Our 5th grade students read books aloud to our second grade students! I heard from adults and students alike that all students loved this experience. Our buddy program is that buddies stay with their buddy as they age from K through second grade and then in third grade they become big buddies to our incoming kindergarteners. I love seeing our students form these bonds and take on the responsibility to take care of their little buddies. Even outside of intentional buddy time, I see big buddies walking their little buddies in from recess, helping them in the hallways and making an effort to say "hi".   

Our third graders engaged in a discussion about the concept of change and how many things in our world look different "before and after" a change. We discussed this idea generally and also specifically in regards to technology. The students discussed ways that technology has changed young people's lives in school and outside of school and they then made art that reflected their understanding of how something may be different "before and after".

After this week, you may want to talk about how elementary school looked when you were a kid and how that may be different than today. For example, when my mom was late to pick me up from school, there were no cell phones and I hate to think how she felt while being stuck in traffic with no way to reassure the school that she was on her way. In many ways, we are lucky to be able to communicate quickly. In other ways, intentionally removing technology (and seeing how the feeling and attention of an activity change) can be remarkable to observe. 

Any time the weather got above zero this week, our intrepid teachers and tough students got outside to play. We also got out the sleds, and students did a great job taking risks, getting snowy and avoiding running into one another! This is a great time that our "considering others" skill shows up in a very practical and fun way!

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Date: January 7, 2025

Addison Northwest School District Addresses Cybersecurity Incident

Vergennes, VT – Addison Northwest School District (ANWSD) has recently identified a cybersecurity incident that has impacted some of its systems. The district is working diligently to assess the situation and minimize any disruptions to students, staff, and the broader school community.

Upon discovery of the incident, ANWSD immediately initiated its incident response protocols, which included isolating affected systems, engaging cybersecurity professionals, and notifying law enforcement. These steps were taken to ensure a thorough investigation and to secure our digital environment.

What We Know
At this time, we are actively investigating the extent of the incident to determine what information, if any, has been affected. Protecting the privacy and security of our students, families, and employees is a top priority, and we are taking every precaution to safeguard data and restore systems promptly.

What We Are Doing

• Collaborating with cybersecurity experts to address vulnerabilities and enhance system security.
• Coordinating with law enforcement and regulatory agencies to investigate and address the incident.
• Communicating with all stakeholders to provide timely updates and support as new information becomes available.

What You Can Do
Out of an abundance of caution, we recommend that families and staff monitor their accounts for any unusual activity, such as:

• Receiving emails or messages requesting sensitive information, such as passwords, Social Security numbers, or financial details.
• Unauthorized charges on credit or debit cards.
• Notifications of login attempts from unfamiliar devices or locations.
• Accounts being locked or requiring password resets unexpectedly.
• Receiving phishing emails or messages that appear to come from ANWSD or other trusted sources.

If you notice any of these signs, please take immediate action to secure your accounts, such as changing passwords, enabling multi-factor authentication, and monitoring your credit.

We understand the importance of transparency and will continue to keep our community informed as we navigate this situation. The safety and trust of our community are paramount, and we are committed to resolving this matter swiftly and responsibly.

ANWSD remains dedicated to ensuring a secure and supportive environment for learning. Updates will be shared as new information becomes available.

For further questions, please contact Sheila Soule, Superintendent, ANWSD, ssoule@anwsd.org

Gabe Hamilton, our Director of Curriculum, and Esther Charlestin, who is working with our district on an Equity audit, visited FCS.

She met with students to do an Equity Mapping Activity, which is a way to learn about how our students feel and experience school. She asked questions about where our students feel included, where they don’t, and where they see fairness or unfairness. They will share their thoughts so they can see what’s working well and what needs to get better.

REMINDER! Please join us! 

All are invited to join the ANWSD Community Engagement Committee for the "Your Voice, Your Schools" event on ZOOM ONLY on Monday, January 6, 2025 from 7:00 – 8:00pm.
 

Come share your aspirations for the future of our schools. Learn how the board helps the district set priorities to create a strong and responsible budget for the next year. A budget is a reflection of what we value as a community, and we look forward to your input and participation.  We will meet in small breakout rooms for group discussion. 

