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Cougar Chronicle
October 18, 2024
The Principal's Office
Menu Change 10/22
Chef Dena will be out on 10/22 so we will be having the below menu change:
Breakfast - Blueberry Waffles
Lunch - Chicken Nuggets or a vegetarian option
Reimagine Calais Listening Session
Please join Mr. Weiss for a family/community conversation about the future of education at Calais Elementary. In order for us to truly rethink the way we do school at Calais we need the input of our families and community members. Stop by Wednesday, Oct. 23rd from 6:15pm to 7:15pm for a “Reimagine Calais Listening Session”.
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.
Family Directory
Danielle is working on putting together the Family Directory and will try to get that out to everyone as soon as possible. In case anyone is new or does not remember what the Family Directory is - it's a list that we will send home which has the parent contact information of each student in case anyone wants to connect!!
"Would You Rather.." Toast marshmallows or hot dogs over a fire? RESULTS
The community, 1st , 2nd , 3rd/4th and 5th/6th grade classes ALL chose MARSHMALLOWS!!
"Would You Rather" .........
Rain or Snow?
Rain
Snow
Important Dates
10/18 - Homecoming Football @ U32
10/20 - Modern Times Theater at Maple Corner Community Center
10/20 - Spook-tober Craft Fair @ Berlin
10/21 - Nurturing Skills for Families
10/22 - Family of Color Affinity Group Meeting
10/23 - Reimagine Calais Listening Session
10/23 - Nurturing Program for Families in Substance Use Treatment & Recovery
10/26 - Central Vermont Out of the Darkness Suicide Prevention Walk
10/27 - Touch a Truck @ East Montpelier Fire Station
10/30 - Strengthening Families Program with Children Birth-3
10/31 - Trick or Treat @ East Montpelier Fire Station
11/2 - Calais Community Halloween Celebration!
11/8 - Picture Retake Day
11/9 - U32 Craft Fair
11/14 - Friends of Calais meeting
11/16 - Hands Only CPR Event
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.
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.
Our next meeting will be Tuesday, October 22 from 5:30-7:00 at the U-32 Library.
We will be meeting with representatives of the District Curriculum Council as well as reviewing some communication protocols. If you are interested in joining us, please respond through this attached Google Form.
In order to make meetings more accessible, we also plan on rotating them throughout the schools. 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.
Modern Times Theater Presents…
The Perils of Mr. Punch, Episode #73: “Let’s Disagree to Agree” at the Maple Corner Community Center on Sunday, October 20, 2024 at 3:00 p.m.
Admission by Donation at the Door - Suggested Donation Adults $10-$20 Kids $5-$10
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
Community Links and Resources
Family Support Programs
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 Skills™ for Families - starting September 25, Wednesdays 6pm Nurturing Skills™ for Families - starting September 26, Thursdays 1pm Strengthening Families Program for Families with Teens starting October 1, Tuesdays 12pm Nurturing Program® for Families in Substance Use Treatment & Recovery starting October 3, Thursdays 9am in person Turning Point Center Barre starting October 7,Mondays 6pm Prenatal Nurturing Parenting Program starting October 8, Tuesdays 6pm Nurturing Program® for Families in Substance Use Treatment & Recovery starting October 8, Tuesdays 5pm Nurturing Skills™ for Families - starting October 21, Mondays 10am Nurturing Program® for Families in Substance Use Treatment & Recovery starting October 23, Wednesdays 8:30am Strengthening Families Program with Children Birth -3 starting October 30, Wednesdays 1pm 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
Tiny Mic Interview w/ Mr. Weiss
Random Pictures of the Week
Art Class 🎨
Apple Recipes 🍎
5/6 earned a "Cozy Day"