• The Compass: CSD Districtwide Newsletter for October

    District Newsletter at a Glance Message from Superintendent Minor. Connecting inside and outside of school. Outstanding CSD Educators Recognized. Celebrating Ms. Donnelly and Mr. Winchester! Construction Updates. Something is missing at PPS and growing at UMS. Emergency Notification Test. Monday at 6:30 p.m. From the Health Office. Emergency Kits Available for Students with Disabilities. Celebrating Our 2026 Hall of Fame Inductees. Forever Lakers! Safeguarding Our Community. Action steps and tips for cybersecurity. Join the Journey. Highlighting Physical Education at CHS. Upcoming Calendar Reminders. No school next Thursday and Friday. Sailing Around the District. A quick check-in with our schools. Booked with Burnham Library. After-school programs for youth. Follow Along. We're on other platforms if you'd like to see more of our story. Message from Superintendent Minor It was wonderful seeing so many families, students, and employees at our open houses! These events were a great way to reconnect with neighbors, meet our teachers, and build excitement for the year ahead. Thank you to our staff and families for making these evenings such a success and helping us kick off the school year on a high note. As students settle into their daily routines, they have also been exploring our local community through field trips. A special thanks to our community partners for hosting us! I’ve also thoroughly enjoyed cheering on our students at sporting events and the CHS pep rally, as well as connecting with families at after-school activities. We have much to accomplish this school year, and I look forward to what lies ahead in the coming months. I am deeply grateful for the strong partnership between our schools and families. Thank you for everything you do to support our students. I look forward to seeing you in our schools soon! Amy Minor Superintendent of Schools Outstanding CSD Educators Recognized We’re thrilled to announce that PPS Kindergarten Teacher Allison Donnelly and MBS 4th-Grade Teacher Mark Winchester will both be receiving the UVM Outstanding Educator Award this year! Next month, Ms. Donnelly and Mr. Winchester will be celebrated at a formal ceremony at UVM alongside Outstanding Educators from across the state. Allison Donnelly is an extraordinary educator who brings kindness, deep care, and exceptional math instruction to her kindergarten classroom at Porters Point School. She excels at recognizing each child’s unique strengths while laying a strong, joyful foundation for their future success. Beyond her classroom, Ms. Donnelly serves as a dedicated leader and mentor on both the Math Professional Development and PPS leadership teams. Her colleagues frequently turn to her for advice, valuing the calm, encouraging support and expertise she generously shares. Ms. Donnelly’s deep commitment to her students and peers enriches the entire school community, making her truly deserving of this year’s UVM Outstanding Educator Award. Mark Winchester puts students at the center of everything he does, creating a warm, welcoming classroom where every child feels seen, valued, and empowered to learn. Through his thoughtful instructional practices and genuine dedication to student growth, Mr. Winchester has earned lasting trust and respect across our community. An exceptional colleague and mentor, he consistently gives back by guiding newer teachers, modeling lessons, and serving on key school committees. His professionalism and unwavering commitment have made him an invaluable cornerstone of the Malletts Bay School community for decades. We could not be prouder to see Mr. Winchester recognized as a recipient of the UVM Outstanding Educator Award. School Construction Update Porters Point School: Phase 2 With all students and staff officially occupying the new addition (most in permanent spaces but some in temporary spaces), the Phase 2 work continues. The initial focus was asbestos abatement and controlled interior demolition of the wing being fully renovated. However, a few weeks ago, crews began the complete demolition of the oldest wing, which once housed the main office, kitchen, cafeteria/gymnasium, library, and some classrooms. Before the first excavator swipe, the school community gathered outside the building to give a proper send-off and a big thank-you. It was an incredibly bittersweet moment. You can see the video on our social media pages or here on our YouTube channel. As of earlier this week, workers had completely taken down the old wing and were sorting and hauling away materials. With the area nearly cleared, community members will soon see work begin on the full-sized bus loop and expanded parking lot, which should be ready for temporary use before winter sets in. Union Memorial School: Phase 1 The basement foundation has been poured and the steel is going up at Union Memorial School! The utilities located in the basement are in place, and students are now getting a front-row seat as the crane lifts the steel beams into place. On-site leaders from PC Construction have started meeting with students on Fridays to explain what’s happening and answer any questions. So many curious eyes watching their every move have already led to some pretty wholesome and hilarious interactions. It’s going to be a great year. Emergency Notification Test: Monday at 6:30 p.m. Each fall, we test our emergency notification system by sending an urgent alert through ParentSquare to parents/guardians, employees, and high school students. This year's test will be sent on Monday, October 19, at 6:30 p.m. You can expect a notification via phone call, text message, email, and app notification if you have the ParentSquare app installed. If you do not receive the emergency test, please email communications@colchestersd.org or contact your school's front office to verify your contact information. We’ll send a reminder with more information later this week. Emergency Kits Available for Student with Disabilities A limited supply of emergency preparedness kits (DAFN Go-Stay Kits) are available through our nurses’ offices for students and/or families with Disability, Access, or Functional Needs (DAFN). The kits were made possible thanks to the Northwest Vermont Medical Reserve Corps (NWVT MRC) and funding from a National Association of County and City Health Officials (NACCHO) grant. They are designed to help families mitigate financial barriers and ensure they are equipped with essential supplies and safety resources during unexpected emergencies or natural disasters. These kits are specifically intended for students and families who: Identify as having a disability, access, or functional need. Would benefit from additional emergency supplies to support personal safety and preparedness at home or on the go. If you believe your student or family would benefit from an Emergency Preparedness Kit, please reach out directly to your school nurse or contact Moriah McCullagh, District Nursing Supervisor, at (802) 264-5724 or via email. Supplies are limited and will be distributed on a first come, first serve basis. Special thanks to August Toynton from the Vermont Department of Health and the NWVT MRC team for bringing this valuable resource to our district! Celebrating our 2026 Hall of Fame Inductees Last week, we welcomed six outstanding Lakers and their families back to CHS to honor them as the 2026 inductees into the Colchester High School Hall of Fame. The celebrations included a luncheon with students, a building tour, a warm welcome at the pep rally, and formal recognition at halftime of the varsity football game. Learn more about these amazing individuals and their achievements on the CHS Hall of Fame website. Congratulations to our 2026 CHS Hall of Fame inductees: Ashley Degrasse Biagi, Class of 2005 Dr. Bryce Bludevich, Class of 2007 Mat Fraser, Class of 2009 Kristi Lefebvre Huizenga, Class of 2002 Paul Lasher, Class of 1993 Joel Senesac, Class of 1997 Know someone who should be in the CHS Laker Hall of Fame? Complete a nomination form for 2027! Safeguarding Our Community Against Advanced Cyber Threats Over the past few months, school districts across Vermont have experienced a significant increase in phishing emails reaching students and staff. Phishing is nothing new, but AI tools have made these emails far more sophisticated. Artificial intelligence allows cybercriminals to craft highly realistic emails and create fake login pages designed to steal passwords. Protecting student and employee data remains a top priority, and CSD has made significant investments to improve our training, email filtering, and endpoint security: Comprehensive Staff Training: We have implemented a new training platform to help staff recognize AI-enhanced threats, paired with regular, simulated phishing exercises to build daily awareness. Advanced Email Filtering: We are deploying a secondary filter to automatically scan for and block fraudulent messages before they hit inboxes. 