• The Compass: CSD Districtwide Newsletter for May

    District Newsletter at a Glance End and Start of School. The last day for students is Friday, June 12, and they'll return on Wednesday, August 26. Heart of the School. Still feeling the love from our students and families. Building Our Future. Construction update with photos. CHS Student Publishes Second Book. Hear about it in the Book Talk podcast. Summer Meals. Our lunch heroes are getting ready for summer. Welcome New Kindergarteners. Getting excited for the meet-and-greet on June 3. Booked at Burnham. Their summer calendar is full of opportunities for youth! Calendar Reminders. The final dates to remember. Sailing Around the District. A check-in at our schools.   End and Start of School There are only four weeks of school left! We are headed into a busy season with celebrations, events, and field trips. Assuming there are no more unplanned closures, the last day of school for all grades will be Friday, June 12. We’ll wish everyone a safe and healthy summer and will look forward to welcoming K-12 students back for the first day of school on Wednesday, August 26, with PreK starting the following week on Monday, August 31.   Heart of the School A heartfelt thank you to all our families and students for acknowledging the faculty and staff who work in our school district during Employee Appreciation Week. From flowers to handwritten notes, passing “thank-yous” in the hall, and the incredible spreads from our PTAs. It was especially wonderful to hear firsthand stories from students about how our employees make an impact on their lives. If you didn’t see our Heart of the School video - check it out!   Building Our Future Construction progress continues over at Porters Point School! Different trade contractors are working on electrical and mechanical systems; sheetrock is going up in the basement and on the first floor; and the interior framing is wrapping up on the second floor. On the outside, we’re starting to see what the final look will be; windows are being installed, and the siding is going up. Check out csdbond.org for more photos and construction updates over the summer.   CHS Student Publishes Second Book We’re excited to celebrate CHS 11th Grader, Edonusem Pomeyie, on the release of his second book of poetry: Live Love Life: A Poetic Symphony From One’s Heart.  Phoenix Books in Burlington is hosting a launch party on Monday, May 25, and describes the book as a collection of deep, heartfelt poems written in times of hardship and joy. In the event description, they describe the book as a poetic work that dives deep into hard topics in the author's personal experiences, such as belonging, love, friendship, racism, identity, and growing up as a teenager. Edonousem was also interviewed about his new book on Book Talk, the CHS Library Podcast. Choose “Episode 5” to hear him discuss his book, his writing process, and more. Congratulations, Edonusem!   Summer Meals Free lunches are coming back this summer! Our incredible kitchen staff is still working out the details, but expect to be able to grab free meals all summer long from Colchester High School. In the next few weeks, we’ll send out a separate post with information about our free meal program, and we’ll also include resources for other free food/meal opportunities in our area. Shoutout to our kitchen staff who were recently celebrated on School Lunch Hero Day!   Welcome New Kindergarteners! Both Porters Point School and Union Memorial School will hold their Kindergarten Meet & Greet on Wednesday, June 3, 2026, from 3:45 - 4:45 p.m., with a rain date of Thursday, June 4. Incoming kindergarteners and their families will tour the building, explore the kindergarten classrooms, and meet with the principal, teachers, school counselor, and other important adults at the school. If your child is planning to attend kindergarten in Colchester next year, please make sure they're registered! Visit csdvt.org/kindergarten to start the process. Register for Kindergarten   Booked at Burnham Library Hello from Burnham Library! Although it's still May, we are deep into summer scheduling: booking performers, coming up with weekly activities, planning crafts, and more. It's going to be a busy one! Be sure to check the library's calendar in the coming weeks to see options for all ages, as well as information on how both kids AND adults can track summer reading in fun ways.   One special program we have going on this summer is our Creative Expression Camp, which is open to students entering grades 6-9 in the fall. It runs July 13 - July 16, from 9 am - 2 pm each day. The aim is for participants to explore different genres of creative expression through words and visuals, as well as hear from creative people working in those fields — so we have a bunch of guest presenters coming that we're super excited about! This FREE camp is thanks to a generous grant from Vermont Humanities, however space is limited. If your child is interested, please be sure to sign up or reach out to us with any additional questions as soon as possible.   