6.14

 

Hi All, 

I hope that you enjoyed the gift that was this beautiful weekend! I saw this poem and felt that it was exactly what I needed. Oh my goodness. It has been a wild few weeks and the next three days are no different. I appreciate all of your flexibility and willingness to help out. 

News and Announcements: 

• Reminders: Both ESY and CC Summer Camp will be running in our building. 
• ESY will be utilizing the library and the following classrooms: 
• Downing
• Velez 
• Rob 
• Both PK spaces 
• Literacy Intervention Room 
• ESY runs from 9-2, 4 days a week
• July 6-9 
• July 13-16
• July 20- 23
• I believe CC will mostly be utilizing the Art/Music spaces.  
• Paraprofessional Inservice Days per Julia P's Email 
• August 24 & 25
• November 6
• January 15
• June 11

• Wednesday Schedule  
• Step-Up will be from 9:30-10:00 on Wednesday 
• Whole School Meeting will run from 10:00-10:30  
• We will watch the video that you all created (sooo sweet!) and then I will have treats for teachers to bring back to their classroom. 
• Lunch/Recess 
• 11:15-11:45 
• 11:45-12:15
• 6th Grade Send Off
• As is tradition the whole school will usher the 6th graders out of the building on Wednesday. We will have music playing and they will be celebrated getting on the busses or being dismissed to their grown-ups. 
• We will ask classes to line up in the 6th grade hallway and down the pathway to the busses. 
• Students who are "Caregiver Pickup" will be lined up and dismissed on the sidewalk in front of the school. 

What's Happening at BES?

Monday 6/15
Tuesday 6/16
Wednesday 6/17	Step Up 9:30-10:00 All School Meeting 10:00-10:30  Luncheon 1:00
Thursday  6/18	Inservice at BES
Friday 6/19	No School

Where is Celia?

Monday 6/15	PE Interviews 8:15-10:45  Goals 10:45  BEDC Interview 2--12:00-12:50  Goals 12:50  Student Meeting 3:00-4:00  Interviews 4:00
Tuesday 6/16	Student Meeting 8:15  Student Meeting 9:00  Schedule Meeting 11:00  SPED Team Meeting 1:00
Wednesday 6/17	Step Up 9:30  All School Meeting 10:00 WCLT Nuts and Bolts 1:00-2:00 Student Meeting 2:00
Thursday  6/18	See Schedule
Friday 6/19	WCLT All Day Meeting

6.7

 

Hi All, 

I hope that you all got some projects done even though it was rainy. I wanted to share a HUGE celebration with you all. This year we had an incredible increase in responses to the WCUUSD Climate Survey from our families. Last year we had 13 responses, this year we had 55. This is a huge anecdotal piece of evidence in our connections with families. They are feeling comfortable taking the time to share with us how they are feeling. We will take some time to unpack the reports as a staff before the end of the year. Thank you for your commitment to ensuring that our families see us as a resource and a place to share. 

I'm waiting on confirmation but UVM may be back here to capture some of the joy and fun of field day/BES picnic on Wednesday. If you'd like to speak with them about our Community Schools Efforts please let me know and I can make a plan for getting you on camera.  

News and Announcements

• Hiring: 
• Art Teacher--- We have moved forward a candidate for this position. Once their hire is confirmed I will send out a bio to you all and to the greater BES community.
• BEDC (Berlin Extended Day Center) Site Director--- We have two candidates and are interviewing folks this week. 
• PE Teacher--- I am looking for folks who want to serve on this committee. If you are interested please let me know. 
• Note: I know this is a crazy time of year and it's important that there are multiple voices on a hiring committee. 
• Field Day: 
• Overview: 
• We will have Den Group rotation stations in the morning. Stations will end around 11:45. 5/6 Students will help clean up the stations from the morning. 
• Lunch Times: 
• 12:00-12:20 PK-- 2nd 
• 12:20-12:40--3/4
• 12:40-1:00 5/6
• From 1:00-2:40 Students will go back to their class groups and will have opportunities to play on the inflatables. Adults will be "supervisors" of stations and will have a set time.   
• Note: I will have a finalized schedule for you tomorrow. 
• Tuesday, June 9th--- This will be a funky day. We will only have K and 3rd and 5th grade in the building. We will consolidate to one lunch/recess hour. 
• All students will go to lunch first 11:40-12:10 and then recess from 12:10-12:40.

What's Happening at BES?

Monday 6/8
Tuesday 6/9
Wednesday 6/10	*Field Day* No Teacher PD  Staff Meeting 3:10-4:45
Thursday  6/11
Friday 6/12	Team Meetings 5/6 Academic

Where is Celia?

