Super News
Sept 2024 Issue
Super Message
September 2024
As the school year begins, parents and guardians will be invited to open houses, opening days, and the like. Many families will take full advantage of these opportunities and meet teachers, administrators and other families. This is obviously a very good time to learn both about your child’s school and the community in which you live. Often, though, after the summer fades away and the newness of the school year wears off, family engagement also tends to drop. Make this be the year that you challenge yourself to be a bigger part of your school community. There are many ways to do this, and I encourage you to reach out to your school’s principal to learn about those opportunities as well as see the resources listed below. Happy school year!
Parent Resource
Parent Groups Contacts
- Marlboro:
- Marlboro Parent Group - marlborofta@gmail.com
- Dover:
- Dover School Club: des-club@windhamcentral.org
- Wardsboro:
- Jennifer Hettrick, President: wardsboroschoolclub5@gmail.com
- Leland & Gray:
- Booster Contacts:
Tammy Greenwood, President: 928tcgreenwood@gmail.com
Megan Richardson, VP: mrichardson@windhamcentral.org
Jess Landers, Secretary: jessicalynnlanders@gmail.com
- Townshend:
- Robin Patnode - rpatnode@windhamcentral.org
- Randy Litchenwalner - rlitchenwalner@windhamcentral.org
- NewBrook:
- Sarah Webb - sareliwebb@gmail.com
- Lindsey Bertram - bertramfamilyvt@gmail.com
- Kathleen Murtaugh - kmurtaugh08@gmail.com
- Erin Wood - ewood0607@gmail.com
- Suzanne Paugh - spaugh@windhamcentral.org
- Charlie Ezequelle - ezequellevt@gmail.com
Board Business
September is generally a quiet time for school boards. Budget season has yet to start, hiring is (hopefully) pretty quiet, and the glow of the new school year is still fresh. However, the passage of late-session legislation from the Vermont Legislature included a law that created a new Commission on the Future of Public Schools in Vermont. This group will create a vision of our educational system which could have an impact on future budgets which of course can impact programming for students. The boards of WCSU are following this development closely and are preparing for a challenging budget season ahead. But, they are optimistic about finding ways to continually improve the education within our SU and delivering this in a financially responsible manner. To this end, the West River board will be hosting several community meetings (Townshend, Jamaica, NewBrook) to talk about possible consolidation of elementary schools.
News From Around The SU
Opening Day Supervisory Union Tour
Dear Families,
As I visited our schools on opening day, I was delighted to witness the vibrant energy and enthusiasm that filled every corner of our buildings. The start of this school year has been nothing short of inspiring, and I wanted to share some highlights with you.
From the moment I walked through the doors, I was greeted by our incredible principals and staff, whose energy and dedication were notable. The principals proudly led me around their schools and bragged about their staff and students.
It was heartwarming to see students so engaged and excited. Whether they were learning classroom expectations, exploring their new environment, listening to books read by their teachers, enjoying lunch with their friends, showing off their "rockstar haircuts", or chanting “cut the ribbon” as their new playground was opened, they were positive and respectful.
The school facilities looked fantastic as well, with shiny floors reflecting the excitement of a fresh start. Positive messages and motivational signs decorating the walls. These small touches are a testament to the commitment we all share to creating an uplifting and engaging learning environment. The new playgrounds in Dover, Townshend and Wardsboro are sure to become a favorite spot for our students, standing as a symbol of our continuous efforts to improve the experiences of our students.
More than anything, it was the genuine relationship-building and connections I observed that made the day truly special. Seeing our community come together to support and uplift each other reaffirmed the incredible spirit of our WCSU schools.
Here’s to a fantastic school year ahead filled with growth, joy, and continued success.
Warm regards,
Bob Thibault
Superintendent
Insert opening day pictures
Staff Highlights
Professional Development
Kindergarten through 8th grade teachers attended EL Education training on 8/23 at NewBrook School.
New Principals
Joining the WCSU administrative team this year are two new principals, Randy Lichtenwalner and Francesca Palumbo. Mr. Lichtenwalner comes to us from Stamford Elementary School and is the new principal at Townshend Elementary School. Ms. Palumbo comes to us from Academy School and is the new principal at Wardsboro Elementary School. We are very excited to have them both on our team to lead our schools. Welcome aboard!
Randy Litchenwalner
Francesca Palumbo
Central Office Corner
Heidi Russ, Business Manager
Coming Attractions
School Recognition Days 2024-2025
- September 26, 2024 - National School Parent Group Day