Students at Albert D. Lawton have launched a new student-led food pantry, designed to support families in need while encouraging community connections, located on the ADL campus. Built with the help of seventh-graders and their advisor, the pantry is stocked with non-perishable food and available for anyone to donate to or take from at their convenience. The project is part of ADL’s CREW initiative, which empowers students to give back through hands-on service and leadership opportunities.
EHS students Ari Glasser, Sophia Lu, and Finnian Reilly are three of the 26 semi-finalists from Vermont in the 71st annual National Merit Scholarship Program.
The Essex Westford School District has exciting opportunities for parents, family, and community members - apply today! Take a look at the following positions, and visit 👉 www.ewsd.org/jobs to learn more.
✨ At the most recent Board meeting, Superintendent Mark Holodick celebrated two EHS 9th graders for their outstanding achievements - winning state-level poetry and art contests last spring! 🎉
The Heavenly Food Pantry, located at the First Congregational Church on Main Street in Essex Junction, will be open to residents of Essex, Essex Junction, and Westford on Monday, September 8, from 5:30-7:30 p.m.
Beginning at 5:30, families arriving will be given a number, where they will wait in the sanctuary for their number to be called. They will then be registered and guided to the food pantry, where a volunteer will greet and escort them around, allowing them to make selections of their choosing. After food is gathered, it will be weighed (information for pantry use only), and another volunteer will bring the food to the family’s vehicle. Shopping carts will be made available for those within walking distance of the pantry.
As usual, there are no income requirements to visit the food pantry, and a variety of food is available to everyone; however, additional food is provided by the USDA to eligible persons who fall below federally mandated guidelines. Those not able to attend the pantry may call the Church office at 878-5745 Ext. 4 between 9:00 a.m. and noon today or Monday to leave contact information (name, address, number of family members, phone number) so arrangements for delivery can be made. Follow-up calls to complete registration and schedule deliveries will be made on Monday morning. Registration must be completed by telephone before a delivery can be scheduled, so please be sure to leave a number at which you can be reached on Monday morning. Families can visit the pantry once each calendar month-either on the 2nd Monday of the month from 5:30-7:30 p.m. or the 4th Thursday of the month from 3:00-6:00 p.m. (except for November and December when it is the 3rd Thursday). The next food pantry distribution will be on Thursday, September 25, from 3-6 p.m.
Beginning at 5:30, families arriving will be given a number, where they will wait in the sanctuary for their number to be called. They will then be registered and guided to the food pantry, where a volunteer will greet and escort them around, allowing them to make selections of their choosing. After food is gathered, it will be weighed (information for pantry use only), and another volunteer will bring the food to the family’s vehicle. Shopping carts will be made available for those within walking distance of the pantry.
As usual, there are no income requirements to visit the food pantry, and a variety of food is available to everyone; however, additional food is provided by the USDA to eligible persons who fall below federally mandated guidelines. Those not able to attend the pantry may call the Church office at 878-5745 Ext. 4 between 9:00 a.m. and noon today or Monday to leave contact information (name, address, number of family members, phone number) so arrangements for delivery can be made. Follow-up calls to complete registration and schedule deliveries will be made on Monday morning. Registration must be completed by telephone before a delivery can be scheduled, so please be sure to leave a number at which you can be reached on Monday morning. Families can visit the pantry once each calendar month-either on the 2nd Monday of the month from 5:30-7:30 p.m. or the 4th Thursday of the month from 3:00-6:00 p.m. (except for November and December when it is the 3rd Thursday). The next food pantry distribution will be on Thursday, September 25, from 3-6 p.m.
CTE Dental Assisting student, Quyhn-Nhu Tran, won second place and a silver medal at the June 2025 SkillUSA Competition in Atlanta, GA. Her competition area was dental assisting. 🦷🪥😊
September is National Attendance Awareness Month. Help students build a habit of good attendance! http://bit.ly/1oqfID7
The EWSD Child Nutrition team handed out 234,081 meals this summer to students in the area! This was a combination of on-site meals and bulk meal boxes.
🌿 Superintendent Mark Holodick shares a welcome back message for our school community: 👉 https://youtu.be/8pcu64d4Tr8
🔔 Reminder that there will be no school on Monday, September 1. Please plan accordingly. School will resume on Tuesday, September 2.
Please be advised that there may be increased traffic near Essex High School on August 30 due to the Essex High School Cross Country Invitational Meet.
We are so excited to welcome everyone back to school tomorrow, Wednesday, August 27! Share your first day of school photos with us by emailing them to communications@ewsd.org 📸😁
The Heavenly Food Pantry, located at the First Congregational Church on Main Street in Essex Junction, will be open to families residing in Essex, Essex Junction, and Westford on Thursday, August 28, from 3-6 p.m.
The pantry asks for proof of residence for each household in the form of a current utility bill with the physical address listed. In place of this, families may provide a current correspondence from a government agency or other official mail. Identification for each household member
may consist of a driver’s license, hospital card, insurance card, school-issued ID, or social security card or birth certificate.
As usual, there are no income requirements to visit the food pantry, and a variety of food is available to everyone; however, additional food is provided by the USDA to eligible families who fall below federally mandated guidelines.
The next food pantry distribution will be on Monday, September 8, from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m.
The pantry asks for proof of residence for each household in the form of a current utility bill with the physical address listed. In place of this, families may provide a current correspondence from a government agency or other official mail. Identification for each household member
may consist of a driver’s license, hospital card, insurance card, school-issued ID, or social security card or birth certificate.
As usual, there are no income requirements to visit the food pantry, and a variety of food is available to everyone; however, additional food is provided by the USDA to eligible families who fall below federally mandated guidelines.
The next food pantry distribution will be on Monday, September 8, from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m.
🗞️ The Back-to-School edition of the Family Newsletter is now available 👉 https://secure.smore.com/n/rm94j
The new school year is right around the corner! Drivers, remember to watch for school buses.
Let's give a warm welcome to our new support staff across the District! Last week, all new support staff attended an orientation at Essex High School.
The EWSD Board recently gathered for its yearly retreat, as it prepares for the 2025-26 school year! They were joined by new student reps Cyrus and Emma.
The EWSD Transportation Department has sent bus schedules this week to all families who requested transportation through the Annual Student Update by August 1. Students who signed up after August 1 are served on a first-come, first-served basis and may be placed on a waiting list. Parents: If you have not received your child’s schedule, please check your spam/junk email folder. For any schedule-related questions, contact the EWSD Transportation Department at (802) 857-7077. All bus routes can now be viewed online at www.ewsd.org/transportation.
The EWSD has a mobile app to help students, parents, and community members stay up to date on what is happening in our schools from your phone! On the app, you can read the latest announcements, view lunch menus, and review upcoming events. The EWSD app is available to download for free - https://bit.ly/3q8ZBAY
The EWSD is pleased to present the updated handbook for the Essex Westford School District. This handbook serves as a guide to our school policies, procedures, and expectations and is a valuable resource for both students and their families. 👉 Visit www.ewsd.org/handbook to review it online.