10.18

 

Hi All, 

I hope that you all had a good weekend. I wanted you all to know that I was thinking about you this weekend. As we process another school tragedy please know that I am thinking of you. Remember to take media breaks if necessary and check in with yourself to make sure you have what you need. I also wanted to share a few resources in case this there are questions for your students.

https://www.today.com/parents/how-talk-children-about-shootings-age-age-guide-t59626

https://www.instagram.com/p/DemdQ9EFLOJ/?img_index=2

https://www.sandyhookpromise.org/resources/ways-to-help/help-children-cope-with-gun-violence-tragedy/

News and Announcements

• Lunch/Recess on Early Dismissal 
• K-2 Lunch 11:20-11:50 
• 3-6 Lunch 11:50-12:20 

• 3-6 Recess 11:20-11:50 
• 3-6 Lunch 11:50-12:20
• Act 139 Letters (K-3)
• As you know, we are required by law to inform parents of their child's progress on our reading assessments. 
• Last year, we decided to not send letters home in early Fall. We will only send letters home in January and at the end of the year. 
• For now: 
• Please plan on having a conversation with children who are in the "red" on acadience at Family Conferences.
• Please inform them that there will be formal letters home in January if their child is still in the red 
• Observations
• As part of our supervision and evaluation process I wanted to share with you all that I will be performing documented informal observations of classrooms. 
• Here is a preview of vector informal observation form. 
• Once I have completed the informal observation I will try to connect with you and then share the form.
• The best way our instructional practice shifts is via feedback and conversational practice. 
• Regulation Stations
• Please make sure that your regulation cards are up in your classroom. We want students to try to utilize them to as a tool to be more ready to access their learning. 
• Reminders---Paw Cup Challenge 
• We only have 4 cups filled. The PBiS team wants to remind you that the positive to corrective ratio should be 5:1. 5 positives to one correction. 
• All behavior is communication/data.

                                                         

• Goals Meetings---Thank you to those of you who gotten this done.  
• If you have NOT had a meeting with me and are a licensed educator please make an appointment with me ASAP. I will be sending emails this week to remind you of the responsibility.  

Please see this email from Jennifer Miller-Arsenault 

Hi, elementary teachers and paraeducators--

I am writing to share some information about our upcoming half day for professional learning on Wednesday, October 21.

Elementary paraeducators will meet at U-32 from 1:30-3:30 to engage in Medicaid training and pre-work to prepare for the upcoming professional learning session with Danielle Kent on November 6.

Pre-K staff will meet at East Montpelier Elementary School for a workshop with Danielle Kent from 1:30-3:30.  Teachers will then attend a workshop about executive functioning from 3:30-4:45.

Allied arts teachers, school counselors, and nurses will meet at Berlin Elementary from 1:30-4:45 for self-facilitated subject alike time.

Literacy and math strand participants, including principals, will meet at East Montpelier Elementary School from 1:30-4:45.  They will spend time in strands and two workshops, one regarding executive functioning and another regarding professional learning communities.

Please see the table below for more details, and please reach out if you have any questions or concerns.

Thank you,

Jen

October 21, 2026 1:30-4:45 p.m.
Group	Times and Topics	Location	Notes
Elementary allied arts teachers, school counselors, and nurses	Subject alike time with colleagues	Berlin Elementary	Self-facilitated
Pre-K staff	Workshop with Danielle Kent Executive Functioning Workshop	East Montpelier Elementary School (EMES) music room EMES gym	1:30- 3:30 pm 3:30-4:45 p.m.
Elementary paraeductors	1:30-2:30 Medicaid training for all paraeducators 2:30-3:30 Self-differentiated learning	U-32 Room # TBD U-32 Room # TBD	Medicaid training facilitated by Julia Pritchard, Lynnea Timpone, and Becky Bicknell Pre-work to prepare for November 6 session with Danielle Kent supported by Julia Pritchard
Literacy and math strand participants	1:30-1:50 Anchor and Intentional Welcome in Strands 1:55-2:55 Executive Functioning Workshop (Literacy) and Building Based PLC Workshop (Math) 2:55-3:15 Debrief in Strands 3:15-3:30 Break 3:30-4:30 Building Based PLC Workshop (Literacy) and Executive Functioning Workshop (Math) 4:30-4:45 Debrief and Closure in Strands	East Montpelier Elementary School (EMES) Literacy starts in gym Math starts in library	Time in strands facilitated by teacher leaders Executive Functioning workshop facilitated by Michael Sherwin Building based PLC workshop facilitated by Jen Miller-Arsenault Principals participate in strands Math and lit folks will receive folders; handouts can be put in the folders Participants should bring writing utensil, highlighter, headphones for self-differentiated learning time

