Hello!

The BPS ski program is back:) We will be skiing at both Trapp's and Sugarbush again. Here are the dates so you can mark your calendars: BPS Ski Program 25-26.

A few reminders:

• This program is free for all students.
• We will provide rental gear for students that need it on ski days only.
• Pinnacle Ski and Sports in Stowe and Waterbury Sports in Waterbury offer seasonal rentals. Families that choose this option will pay the shops directly. Brookside is not paying for seasonal rentals.
• We would love for you to volunteer. Here is the process if you are not already an approved volunteer: https://huusd.org/apply-to-volunteer. Volunteering = FUN and a free ski pass for the day:)

Please see the communication above for volunteer opportunities for grades 3 and 4.

THINK SNOW!!!!!

Dear HUUSD Families,

I am reaching out today with an urgent request that will help our schools and our taxpayers.

We need every HUUSD family to complete the household income verification form (even if you think you did it previously).

We include this brief form annually during student registration. It asks for student names and whether the household income is approximately $69,995 and below OR above $69,995. Families do NOT need to share their exact income. The information goes to the state and is kept private.

Link to Form: https://education.vermont.gov/householdincome/2025-2026-household-income-form

WHY THIS MATTERS

The State of Vermont uses a "weighted pupil count" to determine our school district's budget and set local tax rates. This count gives extra funding weight to students who qualify for free or reduced-price meals.

• The Problem: Since Vermont now offers universal free meals, families are not required to submit a form for children to receive meals at school. However, the state still uses this information in its funding formula. The state counts a student only if the form is submitted.
• The Impact: Our “weighted” student count has dropped by about 167 students—far more than our actual enrollment drop of 27 students. This massive funding loss is tied directly to the missing forms.
• The Consequence: Less state funding for HUUSD means higher local taxes for our six towns and puts our current programs and services at risk.

HOW CAN YOU HELP?

Please complete the form today.

It takes just a few minutes, and it ensures every student is properly counted, secures our state funding, and helps keep local tax rates lower.

Here is the link again: https://education.vermont.gov/householdincome/2025-2026-household-income-form

Thank you for helping us maintain high-quality education for all HUUSD students.

With appreciation,

Dr. Mike, Superintendent

How to stay healthy this holiday season:

‘Tis the season of giving… illnesses are shared, too!

Follow these tips and talk with your children about healthy habits to reduce the risk of getting sick.

• Wash your Hands: Washing hands is the best way to prevent the spread of infection! How Germs Spread (for kids)

• Get sufficient sleep (10-12 hours for most elementary-aged kids)

• Eat nutritious meals

• Practice good oral hygiene

• Participate in physical activity

• Stay up to date on vaccines.

• If you are traveling for the holidays, being up to date on the measles vaccine is very important.

Please keep your child home if they have a fever or have vomited or had diarrhea in the last 24 hours. You can visit our student health page for guidelines on returning to school. In general, students need to be fever free for 24 hours without using medication to reduce the fever. The Vermont Department of Health has a resource page that you may find helpful.

Let’s work together to stay healthy!

December 23 - Early Release-Busses leave BPS at 11:30

December 24- January 4 - NO SCHOOL

January

January 1-2 - NO SCHOOL

January 5 - Welcome Back to School!

January 16 - Semester 1 ends

January 19 - Martin Luther King Jr. Day - NO SCHOOL

January 20 - Staff Development-No School for students

January 22 - Report Cards emailed home for elementary students

Clean New or Used Backpacks NEEDED for the Brookside Backpack Food Program

You may drop off donated backpacks inside the main entrance air lock with a note stating they are for the Backpack Food Program. THANK YOU!

Brookside Primary School is sponsoring, free of charge, a “weekend of food” for your child program, aka the Denise Goodnow Backpack Program. We are able to offer a supply of nutritious meals and snacks for children over their weekends and extended breaks, at no cost. Any child enrolled (or with a sibling enrolled) in Waterbury, Duxbury or Moretown is able to receive these weekly bags of food.