Monday 6/8	Goals Meeting 8:15  Union Meeting 9:30-10:15 Captsone Meeting 11:00  Student Meeting 11:00  Interview 12:15  Goals Meeting 1:00  Student Meeting 2:15-3:00 Curriculum Meeting 4:00-5:30
Tuesday 6/9	Meeting with Julia and Heidi 9:00  Goals Meeting 10:00  Student Meeting 10:30-11:15 Interview 1:30
Wednesday 6/10	Teacher PD 8:20-9:20  Meeting with JMA 9:30-10:00 Goals 10:30  Parent Meeting 11:00  WCLT Nuts and Bolts 1:00-2:00 SPED Team Meeting 1:30-3:00
Thursday  6/11	Student Meeting 9:00-10:00 Celia and Susanne 10:00  BES SST 10:00-10:45 Student Meeting 1:00  Student Meeting 2:30-3:30
Friday 6/12	Student Meeting 8:15  Student Meeting 2:00-3:00

5.31

 

Hi All, 

What a weekend. I hope that all the field trips that were planned last week went well. So far the next few weeks look beautiful so let's hope it stays that way! 

News and Announcements

• Reminders: The Report Card Window opens Monday. Report Cards will be mailed home on the 26th of June. 
• Reminders: Reviewing expectations is incredibly important towards the end of the year. I know it feels like groundhog's day however, it's vitally important. Let's end the year in a strong way!
• Data Meetings: This week we will have K-2 Data Meeting on Friday and the following Friday we will have 3-6 Data Meetings. This allows us to see each group before the end of the year. 
• Practice #3, Year 3--- Run, Hide, Fight Please note that the procedure listed here is different than what we agreed upon. That's okay. You will follow the procedure but the classroom teacher will say the commands. There is a document linked in this letter for you to please note the date and time that you will be practicing with your class. We will NOT be practicing as a whole school until the fall. I strongly encourage you to please use the post-drill conversation points.
• Goals Meetings---Please schedule with Lori ASAP. I'm hoping to have them wrapped up by the 12th of June. 
• Hiring Committee Volunteers- We are in need of a hiring team for Site Director for the Berlin Extended Day Center for next year. 
• I don't have a time set yet but can get one set as soon as we have a team up and going. 
• Please let me know if you'd be willing/able to participate in the hiring committee.
• Here are some great summer reading resources as put out by the VPA. Take a peek, I'll be reading at least a few of them! The picture should be clickable to a link for a clearer image of the texts. 
•  

What's Happening at BES?

Monday 6/1	HJC 8:15
Tuesday 6/2
Wednesday 6/3	Teacher PD 8:20-9:20  Staff Meeting 3:10-4:45
Thursday  6/4	Den Groups 2:55-3:25 Den Group Plan
Friday 6/5	Team Meetings K-2 Academic  5/6 Field Trip

Where is Celia?

Monday 6/1	HJC 8:15  Union Check In 9:30 SPED Team 11:40-12:30  Elementary Schedule 1:00-2:00
Tuesday 6/2	WCLT until 11:00 ***Celia Out  Year of the Book 12:00 Student Meeting 1:30-2:30  Student Meeting 2:30-3:15  Student Meeting 3:45-4:45
Wednesday 6/3	Teacher PD 8:20-9:20  Meeting with JMA 9:30-10:00 Goals 10:30  Parent Meeting 11:00  WCLT Nuts and Bolts 1:00-2:00 SPED Team Meeting 1:30-3:00
Thursday  6/4	Student Meeting 9:00-10:00 Celia and Susanne 10:00  BES SST 10:00-10:45 Student Meeting 1:00  Student Meeting 2:30-3:30
Friday 6/5	Student Meeting 8:15  Student Meeting 2:00-3:00

5.25

   

Hi All,

I hope that you all had a good weekend. We're getting into the final countdown as wild as that seems. Let's make sure we stay hydrated, focused and relying on our team and we'll be cruising to the finish line in no time. Let's ride!

Observations from the Field

• An amazing team of teachers supporting our students in multiple performances 
• Staff being extra thoughtful around supporting students
• Staff taking time to review routines even at the end of the year 
• Staff giving clear and actionable feedback 

News and Announcements

• Goals Meetings---Please schedule with Lori 
• Hiring Committee Volunteers- We are in need of a hiring team for the Art Teacher (.4 Opening). If you are interested in this position please reach out to me asap. 
• I don't have a time set yet but can get one set as soon as we have a team up and going. 
• Here are some great summer reading resources as put out by the VPA. Take a peek, I'll be reading at least a few of them! The picture should be clickable to a link for a clearer image of the texts. 
  
