Ticks – The top 10 things to remember

10. Ticks crawl up – Ticks don’t jump, fly or drop from trees onto your head and back.

9. All ticks (including deer ticks) come in small, medium and large sizes.

8. Ticks can be active in winter.

7. Ticks carry disease-causing microbes.

6. Only deer ticks transmit Lyme disease bacteria.

5. For most tick-borne diseases, you have at least 24 hours to find and remove a feeding tick before it transmits an infection.

4. Deer tick nymphs look like a poppy seed on your skin.

3. The easiest and safest way to remove a tick is with a pointy tweezer.

2. Clothing with built-in tick repellent is best for preventing tick bites.

1. Tick bites and tick-borne diseases are completely preventable.

Top ten things to know. (ND). The University of Rhode Island. Retrieved May 6, 2024, from https://web.uri.edu/tickencounter/ticksmart/top-ten-things/

We are excited to welcome your child to Kindergarten in the Fall. We will be having a screening for incoming students who do not currently attend Pre-K at Brookside on Wednesday, May 13th. Please call our office at (802) 244-7195 to schedule an appointment.

Roblox User Guide and Family/Caregiver Resources
Roblox is a video game popular among many school-aged children. While most users merely play the game, some malicious users have utilized the platform to build followings for violent extremist ideologies and groups with the intent to lure young and vulnerable users to their causes, with the goal of manipulating and causing harm. Roblox has recently reached out to the Vermont School Safety Center to provide resources relevant to school community members, including a Civility and Well-Being User Pocket Guide and a Pocket Guide for Families and Caregivers. Please consider distributing among your school community as appropriate.

If you are interested in donating to the Backpack program you can donate on the PTO's website.

https://www.paypal.com/donate/?hosted_button_id=A3BLQR4L43ZCN

Families can apply for weekend food supplements by completing this link or clicking on the photo to the right to download a Google Doc to print and return to Eliza Chittenden at BPS.

Please note that the opportunities/events listed below are not specifically endorsed or screened by school staff. As always, families should use their own standards and review processes to determine appropriate activities.

The Children's Room Special Events:

• TCR Benefit Plant Sale: THIS Friday May 8th and Friday May 22nd, 4:00-6:00 pm. Come to Evergreen Gardens at 15 Cabin Ln, off Route 100 in Waterbury Center to purchase your Mother's Day flowers, garden starters, plants and more and benefit TCR at the same time! Evergreen Gardens donates 15% of its sales to TCR. We would LOVE your support:). All forms of payment accepted. We will also have a raffle for some exciting items!

• TCR’s Children & Family TAG SALE: May 15th & 16th, Wesley United Methodist Church on 56 South Main in Waterbury village, use the Foundry Street side entrance. Spring cleaning anyone? Donate clean baby and kid’s clothing, outerwear, toys, shoes, boots, costumes and baby gear on May 12th-14th (2:30 to 5:30 pm) and come shop the sale on May 15th (2:00-6:00 pm) & 16th (8:00 am to 12:00 pm)! Cash, check or Venmo only. Want to help out, give back to your community and get first dibs on amazing kids stuff? We need you! Bring kiddos and meet other parents while helping out. Volunteer sign up here. See our website, facebook or email [email protected] with questions.

--

• TCR Benefit Plant Sale: THIS Friday May 8th and Friday May 22nd, 4:00-6:00 pm. Come to Evergreen Gardens at 15 Cabin Ln, off Route 100 in Waterbury Center to purchase your Mother's Day flowers, garden starters, plants and more and benefit TCR at the same time! Evergreen Gardens donates 15% of its sales to TCR. We would LOVE your support:). All forms of payment accepted. We will also have a raffle for some exciting items!

• TCR’s Children & Family TAG SALE: May 15th & 16th, Wesley United Methodist Church on 56 South Main in Waterbury village, use the Foundry Street side entrance. Spring cleaning anyone? Donate clean baby and kid’s clothing, outerwear, toys, shoes, boots, costumes and baby gear on May 12th-14th (2:30 to 5:30 pm) and come shop the sale on May 15th (2:00-6:00 pm) & 16th (8:00 am to 12:00 pm)! Cash, check or Venmo only. Want to help out, give back to your community and get first dibs on amazing kids stuff? We need you! Bring kiddos and meet other parents while helping out. Volunteer sign up here. See our website, facebook or email [email protected] with questions.

The Annual Green Mountain Mile will take place just before Waterbury’s Not Quite Independence Day Parade on Saturday, June 27th, at 3:45 PM sharp.

The one-mile course starts on the access road to the Ice Center in Waterbury. The course then merges onto VT Route 100 north and continues up Main Street to finish on Bank Hill at the intersection with Stowe Street.

Applicants are encouraged to pre-register for the race on Friday, June 26, from 5 to 7 p.m. at Brookside Primary School. There will be race day registration from 2:30 to 3:30 PM at the Ice Center. Registration forms can be found at the link below. Entry fees are: $5 for kids (14 and under), $10 for adults.

Proceeds benefit the Cross Country Ski Equipment Fund fund at Brookside Primary School.

2026 Green Mountain Mile Form

Reminder that Y Afterschool 26-27 opened to new families today. Please see links below if you would like to include in communications to families, especially Kinder families for which we save a few placements.

Barre Town- https://gbymca.wufoo.com/forms/z77t9v01q3hsr1/

Waterbury- https://gbymca.wufoo.com/forms/zuatqnh0ljdmba/

Georgia- https://gbymca.wufoo.com/forms/zmewz7z0bk51tq/

Thank you

Kelsey

Kelsey Coyle (she, her, hers)

Director of Out of School Time

Greater Burlington YMCA | 298 College St., Burlington, VT 05401

802.652.8153(o)| 802.779.1697(c) kcoyle@gbymca.org

SLEEPY HOLLOW SUMMER CAMPS 2026

Sleepy Hollow Ski & Bike Center in Huntington is offering 3 weeks of camp this year, two weeks of our Slammin’ Outdoor Camp and two weeks of our Summer Ski Camp. Check out descriptions and dates below:). Go to the Sleepy Hollow Summer Camps webpage for the registration link. Questions? Reach out to the Summer Camp Director, Heather LaRocca, at [email protected]

SLAMMIN’ OUTDOOR CAMP: Get outside and adventure in Sleepy Hollow’s 850 acres of forest and trails! We head out on the trails every day to explore the natural world around Sleepy with a new outdoor theme every day, including forest, stream and pond studies. We also do fun outdoor activities every day- hiking, mountain biking, swimming and more! Campers can expect a fun week outside packed with activities, art projects and games.

Ages: 8-12 years old

Cost: $350 per camper

Weeks: July 13th - 17th OR July 27th - 31st

Time: 9:00 am – 3:30 pm

SUMMER SKI CAMP: Spend the week outside at Sleepy Hollow’s 850 acres of forest and trails, with running, hiking, mountain biking, rollerskiing*, swimming and more! The camp is geared towards kids that are excited to try some summer Nordic ski activities. We get out on the trails every day and do activities, art projects and games too, all with the focus of summer fun outside! *Rollerskis not needed- we team up with NENSA for rollerskiing, and they provide a fleet for us to use.

Ages: 10-14 years old

Cost: $350 per camper

Weeks: July 20th - 24th

Time: 9:00 am – 3:30 pm

Our Summer Production Camp will be THE LION KING - KIDS!, June 21 - 27! For ages 9 - 17, this will be an exuberant collaboration between LNT, Alexa Kartschoke, Jen Greenwood, and Shidaa! With age appropriate roles for a wide range of participants, we are excited about presenting this inspiring musical! Song, dance, and African drumming will bring this show to life! Here's Alexa's invitation to this awesome camp: https://youtu.be/-veHoqUif2g

To end the summer, Theater Play for Everyday, half day camp for ages 6 - 9 will feature NEVERLAND, August 3 - 7 and led by LNT producing artistic director, Kathleen Keenan and myself! It's always fun to explore the world of Peter Pan, Wendy, & Tinkerbell!

Horses & Pathfinders, LLC
Power of Transformational Leadership Guided by Horses for Businesses, Organizations, Teams, and Individuals. Riders too!

Let’s Connect:
How can we help you achieve next-level leadership or horsemanship?

Discover Us:
Located in pastoral North-Central Vermont:
• Montpelier – 10 minutes
• Burlington International Airport – 30 minutes
• Montreal – 2 hours
• Boston – 3 hours

Get in Touch:
802.223.1903
6899 Route 100B, Moretown, VT 05660
horsesandpathfinders.com
FB: Horses & Pathfinders
IG: horses-and-pathfinders

Hello families!

