12.14

Hi All, 

I hope you all had a wonderful weekend. I was remind this weekend of the beauty of community and the joy of letting go. We had a beautiful weekend with friends and braved the chaos of the mountain on a Sunday with some of the best humans. 

In the business of the Holiday Season make sure to stop and tell the people around you how much they mean to you. Our students need the same. This can be a hard time of year for many of them. So the more that we remind them that it's about what they are and not what they have the better! 

Here's to a great week before, the week before. 

Observations from the Field:

• Differentiated curriculum--offering students choice in their work 
• Staff pitching in to help out and make Friday a success
• Showing students exemplars of what a finished product looks like before starting a project 
• Laughter, fun and lots of great outfits! 
• Teamwork across the board 
• Teachers working incredibly hard to connect with students who are displaying unexpected behaviors
• People engaging in hard conversations in service of understanding, clarity and support

News and Announcements

• Crafts---Please return the cleaned brushes and any unused crafts to my office. I will be sorting and returning things back to where their homes. We will save leftovers for next year. 
• Holiday Gnomies---The Holiday Gnomie gift exchange starts tomorrow. If your participating, don't forget your day 1 gift!
• Budget Update: Last week's board meeting was cancelled and rescheduled for this week. We have a WCLT meeting on Tuesday so I will have more information for you Tuesday afternoon. I will host an optional Budget Information session on Tuesday afternoon from 3:45-4:15. 
• Reminder: Hanukkah started this evening and will be happening all week. The Shalom Alliance sent this email last week and they have a wonderful website if you're looking for resources.  

Supporting a Bright Future for Vermont   Empowering Vermont Schools & Communities to Recognize & Respond to Antisemitism Celebrating Themes of Light, Courage & Freedom  This year Hanukkah begins at sundown on Sunday, Dec. 14, 2025 and lasts for 8 days, until sundown on Monday, Dec. 22, 2025. Hanukkah is an ideal way to include the Jewish holidays and celebrations in your classrooms and schools by incorporating the Festival of Lights. Light the menorah, spin the dreidel, and eat all the latkes and fried foods you can handle. As you prepare the classrooms and hallways for winter celebrations, here are some ideas to help you include the Festival of Lights! Please feel free to contact us with questions. May the Festival of Lights illuminate and uplift spirits and bring us closer together in these dark winter months. With appreciation, Shalom Alliance K-12 Outreach Team Shalom Alliance Website JewBelong Friendly, kinda funny, straightforward explanations, readings and rituals to help warm your heart. JewBelong - Home Page JewBelong - FREE Downloadable Hanukkah Guide The Hanukah Story Light, Courage & Freedom Core Principles for Teaching Hanukkah Teach cultural literacy Emphasize universal values (light, courage, resilience). Engage through hands-on and creative activities. Respect Jewish diversity; avoid stereotypes or oversimplification Hanukkah is a Jewish holiday celebrating liberation from oppression, and reminds us of the importance of freedom of religion. It is a story of triumph and perseverance from historical events of that took place over 2,000 years ago when the Jewish people lived under the Greek Empire. The story narrates how a minority culture preserved their identity, how historical events become symbolic, that traditions evolve across time and place. The story begins, when after generations of living with religious freedom under Greek rule, suddenly Jews were banned from practicing their rituals and culture. The Greeks desecrated their Temple in Jerusalem. Over time, the small army of the Jewish Maccabees fought for their freedom and won the battle against the mighty Greek Empire. When the Maccabees reclaimed the Temple, they found enough oil to light the menorah for one day. But this special menorah inside the Temple was supposed to be lit at all times. New oil would take 8 days to curate. The miracle of Hanukkah is that the small amount of oil stayed lit for the entire eight days illuminating the darkness into light. A theme that is still here today - the Menorah bringing light into the darkest time of winter. The Hebrew letters on the Dreidel - (Nun, Gimmel, Hay and Shin) are anachronism for Nes Gadol Haya Sham - A Great Miracle Happened There The Hebrew letters on a Dreidel in Israel read - (Nun, Gimmel, Hay and Pay) Nes Gadol Haya Poh - A Great Miracle Happened Here Jewish Virtual Library - Detailed Story of Chanukah VIDEO: Arthur - Muffy Learns About Hanukkah VIDEO: Sesame Street Hanukkah with Veronica Monica Hanukkah Recipes Called the Festival of Lights, Hanukkah has many roots. It’s most often thought of as a celebration of the rededication of the temple after the Maccabees victory, when a small vial of oil burned bright in the temple for eight days, when it should have lasted for only one. That is the story, the miracle of light. Many Hanukkah recipes from Jewish communities around the world fry in oil. Sufganiyot RECIPE: Sufganiyot - jelly filled donuts Latkes RECIPE: Latkes - potato pancakes Hanukkah Games, Books, Craft & Songs Happy Hanukkah There are so many Christmas songs out there. I wanted to give the Jewish kids something to be proud of. We’ve got Adam Sandler's Song (see below) which is hilarious, but I wanted to try to get across some of the depth and spirituality inherent in the holiday in a fun, celebratory song. My boy Kojak was in town so at the last minute we went into the studio in the spirit of miracles and underdogs and this is what we came up with. Happy Hanukkah!" - Matisyahu songwriter/artist SONG: Happy Hanukkah The Dreidle Game: A - Great - Miracle - Happened - There GAME: How to Play Dreidle Ocho Kanelikas Song A Sephardic Jewish song sung in Ladino (an ancient form of Spanish) SONG: Ocho Kandelikas A Classic Hanukkah Song If it's from the '90's is that classic yet? SONG: Adam Sandler 1994 SNL - The Hanukkah Song Popsicle Stick Star 0f David An easy craft to set up, for added clean up challenges, remember to add giltter. CRAFT: Star of David PJ Library You'll find books for any age group K-12 READ: A Great Big List of Childrens Books on Hanukkah Make Your Own Menorah Ideas An easy craft to set up, for added clean up challenges, remember to add giltter. CRAFT: Make Your Own Menorah Shalom Alliance | www.shalomalliancevt.org Confronting Antisemitism Through Positive Engagement