Join Zoom Meeting
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/83130981492?pwd=nDWunikmxngFb4iBe0wBWa7du2mxXB.1

Meeting ID: 831 3098 1492
Passcode: ANWSD

We held our first Your Voice Your Schools session in-person on December 4, 2024.  You can see the notes from that session here:  CLICK LINK Learn more about how school budgets are funded in VT by watching this short VT Public video. 

During a morning meeting last month, students explored the history of the Indigenous peoples who originally inhabited Vermont, gaining insight into their deep connection to the land and the importance of considerate land stewardship. They learned about land acknowledgments and discussed why these are crucial for fostering awareness and care for the environment. As a school, they worked collaboratively to create a land acknowledgment that celebrates the natural beauty of Ferrisburgh, reflecting on what they love about the land. This activity ties into our school-wide theme of "Words in the Wild," encouraging students to understand and express their relationship with the land through thoughtful language and action.

We heard from so many families that they enjoyed crafting with their kids on Tuesday. Our hope is that it is easier for us to to all stay off screens and slow down and play with our kids if we provide dedicated time to intentionally do so! Students made wrapping paper, cards and other crafts. I know how hard it is when I'm at home to slow down and not try to do many chores or get other things done. It's a treat to do crafts with our kids in a distraction free space. We look forward to seeing you at our January 14th Tech Night! 

Our well loved teacher, Ms. Elson, who transitioned to the middle school this year brought her agriculture club to our first graders. They facilitated engaging activities and they learned about soil, tractors and also agricultural tools. Our VUMHS middle school principal, Colden Golann chaperoned the trip to FCS and also visited our 5th graders and spent a few minutes getting to know them.  

After every field trip to the Bixby and Rokeby our students return with so much excitement. I hear from many students the specific things they have learned and loved. I encourage you to bring your families to these local treasures. The Bixby will be open over break and it is such an incredible place to go as a family and play, read and learn.

Thank you to Gavin and Riley, our FCS chefs, who made a delicious meal for our students and their families! Thank you to teachers and students who helped with the meal as well. I appreciate how many different people contributed to this meal by cooking, organizing and serving. Every year we have more family members attend this luncheon, and we love seeing everyone having a lovely lunch together as a community in our school. 

This week for Words in the Wild Wednesday, a couple of our groups (Mt. Philo and Allendale Farm) needed to stay at the school instead of going on their expeditions. All three groups at the school learned more about mindfulness with our incredible educator and FCS parent Sarah Frederickson. Our students benefit from taking time to recognize how they feel, reflect on their actions, take deep breaths and stretch their bodies. We are grateful to Sarah for including all our students and for sharing her gifts with us. 

We’re looking forward to our Community Morning on Wednesday, December 11th from 7:55-8:20. During this time, students and their families will make ornaments to decorate the Union Meeting Hall in celebration of all we are grateful for. These ornaments will be displayed at the Union Meeting Hall throughout the holidays. We hope to see many of our family members join us for this fun and meaningful activity!

At FCS, kindergarteners love spending Fridays outside, even when it's cold, as outdoor activities are an essential part of their learning and play. Wearing warm clothes, like cozy jackets, hats, gloves, and scarves, helps them stay comfortable and safe while exploring the outdoors. These layers keep the children warm, allowing them to fully enjoy their time playing, learning, and socializing in the fresh air. It's important for students to dress warmly so they can stay active and engaged without feeling cold or uncomfortable, making outdoor experiences more enjoyable and beneficial for their development.

Our kindergarteners had an unforgettable experience visiting Shelburne Farms, where they had the opportunity to learn about farm animals in one of the most historic and beautiful natural settings in our area. The kids explored the farm's stunning barn space, engaging with natural materials and gaining hands-on knowledge about various elements of farm life. From seeing animals to exploring the farm's diverse resources, they were fully immersed in active learning, getting their hands dirty as they interacted with the environment. It was a wonderful way for the students to connect with nature and deepen their understanding of the world around them.

Thank you for coming to our first Tech FAST Fun Night! We had over 50 attendees and had a wonderful time doing our Glo Bowling, arts and crafts and games. Thank you to Rockers pizza for the donation and we hope to see you at the next Tech Night!

We love being able to offer in person opportunities for hang outs at the school and hope to keep having fun together.