If you believe your child could benefit from this program, we encourage you to sign them up by filling the form out below and returning it to the main office or sending it back via email. Only one form is needed for all the children in your family, but include information for each child in the form below. This information is kept confidential. Once your child is signed up, they will receive a backpack full of food each week. We encourage you to take advantage of this program for your family and your children.

Please note: empty backpacks should be returned to school on Friday or Monday so that they can be refilled and ready to go on each Thursday. This is key to sustaining the program.

Questions or concerns? Please contact Eliza Chittenden [email protected]

https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSfZgp71bbEsyqg-9f3_hLd4Ls2wQCfUoFVaqe3a44zKw1PhWw/viewform

Arrival & Dismissal
Our doors open at 7:30am each morning, and students are invited to stop by the “grab and go” breakfast station in the main lobby for a healthy breakfast—always free for all students. Dismissal begins at 2:20pm. Thank you for following staff directions during arrival and pick-up to keep everything safe and efficient.

Transportation
Bus route information can be found here: HUUSD Bus Routes. Please take a moment to review your child’s route so that the first days of school run smoothly. Additionally, please familiarize yourself with Pick Up Patrol, as it is the system we use to manage absences, tardies and dismissal plans. Please ensure your child has default plans entered prior to the first day of school!

Meals
We are delighted to remind families that both breakfast and lunch are provided free of charge every day for all students. This ensures every child is nourished and ready to learn. The October menu can be found here.

Volunteering

Are you interested in volunteering this year? There is a formal process that must be complete before you are able to volunteer with our students. Please follow the link below to get started!

https://huusd.org/apply-to-volunteer

Winter 2025 and Spring 2026 School Vacation Art Camps for K-5th grade are now open for registration. 8:30am-3pm. Drop in days are available. ONE Arts Studio is offering:

Dec. 29th-31st: Winter Wonderland Camp (Winter Break)

Jan. 19th and 20th: Herbal Potions Camp (Martin Luther King Day)

Feb. 23rd-27th: Art is Rocket Science (February Break)

March 20th: Mythical Creatures Camp (Conferences)

April 20th- 24th: Mask Making Camp (Spring Break)

Register at: https://www.oneartsstudio.org/camps

Spring 2026 After School Art sessions are posted and you can register at: https://www.oneartsstudio.org/afterschoolart. We are offering K-4th grade after school art Tuesday through Thursday with bus drop off available from Rumney, Moretown and Brookside Elementary School! Drop ins welcome.

Kids Night Out: Third Friday of the Month. K-5th grade.

ONE Arts Studio is offering kids night out from 4pm-8pm on the third Friday of the month during the 2026 school year! Drop the kids off and enjoy an evening to yourself! We will have pizza, veggies, watch a movie and of course offer open studio art time!

Dates offered:

Jan 16th, Feb. 20th, March 20th, April 17th, May 15th, June 19th.

Register at: https://www.oneartsstudio.org/kidsnight

Mixed Ages Workshops:

Cyanotype Photography/ Make Photographs with the Sun’s Light with Evie Lovett

Sunday February 1st. 11:00am-1:00pm

$40

Cyanotype Photography: Make Photographs With the Sun’s Light!

In this mixed ages workshop for adults, teens, or children over seven accompanied by an adult, learn how to make photographs with everyday objects, the light of the sun, and water! With cyanotype photography, you’ll make photographs by placing objects you choose on specially coated light-sensitive paper, exposing to the light of the sun, and developing the image in water. The resulting image is a deep blue where sunlight fell and white where the object was.

This in person learning opportunity emphasizes community-building and artistic skill-building in a relaxed and fun setting. Evie Lovett, the Teaching Artist, will provide participants with clear instruction, demonstrations and supplies. No experience necessary. All invited.