24/7 Endpoint Protection: Last year, we upgraded to Next Gen endpoint security managed around the clock by cybersecurity experts. This has been a huge benefit given our small technology team. Since the implementation, we've had real threats discovered and disabled before they could do any harm. How Families Can Stay Safe at Home Cybersecurity is a team effort that extends beyond our school buildings. Here are some steps families can take to protect their personal information from phishing attempts: Verify the Sender: Carefully check the full email address, not just the display name. Watch for subtle misspellings or unusual domain names. Be Wary of Urgent Requests: Scammers often rely on urgency, pressure, or fear to make you act quickly. Pause and double-check unexpected requests for passwords, money, or sensitive personal details. Inspect Links Before Clicking: Hover over links (or press and hold on a mobile device) to preview the destination URL. If a web page asks for your login credentials, ensure you are on the official site before typing anything. Enable Multi-Factor Authentication (MFA): Wherever possible, turn on MFA for your personal email, banking, and online accounts to add a crucial secondary layer of defense. Join the Journey: Physical Education at CHS No other district does physical education like Colchester! From the forest, to the lake, to the fields, the PE program at Colchester High School has a wide range of activities for students to try in the hope that they can find something they love and will continue to do outside of school. For decades, the PE program at CHS has been something our alumni remember long after they graduate, so we figured we'd catch up with our teachers and some current students to give the community a glimpse of how we take advantage of this incredible place we call home. Upcoming Calendar Reminders Here are some upcoming dates to mark on your calendar. For a complete list that includes unexpected closures, visit csdvt.org/calendar. For school-specific information, visit your school’s website or ParentSquare calendar. Grades 6-12 Conferences: Wednesday, October 21 and Thursday, October 22 No School: Thursday, October 22 and Friday, October 23 Early Release Day: Wednesday, November 4 No School: November 10 Grades PK-5 Conferences: Monday, November 23 and Tuesday, November 24 No School: Monday, November 23 - Friday, November 27 CSD School Calendar Sailing Around the District Highlights From Our Schools Colchester High School AP Environmental Science (APES) students recently investigated key local water quality questions in partnership with the UVM Watershed Alliance. Through hands-on fieldwork, students deployed Secchi discs aboard the UVM R/V Marcelle, analyzed plankton in the Rubenstein Lab, explored waterfront stormwater infrastructure, and sampled data along Indian Brook. Their research tackled critical issues ranging from invasive species like the spiny water flea to the ecological role of rain gardens and benthic macroinvertebrates. Students are now actively analyzing their data to develop actionable recommendations for reducing point and non-point source pollution in the Lake Champlain Basin. Colchester Middle School Students at CMS have been preparing for their upcoming Student Led Conferences (SLCs) during some of their time in Teacher Advisory (TA). Students have been reviewing the results of their DESSA assessments (our Social Emotional Learning screener) to learn about their areas of strength as well as their growth opportunities. We are excited to have students and caregivers in on October 21st & 22nd to meet with TA teachers and share their goals and some of their academic work they are proud of. Malletts Bay School On October 2nd our third, fourth, and fifth graders had the opportunity to attend a UVM women’s hockey game as an entire school together! Our Ospreys cheered loudly, shared in the excitement, and had the chance to watch the UVM Catamounts come away with a win! Our students represented Malletts Bay School very well earning many positive comments about their safe, respectful, and responsible behavior from others at the game. Union Memorial School October is National Bullying Prevention Month. At UMS, we are welcoming the Vermont Family Network’s Puppets in Education to continue to teach our youngest learners about how to prevent bullying by showing kindness, being upstanders, and talking to each other and the adults in their lives about unsafe or unkind behaviors. We look forward to their visit and to continuing the conversation about how our PBIS agreements at UMS, “Be safe, Be kind, and Do your best,” are how we build community and prevent bullying at our school. Porters Point School Our Continuous Improvement Plan goals at PPS build on the progress we made last year in the area of comprehension. In reading, teachers are using nonfiction texts from ReadWorks to help students build background knowledge, grow their vocabulary, and practice strategies for understanding what they read. In math, several teachers are piloting the Illustrative Mathematics program, and all teachers are placing greater emphasis on step-by-step instruction that helps students understand word problems and explain their solutions. Across all classrooms, we’re encouraging students to ask questions, share their thinking, and learn from one another. It’s exciting to see their curiosity and growing confidence as they tackle new learning! Preschool at MBS Preschool activities are rich in math and science opportunities. We know that children learn best through play. This month, the preschoolers will have the opportunity to dissect a pumpkin, balance gourds on the balance scale, explore the principals of sink and float in the water table, mix two colors (red and yellow) to create a third color (orange), measure pumpkins and apples, use ramps and inclines, and learn about the life cycle and parts of pumpkins and apples. Booked at Burnham Library A message from Burnham Memorial Library All of us at Burnham Library hope the school year is going well! It's been great getting to see familiar faces and hear how school is going. We wanted to highlight a couple of upcoming programs below (follow the links on the program names to sign up!) but remember that you can also view our full calendar of events on our website at any time. Tuesday 10/20 at 4:30 pm — Stifled and Jazz: On Never Giving Up Author Jennifer Gennari will be visiting to talk about her new book, Stifled. The event will be followed by a Q&A and book signing; Flying Pig Books will be on hand. Two copies will be given away as door prizes. Ages 8 and up. Thursday 10/22 at 3:00 pm— STEM for Kids: Bone Bridges Come test your engineering skills and build a bridge out of cotton swabs, tape, and other materials. Ages 6 and up. Follow Along! If you’re on Instagram, Facebook, or YouTube, we are too! Follow along with our students and staff on their journey to see what makes our Colchester community such a great place to learn and work. Instagram: @colchester_schools Facebook: Colchester School District YouTube: @CSDVT