Here is the information for our next events:

Once a month, we invite you to join us from 5:30 to 7:00 PM on the dates listed below for some enjoyable, tech-free evenings with your child(ren).

• Tuesday, November 19, 2024
• Tuesday, December 17, 2024
• Tuesday, January 14, 2025
• Tuesday, February 18, 2025
• Tuesday, March 25, 2025
• Tuesday, April 15, 2025
• Tuesday, May 20, 2025

Come together to create fun art, play board games, and strengthen family connections—all while taking a break from screens. We look forward to sharing these memorable nights with you!

The staff at FCS are dedicated to providing a supportive and engaging environment for our students. They work hard to educate, encourage, and care for each child, always striving to help them succeed. Their commitment to going the extra mile ensures that students feel valued and supported in their learning journey. I am so grateful for their expertise and dedication to our school and our students. 

One of our Words in the Wild excursions is to the Rokeby Museum. As described by their education team, our students are in "for a day of active learning! Students will be up on their feet as they explore the historic house, farm buildings, grounds and exhibits. Examine historic tools, objects and images as we answer the question, “what are museums, and why do we have them?” Students will approach the past from the inside out, starting with the self, to frame a discovery about differences and likenesses with Rokeby’s historic residents. Conversations will center on concepts of fairness/unfairness, empathy and taking action as they hear and relate to stories about the Robinsons, their staff, and the freedom seekers!"

Do you have time to volunteer in our classroom?  We are in dire need of more 4 Winds volunteers! 

Four Winds Nature Institute is a community-based natural science curriculum that depends on adult volunteers eager to share nearby nature with elementary school children.

To join the teaching team or ask questions,

email Four Winds FCS Coordinator Kate Yarbrough

k8yarbrough@yahoo.com

At FCS, we encourage students to embrace new experiences—even at lunch! Our recent initiative invited all students to expand their palates by trying new foods, and our adventurous 3rd graders led the way by sampling the most new flavors. As a reward for their open-mindedness and bravery, they earned a special treat: a hands-on lesson in making homemade ice cream with our talented school chef, Gavin. Guided by Gavin's expertise and enthusiasm, the 3rd graders learned the process of creating ice cream from scratch, discovering new ingredients and techniques along the way. This initiative not only introduced students to a world of diverse foods but also showed them the fun of culinary creativity and the excitement that comes with trying something new.

Our FCS 4th and 5th graders are learning the value of gratitude through a special project that encourages them to take notice of the specific, wonderful things in their lives. In this activity, they pause and reflect on the people, places, and moments that bring them joy, giving each student the chance to appreciate the details that often go overlooked. By actively noticing these positives, they develop a skill that benefits them far beyond the classroom—a habit of gratitude that can uplift their spirits and strengthen their resilience. This project teaches them that making time to recognize what we’re grateful for is a meaningful practice that enriches our lives and helps us focus on what truly matters.

Our dedicated kitchen team, Gavin Bicknell (who joined us last month from Beeman Elementary School) and Riley Cunningham, work tirelessly each day to provide delicious and nutritious meals for everyone in our community. With skill and commitment, Gavin and Riley ensure every dish is crafted with care, bringing fresh, wholesome ingredients together into balanced meals that satisfy and energize our students. They have created initiatives to encourage students to try new foods. Gavin and Riley’s teamwork and creativity are evident in every meal, and their dedication ensures that everyone feels nourished and cared for.

In our kindergarten classrooms, FCS students dive into arts and crafts with colorful paper, paint, glue, and crayons. They explore their creativity and experiment with shapes and colors to create unique masterpieces. Through this hands-on activity, they’re not only refining their fine motor skills and dexterity, but also learning the beauty of "happy accidents"—a smudged paint stroke or a crooked cut becomes an opportunity to add a new detail or layer to their work. This process of turning mistakes into something beautiful teaches them resilience and imagination, inspiring a sense of pride in their creations and an understanding that what we consider "mistakes" often make things even more amazing.

We spent an unforgettable afternoon outdoors, celebrating our students' growth and the skills they've been mastering. Under a beautiful, clear sky, students enjoyed flying kites that danced in the breeze, laughing as they attempted the limbo, building creative forts in the woods, and crafting paper airplanes to soar alongside their kites. There were arts and crafts stations that sparked creativity and encouraged students to bond and work together. The stunning weather made it all the more special, adding warmth to an already wonderful day. Moments like these remind us of the joy and connection that come from shared experiences and the importance of learning beyond the classroom.