 What's Happening at BES? 

Monday 12/15	HJC 8:15-8:45
Tuesday 12/16
Wednesday 12/17	K-6 Teacher PD 8:20-9:20--No Meeting this week **gift of time**   Staff Meeting 3:10-4:45 Art Room  Board Meeting 6:15 at U-32
Thursday  12/18
Friday 12/19	Holiday Breakfast 7:45-8:45 **sign up for the potluck in the mailroom!  Team Meetings K-2 Behavior  3-6 Academic

Where is Celia?

Monday 12/15	HJC 8:15-8:45
Tuesday 12/16	WCLT 8:30-11:45 **Celia Out of Building  Student Meeting 2:15-3:15
Wednesday 12/17	Staff Meeting 3:10-4:45  Board Meeting 6:15 at U-32
Thursday  12/18	Student Meeting 8:15 District Safety Meeting 1:00-3:00 *Celia Out of Building
Friday 12/19	Team Meetings K-2 Behavior  3-6 Academic

12.7

Hi All, 

I wanted to say thank you for your flexibility and understanding last week as we navigated through the worst of Rowan's recovery and some very long budget meetings. I was in the building for not a lot of time last week so my observations from the field are limited: 

• I heard about RAVE All School Meeting behavior reviews. So, hat's off to all of you who helped, prepped and prepared to make the meeting successful for all. 
• Thank you to Jessica and Tyler for stepping up in my absence to help facilitate. 
• I witnessed strong team communication around sticky student stuff 
• I participated in strong team communication with outside agencies
• I was thankful to you all for helping write the impact statement for the board 

News and Announcements 

• Surprise!  Next week is Winter Spirit Week.  