Upcoming Calendar Reminders Monday, May 25: No School Friday, June 12: Last Day of School for Students Saturday, June 13: Class of 2026 Graduation Wednesday, August 26: First Day of School for Students (K-12)   Sailing Around the District Highlights From Our Schools Colchester High School Earlier this spring, “Recycle Rhonda” Mace from Chittenden Solid Waste District came to CHS to teach students about the importance of keeping batteries out of the landfill and how to properly recycle them. Students wasted no time participating in the Battery Bonanza challenge. A huge thank you to the Colchester community for supporting the CHS Green Teens and AP Environmental Science students in their efforts to recycle used batteries. You came out in force to drop off your dead batteries to the tune of over 350 lbs of them! The batteries were properly sorted, safely packaged, and shipped to the Battery Network for recycling. Colchester Middle School Last week CMS held a Community Connections Day. We kicked off the day with a performance by the Jeh Kulu Dance & Drum Theatre group. CMS students and staff enjoyed listening to and participating in their performance! In addition, students had an opportunity to reflect on their experience in TA considering questions such as How did audience participation change the experience? and In what ways is drumming a form of storytelling? Teams then participated in other forms of community building such as sharing favorite foods, playing a flag Kahoot, or watching videos about other cultures. Malletts Bay School In fourth grade our students learn all about the state of Vermont, and two favorite experiences in May and June are our field trips to the Vermont State House and the Shelburne Museum. These trips bring classroom learning to life as students explore Vermont’s history, government, culture, and traditions. At the State House, students have the opportunity to see where Vermont’s government works and learn more about how laws and decisions shape our communities. During their visit to Shelburne Museum, students experience Vermont history through hands-on exhibits, historic buildings, and collections that help them connect with the stories of our state. Union Memorial School Students have learned about bullying and harassment all year through our Second Step curriculum and with Mrs. McCleary in Care class. Mr. Antonicci visited each class recently and talked about the second school rule: Be Kind. He also reminded students bullying is not allowed and what they can do if they see bullying happening (be a good upstander) or feel like they have been a victim of bullying. Porters Point School Porters Point and Union Memorial PTA groups are working together again this year to host the 3rd annual Color Run at Malletts Bay School.  This fun event is open to all students in kindergarten through second grade. Participants wear plain white t-shirts, and families get to toss safe, non-toxic colored powder on the runners as they run by.  It's a wonderful chance for students from both schools to get to know each other, especially since our second graders will be moving on to MBS together this fall. We look forward to seeing everyone at the finish line — colorful, happy, and having a great time! Preschool at MBS Brenda Windhausen, SPARQS assessor for the Vermont Association for the Education of Young Children, spent time in the preschool classrooms in April. She conducted the Classroom Assessment Scoring System. This tool looks at how teachers and children work together. It focuses on things like emotional support, how the classroom is run, and how teachers help children learn. It is required every three years by the Vermont Department of Children and Families Child Development Division. The Colchester Early Education Program’s scores were higher in every area compared to three years ago! Brenda stated, “These are the ranges the Child Development Division (CDD) in Vermont chose for 5 STAR programs. Your classrooms scored above the national average!” Congratulations Preschool!   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

    Friday, May 15 2026

  • May Family Newsletter

    Family Newsletter May 10, 2026   Principal's Message I want to take a moment to express my gratitude to our community for your continued partnership and trust in our dedicated staff here at CMS. We work daily to help create a safe environment in which students are cared for and offered a variety of ways to learn and grow. We do not take this important job lightly. To that end, we again recognized these past few weeks the importance of our two way communication. When you have a question or concern, please reach out. We rely on your support and information to best support each and every student here at CMS. We welcome you into our building, to schedule a phone call, or get in touch via email. In addition, thank you, for the amazing ways you showered our staff with appreciation this past week. From lunch, to treats, to raffle prizes, to shout outs, we felt the love! The end of the year is here! Please review the many upcoming spring events outlined in this newsletter. We are excited for students to complete cumulative projects and show off what they have learned. We look forward to enjoying the art work, music, and other demonstrations of learning students will share in the coming weeks. Behind the scenes, we are actively working on our end of year celebrations and preparing for next school year. Please reach out with any questions about the busy May and June schedules!   