Essex High School

As we get closer to the budget vote, we want to explain some of the language you will see on the ballot to help avoid confusion. The proposed budget keeps school spending at the same level as this year, which was a big challenge. To do this, we had to cut $5.6 million. This means that any changes in property taxes will come from the state’s funding rules and rising home values, not from local school spending decisions. 👇👇

🔔 Reminder there is no school on Monday, March 31. School will resume on Tuesday, April 1.

The 2024-25 EWSD annual report is now available online: https://bit.ly/FY26EWSDannualreport Hard copies of the annual report will be available at the following locations starting on March 28, 2025: Brownell Library, Essex Free Library, EWSD District Office, City of Essex Junction Municipal Office, Westford Public Library, Essex Town Clerk’s Office, and Westford Town Office.

Essex High School Counselor Aaron Mason was honored with the Vermont School Counselor Association Rising Star Award. This award recognizes an individual who has entered the school counseling profession within the last five years. The award winner is a model for new counselors, demonstrating the highest standards of professional competence, outstanding contributions to the school community and/or profession, and has demonstrated strong rapport with students, parents/guardians, and school personnel.

Student Government Spirit Committee has set up March’s Festive Friday for THIS FRIDAY, MARCH 28th! Wear your favorite color all over for Monochrome Day! You do not have to wear the same shade. We can’t wait to see everyone’s outfits!

The EWSD Board and administration invite you to join them for a virtual conversation as part of the District’s BudgetTalk series (https://bit.ly/EWSDbudgettalkseries) on March 27 from 6:30-7:30 p.m. Learn more about the proposed EWSD budget: www.ewsd.org/budget

EHS Student Government hosted a dodgeball tournament on March 11 with advisories. Congratulations to the winners: Stapleton/Svarczkopf advisory! Ms. McNamara’s advisory placed second. Thanks to all the teams who participated!

Spectrum Sleep out is this Friday , March 28 beginning at 9:00 pm. Spend the night out with EHS ALC in solidarity with youth facing homelessness and raise money for Spectrum Youth and Family Services. Sign Up at SpectrumSleepOut.org and join the Essex High School ALC Team Permission slips can be picked up in the main office for EHS Students.

Clue, on stage, high school edition. Coming to the Essex High School Auditorium Stage This Thursday! Follow the clues and solve the mystery March 27-29 at 7 pm, and Sunday, March 30 at 2 pm. Tickets with cash or card at the door. $8 General $5 Students ASL Performance March, 29 at 7 pm.

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, March 27, from 3-6 p.m. Those arriving will be given a number, asked to wait in the sanctuary for their number to be called, and registered before being directed to the pantry where a volunteer will greet and escort them around the pantry, allowing them to make food selections for their household. 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 provided by the USDA is available once a month to eligible households that fall below federally mandated guidelines. People who are not able to attend the pantry may call the Church office at 878-5745 Ext. 4 between 9 a.m. and noon today through Thursday to leave contact information (name, address, number of people in household, phone number) so arrangements for delivery can be made. A follow-up call to complete registration will take place on Thursday morning. Families can visit the pantry once each calendar month on the 2nd Monday of the month from 5:30-7:30 p.m. or the 4th Thursday of the month from 3-6 p.m. (except for November and December when it is the 3rd Thursday). The next food pantry distribution will be on Monday, April 14, from 5:30-7:30 p.m.

Reminder: No school on Monday, March 31. School will resume on Tuesday, April 1 which will be an A Day for classes as well as the start of Quarter 4.

The 2024-25 EWSD annual report is now available online: https://bit.ly/FY26EWSDannualreport Hard copies of the annual report will be available at the following locations starting on March 28, 2025: Brownell Library, Essex Free Library, EWSD District Office, City of Essex Junction Municipal Office, Westford Public Library, Essex Town Clerk’s Office, and Westford Town Office.

🌿 The EWSD March Family Newsletter is out now 👉 https://secure.smore.com/n/wd0pf

EHS Theater Presents: Clue : High School Edition. Come see this iconic murder mystery comedy and discover who did it, where, and with what! Opening night is next week! Show times are: March 27-29 at 7:00 pm March 30 at 2:00 pm Tickets are $5 for students and $8 for adults. Tickets can be purchased online https://www.ticketleap.events/tickets/ehs-theater/EHSClue or at the door.

Did you know that the recommended budget maintains the same level of net spending as FY25, a monumental task requiring $5.6 million in reductions? This ensures that property tax impacts will be determined solely by the statewide funding formula and the year-over-year increases in home values, rather than by local spending decisions. Learn more about the proposed EWSD budget: www.ewsd.org/budget

9th-grade student Jiya Asher won the second round of the Essex Rotary’s Annual Speech Contest on March 19. Asher, pictured here with Rotarian Amy Jackman, won $300 and is headed to the third round in April.

Charity Bowl this Friday, March 21st! All proceeds go to Spectrum Youth Services.

Join Sketchbook Flex during flex on Thursday, March 27 with Patrick in the library makerspace. You can work on any creative project that you want. Participants will receive a free sketchbook!

Friday, March 14 BTC medical programs attended the HOSA Future Health Professionals Vermont leadership conference and competitions at UVM. EHS Junior Vera Ludwig (3rd from left) placed Silver in the category Introduction to Healthcare: Medical Career Poster. All of the students who placed now qualify to compete at the HOSA's International Leadership Conference in June being held in Nashville, Tennessee.

Spanish Honors Society will be selling bracelets for the Pulsera Project during lunches on Wednesday, Thursday and Friday. Bracelets are $5 and support artisans and communities in Guatemala and Nicaragua.