  Monday is Sports Day

  Tuesday is School Colors Day

  Wednesday is Hat Day

  Thursday is Fancy Day

  Friday is PJ/Comfy Day

• Reminder: Wednesday is a half-day early release. We will dismiss students at 12:30. 
• K-2 Lunch from 11:20-11:50 
• 3-6 Lunch from 11:50-12:20 
• K-2 Recess from 11:50-12:20
• 3-6 Recess from 11:20-11:50 
• Teachers our time will start at 1:30 and will have some self-directed learning time as well as time for grade alike group work. These were the talking points from staff meeting last week: 

• Teachers will meet together at Berlin Elementary School from 1:30-4:45 p.m.  Paraeducators will focus on de-escalation strategies with Cat Fair and Sarah Ainsworth from 1:30-3:30 p.m. in the EMES music room.

• The agenda for the work at Berlin is modeled after the UDL sessions and includes an inclusive welcome, time to look at student writing, self-differentiated learning, and an intentional closing.

• Classroom teachers, literacy interventionists, special educators, OT’s, SLP’s, and principals will spend time together in grade alike groups looking at student writing.  Classroom teachers will be asked to bring copies of student work (names redacted) to share with grade alike colleagues.  We will be looking at the fall all district writing prompt.  Exact details about the number of copies will be forthcoming.

• Other subject alike groups will meet from 1:30-4:45 p.m. to focus on other curriculum, instruction, and assessment work.

• There will be a variety of choices for self-differentiated learning.  Details will be forthcoming.  We will be asking folks to indicate their first, second, and third choices so that we can assign them in advance.  All menu choices focus on some aspect of writing and/or connecting writing to other PD modules from the fall.  Some of the choices will be facilitated and others will be self-facilitated so that all learning needs/preferences are addressed.

• Principals will assign folks to grade alike groups.

• Again, all details and a menu survey will be forthcoming very soon.

• We will NOT have PLC on Wednesday morning because of the work we are doing in the afternoon.  
• Paras we will meet Tuesday afternoon from 3:30-4:30. This is not mandatory but if you'd like to stay I will pay you. Agenda
• Here is the link to this week's Marshall Memo. The memo is a roundup on interesting article put together by Kim Marshall weekly. 
• Friday will be our Gifts for Giving Day. After I am finished with the blog I will continue to work on flushing out assignments etc. Here is the DRAFT. 
• Board Meeting---Wednesday night at 6:15 at U-32. I would expect this one to be longer. 

What's Happening at BES? 

Monday 12/8
Tuesday 12/9	Community School: Growing Connections through Food 4:30-6:30
Wednesday 12/10	K-6 Teacher PD 8:20-9:20--Cancelled    Staff Meeting 3:10-4:45 Art Room
Thursday  12/11
Friday 12/12	Gifts for Giving

Where is Celia?

Monday 12/8	Student Meeting 2:15 Curriculum Council 4:00-5:30
Tuesday 12/9	Student Check-In Meeting 12:00 Para Meeting
Wednesday 12/10	Student Meeting 8:00-9:00  Berlin Town Center Update 10:00-11:00  Teacher PD 8:20-9:20  Board Meeting 6:15 at U-32
Thursday  12/11	Student Meeting 8:15 PBIS Meeting 8:15-9:00 SST 10:00-11:30
Friday 12/12	Gifts for Giving

 

11.30

     

Hi All, 

I hope that your travels, stays or miniations allowed you to reset and feel ready to tackle the next three weeks! As a reminder, Rowan is having her tonsils and adenoids taken out tomorrow so I will be out of the building and largely offline tomorrow. I will be available via phone and email Tuesday and Thursday. I know the timing is terrible, I appreciate your understanding. 