Community Connections Day We had a performance by the Jeh Kulu Dance & Drum Theatre group to kick off our Community Connections Day on our last early release day. Check out some images from the performance:   Spring Events There are many exciting events coming up in May and June. Be on the lookout for more details as each gets closer. It's also a great time to make sure you have filled out the CSD Volunteer Form. Chorus Concert, May 14th, 6:30 pm @ CHS Spring Fling, Final Student Night Out, May 15th Band Concert, May 21st, 6:30 @ CHS Step Up Day, June 8th Final Team Celebrations, June 9th CMS Days, June 10th, 11th & 12th 8th Grade Recognition Ceremony & Dance, June 15th The last day of school has been changed to Friday, June 12th. It is a full day of school.   Romeo & Juliet This year all seventh and eighth grade students participated in an interactive introduction to theater in order to prepare for their study of Romeo and Juliet. At the end of the day, every student that attended participated in the activity in some way. We were so proud of our students and the cultures that their teachers have created which makes it safe for them to take creative risks with their peers.   CMS Days Information, Wishlist & Fundraiser We are looking forward to CMS Days June 10th, 11th, & 12th! Students found out which CMS Days group they are in prior to April break. You can expect a message with information and a permission slip via ParentSquare from your student's CMS Days advisor next week. We have put together a CMS Days Amazon Wish List of items needed for the program. Any support your family can provide is greatly appreciated. In addition, don't forget to purchase 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!   ACDA Children's Honor Chorus Festival This past weekend, 19 students represented CMS at the ACDA (American Choral Directors Association) Children's Honor Chorus Festival. The students, led by Regean Paras, Associate Professor of Music at Berklee College of Music rehearsed over two days to perform for our Burlington Community. The students made our community proud!   5th Grade Family Night Thank you to the many families who came out to our 5th Grade Family Night last week! In case you missed it, here are the slides we presented. We apologize for the technical difficulties, we encourage you and your student to check out the videos we were not able to show Thursday night. In addition, we are always looking for ways to grow and improve. If you were able to attend the event, we would love your feedback. Please take a moment to complete this short feedback form.   Helpful Reminders Cell phones and electronic devices that come to school must be off and away in backpacks for the entire school day.  Please do not text your student during the day. If they are not feeling well they need to be dismissed via the nurse. Have you downloaded the PowerSchool App for your phone or tablet? The app provides quick and easy access to view student attendance, class assignments, and complete online forms. All 7/8th grade teams and Unified Arts classes have their weekly homework slides posted under their team on the CMS website. 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   Volunteer, Sub, or Join us! Spring is such a busy time here at CMS! We are always looking for more substitute teachers and we are also still hiring for a variety of other positions!   Unified Arts Highlight CSD Art Show - Congrats! This past week, over 150 of our talented CMS artists had their work on display in the district art show at MBS. From drawings and paintings, to multi-media sculptures and ceramic creations, the skill, effort, and perseverance of our students was a truly impressive sight to see. Congrats to all our CMS artists!   CMS Athletics Spring Sports Spring sports are in full swing! Come check out some home games. Here are the dates of some upcoming home games at Airport Park: Baseball A: May 18th & 29th, June 3rd Baseball B: May 13th & 15th, June 1st Softball A: May 18th & June 3rd Softball B: May 13th Our Track & Field Team only has away meets this year, but you can find them on Monday afternoons: May 11th @ Essex May 18th @ CVU Questions? Check out the the Athletics page on the CMS website or email our Athletic Director, Jim Olson, james.olson@colchestersd.org   Get your CMS Gear   CMS Clubs News Despite being in the final stretch of the year, we still have new clubs forming and building community around new or shared interests! On Wednesdays, we have a group of students who joined rowing club. Starting this Thursday, we have a new Improv and Drama club! The last week of clubs will be the week of June 1st. Monday: Crafting Club, Math Club Tuesday: Social Justice Alliance, Gaming, Dude Be Nice, Pen & Pages Society Wednesday: Yearbook, Swiftie, Art, Rowing Thursday: Improv & Drama Friday: French cooking & baking, Korean culture   PACT Updates Thank you to everyone who donated to Staff Appreciation Week! Here is some of what we have coming up! Spring Fling, May 15th: Our final Student Night Out with additional activities and treats. Please sign up via ParentSquare to donate or volunteer! 