My name is Natalie Folsom, and I am a Junior at Harwood High School. This past Volleyball season, I played setter and served as a Co-Captain of our Varsity team! I have just recently concluded coaching Middle School Volleyball, and it was a blast! While coaching and watching them play, an idea had sparked in my head about the fact that younger children have all sorts of youth programs that spark their interest early on. This being said, Volleyball is not one of them! Our athletes don't have the opportunity to try out for volleyball until their 7th grade year! With all that being said, I would like to begin hosting free volleyball clinics for elementary students in grades 1-4! I think this would be a great opportunity for them to meet and work with Middle and High School students while having fun and learning skills! I am currently enrolled in a civics-based class at Harwood in which I need to complete a Civic Action Project, where I go out into my community and volunteer my time without being paid, and this is what I would like to do! If you and your child have any interest in these programs/clinics, please fill out the form below so I can keep in contact with you all as I progress through.

Link: https://forms.gle/stnMyTsNTsLZePwz6

If you have any questions, please feel free to reach out to me at: [email protected]

Website: https://bps.huusd.org/

Instagram: BrooksidePrimarySchool

Facebook: HUUSD

Phone: 802-244-7195

Location: 47 Stowe Street, Waterbury, VT

We are excited to welcome your child to Kindergarten in the Fall. We will be having a screening for incoming students who do not currently attend Pre-K at Brookside on Wednesday, May 13th. Please call our office at (802) 244-7195 to schedule an appointment.

All lost and found items can be found inside the front main entrance air lock this week. Check it out if your child is missing something.

Brookside Primary School Yearbook 25-26 is a 40 page book featuring ALL BPS Grades PreK-Grade 4 with individual student and staff photos, class photos and collage pages highlighting our school days together. Preordering is now open with a May 7, 2026 deadline for ordering yearbooks.

The prefered way for you to order yearbooks is to order online directly from Treering using the QR code below or this link:

https://www.treering.com/purchase?PassCode=1014562533402033

If you need a passcode, use this: 1014562533402033

The cost for each yearbook ordered online is $15.85 plus $1.11 sales tax for a total of $16.96 per book.

Another way for you to order is to use the paper order form, which you can find below to print or request a hard copy. Books ordered this way are $17 and can be paid for using check or cash, and must be accompanied by the completed order form. Order Form: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1CHsRC6tSwKSTmawvw6J0pz-ILiQvU6pT6MJkegc3jNo/edit?usp=sharing

Please note: If paying for with cash, we are unable to make change, so please provide the exact amount. If paying by check, please make it out to "Brookside Primary School," with "yearbook" on the memo line. All paper order forms with payment should be returned to the office for Brenda.

May 7th is the absolute date any orders will be accepted. We encourage you to order ASAP so you don't miss out by missing the deadline.

Contact [email protected] if you have questions.

Roblox User Guide and Family/Caregiver Resources
Roblox is a video game popular among many school-aged children. While most users merely play the game, some malicious users have utilized the platform to build followings for violent extremist ideologies and groups with the intent to lure young and vulnerable users to their causes, with the goal of manipulating and causing harm. Roblox has recently reached out to the Vermont School Safety Center to provide resources relevant to school community members, including a Civility and Well-Being User Pocket Guide and a Pocket Guide for Families and Caregivers. Please consider distributing among your school community as appropriate.

If you are interested in donating to the Backpack program you can donate on the PTO's website.

https://www.paypal.com/donate/?hosted_button_id=A3BLQR4L43ZCN

Families can apply for weekend food supplements by completing this link or clicking on the photo to the right to download a Google Doc to print and return to Eliza Chittenden at BPS.

The Annual Green Mountain Mile will take place just before Waterbury’s Not Quite Independence Day Parade on Saturday, June 27th, at 3:45 PM sharp.

The one-mile course starts on the access road to the Ice Center in Waterbury. The course then merges onto VT Route 100 north and continues up Main Street to finish on Bank Hill at the intersection with Stowe Street.

Applicants are encouraged to pre-register for the race on Friday, June 26, from 5 to 7 p.m. at Brookside Primary School. There will be race day registration from 2:30 to 3:30 PM at the Ice Center. Registration forms can be found at the link below. Entry fees are: $5 for kids (14 and under), $10 for adults.

Proceeds benefit the Cross Country Ski Equipment Fund fund at Brookside Primary School.

2026 Green Mountain Mile Form

Please note that the opportunities/events listed below are not specifically endorsed or screened by school staff. As always, families should use their own standards and review processes to determine appropriate activities.

Reminder that Y Afterschool 26-27 opened to new families today. Please see links below if you would like to include in communications to families, especially Kinder families for which we save a few placements.

Barre Town- https://gbymca.wufoo.com/forms/z77t9v01q3hsr1/

Waterbury- https://gbymca.wufoo.com/forms/zuatqnh0ljdmba/

Georgia- https://gbymca.wufoo.com/forms/zmewz7z0bk51tq/

Thank you

Kelsey

Kelsey Coyle (she, her, hers)

Director of Out of School Time

Greater Burlington YMCA | 298 College St., Burlington, VT 05401

802.652.8153(o)| 802.779.1697(c) kcoyle@gbymca.org

SLEEPY HOLLOW SUMMER CAMPS 2026

Sleepy Hollow Ski & Bike Center in Huntington is offering 3 weeks of camp this year, two weeks of our Slammin’ Outdoor Camp and two weeks of our Summer Ski Camp. Check out descriptions and dates below:). Go to the Sleepy Hollow Summer Camps webpage for the registration link. Questions? Reach out to the Summer Camp Director, Heather LaRocca, at [email protected]

SLAMMIN’ OUTDOOR CAMP: Get outside and adventure in Sleepy Hollow’s 850 acres of forest and trails! We head out on the trails every day to explore the natural world around Sleepy with a new outdoor theme every day, including forest, stream and pond studies. We also do fun outdoor activities every day- hiking, mountain biking, swimming and more! Campers can expect a fun week outside packed with activities, art projects and games.

Ages: 8-12 years old

Cost: $350 per camper

Weeks: July 13th - 17th OR July 27th - 31st

Time: 9:00 am – 3:30 pm

SUMMER SKI CAMP: Spend the week outside at Sleepy Hollow’s 850 acres of forest and trails, with running, hiking, mountain biking, rollerskiing*, swimming and more! The camp is geared towards kids that are excited to try some summer Nordic ski activities. We get out on the trails every day and do activities, art projects and games too, all with the focus of summer fun outside! *Rollerskis not needed- we team up with NENSA for rollerskiing, and they provide a fleet for us to use.

Ages: 10-14 years old

Cost: $350 per camper

Weeks: July 20th - 24th

Time: 9:00 am – 3:30 pm

Our Summer Production Camp will be THE LION KING - KIDS!, June 21 - 27! For ages 9 - 17, this will be an exuberant collaboration between LNT, Alexa Kartschoke, Jen Greenwood, and Shidaa! With age appropriate roles for a wide range of participants, we are excited about presenting this inspiring musical! Song, dance, and African drumming will bring this show to life! Here's Alexa's invitation to this awesome camp: https://youtu.be/-veHoqUif2g

To end the summer, Theater Play for Everyday, half day camp for ages 6 - 9 will feature NEVERLAND, August 3 - 7 and led by LNT producing artistic director, Kathleen Keenan and myself! It's always fun to explore the world of Peter Pan, Wendy, & Tinkerbell!

If you have any questions, please, ask! We are happy to share info about all these upcoming camps (and our shows)!

Thanks for your help!

Sincerely,

Brandy

--

Brandy Ann Perez

she/her/hers

Associate Managing Director

Lost Nation Theater

"Best of New England" - 2014 Yankee Magazine

"One of the Best Regional Theaters in America" - NYC Drama League

39 Main Street- City Hall

Montpelier, VT 05602

802-229-0492

www.lostnationtheater.org

Horses & Pathfinders, LLC
Power of Transformational Leadership Guided by Horses for Businesses, Organizations, Teams, and Individuals. Riders too!

Let’s Connect:
How can we help you achieve next-level leadership or horsemanship?

Discover Us:
Located in pastoral North-Central Vermont:
• Montpelier – 10 minutes
• Burlington International Airport – 30 minutes
• Montreal – 2 hours
• Boston – 3 hours

Get in Touch:
802.223.1903
6899 Route 100B, Moretown, VT 05660
horsesandpathfinders.com
FB: Horses & Pathfinders
IG: horses-and-pathfinders

Website: https://bps.huusd.org/

Instagram: BrooksidePrimarySchool

Facebook: HUUSD

Phone: 802-244-7195

Location: 47 Stowe Street, Waterbury, VT

All lost and found items can be found inside the main entrance air lock over April break. Check it out if your child is missing something.

Brookside Primary School Yearbook 25-26 is a 40 page book featuring ALL BPS Grades PreK-Grade 4 with individual student and staff photos, class photos and collage pages highlighting our school days together. Preordering is now open with a May 7, 2026 deadline for ordering yearbooks.

The prefered way for you to order yearbooks is to order online directly from Treering using the QR code below or this link:

https://www.treering.com/purchase?PassCode=1014562533402033

If you need a passcode, use this: 1014562533402033

The cost for each yearbook ordered online is $15.85 plus $1.11 sales tax for a total of $16.96 per book.