Observations from the Field 

• I saw positive recognitions and classes celebrating in style around the building 
• I heard productive problem solving and student focused thinking 
• I saw engaged colleagues working together 
• I felt a deep level of care and support for all of our families in supporting Turkey Boxes and their delivery 
• I saw and heard laughter and care amongst colleagues 

News and Announcements 

• This Wednesday we will host a WCUUSD Board Meeting at BES. The board has asked the Administrative team to show a budget in which we meet the financial goals of the district and remain in our 5 school model. This looks like over 2 million in cuts district wide. I've been working on what that would look like for our school, we can talk more about this at staff meeting on Wednesday. 
• Here is the Agenda for the Board Meeting 
• Community Connections will be running afterschool activities M, T, Th. They are "ramping up" to 5 days a week in the new year. They will be utilizing a "club model" that was successful for us during the beginning of the school year. 
• Kevin Marlier (kmarlier@u32.org) will be running afterschool. Please make sure to say hi if you haven't already. 
• Book Club: Due to the staff holiday breakfast, Berlin Book Club for staff will be on Tuesday, December 16th from 8:15 am to 8:45 am in the library! We are reading a book with a yellow cover to share with colleagues. I hope to see you there and happy reading!
• Lunch Bunch: From 11:40-12:40 on Thursday 
• New playground equipment: 10 Spin 
• Here's the link to the webpagehttps://www.miracle-recreation.com/product/ten-spin-2/ 
• 10 students are allowed on it at once. 5 standing, 5 sitting. 
• Winter Recess:
• Winter Recess Rules
• I have also attached a visual for winter gear. This appears to be something that you all have used in the past and is inline with what I remember our agreements to be from last year. If I'm wrong, please let me know! 
• Essentially boots and coats are required from here on out. If kids want to play in the snow (sled, forts, use equipment) they need ski pants, hats and gloves. 
• 

• Here is the plan for the week regarding our professional meetings

Week of December 1st-5th 2025 Staff Meeting----3:15-4:45 Nuts and Bolts Games and Connection (Math Night) Budget  Gifts for Giving   Required December Comprehensive Assessments:	K-6: UDL 3
	Allied Arts: No Meeting

• Here is this week's Marshall Memo. I found an interesting read that relates to our learning around Writing: 4. Using Student Talk to Scaffold Student Writing

•             In this article in English Journal, Meghan Dougherty Kuehnle (University of Notre Dame), Amanda White (a high-school ELA teacher in Columbus, Ohio), and George Newell (Ohio State University) describe how White shifted from the formulaic five-paragraph essay and began to use student talk to stimulate and support argumentative writing. Here’s how she orchestrated that in one writing unit:

              • Speed debate – In small groups, students quickly debate and reach consensus on a series of questions:

  -   “Bests” – Fruit, type of food, pet, social media platform, actor/actress, musician, season);

  -   “This or that” – Country or city? Early or late bedtime? Drive or fly? Time travel to the future or the past? Texting or calling? Online or in-person school?

  -   “Would you rather…?” Go viral for something embarrassing or stay unknown for something you’re proud of? Be really rich but hate your job or have an average salary and love your job? Lie to protect someone you love or tell the truth and risk hurting them? 

  -   “Big questions” – Should schools eliminate standardized tests? Should the driving age be raised to 18? Is it acceptable to use social media to publicly shame someone for their behavior? Should we eliminate censorship in books, movies, and other media?

  • Silent debate – Students pair up on a question (for example, Is it okay for social media platforms to ban people?), sit back-to-back, write claims and counterclaims on a piece of paper and pass it back and forth without speaking. “Silent debate,” say Kuehnle, White, and Newall, “asks students to progress from engaging in argumentative moves through talk to doing so in writing, a barrier that is often difficult for students to cross.” 

  • Student-teacher conferences – As students start writing their argumentative essays, White circulates and checks in with students individually, affirming, encouraging, questioning, and making suggestions for revision. 

  “By explicitly framing writing as social,” conclude the authors, “teachers can make otherwise daunting genres more accessible and relevant to students, reducing the barrier to engagement and making writing more meaningful to students inside and outside the classroom.” 

   

  “From Talk to Text: Leveraging Dialogue to Cultivate Argumentation” by Meghan Dougherty Kuehnle, Amanda White, and George Newell in English Journal, September 2025 (Vol. 115, #1, pp. 62-70); the authors are at mdoughe4@nd.edu, awhite1@columbus.k12.oh.us, and newell.george4@gmail.com. 

