Dear Shelburne Community School Families and Caregivers,
We are thrilled to welcome you and your children back to SCS for the 2024-25 school year! Our facilities and IT teams have been working hard all summer to make sure the building is ready to go for the first day of school next week. Thanks to their efforts, our big construction project is wrapping up ahead of schedule. The gym is ready for use, we're moving back into main office spaces, and the library will be ready to host classes and readers as soon as school is underway. The one area still affected is the front desk, where Jane and Jen are at long last getting a custom-built desk rather than the temporary one they've been using for many years. While they will begin the year in the same spot in the lobby they occupied last spring, they should be back in the main office shortly. We hope many of you can attend your child's "welcome back" visit on Friday 8/23 to see everything in person.
We know that many of you have been eagerly awaiting the bus route information for the year ahead. Bus routes can be found HERE and more bus information is detailed below. As a reminder, the school day starts at 7:45 this year, and the first day of school is next Monday, August 26. As the school year gets underway, we hope to create and sustain strong partnerships between school and home, as we know they are essential for student success. Please stay connected with us through our various communication channels and participate in school activities and events throughout the year. Reach out to your child's teachers at any point: we find that it's far easier to problem-solve as soon as an issue arises rather than waiting to see if it will work itself out. Together, we can create a positive and enriching educational experience for your children.
Safety is our number one priority. Per state guidelines, we will begin practicing our evacuation protocol a few times in the month of September. Our first time will be without the alarm, the next time will be with the alarm. We will continue safety discussions and practices monthly to help everyone feel more prepared if we find ourselves in a crisis situation.
Read on for more about timing, back-to-school tips, and ways to get involved as the school year kicks off. We hope you all enjoy a restful final week of summer! See you all next week.
Take care,
Alison, Brett, and Emily
Consistent Routines (Click photo for more info.)
Ever wonder how classroom teachers can engage all 18-20 students simultaneously for a 7-hour day? It's all about creating sustainable, consistent routines and encouraging as much independence as possible.
One way to do this at home, is to create a printable morning and/or bedtime routine chart for your child. Using a tool like this will help build confidence, independence, and empower your child to be ready for the day ahead. Setting consistent routines reduces stress and anxiety by creating a sense of safety and predictability for all.
Social Skills Kids Need (Click photo for more info.)
Review and practice some of these important social skills that are essential not only in the classroom or school environment, but also in life. Reach out to our teachers and/or counselors for additional resources to help your child develop these skills.
Want to deepen your learning and practice around race and raising kids? Sign up for one of two different community learning opportunities offered by EmbraceRace this fall.
Our Fundamentals Trainings are for caregivers at the beginning of their racial learning journeys or looking to fill gaps in their knowledge. The theme of the fall session is Racial Learning and Unlearning: Growing our Understanding of Race & Racism in the U.S. Participants will be grouped into White or People of Color cohorts, depending on how they identify.
Our Communities of Learning and Practice (COLPs) are for caregivers further along in their racial learning journey, who have reflected on their racial identity and engaged in previous learning and thinking about racial justice work. The theme of this session is Building Cross-Racial Solidarity in Kids (and Ourselves!) and, unlike previous COLPs, all participants will be grouped in mixed race cohorts. We ask that White participants take one Fundamentals course before joining COLPs.
Keep reading for important information, and to sign up. And if you have people in your life who would benefit from either of these courses, please do forward this email to them!
With appreciation,
The EmbraceRace Team
CVSD Info
Find information about monthly School Board Meetings, community forums such as the DEI Town Hall, and more on the district website. See the year at a glance on the 2024-2025 K-8 School Year Calendar. See The CVSD Story for the latest blog posts about what's happening across the district.
Connect With Us
CVSD is piloting a new communication system this year known as "Connect With Us." We welcome your feedback at any time. 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.