Another way for you to order is to use the paper order form, which you can find below to print or request a hard copy. Books ordered this way are $17 and can be paid for using check or cash, and must be accompanied by the completed order form. Order Form: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1CHsRC6tSwKSTmawvw6J0pz-ILiQvU6pT6MJkegc3jNo/edit?usp=sharing

Please note: If paying for with cash, we are unable to make change, so please provide the exact amount. If paying by check, please make it out to "Brookside Primary School," with "yearbook" on the memo line. All paper order forms with payment should be returned to the office for Brenda.

May 7th is the absolute date any orders will be accepted. We encourage you to order ASAP so you don't miss out by missing the deadline.

Contact [email protected] if you have questions.

If you are interested in donating to the Backpack program you can donate on the PTO's website.

https://www.paypal.com/donate/?hosted_button_id=A3BLQR4L43ZCN

Families can apply for weekend food supplements by completing this link or clicking on the photo to the right to download a Google Doc to print and return to Eliza Chittenden at BPS.

April 20-24 Vacation-No School

May

May 13 BPS Kindergarten Screening-More info forthcoming

May 25- NO SCHOOL - Memorial Day

May 26 PK-2 -BPS ARTS NIGHT: 5pm-6pm

Doors open at 4:45, concert starts at 5pm and the remainder of the night is art show/other arts stations

May 28 3/4 -BPS ARTS NIGHT: 5pm-6pm

Doors open at 4:45, concert starts at 5pm and the remainder of the night is art show/other arts stations

The Annual Green Mountain Mile will take place just before Waterbury’s Not Quite Independence Day Parade on Saturday, June 27th, at 3:45 PM sharp.

The one-mile course starts on the access road to the Ice Center in Waterbury. The course then merges onto VT Route 100 north and continues up Main Street to finish on Bank Hill at the intersection with Stowe Street.

Applicants are encouraged to pre-register for the race on Friday, June 26, from 5 to 7 p.m. at Brookside Primary School. There will be race day registration from 2:30 to 3:30 PM at the Ice Center. Registration forms can be found at the link below. Entry fees are: $5 for kids (14 and under), $10 for adults.

Proceeds benefit the Cross Country Ski Equipment Fund fund at Brookside Primary School.

2026 Green Mountain Mile Form

Please note that the opportunities/events listed below are not specifically endorsed or screened by school staff. As always, families should use their own standards and review processes to determine appropriate activities.

Reminder that Y Afterschool 26-27 opened to new families today. Please see links below if you would like to include in communications to families, especially Kinder families for which we save a few placements.

Barre Town- https://gbymca.wufoo.com/forms/z77t9v01q3hsr1/

Waterbury- https://gbymca.wufoo.com/forms/zuatqnh0ljdmba/

Georgia- https://gbymca.wufoo.com/forms/zmewz7z0bk51tq/

Thank you

Kelsey

Kelsey Coyle (she, her, hers)

Director of Out of School Time

Greater Burlington YMCA | 298 College St., Burlington, VT 05401

802.652.8153(o)| 802.779.1697(c) kcoyle@gbymca.org

Posting for the Moretown Community Library

Outside In

Deborah Underwood, Author, Cindy Derby, Illustrator

“Once we were part of Outside and Outside was part of us. There was nothing between

us.” So begins this beautifully illustrated book, reminding us of the power of nature and

its significance in our lives.

The book’s illustrations are gorgeous watercolors, accented by the use of powdered

graphite and threads and flower stems soaked in ink, that depict evocative scenes in

nature throughout the seasons.

The story is told through the eyes of a young girl, contemplating the intersection of

outside and inside, and the numerous ways that nature calls to us through the windows,

and “sneaks” into our homes as warm bread and berries on the kitchen table, a spider

seeking shelter and wooden chairs that were once trees.

The book concludes with the girl running out to explore, not only the sights, but the

sounds (“Outside sings to us with chirps and rustles and tap-taps on the roof”), the

smells and all the other sensory experiences waiting for us to recognize and enjoy.

We hope you enjoy your walk in nature, taking time to notice all the sights, sounds,

smells and feelings that it evokes. Maybe it will inspire you to write a poem or story that

takes place in nature. If so, stop by the library to share it with us. We always love to

hear your thoughts and experiences connected to the books on the StoryWalk®.

The StoryWalk® Project was created by Anne Ferguson and developed in collaboration

with the Kellogg-Hubbard Library in Montpelier, Vermont. Storywalk® is a registered

service mark owned by the Kellogg-Hubbard Library.

SLEEPY HOLLOW SUMMER CAMPS 2026

Sleepy Hollow Ski & Bike Center in Huntington is offering 3 weeks of camp this year, two weeks of our Slammin’ Outdoor Camp and two weeks of our Summer Ski Camp. Check out descriptions and dates below:). Go to the Sleepy Hollow Summer Camps webpage for the registration link. Questions? Reach out to the Summer Camp Director, Heather LaRocca, at [email protected]

SLAMMIN’ OUTDOOR CAMP: Get outside and adventure in Sleepy Hollow’s 850 acres of forest and trails! We head out on the trails every day to explore the natural world around Sleepy with a new outdoor theme every day, including forest, stream and pond studies. We also do fun outdoor activities every day- hiking, mountain biking, swimming and more! Campers can expect a fun week outside packed with activities, art projects and games.

Ages: 8-12 years old

Cost: $350 per camper

Weeks: July 13th - 17th OR July 27th - 31st

Time: 9:00 am – 3:30 pm

SUMMER SKI CAMP: Spend the week outside at Sleepy Hollow’s 850 acres of forest and trails, with running, hiking, mountain biking, rollerskiing*, swimming and more! The camp is geared towards kids that are excited to try some summer Nordic ski activities. We get out on the trails every day and do activities, art projects and games too, all with the focus of summer fun outside! *Rollerskis not needed- we team up with NENSA for rollerskiing, and they provide a fleet for us to use.

Ages: 10-14 years old

Cost: $350 per camper

Weeks: July 20th - 24th

Time: 9:00 am – 3:30 pm

This year's offerings are as follows:

Date Grades Time
7/6-7/10 Grades 2-4 Boys & Girls 8:00 a.m.-11:00 a.m.
7/6-7/10 Grades 5-9 Girls 11:00 a.m.-2:00 p.m.
7/13-7/17 Grades 5-9 Boys 8:00-11:00 a.m.
**Please attend the camp for the grade entering in August, 2026**

If you would like an application, please reach out to me [email protected].

Here is a short video from last year's camp.
https://youtu.be/yPIhpe4-50M

Horses & Pathfinders, LLC
Power of Transformational Leadership Guided by Horses for Businesses, Organizations, Teams, and Individuals. Riders too!

Let’s Connect:
How can we help you achieve next-level leadership or horsemanship?

Discover Us:
Located in pastoral North-Central Vermont:
• Montpelier – 10 minutes
• Burlington International Airport – 30 minutes
• Montreal – 2 hours
• Boston – 3 hours

Get in Touch:
802.223.1903
6899 Route 100B, Moretown, VT 05660
horsesandpathfinders.com
FB: Horses & Pathfinders
IG: horses-and-pathfinders

Website: https://bps.huusd.org/

Instagram: BrooksidePrimarySchool

Facebook: HUUSD

Phone: 802-244-7195

Location: 47 Stowe Street, Waterbury, VT

National Association of School Nurses (NASN) Names 2026 National Academy of School Nursing Fellows

Silver Spring, MD, April 1, 2026

The National Association of School Nurses (NASN) recently named five professionals for induction into the National Academy of School Nursing. They are:

• Nakia C. Best, California

• Sophia R. Boyle Hall, Vermont

• Victoria Ladd, South Carolina

• Elizabeth "Betsy" Looney, Virginia

• Mary Louise Embrey, BS, has been named as an Honorary Fellow.

The induction ceremony will take place on Monday, June 29, 2026, during the Annual Business Meeting at the NASN2026 Conference in Las Vegas, Nevada.

The honor of Fellow is the most prestigious recognition that members can receive from NASN. It is a symbol of superior achievement in school nursing and exceptional contributions to NASN. The depth and breadth of the Fellow's imprint on the field is extraordinary.

Their contributions have had a significant and enduring impact on the professional association and, more broadly, school health and student well-being.

The National Academy of School Nursing Fellows was founded in 1997 and has inducted 139 school nursing fellows.

Sophia R. Boyle Hall, DNP, MEd, RN, NCSN, has been a nurse at Brookside Primary School for the past three years. Prior to that, Nurse Soph worked for 10 years in the Kingdom East School District and for 5 years in schools in Idaho. A few highlights of her contributions to the field of school nursing include:

Vermont Governor’s Task Force on Reopening Schools, Safe and Healthy Schools Return to Learn

Vermont Director to the Board of the National Association of School Nurses

Vermont Representative to the National Board for Certification of School Nurses

Past President of the Vermont State School Nurses Association

Author of numerous articles published in the NASN School Nurse Magazine

Presenter at National, Regional, State and Local Conferences

A welcomed leader among state-wide education collaboratives

Provided testimony for a number of house bills and engaged in advocacy work at the national level for NASN

2022 National Association of School Nurses Outstanding School Nurse Administrator

2022 Vermont State School Nurses Association School Nurse Administrator of the Year

2023 Vermont State School Nurses Association School Nurse of the Year

NASN Cultural Delegation to Cuba 2024 and the United Arab Emirates 2023

Nurse Soph focuses on building relationships with students both in and out of the health office. She has coached for Girls on the Run and supported Safe Routes to School. You can find her with a pair of googly eye earrings and glasses as she invites you to laugh and create connections to support healing!

