School Safety and Our Commitment to Every Student

CSD Community, At the Colchester School District, our mission is to ensure that every student feels safe, valued, and has a strong sense of belonging in our schools. Throughout the year, our school leaders closely monitor national and state-level safety incidents to assess how they might affect our community. Recently, this includes federal immigration enforcement activities and their significant impact on communities near Minneapolis, Minnesota, and Lewiston, Maine.  We want to reassure families that Colchester schools remain safe and inclusive for every student, regardless of background or immigration status. Coming to school should never be a source of fear for a child or their family. We appreciate your partnership and trust as we work together to support every Colchester student. With that in mind, we want to share how we’re protecting our students’ well-being, safety, and privacy. Our goal is to keep school feeling normal, welcoming, and a safe place for all our families. School Safety and Building Access Our schools have well-established safety procedures in place to protect students and staff. This includes controlled building access, locked exterior doors, and staff training on securing our buildings and classrooms. Administrators undergo additional training and have a deeper understanding of our safety protocols and know exactly when and how to activate them, including if immigration enforcement were to attempt to enter one of our schools. Practicing our safety procedures  helps make sure that, should we need to activate them for any reason, our employees and students know how to respond.   Student Privacy and Rights Our district does not collect information about immigration status, and federal law guarantees every child the right to attend public school, regardless of immigration status. Additionally, all student records are protected by the Federal Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA). Our employees are trained on student and family privacy requirements, and any inquiries from outside agencies are handled at the district level in accordance with the law.  Learning and School Activities At this time, students will continue to participate in classroom learning, outdoor activities, recess, and after-school programs as scheduled. We will continue to monitor local events and are prepared to respond as needed by adjusting our schools' daily routines to keep students safe, supported, and focused on learning. A Culture of Belonging To keep our promise of safety and belonging, we’ve recently reviewed our safety protocols with our entire staff. Our leadership team is also working closely with school counselors and multilingual educators, as well as districts across Vermont, to make sure we’re coordinated and ready to support our families. Vermont law and district policy protect students from discrimination and harassment. Students and families are encouraged to report any concerns to a trusted adult. Our school communities are dedicated to treating every child with care and respect. Reporting concerns allows administrators to respond quickly and prioritize our students’ safety and dignity. We are here for you. Please contact your school’s principal or an administrator in our Central Office if you have questions, need support, or are looking for resources. Through it all, we remain focused on what matters most: strong instruction, social-emotional growth, and ensuring that school is a safe, supportive place for every student. Thank you for being a valued part of our school community. With gratitude, Amy Minor Superintendent of Schools

Thursday, Feb 05 2026

The Laker View | February 2026 Edition

The Laker View February 2026 Edition Hello Laker Nation, Congratulations on the successful transition to the second half of the school year!  I would like to commend our students for their efforts and the outcomes of the mid-term exams and the first semester overall. It was evident throughout the exam period that students were committed to their preparation and performance. Great job! I was proud to stand in front of all students at our class meetings over the last two weeks to reinforce their great work and encourage everyone to regroup and recommit to a strong second semester. On February 16th, CHS will be sending our Youth Truth Survey to students and families. Please find additional information below. As I shared with students in our class meetings, we want to know what you know to help CHS better understand your experiences and improve school climate and learning.  I am excited to hold our second annual Laker Nation Day during our Early Release day tomorrow, Wednesday, February 4. Laker Nation Day will be headlined by CHS Alumni and 2025 CHS Hall of Famer Merritt David Janes. Students will engage in community-based activities, performances, workshops, and celebrations throughout the day.  