Principal’s News

Dear Calais Families and Friends,

          I wish to thank parents that volunteered to participate on the Grades 3 and 4 hiring committees.  Once the superintendent has approved the committee recommendations, I will bring two names to the school board.  Additionally, we will have an opening next year in Grade 2.  This is a one year full time position to cover a one year leave of absence.  I will hold interviews for the Grade 2 position after the Grade 3 and 4 positions are officially filled.  I do have an interview committee of parents and teachers for the Grade 2 position.

          Now that we are into the second semester, we have new group of fifth and sixth grade students that are participating on the student leadership committee, called Round Table.  Currently these students are responsible for planning the school sleepover event, which is scheduled for Friday, March 16^th.  Members of the Round Table rotate the weekly responsibility of announcing end of the day school dismissal and they interview and take a picture of the student “Star of the Day.”

          Speaking of stars, we’re very proud of our NECAP outcomes!   Calais NECAP (New England Common Assessment Portfolio) results were mailed home to families on Monday.  Teachers have been concentrating on honing their literacy and math instruction and our students have responded by working hard-- it shows in our NECAP scores. 

          Mr. Fish and I are hoping to have a school-wide outdoor winter celebration on the afternoon of Friday, February 24^th, prior to February break.  The playground is currently quite icy; if we don’t get any fresh snow in time for the activities on the 24^th, we will instead plan on a regular day of classes.  In that case, we will reschedule a “winter celebration” once Mother Nature decides that it’s time for winter in Vermont, and she provides us with snow on our Calais playground. 

Enjoy the weekend.

Sincerely, Grace

DATES TO REMEMBER:  

For a complete listing of events click on CALENDAR from the home page of the school website www.calaisschool.org

·         Tues 2/21 – School Board Meeting 6:15pm at CES

·         Fri 2/24 – School-wide Outdoor Winter Fun Day at CES

·         Mon 2/27-Mon 3/5 – No School: winter vacation

·         Tues 3/6 – No School: Town/School Meeting at Calais Town Hall

·         Wed 3/14 – Pi Night 6:00pm

·         Fri 3/16 – Grades 4-5-6 Sleepover 7:00pm

Please note that if you currently get the newsletter via email the system has changed.

 If you wish to still receive the newsletter via email or would like to start receiving the newsletter via email please go to the Calais website and subscribe to it.  You will notice that a new menu called “Main Quick Links” has been added to the left side of the CES website. Under this menu a link to subscribe to the newsletter has been added.  If you click on the “Subscribe to Newsletter” link you will be instructed on how to enter your email to receive newsletters.

You can at this time also sign up for other schools’ newsletters in our district that have also been converted to the new system.  Thanks for your understanding and continued support.

Candy Chevalier, WCSU Network Administrator  

Art News     February 14, 2012

Dear Students, Parents, and Friends,

Today is Valentine’s Day and the students are filled with the “heart” feeling of appreciating each other and sharing warmth and kindness with everyone.

Kindergarten students worked on winter scenes from the book “Snow” by Uri Shulevitz. By tinting their primary colors, they created wonderful compositions. Next, they worked with a white oil pastel to write a secret message, and then discovered the message when adding watercolors. For their parents at Valentine’s Day, they made pop-up cards.

 First grade children worked on drawing horses; after their classroom study with horses, and becoming familiar of looking and observing this big animal, the drawings were exquisite and wonderful. Talking about big animals, the dinosaurs have entered the art world. Children created distance by overlapping two or three dinosaurs. For Valentine’s Day, they worked on water-resist watercolor paintings.

Second grade students explored a ‘right-brain’ exercise by estimating and mapping the features of a ‘wolf’. The children were happy with the outcome. This exercise is one of the many methods that teach us to draw animals and/or people. A FABLE, with story line and drawings, has become the main theme for the next few weeks. Each child created their animal.

Third and Fourth grade children learned about GRANDMA MOSES. Remarkable, how Anna Mary Moses, a primitive painter, captured the art scene with her lovely childhood stories and paintings. Students were inspired by her work and created their own version of the Vermont landscape with year around traditions.

Five and Sixth grade students continued their ‘famous artist’ project. Each child researched an artist of their choice and documented the biography. Quotes were collected, and word and image was posted on their computers by using the “Prezi.com” tool. Remarkable!!! Students began to create an artwork similar to their artist that you can admire in the hallway. Enjoy!

Artfully Yours,

Heidemarie Holmes-Heiss

2012 CALAIS VARIETY SHOW

Sign up forms sent home last week, and are available in the lobby.

SIGN UP FORMS DUE Friday February 24^th!