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 STAR Math & Reading Assessments: Week of May 11th Chorus Concert: May 14th, 6:30 @ CHS Kekla Magoon Author Visit: May 15th Spring Fling, May 15th, 6:00 - 7:30 pm Safety Drill: Week of May 18th Band Concert: May 21st, 6:30 @ CHS Gracie vs. The People Performance by VT Stage: May 22nd, School-wide field trip to CHS Student Recognition Breakfast: May 27th, 8:45 am Meet CMS Days Groups: May 29th PACT Meeting: June 2nd, 6:00 - 7:00 pm, CMS Library 6th & 7th Grade Team Notification: June 5th via ParentSquare Step Up Day: June 8th Team Celebrations: June 9th CMS Days: June 10th, 11th & 12th 8th Grade Recognition Ceremony & Dance: June 15th: 5:30 - 8:30 pm  

    Sunday, May 10 2026

  • Information About CMS Incident Before Break

    CSD Community, Throughout today, there have been several community posts online containing information that we would like to clarify regarding an incident that occurred at Colchester Middle School the week before April break.  Early that week, prior to vacation, a report was made to the Colchester Police Department after the school day was over. The report stated that a student had shown another student a weapon on the way home. The incident was immediately investigated by school administrators in collaboration with the Colchester Police Department.  The investigation determined that the student brought a non-functioning airsoft pellet gun to school in their backpack. There were no pellets in the pellet gun or any pellets in the backpack. The pellet gun was not taken out of the backpack at school, nor was a report made to anyone at the school that day about a weapon. It was, however, shown to another student on the way home who then reported it to the Colchester Police Department. Following the investigation, the proper steps were taken in accordance with state law and district policy to ensure the safety of our school community. Due to privacy laws, we cannot share any further details regarding the incident or about the students involved. This means we cannot share any disciplinary consequences, as it is protected information. Please be mindful that rumors can spread quickly. The District investigates all reports that we receive with the utmost diligence. Our “See Something, Say Something” culture is vital to these types of investigations. We thank those who report information and concerns directly to school administrators and the Colchester Police Department. Thank you for your continued partnership in keeping our schools safe. Colchester School District

    Tuesday, Apr 28 2026

  • The Compass: CSD Districtwide Newsletter for April

    District Newsletter at a Glance Last Day of School for Students. Looks like you can mark your calendars for Friday, June 12. Spring Assessments. Celebrating student growth and persistence. Kindergarten and Act 166 Registration is Open. Joining us next year? Visit csdvt.org/register. Building Our Future. Construction update with photos! Student Innovation in Action. The creation of CHSLakerNation.com. Alumni Insights. Professional development for teachers, delivered by former students! Staying Safe with Officer Bressler. E-bike and motorized bike safety. K-12 Stormwater Contest. Video and poster submissions win prizes. Booked at Burnham. Lots of activities for April Break! Calendar Reminders. April Break and the half day in May. Sailing Around the District. A check-in at our schools.   Last Day of School for Students Assuming the snow is behind us and there are no more unplanned closures, the last day of school for all grades will be Friday, June 12. We will be updating the online calendar with this date soon! Also available on that page is the current draft calendar for the next school year. The first day of school for K-12 is slated for Wednesday, August 26, and the first day of PreK is Monday, August 31.   Wrapping up Spring Assessments Spring serves as a wonderful time to reflect on student learning as we conclude this year’s VTCAP assessments in English, Math, and Science. These assessments offer a valuable snapshot of student progress and help ensure our learners are on the right path for their future academic goals.  We are incredibly proud of our students for their hard work and persistence, and even the state monitor was impressed by the focus and smooth administration at every school. This success was made possible by the fantastic partnership with our parents and caregivers who ensured students arrived ready and supported for their testing days. Our dedicated school teams also stepped up to balance these state requirements while maintaining the usual energy and flow of the school day.  