Soph is only the second Vermont school nurse to receive this prestigious recognition. Sharonlee Trefry, former State School Nurse Consultant, received this recognition in 2023.

Congratulations to Nurse Soph!

Brookside Primary School Yearbook 25-26 is a 40 page book featuring ALL BPS Grades PreK-Grade 4 with individual student and staff photos, class photos and collage pages highlighting our school days together. Preordering is now open with a May 7, 2026 deadline for ordering yearbooks.

The prefered way for you to order yearbooks is to order online directly from Treering using the QR code below or this link:

https://www.treering.com/purchase?PassCode=1014562533402033

If you need a passcode, use this: 1014562533402033

The cost for each yearbook ordered online is $15.85 plus $1.11 sales tax for a total of $16.96 per book.

Another way for you to order is to use the paper order form, which you can find below to print or request a hard copy. Books ordered this way are $17 and can be paid for using check or cash, and must be accompanied by the completed order form. Order Form: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1CHsRC6tSwKSTmawvw6J0pz-ILiQvU6pT6MJkegc3jNo/edit?usp=sharing

Please note: If paying for with cash, we are unable to make change, so please provide the exact amount. If paying by check, please make it out to "Brookside Primary School," with "yearbook" on the memo line. All paper order forms with payment should be returned to the office for Brenda.

May 7th is the absolute date any orders will be accepted. We encourage you to order ASAP so you don't miss out by missing the deadline.

Contact [email protected] if you have questions.

Check out Brookside Primary School Spirit Wear on Bonfire and shop official merchandise today! Featuring limited edition custom apparel, printed with care in the USA just for you.

We are so grateful for the generous donations to continue our backpack food program for children experiencing food insecurity. We surpassed our goal of raising $7,000 to help finish out this school year, and begin the next one. These backpacks filled with food for weekends is one way for us to show our children we care. In the words of Fred Rogers' Mom, "Look for the helpers. You will always find people who are helping (in the community)." Thank you for being the helpers!

If you are interested in donating to the Backpack program you can donate on the PTO's website.

https://www.paypal.com/donate/?hosted_button_id=A3BLQR4L43ZCN

Families can apply for weekend food supplements by completing this link or clicking on the photo to the right to download a Google Doc to print and return to Eliza Chittenden at BPS.

April 20-24 Vacation-No School

May

May 25- NO SCHOOL - Memorial Day

May 26 PK-2 -BPS ARTS NIGHT: 5pm-6pm

Doors open at 4:45, concert starts at 5pm and the remainder of the night is art show/other arts stations

May 28 3/4 -BPS ARTS NIGHT: 5pm-6pm

Doors open at 4:45, concert starts at 5pm and the remainder of the night is art show/other arts stations

Please note that the opportunities/events listed below are not specifically endorsed or screened by school staff. As always, families should use their own standards and review processes to determine appropriate activities.

SLEEPY HOLLOW SUMMER CAMPS 2026

Sleepy Hollow Ski & Bike Center in Huntington is offering 3 weeks of camp this year, two weeks of our Slammin’ Outdoor Camp and two weeks of our Summer Ski Camp. Check out descriptions and dates below:). Go to the Sleepy Hollow Summer Camps webpage for the registration link. Questions? Reach out to the Summer Camp Director, Heather LaRocca, at [email protected]

SLAMMIN’ OUTDOOR CAMP: Get outside and adventure in Sleepy Hollow’s 850 acres of forest and trails! We head out on the trails every day to explore the natural world around Sleepy with a new outdoor theme every day, including forest, stream and pond studies. We also do fun outdoor activities every day- hiking, mountain biking, swimming and more! Campers can expect a fun week outside packed with activities, art projects and games.

Ages: 8-12 years old

Cost: $350 per camper

Weeks: July 13th - 17th OR July 27th - 31st

Time: 9:00 am – 3:30 pm

SUMMER SKI CAMP: Spend the week outside at Sleepy Hollow’s 850 acres of forest and trails, with running, hiking, mountain biking, rollerskiing*, swimming and more! The camp is geared towards kids that are excited to try some summer Nordic ski activities. We get out on the trails every day and do activities, art projects and games too, all with the focus of summer fun outside! *Rollerskis not needed- we team up with NENSA for rollerskiing, and they provide a fleet for us to use.

Ages: 10-14 years old

Cost: $350 per camper

Weeks: July 20th - 24th

Time: 9:00 am – 3:30 pm

This year's offerings are as follows:

Date Grades Time
7/6-7/10 Grades 2-4 Boys & Girls 8:00 a.m.-11:00 a.m.
7/6-7/10 Grades 5-9 Girls 11:00 a.m.-2:00 p.m.
7/13-7/17 Grades 5-9 Boys 8:00-11:00 a.m.
**Please attend the camp for the grade entering in August, 2026**

If you would like an application, please reach out to me [email protected].

Here is a short video from last year's camp.
https://youtu.be/yPIhpe4-50M

Horses & Pathfinders, LLC
Power of Transformational Leadership Guided by Horses for Businesses, Organizations, Teams, and Individuals. Riders too!

Let’s Connect:
How can we help you achieve next-level leadership or horsemanship?

Discover Us:
Located in pastoral North-Central Vermont:
• Montpelier – 10 minutes
• Burlington International Airport – 30 minutes
• Montreal – 2 hours
• Boston – 3 hours

Get in Touch:
802.223.1903
6899 Route 100B, Moretown, VT 05660
horsesandpathfinders.com
FB: Horses & Pathfinders
IG: horses-and-pathfinders

Website: https://bps.huusd.org/

Instagram: BrooksidePrimarySchool

Facebook: HUUSD

Phone: 802-244-7195

Location: 47 Stowe Street, Waterbury, VT

Brookside Primary School Yearbook 25-26 is a 40 page book featuring ALL BPS Grades PreK-Grade 4 with individual student and staff photos, class photos and collage pages highlighting our school days together. Preordering is now open with a May 7, 2026 deadline for ordering yearbooks.

The prefered way for you to order yearbooks is to order online directly from Treering using the QR code below or this link:

https://www.treering.com/purchase?PassCode=1014562533402033

If you need a passcode, use this: 1014562533402033

The cost for each yearbook ordered online is $15.85 plus $1.11 sales tax for a total of $16.96 per book.

Another way for you to order is to use the paper order form, which you can find below to print or request a hard copy. Books ordered this way are $17 and can be paid for using check or cash, and must be accompanied by the completed order form. Order Form: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1CHsRC6tSwKSTmawvw6J0pz-ILiQvU6pT6MJkegc3jNo/edit?usp=sharing

Please note: If paying for with cash, we are unable to make change, so please provide the exact amount. If paying by check, please make it out to "Brookside Primary School," with "yearbook" on the memo line. All paper order forms with payment should be returned to the office for Brenda.

May 7th is the absolute date any orders will be accepted. We encourage you to order ASAP so you don't miss out by missing the deadline.

Contact [email protected] if you have questions.

SOUTH DUXBURY, VT – The Harwood Union High School Theatre Department is proud to announce its upcoming spring musical production of Hadestown: Teen Edition. The show, a high-energy adaptation of Anaïs Mitchell’s acclaimed Broadway hit, will run for four performances from Thursday, April 2, through Saturday, April 4, 2026.1

The production presents a powerful, contemporary reimagining of two classic Greek myths—the tragic love story of Orpheus and Eurydice and the tale of King Hades and his wife, Persephone—on the Harwood stage. Featuring Mitchell’s genre-defying music and poetic storytelling, the show promises a moving and memorable theatrical experience for audiences of all ages.

The show features Senior Aiden Heath as Orpheus, Juniors Eireann McDonough as Eurydice, Tarin Askew as Hades, Julia Wulff as Persephone, and Mar Greene as Hermes. Also featured are Seniors Maddie Stephan, Nina Henzel, and Indigo Lees, Juniors and Cora Potts, and Sophomore Robin Weigand as the Fates. Senior AJ Brooks leads an ensemble of almost 30 students through the up above and down below worlds of the show. Junior Nyx Gilson is the Scenic Designer for the show, and Sophomore Zoe Legeros serves as the costumer. Junior Cali Neville and Sophomore Franki Beto serve as Stage managers.

The show is once again directed by Scott Weigand, with Music Direction by Molly Desrochers, and choreography by Mary Chudzik. Kenrick Fisher is the lighting designer.

Weigand says of Hadestown: “This show is not just a modern retelling of classic myths, but its theme still resonates today. It’s not just a love story, but a story about the struggle between the haves and have-nots. It is a challenging show that these students have worked hard to present. I think everyone will be moved by their performance.”