This year, rather than have a series of rehearsals at school we are encouraging students and families to organize these practices at home, during times that work for those involved in the act.  To feel prepared we suggest practicing your act at least five times in front of others.

DATES:  Practice = Fri 3/16, Dress Rehearsal = Fri 3/23, and Show = Friday 3/30

You MUST attend both the practice and rehearsal in order to perform in the show.

Questions: Contact Cat 456-1007 or Buffy 456-1971

Calais Recreation Baseball/Softball Sign-ups

Due at school Friday March 9, 2012

• T-ball (5 year olds) practices/games Saturday mornings
• Farm (little league age 6-8) games Saturday mornings,  possibly one week day practice, day TBA
• Minors (little league age 9& 10) practices/games Tuesdays/Thursdays
• Majors (little league age 11&12) practices/ games Mondays/Wednesdays/Fridays
• Softball (girls grades 3-6)  Mondays/Wednesdays/Fridays
• NOTE:  little league baseball is done by age not grade level

(little league age, is your child’s age as of April 30^th of the current year)

Coaches are need for: Farm & T-ball

          If you are interested in coaching or assisting you must submit a volunteer application also due 3/9, it is required to fill one out every year.  Questions:  Buffy Root 456-1971

         If your child is interested in playing, please submit the registration & medical forms by FRIDAY MARCH 9^th, as it will determine the number of teams (and at some levels if there is a team) as well as the schedule for the season.

          Registration Fee: $35 first child/$25 second/$15 third/T-ball only $25

          Checks payable to:  CRA (Calais Recreation Association)

Indoor Soccer “Futsal”

Futsal is played with no walls on a small field with 4 field players and a goalie per side (5 vs 5).

The Central Vermont Strikers Soccer Club is organizing teams within our school district for 5v5 "Futsal" Indoor Soccer at the nearby Montpelier Civic Center.  The season begins (after school basketball ends) in March and runs for 7 weekends (so it ends before baseball starts, for most schools).

The Third and fourth graders are called "U-10's for 10 years old or under, fifth and sixth graders  are generallyU-12 s),  and 7th and 8th graders (U-14).   U-12 coach is CJ Flynn and U-10 teams will be coached by Emmanuel Riby-Williams (formerly the Varsity coach at U-32) and by Varsity Soccer Players Austin McEathron and Emily George.  

U-10 plays on early Friday evenings, U-12 teams play on Saturdays.   The cost for the season is $ 90.00 per player.  If your son or daughter is interested sharpening his or her soccer skills, but you don't want to pay a fortune, please consider joining the CV- Strikers.  Contact CJ Flynn ( This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it " target=_blank> This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it or 229-2270) for more information.  Thanks from the CV- Strikers! 

Principal’s News

Dear Calais Families and Friends,

          Looking ahead to school year 2012-13, there will be some changes in classroom positions.  The current shared positions for grades 3 and 4 will be full time next year. We will be soon be  interviewing for a full time Grade 3 position and a full time Grade 4 position for school year 2012-13.  I have parents and teachers that have volunteered to participate on an interview committee for the Grade 3 position.  If you are interested in participating on the Grade 4 interview committee, please contact the school office (454-7777) or send an email ( This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it "> This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it ) by Tuesday, February 14th.  Additionally, we will have an opening next year in Grade 2.  This is a one year full time position to cover a one year leave of absence.  We will interview for the Grade 2 position after the Grade 3 and 4 positions are filled.  There is an interview committee of parents and teachers for the Grade 2 position.

          NECAP (New England Common Assessment Portfolio) results will be mailed home to families of students in grades 3-6 on Monday of next week.  You can access Calais results on the DOE website.  You will find Calais results in the “C” section.  Our scores are slightly up in reading and more so in math, which is the direction that we needed to go based on last year’s results.   We continue to focus on student writing as reflected in our Action Plan.  While students are participating in Fun Fitness Friday activities, classroom teachers and I will be looking carefully at the NECAP outcomes.

Principal’s News

Dear Calais Families and Friends, 

                     3.14

          This year, in order to reach a wider audience, our annual morning tradition of Math ‘n’ Muffins will instead be held at night and it will take on a new name.  On March 14, we will hold a family math night, Pi Night, from 6:00-7:00 in the cafeteria.  Each classroom will explain their approach to solving the same math problem and they will also teach their family members and friends two math games.  Additionally, Grade 6 will prepare an explanation of Pi.  To celebrate 3.14 our own chef, Nancy Pulsifer, will provide a dinner of pizza pi(e) and we invite families to bring a savory or dessert pi(e) to share with others. 

