Calais Cougar Chronicle

The last weeks of school are busy and there is LOTS to share!

• On Tuesday, our 6th graders went to U32 for Move Up Day and got the opportunity to meet new friends from around the district and explore a day in the life of a 7th grader.

• We held our annual field day on Wednesday and there are many great photos to share.

• 6th graders took their annual end of year trip Thursday to celebrate their years at Calais. Boulder Beach was new to us this year and they had a great day!

For the remainder of the year, there are several annual traditions to mark your calendars for:

• On Tuesday evening, we celebrate our 6th graders with a graduation ceremony at 5:30. This event is planned for inside to allow for the slideshow. The weather sounds like it may be very hot so we will keep it short and sweet with a few speeches, a slideshow, spirit poems, and the presentation of graduation certificates.Cake and refreshments will follow.

• Tuesday, June 18th marks the last day of school for the year. This is a half day with students being dismissed at 12:30. We plan to hold our annual tradition of “clapping out” the 6th graders in the last minutes of the school day. If you’d like to join us, we will line the hallways and front walkway with our hands out for high fives and congratulations and it’s always a wonderful feeling when our community comes together to wish them well on their last walk down the hall.

• Our classroom configurations for next year are set and shared below.

• PreK/Kindergarten combined with Mrs. Weller and Mrs. G

• 1st grade with Ms. Gilmore

• 2nd grade with Mrs. Curavoo

• 3/4 with Mrs. Jackson

• 5/6 with Mrs. Ecklund

Many of you heard the news I shared yesterday about me moving into a new role as assistant principal for special education at U32 in the coming school year. This opportunity gives me the chance to grow in my leadership and lean purposefully into supporting some of our most vulnerable students across our district, a role I'm very passionate about!

While I'm personally and professionally excited for this new role, I also have some bittersweet feelings about leaving Calais. I grew up in Calais and have served in several roles at Calais since 2006. I've been invested in this community for most of my life. What allows me to move into a focus on my own growth is the knowledge that I can continue to serve our district and our broader community in meaningful ways.

Look for notes from departing staff also in this newsletter.

This final newsletter of the year will also be my last as principal. As I sign off, I want to say thank you for the opportunity I've had to serve at Calais, it's been a wonderful journey!

Cat Fair, CES principal

Dear Calais Family and Friends,

It is with a heavy heart that I am announcing that my family and I have decided to return to Chicago at the conclusion of this school year. My two years here at Calais Elementary and Vermont as a whole have been a truly wonderful experience. Our students and community members have been so warm, kind, and open to myself and my family. I am so appreciative to Ms. Cat for giving me the opportunity to take on the role of School Wide Student Support Specialist at Calais when my background was that of a classroom teacher. I am certain that I’ve learned more about teaching, our students, culture, and the community of central Vermont than I could have ever imagined. Cross Country Skiing, hiking, leaf peeping, solar eclipse viewing, outdoor preschool (for my kiddo), and all of the wonderful music and arts we have enjoyed here will be some of the more memorable unique Vermont experiences. Although this is goodbye for now, I am hopeful that my family and I are able to return to this beautiful land and wonderful friends from time to time in the years to come. From the bottom of my heart thank you, and know that I am leaving knowing that Calais is a truly special place.

Kindly,

Uriah Proctor-Mattingly

Dear Families of Calais,

As we approach the end of the school year, I wanted to take a moment to share some important news with you. After much thought and consideration, I have made the difficult decision to not return to CES for the upcoming school year.

This decision was not made lightly. It has been an absolute privilege to work with your children and to be a part of their educational journey. I have loved growing together, both academically and personally, and I am incredibly proud of the progress they have made.

Please know that my decision is based on personal and professional reasons, and it in no way reflects any dissatisfaction with the school, the administration, or, most importantly, the wonderful students and supportive parents I have had the pleasure of working with.

I want to express my deepest gratitude for your support and partnership throughout the school year, and to my wonderful colleagues that welcomed me and gave me the grace to find my footing as both a librarian and a 4th grade teacher. I wish I was able to stay on, but as you are aware, budget cuts have forced me to look for employment in another district.

I know this may be a difficult discussion to have with your children. If you have any questions or concerns, please feel free to reach out to me directly. I am more than happy to discuss this further and address any inquiries you may have. My contact information is listed at the bottom of this letter. I am planning to tell the students soon, but wanted to afford you all the opportunity to process this information together at home, first.

Thank you once again for entrusting me with the education and well-being of your children. I have learned so much this year at CES and will always think fondly of the time I had here. I wish you and your children continued success and happiness in the future.

Warmest regards, Mr. Nate

nschwartz@u32.org

Will

Camdynn

On the June lunch menu that was sent home, it says that we will be having leftovers on Tuesday, 6/18. Chef Dena has looked at what we still have and is able to offer the below lunch option for leftovers:

Pasta Bar

Cheese Sauce, Pesto or Marinara

Breadsticks

Vegetable

*Sandwich options will likely be available as well but we are trying to clear everything out before the summer so they may not be available if we run out before Tuesday.

6/17 - Nurturing Fathers Program

6/17 - Strengthening Families Program For Families with Teens

6/18 - Prenatal Nurturing Parenting Program

6/18 - Last day of school - half day for students

6/18 - 6th Grade Graduation

6/19 - Field Hockey Clinic @ U32

6/26 - Field Hockey Clinic @ U32

6/28 - Report cards will be mailed home

7/11 - Friends of Calais meeting

7/8-7/12 - Raider Summer Soccer Camp

Downloadable link below

See below for a new and exciting summer soccer camp opportunity run by our very own U-32 soccer program! You can register here:

WCUUSD is anticipating offering summer meals once again at the same location as the district's Extend School Year (ESY) program, this year that site is East Montpelier Elementary School. These meals are free to individuals 18 years of age and younger and will be served on-site only.

Anticipated dates: June 24 through July 26

Breakfast hours: 8:30 AM to 9:30 AM

Lunch hours: 11:30 AM to 12:30 PM

Please watch The World and The Times Argus for a more detailed announcement, as well as your local Front Porch Forum

Get ready: Summer food benefits arriving for Vermont kids!

Parents and guardians will be able to apply soon to see if their student qualifies for Summer EBT benefits from the State of Vermont. Summer EBT benefits will help provide nutritious meals to kids during summer break.

To learn more, visit: https://summerebt.vermont.gov/

Hello all,

Swim lessons are on for this coming summer at Curtis! We have two wonderful instructors, Adeleine and Grace Cannella. They are fully certified and excited to teach your kids to swim!

Please see the registration flyer here
https://docs.google.com/document/d/1DOUHmFb-TD33wJZmJ3p6tBltnQw-9oiV/edit?usp=sharing&ou[...]rue

You may print and deliver to
Adrian Wade-Keeney
97 Kent Hill Road
Calais, Vermont 05648

Or you may fill out the digital version here https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLScKjLYFMoUo8Z4yYYXHk9URSbiG54nK_ei3SQLP12dOYUwg1A/v[...]ink

Please reach out if you have any questions. Spread the word! We do have less week this year than previous years, but hopefully you can find a time that works!

Warmly,

Adrian