While these results provide important data, we continue to value the many ways our students showcase their talents through local projects and classroom presentations. It is truly a community effort to celebrate the growth and achievement of every learner in our district.   Kindergarten and Act 166 Registration is Open Registration is now open for families looking to enroll their child in kindergarten or an Act 166 approved preschool for next school year! We are starting to make decisions based on enrollment numbers. If you haven't enrolled your child yet, please visit csdvt.org/register for more information.  Kindergarten: Children who live in Colchester and are five (5) years old before September 1, 2026, are eligible for kindergarten. Learn more about our schools and the kindergarten enrollment process at csdvt.org/kindergarten. ACT166 Funds for PreK: Children are eligible to receive $4,106 in ACT166 funds to attend prekindergarten if they live in Colchester, are three (3) years old before September 1, 2026, and will be enrolled in a qualified program. Learn more about enrolling in Act 166 and see a list of qualified programs here.   Building Our Future Construction continues at Porters Point Schools and it's really started to take shape inside and out. We thought the best way to show it would be with a handful of pictures! Utilities are being installed, and framers are working on walls, windows, and door frames. We plan to do a video tour of the site soon to give a better sense of what's happening inside! The relationships that have formed between the students and the construction workers continue to surprise and inspire us. Make sure to check out the PPS section of Sailing Around the District later in this newsletter to see a special act of kindness. The upcoming project at UMS (which will largely mirror the PPS project) is also starting to hit milestones, as the district prepares to review bids for the general contractor. We expect to break ground at UMS this summer and will share a more detailed timeline as we get closer!   Student Innovation in Action The CHS AI Club recently presented to the school board about a project born to help inform our school community. Identifying a lack of a central hub for sports information, these student-athletes utilized their technical expertise to code and launch CHSlakernation.com, a website and app that consolidates athletic schedules, news, and photos in one convenient location. This initiative has provided club members with invaluable real-world industry experience, allowing them to apply advanced coding skills to create a professional-grade product that serves their peers. To build on this success, the group is now transitioning the AI Club into the Laker Innovation Club with plans to expand its mission beyond athletics. By recruiting students from various grade levels and interests, they aim to collaborate with organizations such as the Lake Show, Lakeside Voice, and other clubs to create projects that capture the full breadth of student life at CHS.   Alumni Insights We are grateful to our community for supporting four half-days throughout the school year that allow our faculty dedicated time for important professional development. During these sessions, teachers across grade levels and even school campuses collaborate to align curriculum, analyze student progress data, and train on new educational tools for classroom learning.  At a recent half-day, CHS faculty had the special opportunity to welcome back Laker alumni to hear about their journeys since graduation. These former students shared perspectives on their career path, the meaningful experiences they had at CHS, and the unexpected lessons they have learned in the “real world.”  Connecting with alumni in this way allows our educators to consider how we can best prepare students for wherever their lives may take them after graduation.   Staying Safe with Officer Bressler As the weather begins to warm up, the Colchester Police Department has noted an increase in the use of e-bikes and motorized bicycles throughout town. We love seeing our students active and outdoors, but want to make sure everyone stays safe and follows local guidelines. Officer Bressler and the Colchester Police are working with Town officials and the Vermont Department of Motor Vehicles to clarify the specific laws and local ordinances regarding where these bikes can be ridden and the age requirements for certain models. Since some of these regulations carry potential fines for families, we want to help everyone stay informed and avoid any surprises.   K-12 Stormwater Contest A local organization is holding a “Clean Me Up” Stormwater Video and Poster contest for students in grades K-12. By combining creativity with science, they hope the contest will have students imagine new ways to reduce runoff, clean and filter pollutants, and protect Malletts Bay for generations to come. All submissions are due by April 29, and everyone who submits will receive a gift certificate to Al's French Fries. There will also be free ice cream at the award celebration on Thursday, May 7, at 6 p.m. at Malletts Bay School. Learn more about the contest at welovemallettsbay.org/contest/   Booked at Burnham Library Hello from Burnham Library! Hope your spring is off to a nice start.   