Principal’s News     Dear Calais Families,

Happy spring! Even if there is snow on the ground, the days are getting longer and we seem to break freezing more often than not.

Congratulations to the 4^th graders for completing their Vermont projects and putting on an excellent fair. I enjoyed hearing all the students had learned as well as getting a sense of students’ interests. Students from other grades seemed to thoroughly enjoy the fair as well, especially all the snacks and treats!

This week we also held our March All School Morning Meeting. It was the staff’s turn to organize the meeting, so we decided to connect it to our next All School Write. After a rousing elbow bump greeting, Eric read aloud This Is Not My Hat by Jon Klassen. Later in the day, students in each class spent a half hour responding to a question about the book. I’m excited how they do with this second All School Write.

Spring Conferences are just around the corner – Monday April 8th.   Be on the lookout for green sheets with proposed meeting times from your child’s teacher coming home this Friday. As always, please let us know if you have any questions!

Finally, I am happy to announce that we will be hosting a Game Night for 4^th-6^th graders on Friday, April 12^th. Please mark your calendars and be on the lookout for a permission slip with details about chaperoning, snacks, and more!

Enjoy the weekend!

Marissa

DATES TO REMEMBER

For a complete listing of events click on CALENDAR from the home page of the

school website:   www.calaisschool.org

Wed 3/27 – School Board Meeting @U-32:  5:15-9:00pm

Mon 4/8 – Parent-Teacher Conference Day - No School for students

Fri 4/12 –Game Night for students in Grades 4-5-6   6:00-9:00pm

Mon 4/22- Fri 2/26 – April Vacation – No School

Fri 5/3 – Drama Club performance of “Grease” 6:00pm

Tues 5/7 – CES Student Concert & Art Show – 6:30pm

Principal’s News     Dear Calais Families,

We’ve seen it all this week: rain, snow, sun, clouds, and a pretty good helping of mud. I hope you have had a smooth transition to our first full week back from break. Things here are chugging right along.

Thank you to all our Dr. Seuss Day Dads, Eric Mongeon, and kitchen queens Carolyn Beauregard and Jen Wiater for a great day last Friday. Students enjoyed their multiage read alouds, Mr. Fish’s awesome orange shoes, and, of course, eating green eggs and ham for lunch.

Thank you also to Kate Rob and Stacey Potter for organizing a great Pi Night. It was great to see so many families enjoying math games last night. I was also very impressed by the spread of pies! We are lucky to have so many great bakers in our midst.

Believe it or not, we are just three weeks away from Spring Conferences. We’re excited to see everyone and check in on Monday, April 8^th. As we get closer to that date, we’ll be sure to provide the usual confirmation forms for your conference times.

Finally, I’d like to thank all who have volunteered to participate in hiring committees this year. We have great, diverse groups assembled for the two classroom teacher positions. I am confident that we’ll find somebody great for each job.

Think Spring!

Marissa

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

Wed 3/20 – PreK Screenings for NEW students (2013-14) (No school for current Mon-Wed class)

Wed 3/20 – 4^th Grade Vermont Fair: 9:30-11am (in 4^th Grade classroom)

Wed 3/27 – School Board Meeting @U-32:  time TBD

Mon 4/8 – Parent-Teacher Conference Day - No School for students

Mon 4/22-Fri 2/26 – April Vacation – No School

Fri 5/3 – Drama Club performance of “Grease” 6:00pm

Tues 5/7 – CES Student Concert & Art Show – 6:30pm

Principal’s News     Dear Calais Families,

First and foremost, thank you to the Calais voters for passing our budget on Tuesday! We are grateful for the continued support and excited about next year. In related news, please welcome Emily Fair to the school board. Thank you, also, to all who ran and considered serving on the board – the school would not be what it is without such an engaged and caring community. Finally, I would like to thank Buffy Root for her eight years of service and, more specifically, her warm welcome and guidance as I’ve settled into leading CES.

This week we have enjoyed our new filtered water fountain and water bottle filling station. Thank you to Jamie Bohn and Mary Ann Johnson who coordinate our PATH program and thus secured the grant funds for this eco-friendly addition!

As you’ll read further on in the newsletter, the PTO is meeting on at 6:00 on Tuesday the 12^th to discuss the purchase of a new piece of playground equipment. Please join us in the library with your ideas and questions.

On Thursday the 14^th (3.14), we will celebrate Pi Night. Please join us for a celebration of math learning, including math games and each class’s solution to our All School Math Challenge. If you are able, please bring a sweet or savory pie to share. I’m looking forward to continuing this new tradition.

Formation of hiring committees is now in full swing. After much thought, I've decided to change our hiring committee structure slightly. In the interest of ensuring that our final decision is fully objective and focused on all students, parent representatives on hiring committees will be those who do not have students who will be taught by the applicants in the next two years. I truly value parent involvement and am committed to designing a structure that is as free from judgment and subjectivity as possible. If you fit this bill and are interested in joining a committee, please send me an email 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 call the school. The general schedule for the first round of interviews will be as follows:

• 2^nd Grade:  Thursday, March 21^st, 3:45-6:00
• 5^th/6^th Grade:  Tuesday, April 2^nd, 3:45-5:30 or 6:00 and Thursday, April 4^th, 3:45-5:30 or 6:00

Thank you in advance for your help with this important task!