Thank you to all the families and students who attended our 8th-grade open house. We had an amazing turnout, and I was proud to have current CHS students join us as well. If you want to learn more specifics about what you heard or didn't learn from our presentation, don't hesitate to reach out to us anytime. School Counseling is looking forward to joining our 8th graders at CMS in a couple of weeks to start registering students for their classes! Welcome to Laker Nation, Class of 2030! Best Regards, Andrew Conforti, CHS Principal   Front Office Information Senior dues are $20, cash or check--payable to CHS. Please bring to Ms. Krista as soon as possible. Cap, gown, tassel orders can be placed by calling Jostens at 518-581-1468. Place your order by March 31st to avoid rush fees.  Photo Caption: February Lakers of the Month CONGRATULATIONS!!! Ms. Emma Morrissey & Rowan Stirling   Dear CHS Families, Dear CHS Families, It is hard to believe, but yes, we are already beginning our process that signs your student up for next year's courses! Below, we have outlined for you our timeline and process for 2026-2027 registration. You will see in our timeline that Homebase teachers will guide students through two extended Homebase sessions.  The two extended HBs are designed to provide the “thinking” time for course selection, while the electronic registration process is the mechanical component to registering for classes. We would like to thank the 9th-11th grade Humanities teachers for providing class time to our electronic registration process.  Thanks, Amber Keep & Andrew Conforti   Scheduling 2O26-2O27 February 2nd: 45-minute Homebase: Program of Studies, Talking Points, and Transcript review:  The purpose of this is to provide time for students to read and review the CHS Program of Studies and to allow students to review their CHS transcripts.  During this Homebase, teachers read and review with students “Talking Points” from each department area. The talking points highlight key points that students need to know about each department’s course catalog. Reviewing the transcript is important for two reasons: it allows us to catch computer errors, as well as reminding students of what they have already taken. As students review their transcripts, they will work with their Homebase teacher to complete the 4-year credit check form. It is very important that students have time to review their transcripts and complete this form before course registration, as it helps them determine which courses to take for the following year. February 9th: 45-Minute HB: A/B Day Grid and Registration (PAPER) The purpose of this Homebase is to have students sign up for next year’s classes on a paper form.  The paper forms are designed to make the online registration easier. It also provides students with think time, so that when they are ready to sign up electronically, the process is more efficient and accurate. Electronic Registration: Please note that students will register electronically for classes at the end of February (2/16-2/20). You will be able to view their course requests in Parent Portal. You will NOT be able to see the ACTUAL schedule until it is mailed home this summer by the school counseling office. A school counselor will register any student who is absent. All students who attend one of our technical centers will be registered at their respective schools before February break.   Early Release Day A reminder that our next early release is Wednesday, February 4th.  Students will be dismissed at 12:10 PM. The bus schedule for BTC and CTE students are as follows: BTC will have a normal run in the morning and afternoon. Returning students in the afternoon are responsible for their own transportation home from CHS. CTE will have a normal run in the morning but depart CTE at 11:45am to get back in time to transfer to their regular bus at CMS.  If you have any questions, please contact Mr. Chad DeMagistris, Assistant Principal, at Chad.Demagistris@colchestersd.org.   Youth Truth Dear Families and Students, On February 16th, students in grades 9-12 will participate in the YouthTruth Student Survey. Youth Truth is an anonymous survey designed to help schools better understand students’ experiences and improve school climate and learning. The survey asks students about topics such as engagement, relationships, and learning.  Participation is voluntary, students may skip any question, and there are no right or wrong answers. We are simply interested in hearing students’ honest perspectives so that we can strengthen our schools as student voice matters! Students who are absent from Homebase on 2/16 will have the opportunity to take the survey the week of 2/16-2/20.  If you opted your student out of surveys during registration, your child will not participate. If you have any questions about your student’s participation, please contact the school directly, 802-264-5701. Thank you for supporting student voice and helping us continue to improve our school.   Health Office Flu Shots! It’s not too late.  