Our 17th annual Hike for Hunger was a meaningful and memorable event, as we walked together along the stunning trails at Basin Harbor. The natural beauty of the surroundings added to the sense of purpose as students, staff, and community members gathered to raise awareness for those in need. Thanks to the generosity of Basin Harbor for sharing their scenic paths and to Betcha Transport for providing the buses, we were able to make this event a reality for our 17th year. The Hike for Hunger serves as a powerful way to teach our students that everyone can face challenges and that offering help is both a responsibility and a privilege. It was truly inspiring to see everyone come together for such an important cause, embodying the spirit of empathy and community support.

Abby Dayton, our compassionate and dedicated school counselor, has quickly become an invaluable part of our school community. Known for her warm smile and willingness to help, Abby is always there for students, offering a listening ear and thoughtful guidance. Her genuine care for each individual shines through in every interaction, whether she's helping students navigate challenges in classrooms, supporting students in her calm office space or teaching lessons on SEL in classrooms. Abby’s presence has brought a sense of comfort and connection to our school, and her dedication to making a positive impact is truly appreciated by all.

As you all know, we have had spectacular weather this fall.

Many of our teachers have built in breaks throughout the day so that students can get some of the glorious fresh air. They play games, lead races and do academics outside so our students can get some much needed sunshine. 

Please bring in your canned food and dry good donations anytime this week before our Hike for Hunger on October 31st. 

Thank you to our amazing first grade teacher Kathy Pudvar who has been spearheading this effort for many years.  

FCS had another great fire safety day thanks to the wonderful staff of the fire department. Our students learned what to do to prevent fires and to respond in case of the fire. One reminder is that if you need help with your fire or CO2 alarms, the fire department can help! Thank you to our helpful and committed volunteer Fire Department!

Our second graders have adopted a calf from a local farm and are excited to watch it grow as they learn more about it and the farm that it lives on. When the second graders got to see the first pictures of the calf, all the neighboring classrooms heard their cheers of delight!

Our music teacher Mz. Noble and fourth grader Keighan Franklin taught our whole school about the importance of being a good sport when playing a game. (Keighan has been beating most adults in our school at chess since he was in second grade- including me, many times.) Before playing a game, we like to predict what might feel hard for our students and both prepare them for emotions that they might feel and also teach explicit strategies for managing those emotions so that we can enjoy playing games together in our community!

After visiting the Bixby library, parent and volunteer Liz Rudnicki read a story to our Wild Group. The book is amazing and I recommend you listen to it with your family!

We visited the 4 H Becky Allen Farm and saw a baby cow which had been born only hours before our visit. We learned about the farm and the process of milking and taking care of animals. Our students were amazed at the baby cows and we loved seeing them have this new experience and understanding of how agriculture shapes our community and the way we eat. 

Approximately 30 students hiked up (and down!) Mt. Philo in Charlotte on Wednesday during our early release day. Every student showed perseverance and joyfully made it to the top.  Once at the top, students wrote group poetry about all the things they saw, felt, smelled and heard while on the hike.   They used adjectives to describe what they experienced. This is what "Words in the Wild" means to us at FCS!

We had such a wonderful time at out FCS Harvest Garden and Fundraiser. Check out next week's Addison Independent for an article about this great event.  The funds raised will go to supporting our Words in the Wild field trips this year.

Thank you to all who came. We are planning more opportunities for families to get together at FCS this year. If you would like to be involved in the planning or implementation of these events, please let us know!

Thank you!

We want to take a moment to celebrate and express our deepest gratitude to Anthony Barrett, our incredible school custodian. Mr. Anthony is more than the person who keeps our school clean and safe; his hard work, dedication, and kindness make a lasting impact on all of us—students, teachers, and staff alike. He is a role model for how to care for your community. Whether it’s through his friendly smile, his willingness to lend a hand, or his tireless efforts to ensure our school is a welcoming place, Mr. Anthony shows us every day what it means to truly care. We are so fortunate to have him as part of our school family. Thank you, Mr. Anthony, for all that you do!

