Day for 20-21; New Calendar for 21-22 Now Available!
At their April 6 meeting, the EWSD Board approved the final school day for students for the 2020-21 school year, which will be Tuesday, June 15. The final day for teachers will be Wednesday, June 16. The calendars have been updated on the EWSD calendar page to reflect this.
The school calendar for 2021-22 is also now available online! There are two versions for you to pick from, a 'family version' that has been designed to provide a quick glance at important dates, or there is the more 'traditional version' that shows every day for the upcoming school year.
Increase in Student In-Person Learning Days
Each family should have received a grade band-specific email yesterday in regards to the increase of in-person learning opportunities at each of our 10 schools across the District. As a quick, general summary:
- All K-5, as well as Westford (only) 6th grade will move to in-person learning five days a week starting on Monday, April 26. On each Wednesday, there will be a one-hour early release.
- Middle schools are moving to four days of in-person learning with a staggered start at the larger middle schools
- EHS and CTE will provide a choice for students to attend in-person four days a week
If you missed the update for your child(ren), please visit www.ewsd.org/2020-2021 and you will see the information broken down into three different updates in the middle of the page.
Thank You To Everyone Who Voted!
EWSD Budget Page | Annual Report
Thank you to all the Essex Westford School District community members who came out to vote!
Voting results:
- The EWSD FY’22 Budget (Article 5) Passed: 5,621-2,814
- The CTE FY’22 Budget (Article 6) Passed: 6,553-1,862
- Article 4 (May EWSD borrow) Passed: 6,018-2,300
- Article 7 (Allocate CTE fund balance) Passed: 6,739-1,633
- Article 8 (Assign remaining surplus) Passed: 6,803-1,528
Also, Diane Clemens (Essex Junction), Elizabeth Cady (Essex Town), and Scott Cooledge (Westford) were elected to the EWSD Board.
Outcomes for Equity in the EWSD
Students, teachers, school leaders, and community members are invited to participate in focus groups to help the EWSD continue to make progress towards becoming an equitable, anti-racist school district.
District leadership wants to be able to best tell the story of where we are succeeding and where we need to continue to change and grow. As we look to issue an annual equity report, we need community input to decide what information goes into the report, how best to present it, and how to make sure it is helping us reach our vision.
We hope you will join us for one of the upcoming focus groups on April 29, May 3, or May 11 from 5:30-7 p.m. (all groups will be held virtually via Zoom). To register, click here.
EWSD Welcomes New FMS Principal, New EHS Assistant Principal
The EWSD is Hiring!
The employment area includes information on:
Highlights on why EWSD is a great choice for interested candidates!
Current job opportunities
Info on what to expect before your first day with the EWSD
Frequently used links and info for newly hired and current employees
EWSD in the News
- Vermont students selected for prestigious US Senate leadership week (WCAX)
- This Essex High junior got the chance to virtually chat with Sen. Sanders after being named a finalist in his State of the Union essay contest (Essex Reporter)
- See how a partnership with CTE and local businesses like Trowel Trades Supply helped keep ADL students warm this winter (Essex Reporter)
- Local colleges see decrease, increase in applications during pandemic (MyNBC5)
- Vt. to allow 3-foot distancing in schools; COVID surge prompts student testing (WCAX)
- EHS Claims Scholars’ Bowl Victory (Essex Reporter)
- Former CTE/EHS student: Vermont tech company strikes deal to sell electric aircraft to UPS (WCAX)
- Vermont seniors praying for prom (WCAX)
Happenings
Dancing Robots
Virtual Field Trip
Online Book Orders
Virtual Choir Concerts
While ADL students performed remotely, singing: You Will Be Found
Different Skin Tones
Singing in the Sunshine
Upcoming Events/Resources
Friday Morning Coffee Every Friday in May
Join licensed mental health counselor Kate Littlefield for 'virtual coffee' on Friday mornings throughout the month of May from 8-9 a.m. to talk all things kids and parenting! This group does not require pre-registration or sign-up.
Kate Littlefield is a Licensed Clinical Mental Health Counselor (LCMHC), School Social Worker, and Student Assistance Program (SAP) Counselor at Essex High School. She has been working with kids age 0-22 and their families for over 10 years in a variety of clinical and non-clinical settings including schools, after-school programs, community-based mental health organizations, and outpatient therapy.
Summer Resource - Vermont Afterschool
The work that they do this summer will meet the immediate needs of Vermont families and inform their collective efforts to provide universal afterschool in the future.
Dream Big 5K
The Dream Big 5K is a fundraiser to support EDD Adaptive Sports programs for athletes with disabilities. Your registration helps athletes with disabilities to play sports and Dream Big! The #DreamBigVT race is open to runners, walkers, and rollers with and without disabilities.
The race is virtual so you can participate from wherever you are, plus get great SWAG and prizes. Sign up here online!
Dialectical Behavior Therapy Multi-Family Group for Adolescents and their Caregivers
Families are invited to join this group, which will focus on building skills in emotion regulation and interpersonal communication. Caregivers should plan to join (via Zoom) with their middle or high school students. Your family will get the most out of these groups with consistent attendance for the entire session.
Who: Middle and high school students and their caregivers
When: 1-2 p.m. on Wednesdays, April 28 - June 2, 2021
Contact: Please email afallon@ewsd.org or emjones@ewsd.org to sign up or ask questions.Throughout the Month of May: Ask a Counselor - Q&A
If you have a question or topic you'd like us to discuss, please fill out this form. We will be reviewing responses over the next couple of weeks and will then air a podcast where you can call in live, but will also be recording each and posting them to view at a later date, as well as a summarized version in an upcoming newsletter. We can't wait to hear from you!
EHS Graduation Set for June 12
EWSD Board Meeting
More information on the work of the EWSD Board, which includes, agendas, minutes, and meeting takeaways, can be found online.
Tuesday, Apr 27, 2021, 06:30 PM
Zoom/Facebook Live
Important Links
EWSD Social Media
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