Wildcat Pride

Report cards will be emailed home on 12/2/24 or 12/3/24. If you also want a printed copy, please contact Karen West at kwest@kingdomeast.org, or at 695-2550.

Book Fair

Please join us for the Scholastic Book Fair this Thursday evening from 3:30-6:30 and this Friday from 12:00-2:30. This will take place on the first floor in the staff room. If you have conferences during the last slots, you should visit the Book Fair prior to your conference, as we'll close the doors at 6:30 and 2:30.

Calendar Raffle

Each year the Booster Club helps the 8th grade students host a calendar raffle. All 8th graders should bring in an item to be raffled off. Items must be turned in no later than 1/2/25, so that the calendar can be filled built.

In past years, students have raffled off gift cards to local businesses, locally sourced maple products, tickets to local events or to Santa's Village, woodcarvings, chimney cleanings, oil changes, hair care services, and Scentsy and Pampered Chef products.

Dear Concord Families,

Concord School is committed to taking proactive steps to curb a problem that is found in schools everywhere: bullying and cyberbullying. In support of this, we have invited Mr. John Halligan, an international speaker and author, to conduct a presentation for our students. He will relay his own

tragic experience as a parent whose 13-year-old son took his own life in 2003 after experiencing bullying from his peers since the 5th grade, both in school and online. Mr. Halligan further shares that Ryan wrestled with underlying mental health issues and depression, and these factors contributed to Ryan’s vulnerability and ultimate suicide. His story is riveting and compelling and reminds students that there is a face, a person, and a heart on the other end of the screen.

His presentation on December 9, 2024 at 9:00 AM will begin with a short video collection of home movie clips and still pictures of Ryan. Mr. Halligan will then tell the story of Ryan’s life and the factors that led up to his son’s suicide. The students will gain a perspective from inside the family of a

child who is a victim of bullying and cyberbullying. In the wrap-up session, they will receive life-changing lessons about forgiveness, suicide prevention, the role of bystanders, and a challenge to apologize to someone. We encourage you to visit a website named for his son, www.RyansStory.org, for more information.

Because of the sensitive nature of this topic, we wanted to inform you about this presentation in advance. Students will engage in a pre-lesson before the presentation and will have a post-lesson after the presentation. We encourage you to ask your child about the presentation and discuss it together. Our Support Services Staff will be available throughout the assembly and after for any students who need additional support.

Should you have further questions or if you would prefer that your child not attend this presentation, please email me at afressie@kingdomeast.org before December 6, 2024.

Sincerely,

Andrea Fressie

Guidance Counselor

Concord School

We cannot wait to see families for student-led conferences this Thursday and Friday. If you attend in person, you should come to the cafeteria for cookies and punch and to be entered for our door prizes. When you attend in person we offer child care so that you can focus your attention on your child who is presenting.

Student-led conferences are your child's opportunity to present their goals for the school year, to get your feedback, and hear how you may be able to help them achieve these goals. If you have specific questions for teachers, please consider requesting a parent-teacher conference. Teachers will be happy to meet with you at another time.

We'd love your feedback. We'll have the following link available throughout the building. https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSfbjqx4kJFstQT2WUkMCNF-Fgsa4L_5oSul2xz3xtR11knkJQ/viewform

Basketball Concessions

There is an opportunity to sell concessions at our home games. Meagan Johnson will take the lead on organizing this. If you are an 8th grade parent and are willing to help out in some way, please fill out the attached Google Form.

Lunenburg Gingerbread Bazaar Cookie Walk

The Gilman Middle School 8th grade class always sold cookies or brownies during the Lunenburg Gingerbread Bazaar. The Lunenburg community has offered the Concord 8th grade class an opportunity to raise funds for their class trip and graduation during this event. We're still looking for an 8th grade parent who resides in Lunenburg or Gilman to help organize this fundraiser. If you're interested in supporting the Lunenburg community and 8th grade fundraising efforts, please contact Angelique Brown.

December Candy Grams

The 8th grade class will sell Candy Grams to students in Concord and Lunenburg Schools in December. Sales will begin on December 2nd and will conclude on December 13th. Candy Grams will be handed out on December 20th. The class is seeking donations of candy canes from their families and community.

Some students are still not signed up for a winter activity. If this is the case, you missed the deadline for your child to go skiing or snowboarding. Please choose a different activity.

We are excited to announce the 2025 Winter Sports Program for Concord School! We will do the program for six weeks. Anticipated program dates are Wednesdays: January 8, 15, 22, 29 February 5, and 12th Scholarships are available for all program costs, please see options in the questions below. Checks should be made out to KESD and turned in to the Concord front office.

All students must participate in an activity and students do one activity for the entire six weeks. Please review the list below of what we offer. Click on the link for the activity your student would like to participate in to sign them up:

• Downhill skiing or Snowboarding (K-8): Students travel to Burke Mountain for the entire school day. All students take a lesson at the mountain and return to school in time for dismissal. Students bring and eat lunch at the mountain. Students return to school in time for dismissal. Kindergarten students must have a parent chaperone to attend skiing or snowboarding.
• Ice Skating and Siskin Outdoor Center (3-8): Students travel to Fenton Chester Arena for ice skating (free skate - no lessons) for the morning. After ice skating, students ride a bus to Siskin Outdoor Center for outdoor skills (fire building, xc skiing, etc). They will also eat lunch at Siskin. Students return to school in time for dismissal. *February 12th students will have an alternate field trip - not Siskin*
• Evergreen Sports Center (3-8): Students spend the day at Evergreen Sports Center, rotating through free swim, rock climbing lessons, or gymnastics lessons. Students return to school in time for dismissal.
• Sledding & Gymnastics (K-2): Students will spend the morning sledding at Lyndon Outing Club, eat lunch there and travel to Kingdom Gymnastics for the afternoon. *If there is not enough snow, students will go to the Fairbanks instead of sledding*

Please complete this form and all links below by this Friday October 25th so that your student has permission to go on this trip.