Have a wonderful weekend!

Marissa

Principal’s News     Dear Calais Families,

Happy February Vacation! I’m glad that it seems there will be some snow to enjoy for those of us sticking around the neighborhood next week. For all of you off on grand adventures in warmer climes, enjoy!

I am pleased to announce that Mary Ann Tormey will be joining us in late March as a long-term substitute in second grade. Mary Ann has been subbing here at CES for the past two years and brings a career of classroom teaching experience. We are excited to have her joining the team!

As I am sure you’ve heard, today we are celebrating Beach Day. I’d like to thank John Fish and his student and parent volunteers for all their work to make this a great day for students!

Parents of third through sixth graders, NECAP results were mailed home on Tuesday. Congratulations to students for another great year of hard work and great scores! Please let me or your child’s teacher know if you have any questions about the reports you receive.

Finally, please don’t forget to vote on Tuesday, March 5^th. I’ll be at the school meeting in the afternoon and hope to see you there. We appreciate all the voter support we’ve received over the years.

Have a wonderful vacation!

Marissa

DATES TO REMEMBER

For a complete listing of events click on CALENDAR from the home page of the school website

 Mon 2/25-Mon 3/4 – No School – Winter Vacation

Tues 3/5 – No School – Annual Town & School Meeting, Calais Town Hall

Wed 3/6 – Welcome back to school!

Thurs 3/7 – 6^th grade Parent Night at U-32, 6:30pm

Fri 3/8 – Dr. Seuss Day 9:00am

Thurs 3.14 – Pi Night 6:00pm… a school-wide family math night, with pie! 

Principal’s News     Dear Calais Families,

I was happy to finally have the time and the weather to join in the fort building at recess this week! The freestanding tunnel several K-3 students and I made is a great start to a pretty great creation.

Please remember that we do have school on Presidents’ Day. We’re happy to have one full week left before vacation to get lots of learning in. Speaking of vacation, please join the school board and me on that final day of break at the school installment of town meeting! We’ve worked hard to put together a budget that will provide all students with an excellent education and are pleased to have the opportunity to share this work with the Calais community.

As you’ll read later in the newsletter, next Friday is Beach Day! I’m excited to enjoy a beach blanket lunch and other sandy activities with the kids. It will also be great to share the decorations Round Table students have been working on, including a nearly life-sized mermaid and seal. Since Round Table began in November, we have organized the winter door decorating contest, worked on Beach Day decorations, and brainstormed activities for K-6 students to enjoy in multi-grade teams (we’re currently leaning toward a digital photo scavenger hunt).

Finally, please mark your calendars for Dr. Seuss Day (March 8^th) and Pi Night (March 14^th). I’m looking forward to sharing these traditions with students, staff, and families in the coming weeks.

Have a great Presidents’ Day weekend!

Marissa

DATES TO REMEMBER

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

Mon 2/18 – School Board Meeting, 6pm CES Library

Fri 2/22 – Beach Day

Mon 2/25-Mon 3/4 – No School – Winter Vacation

Tues 3/5 – No School – Annual Town & School Meeting, Calais Town Hall

Thurs 3/7 – 6^th grade Parent Night at U-32, 6:30pm

Fri 3/8 – Dr. Seuss Day 9:00am

Thurs 3.14 – Pi Night 6:00pm (more info coming soon on this school-wide evening math event!)

 Principal’s News     Dear Calais Families,

This week was all about field trips. The K-3 students and teachers reported that their trip to the Barre Opera House for Soul Street Dance was “awesome” and “so cool.” We were glad they had such a great time and that they were able to refrain from trying to recreate the break dancing moves at recess. The 4^th grade students also headed out to Billings Farm and Museum where they got to experience life on a 19^th century Vermont farm.

This week also marks the end of Fun Fitness Fridays for the year. It was a bit of a roller coaster weather-wise, but I’m happy that we were able to get the kids out and enjoying winter – even in its new, browner and icier form. Thanks to all who chaperoned and thus made this venture possible!

Next week we will hold our annual Ceremony of Giving. Please see the rest of the newsletter for information on the event, including what to donate when. Thank you in advance for supporting our local food shelf at a time when donations may be down but the need is steady as ever.

Finally, 5^th /6^th grade teacher Liza Earle-Centers and 2^nd grade teacher Anna Crytzer have both decided not to return from leave next year. Please see each of their personal messages later on in this newsletter. Information about hiring committees to fill these positions will be coming in future newsletters.

Enjoy your weekend!

Marissa

DATES TO REMEMBER

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

Fri 2/15 – Ceremony of Giving 2:30pm:

 Please send in a non-perishable food item with your child by Thursday February 14. 

 Mon 2/18 – School Board Meeting, 6pm CES Library

Fri 2/22 – Beach Day

Mon 2/25-Mon 3/4 – No School – Winter Vacation

Tues 3/5 – No School – Annual Town & School Meeting, Calais Town Hall

Thurs 3/7 – 6^th grade Parent Night at U-32, 6:30pm