THE NEWSLETTER

Dear CCS Families, Caregivers and Charlotte Community,

Thursday evenings I “pause” to reflect on the people and events that impacted me through the week. Some of those reflections evolve into our CCS newsletters, which is the case today. I hope you can all take a moment to pause this weekend and think about things that have had profound effects on your week.

I find joy in my work with the adults and children of Charlotte and even more importantly, I am fueled by the kindness and generosity I am privileged to witness in my role. What happens within our ecosystem of learning, I hope can inspire others to take small steps to improve or evolve our broader community. Our children deserve this collective hope and dedication.

• Last week’s newsletter highlighting the need for volunteers for recesses. People reached out and came to shadow the routine. I think they enjoyed the play associated with this important role.
• A staff member stopped by at the end of their day to celebrate the individuals’ success and collective pride a group of students shared at the end of a lesson. This is as much about students learning from educators as educators learning from students.
• A cohort of third graders skyped with a scientist to learn about how they investigate animal ecosystems - biodiversity, adaptation, … are a few of the terms used by this scientist sparking a higher level of comprehension than I have ever witnessed in an elementary classroom.
• A parent reached out to me to highlight ways I can improve connections and care of members of our community, of which I had overlooked. This wasn’t done with judgment, it was with empathy for growing someone’s awareness. Thank you for the bravery to tell me of my blindspots and trust in me to learn from my omission. There is a collective expertise in this community that is priceless.

What I share with you is the power of a team of educators, the dedication of our Charlotte community and the hope each one of you brings to educate, to create a space of safe-belonging and a commitment to the growth of every individual child of CCS. I welcome each of you to reach out to me with your hopes, your passions and your needs.

With appreciation for all of you,

Jen Roth, CCS Principal

The lost and found acquires many new items throughout the week. Please have your child(ren) check frequently. If you stop by CCS during the school day, please check it out for any missing family items. We hate to give away your items.

Any left over items will be donated before the start of Thanksgiving Break (Friday, Nov 17th).

• Fri, Nov 10th - Celebrate Latinx Community in Vermont, CVU Library, 6:00pm - 8:00pm
• Fri, Nov 10th - Dance! grades 6-8, MPR, 7:00pm - 9:00pm
• Tue, Nov 14th - STEM Night, 5:30-7:00, MPR
• Wed, Nov 15th - Early Release Day (1:45pm)
• Mon, Nov 20th through Fri, Nov 24th - Thanksgiving Break - NO SCHOOL
• Wed, Nov 29th - Early Release Day (1:45pm)
• Sat, Dec 9th - PTO Holiday Market, MPR & Gym, 10:00am - 2:00pm
• Wed, Dec 13th - 5-8 Winter Concert & Art Walk, MPR, 6:00pm - 7:30 (see below for details)

Veterans Day is a day to remember all of the men and women who have served our country, to their families and those who support them. Happy Veterans Day and thank you for your dedication and sacrifice.

Thanksgiving Food Baskets- Just a few final days to get in your contributions for the Charlotte community’s Thanksgiving baskets. We appreciate your generosity for others who need us at this time.

Students and staff across all grade levels shared their hopes and dreams for this year. This amazing creation was led by our art teacher, Mrs. Norris. There were so many inspiring hopes and goals shared including - teach my puppy new tricks, get better at pottery, paint a mural, make new friends, and learn more physics among many others. We thank Mrs. Norris for facilitating this inspiring project!

There are nine services under the Education Support Professionals umbrella, including clerical, custodial and maintenance, food, health and student, para-educators, security, skilled trades, technical, and transportation services. As you can imagine, these professionals are the backbone to our school. Join us as we share all the ways ESPs have made a personal impact on our lives. Please reach out to ESPs who may support our students’ day to express gratitude.

Do you love to throw a football, referee a “world-cup soccer game” or enjoy a giggle listening to the creative stories of our youngest learners? How do you feel about the need for all children to have daily opportunities to run, play and enjoy all sorts of Vermont weather? Can you support peers through a play-based conflict, focusing on compromising and perspective-taking? We have a fabulous team of 3-4 staff who supervise all CCS students through a rotation of recess from 10:45-1:00. Having extra folks to support this outdoor priority is needed to buffer staff absenteeism, to positively impact the youth on the playground, and to help cover the various activities that kids enjoy across our campus. If you are interested in supporting this, please reach out to Amanda Riggleman by emailing ariggleman@cvsdvt.org . All volunteers would need to go through the fingerprint process as CVSD volunteers. Volunteering at CCS Website Link"

A CCS parent reached out asking about supporting a Spelling Club for kids using materials from the Scripps Spelling Bee. We’ve had a number of students in grades 3-8 interested in participating in a spelling club during their lunch/recess block. All students curious about working with words and rich literature would be invited to join. We are ironing out some details which include finding few parents to volunteer to support this endeavor. The commitment would be two days a week from 11:00-1:00 (actual days still being determined). If we can get this underway, students who excel at our local spelling could proceed to a larger arena of students who love to work with words. If you are interested in supporting this, please email jroth@cvsdvt.org with your availability. All volunteers would need to go through the fingerprint process as CVSD volunteers. Volunteering at CCS Website Link"

Celebrate a nation of diverse readers all year long! When we make time to read with kids, children get the message that reading is important. When we read books that show all children they are reflected and respected, they discover their own voices and learn from the voices of others. November is Native American Heritage Month. Visit the school library's online guide to find featured titles, or visit NEAToday’s Read Across America website for even more.