Flu-like illness is at a high level in many communities around Vermont. It’s not too late to get your flu shot! The best time to get a flu shot is in the fall before flu season starts, however, flu-season often lasts into late winter or early spring, so getting a flu shot now can still provide protection for the rest of the season.   Schedule your flu shot through your medical provider or a local pharmacy.  Food Resources The Vermont Department of Health compiled a list of free food resources in Chittenden County including distribution locations, food pantries, meals-to-go and meal sites. It includes information about hours, location, accessibility and eligibility requirements. Access the link above or it can be found on the VDH website.  Department Highlights School Counseling Thursday, 2/12/26 - Junior College Night #2, 6:30pm in the PAC 2026-2027 Registration Timeline: February 2, 9: Extended HB days (Registration) - current CHS students February 5: CTE Pre-tech visit (complete application and permission slip) February 11 and 13: CMS 8th-grade students complete online registration  Week of Feb. 17: CHS students complete online registration ACT Test Prep SAT Practice and Preparation   Music Naomi Shpaner, Senior Soloist for the Vermont Youth Orchestra Association’s 2025-2026 Season. Naomi plays the French horn, and occasionally piano, in the CHS Wind Ensemble with Mr. Peltier. Naomi has been playing piano for ten years, and she currently studies with Sammy Angstman.  The beautiful theme at the very end of my solos is my favorite part - it’s like rays of sun shining through a cloudy sky after it rains. Rachmaninov wrote concerto after a long pause in composing due to a period of low self-esteem, a struggle many musicians, including myself, can relate to. The ultimate success of this concerto encourages me to never give up on my passion, no matter how hard weathering the mental storm may seem.”   Math Lab | Open Daily, 7:45am - 2:20pm CHS Math Lab website: https://sites.google.com/colchestersd.org/math-center/home?pli=1  The Math Lab website offers students a valuable, regularly updated resource. Its features include unit notes, concept review worksheets, and helpful links covering a variety of math topics. Math Lab Homework Hour The Math Lab also provides afterschool support for students who may not be available to access the Lab during school hours. Jonathan Thompson jonathan.thompson@colchestersd.org Math Lab Coordinator   Library Fabulous Reads in February We're celebrating February with tons of great reads and themed displays in the library! February is Black History Month and we love to celebrate with so many wonderful books featuring Black/African-American characters, stories, and voices.  We  have a plethora of great stories to choose from!  Pop into the library to check out the display and find even more titles to choose from on our recommended reads list.  Plus...check out what else is on display in the library this month: National Hero Week is February 8th-14th - enjoy some great hero (and superhero) stories with the books on display. International Day of Women and Girls in Science is February 11th - celebrate amazing scientific contributions by women with these books. Global Movie Day falls on February 14th - we'll be celebrating fabulous books with fabulous movie versions. Random Acts of Kindness Day is February 17th - find some great books to mark the occasion on display in the library. Mystery books…Not necessarily mystery fiction, but a book cloaked in mystery!  Check out one of our paper-covered books on display and find a surprise read to enjoy. Stay tuned for the February edition of our Library newsletter and the February episode of our Library podcast, “Book Talk.” Here’s hoping you find a wide range of books that interest you this month, and many opportunities to crack them open.  Happy reading! Picture Caption: Cover image of one of the many great books on our recommended reads list for February (and all year long).   Community Highlights   Senator Bernie Sanders On Tuesday, February 10 at 7:00 PM, Senator Sanders is hosting a Virtual Student Town Hall open to all high school students to discuss issues facing young Vermonters.   We are still in the process of selecting students to ask their questions live on this event. If you have students you recommend for active participation, please reach out to me and encourage them to submit their question!   Adults are invited to listen along to the conversation so feel free to share the information with parents, teachers, and other members of your community, as well. Cara L. Thanassi Outreach Representative Office of Senator Bernie Sanders Email: Cara_Thanassi@sanders.senate.gov   Colchester Athletic Boosters Association Ever wonder what CABA is all about?  CABA purchases uniforms and equipment for most CHS Athletic Teams.  Be sure to follow CABA Facebook and CABA Instagram to keep up to date with all game schedules and news.  Our next MEETING is Tuesday, February 10 @ 6:00 pm in CHS Room 101/103.   Even if you can’t join the meetings, we are always looking for volunteers to help with events or to be a team parent/liaison.  