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The EWSD Budget Survey will close this Friday, December 6! This is the first, most accessible, and comprehensive way for you to share your input on the budget and the priorities for our District. We ask and encourage each of you to take this opportunity to make your voice heard: https://forms.gle/rkfBsqoahmetRbSs7
🌨️❄️ As temperatures drop and the snow starts falling, have you ever wondered how we decide to call a snow day? Learn more about the process and what factors come into play when making this important decision! ❄️🌨️👉 https://www.ewsd.org/article/1870274
🔔 Reminder that there will be no school on Monday, November 25 through Friday, November 29 for Fall Break. School will resume on Monday, December 2.
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, November 21, from 3 to 6 p.m.
Families will be given a number when they arrive and registered beginning at 3 p.m., then allowed to select their food. 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 from 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. In place 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, additional food from the USDA is provided monthly to eligible families who fall below federally mandated guidelines. Families 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, phone number, number of people in household) so delivery arrangements can be made. A follow-up call to complete registration will take place on Thursday 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. (except for
November and December when it is the 3rd Thursday). The next food pantry distribution will occur on Monday, December 9, from 5:30-7:30 p.m.
The #EWSD Board will next meet on Tue., November 19 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:
- Board Job Description
- Communication and Support of the Board
- Policy 4.3 Agenda Planning
To learn more about the EWSD Board, please visit: http://www.ewsd.org/schoolboard
🎥 The #EWSD Board Meeting on November 12 is now available to watch thanks to the Media Factory 👉 https://www.mediafactory.org/?modal=77,episode,233111
The #EWSD Board will next meet on Tue., November 12 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:
- Superintendent Search Update
- Literacy & Math Data with an Equity Lens
- Questions on FY25 1st Quarter Financial Update
To learn more about the EWSD Board, please visit: http://www.ewsd.org/schoolboard
EWSD Federal Grant Programs Manager Tamara Eklof and Hiawatha ELL teacher Terri Geffert presented at this year's World-Class Instructional Design and Assessment (WIDA) conference. Eklof co-led a workshop titled "Building Multilingual Programs in Rural Areas", and Geffert participated in a panel discussion focusing on instructional practices for equitable instruction of multilingual learners.
The EWSD Leadership Team was grateful to have Essex Police Chief Ron Hoague and Colleen Ballard from Essex Rescue attend a recent meeting. Both provided updates from their departments and talked about how we can continue to collaborate.
The Vermont State Board of Education met in the EHS Library. Prior to their meeting, the State Board took a tour of EHS and CTE. EWSD Director of Equity & Inclusion Erin Maguire also gave a presentation to the group on the District's equity journey. 👍👍
Daylight Saving Time Ends on Sunday, November 3! ⏰⏰
The Essex Westford School District is seeking a full-time Mainstream Instructional Assistant for grades K-8. This role assists and supervises assigned students instructionally, behaviorally, and physically in the general mainstream program. This position requires working with a student individually in collaboration with a special educator. For more information, and to apply, visit www.ewsd.org/jobs
🔔 Reminder that there will be no school on Friday, November 1. School will resume on Monday, November 4.
Representatives from Alma, the firm helping search for a new EWSD superintendent, visited on October 22 and 23. They had the opportunity to meet with students, parents, and staff in person and talk about the most important qualities for our next superintendent.
We are so grateful to everyone who has shown up to give input that will help inform the position of the new superintendent. There is still a remaining opportunity to take part: https://www.ewsd.org/article/1838253
🎤 EWSD Music presents its Choir Prism Concert on Thursday, October 24 at 6:30 p.m. in the Essex High School Auditorium.
🎤 This concert features musicians in grades 6-12th, including the Westford School Choir, ADL Choir, EMS Choir, EHS Concert Choir, and EHS Chamber Choir. This event is free and open to the public.
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, October 24, from 3-6 p.m. Beginning at 3 p.m., families 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 for food. 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. 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 families who fall below federally mandated guidelines. Families not able to attend the pantry may call the Church office at (802)878-5745 Ext. 4 between 9 a.m. and noon today through Thursday to leave contact information so arrangements for delivery can be made. A follow up call to complete registration will take place on Thursday 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. (except for November and December when it is the 3rd Thursday). The next food pantry distribution will occur on Monday, November 11, from 5:30-7:30 p.m.
Fleming 4th and 5th graders on Team Gazette have been working on place value skills and understanding base-10 system. 4th graders have been learning to read and write numbers to the millions place and are starting to use the standard algorithm for addition to add larger numbers. 5th graders are using their knowledge from last year to read, write, and add numbers into the thousandth place using decimals. The 5th graders put their decimal expertise to the test by working together to unlock the doors in a decimal escape room. It was trickier than they thought!
✨ Nominate an EWSD employee for our Employee Spotlight! 🌟 Whether they go above & beyond, make a big impact, or have done something extraordinary, we want to hear about it! Fill out this form! 👉 https://forms.gle/Aykx7NNp6bzdLgcB9 📋 Let’s celebrate the dedication that makes a difference in our community! 💙
🚨 The EWSD utilizes an automated emergency calling system that is currently intended only for emergencies, such as an unscheduled early release or a school closing. An annual test of this system is scheduled to take place on Monday, October 21 at 6 p.m. At that time, families, staff, and high school students will receive a brief message from the system based on contact information provided to the schools. The system will contact users through email and a phone call.
🚨 If you do not receive a message and you feel you should have, please contact the school that your child attends to confirm that your contact information is correct. If you are an employee, please make sure that your contact information is up to date in the employee access center.