Dear Essex Elementary School Families,
I hope this message (PDF version) finds you well and that you've had a chance to enjoy a joyful and restful summer with your loved ones. Whether you spent time close to home, explored new places, or simply enjoyed a slower pace, I hope it brought meaningful moments with your children. Personally, I cherished time with my own family, and I always return feeling recharged and grateful. I was fortunate to also have a slower pace with the space to approach my work with a wider lens.
As we look ahead to the start of a new school year, I want to extend a heartfelt welcome back to our returning families and offer a warm welcome to those joining the EES community for the first time. We’re so glad you’re here!
It is truly a privilege to serve as the principal of EES. This school is a vibrant place where students are known, supported, and encouraged to grow. Our staff is deeply committed to creating a positive and enriching experience for every learner, and I’m eager to continue building strong partnerships with all of you as we begin this new chapter together. I am very privileged to have a job that I love going to everyday; spending time with your children as they learn and grow is the best part of my work!
This year, we’ll continue expanding opportunities for family involvement, and I welcome your ideas and participation. Whether it’s visiting the classroom, joining a school event, or simply sharing your perspective, your engagement makes a big difference.
I look forward to a fantastic year ahead—full of learning, connection, and growth. Please know that my door is always open, and I value your input, questions, and feedback throughout the year. I look forward to seeing you all soon.
Sincerely,
Ashley Gray
Principal
Essex Elementary School
Below you will find important information about the school year. Please be sure to take a moment to review it carefully and let me know if you have any questions.
Important reminders/updates about the coming school year:
Our first day of school is Wednesday, August 27th. This is the first day for K-2 students and is an early release day (we dismiss one hour early every Wednesday @ 1:30 PM). PK students start school on Tuesday, September 2nd.
Bus sign-ups are available in the Annual Student Update, families should verify their interest in
transportation for their child for the 2025-26 school year. You will then receive a follow-up email
with the sign-up form for you to complete the pick-up and drop-off details. If you need a paper
sign-up form, please contact transportation at (802) 857-7077.
Please join us at the Ice Cream Social on Friday, August 22nd from 3:00 PM-3:30 PM
The Kindergarten Playdate hosted by our PTO will be on 8/22/25 at 2:30 PM
Student Drop Off and Pick up Procedures:
Pick up Patrol: All pick up and dismissal procedures are handled within this online system.
Families should use Pick Up Patrol for absence, late arrival, early dismissal and end of
day dismissal plan changes. You may still call or email the office for any of these changes as
well, but changes should be made no later than 45 minutes prior to the end of the school
day.
Families will receive an invitation to create a Pick Up Patrol account and set up a default
dismissal soon. You MUST set up a default plan for your child for each day of the week so
we know what the student's dismissal plan is.
DROP OFF PROCEDURES: Students that are dropped off at school will need to be
dropped off between 7:15-7:30 AM and the bus will drop students off starting at 7:15.
Our school day starts at 7:30. Students arriving after 7:30 will be marked Tardy.
DROP OFF LOCATIONS: K-2nd Grade Students will need to be dropped off in front of
the school on the playground side. These students will go to the playground for morning
recess if they arrive prior to 7:30. Starting at 7:30 students that are dropped off will go into
the building through our front doors.
This year our morning breakfast will start at 7:45. Students in 2nd grade will have the option for quiet
activities in the cafeteria if they prefer to not go to morning recess. As the school year progresses, 1st grade
students may also be included in this option. Any kindergarteners arriving before 7:30 will need to go to
morning recess.
DROPOFF EXPECTATIONS:
IMPORTANT- There are 2 choices:
If your child needs assistance getting out of the vehicle, you must park in the main
parking lot and walk your child to the entrance. Students should stay with their
adult until they are walked to the entrance of the playground or the front doors.
If your child can get out of the vehicle on their own, you may use our drop off loop to
let your child out. Adults must remain in the car for this express drop-off option.
The drop off loop will not be staffed with adults to help your child get out of the car.
*If you are using the drop-off loop, please pull up behind the car that is closest to
the front to minimize traffic.
**Important: It is NEVER OK to pass a car in the drop-off lane. This is very dangerous. If you need to stop
longer than 30 seconds for your child to get out, please use the parking lot so that others do not feel inclined to
pass. Our safety officers will periodically be present during drop off and passing will not be allowed.**
Preschool students will be dropped off at the PK playground entrance. Adults
bringing PK students to school will need to park in the parking lot that borders the
PK playground to not clog up the drop-off traffic and drop their students off at the
PK playground with their teachers.
Student Dismissal Procedures:
Dismissal will begin at 2:30 with students that take the bus home. This will be followed by
dismissing students that are being picked up.
If you are picking your child up after school, please do not plan to arrive before
2:35 (1:35 on Wednesdays). Vehicles arriving prior to 2:35 will cause a disruption to
the bus dismissal.
You will find your student outside in a designated and labeled area in front of the school on
the main entrance side with their classroom teachers.
Please park in the main parking lot when you arrive. Once the buses leave, adults picking
up students will walk over to their child’s class area and pick up their student(s). Please do
not enter the pick-up area until the buses have departed.
Thank you all for your cooperation and patience as we work together to welcome your child each morning and say goodbye to them in the afternoon.
Child Nutrition Update: Families will receive important information from Scott Fay, our director of Food Service, soon. This will come via EWSD Communications.
PowerSchool forms update: The school district has a new form this year that wasn't available
initially. Please log into your PowerSchool account and check that all forms including the Household
Income form are filled out for each of your children.
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ATTACHMENTS: EWSD Communications Agreement