Cougar Chronicle

The world can be stressful, but it can become even more stressful during the holidays. I know it can be for my family and I know it can be for a lot of families. I wanted to share an interesting article that helped me understand how and why it can be so stressful.

60% of Parents With Young Kids Are Dreading the Holidays, as 44% of Them Say They’ve Lost Sleep Over How They’ll Afford Gifts

For the holiday season, we will also be collecting new and gently loved toys for families needing assistance creating some holiday magic. There is a box in the lobby for toy donations and we hope to fill it to the top!

You can support our families! Simply choose a family from this sign up, grab some gifts, and drop them off at the school. Please indicate which family when you drop off the gifts. We have been asked if the gifts should be wrapped or unwrapped and have decided that it would be best to have them unwrapped this year.

If you are a family who requested help with winter gear this year, we should have everything by next week and will send the gear home with your child(ren). Thank you for your patience and thank you to everyone who helped by donating and supporting our students!! It is greatly appreciated.

12/11 - Nurturing Skills for Families

12/12 - Parent Planning Team Meeting

12/12 - Friends of Calais meeting

12/12 - Nurturing Program for Families in Substance Use Treatment & Recovery

12/14 - Children's Choir Rehearsal

12/15 - Family Holiday and Winter Solstice Event

12/16 - Coffee and Conversations with the Superintendent @ Calais Elementary School

12/17 - Community Forum with the Superintendent @ Maple Corner Community Center

12/18 - Gifts for Giving

12/21 - Children's Choir Rehearsal

12/24 - Children's Choir /Candlelight Service

With the Holidays fast approaching, there is no better gift than a Calais Cougars gift! Check out the online Calais Cougar store and find the perfect gift for the Cougar in your life. Shirts, sweatshirts, hats, sweatpants, bags, even sandals are just some of the items you can get as a gift. This store is sponsored by the Friends of Calais and part of the proceeds benefit their incredible programs. Check the link below and order today!

https://teamlocker.squadlocker.com/#/lockers/calais-cougars

Dear Calais Families,

We will be starting the Backpack program soon here at Calais Elementary School for families. The program is designed to provide families with children who attend Calais, the necessary food and clothing that they may need throughout the school year. Food and Gift bags will be dispensed in a discreet and caring manner. This program runs the full school year on a weekly basis with exception to student breaks and summer. This includes winter clothing, Thanksgiving and Christmas presents, in addition. There is no cost associated with this program. If you wish for your child to participate in the program, please sign below and return this letter to the school in your child's folder or drop it off at the Main Office by next Friday. Thank you and please let us know if you have any questions or any needs for your child at any time.

Feel free to email me at rfrisenda@u32.org or call 802-454-7777 ext 105 at any time.

Sincerely,

Ruth Frisenda

School Counselor

Calais Elementary School

The Calais Parent Planning Team will be meeting on December 12th at 4pm in the Library. The Team is going to start planning events for the remainder of the year, including a Winter Carnival. We will discussing other ideas for events as

If you are interested in helping to plan events for our school and our students, please feel out this Parent Planning Interest Form. We want to continue to do big things for our students, including events big and small, but we need help! If you are interested in helping to plan these events, please feel out the form.

Please review the 2024-2025 Family Handbook. This handbook spells out procedures, guidelines, expectations, and list of resources. If you have any questions, please contact Mr. Weiss.

One of our goals this year is to engage with our community, not just parents and families, but the larger Calais community. This school is part of the community and we want the community to come and be part of CES.

You may want to volunteer in the classroom, help us coordinate activities or chaperone trips, tap into a talent to teach our students, or generally be available to help where needed. We will welcome you all to Calais!

Work continues on the details for the Calais Volunteer Program as there are a few moving pieces that need to be completed, but we want you to let us know of your interest. Please put your name on our list by filling out the Volunteer Program Form.

Dear Colleagues and Neighbors - The Town of Calais has received hundreds and hundreds at-home covid tests; plenty to share!

Please email to let us know if you would like some, and when you would like to come pick them up from the Calais Town Office (sorry, no deliveries).

Barbara Butler - assistanttownclerk@calaisvermont.gov
Teegan Dykeman-Brown - townclerk@calaisvermont.gov

Type in your zip code or county to find different resources in your area!

https://www.navigateresources.net/211vermont/

https://resourcevt.org/essential-goods-program/#

https://www.amysarmoire.org/

Prevent Child Abuse - Vermont

5 Tips to Ease Back-to-School Anxiety

Do you or someone you know want to learn more about the programs we offer?

D&D

Reading Group

Mrs. Munday, just because :)