  
• Here's a great article: https://www.naesp.org/resource/the-power-of-school-home-partnerships/

Marshall Memo 1138

• This week's quotes and articles come from Education Week, Stefan Bauschard, "Collective Impact" (a book), Edutopia, The Learning Dispatch, American Educational Research Journal, Journal of Adolescent and Adult Literacy, Reading Research Quarterly, Knowledge Quest, and Kappan. Here are the headlines:

  • Twelve ways principals can build collective efficacy
  • Angela Duckworth on willpower, cellphones, and AI
  • Can students learn instructional content from TikTok andYouTube?
  • Using an automated scoring program with middle-school writing
  • Hidden linguistic difficulties in math word problems
  • Key factors that affect beginning readers
  • Teen novels about surviving emotional trauma
  • Troubling data on high-school sophomores
  • If you want an HTML version of this week's Memo, please click here.

  To listen to a podcast of last week's issue (#1137), click here.

  For a podcast of this week's Memo, log in at  here. www.marshallmemo.com later this week and click Podcasts.

What's Happening at BES?

Monday 5/25	No School
Tuesday 5/26
Wednesday 5/27	Teacher PD 8:20-9:20  Staff Meeting 3:10-4:45 *Please bring shoes you can walk in Board Meeting 6:00
Thursday  5/28
Friday 5/29	Team Meetings K-2 Academic

Where is Celia?

Monday 5/25
Tuesday 5/26	Goals Meeting 2:30-3:00
Wednesday 5/27	Teacher PD 8:20-9:20  Student Meeting 10:00  WCLT Nuts and Bolts 1:00-2:00
Thursday  5/28	Student Meeting 9:00-10:00 BES SST 10:00-10:45
Friday 5/29	**Celia Out** Rowan No School

5.17

Hi All, 

I hope that you are all still out relishing in the beauty that has been this weekend. While we're all extra dirty and filled with bug bites I am so grateful for the sunshine and the promise that the "big green payback" is coming! 

You all are navigating all the end of the year chaos very well. Keep up the fantastic work. 

Observations from the Field

• Staff communicating need to each other clearly and respectfully
• Staff working to provide new opportunities for students 
• Staff who are going the extra mile to make sure that kids feel connected and supported
• Staff working together to make sure that we are pulling in the same direction 
• Students expressing themselves using multiple modes of expression (written, visual, audio)     

News and Announcements

• Given the announcement of class configuration and who is teaching where I wanted to give a heads up of how students will be placed. 
• First, current grade level teachers will make lists 
• Second, the lists will be reviewed/feedback with interventionists and special education teacher 
• Third, lists will be reviewed/feedback by specials teachers 
• Fourth, lists will be reviewed by classroom teachers
• Celia makes final placement/decisions. Letters are sent over summer.  
• Please note that class placement is confidential and parents will be notified over the summer of where their child is/will be placed. 
• Memorial Day Whole School Meeting--- DATE CHANGE 
• We will be having a whole school meet on Friday May 22nd from 2:50-3:20. I apologize, we have a scheduling meeting off campus. I mixed up my dates. 
• Whole School Meeting/Den Groups through the end of the year 
• Whole School Meeting--- May 14th 
• Whole School Meeting--- May 22nd 
• Den Groups w/Special Video Request--- June 4th  
• Whole School Meeting/Activity--- June 15th 9:30-10:45
• Upcoming Dates
• May 19th: Art/Music Show
• May 22nd-- Whole School Meeting 
• June 9th— 6th Step-Up Day
• June 10th--- Field Day/BBQ 
• June 16th– 6th Grade Graduation at 6:00 
• June 17th–Half Day Grading 

• June 18th—Inservice Day 

Field Trips
• Thursday, May 28 - 1st Grade goes to Book Buddies at U32
• Friday, May 29 - Kindergarten goes to Autumn Raynes Farm
• Friday, June 5 - 5th & 6th Grade goes to Great Escape
• Tuesday, June 9 - 4th Grade goes to VT Statehouse and History Museum

• Tuesday, June 9 - 1st and 2nd Grade goes to Montshire Museum

• Marshall Memo 1137

  This week's quotes and articles come from Learning on Purpose, The Rithm Project, The Power of Why, Education Disrupted, The New Yorker, Educational Leadership, Edutopia, Principal Leadership, Communique, Scientists in the Making, Principal, Adrian's Newsletter, and Leadership Freak. Here are the headlines:

  • What is the role of brick-and-mortar schools in the years ahead?
  • A parent worries about AI in her children's classrooms
  • Jim Knight on fast-track instructional coaching
  • How to prevent tearful last-minute pleas for grade changes
  • Dealing with kids' withdrawal symptoms after playing addictive games
  • Getting the most out of small erasable whiteboards
  • Talking so parents understand
  • A teacher's year-end to-do list
  • Complainers and builders

  If you want an HTML version of this week's Memo, please click here.

