Newsletter | Putney Central

PCS NEWS 4/4/25

Dear PCS Community,

Thank you for another wonderful week! There is a lot going on here - our VTCAP testing is just about wrapped up, Frozen Jr. is in it's final stages of prep, the bike trailer is here, and flowers are popping up around campus. Here is some information heading into the weekend

Upcoming Dates

Tues. April 8 - Frozen Jr. Daytime shows (see below)

Wed. April 9-Friday April 11 - Frozen Jr. Evening shows - tickets available in town and at the door.

Thurs. April 10 - PCS Leadership Council meeting - 5:00 in the library

Fri. April 11 - Coffee Talk with Jon @ 8:00 in the staff room

April 14 - 18 - Spring break

Forest for Learning Updates

Thanks you to all the folks who came out for the public meeting regarding the Forest for Learning - it was truly an impressive showing. At this point in the process, there is an opportunity to expand the board, and re-establish a strong connection between the forest for learning and the school. If you are willing to serve on the board of the forest, please reach out to me, and I will get you the information that you need. We are incredibly grateful for this resource, happy with how things have transpired over the past few weeks, and really looking forward to again centering the forest in what we do here at PCS.

Frozen Jr. Daytime Shows

This Tuesday all of our students will have the opportunity to watch the runthrough of Frozen Jr. and Landmark College. Our middle school will watch the 10:00 show, and our elementary classrooms will watch the 1:00 show. We will ride buses to and from the theater at Landmark. Rather than a permission slip, please let us know if your child will not be attending.

Family Climate Survey

Last week, I sent out our annual family climate survey. It is linked again here. Please know that if you wish, you are able to complete one survey for each student if you have multiple students at PCS. If you would rather just complete one, that is also fine. Thank you for taking the time to contribute your thoughts - this is important data and information that we consider in making plans moving forward.

Thank you and I hope you have a wonderful weekend,

Jon

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Upcoming Activities, Community Events and More!

PCS WATER BOTTLES

FOR SALE: $20 EACH

CASH OR CHECK ACCEPTED: PICK UP IN PCS OFFICE

Click Here

For info on the PCS Musical

Staff Highlight

Rylan Bristol- Facilities Manager

I was born and raised in Brattleboro and right after high school moved to Fort Drum NY where I served in the Army for 3 years. I traveled around the US and overseas quite a bit during active duty before eventually settling back home after my service. When I got out of the military I moved back to town and very soon after, met my wife. We have 2 young daughters Everly and Emeline and 2 dogs, Tilly (chihuahua pug) and Cooper (great pyrenees). In my free time, you can find me hiking, going for walks with my kids and pups, or just spending time outside. I also enjoy spending time in my workshop making signs with my wife, and just working on house projects. I am brand new to PCS this year and couldn't be happier to be a part of this community!

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;

https://amaze.org/parents/

Counselor's Corner

Counselor’s Corner

April 2025

Dear PCS Families & Guardians,

Happy April! Well, we’re in the last stretch of the 2024-2025 school year! I can hardly believe it!!

Kindness Week Was a Success!

We had an amazing time during Kindness Week, and we’re so proud of how our students embraced this special event! It was heartwarming to see so many acts of kindness shared throughout the week – from helping a friend to offering encouraging words to showing appreciation to teachers and staff. Every small act of kindness made a big difference in creating a positive, supportive atmosphere at PCS.

We hope this spirit of kindness continues to inspire our students and our entire school community every day. A big thank you to everyone who participated and made Kindness Week so memorable!

As we wrap up the VT CAP testing season, I want to take a moment to recognize the incredible effort and perseverance our students have shown throughout this challenging process. Tackling these tests is no easy feat, and we know it can present challenges for many.

How do we De-stress from tests? Self-Care!

Take time to check in on your brain and body! Whether we need a nap, some exercise, or some fun to relax, self-care is essential to performing our best on tests. Keep a consistent sleep and study schedule, but be sure to take some time to have some fun as well!

We are celebrating the success of our students for working so hard, staying focused, and pushing through every obstacle along the way. To celebrate their efforts, we will be holding a schoolwide celebration next week!!

The Power of Positive Thinking!

Throughout the upcoming months, our SEL focus will be on positive thinking. Sometimes, our students can get stuck in a cycle of negative thoughts or feelings, and it’s important to help them learn how to shift their mindset to a more positive and uplifting place. Changing how we think takes practice, but with the right tools, it can become easier over time.

Daily positive affirmations for kids can help develop a growth mindset and improve attitudes. Positive thinking can have a great impact on your mental health and well-being. Some studies show we can maintain and increase self-esteem by reciting and internalizing positive affirming thoughts. Children with a positive self-image are more likely to spread kindness to others. Positive affirmations are positive phrases or statements that challenge unhelpful or negative thoughts. Training your brain to think more positively can be very beneficial to promote well-being and increase resilience. Replacing negative thoughts with positive thoughts develops an increase in self-regulation and self-worth. Sharing positive affirmations at the dinner table or practicing reciting them together on the way to school is a great and easy way to implement them into your daily routine. Click HERE to read the full article.

Try it at home!

Discuss with your child how they have the power to change their initial negative thoughts to positive thoughts through encouraging words and giving themselves the grace to make mistakes.

Practice changing negative self-talk statements into positive self-talk thoughts.

We hope these resources can be a helpful part of your family's journey toward building a more positive mindset!

All the best,

Counselor Marisa