THE VIKING

Dear HCS Community,

We are thrilled to share some exciting news: Hinesburg Community School has been named one of Vermont’s top elementary schools and middle schools for 2025 by U.S. News & World Report! This recognition places us among an outstanding group of schools across the state, and it’s a testament to the incredible work of our students, staff, and families.

At HCS, we strive every day to foster a nurturing and dynamic environment where all students and adults can learn, grow, and thrive. This acknowledgment reflects not just academic excellence but the strength of our entire community, from the dedication of our teachers and staff to the support and partnership of our families. Thank you to everyone who contributes to making HCS such a special place. Let’s celebrate this achievement together as we continue to uphold the values and practices that make HCS shine!

Friday, November 22, "High School Musical, Jr." 7:00

Saturday, November 23, "High School Musical, Jr." 2:30 & 7:00

Monday, November 25 - Friday, November 29: Thanksgiving Recess - NO SCHOOL

Wednesday, December 4: Early Release Day (1:40)

Wednesday, December 11: Early Release Day (1:40)

Wednesday, Devember 18: Early Release Day (1:40)

Monday, December 23 - Wednesday, January 1: Break - NO SCHOOL

This program is for Hinesburg Community School students Grades 1 through 5 and Kindergartners if accompanied by an adult.

Dates: Thursdays, 2:30 p.m. to 5:00 p.m. (return to HCS by 5:30). Six weeks, Jan 9th, Jan 16th, Jan 23rd, Jan 30th, Feb 6th, and Feb 13th at Cochran's Ski Area in Richmond.

Cost: The total cost will be $80.00. The Cochran's fee is $50.00 per student plus $30.00 for round trip bus transportation from HCS. For Cochran's season ticket holders, only the transportation charge of $30.00 is required.

Rental Equipment: Ski or snowboard equipment, including boots, may be rented from Cochran's for $20. To save time and volunteer effort on the first ski afternoon, parents should bring their child into Cochran's for a rental fitting session the week before the program starts anytime between 9am and 4pm.

Volunteers: The After School Ski/Ride Program at Cochran's Ski Area is run by parents and other volunteers. Both skier/snowboarding and non-skier/snowboarding parents/volunteers are welcome. The success of the program is dependent on it! Parents who volunteer can ski/ride free on Thursdays. To help please sign up when registering.

Equipment drop off: Parents will need to bring ski/riding equipment to school each Thursday and drop it off to Oren Guttman who will be in the lower HCS parking lot from 7:30am to 8:10am. Please do not bring ski/riding equipment on the bus to school. Please label each piece of equipment with child's name.

Pick up: Parents are responsible for picking up their children at HCS by 5:30 p.m.

If interested, please complete the registration form and bring a check payment of $80.00 (plus $20.00 if you are renting equipment) by Friday, December 13th to the Hinesburg Community School Office. Checks should be made out to Hinesburg Community School. Please put your child's name in the memo.

Feel free to copy and paste this for the google form:

https://forms.gle/9M7w7TU1ekdPFrZe8

If the cost of the program is preventing you from enrolling your child/ren, please contact Laura at lauramatti7@gmail.com.

The University of Vermont Medical Center is currently conducting its annual Community Health Needs Assessment (CHNA) of Chittenden and Grand Isle counties. Results will be used to better understand and respond to the top community health needs in these counties. Those who live in these Chittenden or Grand Isle counties and are 16 years of age or older are encouraged to complete this survey, which takes less than 10 minutes.

The LEGO Robotics Team learn about coral reef restoration from CVU student, Drew Farmer.

Robotics demonstration from the CVU Robotics Team; RoboHawks

A closer look at a Remotely Operated Vehicle from the Lake Champlain Maritime Museum

On December 14, Shelburne Community School will be hosting the First Lego (Robotics) League Northern Vermont Qualifier. All of CVSD’s K-8 schools have teams and many will be participating. So will teams from across Northern VT.

To operate the event, we are seeking 40+ volunteers including judges, resetters, scorekeepers and more. Not all roles require a technical background. If you are interested in volunteering please complete the initial sign-up form here FIRST.

After completing the initial form, please register for specific roles HERE.

The second form is a little more complex and requires multiple steps. Please contact Sarah Samuelson, volunteer coordinator, with any questions or concerns. Thanks for considering volunteering!

If next week is a time for gathering, celebrating, and family connectedness, we wish you joy and happiness. Those moments are precious. If this time of year brings up challenging emotions - stress, loneliness, or missing loved ones - please be kind to yourself.

For those whose celebrations involve alcohol, be mindful of the young people who are present and watching. The way adults model responsible drinking behaviors significantly influences the risk perceptions and actions of young individuals. We recognize that not all aspects of holiday celebrations involving alcohol are within our control. However, many situations are preventable, particularly concerning underage [binge] drinking and impaired driving.

For a little more on the topic, check out this take from Jessica Lahey, a renowned NYT bestselling author, parent educator, and prevention coach.

This time of year is also a prime opportunity to have a conversation about alcohol and substances with your kids. Just try starting from a restorative place about their safety and genuine concern rather than a restrictive "don’t get caught" mindset. We know that when we have open, honest and curious conversations about substances, our words can have a more significant impact on their choices and behaviors.

For more prevention resources, check out our library for parents and caregivers here.

Have a wonderful break!

Activities and Clubs

Athletics

Bus Schedule/Routes

CVSD Diversity, Equity and Inclusion

CVSD School Board

Essential Arts

Menu & Food Service

Health Office

Jump Rope

Library

My School Bucks

PiE - Partnership in Education

School Counselors

School Handbook

Theater

Transportation Department

Volunteer at HCS

Access CVU Classes & Registration

Audubon Vacation and Day Camps

Carpenter Carse Library

Green Mountain Academy - Ski and Snowboard

Hinesburg Food Shelf

Hinesburg Recreation Department

Wednesdays Woodland Adventures With Wonder Roots

Suzan Locke, HCS Co-Principal, Grades K-4

482-6299, slocke@cvsdvt.org

Tim Trevithick, HCS Co-Principal, Grades 5-8

482-6298, ttrevithick@cvsdvt.org

Alicia Kurth, HCS Special Education Administrator

482-6285, akurth@cvsdvt.org

Email: hcsinformation@cvsdvt.org
Website: https://www.cvsdvt.org/hinesburg
Location: Hinesburg Community School, 10888, Route 116, Hinesburg, Vermont, USA
Phone: 802-482-2106
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Hinesburg-Community-School-125786304154731/

The Viking Newsletter is published weekly, when school is in session. It is available on our web site and is also delivered via email. If needed, a hard copy can be provided for your child to bring home. The Viking includes upcoming events, after school opportunities, notes of interest for parents and the community and updates from our school administration.