Sculptural Mask Making with Yishay Mercy

Saturday Feb 14th

Saturday Feb 21st

Saturday Feb 28th

11am-1pm

$45 for all three days

Join us for this three class series led by Yishay Mercy. We will design and build original masks based on a design of your choosing. Yishay will lead you through building the mask base, coating the design in plaster cloth, and finally painting and adding details. You can choose to create a wearable mask or a decorative wall hanging mask. Adults, teens, or children over seven accompanied by an adult are welcome.

Best,

Fiona Sullivan

Director/Teacher

Office: 802-238-3622

https://www.oneartsstudio.org/

https://www.instagram.com/oneartsstudio/

Bring your kids aged 5-11 to Green Mountain Community Fitness for an adventure filled Winter Break! Five full days (February 23-27th from 8:00am-3:30pm) of exciting activities: swimming, obstacle courses, snow forts and snowmen, and even a field trip to Sunrise Gymnastics! Check out our website https://gmcf.life/camp/#winter-camp for more information and to register, or email [email protected] to request more information. We look forward to having your child(ren) join us at Green Mountain Community Fitness for an awesome week!

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

Instagram: BrooksidePrimarySchool

Facebook: HUUSD

Phone: 802-244-7195

Location: 47 Stowe Street, Waterbury, VT

Dear Families,

This is a friendly reminder about our Front Pick-Up Loop procedures. To help arrival and dismissal run smoothly and safely for all families, please remember that the Front Loop is for “hug and go” in the morning and “pick up and go” in the afternoon.

To avoid delays for others who are dropping off or picking up, and to help us maintain a safe environment for all students, we kindly ask that you do not put your car in park or exit your vehicle while in the Front Loop during arrival or dismissal times. Remaining in your vehicle helps keep traffic flowing and ensures that students are moving through the area safely and efficiently.

Thank you for your cooperation and support in keeping our students safe and our traffic moving!

Warmly,

Sarah & Chris

Dear HUUSD Families,

I am reaching out today with an urgent request that will help our schools and our taxpayers.

We need every HUUSD family to complete the household income verification form (even if you think you did it previously).

We include this brief form annually during student registration. It asks for student names and whether the household income is approximately $69,995 and below OR above $69,995. Families do NOT need to share their exact income. The information goes to the state and is kept private.

Link to Form: https://education.vermont.gov/householdincome/2025-2026-household-income-form

WHY THIS MATTERS

The State of Vermont uses a "weighted pupil count" to determine our school district's budget and set local tax rates. This count gives extra funding weight to students who qualify for free or reduced-price meals.

• The Problem: Since Vermont now offers universal free meals, families are not required to submit a form for children to receive meals at school. However, the state still uses this information in its funding formula. The state counts a student only if the form is submitted.
• The Impact: Our “weighted” student count has dropped by about 167 students—far more than our actual enrollment drop of 27 students. This massive funding loss is tied directly to the missing forms.
• The Consequence: Less state funding for HUUSD means higher local taxes for our six towns and puts our current programs and services at risk.

HOW CAN YOU HELP?

Please complete the form today.

It takes just a few minutes, and it ensures every student is properly counted, secures our state funding, and helps keep local tax rates lower.

Here is the link again: https://education.vermont.gov/householdincome/2025-2026-household-income-form

Thank you for helping us maintain high-quality education for all HUUSD students.

With appreciation,

Dr. Mike, Superintendent

Hello!

The BPS ski program is back:) We will be skiing at both Trapp's and Sugarbush again. Here are the dates so you can mark your calendars: BPS Ski Program 25-26.

A few reminders:

• This program is free for all students.
• We will provide rental gear for students that need it on ski days only.
• Pinnacle Ski and Sports in Stowe and Waterbury Sports in Waterbury offer seasonal rentals. Families that choose this option will pay the shops directly. Brookside is not paying for seasonal rentals.
• We would love for you to volunteer. Here is the process if you are not already an approved volunteer: https://huusd.org/apply-to-volunteer. Volunteering = FUN and a free ski pass for the day:)

More specifics (including how to sign up to volunteer) will be communicated in the coming weeks.

THINK SNOW!!!!!