If you have questions, please reach out to us at  chscaba@gmail.com. WINTER CONCESSIONS:  THANK YOU to the volunteers that have helped keep concessions open during home basketball games this year!  We still need volunteers to finish out the season.   Click the Winter Concessions link  to help out!  You can also support the concession stand by purchasing items from our Amazon Wish List LAKER APPAREL:  Be sure to check out our  Laker apparel store in partnership with a local business! With fresh styles, more choices, and spirit gear for every fan, there’s something special for everyone.  Best of all, a portion of every purchase goes right back to CHS athletes - helping our teams shine on and off the field.   Click the Shop link to get your gear. WINTER BALL:  CABA hosted the Winter Ball last month and it was so much fun! Students filled the dance floor and photobooth right up until the very end. Students, Spirit, Support   Project Graduation | Class of 2026 Seniors and Parents of Seniors! Project Grad planning and fundraising is well underway but WE NEED YOUR HELP!  Project Grad is an all night event that occurs after graduation- there are events, prizes, entertainment and food! You can learn more in the letter to seniors and families . Planning for this year is underway for the event, swag bags and prizes! This event has been a tradition for over 40 years. It's awesome but not school sponsored and all expenses are covered by fundraising. That's why we need your help! Students, we encourage you to ask your friends and families for support. Need help asking? Here is some help: donation request letter Visit CHS Project Grad regularly for updates, ways to win prizes and help fundraise. NEXT MEETING: 2/5 6-7pm at CHS. A big thank you to Three Brothers Pizza for their generous donation of pizzas to our Winter Carnival Snack Bar! ONGOING WAYS TO SUPPORT PG SPREAD THE WORD!  Join our Facebook page for upcoming information - CHS Project Graduation Follow us on Instagram - chsprojectgradvt Donate your cans and bottles to Project Grad at Cap n Cork Seaway Car Wash is accepting donations on behalf of Project Grad Ask your parents to attend the next Meeting: Thurs 2/5 6-7pm at CHS!   Hello from Burnham Library! It may be a new month, but it's still cold — so consider this your reminder that the public library is always a great spot to hang out, warm up, and dive into a good read. To that point, our Winter Reading Challenge is still going throughout February. What's great is that there's a lot of flexibility in what you can choose to read (each book can count up to three categories!) and you're eligible for little prizes along the way. Stop by or reach out if you're interested in participating. One other thing to note this month is that we'll be hosting a screening of the critically acclaimed 2025 documentary The Librarians, courtesy of Indie Lens Pop-Up. The 90-minute documentary tackles the current wave of attempted book bannings in school and public libraries across the United States. We'll follow the film up with some discussion and a little bit of banned book trivia. Let us know if you can join by responding at this sign-up link.  CHS February Calendar February 2026 2 Faculty Mtg, 2:40P 3 School Board Mtg, 7P 4 Early Release, 12:10P 4 TL Mtg, 2:40P (Vito) 5 District III Music Festival, 3:30P-9P 6 District III Music Festival, 8A-9P 9 PDC Mtg, 2:40P 10 EST Mtg, 8A 11 TL Mtg, 9:43A 12 Data Team Mtg, 2:40P 12 Junior College Night #2, 6:30P 13 Music & Meal Soiree, 5:30P 14 ACT Test Date 16 Data Team Mtg, 2:40P 17 GLA Mtg, 2:40P 17 School Board Mtg, 7P 18 TL Meeting, 2:40P (Dr. Conforti) 23-27 School Recess 27 SAT Registration Due for Mar. 14 Test

Tuesday, Feb 03 2026

The Compass: CSD Districtwide Newsletter for January

District Newsletter at a Glance Information for Next School Year. Calendar and registration timelines. Laker Library Podcast. Talking books with students. Parent Controls for Kid Tech. Tell us what you want to know! Cold Weather Warning. What to expect Friday night and how to stay safe. Booked at Burnham. Glow-in-the dark party, crafts, book clubs, and more! Job Openings. Part-time to full-time options. Calendar Reminders. Our next half day is February 4. Sailing Around the District. A check-in at our schools.   Information for Next School Year Hard to believe we’re starting to think about next school year, but we are!  The 2026-2027 school calendar is being finalized and will be sent out as soon as it's ready.  Registration for incoming kindergarteners will open in March 2026. We will advertise in multiple places once it opens (including through ParentSquare.)  Registration for Act 166 funds for preschool at a community partner program will also open in March 2026. Returning student registration will open in July 2026. The enrollment process for the MBS Preschool Program has begun! Because our program is popular and spaces are limited, we use a lottery process to ensure fairness for all applicants. The MBS Preschool half-day classes run four days per week and follow the school calendar for holidays and vacations. Use this form to submit interest in the program by March 17, 2026. We’ll share more information (including a video!) about the program soon. In the meantime, feel free to reach out to Darcie Lehouiller at darcie.lehouiller@colchestersd.org or 264-5894 with any questions.    