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Cougar Chronicle
October 25, 2024
The Principal's Office
Thank you Walter Opuszynski!!
Thank you Michael Chartrand!
We would also like to give another shout out to Michael for weed whacking around the PreK playground!! Thank you Michael!!
Family Conferences
Family conferences are on 11/11. Be on the lookout for more communication soon from your student's teachers!!
Basketball 2024 - Sign Up Now!! 🏀
Yes you read that right. Basketball sign ups are here already even though soccer is not even done yet.
Here is the link to the digital form to register for basketball this year. If you would like a paper copy, please email Danielle at dmackay@u32.org.
"Would You Rather.." Rain or Snow? RESULTS
"Would You Rather" .........
Make a scarecrow or carve a pumpkin?
Scarecrow
Pumpkin
Tiny Mic Interview w/ Mr. Weiss
Important Dates
10/26 - Central Vermont Out of the Darkness Suicide Prevention Walk
10/27 - Touch a Truck @ East Montpelier Fire Station
10/29 - Calais Community Preschool Storytime!
10/30 - Strengthening Families Program with Children Birth-3
10/31 - Trick or Treat @ East Montpelier Fire Station
11/2 - Youth Basketball Clinic (1st-4th)
11/2 - Calais Community Halloween Spooktacular!
11/3 - Barre Figure Skating Club Season Starts
11/8 - Picture Retake Day
11/9 - U32 Craft Fair
11/11 - Veterans' Day/Family Conferences - No school for students
11/14 - Friends of Calais meeting
11/15 - Bingo Night
11/16 - Youth Basketball Clinic
11/16 - Hands Only CPR Event
11/19 - Family of Color Affinity Group Meeting
Backpack Program
Dear Calais Families,
We will be starting the Backpack program soon here at Calais Elementary School for families. The program is designed to provide families with children who attend Calais, the necessary food and clothing that they may need throughout the school year. Food and Gift bags will be dispensed in a discreet and caring manner. This program runs the full school year on a weekly basis with exception to student breaks and summer. This includes winter clothing, Thanksgiving and Christmas presents, in addition. There is no cost associated with this program. If you wish for your child to participate in the program, please sign below and return this letter to the school in your child's folder or drop it off at the Main Office by next Friday. Thank you and please let us know if you have any questions or any needs for your child at any time.
Feel free to email me at rfrisenda@u32.org or call 802-454-7777 ext 105 at any time.
Sincerely,
Ruth Frisenda
School Counselor
Calais Elementary School
October Menus
Family Handbook
Please review the 2024-2025 Family Handbook. This handbook spells out procedures, guidelines, expectations, and list of resources. If you have any questions, please contact Mr. Weiss.
Volunteer Opportunities
One of our goals this year is to engage with our community, not just parents and families, but the larger Calais community. This school is part of the community and we want the community to come and be part of CES.
You may want to volunteer in the classroom, help us coordinate activities or chaperone trips, tap into a talent to teach our students, or generally be available to help where needed. We will welcome you all to Calais!
Work continues on the details for the Calais Volunteer Program as there are a few moving pieces that need to be completed, but we want you to let us know of your interest. Please put your name on our list by filling out the Volunteer Program Form.
Register today at http://www2.heart.org/goto/FriendsOfCalais
Central Vermont Out of the Darkness Suicide Prevention Walk
Central Vermont Out of The Darkness Walk
Please consider joining the U32 team and walk in the Central Vermont Out of the Darkness Suicide Prevention Walk on October 26th or making a donation to our team here:
Family of Color Affinity Group Meeting
The Family of Color Affinity Group was created to provide space for families to connect with our community, participate in ongoing learning , and advocate for our students. Over the past two years we have met with the Restorative Practices facilitators, the U-32 Admin Team, representatives from the Student Curriculum Council, and the Humanity and Justice Coalition. Additionally we have provided feedback on the Strategic Plan and several District Policies. We also meet with community organizations like the Education Justice Coalition, to learn about additional resources and events that are of interest to us and our students.
This year, in order to increase outreach beyond U-32 and into the Elementary Schools, we have asked all District Administrators to share this information in their newsletter on a monthly basis. In this way, we hope to engage more BIPOC (Black, Indigenous and People of Color) families to come and join us. In this case, a BIPOC family could have parents and students who identify as people of color, or just students who identify as people of color.
November's meeting will be held at the Berlin Elementary Library on Tuesday, November 19th from 5:30-7:00. If you are interested in attending that meeting, please fill out this google form.
4th Annual Calais Community Halloween Spooktacular!
The Friends of Calais will be offering face painting by donation at the Friends of Calais table with Adrian Wade-Keeney and Rachael Clark Keyes. Donations will support future FOC programming.
Saturday, November 2, 2024 from 3-5 p.m.
at the East Calais Rec Field
Click the link for more information and to sign up to participate in this annual event!
https://www.signupgenius.com/go/10C094BABAD23A2F8C43-51997838-halloween
U-32 Varsity Girls and Boys Basketball teams will be holding a pair of youth basketball clinics on Nov. 2 and Nov. 16 at U-32 from 9-11 a.m. Cost is $25 and a camp t-shirt is included.
It's open to anyone 1st to 8th grade (boy or girl) and does not need to be a district resident either. Please find a link to the sign up form here.
Lots of Covid Tests to Share! Exp. Date 12-17-24
Dear Colleagues and Neighbors - The Town of Calais has received hundreds and hundreds at-home covid tests; plenty to share!
Please email to let us know if you would like some, and when you would like to come pick them up from the Calais Town Office (sorry, no deliveries).
Links and Resources
Family Support Programs
Free online Parent Education Programs to any parent/caregiver in Vermont who wants support and/or to learn new parenting skills.
Do you or someone you know want to learn more about the programs we offer?
Visit our website at: www.pcavt.org/family-support-programs,
email us at familysupport@pcavt.org or
call 1-800-CHILDREN
Nurturing Parenting®,
Strengthening Families Programs &
Circle of Parents®
Curriculum-based, parenting education programs for families experiencing stress.
Upcoming Parent Education Programs:
All programs are offered virtually and FREE!
Programs are 2 hours per week for 14-18 weeks
Nurturing Program® for Families in Substance Use Treatment & Recovery
starting October 22, Tuesdays 5pm
Nurturing Skills™ for Families -
starting October 29, Tuesdays 5:30pm
Strengthening Families Program with Children Birth -3
starting October 30, Wednesdays 1pm
Nurturing Skills™ for Families -
starting November 4, Mondays 10am
Nurturing Skills™ for Families -
starting November 5, Tuesdays 6pm
Nurturing Program® for Families in Substance Use Treatment & Recovery
starting November 6, Wednesdays 8:30am
Nurturing Program® for Families in Substance Use Treatment & Recovery
starting November 7, Thursdays 9am
in person Turning Point Center Barre
starting November 13, Wednesdays 6pm
Nurturing Program® for Families in Substance Use Treatment & Recovery
starting November 13, Wednesdays Noon
Nurturing Skills™ for Families -
starting November 13, Wednesdays 11am
Strengthening Families Program for Families with Teens
starting November 14, Thursdays 530pm
Upcoming Circle of Parents Support Groups:
Circle of Parents® is a network of professionally facilitated, peer-led, self-help support groups for using a strengths-based
approach and a shared leadership model.
All Circles are offered virtually and FREE!
Circles meet weekly for 60-90 minutes and are ongoing
*Participants may join anytime
Tuesdays 630pm
Thursdays 515pm
Reach out to familysupport@pcavt.org for more information
October Birthdays
Finn
Derek and Joseph
Parker
Izzy
Jonah
Jordyn