December 23 - Early Release-Busses leave BPS at 11:30

December 24- January 4 - NO SCHOOL

January

January 1-2 - NO SCHOOL

January 5 - Welcome Back to School!

January 16 - Semester 1 ends

January 19 - Martin Luther King Jr. Day - NO SCHOOL

January 20 - Staff Development-No School for students

January 22 - Report Cards emailed home for elementary students

Clean New or Used Backpacks NEEDED for the Brookside Backpack Food Program

You may drop off donated backpacks inside the main entrance air lock with a note stating they are for the Backpack Food Program. THANK YOU!

Brookside Primary School is sponsoring, free of charge, a “weekend of food” for your child program, aka the Denise Goodnow Backpack Program. We are able to offer a supply of nutritious meals and snacks for children over their weekends and extended breaks, at no cost. Any child enrolled (or with a sibling enrolled) in Waterbury, Duxbury or Moretown is able to receive these weekly bags of food.

If you believe your child could benefit from this program, we encourage you to sign them up by filling the form out below and returning it to the main office or sending it back via email. Only one form is needed for all the children in your family, but include information for each child in the form below. This information is kept confidential. Once your child is signed up, they will receive a backpack full of food each week. We encourage you to take advantage of this program for your family and your children.

Please note: empty backpacks should be returned to school on Friday or Monday so that they can be refilled and ready to go on each Thursday. This is key to sustaining the program.

Questions or concerns? Please contact Eliza Chittenden [email protected]

https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSfZgp71bbEsyqg-9f3_hLd4Ls2wQCfUoFVaqe3a44zKw1PhWw/viewform

Arrival & Dismissal
Our doors open at 7:30am each morning, and students are invited to stop by the “grab and go” breakfast station in the main lobby for a healthy breakfast—always free for all students. Dismissal begins at 2:20pm. Thank you for following staff directions during arrival and pick-up to keep everything safe and efficient.

Transportation
Bus route information can be found here: HUUSD Bus Routes. Please take a moment to review your child’s route so that the first days of school run smoothly. Additionally, please familiarize yourself with Pick Up Patrol, as it is the system we use to manage absences, tardies and dismissal plans. Please ensure your child has default plans entered prior to the first day of school!

Meals
We are delighted to remind families that both breakfast and lunch are provided free of charge every day for all students. This ensures every child is nourished and ready to learn. The October menu can be found here.

Volunteering

Are you interested in volunteering this year? There is a formal process that must be complete before you are able to volunteer with our students. Please follow the link below to get started!

https://huusd.org/apply-to-volunteer

Do you live in Waterbury Center or visit from time to time? If so, we need your help!

Waterbury has received a Better Connections grant from VTRANS to help us expand opportunities for walking, biking, and community vitality in Waterbury Center. Our goal is to make it safer and easier for people to move between venues such as the Waterbury Center State Park, Hope Davey Park, Cold Hollow Cider Mill, the Grange Hall Cultural Center, and many others.

We've hired transportation consulting firm, Stantec, to help conduct the project. We've already held brainstorming meetings, focus groups, and a public walking tour. Now, we hope you will complete this 5-minute online survey so we can gather more input from anyone who spends time in Waterbury Center. We're hoping at least 200 people will complete the survey. Many thanks for your help! If you have any questions, please contact Duncan McDougall at [email protected]

Bring your kids aged 5-11 to Green Mountain Community Fitness for an adventure filled Winter Break! Five full days (February 23-27th from 8:00am-3:30pm) of exciting activities: swimming, obstacle courses, snow forts and snowmen, and even a field trip to Sunrise Gymnastics! Check out our website https://gmcf.life/camp/#winter-camp for more information and to register, or email [email protected] to request more information. We look forward to having your child(ren) join us at Green Mountain Community Fitness for an awesome week!

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

Instagram: BrooksidePrimarySchool

Facebook: HUUSD

Phone: 802-244-7195

Location: 47 Stowe Street, Waterbury, VT