    Wednesday, Oct 14 2026

  • Important Update: Trail Usage and Hunting Season Pre...

    CSD Community, The Hazelett Corporation has a large portion of wooded property that borders the school district’s property at Colchester High School. Trails used by both our school programs and community members intersect through both properties.  Hazelett recently announced that it would be posting its property to limit community use during Vermont’s deer hunting season.  As outlined in the attached community notice, the company has developed a controlled lottery hunting program that will allow Hazelett employees to bow hunt on their property at designated times through December 15, 2026. Recognizing that CHS physical education and athletic programs often use the woods in the fall, representatives from Hazelett met with our school district to review their hunting program in detail. Our conversations with Hazelett have focused on safety, property boundaries, and clear expectations for school-related activities.  Hazelett explained that their hunting program will be limited to archery equipment only; firearms and muzzleloaders are strictly prohibited. Hazelett is also restricting the days and times hunting is allowed, and only employees with permission through their program may hunt on their property. With these safety precautions in place, Hazelett is allowing the school and community to continue using the sections of the trail system on their property, but  only Monday through Friday from 7:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.   As a reminder, hunting of any kind is not allowed on Colchester School District property. The community is still welcome to use our trails at any time. We are in the process of posting our property boundary to make the line between CSD and Hazelett clear.  Although hunting is prohibited on our property, we still recommend general safety guidelines for anyone walking in a public wooded area during hunting season.  Wear blaze orange to increase your visibility Stay on marked trails Keep dogs leashed and visible.  For additional tips, visit Vermont Fish & Wildlife’s   Sharing the Outdoors During Hunting Season . We have also attached a PDF of the “Community Notice: Restricted Access to Hazelett Property” memo from Hazelett, which they have also posted on their Facebook page. Colchester School District

    Tuesday, Sep 29 2026

  • The Compass: CSD Districtwide Newsletter for September

    District Newsletter at a Glance The Compass and School-to-Home Communication. How to adjust your notification settings. Message from Superintendent Minor. Building strong relationships. Attendance Summary Reports. Monthly reports will begin in October. Safety Overview. Drill information and how you can help. Countdown To The Bell. A time-lapse video of the final push to complete the new PPS addition. Preschool at MBS. Come learn and play: we have openings in both sessions. Curious About Subbing? Watch a video to see what it's all about! Upcoming Calendar Reminders. No school on Monday, September 21. Sailing Around the District. A quick check-in with our schools. Booked with Burnham Library. After-school programs for youth. Follow Along. We're on other platforms if you'd like to see more of our story. The Compass and School-to-Home Communication School has officially been in session for three weeks and we are settled into both new and familiar routines. Part of those routines includes school-to-home communication. The Colchester Compass is a monthly newsletter sent from the Superintendent’s Office. Each classroom, school, athletic team, etc… has its own rhythm for communicating, and we know it can add up and might feel overwhelming at times. ParentSquare allows families to adjust their individual notification settings. For example, the digest setting is a popular option that bundles all non-urgent communication and sends it in one evening message. To switch to digest settings, click Manage Your Account, then Notification Settings. For more details on managing your ParentSquare notification settings, see these step-by-step instructions. Message from Superintendent Minor September always brings exciting energy as students return to school. It is also when we get to show off the hard work of our maintenance and custodial teams, the technology department, front office staff, and human resources. Summer is an incredibly busy time for these departments as they deep-clean, finalize schedules, and onboard new faculty and staff. If you’re new to Colchester, either as a student, family member, or employee, welcome! Over the next few months, you’ll hear more about the district's focus on the academic performance of all students in every building. However, as the school year gets underway, I am reminded that our schools are about much more than academics. I have heard directly from our students that relationships and school culture matter deeply to them. We want our students to feel supported and connected while also being challenged to learn, grow, take risks, and reach their potential. Our families are essential to making that commitment real. Thank you for partnering with us, asking questions, sharing concerns, celebrating successes, and trusting us with your children each day. Strong schools are built through strong relationships, including the relationship between home and school. A lot is happening across CSD this year, and we will continue to keep you informed along the way. I hope this newsletter helps you stay connected to the great work happening throughout our five schools and gives you a glimpse into the many ways our students and staff are learning, growing, and contributing to our community. I am excited about the year ahead and, most importantly, excited to see what our students will accomplish. Amy Minor Superintendent of Schools Attendance Summary Reports Students who attend school consistently have been shown to achieve at higher levels than students who are regularly absent. Missing just two days of school each month can add up to four weeks of missed school in a year. To help families keep track of their students’ attendance, the district sends automated Attendance Summary Reports for all K-12 students at the beginning of each month via ParentSquare. We plan to send the first summary in October. If your family is experiencing difficulties that are affecting your child’s attendance at school, please reach out to your school’s front office, counselor, or administrator for support. Safety Overview for Caregivers The Colchester School District is dedicated to ensuring the safety and well-being of all students and employees. As part of our commitment, we regularly review and update our safety plans to reflect best practices. We work closely with the Colchester Police Department and attend statewide training sessions to stay connected with first responders. Safety Drills Part of our planning includes practicing, also known as drills. Each school conducts regular safety exercises, including egress drills (also known as fire drills) and options-based response drills (also known as lockdown drills). All of our schools conducted both of these drills in September and will continue to practice throughout the school year by doing one drill per month. Your Role We appreciate your support in keeping our schools safe. Please review the Emergency Guide for Families on our website so you’re informed about procedures and communication during emergencies. We all have a role in keeping our students safe and preventing acts of violence at school. We encourage open conversations with your child about reporting any concerns they may have. If you see, hear, or know something concerning, please report it to an administrator or trusted school adult. Outside of school hours, you can always contact the Colchester Police Department. Countdown To The Bell Porters Point School students returned to school by walking into a brand-new two-story addition. Completing Phase One of the PPS Project was a major milestone in the overarching district-wide facilities bond, which the