Weekly Bobcat Beat 

What's happening at BES?

Monday 10/19	JoAn Canning visit to BES 8:45 Kindergarten Meeting 2:15-3:15
Tuesday 10/20	First Grade Meeting 12:10-1:10 Para Monthly 3:30-4:30 **Music Room
Wednesday 10/21	Wednesday Morning PD (Group B) 4-6 Early Release 12:30 Dismissal
Thursday  10/22	4/5 Meeting (planning)  Second Grade 12:10-1:10
Friday 10/23	Trunk or Treat 5:00-6:30

Where is Celia?

Monday 10/19	Student meetings 8:15-8:45 Meeting with JoAn 8:45-9:45  PK Team Meeting 11:30-12:30  Bec/Celia Check in 10:00-11:00
Tuesday 10/20	WCLT ***Celia out until 12:30  First Grade Team 12:10-1:10 Julia/Jen Meeting 1:30-2:30  Julia Meeting 2:30-3:00 Para Monthly 3:30-4:30
Wednesday 10/21	3rd Grade Team Meeting 11:00-12:00 Morning PLC (4-6) Nuts and Bolts 1:15-2:00 Staff Meeting 3:10-4:45
Thursday  10/22	Student Meeting 8:15-9:15  Steph/Celia Check in 11:20-11:50  Student Meeting 12:00-1:00 2nd Grade Team 12:10-1:10 Student Meeting 2:45-3:30  Student Meeting 3:30-4:15 SST Meeting 4:00-6:00
Friday 10/23	Lunch Duty 12:10-12:40  BES SST 1:00-2:00 BEDC Check in 2:00  Trunk or Treat 5:00-6:30

10.11

Hi All,

I hope that you all are having a good weekend. Last week was a busy one and I am grateful for the extra day this week to get settled and ready for the 4 days ahead. I want to congratulate the 3 classes the finished their challenge cups. We saw an increase in expected behavior overall this week. 

I wanted to share another HUGE thank you to you all for making the relocation drill so efficient. I was wildly impressed with how fast you all were and how wonderful our kids were. As a reminder we are collecting feedback here on the drill.

Tyler, Chuck and I stayed behind and talked with Chief Staub for a bit. We have some changes and options for when we do this drill again in the spring and are there for a more extended period of time. 

Upcoming Drills:

• Bus Evacuation---Friday Morning 10/16. Students may be a smidge late for class. 
• Schoolwide "Run" Drill---We need to decide on a date. **Needs to be done by end of Oct. The guidance for teachers is here and there is a sample letter that I will be sending home to families. 
• "Run" Drill Guidance (Year 4) Teachers
• "Run" Drill Guidance (Year 4) Families 

News and Announcements:

