Did you know that the EWSD budget site has a Q&A? Answers to some of the most commonly asked questions can be found in this section on www.ewsd.org/budget
There will be no school on Monday, February 26 through Tuesday, March 5 for Winter Break. ❄️❄️ School will resume on Wednesday, March 6.
The EWSD early educators and support staff are participating in a year-long training with the University of Vermont I-Team. They are learning about inclusive practices that support increased communication, participation, and engagement with early learners. 👍👍
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, February 22, from 3-6 p.m.
Families arriving will be given a number when they enter the building. When their number is called, they will be registered and introduced to a volunteer, who will guide them around the pantry while they select their food. 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 once a month by the USDA to eligible families who fall below federally mandated guidelines.
The next food pantry distribution will occur on Monday, March 11, from 5:30-7:30 p.m.
The #EWSD Board will next meet on Tue., February 20 starting at 6:30 p.m. in the EHS Library. The full meeting will be available to watch on Facebook Live thanks to the Media Factory (www.facebook.com/BTVMediaFactory).
Before the official meeting, there will be an opportunity for community engagement with the board beginning at 6 p.m.
Agenda items for the meeting include:
● FY25 Budget Presentation and Deliberation
● Board’s Adoption of the FY25 Budget
● Approval of the FY24 Annual Meeting Warning
To learn more about the EWSD Board, please visit: www.ewsd.org/page/schoolboard
You can also stay up to date with information on the FY25 budget by visiting: www.ewsd.org/budget
👉 The EWSD Board invites you to attend an upcoming community engagement opportunity to talk and ask questions about the FY’25 budget! This will take place before the scheduled Board meeting on February 20, from 6-6:30 p.m.
👉Questions? Reach out to EWSD Board Chair Robert Carpenter (rcarpenter@board.ewsd). Learn more about the budget by visiting: www.ewsd.org/budget
The EWSD Board Meeting on February 13 is now available to watch thanks to the Media Factory 👉 https://bit.ly/3OJeAeG #EWSD
The #EWSD Board will next meet on Tue., February 13 starting at 6:30 p.m. in the EHS Library. The full meeting will be available to watch on Facebook Live thanks to the Media Factory (www.facebook.com/BTVMediaFactory).
Before the official meeting, Board Chair Robert Carpenter will hold an information session for community members interested in running for the open Board seats beginning at 6 p.m.
Agenda items for the meeting include:
* FY25 Budget & Tax Rate
* Policy 4.3 Agenda Planning
To learn more about the EWSD Board, please visit: www.ewsd.org/page/schoolboard
You can also stay up to date with information on the FY25 budget by visiting: www.ewsd.org/budget
Summit Street School's Partners in Education hosted a free noodle night for the school community last month. There was a great turnout and everyone enjoyed dinner, which was catered by Vespa's. 🍝😊
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, February 12, from 5:30-7:30 p.m.
Families will be given a number when they arrive and asked to wait in the sanctuary. When their number is called, they will be registered beginning at 5:30. A volunteer will greet and escort them around the pantry, 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.
The pantry asks for proof of residence for each household in the form of a current utility bill with a physical address listed. Instead of this, families may provide 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, social security ID, 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, eligible families who fall below federally mandated guidelines may access additional food provided by the USDA once each month. Families not able to attend the pantry may call the Church office at 878-5745 between 9 a.m. and noon today and Monday to leave contact information (name, address, phone number) so delivery arrangements can be made. A follow-up call to complete registration will take place on Monday morning.
Families are currently able to visit the pantry each time it is open on the 2nd Monday of the month from 5:30-7:30 p.m. and the 4th Thursday of the month from 3-6 p.m. The next food pantry distribution will occur on Thursday, February 22, from 3-6 p.m.
The EWSD Board Meeting on February 6 is now available to watch thanks to the Media Factory 👉 https://bit.ly/3HXtuK9 #EWSD
During the month of January, Summit focused on their Social Justice standard #16: I care about those who are treated unfairly. Every class at Summit read The Artivist and all students created equity flags. During an assembly, Summit discussed the book and students were able to see all of the equity flags created! They also heard several students share the action steps written on their equity flags. 👍👍
Beginning at 6 p.m. on Tuesday, February 6th, the EWSD Board will host a 30-minute community engagement event to answer questions and interact with the public in the EHS library. The scheduled Board meeting will then begin at 6:30 p.m. Snacks and beverages will be provided.
The EWSD Board invites you to attend two upcoming community engagement opportunities to talk and ask questions about the FY’25 budget! These will take place before the scheduled Board meetings on February 6 and 20, from 6-6:30 p.m. each night. Questions? Reach out to EWSD Board Chair Robert Carpenter (rcarpenter@board.ewsd). Learn more about the budget by visiting: www.ewsd.org/budget
Addi was a beloved member of the Essex community and the Essex Fire Family. She courageously fought a long, progressive battle with a complex mystery disease that included severe blood and bone marrow disorders. Yet, she had an indomitable spirit and met life with joy. Blood products gave Addi life countless times, allowing her to live more life than most in only 12 short years. Please honor her by coming together, in her memory, to give blood and save lives. ❤️ This event will be held at Founders Memorial School on Saturday, February 10th from 9-3 p.m.
Join members of the EHS V/JV Girls Basketball teams and the Essex Cheerleading team, as they come together with the ADL and EMS teams, in the Pink Zone to raise funds for the UVM Cancer Center Breast Cancer Patient Support Fund! On Friday, Feb. 2nd, the following teams will play: ADL vs EMS at 5 p.m., EHS JV vs Burlington at 6 p.m., and EHS Varsity vs Burlington at 7:30 p.m. To donate online: https://bit.ly/47RS1Lu 🎗️🎗️💞💞
EWSD Director of Finance Heather Bushey and EWSD School Board Chair Robert Carpenter recently spoke at the House Ways and Means Joint Education meeting on January 25 regarding the new education funding formula and the challenges impacting both our District and community members. Please visit our EWSD Budget website to read the letter submitted and also hear from both Bushey and Carpenter (testimony starts at the 1:04:45 mark of the video): www.ewsd.org/budget
At Summit, Ms. Mahoney's and Mrs. Hamilton's classes joined to collaborate on a winter art project. Doing this activity together helped students practice patience, show respect for each other, use teamwork skills, and demonstrate community-building strategies. 👍👍 #EWSD #YouBelong
The EWSD Board Meeting on January 23 is now available to watch thanks to the Media Factory 👉 https://bit.ly/48JHB1L