Colchester community approved in 2024. As expected, the final push to transition from construction site to learning environment was intense, with crews from many trades working alongside district staff as we unpacked and set up the new spaces. To bring PPS families along for the journey, we launched a dedicated Countdown to the Bell video series that provided a glimpse inside the building every few days leading up to the first day of school. We’ve compiled those videos together to share with the greater community. Take a look: From a student and classroom perspective, Phase Two of the PPS project is designed as a transition phase. While most classrooms are now in their permanent homes, some content areas are in temporary spaces because their permanent spaces will ultimately be located in the existing soon-to-be-renovated section of the school. As part of Phase Two, the oldest wing of the building is being demolished this month to create a larger bus loop and parking area. The remaining wing will undergo extensive renovation, including the construction of a new gymnasium. For more information, photos, and updates, visit csdbond.org. Preschool at MBS Our Preschool Program is in full swing and we have room for a few more students! The program runs half-day sessions, four days a week, offers meals, and is free for families. Many studies have demonstrated the lifelong benefits of early education. Experiencing a supportive play-based environment prepares a young mind for deeper learning and our preschool program is a wonderful place for your child's first school milestone! Two things to note: To be eligible, children must be at least three years old as of August 31, 2026, and transportation is not provided. Interested? Contact our preschool facilitator at nancy.smith@colchestersd.org or call (802) 264-5894. Curious About Subbing? Have you wondered what a day in our schools might be like? We are always looking for community members who are willing to be per diem substitutes. From teachers to nurses, paraeducators, and food service workers, there are lots of opportunities to join us for the day! Check out this video we made for prospective substitutes: For more information about becoming a substitute, visit csdvt.org/sub or contact HR Coordinator Charlie Whitney at 264-5980 or charlie.whitney@colchestersd.org. Upcoming Calendar Reminders Here are some upcoming dates to mark on your calendar. For a complete list that includes unexpected closures, visit csdvt.org/calendar. For school-specific information, visit your school’s website or ParentSquare calendar. No School: Monday, September 21 No School: Thursday, October 22 and Friday, October 23 Early Release: Wednesday, November 4 CSD School Calendar Sailing Around the District Highlights From Our Schools Colchester High School CHS is highlighting a student-athlete who exemplifies leadership, commitment, and hard work. Senior Liam Fitzgerald broke the CHS school record in the 5K with an incredible time of 16:29, then went on to break his own record with a blazing 16:07! Liam is also a senior captain for Boys Soccer. He has helped lead the Lakers to a 3-0 start to the season, which is a huge accomplishment for this developing team. Our students never cease to amaze us; way to go, Liam! Colchester Middle School Last week CMS students all attended team field trips. Our goal for field trips this early in the school year is to give students a way to practice our school-wide norms, to be respectful, responsible, caring, kind & safe as well as to build community. This is a critical time for teams to build relationships, which set the stage for strong learning opportunities throughout the year. Our students had amazing experiences and received multiple compliments from members of the greater community! Malletts Bay School Our school garden continues to be a wonderful hands-on learning experience for our students and staff. Teachers and students work together to care for the garden throughout the school year, and our summer school students helped keep it growing and thriving over the summer. Now that school is back in session, students are once again pitching in to care for the garden. This summer, students even turned some of our garden-grown zucchinis into a creative “Champ” structure, and their creation won Best in Show at the Champlain Valley Fair! We are so proud of the creativity, teamwork, and care our students and staff bring to our school garden. Union Memorial School UMS students and staff are embracing our exciting, new school construction project. Classes are integrating science, engineering, art, and writing as students observe the changes in our construction site and journal about them. Students also have a front-row seat to the construction during recess, and they have been enjoying digging and excavating in our new sandboxes alongside the giant machines. Students took inspiration from Chris Van Dusen’s book, If I Built a School and created their vision for what our new school should include. CSD School Board members got to see their designs at a recent meeting! Porters Point School “Building and Growing Together” has been our theme at Porters Point School this fall as we settle into our new learning spaces. The building’s design celebrates the trees on our property, with colorful wooden trees featured in the hallway design. We love the idea of putting down roots in this new place while continuing to build a strong foundation for learning with every student, staff member, and family at PPS. We’ve also enjoyed continuing familiar traditions in our new surroundings. Our All-School Meeting took place last week in the cafeteria, but now a canopy of green makes it feel as though we’re gathering together beneath the branches of a big tree! The new setting adds another layer of meaning to a tradition that has long helped us feel connected as a school community. Preschool at MBS The first few weeks of Pre-K are an important time for children to learn what to expect and feel comfortable in their new classroom. We are taking time to teach routines, practice classroom expectations, explore materials, and get to know one another. Consistent routines and visual supports, such as picture schedules and visual reminders, help children understand what comes next and become more independent throughout their day. By giving children time to learn through hands-on experiences and guided practice, we are building a classroom where children feel safe, confident, successful, and ready to learn. These routines and expectations will provide a strong foundation for our classroom community throughout the school year. Booked at Burnham Library A message from Burnham Memorial Library All of us at Burnham Library hope your school year is off to a great start. We enjoyed seeing lots of faces this summer — but even though school is back in session, we're not going anywhere! We wanted to highlight a couple upcoming programs below (follow the links on the program names to sign up!), but remember that you can also view our full calendar of events on our website at any time. Wednesday 9/23 at 5:30 pm — Family Craft: Picture Frames -The whole family is welcome to come decorate wooden picture frames with paint, shells, and more. Tuesday 9/29 at 3:30 pm — Kids Program: Nature Illustrations (Ages 8+) -Learn about the practice of nature illustration with the Lake Champlain Basin Program and then have a chance to draw the species you love most. One last thing: if you have older students, we are actively seeking new members for the Burnham Library Teen Advisory Group (TAG)! Students in grades 8-12 are eligible to participate in this community service opportunity; they can check out this brief Google form to learn more about TAG's work and submit their name if interested. Follow Along! If you’re on Instagram, Facebook, or YouTube, we are too! Follow along with our students and staff on their journey to see what makes our Colchester community such a great place to learn and work. Instagram: @colchester_schools Facebook: Colchester School District YouTube: @CSDVT

