A message from the Drought Task Force:
As many towns are aware, Vermont is currently experiencing widespread drought conditions and as a result VEM Director Forand has activated the State EOC to enhanced operations and a multi-agency Drought Task Force has been established to help provide coordination and support. The Agency of Natural Resources has created a drought resources https://anr.vermont.gov/disaster/drought which provides information about conditions, water haulers, and a place to share impacts to individuals, water systems, and agricultural businesses. We are encouraging the reporting of any issues so that the state has situational awareness of impacts.
The National Weather Services is not forecasting any significant rainfall in the short term so conditions are expected to persist at least into next week. There is some indication that we may see some rainfall in the middle of next week but probably not enough to make any significant dent in the overall drought. On top of drought conditions, we continue to deal with high wildfire danger. Those conditions will also likely persist until we get some soaking rainfall. You can find information on wildfire conditions here: https://fpr.vermont.gov/forest/wildland-fire/monitoring-fire-danger.
As always, if you have any questions, please feel free to reach out to me. If you need emergency assistance, our Watch Officer can be reached 24/7 at 1-800-347-0488. Just as a side note, that number goes to a VSP answering point after business hours and they may answer as the Hazmat Line, or Spill Line, just let them know you’re calling for the watch officer.
Zachary Borst | Regional Coordinator – Orleans, Essex, Caledonia
Vermont Emergency Management
As many towns are aware, Vermont is currently experiencing widespread drought conditions and as a result VEM Director Forand has activated the State EOC to enhanced operations and a multi-agency Drought Task Force has been established to help provide coordination and support. The Agency of Natural Resources has created a drought resources https://anr.vermont.gov/disaster/drought which provides information about conditions, water haulers, and a place to share impacts to individuals, water systems, and agricultural businesses. We are encouraging the reporting of any issues so that the state has situational awareness of impacts.
The National Weather Services is not forecasting any significant rainfall in the short term so conditions are expected to persist at least into next week. There is some indication that we may see some rainfall in the middle of next week but probably not enough to make any significant dent in the overall drought. On top of drought conditions, we continue to deal with high wildfire danger. Those conditions will also likely persist until we get some soaking rainfall. You can find information on wildfire conditions here: https://fpr.vermont.gov/forest/wildland-fire/monitoring-fire-danger.
As always, if you have any questions, please feel free to reach out to me. If you need emergency assistance, our Watch Officer can be reached 24/7 at 1-800-347-0488. Just as a side note, that number goes to a VSP answering point after business hours and they may answer as the Hazmat Line, or Spill Line, just let them know you’re calling for the watch officer.
Zachary Borst | Regional Coordinator – Orleans, Essex, Caledonia
Vermont Emergency Management
🌟Colleague Spotlight of the Week🌟
Shout out to Roberta and Sierra! This week, we want to take a moment to recognize and thank two of our dedicated paraprofessionals, Mrs. M and Mrs. Sierra. Their ongoing commitment, care, and support for our students does not go unnoticed. We are especially grateful for their flexibility and responsiveness in meeting the diverse needs of our learners.
Shout out to Roberta and Sierra! This week, we want to take a moment to recognize and thank two of our dedicated paraprofessionals, Mrs. M and Mrs. Sierra. Their ongoing commitment, care, and support for our students does not go unnoticed. We are especially grateful for their flexibility and responsiveness in meeting the diverse needs of our learners.
Huge thank you to All Things Asphalt for their work this afternoon patching our parking lot!
All School Board meetings are open to the public and have remote access.
📍LRUEMSD Board Meeting - Monday, September 22, 2025, 6:00PM
👉 Join in person: Barton Graded School
👉 Join by link: meet.google.com/idv-vpef-tca
👉Join by phone: (US) +1 417-319-7143 PIN: 489 293 710#
✅Agenda: https://www.ocsu.org/documents/school-boards/2025-2026-school-board-agendas-and-minutes/lake-region-union-elementary-middle-school-district/
👉 Board meeting agendas, past meeting minutes, and recorded meetings can be found at https://www.ocsu.org/documents/school-boards/2025-2026-school-board-agendas-and-minutes/lake-region-union-elementary-middle-school-district/829043
The next OCSU PTCA meeting is September 16, 2025, 6pm, in the Lake Region UHS cafeteria. A link to the agenda is below. We hope to see everyone there!
https://docs.google.com/document/d/1qVDBUneDoh1pXWexcVkX-oQ-M2wkFVBld-A4-h6w57g/edit?usp=sharing
https://docs.google.com/document/d/1qVDBUneDoh1pXWexcVkX-oQ-M2wkFVBld-A4-h6w57g/edit?usp=sharing
🌟Colleague Spotlight of the Week🌟
BRANDON BLUNK, Mr. B: Mr. B lends a helping hand when needed. His leadership has been instrumental in several key areas—serving as Principal Designee, co-facilitating our PBIS committee, and contributing as a member of both the Behavior Threat Assessment Team and the Student Support Team.
