Your voice matters! Learn more about the EWSD budgeting process by viewing the EWSD budget website (www.ewsd.org/budget) for the latest news, frequently asked questions, blog posts, articles, and more!
There are links near the top of the page that allow you to share any budget questions that you may have and also sign up to receive budget communication emails directly from the District.
In 2024, our Facebook stories and celebrations reached over 160,000 people! A huge thank you to all our #EWSD followers for your likes, comments, and shares—and for joining us in celebrating our amazing students and staff throughout the year. Stay tuned for even more updates as we continue showcasing the incredible things happening at EWSD in 2025!
Founders Memorial School third-grade teachers, Kaylee Svitak and Julie Guerino, have been nominated for National Life Group’s 2024-25 LifeChanger of the Year award. Sponsored by the National Life Group Foundation, LifeChanger of the Year recognizes and rewards the best K-12 educators and school district employees across the United States who are making a difference in students' lives by exemplifying excellence, positive influence, and leadership. Seventeen individual LifeChanger of the Year awards will be given during the 2024-2025 school year. Winners will receive one of 17 cash prizes up to $10,000 to be shared with their school.
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 Monday, January 13, from 5:30-7:30 p.m.
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 households who fall below federally mandated guidelines. Visits to the pantry are now limited to one per household per calendar month.
The next food pantry distribution will be Thursday, January 23.
Essex High School students Emma Airoldi, Jonathan McNamara, and Jacob Shevchik received congressional nominations to be members of the Class of 2029 at the United States Service Academies. Sen. Bernie Sanders, Sen. Peter Welch, and Rep. Becca Balint recognized twenty Vermonters during an annual reception at the Vermont State House. Before the ceremony, nominees and current Service Academy students were invited to a roundtable discussion. The five U.S. military academies include the Military Academy at West Point, the Naval Academy, the Air Force Academy, the Coast Guard Academy, and the Merchant Marine Academy. As part of the application requirements, applicants to U.S. Service Academies must receive a nomination.
At the December auditions for the New England Music Festival, adjudicators were tasked with nominating only one truly outstanding student performance from all the auditions they heard. Essex High School senior and bassoonist Hailey Messier received this honor and was chosen to perform in the festival's solo concert: https://www.nemfa.org/
🎥 The #EWSD Board Meeting on January 7 is now available to watch thanks to the Media Factory 👉 https://www.mediafactory.org/?modal=77,episode,234301
🎉 This week's employee spotlight is Casey Lee 🎉 "Mr. Lee is a phenomenal teacher who makes each kid feel like they are special. His humor makes learning fun!" .... Is there an EWSD employee you'd like to nominate for the spotlight? Fill out this form: https://forms.gle/Aykx7NNp6bzdLgcB9
Essex High School senior band student Hailey Messier was selected as one of Vermont's 2025 Presidential Scholars in the arts. Students are chosen for demonstrating artistic excellence and a commitment to the arts. Hailey will be featured as a senior soloist on piano with the Vermont Youth Orchestra in a performance at the Double E Performance center on Sunday, February 2. For more information about the event: https://bit.ly/4fqc6we
Congratulations to EMS students Adriana, Orion, and Dylan for competing in the National Junior Olympic Cross Country Championships in Shelbyville, IN! 👏
EWSD schools participated in the Hour of Code! The Hour of Code is a worldwide movement that aims to introduce students to computer science through one-hour coding activities. Pictured here are Summit Street School students programming Bee Bots to move in specific directions around their boards!
Congrats to EHS senior Eric Hernandez Jr. who committed to the Vermont State University Lyndon baseball program for 2025-2026!
Read the full release here: https://vtsuhornets.com/news/2024/12/12/baseball-essex-high-school-product-eric-hernandez-jr-commits-to-hornet-baseball.aspx
EHS AP Environmental Science students buried clothing and compostable plates for 60 days to better understand soil health and the decomposition activity of billions of microbes that live in our soils. Students learned how one teaspoon of healthy soil contains more microbes than there are people! In addition to chowing down on organic matter like cotton, they also help soil resist erosion, cycle nutrients, and store water.
The #EWSD Board will next meet on Tues., Jan. 7 starting at 6:30 p.m. The full meeting will be available to watch on Facebook Live thanks to the Media Factory (https://www.facebook.com/BTVMediaFactory).
Agenda items for the meeting include:
- FY26 Budget Landscape
- FY26 Announced Tuition
- Set High School Choice Capacity
To learn more about the EWSD Board, please visit: http://www.ewsd.org/schoolboard
Happy New Year, EWSD! 🥳🎆🎉
All students in the EWSD have access to a delicious and nutritious breakfast every day when they are at school - for FREE!🍊🥯🥞
The EHS Career Center hosted industry experts from the world of Hospitality, including event planning, hotel management, culinary arts, and more. Students had the chance to explore these dynamic careers and get their questions answered firsthand. Thank you to the guest speakers for inspiring the next generation! 👏👏
Summit held an all-school assembly, with families in attendance, to enjoy the 2nd graders perform a mini-music concert. 🎵👍
Hiawatha’s annual Hand-to-Hand Sale was a heartwarming celebration of community and giving! First grade students took charge as "shopkeepers," organizing and selling donated items to classmates for tickets. Families supported the event by contributing non-perishable food items, bottles for a drive, and monetary donations. The next day, students used the proceeds to shop for additional food items, which were donated to The Heavenly Pantry along with the collected goods. During their visit to the food shelf, students learned about its mission and the impact it has on supporting local families in need. 💙💚🙌 https://youtu.be/55HOTQ29n5w
The FMS Chorus, consisting of 4th and 5th graders, performed their Winter Concert. 🎤🎶
