Cornwall School News 9/28/24

You'll notice that this edition of the Cornwall School News is thinner than usual. It was a challenging week for our community. In a small school, one difficult situation has a ripple effect that can be felt throughout, even by those who are unaware that it's happening. We were short-staffed this week, and I was blown away by the flexibility our staff showed - stepping up and stepping in, as well as the generous help we got from Bridport, Weybridge, and Mary Hogan schools. Our kids showed great resilience and rolled with it.

This week also included the joyful news of a new baby and the heartbreaking news of the passing of a parent in our community. Staff gathered before students arrived on Friday morning to be together, share tears, figure out what our kids would need, and figure out how to collectively support the family and our greater Cornwall family in the face of this tremendous loss. Once again, we got help from the greater "village": Salisbury reached out to ask what we needed, and Ripton sent us our beloved Ms. J even though it was their day to have her.

Flexibility, generosity and love sustain this greater school family. I'm so grateful.

- Nadya

Wednesday, October 2, Picture Day

Friday, October 4, Harvest Fest

Wednesday, October 9, early release

Thursday, October 10, Inservice - no school for students

Friday, October 11, No School

Click here for the ACSD 24-25 school year calendar.

Want to spend a fun afternoon outside celebrating the fall harvest with the Cornwall School community? Please click the Sign-Up Genius link below if you are interested and able to help.

10/4

12:45-2:30pm

Cornwall School Harvest Festival

In October, we will test out a new morning routine called Move It Morning! If you're regularly available Monday mornings from 7:30 to 8:00, and you like to be outside, this might be volunteer opportunity for you. To volunteer, you must complete the ACSD has a sign-up process that ensures our students’ safety. For all the details on how to do that, see the ACSD website under Work With Us. Volunteers will get free parking and get to carry a clipboard.

Contact Nadya if you're interested. nbech@acsdvt.org

Four Winds Nature Program is search of volunteers. Cornwall school has worked with Four Winds for at least the past decade! For those of you new to the Four Winds program, it encompasses a series of Nature lessons run by volunteers, in an effort to “get kids and adults outside, together, learning in and with nature, experiencing joy, wonder, and connection”.

As a volunteer, you would attend five training workshops (spread throughout the academic year), followed by presenting and incorporating each module’s activities into a classroom. In the past, volunteers have worked with their own child’s class (coordinating with the classroom teacher on a day/time that works for all). Each lesson is set to take around 45min - 1.5 hrs but can be flexible.

If this is something you would like to do, please contact me so that I can provide you with more details (andrea.corcoran@gmail.com). We already have a great team of volunteers but are always looking for folks interested. In particular we are looking for at least 2 grown-up volunteers for the kindergarten classroom, and an extra for 4th grade.

Note: you do not need to be a scientist to volunteer! Four Winds provides all the training you will need.

Looking forward to a fun year of Natural Science exploration!

- Andrea (mom of James Foley), Four Winds Volunteer Coordinator

• Across ACSD , we are for the 2nd year using Panorama surveys to measure student and staff social and emotional health.
• We use the data we collect to strengthen our programs and help all students succeed.
• This survey will be given to students in grades 3-5.
• The survey asks student to self-reflect on skills related to self-management, self-awareness, responsible decision-making, relationship skills, and social awareness.

Please notify your child’s teacher if you do not want your child to participate. If you have any questions, please contact Nadya. nbech@acsdvt.org.