  To listen to a podcast of last week's issue (#1136), click here.

  For a podcast of this week's Memo, log in at www.marshallmemo.com later this week and click Podcasts.

I want to highlight these two articles from the Marshall Memo:

7. Getting the Most Out of Small Erasable Whiteboards

            In this Scientists in the Making article, Marcie Samayoa says mini-whiteboards can be an excellent way to check for understanding with every student in a class – and use real-time data to adjust instruction accordingly. But in her high-school science classes, Samayoa noticed a problem:

-   She explained a concept and gave a worked example.

-   She gave students a new problem and they solved it on their whiteboards.

-   When the whiteboards were held up, half the class had incorrect answers.

-   She explained it again, addressing the error she saw on the boards.

-   But when students tried a new problem, half the class still got wrong answers.

What was going on? Samayoa believes it was because “despite the teacher providing students feedback on their answers, students are not applying the feedback to their own work.”

            It took her a while to figure out a solution, but she finally found it in Tick-Trick, a system for getting students to apply feedback to their mini-whiteboard responses. Here’s how it works:

-   Students solve a problem on their whiteboards.

-   The teacher scans the responses, visibly craning to see all whiteboards.

-   The teacher refrains from providing individual feedback (Angela, you really understand this.).

-   The teacher goes over the solution, telling students to put a checkmark by each part they have correct, which gets students applying feedback to their work in real time.

-   In her class, Samoya reports hearing a lot of “Ohhhhhhhs” as students do this.

-   Students write their number of checkmarks in the top corner of their whiteboards.

-   Students hold up their whiteboards again for accountability.

-   If some students are faking their checkmarks, Samayoa spots them and follows up individually.

“The Missing Piece to Mini Whiteboards” by Marcie Samayoa in Scientists in the Making, May 6, 2026; Samayoa can be reached at scientistsinthemakingblog@gmail.com; her previous article on mini-whiteboards is here.

Back to page one

8. Talking So Parents Understand

            In this article in Principal, Windy Lopez-Aflitto (Learning Heroes) says the words educators use can confuse or worry parents. Some examples and suggested alternatives:

What we say: self-regulation

What parents hear: This sounds like my child is going through some kind of therapy.

Try this: self-control

What we say: grit

What parents hear: dirt, difficulty, something hard

Try this: taking on challenges, pushing yourself, learning from mistakes and effort

What we say: growth mindset

What parents hear: The ability of child’s mind to expand and grow increases over time.

Try this: learning from mistakes, hard work pays off, it’s all in the effort

What we say: executive function

What parents hear: Is this going to the bathroom?

Try this: organizational skills, setting goals, ability to focus, managing time well

What we say: resilience, perseverance, persistence

            What parents hear: Their child is unhappy or struggling.

            Try this: bouncing back, sticking with it, learning from mistakes, overcoming obstacles

“The Power of School-Home Partnerships” by Windy Lopez-Aflitto in Principal, May/June 2026; the full report is Developing Life Skills in Children: A Road Map for Communicating with Parents, 2018

Back to page one

What's Happening at BES?

Monday 5/18	HJC 8:15
Tuesday 5/19	Concert Rehearsal 1:00 Concert 5:30-7:00
Wednesday 5/20	Teacher PD 8:20-9:20  No Staff Meeting  Board Meeting 6:00
Thursday  5/21
Friday 5/22	Team Meetings 3-6 Academic Whole School Meeting---Memorial Day 2:55-3:20

Where is Celia?

Monday 5/18	HJC 8:15 Union Meeting 10:00-10:30  Student Meeting 11:00-12:00 SPED Meeting 11:40 Student Meeting 3:45
Tuesday 5/19	WCLT In Person 8:30-12:00 **Celia Out until 12:30
Wednesday 5/20	Joelle Recap virtual 8:00-8:30 Teacher PD 8:20-9:20  Student Meeting 10:00  WCLT Nuts and Bolts 1:00-2:00 Board Meeting
Thursday  5/21	Student Meeting 8:15 BES SST 10:00-10:45 Elementary School Scheduling Bootcamp 1:00-4:00
Friday 5/22	Student Meeting 12:00-12:45 Team Meetings 3-6 Academic