Windham Northeast Supervisory Union Schools are committed to partnering with our community to ensure growth and inspire lifelong learning for each and every student.

The end of the school year is coming fast! Tuesday, June 17th is the last day of school for students and will be an Early Release Day! We hope everyone has a fun, safe, and relaxing summer!

On Wednesday, June 18, the WNESU School Board will review and consider adopting a Bell to Bell No Cell Phone Policy.

Our commitment is to provide the best possible learning environment for your children. Studies have found that "banning mobile phones in schools increases student performance, especially for low-achieving students." At the same time, over half of teachers nationwide report that student cellphone distraction is a significant problem in their classrooms. Beyond academics, research shows cellphone use negatively impacts students' mental health and attention spans, and these devices can facilitate cheating and cyberbullying. Our goal is to create an environment where your child can develop meaningful relationships, improve focus and concentration skills, and engage fully in learning without digital distractions.

Vermont participates in the Summer Electronic Benefit Transfer (S-EBT) program. S-EBT helps feed eligible school-aged children during summer vacation. The benefit is $120 for the summer per eligible child. It can be used to buy food at grocery stores, farmers markets and online where EBT is accepted. Benefits will be sent automatically to most eligible families starting on June 2.

The Vermont Department for Children and Families will send you a letter if your family will get the benefit automatically. The letter will have instructions. Here’s how the benefits will arrive:

● If your household has an EBT card, S-EBT benefits will be added to that card.

● If you have an S-EBT card from last summer, the benefit will be added to that card. If you lost your card, call 1-888-354-0012, option 7 to get a new one.

● Families who don’t already have an EBT card will receive a new card in the mail.

Please keep your card for next summer!

Children are automatically eligible for S-EBT if:

● They are between 6 - 16 years old and get Medicaid with a qualifying family income, 3SquaresVT, or Reach Up; or,

● They qualify for free or reduced-price meals at a school that participates in the National School Lunch Program. Even though Vermont schools offer free meals to all students, only some students qualify for free and reduced-price meals.

● Children participating in several other assistance programs may also get the benefit automatically.

If you think your child is eligible and you do not receive a benefit letter in the mail by July 7, visit https://summerebt.vermont.gov/ to submit a short application. Children can also get Summer EBT if they go to a school that participates in the National School Lunch Program and their household income is below the limit. Applications can be submitted any time before August 29. The income limit increases on July 1, so check back after July 1 if you don’t currently qualify.

In addition to Summer EBT, children 18 and under can receive free meals at any open summer meal site. All children are invited to get summer meals, even if you do not qualify for Summer EBT. Some summer meal sites provide meals to eat on site. Other sites provide food to take home. You can call 2-1-1 or visit the Summer Meal Finder at https://www.fns.usda.gov/summer/sitefinder to find locations. Vermont summer meal sites will be posted on June 20.

Receiving Summer EBT benefits does not affect the family’s immigration status.

New this summer, families with EBT cards can visit Vermont State Parks for free! Just show your EBT card at the park entrance and you and your household can enter for free. Visit https://www.vermontparksforever.org/paf-pilot to learn more.

You can visit www.summerebt.vermont.gov for more information. If you have questions about the program, please contact DCF’s Economic Services Division at 1-888-354-0012, option 7.

Elisa Barbosa is an Illinois native, who grew up in the suburbs of Chicago. She has lived and worked in Chicago, Boston, Miami, Mexico, Ecuador, and Bosnia. She loves nature and exploring and learning different cultures and languages.

Elisa graduated from the University of Illinois in 1997 with a Bachelor of Arts in Criminal Justice and was accepted into an Americorps program, Public Allies in Chicago. After completing a Master of Teaching from School for International Training in Vermont, she spent two years working as an English Language fellow in Bosnia.

Elisa holds a Master of Special Education from Roosevelt University in Chicago which allowed her to become a special education teacher at the elementary to high school levels. She is certified as an Orton Gillingham teacher where her expertise focused on working with students with dyslexia. She has spent the past decade working as a special education administrator in shaping programs and building a positive school culture of inclusion and equity and currently serves as an Assistant Principal at Holoyoke High School.

A 1990 graduate of BFUHS, Rob brings over 25 years of experience in education, including 21 years as a Director of Athletics in both Georgia and North Carolina. He is currently completing his Doctorate in Educational Leadership at the University of North Carolina–Wilmington.

Rob is the founder and president of Integrity Athletic Consultants, a leadership and consulting organization focused on building high-character athletic programs and supporting coaches, administrators, and student-athletes across the country.

Throughout his career, Rob has held several leadership roles, including serving on the Executive Committee for the Georgia High School Association and acting as President of three athletic conferences. He is also one of only twelve nationally certified John Wooden Way Leadership Coaches—a distinction that reflects his dedication to character-based leadership in athletics.

Rob shares:
“I look forward to representing BFUHS at the state level and listening to the various stakeholders in the community as we continue to build an athletic program of excellence. Most importantly, I am excited to work alongside the administration, faculty/staff, coaching staff, student-athletes, and parents as we model integrity, character, determination, sportsmanship, and pride in our community. Athletics is a catalyst for developing our next generation of leaders, and I am excited to get to work!”

My name is Wesley Capitani. I am the youngest of two, born and raised on an old farm in East Dover, VT. I recently, as in this May, graduated from Hobart and William Smith Colleges with my Master of Arts in Teaching and graduated in 2024 with a bachelors degree in history and theater. I enjoy staying active, I utilize the gym regularly and participate in opportunities to play some kind of sport whenever I can. I am a Steelers fan, alongside my brother, which can make our family gatherings fun as my parents are both Patriots fans. I am looking forward to this year the the experiences, students, and people that I will meet as I take on my first year in the classroom.

I have been a high school counselor for 19 years and I am beyond excited to be returning to my hometown to work as the 7th and 8th grade counselor at BFMS. I was born and raised in Westminster, VT and am an alumni of Bellows Falls Middle School. In fact, many of my childhood memories are from time spent at BFMS as both of my parents were PE teachers in the building! I graduated from BFUHS in 1997, I attended Sacred Heart University and earned my Bachelor's degree in Psychology in 2001 and then went on to earn my Master's degree in School Counseling at Fairfield University in 2005. I have 2 children who both are in the WNESU school system - my son is entering his 10th grade year at BFUHS and my daughter will be a 7th grader at BFMS. I am looking forward to working with the students, families and staff in the Bellows Falls community!

Megan will be splitting her time as the new School Counselor at Saxtons River Elementary School and continuing on as the School Counselor for Grafton Elementary School. In addition to her role as a School Counselor, Megan is a Girl Scout leader, volunteer guardian at litem (GAL), and a mother of three. She has a passion for supporting children any way that she can. In her free time, Megan loves to spend time with her kids, friends, and family. She enjoys hiking, camping, reading books, gardening, sitting around the campfire, listening to music, and playing games.

Katherine Nichols is the newly appointed District BCBA, bringing over 10 years of experience in the field of behavior analysis. Throughout her career, Katherine has worked in both in-home and school settings, specializing in high-intensity challenging behaviors, dual diagnoses, and behavioral systems management. She has extensive expertise in supporting students with complex needs, having worked in educational collaboratives that serve the most behaviorally intense students. Originally from California, Katherine relocated to the New England area four years ago and is now eager to contribute her skills and passion to the students and families of Vermont.