The other day, a parent told me their child has randomly started reciting the four skills to them after dinner. They said, "I'm not sure I learned all these skills myself in school, but I'm so glad my kid knows it is important to consider others and to connect with other people." I agree that the four skills are life long learning curves and that on some days we are all better at them than on other days.

I think each skill is relevant to our lives and connected with one another. For example, if we have considered someone but haven't communicated that to them effectively (in a way that they can hear, experience and feel) then our consideration may not have done them much good. However, at the heart of a meaningful life are the connections we make and sustain. We hope our Garden Party will be an opportunity to make connections with others in our community!

Mayor Chris Bearor joined us for an assembly and shared his pride and excitement about the FCS swimmers who did swim team this summer. We are so proud of our students and grateful for all the coaches who support them in persevering. I am glad all our students got to hear about the swim team experience and are perhaps inspired to join!

Our third grade teachers Lydia Kenney and Rachel Stein are hard at work planning engaging and interdisciplinary instruction for our third grade cohort. These dynamic teachers are co-planning math and literacy in order to reach each individual student. We strive to individualize learning experiences for our students so that everyone feels positive aout their learning and challenged at their "growth edge". In schools we use the phrase "growth edge" to describe the place where students can best access their next level of learning. These teachers have some fun ideas in the works, so stay tuned for exciting projects in the third grade!

We talk a lot at FCS about how we are always growing skills. We try to remove any sense of judgement from this (either internal or external) because we know that feeling shame doesn't help us grow very well. Also, we want to meet everyone (including ourselves) where we are, so that we can keep growing our skills in a healthy and positive way.  We all already have so many skills- it is also important to remember how much we currently know how to do! What incredible humans we all are! And how fun it is to keep growing and changing as we learn more about ourselves and the world around us! 

Our lettuce babies are growing, thanks to our first grade class planting the seeds and nurturing them until we could transplant them!

Last year we fed our school many times with the lettuce from our hydroponic lettuce grower. We are so lucky to have parent volunteers come help us with managing our amazing lettuce machine. If this is something you'd like to help with, please let us know!

Sometimes at school we say "name it to tame it" to encourage the act of naming how we feel or what we want. Just saying aloud to someone how you feel can take some of the stress and urgency out of the emotion. It also reminds us to effectively communicate what we need and consider what others need as we work to make space for everyone in our community.

This can be challenging and it takes practice, so it's great to start practicing early. We know that skills we learn early often stick with us throughout our lives. We strongly believe that teaching this important skill early will support students in their lifelong skill development. We encourage you to model this to your children by talking about yourself, your values and your priorities. Talking about your emotions and the startegies you use to calm down when upset is very powerful for kids. For example, "I am feeling stressed so I am going to take a few breaths to calm down." This can help them to grow the skill to share with you who they are, what they need and how they feel.

Our first skill at FCS is "I know myself.

One of things that makes a community healthy is that we all have different strengths, interests and motivations, but this can also be challenging if we don’t spend time reflecting on what we “know” about ourselves and share that knowledge with others. It is easy for assumptions and misunderstandings to happen. For example, if something is easy for us, it can be hard to imagine how hard it might be for others.  We all process experiences differently- some people process a hard day by talking about it, others write in their journal and others might take a run.  Sometimes it’s hard to understand that others may have very different values than we do. 

 The mere act of communicating “this is important to me and that’s why I am choosing this” can help us connect with others even if they have different values or actions.    

Last year someone called the school from the New Zealand(!) school board and told me they had heard of our amazing school compost program and were hoping to learn more during a visit to Vermont. be honest, I kindof asuumed this wouldn't really happen, until a couple months later, when there they were at the school hoping for a tour of our world renowned compost system. Now that Judy Elson has left for our middle school, Liz Rudnicki, parent of FCS students Charlie and Lila, is helping keep the compost alive with the support of some incredible, strong and committed students. If you want to get involved in our compost program, please reach out to epalin@gmail.com.

On Wednesday during our all school morning meeting, Tucker, the education director from the Rokeby museum, joined our school via google meet and talked to us about the wonderful aspects of the museum and our town's fascinating history. We will all get to visit the Rokeby in person with our WILD Groups on our early release days. It is so special that we get to have a world class museum celebrating such incredible history in our town. I learned so much through Tucker's virtual visit. Ask your children where, how and why the Robinson family got ice for their ice house. This made me much more grateful for my fridge and freezer! (Unfortunately our 4th and 5th graders weren't able to join but we are sharing this information with them at a later time!)   