April break is right around the corner, so we just wanted to highlight some of the exciting programs that Burnham Library will be offering during the week of vacation. Click on the links for more information about these events and to sign up! Monday 4/20 at 10:30 am: Music with Liz  Monday 4/20 at 1 pm: Retro Gaming (Grades 6+)  Monday 4/20 at 2:30 pm: Retro Gaming (Grades 1-5)  Tuesday 4/21 at 1 pm: Sleuthing: Codes & Ciphers (Ages 6+) Thursday 4/23 at 2 pm: Gyotaku: Japanese Fish Printing (Ages 6+) Friday 4/24 at 1 pm: Family Puzzle Race And of course, in addition to these programs, we'll be open as usual that week for browsing — don't hesitate to ask if we can help find a great book (or more than one!) for those days off.   Upcoming Calendar Reminders Monday, April 20 - Friday, April 24: No School Wednesday, May 6: Early Release Day (CMS and CHS dismiss at 12:00 / UMS, PPS, MBS dismiss at 12:45) Monday, May 25: No School   Sailing Around the District Highlights From Our Schools Colchester High School Erin Brady, CHS social studies teacher and a member of the Vermont House of Representatives, recently accompanied ten students on an educational field trip to the Vermont State House. Prior to the visit, students identified and researched key issues affecting Vermonters, including housing, health care, and the environment. As part of their preparation, they met this winter with Colchester Representatives Doug Bishop and Wendy Critchlow, and Senator Becca White. During their visit to the State House, students had the opportunity to meet Vermont Olympians being honored and listen to tributes highlighting the importance of community service and leadership. The students demonstrated strong engagement by asking thoughtful questions while attending committee sessions and observing House proceedings. Ms. Brady reflected on the experience, stating, “We had an absolutely amazing day…they seriously filled my bucket.” We extend our sincere appreciation to Ms. Brady and the participating students for their dedication to civic learning and engagement. Colchester Middle School A few weeks ago, we hosted our annual Student vs. Staff basketball game. Although our 6th grade had to livestream from their classrooms, we enjoyed holding it on our home court. Students made signs to cheer on their 8th grade classmates and even a few for some of their favorite staff members. The students took the win again this year, fun was had by all, and it was a great day for some great Cougar community building. Malletts Bay School Our 5th grade student leadership teams have been hard at work planning two fun events for the MBS community this week. On Wednesday, they hosted a special lunchtime celebration featuring decorations, along with student music and dance performances. On Friday, the student leadership group has planned a schoolwide Spirit Day with an “Anything But a Backpack Day.” Everyone is invited to get creative and bring their belongings in a fun alternative to a backpack. We’re proud of our fifth-grade student leaders for bringing these ideas to life! Union Memorial School A good time was had by all at the annual Spring Fling. Students enjoyed dancing, art activities, a photo booth and tasty treats. Thank you Malletts Bay School for allowing us to use your cafeteria and gymnasium. Porters Point School Our focus on kindness came to life this year through a song led by our music teacher, Nora Klick. After learning If I Had a Hammer, students helped rewrite the lyrics as a thank-you to the PC Construction crew working on our new space. When students performed, the entire crew stopped what they were doing to listen. To write the song, students finished the sentence, “If I built a school, I’d fill it with…” Their responses—kindness, friendship, learning, and joy—shaped the final lyrics. In that moment, students weren’t just singing—they were showing appreciation and sharing their vision for the kind of school and community we’re building together. Preschool at MBS The Preschool will wrap up their fairy tales curriculum this week. They studied The Three Little Pigs, Goldilocks and the Three Bears, and The Billy Goats Gruff. The children practiced their retelling and story sequencing skills.They used vocabulary words first, next, then, and, last when retelling the story. We read different versions of the same fairy tale to see if the sequence of events and details of the stories were the same or different. This is usually a favorite theme for children. Preschool will begin their month-long study on insects after April break. Fireflies, butterflies, and bees are some of the insects that will be discussed. They will learn about the parts of the insect’s body, whether they are helpful or harmful to the people, their habitat and life cycle. Some of the vocabulary that will be introduced will be head, abdomen, thorax, antennae, egg, larva, pupa, and adult.   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, Apr 16 2026