• Reminders:
•  Please ensure that you are following the LCAP dates carefully. There is increased state oversight and they are ensuring carefully that we are adhering to our CIP plans and following our LCAP plan. 
• Dressing for weather: Adults and students should both be ready for the elements at recess duty. Please make sure that you have appropriate clothing for duty (shoes, jackets, etc.)
• Cellphones: To the greatest extent possible. Personal use cellphones should NOT be out in the presence of students. This is in accordance with new state law. Using of cellphones during the work day when it is not a break time or your personal lunch could result in disciplinary action. If you have or need an accomodation please come to me so we can make a plan. 
• Examples of Use:
• utilizing a phone as a timer is an acceptable use of a phone.
• utilizing a phone to text someone, play a game or scroll social media is not an acceptable use.
• Whole School Meeting: We only filled 3 cups last week so I will wait until the others are full to call for our all school meeting. Whenever we get the last cup I will call for an end of day ASM. 
• Goals Meetings: I see a few more goals meetings in my calendar. I am still missing quite a few. Please make those meetings ASAP. 
• Meetings: 
• This week we will have K-3 Meeting on Wednesday morning.
• 4,5,6, will have their team meetings during their alotted time.
• Please note: if you provide coverage to a classroom for a team meeting time please check in with the teacher. Some teams are choosing to continue to meet weekly and may still need short moments of coverage.   
• Please see this great resource for reminders of specific language with students: 
• Resource Here
  
• Therapy Dogs: Please see Jessica Maurais' below:
• Many of the students met Max, the therapy dog who will be coming into the building. I am putting together a list of students who would benefit from spending time with Max. Max can be here as a reading buddy. He can be used as an incentive for some students as well. For now, it looks like we will only have one dog in the building. I am going to try to see about having him here twice a week. If that is the case, one day can be for grades K-3 and one for 4-6. I am asking for a list of students that you feel would benefit from spending time with Max. Also, if you have any concerns or questions, please let me know.

• As a reminder please review the Conflict Resolution Document that was created last year. As always, if there is something that falls outside of our professional conduct agreements, please bring it directly to my attention. 
• Please see the email below from Cassie at VTCLiF Organization 
• Greetings all,
  I’m happy to share that the Year of the Book literacy enrichment mini-grant application is live and available here: https://bit.ly/YOBminigrants26-27
  
  
  Applications will be due December 15, 2026 - please share with all of your colleagues! You are responsible for letting staff know about this funding opportunity.
  
  
  • Up to $2,000 worth of funding school-wide: An individual teacher, educator, or staff member may submit a single proposal for up to $400. Multiple educators can combine forces to ask for more money (i.e. two teachers or a grade level team can submit a joint application for up to $800). We will award up to $2,000 in mini-grants total for each school. 

  • Activities to make reading and writing FUN: Educators can submit proposals that are project-oriented and/or enhance & enrich their existing curriculum connecting to literacy. They can ask for books as part of the grant, but it should be in support a larger project that will help develop a love of reading and writing. Field trips, admission costs, supplies, curriculum kits, costumes, book self-publishing expenses, games, professional development, and visiting artists/museums are all eligible expenses.

  • Examples of Success Projects: Need some ideas or inspiration? See this list from past YOB mini-grant projects.

  • Selection Process: Educators submit proposals directly to CLiF which I will share with you to track submissions. If there’s a scenario where more people apply than funds are available, I’ll communicate with you and we’ll figure out a way to make sure everyone gets funded or decide if there are applications that don’t fit the criteria.

  Be in touch if you have further questions,

  Cassie

Updates from the PTNA:

Happy Fall!

Our October PTNA meeting was focused on planning the upcoming Fall Festival and Trunk or Treat (see minutes here).  Join us on Friday, October 23rd from 5-6:30 for bounce houses, games, snacks, and a Trunk or Treat!  Please consider signing up to volunteer or bring some treats using the button below.

https://www.signupgenius.com/go/20F0D4EAAAF29A2F4C52-65579834-fall

Our next PTNA meeting will be held in the library on Thursday, November 12th from 6-7:30pm.  During the November meeting, we will debrief on the Fall Festival and start planning the Holiday Bazaar.  Feel free to join us or email Admin@BerlinPTNA.com for more info.

As always, you can find everything PTNA related at our website: https://www.berlinptna.com/, including upcoming events, officers, mission, donations and more.

