Oh my goodness - what a great five day week! Students and staff are settling into routines and solidifying community in their classes and grade levels. We look forward to welcoming you at our fall Open Houses next week on Tuesday and Wednesday, and on October 9 for Pre-K.
We have a couple more new staff to introduce...with more in the next two weeks. We are so lucky to have such an amazing group of adults supporting all students at BPS.
The year is off to a great start with many smiles. Have a wonderful sunny weekend and we'll see you on Monday!
Respectfully,
Sarah & Chris
Yannah Ziegler - Special Educator
This is my first year at Brookside Primary School and my sixth year in education. I am passionate about creating a positive, inclusive, and interactive learning environment. I enjoy helping students learn and discover new interests, talents, and ways to engage in education. Outside of school, I am an active Vermonter. I love all the seasons and outdoor sports. I grew up in Vermont and love living and working here.
I am excited to work in such a thoughtful and welcoming community that values students' education and well-being.
Martin Casey - PE
Hello Everyone! My name is Martin Casey and I’ve been a classroom teacher here at Brookside for the past 12 years. I began my career in Kindergarten and then taught First and Second grade for the past 9 years. I have now started my first year as Brookside's Physical Education teacher, a role I am very grateful for. I love being active and never miss a chance to play outdoors with my 3 year old son and 1 year old daughter. I look forward to a fun and eventful first year as your child's PE teacher.
School Counseling Corner
We are rockin’ and rollin’ into school as we enter our first full week! This week we started to meet with each class in the library (pictured) to introduce and reintroduce ourselves to the students, to discuss what our role as School Counselors at BPS means and to remind students how they can access us if they need to connect during the day. We also introduced Theo, our Counseling Center therapy dog, Theo’s role here at BPS and how best to respond when we see him (calm, safe and gentle!)
Lastly, over the next few weeks, each student will have the opportunity to sit down with one of us and answer questions on how things are going and how they are feeling in all areas of their life. This gives us some great starting data to work with which helps to inform us and to formulate plans and groups to support students.
As always, please feel free to reach out anytime to discuss your student if you have any questions, concerns or joys to share! We are here to help and are happy to partner with each family. Reminder: If your child's LAST name starts with A-K, Ms. M is the point counselor and if your child’s LAST name starts with L-Z, Ms. B is the point counselor.
Be Well,
Ms. M & Ms. B
Picture Day is September 19. Re-take day and Monday/Tuesday Pre-K picture day will be October 8. Forms will be sent home by homeroom teachers. Please return the forms ASAP.
Backpack Program is back!
The BPS Backpack Program, started by Denise Goodnow, is again sponsoring, free of charge a “weekend of food” for your child. We are able to offer a supply of nutritious meals and snacks for children over the weekends and extended breaks at no cost. Any child enrolled at Brookside Primary School is able to receive thee weekly bags of food for themselves and each child in their family.
If your family could benefit from this, please email Kelsey Guziak at kguziak@huusd.org or complete this form.
PE News: Bike & Scooter Week / Walk & Bike to School Day
Bike and Scooter week in PE will be September 23 - 27. Student's may bring their own helmet and or bike/scooter to use during their PE class. BPS has plenty of bikes/scooters/helmets for students to use. Very Important: we have had bikes and scooters stolen from the playground if they are left overnight. All bikes/scooters should be picked up as soon as possible after school ends. We cannot store bikes overnight.
Families are invited to Walk, Bike and Roll to school!
When: Wednesday, September 25, 2025
Time: Meet at 7:00, depart at 7:15
Location: Rusty Parker Park
Note: Helmets are required to participate
Need a helmet? Waterbury Recreation has partnered with the University of Vermont Medical Center to provide affordable helmets. We are selling helmets for $15 each. This partnership is thanks to the non-profit program Protect Your Head at All Times (PHAT). PHAT has the mission to promote the use of helmets in all sports and activities that involve a risk of head injury. Research shows that helmets work in preventing or reducing the impact of head injuries, such as concussion or traumatic brain injuries.
If you are interested in a helmet, please complete the request form: https://forms.office.com/pages/responsepage.aspx?id=DQSIkWdsW0yxEjajBLZtrQAAAAAAAAAAAANAAV1ALxlUODQySkpZR0tKTDdETUc5VFNYUlAzQTk3Sy4u&route=shorturl
From the PTO
Are you interested in being a point person for volunteers/support for your child(ren)'s classroom? Consider becoming a Room Parent! Please fill out the link here to receive more information from a PTO representative!
Student/Family Handbook
Important information and expectations are outlined in the Brookside Primary School Student/Family Handbook. Please review it; this document can also be found on our website.
Four Winds Volunteers Needed
Calling all parents, grandparents and community members! Do you enjoy the outdoors and want to get involved in the classroom?