Our second graders read by flashlight in the classroom on Friday. Second grade is a BIG year for learning to read and we utilize a structured "Orton Gillingham" reading approach to systematically teach letter sounds and other spelling patterns in Kindergarten through 2nd grade. Although all studnts grow skills at different rates, in second grade we often see students put all these learned skills together and start to read on their own.  When given opportunities at home and at school, they develop a love for reading books that are at their reading level. Flashlight Fridays brings an excitement about reading into the classroom and is something you and your family can try at home too! As the evenings get darker earlier and earlier, you can find magical moments by turning off the lights, lighting a candle, getting a flashlight/booklight and reading together. This year we are thinking about the ways routines can become rituals by adding levels of meaning and uniqueness into our routine tasks. You can share your family rituals by emailing Rae or by messaging the instagram page. We would love to share some of the special rituals you and your families have with other families and with our teachers.  We hope you have a beautiful weekend!    

Through our FCS theme of Words in the Wild, and our structured literacy programming inside homeroom classes, we will continue to bring the love of reading into our school. Nothing makes us happier than seeing children find a book they love and losing themselves in its pages. 

WORDS IN THE WILD 

Ferrisburgh Central School Thematic Learning Experiences

The "Words in the Wild" theme at Ferrisburgh Central School offers an immersive experiential learning opportunity that combines nature, wilderness exploration, and creative expression. Students engage in writing, reading, and content creation activities set both at the school and in the broader community, allowing them to connect with local museums, farms and the natural environment. This unique program encourages personal growth in mixed age and homeroom centered groupings and provides many opportunities for skill development, fostering deeper self-awareness and meaningful connections with others. Through this hands-on experience, students not only enhance their literacy skills but also cultivate a profound appreciation for the world around them.

• There are 3 layers to our Words in the Wild Theme. 

• Layer 1 is twice yearly Ferrisburgh Forest Fridays homeroom trips to WIllowell campus in Bristol. 

• Layer 2 is five different expeditions(some at school and some away from school) where Wild groups (which are approximately 17 K-5th grade mixed age students) will either stay at school for unique experiences or will travel into the community to do field work.

• Layer 3 is a flexible way that other homeroom lessons, units, activities and trips will align with our theme and encourage place based learning experiences.

Hi there young artists and families! My name is Carter Visicaro but students mostly call me Mr. V. I recently graduated from the University of Vermont, and am really looking forward to being your new art teacher this upcoming school year! For the past year I have been an outdoor educator at Crow's Path in Burlington, and love everything to do with the outdoors, and combining art with nature! I enjoy painting, photography, rock climbing, snowboarding and whittling! I am excited to meet you all, have some fun classes and create some incredible artwork!

Hello FCS families and friends! My name is Hannah Nowak and I am very excited to join your community as a fourth and fifth grade teacher. I am originally from Chicago, but fell in love with Vermont while studying at UVM. There I obtained my Bachelors of Science in Education and amazing experience working and learning in schools around Chittenden County. When I am not teaching, I love to read, bake, craft, and spend as much time as I can outside hiking, swimming, or just relaxing in my hammock. I am looking forward to teaching and growing with your students, and cannot wait to get to know all of you!

Greetings FCS! As an elementary counselor, I'm passionate about supporting social-emotional school initiatives and fostering wellbeing in students. Originally from Syracuse, NY, I hold a bachelor's degree in psychology and education studies from Hamilton College. After teaching in Washington, D.C., I decided to go back to school to receive my master's degree in elementary school counseling from the University of Virginia where I specialized in mental health leadership. In my free time I love to hike, read, and enjoy a good cup of tea. I look forward to joining the Ferrisburgh school community!

Rachel joins ANWSD from the Burlington School District where she taught 2nd grade.  She earned her master's degree in education focusing on curriculum in 2020.  Her passions are outdoor education, service learning, teaching math and reading, and anything to do with dogs.  When she is not teaching, you can find her active with her friends and family- hiking, biking, swimming, or skiing. She is so excited to join the Ferrisburgh Central School family as a 3rd grade teacher.