We are excited to have our first Fun fitness Friday of the year.  Although snow conditions are not optimal, half of the trails at Mad River are open.  Unfortunately, the trails at Morse Farm are icy due to the recent rain and so they are recommending speed skiing, which is not ideal for novice skiers.  So, we are changing the venue for the x-country skiers this week to an indoor activity at Twin City Bowling until the trails at Morse Farm have improved.

Enjoy the weekend.

Sincerely, Grace

DATES TO REMEMBER:  

For a complete listing of events click on CALENDAR from the home page of the school website www.calaisschool.org

·         2/3, 2/10, 2/17 – Fun Fitness Fridays

·         Family Math Night 2/16 RESCHEDULED to Pi Night Wed 3/14

·         Fri 2/24 – School-wide Winter Fun Day at CES

·         Mon 2/27-Mon 3/5 – No School: winter vacation

·         Tues 3/6 – No School: Town/School Meeting at Calais Town Hall

Principal Search Committee

Parents, Teachers, Staff and Community members:

We are in the process of starting to put together the search committee for a new principal.  If you are interested and would like to be considered for this group, please contact School Board Chair Buffy Root This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it "> This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it or 456-1971 by Friday,February 10^th.

It will involve approximately 30 hours of time between February and April.

Classroom Teacher Interview Committee

If you are interested in joining the interview committee for the 2012-13 Grade 2 Long-Term Substitute, please contact Principal Grace Hoffman by Friday, February 10^th.

This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it "> This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it or 454-7777 x 302 

Preschool & Kindergarten Planning for 2012-2013 -- We need your help!

If you have or know someone who has a preschool or kindergarten eligible Calais child who is

NOT currently enrolled at CES, please contact the school office: 454-7777 ext 0 or This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it "> This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it

We will invite all eligible families to pre-kindergarten screening and kindergarten registration this spring.

Eligible children must be Calais residents and be:

Ø  3 years old on or before 9/1/12 to enroll in preschool

Ø  5 years old on or before 9/1/12 to enroll in kindergarten

 Parenting On Track presents a free presentation

Professional Parent Educator and Speaker, Vicki Hoefle is offering a free 2 hour presentation for parents of teens and tweens. For more information about Vicki Hoefle and her program Parenting On Track, please visit www.parentingontrack.com

Date: Monday, February 6, 2012

Time: 6:30 – 8:30pm

Location: Main Street Middle School

Cost: Free

Registration: http://www.parentingontrack.com/services/free-two-hour/ or call 802.343.9966.

Community Connections – Winter Vacation Day Camps February 27- March 5

Fliers emailed & sent home with students; extras are available in the school lobby or visit www.communityconnections.us or call 223-3456

Come to Circus Sunday!

Unicycling, juggling, slacklining and more!  Held on the first Sunday of the month all winter.

When: Feb 5, Time- 4:30-6:00 pm
Where: Montpelier Rec. Dept. Gym, 58 Barre St.
Fee: $3 individual, $5 family or carload.  Adults & families invited, beginners welcome!
Unicycles available to borrow, Bring your bike helmet.

Presented by the Montpelier Unicyclists and Community Connections

For more information call Bill Merrylees, 223-4951

This event is part of the Move Through Winter Series

Nutrition Committee presents the Junior Iron Chefs!

Want to support local farmers through our school lunch program?  Want to get more organic food on the menu?  Want kids to learn about the benefits of nutritious foods?  What about getting kids some hands-on skills in the kitchen? 

The C.E.S. Nutrition Committee met this fall and thought all of those were good ideas, so they launched a C.E.S. Junior Iron Chefs  Club.  It is eight 5^th and 6^th graders who meet on Tuesday afternoons during Academic Choice Time at the end of the day.  Each week, Liza Earle-Centers helps supervise the iron chefs while they prepare local produce (much of it organic) from Food Works at Two Rivers Center.  Students were trained in safety and health standards of a commercial kitchen on Day 1.  Since then, each Tuesday Chef Pulsifer leaves the supplies and instructions, and the chefs work swiftly but carefully for the full half hour.  Carolyn Beauregard, Mary Ann Johnson (school nurse), and Lisa Middelton are support crew.  They lend a hand by making informational “table tent” pamphlets for the tables in the cafeteria each Wednesday, to teach the students about the health benefits of that day’s featured recipe.  Ask your child what they’ve sampled so far!

The Junior Iron Chefs have been a hit with the kids—both the ones preparing the food AND the ones eating it.  Staff members rave about the menu items too.  Many more students want to be a part of it, so we’ll try to keep it going the rest of the year.  If you are interested in helping out on some Tuesdays, please contact Liza Earle-Centers at   This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it "> This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it or stop by her classroom. 