Performance Details:

• What: Hadestown: Teen Edition

• Where: Harwood Union High School, 458 Vermont Route 100, South Duxbury, VT

• When: Thurs and Friday, April 2-3 at 7:30 pm, Saturday, April 4 at 1:30 pm and 7:30 pm.

• Tickets: $12 adults, and $8 students

Tickets will be available at the door (cash or check only).

Hadestown: Teen Edition is presented by arrangement with Concord Theatricals Corp.

Check out Brookside Primary School Spirit Wear on Bonfire and shop official merchandise today! Featuring limited edition custom apparel, printed with care in the USA just for you.

We are so grateful for the generous donations to continue our backpack food program for children experiencing food insecurity. We surpassed our goal of raising $7,000 to help finish out this school year, and begin the next one. These backpacks filled with food for weekends is one way for us to show our children we care. In the words of Fred Rogers' Mom, "Look for the helpers. You will always find people who are helping (in the community)." Thank you for being the helpers!

If you are interested in donating to the Backpack program you can donate on the PTO's website.

https://www.paypal.com/donate/?hosted_button_id=A3BLQR4L43ZCN

Families can apply for weekend food supplements by completing this link or clicking on the photo to the right to download a Google Doc to print and return to Eliza Chittenden at BPS.

April 20-24 Vacation-No School

May

May 25- NO SCHOOL - Memorial Day

May 26 PREK/K-2 -BPS ARTS NIGHT: 5pm-6pm

Doors open at 4:45, concert starts at 5pm and the remainder of the night is art show/other arts stations (TBD)

VMEA 4th/5th Grade Choir Festival – Wednesday, May 27, 8:00–5:30, Champlain Valley Union High School. Not all students attend; confirm with your child or their music teacher

May 28 3/4 -BPS ARTS NIGHT: 5pm-6pm

Doors open at 4:45, concert starts at 5pm and the remainder of the night is art show/other arts stations

Please note that the opportunities/events listed below are not specifically endorsed or screened by school staff. As always, families should use their own standards and review processes to determine appropriate activities.

SLEEPY HOLLOW SUMMER CAMPS 2026

Sleepy Hollow Ski & Bike Center in Huntington is offering 3 weeks of camp this year, two weeks of our Slammin’ Outdoor Camp and two weeks of our Summer Ski Camp. Check out descriptions and dates below:). Go to the Sleepy Hollow Summer Camps webpage for the registration link. Questions? Reach out to the Summer Camp Director, Heather LaRocca, at [email protected]

SLAMMIN’ OUTDOOR CAMP: Get outside and adventure in Sleepy Hollow’s 850 acres of forest and trails! We head out on the trails every day to explore the natural world around Sleepy with a new outdoor theme every day, including forest, stream and pond studies. We also do fun outdoor activities every day- hiking, mountain biking, swimming and more! Campers can expect a fun week outside packed with activities, art projects and games.

Ages: 8-12 years old

Cost: $350 per camper

Weeks: July 13th - 17th OR July 27th - 31st

Time: 9:00 am – 3:30 pm

SUMMER SKI CAMP: Spend the week outside at Sleepy Hollow’s 850 acres of forest and trails, with running, hiking, mountain biking, rollerskiing*, swimming and more! The camp is geared towards kids that are excited to try some summer Nordic ski activities. We get out on the trails every day and do activities, art projects and games too, all with the focus of summer fun outside! *Rollerskis not needed- we team up with NENSA for rollerskiing, and they provide a fleet for us to use.

Ages: 10-14 years old

Cost: $350 per camper

Weeks: July 20th - 24th

Time: 9:00 am – 3:30 pm

This year's offerings are as follows:

Date Grades Time
7/6-7/10 Grades 2-4 Boys & Girls 8:00 a.m.-11:00 a.m.
7/6-7/10 Grades 5-9 Girls 11:00 a.m.-2:00 p.m.
7/13-7/17 Grades 5-9 Boys 8:00-11:00 a.m.
**Please attend the camp for the grade entering in August, 2026**

If you would like an application, please reach out to me [email protected].

Here is a short video from last year's camp.
https://youtu.be/yPIhpe4-50M

Horses & Pathfinders, LLC
Power of Transformational Leadership Guided by Horses for Businesses, Organizations, Teams, and Individuals. Riders too!

Let’s Connect:
How can we help you achieve next-level leadership or horsemanship?

Discover Us:
Located in pastoral North-Central Vermont:
• Montpelier – 10 minutes
• Burlington International Airport – 30 minutes
• Montreal – 2 hours
• Boston – 3 hours

Get in Touch:
802.223.1903
6899 Route 100B, Moretown, VT 05660
horsesandpathfinders.com
FB: Horses & Pathfinders
IG: horses-and-pathfinders

Website: https://bps.huusd.org/

Instagram: BrooksidePrimarySchool

Facebook: HUUSD

Phone: 802-244-7195

Location: 47 Stowe Street, Waterbury, VT

Check out Brookside Primary School Spirit Wear on Bonfire and shop official merchandise today! Featuring limited edition custom apparel, printed with care in the USA just for you.

In our very own community within the HUUSD, there are families and children who struggle with food insecurity and who depend on school food services for consistent, nutritious meals. This isn’t a new need, and it’s a need that is likely to grow.

A few years back, former principal Denise Goodnow recognized some BPS students who were experiencing food insecurity. She began providing backpacks filled with food for these children to take home to have on the weekends. This program and the need has grown. BPS’ Eliza Chittenden has been overseeing this weekly program for a few years now. She continues to work to address this issue by partnering with regional businesses, local organizations, and volunteers to help kids get healthy foods for weekends and school vacations. We need your support to help us raise $7,000 so we can provide weekly backpacks stocked with non-perishable foods. Reaching the $7,000 mark will allow us to provide this service for the remainder of the school year and retain funds for the start of next school year.

This program - the BPS Backpack Program - isn’t covered by the school budget. We’re taking this on because making sure kids are fed is simply the right thing to do. And when kids are fed and feel secure about where their next meal is coming from, they’re more equipped to learn, they do better in school, they are healthier overall, and have stronger social-emotional foundations. All of these benefits make Brookside Primary School a stronger community for everyone.

Please join us in this important work. We will be reaching out to businesses, we have volunteers on board, and we invite the community to come together and help us meet our $7,000 goal. Whether it’s $5 or $500, every donation adds up and helps us feed kids.

You can make an online donation through the BPS PTO using this link that has been set up especially to raise funds for this need:

Donate to the BPS Backpack Program Here

Or you can write a check to the “Brookside Primary School PTO” with “BPS Backpack Program” on the memo line and mail it to Brookside Primary School, 47 Stowe Street, Waterbury, VT 05676.

Thank you for considering helping us support children in our community.

Questions? Please contact Brenda Hartshorn at [email protected].

If you are interested in donating to the Backpack program you can donate on the PTO's website.

https://www.paypal.com/donate/?hosted_button_id=A3BLQR4L43ZCN

Families can apply for weekend food supplements by completing this link or clicking on the photo to the right to download a Google Doc to print and return to Eliza Chittenden at BPS.

April 20-24 Vacation-No School

May

May 25- NO SCHOOL - Memorial Day

May 26 PREK/K-2 -BPS ARTS NIGHT: 5pm-6pm

Doors open at 4:45, concert starts at 5pm and the remainder of the night is art show/other arts stations (TBD)

VMEA 4th/5th Grade Choir Festival – Wednesday, May 27, 8:00–5:30, Champlain Valley Union High School. Not all students attend; confirm with your child or their music teacher

May 28 3/4 -BPS ARTS NIGHT: 5pm-6pm

Doors open at 4:45, concert starts at 5pm and the remainder of the night is art show/other arts stations

Please note that the opportunities/events listed below are not specifically endorsed or screened by school staff. As always, families should use their own standards and review processes to determine appropriate activities.

SLEEPY HOLLOW SUMMER CAMPS 2026

Sleepy Hollow Ski & Bike Center in Huntington is offering 3 weeks of camp this year, two weeks of our Slammin’ Outdoor Camp and two weeks of our Summer Ski Camp. Check out descriptions and dates below:). Go to the Sleepy Hollow Summer Camps webpage for the registration link. Questions? Reach out to the Summer Camp Director, Heather LaRocca, at [email protected]

SLAMMIN’ OUTDOOR CAMP: Get outside and adventure in Sleepy Hollow’s 850 acres of forest and trails! We head out on the trails every day to explore the natural world around Sleepy with a new outdoor theme every day, including forest, stream and pond studies. We also do fun outdoor activities every day- hiking, mountain biking, swimming and more! Campers can expect a fun week outside packed with activities, art projects and games.

Ages: 8-12 years old

Cost: $350 per camper

Weeks: July 13th - 17th OR July 27th - 31st

Time: 9:00 am – 3:30 pm

SUMMER SKI CAMP: Spend the week outside at Sleepy Hollow’s 850 acres of forest and trails, with running, hiking, mountain biking, rollerskiing*, swimming and more! The camp is geared towards kids that are excited to try some summer Nordic ski activities. We get out on the trails every day and do activities, art projects and games too, all with the focus of summer fun outside! *Rollerskis not needed- we team up with NENSA for rollerskiing, and they provide a fleet for us to use.