Brookside Primary School's Four Winds Nature Education program is seeking volunteers to help teach students about our natural world. This year the theme is “Ecosystems” and we will be teaching 6 different lessons over the course of the academic year. Curriculum materials including background information and activity descriptions are provided by the Four Winds Institute and are accessible online. We have an in-person training session prior to teaching each of the 6 lessons. The training sessions are led by a professional environmental educator and naturalist. There are a variety of different activities for each lesson, including an informative puppet show, hands-on experiments, games, crafts, dances, songs, examination of provided specimens, and observations in nature.
Our training sessions are on Thursday mornings, and our first training is on Thursday, September 12th. If you can’t make the in-person meeting you can study the materials at home to prepare for teaching the lesson. Ideally each class is taught by a team of two volunteers. The classroom teacher is always there to help with managing the kids as well. Four Winds Institute provides us with many of the scientific materials and we organize and gather household items to be used for the lesson activities.
Please email Heather LaRocca at fourwindsbps@gmail.com to let us know if you are interested in volunteering this year or if you have any questions about the program.
Student Information opt-out
To ensure the privacy and security of our students and their families, you have the option to opt out of having your contact information shared with the photography company that takes students’ school pictures.
If you do not wish for your personal contact information (your name, child’s name, your email) to be shared with this company, please notify the school’s administrative assistant, Kelsey Guziak at kguziak@huusd.org by 9/15/24.
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!
COMMUNITY POSTINGS
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.
Save the Date - 45th annual Ski & Skate Sale!
When: Saturday, November 9, 2024, 9 AM to 4 PM
Volunteer Shop: 7:00 - 8:00 AM
Ticketed Early Shop: 8:00 - 9:00 AM
General Public: 9:00 AM to 4:00 PMWhere: Waitsfield Elementary School, 3951 Main Street, Waitsfield, VT
What: New and Used Gear: Alpine, Nordic, Skate, Backcountry, and hard/soft goods too
Consignment Registration is Open!
Consignors are required to pre-register items online to receive item tags; no unregistered or untagged merchandise will be accepted onsite. You can register online to consign at https://sale.waitsfieldpta.org/register. Upon registration you will receive an email to login to your Ski & Skate sale account to enter your consignment items.
● All items must be entered by Monday, Nov. 4th at 11pm
● Pick up tags Wednesday, Nov. 6th after 8am at Waitsfield Elementary School
● Drop off Friday, Nov. 8th from 6pm to 9pm at Waitsfield Elementary
Volunteer for the Earliest Shopping Access!
Volunteer and get first dibs - we need support from all families! This is the school’s only fundraiser for the year, and all proceeds enable the school to support educational and enrichment programs for students, including our Winter Ski & Ride Program, ECO, and field trips. Volunteer opportunities will be posted on our website soon. Visit http://www.waitsfieldpta.org/ski-and-skate-sale.html and click on “Sign Up To Volunteer”.
Waterbury Youth Soccer Fall Season Registration Open!
Waterbury Youth Soccer is a recreational soccer league for players in Kindergarten - 6th grade living in Waterbury, Vermont, and surrounding communities. Registration is $50 per child for the Kindergarten program, $60 per child for 1st-2nd grade program, and $65 per child for the 3rd-6th grade program. Scholarships are available. Registration closes on August 31, so don't wait to sign up!
The season kicks off the week of Sept 2!
Player Registration Link (Kindergarten - 6th grade): https://system.gotsport.com/programs/99858166Y?reg_role=player
Coach Registration Link:https://system.gotsport.com/programs/99858166Y?reg_role=coach
Please visit www.waterburysoccer.com to learn more or reach out to waterburyyouthsoccer@gmail.com with any questions!
One Arts Studio at Camp Meade is now offering After School Art for kindergarten through fourth grade on Monday, Tuesday and Thursday. If your child attends Moretown Elementary School transportation is available from school to camp; otherwise parents must arrange transportation. The camp includes both student and teacher led projects covering activities from clay, beading, and mask-making to gelli-printing and more. To register and learn more visit: https://oneartscenter.com/
Explore Nature with Family-Friendly Hikes at Mad River Glen!
Join Stark Mountain Foundation and Mad River Glen this summer and early fall for three, exciting nature hikes! Guided by naturalist Amanda Palumbo, these hikes are a fantastic opportunity to explore local plant life and enjoy the beauty of Stark Mountain’s environment.#FamilyHikes #Botany #MadRiverGlen #StarkMountainFoundation #Vermont
Hike Details:
Dates: August 31st, October 5th, and October 12th, 2:00-4:30 pm.
Location: Stark Mountain Trail to Kent Thomas Nature Center (Meet at the flagpole in front of the Mad River Glen Basebox).
Duration: 2.5 hours, depending on the group.
Ages: 5 years and up (Accompanied by an adult).
Cost: Free, but you must pre-register.
What to Pack: Hat, sunglasses, water, snacks, sunscreen, bug spray, raincoat, and sturdy shoes.
Pre-registration Required: The hike will be limited to the first registered people. Please click on the link to register. bit.ly/NatureHikes.
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