Laker Library Podcast The CHS Library is getting into the podcast game! "Book Talk" offers brief (3-5 minute) interviews with students about their literary lives. Students chat with CHS Librarian Ms. Binder about the books they're reading and the ways that they engage with literature as both readers and writers. At the CHS Library they see how books and stories enliven and enrich our students' lives and they’re on a mission to share the joy of reading with as many people as possible.  Enjoy the December and January episodes of "Book Talk" and stay tuned for new episodes each month on their library website.   Parent Controls for Kid Tech: Upcoming Caregiver Workshop Based on feedback from the last Community Caregiver Night, which focused on the impact of technology on children, we’re looking to host a tech safety workshop where caregivers can learn exactly how to set parental controls and privacy features on the devices your children use every day, including tablets, smartphones, and specific apps. To ensure this session is as helpful as possible, we need your input! Please take a moment to complete our brief survey so we can tailor the workshop to the specific devices and platforms used in your home. We’ll announce a date and time for the workshop as soon as it’s confirmed.   Cold Weather Warning We’re in for some extremely cold temperatures this weekend, particularly Friday night into Saturday afternoon. The National Weather Service has issued a warning of dangerously cold wind chills of 20 to 40 degrees below zero. They’ve stated that this is well outside the typical winter temperatures Vermonters are used to. The risk of hypothermia and frostbite is unusually high, especially for vulnerable populations such as the elderly, children, and those without access to adequate heat.  To help keep your loved ones safe: Stay indoors as much as possible until temperatures improve. This includes pets.  If you must go outside, dress in layers. Several layers of clothes will keep you much warmer than a single heavy coat. Cover exposed skin and wear a scarf and a hat to prevent losing body heat. Do not use kerosene heaters or other unventilated combustion heating sources indoors. This may lead to carbon monoxide poisoning or cause a fire.  Check on your neighbors and friends.   Booked at Burnham Library Hello from Burnham Library! We hope everyone is staying warm and comfortable as we get this new year started. We’re excited to begin another year of programs at the library, and here’s just a couple upcoming ones to have on your radar: Wednesday, January 28 at 5:30 pm: Glow-in-the-dark storytime party for ages 3-8. We’ll have a black light, so wear white or neon clothes if possible for the full effect. Wednesday, February 4 at 2 pm: On this early release day, we’ll be making Shrinky Dink crafts (ages 4+). Attach them to a keychain for a bit of backpack flair. Monday, February 9 at 3:30 pm: Graphic Novel Book Club for grades 4-6. We’ll be talking about Dragon Kingdom of Wrenly #1 & #2, but any graphic novel fans are welcome to check out the group. Click the links above to sign up for that specific program, and check out our full calendar of events for all ages on our website.   Job Openings in the District Our schools couldn’t run without the dedicated people behind the scenes who care for our students every single day. We’re hiring for part-time and full-time positions such as: 🚐 A Van Driver 🍎 Food Service Workers 🔧 Maintenance Worker 🚶 Certified Occupational Therapist Assistant 🍎 Elementary and Secondary Paraeducators Visit csdvt.org/jobs to hear directly from our employees about what it’s like to work here, learn more about pay and benefits, and apply. Questions? Call our Central Office at (802) 264-5999. We’d love to hear from you!   Upcoming Calendar Reminders Here are some upcoming dates to mark on your calendar. For a full list that’s always updated, visit csdvt.org/calendar. Early Release: Wednesday, February 4. Grades 6-12 will dismiss at 12:00 p.m. and grades K-5 will dismiss at 12:45 p.m. No School: Monday, February 23 -Tuesday March 3.   