Ages: 10-14 years old

Cost: $350 per camper

Weeks: July 20th - 24th

Time: 9:00 am – 3:30 pm

This year's offerings are as follows:

Date Grades Time
7/6-7/10 Grades 2-4 Boys & Girls 8:00 a.m.-11:00 a.m.
7/6-7/10 Grades 5-9 Girls 11:00 a.m.-2:00 p.m.
7/13-7/17 Grades 5-9 Boys 8:00-11:00 a.m.
**Please attend the camp for the grade entering in August, 2026**

If you would like an application, please reach out to me [email protected].

Here is a short video from last year's camp.
https://youtu.be/yPIhpe4-50M

Website: https://bps.huusd.org/

Instagram: BrooksidePrimarySchool

Facebook: HUUSD

Phone: 802-244-7195

Location: 47 Stowe Street, Waterbury, VT

Check out Brookside Primary School Spirit Wear on Bonfire and shop official merchandise today! Featuring limited edition custom apparel, printed with care in the USA just for you.

In our very own community within the HUUSD, there are families and children who struggle with food insecurity and who depend on school food services for consistent, nutritious meals. This isn’t a new need, and it’s a need that is likely to grow.

A few years back, former principal Denise Goodnow recognized some BPS students who were experiencing food insecurity. She began providing backpacks filled with food for these children to take home to have on the weekends. This program and the need has grown. BPS’ Eliza Chittenden has been overseeing this weekly program for a few years now. She continues to work to address this issue by partnering with regional businesses, local organizations, and volunteers to help kids get healthy foods for weekends and school vacations. We need your support to help us raise $7,000 so we can provide weekly backpacks stocked with non-perishable foods. Reaching the $7,000 mark will allow us to provide this service for the remainder of the school year and retain funds for the start of next school year.

This program - the BPS Backpack Program - isn’t covered by the school budget. We’re taking this on because making sure kids are fed is simply the right thing to do. And when kids are fed and feel secure about where their next meal is coming from, they’re more equipped to learn, they do better in school, they are healthier overall, and have stronger social-emotional foundations. All of these benefits make Brookside Primary School a stronger community for everyone.

Please join us in this important work. We will be reaching out to businesses, we have volunteers on board, and we invite the community to come together and help us meet our $7,000 goal. Whether it’s $5 or $500, every donation adds up and helps us feed kids.

You can make an online donation through the BPS PTO using this link that has been set up especially to raise funds for this need:

Donate to the BPS Backpack Program Here

Or you can write a check to the “Brookside Primary School PTO” with “BPS Backpack Program” on the memo line and mail it to Brookside Primary School, 47 Stowe Street, Waterbury, VT 05676.

Thank you for considering helping us support children in our community.

Questions? Please contact Brenda Hartshorn at [email protected].

If you are interested in donating to the Backpack program you can donate on the PTO's website.

https://www.paypal.com/donate/?hosted_button_id=A3BLQR4L43ZCN

Families can apply for weekend food supplements by completing this link or clicking on the photo to the right to download a Google Doc to print and return to Eliza Chittenden at BPS.

April 20-24 Vacation-No School

May

May 25- NO SCHOOL - Memorial Day

May 26 PREK/K-2 -BPS ARTS NIGHT: 5pm-6pm

Doors open at 4:45, concert starts at 5pm and the remainder of the night is art show/other arts stations (TBD)

VMEA 4th/5th Grade Choir Festival – Wednesday, May 27, 8:00–5:30, Champlain Valley Union High School. Not all students attend; confirm with your child or their music teacher

May 28 3/4 -BPS ARTS NIGHT: 5pm-6pm

Doors open at 4:45, concert starts at 5pm and the remainder of the night is art show/other arts stations

Please note that the opportunities/events listed below are not specifically endorsed or screened by school staff. As always, families should use their own standards and review processes to determine appropriate activities.

This year's offerings are as follows:

Date Grades Time
7/6-7/10 Grades 2-4 Boys & Girls 8:00 a.m.-11:00 a.m.
7/6-7/10 Grades 5-9 Girls 11:00 a.m.-2:00 p.m.
7/13-7/17 Grades 5-9 Boys 8:00-11:00 a.m.
**Please attend the camp for the grade entering in August, 2026**

If you would like an application, please reach out to me [email protected].

Here is a short video from last year's camp.
https://youtu.be/yPIhpe4-50M

Website: https://bps.huusd.org/

Instagram: BrooksidePrimarySchool

Facebook: HUUSD

Phone: 802-244-7195

Location: 47 Stowe Street, Waterbury, VT

Check out Brookside Primary School Spirit Wear on Bonfire and shop official merchandise today! Featuring limited edition custom apparel, printed with care in the USA just for you.

In our very own community within the HUUSD, there are families and children who struggle with food insecurity and who depend on school food services for consistent, nutritious meals. This isn’t a new need, and it’s a need that is likely to grow.

A few years back, former principal Denise Goodnow recognized some BPS students who were experiencing food insecurity. She began providing backpacks filled with food for these children to take home to have on the weekends. This program and the need has grown. BPS’ Eliza Chittenden has been overseeing this weekly program for a few years now. She continues to work to address this issue by partnering with regional businesses, local organizations, and volunteers to help kids get healthy foods for weekends and school vacations. We need your support to help us raise $7,000 so we can provide weekly backpacks stocked with non-perishable foods. Reaching the $7,000 mark will allow us to provide this service for the remainder of the school year and retain funds for the start of next school year.

This program - the BPS Backpack Program - isn’t covered by the school budget. We’re taking this on because making sure kids are fed is simply the right thing to do. And when kids are fed and feel secure about where their next meal is coming from, they’re more equipped to learn, they do better in school, they are healthier overall, and have stronger social-emotional foundations. All of these benefits make Brookside Primary School a stronger community for everyone.

Please join us in this important work. We will be reaching out to businesses, we have volunteers on board, and we invite the community to come together and help us meet our $7,000 goal. Whether it’s $5 or $500, every donation adds up and helps us feed kids.

You can make an online donation through the BPS PTO using this link that has been set up especially to raise funds for this need:

Donate to the BPS Backpack Program Here

Or you can write a check to the “Brookside Primary School PTO” with “BPS Backpack Program” on the memo line and mail it to Brookside Primary School, 47 Stowe Street, Waterbury, VT 05676.

Thank you for considering helping us support children in our community.

Questions? Please contact Brenda Hartshorn at [email protected].

If you are interested in donating to the Backpack program you can donate on the PTO's website.

https://www.paypal.com/donate/?hosted_button_id=A3BLQR4L43ZCN

Families can apply for weekend food supplements by completing this link or clicking on the photo to the right to download a Google Doc to print and return to Eliza Chittenden at BPS.

March 16-20 - Family Conferences

March 16-19 BPS Book Fair 3-5 pm in the BPS Library

March 20 NO SCHOOL for Students

April

April 20-24 Vacation-No School

Please note that the opportunities/events listed below are not specifically endorsed or screened by school staff. As always, families should use their own standards and review processes to determine appropriate activities.

We are very excited to be able to offer another full program of practices, games, and events as part of Highlander Youth Lacrosse this spring. It's never too late to start, novice players are welcome! Our emphasis at all levels is for kids to have fun learning to play lacrosse, getting outside, and to make new friends.

Registration is now open at www.highlanderlacrosse.com *Scholarships available* link on site.

The Highlander Lacrosse Program includes teams for:
Kindergarten-2nd grade | Boys & Girls in the Chillax Program (non contact play) - No cost!
3/4 grade girls | 3/4 grade boys
5/6 grade girls | 5/6 grade boys
7/8 grade girls | 7/8 grade boys

Our season starts in March and runs through to mid-June with practices during the week and jamboree-style games on the weekends (Boys on Saturdays, Girls on Sundays). Questions? Reach out at [email protected]

As climate change reshapes ecosystems, wildlife must move—often farther and more frequently—to survive. Roads can become barriers, but wildlife crossings help reconnect habitats while improving safety for both animals and people.

Join us for a timely, in-person presentation with Jesse Mohr of Native Geographic LLC:

Wednesday, March 18, 2026

6:30–8:00 PM

WSF&GC Club House

In person only (no Zoom)

Jesse will explore conservation science and why Waterbury’s location makes it a critical link in Vermont’s connected landscape. If you care about wildlife habitats, resilient forests, and the future of our shared environment, we

hope you’ll attend.

Charlotte's Bones: The Beluga Whale in a Farmer's Field

Written by Erin Rounds, Illustrated by Alison Carver

In 1993, a beluga whale became Vermont’s state fossil, signed into law by Governor

Dean at a ceremony at the Charlotte Elementary School. Many years ago, its skeleton

had been found in a farmer’s field, miles from any ocean! How was that possible? Erin

Rounds, a Vermont educator, reimagines this fascinating story of history and science,

beautifully illustrated by Alison Carver.