Finally, don't forget that we have a school store that is open all year long. Click the button below to get your Berlin Bobcat gear to show your school spirit!  

https://teamlocker.squadlocker.com/stores/berlin-elementary-spiritwear#/lockers/berlin-elementary-spiritwear

See you soon!
Your BES PTNA

__________________________________________________________________________________________

Weekly Bobcat Beat

What's happening at BES?

Monday 10/11	No School--Indigenous People's Day
Tuesday 10/12	First Grade Meeting 12:10-1:10
Wednesday 10/13	Wednesday Morning PD (Group A) K-3 8:15-9:30 Staff Meeting- 3:10-4:45
Thursday  10/14	4/5 Team Meeting 8:15-9:15 Second Grade 12:10-1:10
Friday 10/15	Year of the Book Committee Meeting 8:15 Sixth Grade Team Meeting 8:15-9:15  **Bus Evacuation Drill 8:45-9:00

Where is Celia?

Monday 10/11	No School
Tuesday 10/12	Goals Meeting 8:30 Goals Meeting 11:30 First Grade Team 12:10-1:10 1:30 Observation Meeting
Wednesday 10/13	Morning PLC (K-3) Community Partner Meeting 12:00-12:30 Nuts and Bolts 1:15-2:00 Staff Meeting 3:10-4:45
Thursday  10/14	4/5 Team Meeting 8:15-9:15 Goals Meeting 8:30  Observation 9:20-10:20  Goals Meeting 11:10 Student Meeting 11:40 2nd Grade Team 12:10-1:10 BEDC Check In 1:15-1:45
Friday 10/15	6th Grade Team Meeting 8:15 Lunch Duty 12:10-12:40  BES SST 1:00-2:00 BEDC Check in 2:00  MLSS and Community School 2:30-3:30

10.4

Hi All, 

I hope that you all are enjoying this picture perfect weekend. We took the boat out yesterday for a foliage ride. Being in my favorite place with some of my favorite people is good for the soul. I'm feeling grateful for the beauty of the state we get to call home. I hope that you too got to do something that was bucket filling this weekend. This week's blog has a lot of information so please read carefully. 

I know last week was stressful (indoor recess...) and you all rocked open house. I wanted to take a minute to share a few Berlin stories: 

• There is a growing group of adults who are thinking creatively about community connected learning. Tyler and Amadeus are working hard to loop in community partners and make BES Disc Golf truly a community experience. As they are connecting with other teachers and supporters they are finding lots of enthusiasim and creative thinking.
• We have a wonderful plan with our Autumn Lee, our social work intern, she is already meeting with families and will be the lead on food supports for our community this year. 
• I am seeing teachers think about student supports differently. In a team meeting last week we uncovered some interesting strategies and supports for our students that we might not have thought about.  

Even when it feels stressful you all are thinking about students and working hard to think about things different and try new things. I appreciate that deeply. 