Sailing Around the District Highlights From Our Schools Colchester High School Public Speaking is an elective class at CHS that challenges students to try a variety of speech formats. As students progress through the demands of many types of speeches, they hone their skills and gain confidence in presenting in front of an audience. The Tribute Speech is the culmination of weeks of practice, and many hours of thoughtful reflection on a person or people who have made a difference in the life of the student. It is a chance to really tell someone honestly about the impact they have had on someone’s life. Over the years, we’ve had laughter, tears, and special moments that make the evening one of the most memorable of their high school careers. If the speech recipient can’t be there in person, students are creative in using film (we’ve had them sent to Bosnia for example), and FaceTime (we’ve timed the speech for a student to deliver it to her dad as he was in a secure location in Afghanistan). It’s a tremendously meaningful experience for everyone involved, and a true application of what students learn throughout the semester! Colchester Middle School Each month our teachers select a different theme to lean into during TA and in classes. In January, we are focusing on Goal Setting & Building Healthy Habits. Students are exploring how setting a goal differs from merely dreaming or wishing for something. Students may watch videos about building healthy habits, set their own measurable goals in classes, create a vision board, or more! Malletts Bay School Fifth graders at Malletts Bay School are building their musical skills by learning to play the ukulele. They are practicing how to strum and harmonize chords while developing confidence with their instruments. They are also singing while playing the ukulele and practicing performance skills. Union Memorial School UMS is ready for the New Year. Students returned well-rested from the holiday break and got back into learning mode. We'll start our Equity unit at the end of the month and continue to work on reading comprehension and increasing fact fluency in math. Those are two of the main focuses of our Continuous Improvement Plan and we're seeing great results in each. Porters Point School Over the past few weeks, the new addition to our school building has started to take shape.  Concrete for the final section of the foundation was poured this week and steel columns and beams are now in place.  In the next two weeks, we’ll see the first and second floors installed.   Later this month, students at Porters Point will have a chance to write their names on a piece of steel that will go up at the top of the building.  It’s a meaningful way to honor the children learning here today and to connect them to the many students who will learn in this space in the future. Preschool at MBS The preschool has started the new year with a study of winter. The children will study about winter weather and clothing, snow, snow people, and animal behavior in winter. Did you know Wilson “Snowflake” Bentley lived in Jericho, VT. In 1882, he started photographing and studying individual snowflakes. There are published books of his photographs. Mother Nature has cooperated providing snow for us to bring into our classrooms for the children to experiment with. Snow in our sensory tables has been used to paint and to build small snow people.   Follow Along! If you're on Instagram or Facebook, we are, too! Follow along with our students on their educational journeys and see what makes ou Colchester community such a great place to learn and work. Facebook: Colchester School District Instagram: @colchester_schools

Thursday, Jan 22 2026

The Compass: CSD Districtwide Newsletter for December

District Newsletter at a Glance Snow Days and Delays. Tough decisions. Every Day Counts. CSD presents at a statewide attendance and health summit. Parent Controls for Kid Tech. Tell us what you want to know! Construction Update. A perk of construction? The illuminated SD Ireland truck came to visit! From Our Kitchen to Yours. Ranch Broccoli Salad - a favorite side dish! Booked at Burnham. Count down with the library's "Noon Year's Eve" celebration. Staying Safe with SRO Bressler. Winter driving tips. Job Openings. Part-time to full-time options. Calendar Reminders. Winter break is coming up - see you in 2026! Sailing Around the District. A check-in at our schools.   Snow Days and Delays As we all know, Vermont’s weather is unpredictable and this year is no different! We’ve already had several days of snowy travel.  Deciding whether to delay or cancel school is never easy. We understand that these decisions impact families and often mean adjusting work schedules or finding childcare. We also know that staying open means sending our school community out onto the roads, including our buses and inexperienced high school drivers, along with our employees and families.  Our goal is always to balance keeping students in school whenever possible with getting them there safely. When winter weather is expected, the day begins around 4:00 a.m. to assess current and forecasted weather and road conditions. We check the National Weather Service, then we talk to our bus company, Mountain Transit, as well as Colchester Police and Public Works, and superintendents in neighboring districts. After weighing all factors, we decide whether to stay open, delay opening for two hours, or close for the day. If we decide to delay opening or close, we will notify families and employees between 5:30 and 6:00 a.m., before our first run of buses begin their routes. The notification will come through ParentSquare as an urgent alert. While we don’t often call