    Wednesday, Sep 16 2026

  • Get Ready for School: Busing, Cellphones, Constructi...

    Information to Start the Year We are in the final days of summer and our year-round staff has been working hard to welcome our faculty and students back into classrooms. We know your family is getting ready too, so we wanted to share some information to help get you prepared for the start of the 2026-2027 school year. Have a great last few weeks of summer! Colchester School District School Calendar The first day of school for grades K-12 is Wednesday, August 26. The first day of preschool is Monday, August 31. A list of all school vacations, closures for faculty professional development, and early release days can be found at csdvt.org/calendar. We update the calendar link after every unexpected closing (such as a snow day) to reflect the updated last day of school in June. You can visit csdvt.org/calendar at any time throughout the school year to get accurate calendar information. 2026-2027 School Calendar School Bus Routes and Times Each summer, the district and our bus company, Mountain Transit, assess the bus routes in Colchester and make changes as needed. While most of the routes remained the same, Mountain Transit made some adjustments to stop locations, bus numbers, and timing. In some cases, entire roads have been assigned a different bus number. Bus assignments by street and bus routes have been posted on our website. We encourage every family with a rider to check their bus assignment and stop information. As a reminder, Mountain Transits asks that students be visible at their bus stop 7 minutes before the listed time, but also be prepared that the bus could be 7 minutes late. They call it the 7&7 rule. This is especially true for the first few weeks of school when buses often run slower than usual to accommodate new students, excited families taking photos, or to provide some extra support for children who may have some jitters. Thank you for having patience with our bus and van drivers while everyone settles into the school year. Bus Numbers and Routes General Commuting and Road Construction Whether your student is riding the bus or you are transporting them by car, there are roadway projects happening throughout Colchester that will impact traffic. We ask that drivers give extra time to get to the school and that they stay alert, keeping an eye out for students who may be walking or biking. We also ask that everyone have patience and courtesy in our school parking lots. Go slow, look for children, and be kind to traffic merging in and out of drop off lanes. Cellphone Free Schools Beginning this school year, all schools in the district will follow a new state law requiring a cell phone-free school day. This expectation applies to cell phones, smartwatches, wireless earbuds, smart glasses, and other personal devices with wireless access. Students will need to keep these devices powered off, out of sight, and stored from the beginning of the school day until dismissal. Families will still be able to reach students through the school office, and students will have access to school-approved ways to contact home when needed. We believe this change will reduce distractions and give students more opportunities to focus on learning, connect with others, and be fully present throughout the school day. We know for some, this may be a change, and we appreciate your understanding and partnership as we put these new expectations into practice. Thank you for your support as we work together to make this transition successful for our students. E-Bikes vs E-Motos: What Are Allowed At School? As we mentioned earlier this summer, there has been an increase in the number of youth riding high-wattage e-motos. As a school district, our role is to look out for the well-being of your children and to act as a helpful messenger for our community. Part of that is making sure caregivers have the accurate information needed to protect their children from the safety risks associated with adult-speed vehicles and to avoid unintentional legal and financial liabilities that can arise when a child operates what may be believed to be an e-bike but is actually classified as a motorcycle. With the rise in popularity of these e-motos, we have added a section to our school handbooks to clarify, based on Vermont law, what is and is not allowable on school property. New School Handbook Section: Standard Electric Bicycles (E-Bike) and Motorized Cycles (E-Moto) Vermont law distinguishes low-powered electric bicycles (e-bikes) from higher-powered motorized cycles (e-motos). Standard e-bikes (working pedals, motor under 750W) are permitted on school property, as they carry no age restrictions and do not require a license or registration. In contrast, e-motos and dirt-bike-style electric vehicles are prohibited on school property unless the rider meets all state legal requirements. E-motos with 750W–1000W motors require the rider to be at least 16 years old. Vehicles exceeding 1000W require the rider to be at least 16 years old with a valid driver’s license, motorcycle endorsement, registration, and insurance. Families will be required to pick up any non-compliant e-motos brought to campus. Permitted student riders must wear appropriate safety gear, follow all traffic laws, and operate respectfully around pedestrians and vehicles. If you have questions about whether an e-bike or e-moto is allowed, please contact the School Resource Officer (SRO) or the Colchester Police Department. Construction Updates Porters Point School From the day we broke ground last October, we knew completing a project of this scale in time for the new academic year would be a tight squeeze. It remains an all-hands-on-deck effort, but thanks to the relentless dedication of our construction crews and school operations teams working in overdrive, we determined to make it happen. The building is taking shape, and we cannot wait to open the doors to our students and staff! This has always been a two-phased process. Phase One of this construction project took place last school year while we built the new addition, and all schooling happened in the original building. We are now entering Phase Two of the project, where the entire school will be in the new addition (some in temporary spaces), while we demo and renovate portions of the original school. Phase Two will last for the entire 2026-27 school year. The PPS project is on time and expected to be fully completed in the Summer of 2027. As for updates for this coming school year, we are on target to obtain our occupancy permit for the new addition later this week, and then the moving in begins! These final two weeks before school starts will be a busy and exciting time moving furniture, unpacking, and setting up classrooms. PC construction crews will be working alongside school staff completing their final punch list to ensure that we are ready for students on Wednesday, August 26. On the evening of Tuesday, August 25, PPS is hosting a First Look Event for families of current students so they can tour the school. Their official open house will take place later in the Fall. We’ll be sure to take some videos over the next few weeks and share them with the whole district so everyone can follow along! Union Memorial School It’s hard to miss that construction has begun at Union Memorial School! If you’ve driven by or visited the playground this summer, you got a front-row seat to the excavation happening as crews prepare the ground for the basement foundation. Prior to that, they did some extensive site work, removing trees and the old septic system. We also hosted a Groundbreaking Ceremony! As it did over at PPS, during Phase One at UMS, all schooling will take place as usual in the original building this school year. As students and employees return to campus, we’re sure the PC Construction Team at UMS will become part of our school community, interacting and sharing their knowledge with our curious young learners as they see the building take shape. We will continue to provide regular construction updates through the Colchester Compass newsletter and on our dedicated website: csdbond.org. Free Meals This School Year! We are thrilled to offer free breakfast and lunch to all students again this school year. Our food service staff is working to finalize the menus, which will be posted at csdmeals.org soon. You can also sign up to receive the monthly menus in your inbox. Prepaying through your child's MySchoolBucks account allows you to purchase additional items beyond the free complete meal (such as extra milk, ala cart items, or a second meal). If you are new to the district, expect a letter in the mail soon with information on how to sign up for an account. Staying Connected to School: ParentSquare All of our schools, teachers, and coaches use ParentSquare to communicate with families. If you haven't already, we recommend doing two things: Download the ParentSquare app - it's a really great app that'll categorize posts by school so you can find information quickly. You can also do extras like sign permission slips or message a teacher. Choose how to be notified - by using the app you can choose how you want to be notified and when. Feel like you're getting too many notices throughout the day? ParentSquare offers a "digest" setting that will hold all non-urgent notices until 6 pm that night. (You can also adjust your notification preferences using a web browser at parentsquare.com) If you need help or have questions about ParentSquare, contact us at communications@colchestersd.org. Work Here! Job Openings at CSD We're biased, but this is a pretty great place to work! We still have a couple of openings if you know someone who might be interested in joining our team. Paraeducator (multiple roles) Food Service Worker Autism Interventionist Athletic and Club Coaches See the full job descriptions at csdvt.org/jobs. If you need more flexibility, we are always looking for substitutes! You could be a substitute teacher, food service worker, van driver, paraeducator, nurse, etc! Get on the list by going to csdvt.org/sub.

    Thursday, Aug 13 2026

  • Time to Complete CSD Returning Student Registration ...