News and Announcements 

• Licensed Staff: I need you to set goals meetings with me ASAP. Thank you. Check in with Lori and she can find you a time slot. 
• Team Meeting Structure: 
• I've been thinking a lot about how to make our schedule and meetings feel most productive. Here's my proposal: 
• Grade Level team meetings happen every other week. 
• Your Grade Level Team meets on the week you don't have Wednesday morning meeting. Essentially, we'll operate on an A/B week schedule.
• My hope is that this will free up a little bit of time during your week and still provide us with a solid structure for moving professional work forward. 
• We will start this structure next week: 
• This week:
• we will have ONLY team meetings. There will be no Wednesday morning meeting for either grade level because I am out for a doctor's appointment with Rowan. 
• Next week: 
• K-3 meet Wednesday morning 
• 4-6 will have their team meeting
• The 4/5 Team Meeting has been changed from Tuesday morning to Thursday morning from now on. 
• All School Meeting: 
• We will have our All School Meeting on Friday afternoon from 2:50-3:20 
• Relocation Drill: 
• We are all set for our Relocation Drill on Thursday, October 8th starting at 9:30. The firehouse will have the trucks out of the bays for us. Here is the document for your review. We will have a few minutes at staff meeting to go over any questions you may have.  
• From PBIS:
• For the next week we are going to ask that each staff member picks one of the three focus areas to pick as a challenge for yourself/your class. There are supporting materials and links to help! 
• On Monday, you will be given a paw challenge cup. If every class fills there paw challenge up we will get a whole school celebration. Please return the "ticket" to the front office when your challenge cup is full. 
• We'd encourage you to pick an area that feels most sticky for your class right now.  
• Remember, clear and consistent is kind for our students. Practice, reinforce, practice, reinforce. 
• We will check in on progress at staff meeting on Wednesday. 
• Language Reminders: 
• Please make sure to keep adult conversations out of the presence of students. 
• Venting about other student behavior or about a specific student's behavior in front of the students isn't okay. 
• Ask for a "tap out" if you need it. Be mindful of your word choice "can't, won't, these kids..." etc. 
• Behavior Reminders: 
• In our building we respond to sticky behavior by: 
• Getting on the students level (side by side, or directly at their level if they are smaller than us) 
• We offer a calm redirection. "Try again, Show me, It helps the class when..."  
• We use a low voice. Low and slow when a student is escalated. 
• Ashlyn spent some time updating the Reading Resources page on the BES Staff Website. Take a peek! 

 Upcoming Events: 

• October 8th-- Relocation Drill 
• October 14th-- Library Night 
• October 21st-- Half Day Early Release 
• October 23rd-- Trunk or Treat 

Weekly Bobcat Beat

What's happening at BES?

Monday 10/5	HJC Meeting 8:15-8:45  Kindergarten Team Meeting 2:15-3:15
Tuesday 10/6	First Grade 12:10-1:10
Wednesday 10/7	Wednesday Morning PD (Group A) K-3 8:15-9:30 Third Grade Team Meeting 11:00-12:00 Staff Meeting- 3:10-4:45 Board Meeting 6:15-8:00 at EMES
Thursday  10/8	4/5 Team Meeting 8:15-9:15 Relocation Drill 9:30-10:15 Second Grade 12:10-1:10
Friday 10/9	Year of the Book Committee Meeting 8:15 Sixth Grade Team Meeting 8:15-9:15

Where is Celia?

Monday 10/5	Student Meeting 8:00  Bec and Celia Check in 10:00 Food Meeting 11:00-11:30  PK Team Meeting 11:30-12:00  Board Meeting Prep 12:10-1:00  K Team Meeting 2:15-3:15 Student Meeting 3:30-4:15
Tuesday 10/6	***Behavioral Threat Assessment Training*** I will be in and I will have the door closed much of the day for this state required training.  Student Meeting 8:15-9:00 1st Grade Team Meeting 12:10-1:10  Student Meeting 2:00-3:00
Wednesday 10/7	Celia Out until 12:00 (maybe earlier)  Nuts and Bolts 1:15-2:00 Staff Meeting 3:10-4:45 Board Meeting at EMES
Thursday  10/8	4/5 Team Meeting 8:15-9:15 2nd Grade Team 12:10-1:10
Friday 10/9	6th Grade Team Meeting 8:15 Lunch Duty 12:10-12:40  BES SST 1:00-2:00 BEDC Check in 2:00

9.27

Hi All, 

I hope that you all are enjoying this weekend. Somehow it is almost October! Holy moly.  This dreary day has me with a bit of the "fall scaries." I'm not feeling quite ready to let go of the sunshine.  I wanted to let you know that this week Rowan has a previously scheduled ENT/Audiology appointment so I will be out of the building for half a day on Friday. I plan to be back around lunchtime. 