12,000 years ago, Vermont looked very different than it does today. Glaciers had

compressed the land, scooping out great valleys that filled with ocean water, creating

the Champlain Sea, an arm of the ocean. A variety of marine creatures existed in

these waters, including belugas, or white whales.

In 1849 workers building a railroad through Charlotte dug up some unusual bones. At

first they thought they were the bones of a horse, but a local naturalist thought

differently and had them analyzed by a famous scientist. Although some of the bones

had been destroyed in the digging, they were able to reassemble most of the skeleton

which you can see today at the Perkins Museum of Geology at the University of

Vermont.

The author imagines Charlotte becoming trapped in a tidal marsh, her bones eventually

becoming covered with silt and clay and preserved for thousands of years, as the marsh

slowly transitioned into a farmer’s field. At the end of the book there is additional

information on beluga whales and ice age animals, along with a glossary and resources

for further reading.

Enjoy a walk or snowshoe along the trail, imagining what other secrets might be buried

in the earth below. Stop by the library and tell us your thoughts about Charlotte, fossils,

or some of your favorite books.

The StoryWalk® Project was created by Anne Ferguson and developed in collaboration with

the Kellogg-Hubbard Library in Montpelier Vermont.

Storywalk® is a registered service mark owned by the Kellogg-Hubbard Library.

This year's offerings are as follows:

Date Grades Time
7/6-7/10 Grades 2-4 Boys & Girls 8:00 a.m.-11:00 a.m.
7/6-7/10 Grades 5-9 Girls 11:00 a.m.-2:00 p.m.
7/13-7/17 Grades 5-9 Boys 8:00-11:00 a.m.
**Please attend the camp for the grade entering in August, 2026**

If you would like an application, please reach out to me [email protected].

Here is a short video from last year's camp.
https://youtu.be/yPIhpe4-50M

Clyde Whittemore Little League (CWLL) is pleased to announce that baseball and softball registrations are open for the Spring 2026 season! CWLL serves players ages 4-12 in the Waterbury and Duxbury area. Beginners are always welcome at any age!

The pricing for each division will be as follows this year:

Tee Ball (4-5 year olds) - $40
Farm League Baseball (6-8 year olds) - $45
Coach Pitch Softball (6-8 year old girls) - $45
Minor League Baseball (8-10 year olds) - $70
Minor League Softball (8-10 year old girls) - $70
Major League Baseball (10-12 year olds) -$70
Major League Softball (10-12 year old girls) - $70

To register go to: www.ClydeWhittemoreLittleLeague.com

Scholarships are available for those families for whom these fees present a financial hardship. Please just reach out to us at [email protected] f this would be helpful for your family.

Wildlife don’t recognize town boundaries—but they do feel the impacts of roads, development,

and habitat fragmentation.

Waterbury is centrally located within Vermont’s connected forest network, making it a crucial

passageway for animals responding to seasonal needs and climate change. Wildlife road

crossings in town help maintain these connections safely and effectively.

Join us in person for a community presentation with Jesse Mohr of Native Geographic LLC:

Wednesday, March 18, 2026

6:30–8:00 PM

WSF&GC Club House

No Zoom option

This presentation will highlight wildlife crossings in and around Waterbury, the species that

depend on them, and how community planning decisions shape biodiversity conservation at

both local and regional scales.

Whether you’re a landowner, commuter, outdoor enthusiast, or simply curious about the

landscape we share, this event is for you.

— Waterbury Conservation Commission

Website: https://bps.huusd.org/

Instagram: BrooksidePrimarySchool

Facebook: HUUSD

Phone: 802-244-7195

Location: 47 Stowe Street, Waterbury, VT

Check out Brookside Primary School Spirit Wear on Bonfire and shop official merchandise today! Featuring limited edition custom apparel, printed with care in the USA just for you.

Parent/Guardian-Teacher conferences will be held for K-4 grade students March 16-20, 2026. Brookside uses an online scheduler called Canyon Creek. Families will be able to sign up beginning on March 6 through March 13.

Please read this info for using Canyon Creek's online scheduler.

Step-By-Step Parent/Guardian Instructions

1. Visit the school’s homepage (https://bps.huusd.org/) and select the Online Scheduler

icon/link.

2. From the Online Scheduler Home Page

a. Choose your student’s school from the drop down list and click “GO”

b. Enter the school password ( BPS ) -not case sensitive

c. Enter your student’s “Student ID”. If you do not know their Student ID, use the

LOOKUP STUDENT ID button to access the system.

d. Verify the student’s birth date

e. A list of your student’s teachers will be displayed. Check the box next to the

name of each teacher(s) you would like to meet with.

f. If you have more than one student in the school you can see all of your students’

teachers’ schedules at one time by answering YES to this question “Do you want

to schedule conferences for another student?” then repeat the steps above for

your other students. If you only have one student, answer NO to that question.

g. You will then see the available time slots for each teacher you selected.

h. Select the times that work best for your schedule.

i. Enter your email address (recommended) if you would like an email reminder

sent to you. (Your email address is kept private.)

j. Once you have finished you can confirm your appointment details and print your

conference schedule.

k. Write down the Confirmation Number (you will need this number to cancel your

appointment)

Need help? Contact the school’s Online Scheduler™ specialist:

Name: Brenda Hartshorn

E-mail:[email protected]

Phone: (802) 583-8024

Dear 4th Grade Parents/Guardians,

We are pleased to partner with Vermont Wellness Group Drumming LLC to provide a four-week group drumming residency for 4th graders at Brookside Primary School. The sessions will occur every Friday in small groups throughout the school day (March 27, April 3, 10, and 17). We are excited to introduce the students at BPS to the benefits of group drumming as part of our dedication to Social Emotional Learning. Some of the benefits of group drumming for children include: nervous system regulation, positive risk taking, and interpersonal skills development. We are excited to provide a new opportunity for 4th graders to share and explore the world of creative drumming and percussion.

In order for your child to participate please sign the consent form by March 13, 2026 here:https://forms.gle/gegUpY9ZvQzYvfZf6

If you have any questions please email Ms. Macri at [email protected].

If you are interested in donating to the Backpack program you can donate on the PTO's website.

https://www.paypal.com/donate/?hosted_button_id=A3BLQR4L43ZCN

Families can apply for weekend food supplements by completing this link or clicking on the photo to the right to download a Google Doc to print and return to Eliza Chittenden at BPS.

March 12 @Harwood High School Choral Night-4th Grade Only

March 16-20 - Family Conferences

March 16-19 BPS Book Fair

March 20 NO SCHOOL for Students

April

April 20-24 Vacation-No School

Please note that the opportunities/events listed below are not specifically endorsed or screened by school staff. As always, families should use their own standards and review processes to determine appropriate activities.

4-H Babystting Clinic at Joslin Library
Sundays, March 8th and March 15th
9 am - 1 pm

Learn all about babysitting during this two-day clinic led by 4-H educator Molly McFaun. This class is designed to prepare babysitters for all aspects of caring for babies, toddlers, and older children. Participants will learn about First Aid, emergency preparedness, child development, the business side of babysitting, and more through hands-on activities, discussion, and role-play.

Free and open to youth 11-18, made possible through UVM Extension and the Washington County 4-H Foundation. Registration is required and space is limited. Participants must be able to attend both sessions. Lunch will be provided by Joslin, but participants are welcome to bring their own.

REGISTER HERE:
https://forms.gle/Epn6kTvJHSuCW4Xe9

Charlotte's Bones: The Beluga Whale in a Farmer's Field

Written by Erin Rounds, Illustrated by Alison Carver

In 1993, a beluga whale became Vermont’s state fossil, signed into law by Governor

Dean at a ceremony at the Charlotte Elementary School. Many years ago, its skeleton

had been found in a farmer’s field, miles from any ocean! How was that possible? Erin

Rounds, a Vermont educator, reimagines this fascinating story of history and science,

beautifully illustrated by Alison Carver.

12,000 years ago, Vermont looked very different than it does today. Glaciers had

compressed the land, scooping out great valleys that filled with ocean water, creating

the Champlain Sea, an arm of the ocean. A variety of marine creatures existed in

these waters, including belugas, or white whales.

In 1849 workers building a railroad through Charlotte dug up some unusual bones. At

first they thought they were the bones of a horse, but a local naturalist thought

differently and had them analyzed by a famous scientist. Although some of the bones

had been destroyed in the digging, they were able to reassemble most of the skeleton

which you can see today at the Perkins Museum of Geology at the University of

Vermont.

The author imagines Charlotte becoming trapped in a tidal marsh, her bones eventually

becoming covered with silt and clay and preserved for thousands of years, as the marsh

slowly transitioned into a farmer’s field. At the end of the book there is additional

information on beluga whales and ice age animals, along with a glossary and resources

for further reading.

Enjoy a walk or snowshoe along the trail, imagining what other secrets might be buried

in the earth below. Stop by the library and tell us your thoughts about Charlotte, fossils,

or some of your favorite books.

