CATAMOUNT UPDATE

Dear Families,

Ensuring the safety of our students and staff is our top priority. To maintain a secure environment, our school safety team regularly reviews and updates our procedures. After a recent review, we want to clarify our protocols for welcoming parents and visitors during the school day.

Arrival Procedures:

• From 7:30-8:00 AM, parents are welcome to walk their young students to their classrooms. Parents who have made prior arrangements with their child's teacher may also connect with them during this time. Staff will be present at the main entrance, the patio entrance, and the PK/K house entrance.

• After 8:00 AM, all visitors must enter through the main entrance and check in at the main office.

• Parents of PK and Kindergarten students may escort their child to the classroom between 8:00-8:30 AM after checking in at the office and receiving a visitor’s pass. Alternatively, a staff member can meet the student in the office upon request.

• Students arriving late (after 8:00 AM) will sign in at the office and walk to their classrooms independently. Parents are asked to say their goodbyes in the main lobby.

• After 8:30 AM, visitors are not permitted beyond the lobby unless they have a scheduled meeting with a staff member, such as a teacher, counselor, or nurse. For brief check-ins, staff will typically meet parents in the lobby.

We appreciate your cooperation in following these procedures, which are essential for maintaining a safe and secure school environment. If you have any questions, please contact Lydia Cochrane (PK-3) or Jeremy Ross (4-8).

Upcoming Safety Drill
As part of our commitment to safety, we will conduct a safety drill on Wednesday, February 5th, at 9:00 AM. This drill will help students and staff practice responding to a potentially dangerous situation in the main lobby.

Drill Procedures:

1. An announcement will instruct everyone to “clear the halls,” prompting students and staff to return to classrooms and offices.

2. A second announcement will initiate a lockdown: “Lockdown. Locks, lights, out of sight.” Staff will lock classroom doors, close blinds, turn off lights, and students will move out of sight and remain silent.

3. The drill will conclude with an “all clear” announcement.

We recognize that these drills can cause anxiety for some students. Our teachers have been preparing students this week by discussing the importance of safety drills. Additionally, teachers and counselors will be available to support students before, during, and after the drill.

If you have any questions, please feel free to reach out to your child’s teacher or contact Lydia or Jeremy.

Wishing you a wonderful weekend!

Lydia Cochrane & Jeremy Ross

February 6 - Early Release @ 12:30

February 21 - End of 2nd Trimester

February 24 - March 4 - February Break

March 10 - April 17 - VTCAP Assessment Window - see below for more information about grade level schedules for this testing

March 13 - Early Release

March 14 - No School - Teacher Inservice

March 17-21 - Trimester 2 Parent Conference Week

March 21 - No School - Parent Conferences

Students in Grades 6-8 will be administered the Youth Risk Behavior Survey during the week of February 10th. Middle School parents, please be on the lookout for an email next week from Melissa Maney with more information!

Celebrate Heart Health Day: February 14th

Did you know February is National Heart Health Month? Heart disease is the leading cause of death for men and women in the United States. During this special month, help kids and adults understand the importance of a healthy heart and actions they can take to live a heart healthy life. St. Johnsbury School will celebrate on Friday, February 14th by wearing RED, enjoy a heart healthy meal served in our cafeteria, and engage in hearty-healthy activities.

Parents, caregivers, and others can utilize February’s Heart Month-focus as a way to teach their kids about heart-healthy practices. By learning these healthy habits early, children are more likely to continue practicing them throughout life and decrease their risk of heart disease later in life.

Here are some ways families can maintain and support their child’s heart health:

1. Sleep Soundly

A restful night's sleep is important because it offers children the energy to exercise every day, the clarity to make healthy eating choices, and the rest to concentrate in class. Most children require 10 to 11 hours of sleep per night.

Having a consistent bedtime and wake-up time each day and creating a peaceful, dark bedroom for your child will assist them to sleep and stay asleep till morning.

2. Exercise Everyday

The heart of your child is a muscle that requires exercise to stay strong. Children should exercise for at least an hour each day to build their bones and muscles, reduce stress, and maintain a healthy blood pressure. Parents and families can engage in a variety of activities with your children, such as playing tag, basketball, and soccer, or going on a hike.

3. Eat healthfully

Fruits and vegetables should be a part of every meal for kids. In fact, half of their food consumption at each meal should be fruits and vegetables.

Buying fresh produce instead of processed food is the greatest approach to start introducing more fruits and veggies into your child's diet. Keeping cut-up fruits and vegetables for you and your child is especially beneficial!

4. Drink Sensibly

Due to its lack of calories and artificial chemicals, water is a fantastic option for maintaining a healthy heart. Low-fat milk is another nutritious choice. Eliminating sugary beverages including soda, juice, energy drinks, and sports drinks is the aim.

Adapted from : https://www.starlight.org/stories/american-heart-month-ways-to-keep-your-heart-healthy

At the January 6th school board meeting, the St. Johnsbury School Board approved the proposed FY 2026 budget, which totals $30,217,239, reflecting a 3.19% increase from last year. The proposed budget also results in an anticipated property homestead tax rate decrease of $0.03, bringing the rate down to $1.76.

Detailed budget information can be found on our budget information page on our website. Answers to frequently asked questions are available on our FAQ page, and additional questions can be submitted via the Connect with Us page found on our website at stjsd.org.

On Town Meeting Day, Tuesday, March 4, 2025, polling hours are 8am-7pm. St. Johnsbury residents will vote at the Town Clerk's Office located at 51 Depot Square, St. Johnsbury, VT or by absentee ballot (see more information below).

Vermont offers online voter registration. You can register by mail to vote in Vermont by printing a voter registration form, filling it out, and mailing it to the Town Clerk's Office. You can also register to vote in person if you prefer even on election day.

Absentee ballots can be requested from the Town Clerk's Office. Absentee ballots can be used to vote up until 3:00pm on Monday, March 3rd. Ballots will be available by February 10th but may be requested anytime. Absentee ballots will need to be requested by phone, email or online through https://mvp.vermont.gov/. To request an absentee ballot, please contact our Town Clerk: Stacy Jewell via phone: 802-748-4331 ext. 1 or email: sjewell@stjvt.com.

Email:lcochrane@stjsd.org (Lydia Cochrane, PK-3); jross@stjsd.org (Jeremy Ross 4-8)
Website: stjsd.org
Location: 257 Western Avenue, Saint Johnsbury, VT, USA
Phone: (802)748-8912
Facebook: facebook.com/StJohnsburySchool