a 2-hour delay, it can be a good option. Sometimes, we need that extra time to assess road conditions and check on the school buildings to ensure student safety. If a 2-hour delay is called, school start times would be as follows: Colchester Middle School: 9:30 AM Colchester High School: 9:45 AM Porters Point School: 10:15 AM Malletts Bay School: 10:30 AM Union Memorial School: 10:30 AM With a 2-hour delay, buses pick up students 2 hours later than their normal schedule. For example, if a student’s regular pickup time is 6:45 a.m., the bus would pick them up at 8:45 a.m. If we have a snow day this winter, we will update the last day of school on the district calendar: csdvt.org/calendar. Thank you for your patience and understanding as we navigate this unpredictable winter season together.   Every Day Counts: Attendance and Health Representatives from CMS and CHS recently participated in the ‘Every Day Counts: Building Partnerships to Boost Attendance and Health’ Summit. Led by Dr. Heidi Schumacher, this event brought together school and community leaders from across Vermont to learn, share, and make connections to advance school attendance as a shared priority. It highlighted the power of partnerships to improve attendance, decrease chronic absence, and address root causes.  Colchester was well-represented by staff from the high school, nursing department, and central office. CHS Principal Andrew Conforti and School Engagement Clinician Chelsea Lareau led a breakout session on district-wide initiatives to improve attendance, while CHS Nurse Josie Lang participated in a keynote panel discussion on the vital intersection of healthcare and school engagement. We are proud to contribute to this statewide effort and remain committed to implementing these high-impact strategies for our students.   Parent Controls for Kid Tech: Upcoming Caregiver Workshop There was a lot of great engagement at our recent Community Caregiver Night focused on the impact of technology on our children. The conversations have continued since that night, and one message has come through loud and clear: you want practical, hands-on tools. Based on your feedback, our next Community Caregiver event will look into tech safety. We plan to host a workshop where you can learn exactly how to set parental controls and privacy features on the devices your children use every day, including tablets, smartphones, and specific apps. To ensure this session is as helpful as possible, we need your input! Please take a moment to complete our brief survey so we can tailor the workshop to the specific devices and platforms used in your home. We’ll announce a date and time for the workshop as soon as it’s confirmed.   Construction Update at PPS While construction can sometimes be a little noisy or tricky, there are definitely some magical perks for our students! From watching the daily progress safely from the fence line to getting an up-close look at this glowing giant, it’s all part of the excitement at Porters Point School. Who knew building an addition could be so illuminating? Stay updated on the progress over at csdbond.org.   When we get back from winter break, our kitchens will serve this Ranch Broccoli Salad side dish alongside a sloppy joe. It’s another “Colchester Kid’s Favorite,” so here’s the recipe in case you want to make it at home. Enjoy! Ranch Broccoli Salad Servings: 8 | Prep Time: 15 minutes | Chill Time: 2 hours Ingredients: 8 cups broccoli florets, cut into bite-size piece 4 slices precooked bacon, diced 1 cup shredded mozzarella cheese Dressing: 1 1/3 cups reduced-calorie mayonnaise 1 packet (2 tablespoons) dry ranch mix 1 1/3 cups 1% milk Instructions: Prepare broccoli: Rinse if needed and cut into bite-sized pieces. Place in a large bowl. Cook bacon: Preheat oven to 350°F. Heat bacon slices for 7–8 minutes until slightly crispy. Dice and add to broccoli. Make dressing: In a small bowl, whisk together mayonnaise, ranch mix, and milk until smooth. Combine salad: Pour dressing over broccoli and bacon, then add shredded cheese. Stir to coat evenly. Chill: Cover and refrigerate at least 2 hours before serving. Serve: Scoop 1 cup per portion. Tips for families: You can make this ahead of time! Salad can be prepared the night before and stored in the fridge.   Booked at Burnham Library As we get ready to greet 2026, families are invited to Burnham Library's "Noon Year's Eve" celebration on Wednesday, December 31 starting at 10:30 am. We'll be in the Meeting House with crafts, activities, snacks — and, of course, a lively countdown to 12. (All the excitement without needing to stay all the way up until midnight!) If your family is planning to come, please sign up here so we can make sure we have enough materials for everyone at this fun-filled program. Otherwise, we're always happy to help you find books, audiobooks, movies, and more for staying entertained during the break. Find a full list of our holiday closures here to help plan your visit.   