The StoryWalk® Project was created by Anne Ferguson and developed in collaboration with

the Kellogg-Hubbard Library in Montpelier Vermont. Storywalk® is a registered service mark

owned by the Kellogg-Hubbard Library.

Dates Grades Time

7/6-7/10 Grades 2-4 Boys & Girls 8:00 a.m.-11:00 a.m.

7/6-7/10 Grades 5-9 Girls 11:00 a.m.-2:00 p.m.

7/13-7/17 Grades 5-9 Boys 8:00-11:00 a.m.

**Please attend the camp for the grade entering in August, 2026**

If you would like a camp application, please click on this link or email Tommy Young @[email protected]

Clyde Whittemore Little League (CWLL) is pleased to announce that baseball and softball registrations are open for the Spring 2026 season! CWLL serves players ages 4-12 in the Waterbury and Duxbury area. Beginners are always welcome at any age!

The pricing for each division will be as follows this year:

Tee Ball (4-5 year olds) - $40
Farm League Baseball (6-8 year olds) - $45
Coach Pitch Softball (6-8 year old girls) - $45
Minor League Baseball (8-10 year olds) - $70
Minor League Softball (8-10 year old girls) - $70
Major League Baseball (10-12 year olds) -$70
Major League Softball (10-12 year old girls) - $70

To register go to: www.ClydeWhittemoreLittleLeague.com

Scholarships are available for those families for whom these fees present a financial hardship. Please just reach out to us at [email protected] f this would be helpful for your family.

Wildlife don’t recognize town boundaries—but they do feel the impacts of roads, development,

and habitat fragmentation.

Waterbury is centrally located within Vermont’s connected forest network, making it a crucial

passageway for animals responding to seasonal needs and climate change. Wildlife road

crossings in town help maintain these connections safely and effectively.

Join us in person for a community presentation with Jesse Mohr of Native Geographic LLC:

Wednesday, March 18, 2026

6:30–8:00 PM

WSF&GC Club House

No Zoom option

This presentation will highlight wildlife crossings in and around Waterbury, the species that

depend on them, and how community planning decisions shape biodiversity conservation at

both local and regional scales.

Whether you’re a landowner, commuter, outdoor enthusiast, or simply curious about the

landscape we share, this event is for you.

— Waterbury Conservation Commission

Website: https://bps.huusd.org/

Instagram: BrooksidePrimarySchool

Facebook: HUUSD

Phone: 802-244-7195

Location: 47 Stowe Street, Waterbury, VT

Students were immersed in kindness activities this week with a different "station" set up each morning in the lobby during student arrival.

• Monday was a community kindness project to warm hands and hearts - students decorated coffee cup sleeves for Black Cap, which added an affirmation to each latte or espresso.

• On Tuesday, students watercolored hearts as part of a community art piece which was presented to the Waterbury Public Library for all to enjoy.

• Wednesday, students wrote and drew messages of gratitude for community members who have made a difference for them.

• On Thursday, students had the opportunity to “Be the I in KIND” as part of a live art display!

• Friday provided an opportunity for students to record the acts of kindness they engaged in as they added to our schoolwide paper chain of kindness.

Have a wonderful break, please VOTE on 3/3 and continue to spread your kindness!

Chris & Sarah

Check out Brookside Primary School Spirit Wear on Bonfire and shop official merchandise today! Featuring limited edition custom apparel, printed with care in the USA just for you.

Parent/Guardian-Teacher conferences will be held for K-4 grade students March 16-20, 2026. Brookside uses an online scheduler called Canyon Creek. Families will be able to sign up beginning on March 6 through March 13.

Please read this info for using Canyon Creek's online scheduler.

Step-By-Step Parent/Guardian Instructions

1. Visit the school’s homepage (https://bps.huusd.org/) and select the Online Scheduler

icon/link.

2. From the Online Scheduler Home Page

a. Choose your student’s school from the drop down list and click “GO”

b. Enter the school password ( BPS ) -not case sensitive

c. Enter your student’s “Student ID”. If you do not know their Student ID, use the

LOOKUP STUDENT ID button to access the system.

d. Verify the student’s birth date

e. A list of your student’s teachers will be displayed. Check the box next to the

name of each teacher(s) you would like to meet with.

f. If you have more than one student in the school you can see all of your students’

teachers’ schedules at one time by answering YES to this question “Do you want

to schedule conferences for another student?” then repeat the steps above for

your other students. If you only have one student, answer NO to that question.

g. You will then see the available time slots for each teacher you selected.

h. Select the times that work best for your schedule.

i. Enter your email address (recommended) if you would like an email reminder

sent to you. (Your email address is kept private.)

j. Once you have finished you can confirm your appointment details and print your

conference schedule.

k. Write down the Confirmation Number (you will need this number to cancel your

appointment)

Need help? Contact the school’s Online Scheduler™ specialist:

Name: Brenda Hartshorn

E-mail:[email protected]

Phone: (802) 583-8024

Dear 4th Grade Parents/Guardians,

We are pleased to partner with Vermont Wellness Group Drumming LLC to provide a four-week group drumming residency for 4th graders at Brookside Primary School. The sessions will occur every Friday in small groups throughout the school day (March 27, April 3, 10, and 17). We are excited to introduce the students at BPS to the benefits of group drumming as part of our dedication to Social Emotional Learning. Some of the benefits of group drumming for children include: nervous system regulation, positive risk taking, and interpersonal skills development. We are excited to provide a new opportunity for 4th graders to share and explore the world of creative drumming and percussion.

In order for your child to participate please sign the consent form by March 13, 2026 here:https://forms.gle/gegUpY9ZvQzYvfZf6

If you have any questions please email Ms. Macri at [email protected].

If you are interested in donating to the Backpack program you can donate on the PTO's website.

https://www.paypal.com/donate/?hosted_button_id=A3BLQR4L43ZCN

Families can apply for weekend food supplements by completing this link or clicking on the photo to the right to download a Google Doc to print and return to Eliza Chittenden at BPS.

February 23-March 3 - NO SCHOOL

March

March 2-3 - NO SCHOOL

March 3 - Town Meeting Day, School Budget Vote

March 12 @Harwood High School Choral Night-4th Grade Only

March 16-20 - Family Conferences

March 16-19 BPS Book Fair

March 20 NO SCHOOL for Students

Please note that the opportunities/events listed below are not specifically endorsed or screened by school staff. As always, families should use their own standards and review processes to determine appropriate activities.

Dates Grades Time

7/6-7/10 Grades 2-4 Boys & Girls 8:00 a.m.-11:00 a.m.

7/6-7/10 Grades 5-9 Girls 11:00 a.m.-2:00 p.m.

7/13-7/17 Grades 5-9 Boys 8:00-11:00 a.m.

**Please attend the camp for the grade entering in August, 2026**

If you would like a camp application, please click on this link or email Tommy Young @[email protected]

We are very excited to be able to offer another full program of practices, games, and events as part of Highlander Youth Lacrosse this spring. It's never too late to start, novice players are welcome! Our emphasis at all levels is for kids to have fun learning to play lacrosse, getting outside, and to make new friends.

Registration is now open at www.highlanderlacrosse.com *Scholarships available* link on site.

The Highlander Lacrosse Program includes teams for:
Kindergarten-2nd grade | Boys & Girls in the Chillax Program (non contact play) - No cost!
3/4 grade girls | 3/4 grade boys
5/6 grade girls | 5/6 grade boys
7/8 grade girls | 7/8 grade boys

Our season starts in March and runs through to mid-June with practices during the week and jamboree-style games on the weekends (Boys on Saturdays, Girls on Sundays). Questions? Reach out at [email protected]

Clyde Whittemore Little League (CWLL) is pleased to announce that baseball and softball registrations are open for the Spring 2026 season! CWLL serves players ages 4-12 in the Waterbury and Duxbury area. Beginners are always welcome at any age!

The pricing for each division will be as follows this year:

Tee Ball (4-5 year olds) - $40
Farm League Baseball (6-8 year olds) - $45
Coach Pitch Softball (6-8 year old girls) - $45
Minor League Baseball (8-10 year olds) - $70
Minor League Softball (8-10 year old girls) - $70
Major League Baseball (10-12 year olds) -$70
Major League Softball (10-12 year old girls) - $70

To register go to: www.ClydeWhittemoreLittleLeague.com

Scholarships are available for those families for whom these fees present a financial hardship. Please just reach out to us at [email protected] f this would be helpful for your family.

Website: https://bps.huusd.org/

Instagram: BrooksidePrimarySchool

Facebook: HUUSD

Phone: 802-244-7195

Location: 47 Stowe Street, Waterbury, VT

Next week, BPS will celebrate its 4th Random Acts of Kindness Week. This annual tradition provides students and staff to engage in and celebrate small acts of kindness to self, others and community.

The HUUSD school budget vote will occur (early or) on Town Meeting Day, Tuesday 3/3. If you have questions or would like more information about the budget implications for BPS, please see the information and opportunities to engage below.

We hope you enjoy the sunshine!

Sarah & Chris