THE CCS NEWSLETTER

Dear CCS Families,

Educators often call May the “month of Mayhem”—and we mean that in the best possible way: raucous fun, high-spirited bedlam, wild excitement, and boisterous energy. This week at CCS has been no exception! Here are just a few of the things going on:

Eighth Graders Head to CVU

Our 8th graders visited Champlain Valley Union High School this week for their in-person orientation. For some, this marks the culmination of eleven years at CCS, having started here as three-year-olds in PreK. It's a milestone worth celebrating—and feeling a few things about.

Welcoming Future Kindergartners
We hosted two groups of incoming kindergarteners and their caregivers on Wednesday, with two more groups scheduled for next week. Students explored classrooms and met one another. Meanwhile, caregivers met with other members of our team for an orientation and tour. It was a joyful glimpse of what’s to come.

A Visit from Champ!
Also on Wednesday, a very special guest joined us: Champ, the beloved mascot of the Vermont Lake Monsters! He gave high fives, brought smiles, helped with dismissal, and reminded us of the upcoming June 1st Lake Monsters game—where some of our 7th and 8th grade students will be performing the national anthem. Tickets are on sale now, and proceeds support our CCS PTO. Don’t miss it!

A Curtain Rises... Almost
That same day, our brand-new stage curtain arrived—sourced from the renowned Rose Brand in New York City. Installation is scheduled for early June, and we can’t wait for the grand reveal.

5th/6th Grade Social – A Dance to Remember
In another first, we held a social just for our 5th and 6th graders, complete with a DJ in the multipurpose room, gym games, and caregiver-donated snacks. For 5th graders, it was their very first CCS dance; for 6th graders, it was a chance to shine as the oldest in the room. The energy was joyful, the dancing was arguably the best of the year, and the whole event left us smiling.

Celebrating Mentorship
That same evening, we honored our Connecting Youth Mentors and Mentees with a heartfelt celebration hosted by Kate Rooney, who is retiring this year. The evening included laughter, community, and even a vaudeville-style performance by one of our very own mentors. It was a beautiful night to honor connection and say goodbye.

Author Visit Inspires Young Readers
On Friday, author Ann Braden visited CCS to speak with our 4th–6th graders. Braden is best known for writing books about kids standing up for themselves and others—even when it’s hard. Her debut novel, The Benefits of Being an Octopus, was named one of the “essential middle school reads of the last decade” by Edutopia, and her book Flight of the Puffin inspired a nationwide read-aloud movement. Her visit sparked meaningful conversations and lots of inspiration.

First Grade Chicks Hatch Hope and Joy
Friday morning began with something very special in our 1st grade classrooms: an open house to showcase their newly hatched chicks! Students proudly shared what they’ve been learning about life cycles and animal care with visiting families. There’s nothing quite like the wonder of watching young learners nurture new life.

Safety with Care
We were ready today for a whole-school options-based safety drill—something new for our students and staff, and something I previewed with caregivers last Friday. Due to the weather, we’ve decided to postpone the drill until early next week. This important practice follows weeks of preparation: staff introductions, classroom-based discussions, caregiver communication, and thoughtful planning. We look forward to taking this step together as a school community, practicing how we care for ourselves and one another in an emergency.

This week was a powerful reminder of what makes CCS such a vibrant and connected place to learn and grow. Thank you for being part of it, and we hope you have a wonderful holiday weekend.

The CCS Administrative Team:

Tim O’Leary, Principal; toleary@cvsdvt.org

Beth Slater, Assistant Principal & Director of Student Services; eslater@cvsdvt.org

The CCS Spring Fun Run is coming up on Tuesday, June 3rd. This is one of our big school community events and fundraisers of the year! For quick reference, you will find all the same details on the PTO website!

EVENT TIMELINE

• Fun Run 5:15

• Potluck 5:30

• Raffle 6:30

FUN RUN DETAILS

• Run or Cheer! The (optional) Fun Run is intended for all ages and skill levels. And there will be many opportunities to cheer!

• NEW THIS YEAR: thanks to the generous support of our corporate sponsors, each student will receive a shirt specific to their grade color. More details to follow.

• Register (optional) and collect Fun Run pledges! Students may choose to register through Pledgestar and ask friends and/or family to make donations on their behalf. You do not need to register to participate in the run!