Staying Safe with SRO Bressler To help keep our student drivers and families safe this season, Officer Bressler compiled these essential winter driving tips adapted from AAA News & Safety.  Slow Down: Always reduce your speed to account for decreased traction on snow and ice. Easy on the Pedals: Accelerate and decelerate slowly. Applying the gas gradually helps you regain traction and avoid dangerous skids. Increase Following Distance: Stay five to six seconds behind the vehicle in front of you to allow for longer stopping distances. Brake With Care: Keep your heel on the floor and use the ball of your foot to apply firm, steady pressure on the brake pedal. Keep Moving: It is easier to get moving while rolling than from a full stop. If safe, slow down enough to keep rolling until a light changes. Manage Hills: Don’t "power up" hills or stop while climbing. Gain a little momentum on a flat stretch before the incline to let inertia carry you to the top.   Job Openings in the District Our schools couldn’t run without the dedicated people behind the scenes who care for our students every single day. We’re hiring for part-time and full-time positions such as: 🚐 A Van Driver 🍎 Food Service Workers 🔧 Maintenance Worker 🚶 Certified Occupational Therapist Assistant 🍎 Elementary and Secondary Paraeducators Visit csdvt.org/jobs to hear directly from our employees about what it’s like to work here, learn more about pay and benefits, and apply. Questions? Call our Central Office at (802) 264-5999. We’d love to hear from you!   Upcoming Calendar Reminders Here are some upcoming dates to mark on your calendar. For a full list that’s always updated, visit csdvt.org/calendar. No School For Students: Wednesday, December 24 - Friday, January 2. School resumes on Monday, January 5, 2026 No School: Monday, January 19   Sailing Around the District Highlights From Our Schools Colchester High School At CAP, we have established a partnership with Trout Unlimited to implement their Trout in the Classroom initiative. This collaboration has provided us with a fully equipped 55-gallon aquarium necessary for maintaining brook trout indoors. On January 7th, we are scheduled to receive a delivery of 100 brook trout eggs. Our students will actively monitor water chemistry, assess water quality, and track trout development. This hands-on project allows them to apply their science and mathematics knowledge to model and analyze observable patterns. Beyond the educational benefits, this initiative makes a direct contribution to the local brook trout population. Colchester Middle School This year, CMS is focused on increasing student agency and discourse across all of our classrooms. We have recently seen incredible examples of this, ranging from Socratic seminars and debates to collaborative math problem-solving on vertical whiteboards. Students are also engaging in hands-on projects like creating radio infomercials, building 3D animal models, and simulating the three branches of government. These snapshots highlight how our students are taking ownership of their learning and building on each other's ideas every day. Malletts Bay School MBS students created an art installation titled "We Are All Connected." The project was inspired by Contemporary artist Jacob Hashimoto and is hanging throughout the building. Community, unity, pattern, rhythm and circles were the common threads in this collaborative artwork. Union Memorial School It was so fun having one of the CHS choirs visit and perform for the students. It was equally enjoyable being able to sing a song for them. This is a long standing tradition that is an annual favorite. Porters Point School At PPS, students look forward to reading to our therapy dog friends, Chewie and Theo.  Along with their owners, Cindy and Amana, they have been volunteering in our library for about a year.  These gentle, patient, and furry partners help students feel relaxed and comfortable as they practice reading.  Research shows that reading to a therapy dog can reduce stress and increase motivation, helping students build their positive feelings about reading.  We are incredibly grateful to Cindy, Amanda, Chewie, and Theo for sharing their time and hearts with all of us! Preschool at MBS As part of our literacy curriculum, each preschool class chose a children’s author to study for the month of December. The children learned about the different parts of a book, what an author and illustrator contribute to a book, how the size of the text tells us what the character is feeling, and the difference between thought bubbles and speaking bubbles. Books easily lend themselves to conversations about problem-solving, friendship, and response to problem skills.  This is usually a popular theme as the children love Gerald and Piggie, The Pigeon, and Jan Brett books.   Follow Along! If you're on Instagram or Facebook, we are, too! Follow along with our students on their educational journeys and see what makes ou Colchester community such a great place to learn and work. Facebook: Colchester School District Instagram: @colchester_schools

Thursday, Dec 18 2025