THE NEWSLETTER

Dear CCS Families, Caregivers and Charlotte Community,

Watching the students of CCS bubble up with curiosity is very exciting. Over the last week, we had three separate groups of CVU students visit the school to share some of their own passion, wisdom and experiences. Members of the CVU Racial Alliance Club visited third and fourth grade classes to teach about taking care of others. The CVU chorus performed for our seventh and eighth grade chorus and talked about participating in high school music electives. When the CVU band arrived on Thursday, all of the Omega students watched a special concert performed by students just a few years older than them. Seeing these CCS graduates and classmates modeling leadership, citizenship and creating positive change in our communities was inspiring.

I’ve had a number of inquiries about the potential for a CCS Spring theater production. Last year, CCS partnered with Full Circle Theater to bring to life the Wizard of Oz with a cast of our CCS middle schoolers. A hope shared by many is to grow opportunities for CCS students … Thanks to a handful of parents who have reached out to offer support, we will be working again with Full Circle Theater for an anticipated May production. More information will be coming soon, once we have identified a music director and we’ve gathered interest from our student performers.

Have a wonderful weekend,

Jen

Important Updates:

• CVSD anticipates the general education summer programming will not run for the Summer of 2024. Students who meet the criteria for Extended School Year Services per their IEP will continue to receive services.

• “End of Day” change of plans need to be sent to the office at least one hour prior to dismissal. Last minute changes delay the dismissal of our buses and impact the whole school.

• Students should be ready to go outside each school day and have enough warm layers to accommodate the weather. Have them check the lost and found for the many hats/mittens/gloves and boots that have already accumulated there.

• Fri, Jan 19th - DEI Town Hall, Shelburne Community School, 6-8pm, Nepali Community in Vermont
  
• 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)
• Wed, Jan 24th - Early Release, 1:45pm
• Wed, Jan 31st - Early Release, 1:45pm
• Thu, Feb 1st - 24/25 Kindergarten Registration Opens. Watch for more details.
• Tue, Feb 13th - Author, Jason Chin to visit CCS!
• Fri, Mar 15 - DEI Town Hall, Williston Central School, 6-8pm, Somali Community in Vermont

The PTO Student Directories have arrived from the printer. They are distributed to youngest & only students via their support room teacher. Look for these in your child's backpack!

K-4 Report Cards:

K-4 report cards will now be sent home by email using Jumprope, the same reporting tool that is used in grades 5-12. The standards that are being reported on remain the same as the standards in last year’s report card with minor language changes to provide consistency in formatting. We are excited about this shift in reporting as it allows us to have all of our classroom learning data in one place from kindergarten through graduation.

Purpose of the K-4 Report Card:

To communicate with students and families on student progress at this time of the year.

The purpose of this first semester report card is to show your child’s progress on the standards that have been instructed, practiced, and assessed so far this year. We communicate this learning on a 1-4 scale, with 3 being on grade-level for this time of year. A score of 4 means that the student shows initiative and independence on this standard for this time of year; a score of a 2 means the student is nearly meeting grade-level expectations for this time of year; and a score of 1 indicates that the student is working towards expectations with additional support. Please note that the Math Content standards will be scored on a 1-3 scale only, so 4s will not appear. Teacher comments are intended as brief summaries. More extensive narratives of your student’s progress are shared during conferences in the fall and spring. If you have any questions about what you see here, please reach out to the teachers. Thanks for a great first semester!

Reporting Periods:

Formal communication of student progress towards grade level standards happens four times per school year: twice during caregiver/teacher conferences (fall and spring), and twice through report cards (winter and summer). The final report in June typically captures progress for both semesters of the school year.

Fall Parent Conferences - Based on teacher schedule - prior to November break

Winter Report Cards - Emailed home on 1/29/24

Spring Parent Conferences - Based on teacher schedule - prior to April break

June Report Cards - Emailed home around the last week of school

Teacher Comments:

Teacher comments are intended to briefly share something of note regarding your child’s learning in a specific content area. Therefore, you may see teacher comments for some content areas, yet not all, and only when a teacher feels it is appropriate. Extensive anecdotal discussion of your child’s progress occurs during the two specific parent-teacher conference periods in the fall and spring.

We want to share with families and caregivers all the amazing math CCS students are doing. We also want to help you see how every step along the path builds to something new.

Science teachers across the district have been looking for ways to integrate science into reading and writing classes while also creating a shared experience for our PreK-8 students. In early February, our school will be welcoming Jason Chin to share his experiences and insights into writing and illustrating children’s books. Jason Chin, a local author and illustrator, is a diverse author and a Caldecott Medal winner who has written and illustrated a series of children’s books, including many on non-fiction science topics.

Throughout January and early February, individual classrooms will be preparing for his visit by exploring Chin’s books in a variety of ways. We are so excited for this opportunity to welcome him into our school!

Does your child enjoy exploring the spelling and meaning of words?

Spelling Club times will be during the student’s lunch periods on Mondays and Fridays.

week 1 Jan 22, Jan 26 (M,F) 11-1

week 2 Jan 29, Feb 2 (M,F) 11-1

week 3 Feb 5, Feb 9 (M,F) 11-1

week 4 Feb 12, Feb 16 (M,F) 11-1

Grade Level Words to Practice:

Third Grade Words

Fourth Grade Words

Fifth Grade Words

Sixth Grade Words

Seventh Grade Words

Eighth Grade Words

WordClub is a free app you can download on a home personal device that can quiz you on words.

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.

• Athletics
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• Access Community Education Classes and Registration
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• Charlotte Recreation Department

Jen Roth, Lead Principal

Amanda Riggleman, Assistant Principal

Beth Slater, Director of Special Services