RAFFLE DETAILS

• Basket raffle details went out to each class earlier this month. Please visit the PTO website for a listing of the basket themes by class.

• Basket donations are OPTIONAL and DO NOT need to be expensive. If it is easier to donate money, please include it in a sealed envelope and provide it to the classroom teacher or Venmo Julia Schofield @Lippy6 (8183 last 4 digits of phone number).

We hope to see you at this fun school community event on Tuesday, June 3. If you have any questions, please reach out to Julia Schofield at jschof02@gmail.com.

Monday, May 26th - NO SCHOOL - Memorial Day

Tuesday, May 27th - Field Trip - Kindergarten to Audobon Society, 8:15 - 12:30

Wednesday, May 28th - Early Release

Wednesday, May 28th - 25-26 Kindergarten Visiting, by appointment, 2:15 - 4:00

Wednesday, May 28th - Spring Concert, MPR, 6:30pm (5-8 Chorus and Bands)

Friday, May 30th - Field Trip - Omega 8 to Jay Peak Water Park, 8:15 - 5:30

Sunday, June 1st - CCS Band & Chorus @ Centennial Field, 4:15 - 5:35 - see details below

Tuesday, June 3rd - CCS Fun Run & Spring Potluck, 5:15

Wednesday, June 4th - Early Release

Thursday, June 5th - Discover Jazz Festival, Church Street, 11:40 - 12:20, (Jazz Band Only)

Thursday, June 5th - Willy Wonka Jr., MPR - 6:30pm - OPEN TO THE PUBLIC - see below flyer for details and how to purchase tickets

Friday, June 6th - Field Trip - Alpha 6 to Cota Field (trout release), 10:00 - 2:00

Friday, June 6th - Willy Wonka Jr., MPR - 6:30pm - OPEN TO THE PUBLIC - see below flyer for details and how to purchase tickets

Saturday, June 7th - Willy Wonka Jr., MPR -6:30 pm - OPEN TO THE PUBLIC - see below flyer for details and how to purchase tickets

Tuesday, June 10th - Field Trip - Omega 7 to Oakledge State Park, 9:00 - 2:00

Wednesday, June 11th - Looking Ahead! - 8:30 - 9:15

Wednesday, June 11th - Field Trip - 5/6 to Spare Time, 9:30 - 12:30

Wednesday, June 11th - Early Release

Thursday, June 12th - 8th Grade Graduation - watch for details

Friday, June 13th - Last Day of Schooll (K-7 only) - 11:45am DISMISSAL

If you are interested in enrolling your child(ren) at Charlotte Central School for the 2025-2026 school year, all grade level registrations are now open.

This week, students in grades 4-6 were visited by the Vermont author Ann Braden! Ann's books are about characters learning to navigate the world around them. They highlight the importance of family, community, self-acceptance, and empathy. We are so very grateful to hear her perspectives on being an author, and thank the Flying Pig Bookstore for helping to coordinate this event!

All library books are due back Friday, May 30!

Mrs. Huestis will send email reminders the first week of June.

The 6th graders visited the Charlotte Park and Wildlife Refuge last Friday. There, they had the opportunity to have hands-on experiences learning about the importance of habitat preservation for our local species. Mark LaBarr, an ornithologist from the Green Mountain Audubon Center, held a bird banding demonstration. Afterwards, students planted native tree species to help ensure Vermont’s birds have habitat for years to come.

On Wednesday, May 14, the CCS Jazz Band participated in the CVSD Jazz Festival held at CVU. This celebration of jazz across our district included performances by HCS, WCS, SCS, CCS, and an all eighth-grade jazz band conducted by Andy Smith and the award-winning CVU Jazz Ensemble. The auditorium was filled with happy onlookers and the sweet sounds of jazz from some of our top musicians.

When: Wednesday, May 28, 2025 at 6:30 pm

Where: The MPR at CCS

Who: The 5-6 Chorus, the 7-8 Chorus, 5 - 8 Bands and Jazz Band

All performers should arrive by 6:15 pm for a prompt 6:30 start.

The concert is free and open to the public.

We hope to see you there!