    Register Your Student for the 2026-27 School Year It's time to log in to your PowerSchool Parent Portal account and complete the annual student verification registration forms. It is required that parents/guardians verify enrollment for their child(ren) by Friday, July 24. This is the same system we used for registration last year. At least one parent/guardian in your family already has a Parent Portal account with your child(ren) linked to it to complete the forms. It takes less than 10 minutes to review and submit the forms. Since these forms are required for all students, we will send regular reminders to those who have not yet submitted the forms for their child(ren) as the July 24 deadline approaches. New Students: Students who are new to the district (including incoming kindergartners, Island/Georgia students, and transfers) have likely already completed their registration forms for next year. However, we still encourage you to log in and check that all 2026-27 forms show submitted. Thank you for your cooperation in helping us get prepared for the upcoming school year! How to verify your child's enrollment for next year: Visit https://csdvt.powerschool.com/public/ or go to csdvt.org and click "PowerSchool Portal" at the top of the page. Log in to your account using your username and password. Use the menu on the left to click on Forms. Complete each of the listed forms, verifying on the home page that they have a checkmark and show either 'Submitted' or 'Pending Review'. If you have multiple children, repeat the process for each child by selecting their name from the blue bar at the top. Frequently Asked Questions Who should fill out the form? Just one parent/guardian. The forms are only allowed to be submitted once per child. I have more than one child, do I have to fill out forms for each child? Yes. Since you’ll need to provide information that is specific to each child, we require that parents/guardians fill out separate forms for each child. However, you only need one Parent Portal account. All of your children are linked to your account and you can toggle between them. Do I have to submit all the forms and answer all the questions? Yes. Any forms listed under your child’s account must be submitted. Keep in mind that different grades/schools may receive different questions or forms. Questions marked with a red asterisk (*) are required. When is the deadline for submitting the forms? All forms must be submitted by Friday, July 24. This gives our staff time to prepare for the school year by updating contact and medical information, designing bus routes and stops, gathering materials, and more. We will send regular reminders to those who have not yet submitted their forms. We have moved and my student will not be attending CSD next year. If you have moved, please let the school know. You need to enroll your child in their new district. That will prompt the new district to request your child’s records and you will no longer receive notifications from CSD. Are the forms available in other languages? Unfortunately, the forms are currently only available in English. If you need a translator, we can help! Please call Holli-Jo at (802) 264-5997 or email hollijo.brigante@colchestersd.org. I have questions or need additional help. A Parent Portal User Guide is available on our website for those who would like additional information on setting up a Parent Portal account or accessing additional features. If you have any questions, please contact the registrar at your school: Colchester High School: patty.ward@colchestersd.org Colchester Middle School: aubrie.stenta@colchestersd.org Malletts Bay School: jeanne.racicotbrigante@colchestersd.org Porters Point School: michelle.norton@colchestersd.org Union Memorial School: toni.josey@colchestersd.org MBS Preschool: hollijo.brigante@colchestersd.org District/Central Office Registrar: gabrielle.brooks@colchestersd.org Communications Office: meghan.baule@colchestersd.org CSD Data Technology Team: data@colchestersd.org

    Monday, Jul 13 2026

  • Join us for the UMS Groundbreaking Ceremony: July 7 ...

    UMS Community, Big changes are on the way for UMS, and we want to celebrate the beginning of construction with the people who made it possible - you! Join us for a special, family-friendly Groundbreaking Ceremony to mark the start of building our new school addition. Details: When: Tuesday, July 7 at 5:30 p.m. Where: Union Memorial School (Construction Site Area) What: Brief remarks from our school board and administration, a photo-op with the shovels, and a possible special guest appearance by our friendly local lake monster!  We know summer evenings are precious. While this is a major milestone for our school, we promise to keep the official ceremony short and sweet so you can get back to your evening plans.  We're excited to have you help us turn the page on this exciting new chapter for Union Memorial School. We hope to see you there! Colchester School District [Tuesday, Jul 7 at 11:21 AM] Join us tonight! Just a reminder that the UMS Groundbreaking Ceremony will take place at 5:30 p.m. this evening. Access to the area will be through the playground gate at the far end of the parking lot, between the gazebo and the construction trailer. Additional details can be found in the original post below.

    Tuesday, Jun 30 2026

  • A Joint Message from CSD and Colchester Police: E-Bi...

    CSD Community, As summer has started, it has been wonderful to see our students outside, staying active, and enjoying their independence. In the spring, we started to notice  a significant rise in the number of students riding electric-powered cycles to and from school, and around our community.  We love seeing our kids engaged in activities they enjoy, and we fully support modern, eco-friendly ways for them to get around. With this exciting trend comes a shared responsibility. Our primary goal is to ensure that our students remain safe, while also respecting our community members who share our sidewalks, bike paths, and roads. To help families navigate the increasingly complex market of electric rides, our school district has partnered with the Colchester Police Department on a safety initiative . Together, we want to clarify some important legal distinctions regarding what types of bikes students can legally ride, and where. Many families are unaware that manufacturers market certain vehicles as recreational toys or dirtbike-style e-bikes when, under Vermont law, they are actually classified as motor vehicles. Here is a breakdown of what's allowed for youth under 16 and what isn't. We have also attached a set of quick-reference graphics at the end of this message . Traditional E-Bike:  A good choice for youth under 16 years old If the bike has  fully functioning pedals  and a motor of  749W or under  (such as this  Ouxi  bike  or this  Schwinn  bike ), it is legally considered an e-bike. There are technically 3 classifications of e-bikes, and children under 16 years old are allowed to ride Class 1 and Class 2. These bikes are allowed on sidewalks, bike paths, and public roads.  For more information on the different classes of e-bikes, visit Local Motion’s website. Electric Mini-Bikes, Mini-Motos & Pocket Bikes:  Illegal and unsafe for youth under 16 If the bike has  foot pegs instead of pedals , a motor of  750W or more , or an engine over  50cc  (such as  Tuttio   or  Yozma   brands), Vermont law says the driver  must be at least 16 years old . These vehicles are strictly prohibited from sidewalks and bike paths.  If the bike is over 1000W, it’s considered a motorcycle.  The driver must hold a valid driver’s license with a motorcycle endorsement, and the vehicle must be registered and insured. These vehicles are strictly prohibited from sidewalks and bike paths.  As a school district, our role is to look out for the well-being of your children and to act as a helpful messenger for our community. We want to ensure parents have the accurate information needed to protect their children from the severe safety risks associated with adult-speed vehicles and to avoid unintentional legal and financial liabilities that can arise when a child operates what may be believed to be an e-bike but is actually classified as a motorcycle. If your child rides one of these vehicles, please review the attached guidance to confirm whether it is legally permitted for them to operate or reach out to SRO Jaime Bressler (contact information included below).  We are currently updating our student handbooks to clarify that illegal motorized bikes, including electric mini-bikes, mini-motos, and pocket bikes, will not be permitted on school campuses.  Because these regulations are matters of state law and town ordinance, traffic safety and enforcement fall under the jurisdiction of our local law enforcement. If you have any questions about the legality of a specific vehicle, traffic laws, or safe riding practices, please reach out to the primary contact for this initiative,  SRO Jaime Bressler with the Colchester Police Department  at (802) 264-5548 or jaime.bressler@colchesterpdvt.org  Thank you for partnering with us to keep our students safe, active, and respectful members of the Colchester community. Colchester School District and Colchester Police Department