From the CES Nutrition Committee & Junior Iron Chefs

Recipe: Asian Cabbage Salad

This is a surprising twist on common cole slaw.  Cabbage is readily available from local farms most of the winter.  Eating it raw, as in this recipe, is a nice way to experience fresh greens (or purples!) when other salad greens are not in season.  It is also a great way to get your vitamins C and K, as well as fiber & calcium.  The sunflower seeds provide protein and the Ramen noodles give the salad crunch and kid appeal!

 Directions:

Slice 1 small head green or red cabbage and 6 scallions (or 1 leek) thinly by hand, or use slicing blade of food processor.  Combine in a large bowl.  Heat 3 TB veg oil in a frying pan.  Toast 1/3 cup sunflower seeds and 2 packages of broken up Ramen noodles lightly, watching carefully and stirring constantly.  Set aside.

For the dressing: mix together  1/2 cup sugar, 1/3 cup rice vinegar, ½ cup oil, 1 tsp pepper and 1 1/2 TB soy sauce.

To assemble salad, mix everything together JUST before serving so that the toasted ingredients do not get soggy.

Serves 8-10 people

Enjoy!

Got Syrup?  If you have any maple syrup to spare, our kitchen would appreciate your donation for our monthly “pancakes for lunch”.  Or, keep us in mind when you start sugaring this spring!  Thank you.

Northeast Kingdom Soccer Warriors

Spring soccer registration for boys and girls ages 8-14.  League play runs from May 4^th-June 30^th.  Players from Cabot, Plainfield, Marshfield, Woodbury, Walden, Calais, Danville, Hardwick, and surrounding communities are welcome to join the Northeast Kingdom Warriors.  Registration forms are available by email or mail, please see contact information below.

Cost for returning players:  $25 (payable at a later date).

Cost for new players:            Uniform -$25

                                                VSA insurance - $20 (yearly fee)

                                                VSL player fee - $25 (yearly fee)

The player fee is approximate and will depend on the number of players per team.  This payment will be due when team numbers are finalized.  The game schedule is set by March 18^th.  Teams will be formed according to the number of players registered by March 18^th. 

A copy of your child’s birth certificate is required along with the registration forms, and a payment of $45.  Please make checks payable to NEK Warriors.

Practice/Games:  Practices will be held twice weekly, with 1 or 2 games, typically on the weekends.

Note: We are always looking for parents/community members to help facilitate soccer, either through coaching, field maintenance, team manager/liaison, uniform coordinator, treasurer, or in any capacity you would like to be involved.

For further information please call or email: Michelle Delaney (563-2427) or This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it "> This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it or

Donna MacKinnon (595-9429) or This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it "> This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it

FFF Announcement for Fri 2/17:

XC skiers will not be skiing; instead they will again go bowling.

These students will eat lunch at 12:00 and then depart by bus at 12:40 to the Twin City Bowling Lanes on the Barre-Montpelier Road, and return to CES for the regular 3:30 dismissal.

The other three activities will occur as originally planned:

·         Downhill skiers will eat lunch at 11:30 and depart by bus to Mad River Glen at noon, returning to CES by 5:00pm.

·         Young students signed up for Winter Fun will eat lunch at 11:30 and snowshoe on school grounds with group leader Jean Peterson.

·         Ice Skaters  will eat lunch at 12:00 and depart by bus at 12:40 to the Central VT ice rink, returning to CES for 3:30 dismissal.

3.14

Wednesday, March 14      6:00-7:00pm

 Come for fraction fun and bring a sweet or savory pie to share!

(This replaces the Family Math Night originally planned for Thursday, 2/16).

Principal’s News

Dear Calais Families;

          It’s been an unusually mild winter for our area.  By this time last year we had more than 50 inches of snow and this year we’ve only had about 20 inches.  For a third week in a row, we have had to cancel Fun Fitness Friday.   Although Mad River is open the conditions are not optimal for our beginning skiers.   A dusting of fresh snow on top of icy base is not a favorable condition for our just learning or novice x-country skiers so I’ve decided to err on the side of caution and cancel FFF one more week. 

          On the subject of caution, I’m asking students new to ice skating or still learning how to ice skate that they wear a helmet on the ice.  This can be a bicycle helmet.  If your child is planning on going on the ice during FFF and s/he does not have a helmet you can borrow one from our school supply of bike helmets.  Please let Carolyn Beauregard or John Fish know of your child’s need.

          If Mother Nature blesses us with snow next week we will have our first Fun Fitness Friday on February 3rd, followed by February 10^th and February 17^th.  Additionally, in the afternoon of Friday, February 24^th, (the day before February break), there will be a winter celebration right here at school!  Mr. Fish and I are planning some outdoor activities for our Calais School Community.  If you are interested in helping out with an event, please contact John Fish or the office.