Sunday, June 1, 5:00 PM - CCS Music Department at the Centennial Field playing the National Anthem at the Lake Monsters Game (open and optional for all musicians in grades 5 - 8)

Thursday, June 5, 11:40 - 12:20 - Discover Jazz Festival on Church St. in Burlington (jazz band only)

Hello CCS Band and Chorus Families,

Below please find the details for our upcoming performance at Centennial Field:

CCS Band and Chorus to perform the National Anthem at Centennial Field for the Lake Monsters

When: Sunday, June 1, 2025 (4:15 - 5:05 pm)

Where: Centennial Field, Burlington, VT

Attire: Please wear a solid color top (red, white or black to represent CCS), solid colored bottoms and comfy shoes.

Student performers are responsible for their own transportation to and from the game.

We will meet behind the fence by the Lake Monsters clubhouse (on the first base line) at 4:15 pm for warm-ups and a run through. The performance will take place just prior to first pitch (approximately 5:05 pm)

If the musicians are planning on attending the game after the performance, the Lake Monsters will provide tickets. Carre Smith will be at the gate with your tickets. Parents will need to purchase their own tickets.

At this point the weather looks good for June 1 however, please keep your eyes on the weather. If the game is canceled due to rain, it may not be until the last minute. We will email everyone as soon as we hear but, if the weather is suspect, you may want to check the Lake Monsters website before heading out. There will not be a make-up performance (this year) if the game is called off.

Please do not hesitate to reach out with any questions at asmith@cvsdvt.org or (802) 425-6653.

Thanks and we look forward to seeing you at the game!

Andy and Chris

Scan the QR code in the flyer or click the link to purchase Willy Wonka tickets.

The CVSD Special Education Parent Advisory Council (SEPAC) is official. We adopted our bylaws on May 16. If you want to nominate yourself or others for one of the four official positions (Chair, Vice-Chair, Secretary, Communications Officer), please email Erin Bingham (bingham.erin@gmail.com) the name and the position. We will discuss this at our next virtual CVSD SEPAC meeting on Friday, June 6 at 10:00 am. Thank you for your consideration.

• Athletics
• Bus Schedules / Routes
• Calendars: 2024-25 & 2025-26
• CCS & CVSD Handbook
• Connecting Youth Mentoring
• CVSD School Board
• Food Service and Menu
• Health Office
• MySchoolBucks
• Volunteer at CCS

We welcome your feedback at any time. Whether it's intended for our school’s leadership team, district office, or a specific department, your message will be directed to the appropriate team members. We aim to follow up within three business days.

The CCS Parent Teacher Organization (PTO) is a partnership between parents, teachers, and staff, working together to create enriching experiences for our students. Visit our website, Facebook, and Instagram pages for the latest and stay tuned for upcoming opportunities to get involved!

• Access Community Education Classes and Registration
• Charlotte Food Shelf
• Charlotte Public Libary

• Town of Charlotte

Charlotte Recreation Deparment Summer Camps

• 6/23-6/27: Youth Basketball Summer Camps, led by CCS PE teacher, Nicky Elderton. Camps will be broken down by ages (7-11 and 11-14), and held in the gym at CCS.
• 7/7-7/11: Athletic Performance Summer Camps, led by the staff of Fit2Excel. These camps will be broken down by grade (1st-5th grade, 6th-12th grade) and be held at the Charlotte town beach.
• 7/14-7/18: Challenger Soccer Summer Camps, led by the Challenger soccer staff from England. These camps will be held on the fields at CCS.

Additional Local Summer Camps for 2025 (Shared for informational purposes only; not an endorsement)

• 2025 CVU XC Junior Redhawks Running Camp - with CVU XC Coach David Baird
• Camp Agape - Flyer and Registration Form
• CVSD Band Camp - email Tim Buckingham at - tbuckingham@cvsdvt.org
• CVU E-Hawks - an E Sports team for competitive video games
• Sentinel Farms OPEN HOUSE April 12th / Sentinel Farms Summer Camp
• Vermont Jazz Camp - www.vtjazzcamp.com - Tony Pietricola
• VYO Summer Symphony Camp - www.vyo.org - Berta Frank

Tim O'Leary, Principal

Beth Slater, Assistant Principal & Director of Student Services

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