Welcome Back!

I hope everyone had a fantastic and restful week! We are ready to dive back into the exciting activities for the next three weeks. It’s a quick sprint between Thanksgiving and winter break, so be sure to check the family calendar for all the fun events, important dates, and other key information happening at school.

This December, we are kicking off our new character trait: integrity! In kid-friendly terms, integrity means doing the right thing, even when no one is watching. It’s all about being honest, responsible, and having a strong moral compass. I picked integrity because it serves as the foundation for our choices and actions. Below, you’ll find some family resources to help spark conversations about integrity with your kids.

Also, we know the holidays can be a bit overwhelming. Our wonderful community member, Val Hunter, is organizing support for families in need of holiday meals and gifts. If your family could use a little extra love this season, feel free to reach out to Val Hunter at mvhunter88@msn.com.

Don’t forget to check out other important information below!

As always, my door and inbox are open for you!

Mrs. H

It's here, it's finally here!!

A big thank you to the PTA, Ms. Blow, Ms. S, Ms. Teisha, Ms. Hendricks, Ms. Elkins, and Ms. Peat for helping to make our first session a possibility!

I will be giving a list of kids attending to the main office and teachers tomorrow. We will call enrichment kids to the cafeteria. Families will also be receiving an email if their kiddo is signed up each day- just for double-checking purposes.

Dear Community,

In recent weeks, I have noticed an increasing sense of division between our two schools within the district. I want to acknowledge the uncertainty surrounding our configuration for the upcoming year and beyond, as I understand this can evoke a wide range of emotions for many.

I have observed some discussions on social media that suggest a sense of competition, or "one-upping," between our schools. I want to clarify that our intention is not to "outdo" North Hero in any way.

We remain committed to our school events, focused on bringing joy to our students and families, and actively seeking ways to collaborate with other schools in our Supervisory Union. It saddens me to see our district in this position, and I truly hope we can celebrate our collective identity rather than functioning as separate entities.

I am concerned that this growing divide could negatively affect our voting outcomes, ultimately impacting our students the most.

If you find yourself facing a challenging situation or conversation, please know that I am always here to listen and support you.

Thank you for your understanding and commitment to our community.

Warm regards,

Mrs. H

Our family calendar has more events than what is listed below. Be sure to click the Link to the Family Calendar.

Dec 2

• Enrichment begins

Dec 6

• NO ENRICHMENT, craft fair setup

Dec 10

• CIUUSD Board Meeting

Dec 12

• Early release - NO ENRICHMENT

Dec 23- Jan 1

• No school, Winter Break

Lindsay Lundquist with the Grand Isle Rec committee have been helping to organize our winter ski and ride. Final details are being worked out and I will be sending out information as soon as I can! Stay tuned!

Kids go outside for recess everyday, unless it feels colder than 10 degrees fahrenheit or it's raining. Please send kids to school with warm weather gear: coats, hats, gloves/mittens, snow pants, and boots.

Label everything please :)

It’s hard to believe that in just six short weeks, we'll be welcoming a new year! With the new year, we also begin to think about the exciting transition to middle school.

Over the past two years, I've gathered some insights on how to better support families during this important time. In each newsletter leading up to early Spring, I’ll share helpful steps and tips to guide you through this process. Stay tuned for more!

As a family in Grand Isle, North Hero, and Isle La Motte, you have school choice to any school for middle and high school.

Schools typically chosen are:

• Folsom
• Colchester
• South Burlington
• Essex
• Milton
• NCCS
• And MORE!

Busing is provided to most schools, but not all, and that often plays a factor in family choice.

1. Make a list of schools you might want to attend.
2. Visit those school websites to see what activities they offer, what classes kids usually take, etc.
3. Be prepared to have a decision by March 2025.
4. School visits are later in the Spring.

The 2024 Scholastic Book Fair will be held at Grand Isle School from December 2nd through December 7th.

During library classes the week of December 2nd, students will have the opportunity to explore the Book Fair and make purchases if families choose to send in students with funds.

To set up an eWallet for a student to use, please visit this link: https://bookfairs.scholastic.com/content/fairs/ewallet.html

-Ms. Drasler

Email: ahanlon@gisu.org
Website: https://www.grandisleschool.org/
Location: 224 U.S. Rte 2, Grand Isle, VT, USA
Phone: 802-372-6913
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/grandisleschool.org

Attendance Form: https://forms.gle/ABSvVURCxvqbMfXw7