PUTNEY CENTRAL SCHOOL
An exceptional PK-8 School located in beautiful southern Vermont
PCS NEWS 3/8/25
Dear PCS Community,
It is hard to believe that the deep snow pack around our campus is finally starting to melt, and temperatures are starting to feel a little more like Spring! With it comes the end of our winter sports program, a return to our regular schedule, mud and sugaring season! The taps around the campus are in, and our 4th graders are hard at work to take advantage of sugaring weather. There is a lot going on as we work our way through March, and here is a summary of some of it! Thank you as always for sharing your kids with us, and your support and partnership in supporting their growth and development.
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Upcoming Dates
March 10 - WSESD Leadership Retreat at Landmark College (for members of student leadership team)
March 11 - All District Band Night at BUHS (performance at 6:30)
March 13 - PCS Leadership Council Meeting (5:00 PM), followed by community budget information meeting (6:00 PM) in the PCS library
March 26 - Community Meeting regarding the proposed Forest for Learning Easement 6:00 in the PCS Library
April 4 - Community information night regarding the PCS Community Schools grant, and opportunities to be involved - 6:00 in the PCS Library
Longer-term Dates
March 31 - April 4 - VTCAP Assessment Week at PCS
April 9 - 11 - Performances of Disney's Frozen Jr.
April 14-18 - Spring Break
June 16 - 8th Grade Graduation (Anticipated Date)
June 20 - Last Student Day (Anticipated - subject to change)
School Budget Process and Vote
The WSESD School Board's annual meeting on the school budget is Tuesday, March 18th at 7:00 in the Brattleboro Union High School gym. You must be there in person to vote on the WSESD school budget for the upcoming school year. There is childcare available at this meeting. Here is a presentation created by the WSESD School board about the proposed district budget.
I, along with representatives from the WSESD school board, will hold an informational event regarding the budget on the evening of Thursday, March 13th at 6:00 in the PCS library. This is an opportunity to learn about the PCS portion of the school district budget, priorities for our school embedded in that budget, and a chance to ask any questions you might have regarding the PCS or whole WSESD budget for the upcoming school year.
Summer Camp Information
I am attaching a one-page information sheet regarding summer camp with overview information. Please note the structural change in how camp will operate this year. We are really looking forward to a great PCS summer!
Sign ups through a google form for camp will be shared with you all on Friday, March 14th. We will enroll up to 40 total spots per week of PCS students, with some additional spots for residents of other WSESD towns.
If you have questions regarding camp, please reach out to me, or Sarah Cassidy (scassidy@wsesdvt.org).
Thank you all, and have a nice rest of your weekend
Jon
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Staff Highlight
Maureen Ward - Academic Support
I grew up on Long Island, NY, with 11 siblings.
I am married, and we have two amazing daughters (in my opinion)
I have two big, lovable dogs.
I like to draw, paint with watercolor, and sew. (I especially like making mittens using recycled sweaters- let me know if you're interested...I take custom orders)
I have a masters in Reading Instruction.
And I love and want to protect elephants. They are amazing animals.
Notes From Nurse Nicole
Hi PCS Families,
Wow, can you believe it’s almost March already? Time is flying by! I hope this newsletter finds you staying warm and healthy. Hopeful thinking has me feeling spring is just around the corner, but I also know there is still plenty of time for getting out in the snow!
Unfortunately, head lice are still making the rounds at PCS. It’s really important that you keep an eye on your child/ren’s heads if you notice any signs of itching or discomfort. If you need any help or advice, please don’t hesitate to reach out. I’m happy to assist however I can.
Thanks for your attention to this!
Health and Wellness
As we move into the spring, it’s that time of year when I get to spend more time in classrooms talking about health and wellness. Next week, I’ll be visiting the 6th grade (more details to come for 6th grade families), and later this spring, I’ll be working to reach all of our students in some way to talk about health, body awareness, and wellness.
I wanted to share a few resources with you that could be helpful for talking to your kids at home about these topics. If you're interested in borrowing any books, feel free to reach out! We have extra copies of some of these.
Thanks for your support as we work together to keep our students healthy and informed!
Some of the books I use and love;
What Makes A Baby, Sex Is A Funny Word, You Know, Sex
All written by Cory Silverberg and illustrated by Fiona Smyth
https://www.corysilverberg.com/ (age recommendations for each book are on the website)
You-ology: A Puberty Guide for Everybody, By Melisa Holmes, MD, FACOG; Trish Hutchison, MD, FAAP; Kathryn Lowe, MD, FAAP
Website for parents 4th-6th grade
https://teachingsexualhealth.ca/parents/information-by-age/10-11-and-12-year-olds/
Website I use some of these for the students and here is a guide for parents;
Counselor's Corner
Dear PCS Families,
Welcome to March! As we move into spring, it’s a perfect time to focus on growth—both personally and academically! This month, we’re continually focusing on three important themes: Kindness, Flexibility, and Resilience. These qualities help students navigate challenges, build positive relationships, and thrive in a supportive school community. Throughout the month, we’ll be teaching students about:
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Kindness: How small acts of kindness can make a big difference in their own lives and others’ lives.
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Flexibility: Understanding that plans can change, and learning to adjust to new situations with a positive attitude.
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Resilience: Developing the ability to bounce back from setbacks, keep trying, and stay optimistic in the face of challenges.
Our lessons and activities will include:
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How to Practice Kindness: Giving compliments, helping others, and being a good friend.
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Being Flexible: Accepting changes, adapting to new plans, and learning to stay calm when things don’t go as expected.
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Building Resilience: Teaching students how to persevere through challenges and use mistakes as opportunities for growth.
Kindness Week (March 24-28):
Let’s make the world a kinder place! During Kindness Week, students will engage in various activities to promote compassion and empathy. We’ll have daily kindness challenges, such as compliment chains, and performing secret acts of kindness around the school. Students will learn the power of kindness and how it can positively impact others and themselves.
Monday 3/24: Wacky Hat Day
Theme: "Wear your heart to invite kindness to stay"
Encourage your child to wear a fun and wacky hat! This is a great way to start the week with creativity and kindness. Remind them to share a kind compliment with a friend.
Tuesday 3/25: Crazy Hair Day
Theme: "Crazy Hair, Caring Heart!"
Let your child express themselves with a fun and crazy hairstyle while remembering to be kind in both words and actions.
Wednesday 3/26: Teachers Dress Like Students & Students Dress Like Teachers
Theme: "Different Roles, Same Goal: No Bullying!"
Students and teachers will switch roles for a day! This is a fun way to remind everyone that kindness and respect should be shown to all, no matter their role in school.
Thursday 3/27: Throwback Day (80s or 90s Style)
Theme: "Kindness is Timeless!"
Have your child dress in 80s or 90s fashion to celebrate that kindness never goes out of style!
Friday 3/28: PJ Day or Comfy Clothes & Bring a Stuffie
Theme: "Stay Cozy, Stay Kind!"
Students can wear their pajamas or comfy clothes and bring a favorite stuffed animal to school. Let’s wrap up Kindness Week with warmth and compassion!
We appreciate your support in making this a memorable week for our students. Thank you for helping us spread kindness!
#KindnessWeek #ChooseKind
Let’s Connect! If you have any concerns or would like to discuss your child’s progress, feel free to reach out to me at mlazarus@wsesdvt.org or 802-387-5521 ext. 130. I’m here to support students and families in any way I can.
Wishing you all a wonderful and positive month ahead!
All the best,
Marisa
Opportunities for Parents: Register Here/Learn More Here
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