Cornwall News

Hello Cornwall School families,

As I'm sure you'll notice by the length of this newsletter, this is a really busy time of the school year. As it gets busier and as students start to realize that we are getting closer to the end of the school year, some students (and caregivers) soak in the energy and some start to worry or feel anxious.

Students may talk to someone about how they are feeling or they may behave in different ways than they usually do. Because changes in behavior are a form of communication, please ask them what they're thinking about or ask them if they'd like to talk. Some may want to talk and some students may need additional quiet time or down time.

Along a similar vein, please remember that if you have questions or would like to talk about your child to please contact me. It is always OK to contact the teacher as well, but I usually have more flexibility during the school day to be able to talk or respond.

This week's newsletter includes the following information :

• Kindergarten Class Highlight
• Primary Years Programme (PYP) Exhibition and Action Projects
• Teacher Appreciation Week
• Summer Programming at Cornwall School
• ACSD Equity Update and Listening Circles
• FOCS Cookbook Fundraiser
• Principal Hiring Update
• Cornwall Volunteer Fire Department Open House
• Wizard Chemistry Show
• 2024-2025 School Year Calendar, and
• Important Dates

Heather

Our current unit of study is our "How the World Works" unit, exploring different environments, how the sun impacts the earth and climate, and how living things change their environments to meet their needs.

We are excited to watch our trout grow and are preparing for our field trip to release them at the Robert Frost Trail! If you are a kindergarten family that would like to accompany us on this trip, please make sure you have completed the volunteer forms!

In math, we have learned about shapes and things that we measure such as; length, weight, capacity and temperature. The kinders are working to expand problem solving skills and using addition and subtraction independently!

Recently, we have had many visitors from the 4/5 classes share their exhibition project ideas with us. We are participating with them, trying to reduce our trash and also gather food for the food drive!

4th and 5th grade students will be presenting their research during Exhibition on May 7 at 1pm at Cornwall School. All are welcome!

Students decided on a research topic based on the United Nations Sustainable Goals. After selecting a goal to focus on, they narrowed down their research to a specific area of interest within that goal. In addition to conducting research, students met with mentors and determined ways that they could take action to help improve or learn more about their area of focus. Action projects range from volunteering to finding ways to reduce waste and trash to collecting items for an organization to raising awareness and fundraising for a cause to increasing access to feminine products to writing grant applications.

Below you will find messages written by students as well as some of their posters. Click on the photos of the posters to enlarge them and see them better.

Gender Equity

Dear Cornwall families,

As you know, on May 7th we will be presenting our Cornwall School 5th grade exhibitions. Maylee Foley and I (Ella Powers) will be holding a Mothers day tulip /tubers/ other merchandise or goods sale. Our specialty tulips will come from Renaissance farm in Brandon VT. Our tubers are sourced from Stephanie Powers in Cornwall VT. All proceeds will go towards stocking the bathrooms for girls above 3rd grade in our school and to Atria Collective. We will be hosting this event on May 10th, from 3-6 PM, at 143 South Bingham St, Cornwall VT. We hope you will come and support women with us!

See you soon,

Ella and Maylee

Wild Animal Health and Safety

Dear Cornwall families,

Lola, Normandie, and Hazel are doing their exhibition goal #15 and they have chosen to do animal cruelty and if your kids want to win an pawesome prize send a photo of a pile of trash you collect outdoors (not from your garbage from the side of the road) and send to KburnsCollins@acsd.org

Collect trash to help animals stay healthy!

Sincerely,

Lola, Normandie, and Hazel

Food Insecurity

Our group Dominic, Christopher and Deacon are doing a project related to the United Nations Sustainability goals. Our group has been learning about the zero hunger goal.This goal looks at resolving hunger around the world.

Our group is starting a food drive so we can cut hunger locally. We are in need of some people to send some food to Cornwall School. We will be accepting non-perishable food in the form of canned and boxed foods.Toothpaste and other toiletries will also be accepted.

Each classroom will have a box and each student if their parent sends food with their kid can put it in the box in the classroom. It would be really helpful so there would be less hunger. We can give it to hungry people.

Climate Change

There is a new afterschool program, volleyball club, which will be raising money to donate to a company that is trying to stop climate change, Giving Green, (Givinggreen.earth).

It will be from 3:00 - 4:00 PM on Tuesdays starting May 7, Ending June 4. (There is no volleyball on Tuesday, May 14, because 5th Grade will be at Keewaydin).