•                          

What's Happening at BES? 

Monday 12/1
Tuesday 12/2
Wednesday 12/3	K-6 Teacher PD 8:20-9:20   Staff Meeting 3:10-4:45 Art Room
Thursday  12/4	All School Meeting 2:55-3:25 **Students will sit in the bleachers
Friday 12/5	Team Meetings  3-6 Behavior/Attendance K-2 Academic

Where is Celia?

Monday 12/1	**Celia Out
Tuesday 12/2	**Celia Out
Wednesday 12/3	Teacher PD 8:20-9:20  WCLT: Nuts and Bolts 1:00-2:00  Staff Meeting: 3:10-4:45  Board Meeting 6:15
Thursday  12/4	**Celia Out  PTNA Meeting 6:00-7:30 at BES
Friday 12/5	Team Meetings

 

11.16

 

Hi All,

I hope that you all had a good weekend and that you'll give yourself a little extra time to get to work tomorrow morning! It looks like it might be a little slippery. This past week was trying in a lot of ways. Please remind yourself of the bright spots in our work and lean on each other. We're in this work together and in service to young people, assume best intentions and be a witness to the joy! 

I loved passing out cookies on Friday afternoon. Kate Rob, thank you for playing along and being so silly with me and the kids. It was truly the highlight of my Friday. 

Highlights from the field   

• I noticed adults eating lunch with new students and interacting with families
• I noticed extra adults pitching in to make sure what all the K-2 students got dressed and outside on the first snow pants day! Say it with me: 
• Ski pants, boots, jacket, hat and mittens! 
• Many staff engaging in positive and productive conversations surrounding approaches to behavior
• I saw adults supporting each other by checking in, offering a hand asking "how can I help?"
• I was witness to a deep level of care and support for all of the students in our care from many staff members 

News and Announcements

• We've had a really strong response to the support from our partnership with Just Basics. Please remember that this flyer was sent from Bec Dezan. I will also link it as a PDF to the blogpost email. I also know the Bec is working with a small group of you to talk more about food security and what additional support could look like in our building.                  
•                                     
• Den Groups-- We will meet on Thursday from 2:55-3:25. This
• Staff Meeting-- We will meet in the Library. We will talk a 50,000 foot view of our Gifts for Giving day and we'll look at the second Universal Design for Learning session. 
• Communication-- Please remember that all staff communication via e-mail is public record. We also need to uphold our norm of professionalism in all of our conversations.
• Book Club: Due to the staff holiday breakfast, Berlin Book Club for staff will be on Tuesday, December 16th from 8:15 am to 8:45 am in the library! We are reading a book with a yellow cover to share with colleagues. I hope to see you there and happy reading!
• Lunch Bunch: From 11:40-12:40 on Thursday 
• New playground equipment: 10 Spin 
• Here's the link to the webpagehttps://www.miracle-recreation.com/product/ten-spin-2/ 
• 10 students are allowed on it at once. 5 standing, 5 sitting. 
• Bec's Schedule: I know people are getting to know and collaborate with Bec in different ways. As she's in our building I want to share her schedule with you.This week she will be in: 
• Monday morning---on a conference call
  
• Wednesday Afternoon 
• Thursday All Day 
• Friday All Day 

                         

What's Happening at BES? 

Monday 11/16	HJC---8:15 Steven in Building 10:00-12:00 **We will be around and visiting classrooms
Tuesday 11/17
Wednesday 11/18	K-6 Teacher PD 8:20-9:20   Staff Meeting 3:10-4:45 Art Room
Thursday  11/19	Den Groups 2:55-3:25
Friday 11/20	Team Meetings  3-6 Academic K-2 Behavior/Attendance

Where is Celia?