    Friday, Jun 26 2026

  • School Construction Information for Summer

    Construction Begins at UMS Construction is about to begin at Union Memorial School. We are thrilled to partner once again with PC Construction as our general contractor. They are the same company currently working at Porters Point School, and they have been wonderful partners throughout this process. Phase 1: The New Addition The first phase of the UMS project will focus entirely on constructing the new addition. Crews have arrived this week to set up construction fencing and deliver equipment. We are planning a groundbreaking ceremony for early July and can’t wait to share this milestone with our community. Summer Playground and Safety Playground Status: We are pleased to announce that the UMS playground will remain open to the community this summer. Changes: The swings and the basketball court will be removed due to their proximity to the construction, but the primary playground structure will remain accessible. Safety First: If you visit UMS this summer, please stay alert to construction vehicles moving through the parking lot and near the fenced areas. What to Expect This Fall If your student is attending UMS in the fall, you will receive more detailed construction updates later this summer. For now, please know that the inside of the existing school building will remain exactly the same for the upcoming 2026-27 school year. No construction will take place inside the current building. The Next Phase at PPS The time has come to say goodbye to the original wing of Porters Point School. Soon, construction crews will begin work inside the old wing to prepare the different sections for renovation and demolition. Our faculty and staff have done an amazing job packing up the old portion of the school so it’s ready to be moved into the brand-new addition at the end of the summer! Final Walkthrough: Next Wednesday, June 24 We know how much this building means to the thousands of community members who once walked these halls as students and faculty. To honor that history, we are opening the original school building to the community for a final walkthrough. When: Wednesday, June 24, from 4:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m. Details: This is an informal open house; no RSVP is required. Everyone is welcome to drop by and take one last wander through the halls. Parking: The main parking lot is under construction. Visitors should use Lupine Drive to park in the gravel lot behind the school and then walk up to the front entrance. For those who cannot attend the walkthrough, we took our cameras through the halls on the last day of school and plan to put together a video for the community. Playground Closure and Gym Construction Next week, crews will start construction of the new gymnasium at the back of the existing building. Because of the heavy equipment and space required for the gym project, the PPS playground will be closed for the summer. A safety fence and signs will be installed. The good news is that the playground is scheduled to reopen just in time for the start of school in the fall. Contacting the PPS Front Office Due to work starting on the original school building, staff will only be on-site intermittently this summer. If you need to speak with Principal Millham or Michelle in the front office, the best way to get in touch is via phone or email. Staying Updated We’ll be adding this update and others to the csdbond.org website throughout the summer. We’ll also share some of the updates and videos on our social media and YouTube channels if you’d like to follow along. Facebook: Colchester School District Instagram: @colchester_schools YouTube: @CSDVT School Construction Website: csdbond.org

    Friday, Jun 19 2026

  • Locations for Free Daily Meals and Weekly Meal Box Kits

    Free Summer Meals for Kids! Free Meals at Colchester High School The Colchester School District will once again be offering free meals to children 18 years old and younger this summer. There are no fees, no registration and no residency requirements. All children are welcome! Free Summer Meals Location: Colchester High School Dates: Monday - Friday, beginning June 22 and ending August 14. (No meals will be served on July 4 or July 24) Time: Grab-and-go meals can be picked up anytime between 8:30 a.m. and 12:30 p.m. You can also stay and eat in the cafeteria. Menu: Breakfast and lunch menus will be posted on csdmeals.org. If your child is attending a day camp offered by Colchester Parks and Recreation, they will also have access to the district's free summer meals. Free Weekly Meal Box Kits Weekly meal boxes containing food for 7 breakfasts and 7 lunches for children 18 and under are available in many places across the state. The boxes contain a variety of fruits, vegetables, grains, milk and proteins. You can expect items like cereal, muffins, bagels, wraps, deli meats and cheeses, cucumbers, carrots, apples, cantaloupe, and a gallon of milk. No registration, fees, or ID is required; the boxes are available on a first-come, first-served basis. Here are locations that are close to us. Burlington: Wednesdays from July 1 through August 12 from 4:00 p.m. to 5:30 p.m. at the Intervale Center, 180 Intervale Road in Burlington. To help them have enough for everyone, they're asking families to fill out this form. Milton: Thursdays from June 25 through August 13 from 12:00 p.m. - 2:00 p.m. at Bombardier Park in Milton. South Burlington: Thursdays from June 25 through August 13 from 10:30 a.m. - 2:00 p.m. at On Logic, 435 Community Drive in South Burlington. Grand Isle: Thursdays from June 25 - August 13 from 4:30 p.m. to 5:30 p.m. at Grand Isle Elementary School, 224 US-2, Grand Isle. Alburgh: Thursdays from June 25 - August 13 from 4:30 p.m. to 5:30 p.m. at Alburgh Community Education Center at 45 Champlain Street, Alburgh. Vermont's Summer EBT Program Vermont is issuing Summer EBT benefits starting in June. Most children who are eligible will receive the $120 benefit automatically. Benefits can be used to buy food at grocery stores, farmer’s markets, and online where EBT cards are accepted. The Vermont Department for Children and Families will send you a letter if your family will get the benefit automatically. If you already have an EBT card, the benefits will be added to that card. If you need a replacement card, you can call 1-888-354-0012 (Option 7). If you think you qualify, but you do not receive a letter by July, please visit https://summerebt.vermont.gov/ to submit a short application. Summer EBT benefits do not affect your immigration status. Also, families with EBT cards can visit Vermont State Parks for free! Just show your EBT card at the park entrance and you and your household can enter for free. Visit https://www.vermontparksforever.org/paf-pilot to learn more. More Locations & Support For more information about receiving meals this summer, households can call 2-1-1, the United Way-run resource hotline, visit the Hunger Free Vermont Summer Meals website or visit the USDA Meals for Kids Site Finder. All sites listed are open to all children 18 and under. Information is available in mid-June, and any necessary changes are made weekly.

