THE NEWSLETTER

Please take a moment to check out the other important updates and reminders below:

• Arrival Time: Caring for Our Kids & Community

• Winter Time Calls for Winter Gear

• Update on the 6-8 Musical: In Search of a Music Director

• After-School Guitar Lessons Starting Next Week!

• CCS Spelling Bee Update

Thank you, as always, for your partnership in making CCS such a vibrant, caring community.

Warmly,
Tim O’Leary, CCS Principal

Wednesday, January 15th - Early Release

Monday January 20th - NO SCHOOL - Martin Luther King Jr. Holiday

Wednesday, January 22nd - PTO Mtg, CCS Cafeteria, 8:00 - 9:00

Wednesday, January 22nd - Early Release

Wednesday, January 29th - Early Release

Wednesday, January 29th - Math Night, MPR, 6:00 - 7:30 watch for more details from the PTO

Friday, January 31st - Winter Ball (grades 7/8 only), MPR, 7:00 - 9:00

Friday, February 7th - Prek Lottery Closes - see below for details

At CCS, we are committed to starting every student’s day with calm, connection, and readiness to learn. To support this, students can arrive as early as 7:30 am each morning. From 7:30 to 7:45, students of all ages are welcome to be dropped off at the cafeteria entrance, where they can enjoy a relaxed start to their day with tables and board games. At 7:45, they’ll head to their classrooms to get ready for the day ahead.

To help every child have a smooth and confident start, we ask that caregivers plan for students to be inside the building well before 8:00 am. Arriving just a few minutes earlier not only ensures your child begins their day with ease but also helps our community avoid traffic challenges that arise from last-minute arrivals.

We appreciate your partnership in creating a calm and caring start for all students. If you have any questions or need support, please don’t hesitate to reach out—we’re here for you!

Winter is here, and with it comes the joy of fresh air and snowy adventures! At CCS, we believe in embracing the season, and if the temperature feels above zero, our students will be heading outside to enjoy the day.

To help everyone make the most of these chilly, delightful moments, let’s be sure our students are bundled up with warm coats, hats, gloves, boots, and snow gear. Together, we can keep the season fun and comfortable for everyone.

Thank you for helping our community stay cozy and ready for winter fun!

I want to share an update about the CCS 6-8 Musical. On Monday morning, I received the difficult news that the theater company we’ve partnered with in the past—and who had committed to producing this year’s show—has had to step back and will no longer be able to take on this year’s production.

While this was unexpected, I’m determined to ensure our students still have the opportunity to shine on stage this spring. Over the past week, I’ve been working hard to explore new options, and I’m excited to share that I’ve found a promising lead for a Director and Choreographer who could work with us starting in mid-April, with performances tentatively planned for June 6th and 7th. (For reference, 8th-grade graduation would be on June 12th.)

Now, I’m reaching out to our incredible community for help: I’m looking for a Music Director to complete the team. If you or someone you know might be interested, please don’t hesitate to reach out to them—or connect us directly.

Thank you for your support, creativity, and care as we navigate this challenge together. With your help, I’m confident we can create something truly special for our students.

Warmly,
Tim O’Leary, Principal, CCS (toleary@cvsdvt.org)

Students in grades K-4 are participating in the Red Clover Book Award Program! Each year thousands of Vermont students share the 10 nominated picture books and vote for their favorite in the spring.

Starting next week, Conor Emerson, a 6th-grade teacher at CCS, will be offering guitar lessons on Tuesdays and Thursdays from 3:15 to 4:30 PM in the band room. These sessions are open to all students in grades 4-8, from beginners to experienced players, and aim to provide a fun, creative outlet where students can learn and practice guitar in a supportive environment. Together, we’ll explore the joy of making music with others and build confidence in musical abilities.

Details:

• When: Tuesdays and Thursdays, 3:15–4:30 PM (late bus available)

• Where: Band Room

• Cost: $30 per session, or a discounted punch card for 10 lessons at $250.

• If the cost is prohibitive for your family, please contact School Counselor Betsy Lloyd at blloyd@cvsdvt.org. Thanks to the support of the PTO’s Angel Fund, we can work to ensure that at least a couple of lessons are accessible for students in need. If assistance is requested, only Betsy and CCS Administrators will be aware and it will not be shared with others.

• Duration: Lessons will run through March, ending when spring sports begin.

• Guitars: CCS has 8 acoustic guitars available for students to use if they do not have their own.

• Flexibility: Students can join on a week-by-week basis with no long-term commitment.

If you’re interested in signing up, please email cemerson@cvsdvt.org. Come join us for a great opportunity to learn, play, and share the joy of music!

Can you spell A-N-T-I-C-I-P-A-T-I-O-N ? The CCS School spelling bee will be later this year (date TBD). Parent volunteers will begin Spelling Club on Mondays and Fridays in the cafeteria for grades 3rd through 8th. Spelling club is a fun way to be with your friends, play word games, and quiz one another on your P-R-E-F-E-R-R-E-D spelling words. Any spellers of any level are invited to join.

Parents can download the study words for free from the Scripps website. https://spellingbee.com

The top two spellers will be invited to the Vermont State Spelling Bee on March 24th at St. Michael's College.

Do you have a child interested in participating in Girls on the Run Vermont? Please fill out this Participant interest form - allowing you to get connected well ahead of participant registration opening in February!

The CVSD Early Education Program is now accepting applications for a random prekindergarten lottery drawing for the 2025-26 school year. This lottery is for an opportunity to enroll in one of our school-based classrooms which runs 4 partial days per week. Our school-based prekindergarten classrooms are 5 STARs, licensed early education programs that provide play-based, developmentally appropriate environments for all children in an inclusive setting. Our curriculum is based on the Vermont Early Learning Standards (VELS).

Our programs follow the CVSD school calendar. Children who will be age 3 or older by September 1, 2025, who are not eligible for kindergarten, and live in the communities of Charlotte, Hinesburg, Shelburne, St. George, and Williston are eligible to enter the lottery. Families who are selected for the lottery and choose to enroll their child in a CVSD program access their Act 166 publicly funded prekindergarten funds for the school-based program.

All applications must be received by February 7, 2025, and are located on the CVSD Early Education website under PreK Enrollment. Paper applications are available upon request.

For additional information, questions about our program, or any concerns about your child’s development, please visit our website or contact Director of Early Education, Erin Gagne at egagne@cvsdvt.org. Our Early Education team is also available for developmental screenings in the areas of communication, social-emotional development, motor skills, adaptive development, and cognition. More information about an Early Multi-Tiered System of Supports is also available on the website.

We welcome your feedback at any time. Please select your topic below and send your thoughts our way. If you don't see your topic listed, choose "General Questions." All feedback will be routed to the appropriate district team members, who will follow up with you within 3 business days. CVSD is committed to connecting with students, families, staff, and community members to provide exceptional and equitable experiences.

Even though free and reduced meal applications are no longer required for free meals, the Vermont Agency of Education asks that all families complete the Household Information Form. Thank you.

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Tim O'Leary, Principal

Beth Slater, Assistant Principal & Special Services Director

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