Monday 11/16	HJC Meeting 8:15-8:45 Meeting with Ellen 1:30  Student Meeting 3:45
Tuesday 11/17	WCLT 8:30-10:30  Meeting 10:30-11:30  **Celia out until 11:40 Student Meeting 11:40-12:40
Wednesday 11/18	Teacher PD 8:20-9:20  WCLT: Nuts and Bolts 1:00-2:00  Board Meeting 6:15
Thursday  11/19	Student Meeting 8:00-9:00 Attendance Meeting 9:00-9:45
Friday 11/20	8:20 Allied Arts PD  Team Meetings  3-6 Academic K-2 Behavior/Attendance

11.10

Hi All, 

I hope that caregiver conferences went well and that you are feeling more connected to our families and also feeling a sense of relief for getting back to a normal schedule! 

Please take a moment to celebrate the moment of community in the library on Wednesday evening last week! Our library was busy with families and U-32 students and it was a moment to highlight.

I also wanted to share that I am going to be adding a new section to our weekly blog called "Observations from the Field." I will seek to highlight (without names) observations of adult behaviors that are in line with our mission and practices. 

Observations from the field:  

• The sharing of beautiful student artwork. It's lovely to see the student work displayed
• I noticed adults getting on eye level with students to problem solve 
• Respectful conversations with families 
• Staff greet students and welcome them with a smile 
• Staff were adaptable, asked for resources and tapped out when they needed a break   

News and Announcements: 

• When you can please take a moment to fill out this Budget Survey. 
• The playground is finally finished, hooray! 
• School Reminders:
• We've noticed a change in behaviors in the hallways. There have been a lot more students roaming and we've had some reports of students helping themselves to other's bags.
•  Hallway expectations:
• Adults should have eyes on students 
• Students must check in with adults before they leave the room (signal, sign out, verbal contract, visual)
• One student should leave the room at the time unless an emergency or part of a project, service, etc.
• Student's should be able to identify the "what they are doing" if asked by an adult
• Lunchroom reminder: Walk-Around/Check-In with students/Proximity is your biggest tool to ensuring that the lunchroom is more manageble. Please fill out ODR's at lunch/recess if needed.
• Whole School Meeting Structure
• We are looking for ways to make All School Meeting more successful. Moving forward we are going to ask: 
• Classes sit on the bleachers 
• Adults join all students on the bleachers 
• The PBIS team will support in providing more structure to the start and end of the meeting so that classes can focus on what they are presenting. 
• We also ask that classroom teachers review expectations with classes prior to entering the gym
• General Reminders: 
• Please make sure that phones are away
• We're spreading out to greet students in all areas of the building 
• Contracted times: 
• Classroom teachers: 8:15-3:45 
• Paras 8:40-3:40 
• If you are not in school during these times you MUST utilize leave in Frontline. 
• Communication with families should be through school email unless you have gotten permission from me to communicate using a different form. 

What's Happening at BES? 

Monday 11/10	No School--Conference Day
Tuesday 11/11	Veteran's Day
Wednesday 11/12	K-6 Teacher PD 8:20-9:20  Harvest Luncheon  Staff Meeting 3:10-4:45 Art Room
Thursday  11/13	District HJC Meeting 12:30-1:55
Friday 11/14	8:20 Allied Arts PD  Team Meetings  3-6 Acadience K-2 Behavior

Where is Celia?

Monday 11/10	Student Meeting 8:00-9:00  Meeting w/Tyler and Jess 9:15-10:00 Budget Meeting 12:00-3:30 Curriculum Council 4:00-5:30
Tuesday 11/11	Student Meeting 8:15-8:45  Meeting 11:00-11:30  PK Meeting 11:30-12:30  Steering Committee Meeting 4:00-5:30
Wednesday 11/12	Teacher PD 8:20-9:20  WCLT: Nuts and Bolts 1:00-2:00  Student Meeting 2:00-3:30  Staff Meeting 3:10-4:45 Art Room
Thursday  11/13	Planning Meeting 8:15-9:00 SST 10:00-11:30
Friday 11/14	8:20 Allied Arts PD  Team Meetings  3-6 Academic K-2 Behavior  Student Meeting 3:45