News and Announcements: 

• Vector Goals---I've had two meetings! :) Pop into my calendar and set up some time to connect about goals. All meetings must be done by the 15th of October.
• Relocation Drill--This will be happening on Thursday October, 8th. 
• Staff Website/Blog Links: The staff website is continuing to be updated with meeting times and resources. Additionally, if you click the links at the top of the blog it will bring you to the website and the school year 26-27 folder that has much of our information.
• If you see something that is not correct or needs to be changed please let me know! 
• Reminders that the tabs on the side of our meetings list has coverage for meetings.
• Grade Level Team Attendance: 

Team	Time	Day	Members
Kindergarten	2:15-3:15	Monday	Megan M. Ashlyn  Tyler S Jessica H  Jennifer C
First	12:10-1:10	Tuesday	Megan M.   Ashlyn  Tyler S.  Jessica H.  Jennifer C
Second	12:10-1:10	Thursday	Katherine  Ashlyn S  Tyler  Jessica H  Amadeus
Third	11:00-12:00	Wednesday	Katherine   Jessica E Tyler Jessica H  Amadeus
Four/Five	8:10-9:10	Tuesday	Megan  Jessica E Tyler Jessica H.    Jessica M.
Six	8:15-9:15	Friday	Katherine  Jessica E Jessica H  Tyler S Jessica M

• Email from Jessie: As mentioned during inservice days, I am trying to open up the Makerspace to all students. If you are interested in having your students use the Makerspace for a project please fill out the following form: https://forms.gle/TxhbDyFx2qE6RUoS9. I will be happy to collaborate a time to host your class in the library to use said Makerspace. This lesson would be in addition to your class library time. 
• I would add that the makerspace is a highly popular session with the BEDC
• Reminder about LCAP Schedule: 

September
Concepts of Print Kindergarten Early Literacy Assessments	Reading	September 8- October 2 First 8 questions
Acadience Reading Benchmark 1	Reading	September 8-October 2
i-Ready Diagnostic This is optional.	Math	September 8-October 2
DESSA	Social and Emotional Learning	September 28-October 9

Resources:

• Great podcast about early RC work in an allied arts space: https://www.responsiveclassroom.org/videos-and-webinars/
• Quick Energizer Game
• Mindfulness Ideas--Responsive Classroom
• Open House: I will order pizzas and have some pizza for you available after staff meeting and before the Open House. 

Reminders: 

• 9/30 First District PD Day 
• 9/30 Open House 5:30-6:30 
• 10/21 Half Day Dismissal 

Weekly Bobcat Beat

What's happening at BES?

Monday 9/28	HJC Meeting 8:15-8:45  Kindergarten Team Meeting 2:15-3:15
Tuesday 9/29	4/5 Team Meeting 8:10-9:10  First Grade 12:10-1:10
Wednesday 9/30	Wednesday Morning PD (Group A) K-3 8:15-9:30 Third Grade Team Meeting 11:00-12:00 Staff Meeting--All District PD 3:10-4:45 ESP we will meet in the Art room from 3:10-3:40 Literacy Strand---Meets in Literacy Room  Math Strand--- Meets in Math Room Allied Arts---Meet at EMES Open House 5:30-6:30
Thursday  10/1	Second Grade 12:10-1:10
Friday 10/2	Sixth Grade Team Meeting 8:15-9:15

Where is Celia?

Monday 9/28	Student Meeting 9:00-9:45  Bec and Celia Check in 10:00 SST 10:45-11:45 Student Meeting 11:40-12:10  Student Meeting 12:30-1:30  K Team Meeting 2:15-3:15
Tuesday 9/29	WCLT---Celia Out until 12:30 1st Grade Team Meeting 12:00-1:00  Goals Meeting 3:30-4:00
Wednesday 9/30	Group A (K-3) Meeting time 8:15 3rd Grade Team Meeting 11:00-12:00 Nuts and Bolts 1:15-2:00 Staff Meeting 3:10-4:45 Open House
Thursday  10/1	Safety Team Meeting 9:00-10:00 2nd Grade Team 12:10-1:10 Celia/Kim Check In 1:10-2:00
Friday 10/2	**Celia out Until 11:30 Lunch Duty 12:10-12:40  BES SST 1:00-2:00 BEDC Check in 2:00