Staying Strong Together and Preparing for Change
Dear WCUUSD Community,
As we begin the month of May, we still have nearly two months left in the school year—an important stretch filled with learning, reflection, and preparation. I want to thank our students, families, and staff for your continued effort and commitment. This time of year brings a mix of energy, focus, and anticipation, and I’m proud of how our school communities continue to support one another. Today, especially, we celebrate School Lunch Hero Day; a day where we thank our food service workers for all the work they do to keep us fed.
This spring, our students are finishing projects, deepening their learning, and preparing for transitions—whether it's moving to a new grade, a new school, or life beyond graduation. Our educators are working hard to keep students engaged and supported through the end of the year, and our schools remain vibrant and active places.
At the same time, important changes are unfolding across Vermont's education system. The Legislature is deciding on how we will structure our school systems and how we will finance education. You can learn more about H.454 in articles in the TimesArgus and VTDigger. We will keep you informed about the changes and how they affect our schools as they are adopted by our legislature. There are also changes to our education rules that strive for the following:
Updated graduation requirements that focus more on transferable skills and real-world readiness.
Stronger emphasis on personalized learning plans (PLPs) that help students chart their own path through school.
New expectations for how districts support all students, with a focus on equity and continuous improvement.
These changes will take effect gradually, and our work around community schools and curriculum are designed to address these issues. WCUUSD is committed to providing our students with rigorous and relevant curriculum and instruction for all our students and the support to meet those expectations. As we make changes, we will be working with our students and families to identify what they want in their school experience. We look forward to sharing our work in the future.
As we move through the final weeks of the year, let’s also remember the importance of well-being. Our students and staff have worked hard, and it’s essential we finish the year with care for ourselves and one another.
Thank you for all you do to support our schools. We’ll share more about these statewide changes and what they mean for WCUUSD before the year ends.
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Cultivating Joy
On the beautiful first of May, I visited one of our elementary schools. I wasn’t sure what was happening as I walked to the front door. The kids spilled all over the grass and along the curb in front of the school with their lunch trays. There was a lot of noise, and it wasn’t just cheerful shouting. Every car and every huge dump truck driving by was honking. As I walked into the building, I heard a young voice say, “Isn’t this great? We’ve had 7 honks already today!” The eighth beeped as my feet crossed the threshold.
This scene is so striking. Kids being kids on a warm day when winter’s grip is finally letting go. We know our kids’ brains are rewiring when many hours are spent in front of screens. Our school guidance counselors, nurses, student services, and social workers are engaging with students, parents, and teaching staff every single day as we all navigate anxieties and the unknowns of our time. Administrators, as far as I can tell, and the Buildings and Grounds crews are spinning along with everyone as they navigate the needs of all of us. Meanwhile, kids find glee when the dump truck drivers honk their horns.
Field trips, step-up days, theater productions, and athletic events are all happening this month. Schools are planting their gardens, and I hope you’ll find your favorite ways to help. Being outside together, learning how a tiny seed emerges to become a carrot, or a leaf of lettuce, are lessons in real time and the slow pace of growing.
The scene of kids sprawled on the lawn, waving back to neighbors and dump truck drivers, is one of absolute abandonment to the moment of beeping and waving, and cheering. A sudden burst of joy. To cultivate joy is to plant the seeds of community.
May is for flowers —yeah, daffodils—and a time for unpredictable joy.
Shelley Vermilya