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 grade 5-8 chorus, jazz band and grades 5-8 concert bands. All performers should arrive at 6:00 pm and meet in the band room.

Also, at 6:00 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.

Starting on Monday, November 13th, after dismissal until 4

Informational meeting Monday November 6th during recess

What is MathCounts?

It is a national middle school mathematics competition that builds problem-solving skills and fosters achievement through four levels of fun, in-person "bee" style contests.

Who should join MathCounts?

Anyone who likes math in 6th-8th grade
Anyone who might not like math yet but wants to like it more
Anyone who wants to be part of a community
Anyone who wants to check it out!

How does MathCounts at CCS work?

A chance to do collaborative problem solving with problems that are a little bit different to what you usually see in math class

Informational meeting on Monday, November 6th at recess in Ms. Tierney’s Room

(The Learning Lab, across from Mme. Pierson’s Room)

We will have weekly practice at CCS, starting on Monday, November 13th, after dismissal until 4,

in Ms. Tierney’s Room ( The Learning Lab, across from Mme. Pierson’s Room)

We will bring a group to the district and regional competition (and could qualify for the state and national competition!)

Please help support the amazing STEM program at CCS! The PTO is seeking a few volunteers for set up, clean up, and making signs/pointing folks in the right direction for STEM Night; please sign up here. In addition, STEM Night is only possible with the generous donations from our community; please consider a donation of any amount—big or small!

The PTO's holiday market is now accepting applications for vendor booths. Join us Saturday, December 9 from 10am-2pm at CCS. We will have two gyms filled with vendors, a children's DIY craft area, several on site food options as well as a silent auction and raffle. All vendor registration fees from the holiday market will go to the CCS PTO to support a variety of student enrichment programs, including but not limited to STEM, theater, athletics, as well as our community Emergency Care Fund. Please contact us at ccsholidaymarket@gmail.com with any questions.

Are you a fun, caring and trustworthy adult looking to make a true difference in a young person's life? Consider mentoring! Connecting Youth is seeking community volunteers to join our team of mentors for 5th-12th grade students across Champlain Valley School District.

• Mentors and mentee pairs meet weekly for about an hour
• School year commitment
• Mentor training and continual support provided by CVSD mentor coordinators.
• Middle school mentors have access to dedicated spaces for cooking, crafting, playing games and developing a friendship.
• High school mentors work alongside students to grow their skills and resilience, exploring new interests and experiences.

Learn more here or contact a CVSD Mentor Coordinator today

• Charlotte Central School, Kate Rooney, krooney@cvsdvt.org, 802-425-6682
• Hinesburg Community School, Livy Bulger, lbulger@cvsdvt.org, 802-482-6248
• Champlain Valley Union, Alison Duback, aduback@cvsdvt.org 802-482-8921

Free Webinar for Caregivers & Educators: Teens, Social Media & Mental Health.

Virtually join ParentIN CVSD at 7pm on 11/16 as we host Erin Walsh of Spark and Stitch Institute for a live webinar addressing your screen time struggles and questions with science and understanding.

We will explore questions like:

• What is the impact of social media and gaming on mental health?
• Is technology connecting young people or isolating them?
• Is internet, gaming or phone addiction real?
• What do kids need from parents as they navigate online risks and opportunities?

The live event is free and ticketed. Register today at bphc.link/erinwalsh

Calling all parents and caregivers of grades 6-12 students! Help us enhance our resources for CVSD youth and families by taking this quick 5-minute survey. Your participation automatically enters you into a raffle for a chance to win one of 3 valuable $50 grocery store gift cards.

ParentIN CVSD values your input, and your anonymity is guaranteed. Your honest responses are vital for program improvements and new initiatives. If you have any survey-related questions, don't hesitate to contact Amy Sayre asayre@cvsdtvt.org

Don't miss this opportunity to share an informative and positive impact on your community. Thank you!

• Athletics
• Bus Schedules / Routes
• CCS Handbook
• Connecting Youth Mentoring
• CVSD Divsersity, Equity and Inclusion
• CVSD Handbook
• CVSD School Board
• Food Service and Menu
• Health Office
• MySchoolBucks
• Volunteer at CCS

• Access Community Education Classes and Registration
• Charlotte Food Shelf
• Charlotte Public Libary

• Charlotte Recreation Department

Jen Roth, Lead Principal

Amanda Riggleman, Assistant Principal

Beth Slater, Director of Special Services