    Tuesday, Jun 16 2026

  • June Family Newsletter

    Family Newsletter June 7, 2026 Principal's Message Welcome to the last week of school! We have had an incredible year of learning, growth, community building, and fun together. On Tuesday of this week, teams have team celebrations planned with their own traditions and farewells. Tomorrow, we welcome our rising 6th grade students and send our current 6th grade students upstairs to meet their new 7/8th grade teams. All 5th and 6th grade families should have received a ParentSquare notification on Friday with their student's 2026-27 team placement. If you missed it, homeroom and TA teachers will make sure they have the information for Step Up Day tomorrow. Finally, we are looking forward to celebrating our 8th grade students next Monday, June 15th at 5:30 pm at our 8th Grade Recognition Ceremony! On Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday of this week we have our CMS Days! Rain or shine, students will be creating, hiking, biking, boating, playing, and learning new skills while continuing to build connections with others in our CMS community. This is a great opportunity for students to meet others who may be on their team next year, and to have some fun while learning something new. It's also yet another experience for students to practice our school-wide norms of being respectful, responsible, caring, kind & safe. Thank you to everyone who donated items for CMS days - it wouldn't happen without all of the support! Thank you all for your support, partnership, and most importantly your fabulous students. Together, we help our students and community thrive. Team Placement & Step Up Day We know team placement can feel both exciting and stressful for students and families. We believe that every student can be successful on any one of our academic teams. Every year we hear about the new friendships students make on their teams. If you have questions about our process, please reach out to CMS Administration. On Step Up Day students can expect to meet the Core Teachers on their team. We have not yet identified Teacher Advisories (TA or "homeroom" teachers), this information will be sent out at the beginning of August around the time of our Summer Family Newsletter. 8th Grade Recognition Ceremony We are looking forward to celebrating our 8th grade students Monday evening, June 15th, at our 8th Grade Recognition Ceremony. It will take place from 5:30-6:30 pm at CHS in the gymnasium. During the ceremony, there will be speeches and awards given to students who have been nominated by their team. Every student will also receive a certificate for completing 8th grade and will be called by name to walk across the stage. The dress code is casual - a nice shirt and pants/shorts, and/or dress, please avoid sweatpants. We hope to see all 8th graders and their families there! 8th Grade Dance After the 8th Grade Recognition Ceremony, the students will make their way over to CMS for the 8th Grade Dance. The dance will be held from 6:30-8:30 pm in the CMS cafe. There are many fun events planned for the "Red Carpet". There will be refreshments, ice cream, a raffle, dancing, and more! Thank you to all of those who have donated time, money, or items for the dance. A special thank you to the volunteers on the 8th Grade Dance Committee for your efforts to make this a special evening for our 8th graders to remember! CMS Days is Here! We are looking forward to CMS Days this Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday! Our CMS Days take place rain or shine, so please make sure your students is prepared for their activity and the weather each day! Please keep an eye out for updates from your student's CMS Days group via ParentSquare. If the group leaders have information they need families to have during the 3 days they will send that information out via ParentSquare. In order to support our CMS Days programming both this year and into the future you can still contribute by purchasing tickets to the VT Lake Monster's game for Thursday, June 25th - Purchase tickets here! 50% of ticket sales will go directly to fund CMS Days! CMS Days - Late Arrival & Early Dismissal A reminder that during CMS Days many students will be off campus for all or parts of each day. Please be mindful of your student's CMS Days schedule when dropping students off late or picking them up early. If possible, have students here all day to enjoy their last week! 2026-27 Schedules Over the summer, we will work on students' Unified Arts schedules. All students have completed their course requests and we have been able to adjust the number of sections we will offer for some of our UA classes in order to best meet students' requests. Keep an eye out for more information to come this summer. Free Summer Meals ☀️🍎 FREE SUMMER LUNCHES ARE COMING BACK! 🍎☀️ We’re excited to once again offer FREE meals all summer long at Colchester High School! 🎉 📅 June 22 – August 14 📚 Monday–Friday ⏰ 8:30 AM – 12:30 PM 📍 Colchester High School Over the next few weeks, we’ll share more information about our summer meal program, along with other free food and meal resources available in our community. Check the CSD Meals website for updates.❤️ Helpful Reminders Cell phones and electronic devices that come to school must be off and away in backpacks for the entire school day. This also applies to CMS Days! Please do not text your student during the day. If they are not feeling well they need to be dismissed via the nurse. Is your student absent? Leaving early? Here are the three ways you can always report absences, late arrivals, and early dismissals: Use the CMS Attendance and Dismissal Change form (via Parent Portal) Email cmsattendance@colchestersd.org Call the front office at 264-5800 Unified Arts Highlight Algebra & Math Explorations Algebra, Math Explorations 7/8, and Math Explorations 6 are the additional math courses we offer beyond our core math classes. These classes all involve finding strategies to help build confidence in math. In each class we work on building a math mindset and building connections between previous math and future math. Students in each class have worked hard and made progress this year. Throughout the journey, we celebrated more than just academic performance; we honored the development of critical thinking, the formation of meaningful connections between mathematical principles, and the cultivation of disciplined study habits. All of these courses focus on very similar concepts and building connections and confidence is an important part of learning. Students received information last month about their placement into Algebra, Math Explorations 7/8, or Math Explorations 6 for next year. Reach out to Jackie Dixon, our math instructional coach if you have any questions about these placements. CMS Athletics Spring Sports Our baseball, softball, and track teams had great spring seasons. There was growth, best times, wins, and losses - regardless, all of our student athletes built community and improved their skills! A shout out to the Girls A Softball team for their undefeated season! Also, both our Boys' and Girls' track teams took 2nd place in the Chittenden County Championship! Congratulations to all! Finally, we want to give a big thank you to Jim Olson for serving as the CMS Athletic Director. After years of scheduling games and officials, organizing teams and equipment, and supporting our coaches and student athletes, he stepping down from this role for the upcoming school year. He will still work at CMS and is excited to help transition our new Athletic Director, Ty Pratt, who will start this summer! Get your CMS Gear CMS Clubs News Thank you to everyone who participated in our clubs this year! We look forward to continuing to offer these extra-curricular opportunities to students again next year. Every year we have repeat clubs as well as new clubs - new ideas are generated by both our students and staff! Here were all our 2025-26 offerings: Crafting Club, Math Club, Social Justice Alliance, Gaming, Dude Be Nice, Pen & Pages Society, Yearbook, Swiftie, Art, Rowing, Improv & Drama, French cooking & baking, Korean culture, Yo-yo, Math Counts PACT Updates Thank you to all of our volunteers! Everyone who chaperoned, brought in a snack, donated, or purchased something from our Amazon Wish List helped support our students this year! This year, we supported students and staff in many ways, including: Sports equipment and uniforms Math Counts fees French Baking & Cooking supplies CMS Days Staff appreciation week Staff breakfasts Student Night Out events - inflatables, concessions, art supplies, and more! Our final upcoming event: 8th Grade Dance, June 15th: Our final send-off celebration for our 8th graders as they prepare to move on to high school! Important Dates Step Up Day: June 8th Team Celebrations: June 9th CMS Days: June 10th, 11th & 12th Safety Drill: Week of June 8th Last Day of School: June 12th 8th Grade Recognition Ceremony & Dance: June 15th: 5:30 - 8:30 pm First Day of School 2026-27: August 26th

    Sunday, Jun 07 2026