Happy New Year, GIS Families!

I hope the holidays were wonderful for everyone. This month is a busy one. We have our second universal testing window opening, Principal Ellison and I present our budget to the school board, we have our winter concert, Mr. Mike officially starts teaching guidance classes, and we have an early release at the end of the month. Before we know it, February will be here, and we will enjoy our first two ski and ride days. Oh! and we have our GIS family book club coming back! If you're interested, please send me an email. We will be meeting in February, the date is not determined yet.

A quick note about Ski and Ride this year. The Grand Isle Rec is spearheading the sign-ups for us, so all your questions were forwarded to Lindsay Lundquist. If you have questions about Ski and Ride, please send them to me, and I can forward them to Lindsay.

Please be sure to check out the important information below.

As always, my door and inbox are always open,

Mrs. H

It's never fun to start the year off with sad news.

Many, if not all of you, know Ms. Leonard (Ms. Pam) in the main office. She has been battling illness for quite some time and has decided to retire in June. Over the vacation, she let me know that she was resigning immediately to focus on her health.

Ms. Pam has been the face of GIS for over a decade and is loved by all. She has supported GIS through multiple principal transitions, including students entering kindergarten and leaving GIS to attend middle school, and has done so with effortless grace.

Her work at our school has been so important, and her health is more important.

I will work to figure out how to fill her big shoes and would like to do something for her as a community. I will be sure to keep you posted on the plan.

Please keep Ms. Pam and her family in your thoughts.

At the December CIUUSD Board Meeting, the Board asked Principal Ellison and me to present a tiered budget at the January Board Meeting. What this means is that we offer different scenarios that show our budget with varying lines of budget being cut. The Board wanted us to keep personnel because the trajectory of student growth in both social, emotional, and academics is positive.

The principals are drafting several versions of the budget to present. Given the anticipated impact of these draft scenarios on the constituents of Grand Isle, North Hero, and Isle La Motte, we have also prepared budgets that demonstrate more drastic cuts.

This is not because we want more drastic cuts but rather to show the Board what might be needed if they believe the tax rate is too substantial for our towns.

Attendance letters will be going out during the first week of January. Please know that these letters are to support your family in understanding how absenteeism impacts kids, not as a punishment for being sick.

January 8- The Second Universal Testing Window Opens

January 15- No School MLK Day

January 24- Winter Concert, 6:00 PM in the cafeteria. All grades.

January 25- Early Release- 11:30 AM, no CARES

February 13- Ski and Ride Day

February 20- Ski and Ride Day

February 26- March 4- February Break, kids return March 5th

March 5- Ski and Ride Day

March 12- Ski and Ride Day

March 15- Trimester 2 Ends

March 19- Ski and Ride Day

March 22- Parent/Family Conferences

It's unbelievable, but the 100th day of school is right around the corner on February 9th (pending no snow days).

I'm working on creating something and need your help- again! Each teacher will get an "explosion box" (picture below). The box has various layers that you can attach photos, notes, drawings, etc. Please send photos, notes, or trinkets your kiddo would like to be put in their teacher's box. Kids can contribute photographs and messages to as many teachers as they would like; you must let me know which teacher's box things go to. Start sending in items ASAP.

*I can print photos for you if you email them to me.

Please remember to send your kiddos to school with winter gear. Our extra winter gear supply is limited and takes time to dry between uses.

One of the most significant aspects of my role within our learning community is understanding how to serve families better. I can only make adjustments with your feedback. Please consider spending 5-10 minutes to complete the survey linked below.

Ms. Gibbons is hosting the winter concert on Wednesday, January 24 at 6:00 PM in the cafeteria. All students in grade K-6 will be performing.

Email: ahanlon@gisu.org
Website: https://www.grandisleschool.org/
Location: 224 U.S. Rte 2, Grand Isle, VT, USA
Phone: 802-372-6913
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/grandisleschool.org

Attendance Form: https://forms.gle/ABSvVURCxvqbMfXw7