If you are interested in chaperoning and participating in any of these activities, there is a box on the form to apply. Prior volunteer registration approval & background check required to participate. Volunteers are responsible for the fees associated with rentals and ticketing. These will be available at the discounted rate offered to the school (limited availability) and must be paid for in advance.

Morgan Moore
Director of Experiential Learning

Summer School Program Director

Kingdom East School District

(802) 626-6100 x4731

morganmoore@kingdomeast.org

We have lots of children who still need an Angel Tree sponsor. If you're willing to help out, please contact Heidi Lyons.

Please find health news provided by our school nurse, Barandee Peterson here. It's important that students begin dressing for the cold and snow. We have some winter apparel available in certain sizes. https://secure.smore.com/n/f2y80.

The Concord students have earned a Cookie Decorating Party for 12/9/24.

They are working to earn some spirit days and a movie for the week of December 16th. If they are successful, the spirit week will include:

• Festive Socks Monday
• Festive Hats and Headbands Tuesday
• White Winter Wednesday
• Ugly Sweater Thursday
• Pajama Friday

We are excited to announce the 2025 KEAP Early Release ski/ride program! This is a free program for Kingdom East students grades 5-8.

Early release ski/ride dates: 1/17, 1/31, 2/14, 3/21

Students travel to Burke Mountain for an afternoon of skiing or snowboarding. All students take a lesson, and have time to free ski/ride with friends and chaperones.

Students bring and eat lunch at the mountain.
Pickup Options are:

-Burke Mountain @ 4:00
-Lyndon Town School @ 4:25
-Concord School @ 4:45

THIS FORM MUST BE COMPLETED BY TUESDAY, OCTOBER 29TH!
Reach out to kkresser@kingdomeast.org with questions.

KEAP Winter 2025 KEAP Early Release Ski/Ride

Food & Drinks

Students may bring juice, tea, water or milk to school to have during a snack and/or lunch. Students may only consume water outside of snack and lunch times, unless they have a documented medical need. Students are encouraged to bring healthy snacks to consume during their scheduled snack break.

USDA School Beverage Guidelines define beverages as: unflavored low fat milk or flavored or unflavored nonfat milk or milk substitute or 100% fruit or vegetable juice, plain or carbonated water. Beverages will be kept within these parameters at all times. Soda and energy drinks will not be allowed throughout the school day.

The Kingdom East School District provides several opportunities for students to access healthy and nutritional food before, during, and after school. We have received federal grant funding for pre K-8th grade students to receive fresh fruit and veggie snacks during the week. Our students up to age 18 who stay after school receive a free after school expanded snack as well. Breakfasts and lunches are free this year for all students. The Abbey Food Service Group currently provides delicious, nutritious, and high quality meals to students and staff.

Adult breakfast and lunch prices are listed below. Please still fill out the Free and Reduced lunch application as it is used to determine eligibility to participate in a variety of child nutrition programs. Menus are sent home and are available online www.abbeygroup.net at the beginning of each month to help you plan in advance. Menus are subject to change.

Adult Breakfast $3.00

Adult Lunch $5.25

You will find the menus December below.

This section of the newsletter will be updated on after the December meeting on the 2nd at 6:00pm.

Please consider joining us. New membership is always welcome! All meeting dates are listed below. They are held at 6:00pm at the Concord School.

December 2nd

January 6th

February 3rd

March 10th

April 7th

May 5th

June 2nd

-12/2 Report Cards Go Out & Booster Club Meeting

-12/2 to 12/13 8th Grade Reindeer Gram Sales

-12/2 to 12/20 8th Grade Calendar Raffle Item Solicitation

-12/5 & 12/6 Student-Led Conferences and Scholastic Book Fair

-12/7 Lunenburg Christmas Bazaar & 8th Grade Cookie Walk

-12/18 Angel Tree Items Due

-12/19 Angel Tree Item Pickup

-12/20 Early Release Day & Reindeer Gram Handouts

-12/23 to 1/1 Vacation

Communication is our goal! In this age of instant communication, sometimes the best way to reach out is still using a telephone. Please call 695-2550 if you want to reach us during school hours via phone. You can also email Principal, Angelique Brown at angeliquebrown@kingdomeast.org, Assistant Principal, Kandi Greaves at kgreaves@kingdomeast.org, or Administrative Assistant, Karen West at kwest@kingdomeast.org.

Concord School is committed to developing young people with active and creative minds, a sense of understanding and compassion for others, and the courage to act on their beliefs. In partnership with parents and the community, we will provide an environment which supports the intellectual, social, emotional, and physical development of students, while fostering an understanding of the rights and responsibilities of good citizenship.

Website: kingdomeast.org
Location: 173 School Street, Concord, VT, USA
Phone: 802-695-2550
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/search/top?q=concord%20school