Please see this website for more information - https://sites.google.com/acsdvt.org/volleyballclub?usp=sharing

Animal Cruelty

Dear Cornwall Families,

The Burns-Collins 4/5 class is having a donation for Homeward Bound so the animals will have more toys, food, treats, leashes, and more. The 4/5 class has put out boxes for you to put food, toys, medicine, and more.

Sincerely,

Burns-Collins 4/5 class

Next week is teacher appreciation week!

Thank you in advance to FOCS (Friends of Cornwall School) for providing lunch for teachers and staff.

We extend Teacher Appreciation Week to all staff and celebrate all month long! Our teachers and staff do so much to support our students and community. You can help us recognize them! Click here to share your appreciation.

Your appreciations also help to inform our nominations for our fall Teacher & Staff of the Year awards! We share as many of these appreciations as possible (last year we received over 220!)

This summer, Cornwall School will again be able to offer Summer Academy. After reviewing a variety of data points, we will invite students to participate in a series of half day activities, including academic sessions, from July 8th - August 1st. Academic sessions will be one-on-one or in small groups and will meet each day. The goal is to maintain engagement and practice of academic skills to help prevent “summer slide.” When not involved with academic practice, students will participate in gardening and games with a focus on social emotional growth and learning.

Beginning next week, we will send communication directly to families to gather information regarding interest and availability. We will open up invitations to others should there be additional spaces available. In the meantime, please feel free to contact Heather Raabe, hraabe@acsdvt.org, with any questions.

This fall, ACSD worked with Dr. Rebecca Eunmi Haslam to address issues of racial equity at MUMS and MUHS through a confidential study called The Listening Circles Project. Now we are extending her work to our elementary school students and staff.

The goal of the Listening Circles Project is to hear directly from students and staff about what we can do to eliminate racial harm and ensure everyone feels safe and valued at school. All students and staff at our elementary schools are invited to participate. To participate you must read and fill out this consent form (parents/guardians fill it out on behalf of their child.) Listening circles will begin at elementary schools as early as next week, so please fill out the form as soon as possible if you want your child to participate. Parents of elementary students who participate will also have an opportunity to meet with Dr. Haslam.

As part of her work with secondary students and staff, Dr. Haslam is finalizing a report and recommendations for the ACSD administration. The elementary portion of this work will also result in a report and recommendations. Thank you for sharing your thoughts with us as ACSD works to make all students and staff feel safe and valued.

• Support the wonderful events and after-school programming provided by FOCS by purchasing a cookbook featuring the favorite recipes of the members of the Cornwall School community! All funds go to support FOCS and its mission of providing robust enrichment opportunities for all students. Consider a cookbook as a Mother's or Father's Day gift or just as a must-have addition to either your collection or that of your favorite chef.

• You may purchase a cookbook here.

We want to share an update about the principal hiring process and opportunities for family engagement with the Bridport, Cornwall, and Shoreham communities.

- Incoming Supt. Dr. Baker has met with Bridport, Cornwall, and Shoreham staff to understand the characteristics and skills to ensure successful leadership at each school.

- The postings for the 3 principal positions close today, 5/3/24. The Superintendent will review applicants and forward a list of licensed, viable candidates with a positive leadership record to the ACSD Screening Committee.

- The Screening Committee, comprised of two representatives from each school, and two central office staff will schedule screening interviews in early May.

- All candidates forwarded by the screening committee will participate in local community "meet and greet" in all three schools. We hope to schedule these for May 15-17. Please look for an upcoming newsletter to confirm details and times at your school.

- The school community will be invited to share feedback after the meet and greet meetings. Based on all collected feedback, the Superintendent's Office will negotiate with candidates to ensure good matches between leaders and buildings.

- We hope to make successful offers in late May and be able to share our next principals with our school communities in late May/early June.

We welcome family connection during this process. Please direct any questions to Courtney Krahn, Director of Teaching and Learning ckrahn@acsdvt.org, or Emily Blistein, Director of Communications and Engagement eblistein@gmail.com or by calling 802-382-1274

• 5/6 - 5/10/24 Teacher Appreciation Week (See above)
• 5/7/24 Exhibition, grades 4 and 5, 1:00pm (See above)
• 5/9/24 Wizard Chemistry Show (See above)
• 5/11/24 CVFD Open House (See above)
• 5/13/24-5/17/24 5th grade students go to KEEC
• 5/20/24 Combined band concert at MUHS - 6:00 call, 6:30 concert
• 5/27/24 NO SCHOOL, Memorial Day
• 5/31/24 Muddy Buddy event at school
• 6/12/24 All Out Day at Button Bay State Park
• 6/13/24 5th grade commencement, 1pm

Sometimes there are changes to the school menu. You can always click here to find the latest one.