In addition, he teaches two weekly guidance classes, proactively engaging students in important conversations that support their growth and well-being.
His dedication and positive impact have not gone unnoticed. Thank you for your commitment to our students and staff. We look forward to continuing to build consistency and momentum in your role!
BRANDON BLUNK, Mr. B: Mr. B lends a helping hand when needed. His leadership has been instrumental in several key areas—serving as Principal Designee, co-facilitating our PBIS committee, and contributing as a member of both the Behavior Threat Assessment Team and the Student Support Team.
In addition, he teaches two weekly guidance classes, proactively engaging students in important conversations that support their growth and well-being.
His dedication and positive impact have not gone unnoticed. Thank you for your commitment to our students and staff. We look forward to continuing to build consistency and momentum in your role!
It's so fun when our oldest and youngest students get to come together! Our 4th graders visited Kindergarten in PE to help them build "cars" and play games in the gym with Mr. Jacobs!
Butler's Bus Service is now hiring! Want to learn more about how you can join their team and support our local schools? Please see the attached flyer.
All School Board meetings are open to the public and have remote access.
📍LRUHS Board Meeting - Monday, September 15, 2025, 6:00PM
👉 Join in person: Lake Region Union High School
👉 Join by link: meet.google.com/aai-bnof-rch
👉Join by phone: (US) +1 929-999-1544 PIN: 198 827 299#
✅Agenda: https://www.ocsu.org/documents/school-boards/2025-2026-school-board-agendas-and-minutes/lake-region-union-high-school-district/09-15-25-lr/851811
👉 Board meeting agendas, past meeting minutes, and recorded meetings can be found at https://www.ocsu.org/documents/school-boards/2025-2026-school-board-agendas-and-minutes/lake-region-union-high-school-district/829040
📍LRUHS Board Meeting - Monday, September 15, 2025, 6:00PM
👉 Join in person: Lake Region Union High School
👉 Join by link: meet.google.com/aai-bnof-rch
👉Join by phone: (US) +1 929-999-1544 PIN: 198 827 299#
✅Agenda: https://www.ocsu.org/documents/school-boards/2025-2026-school-board-agendas-and-minutes/lake-region-union-high-school-district/09-15-25-lr/851811
👉 Board meeting agendas, past meeting minutes, and recorded meetings can be found at https://www.ocsu.org/documents/school-boards/2025-2026-school-board-agendas-and-minutes/lake-region-union-high-school-district/829040
We are excited to announce that we are continuing our partnership with Green Mountain Farm to School (GMFTS) this year! GMFTS provides gardening workshops, including coordinating, planning, planting, garden maintenance, volunteer coordination and harvesting; providing cooking workshops; coordinate taste tests during our student lunch blocks; engage in 10 unit lessons with our students.
Yesterday, our students had the opportunity to work with GMFTS in the garden to harvest the crops they planted in the spring for this year's Harvest Festival dinner for Open House. Each class was able to harvest at least one crop, help with weeding and participated in a garden activity! GMFTS will be back tomorrow to help our students prepare a portion of our harvest meal using the crops that were harvested
Yesterday, our students had the opportunity to work with GMFTS in the garden to harvest the crops they planted in the spring for this year's Harvest Festival dinner for Open House. Each class was able to harvest at least one crop, help with weeding and participated in a garden activity! GMFTS will be back tomorrow to help our students prepare a portion of our harvest meal using the crops that were harvested
🐯Recognizing Positive Behavior with Tiger Tokens!🐯
One way we reinforce our CUBS core values—Caring, Understanding, Brave, and Safe—is through our Tiger Token system!
Ask your child if they earned a Tiger Token this week and what they did to receive it. Students who demonstrate our core values may be recognized with a token, which they add to their classroom token jar.
When a class fills their jar, they celebrate together as a classroom community. So far, three classes have reached this goal, and many others are getting close!
Each time a class fills their jar, we also add a tiger paw to our school-wide Tiger Trail. Once the trail is complete, we’ll celebrate as an entire school!
Our current goal? To fill the Tiger Trail and earn a trip to the Kingdom Corn Maze and Pumpkin Patch at Simpson Farm in Sutton. Let’s keep showing those CUBS values!
At Open House, we encourage you to ask your child to show you our tiger trail to see how close we are to achieving our goal.
One way we reinforce our CUBS core values—Caring, Understanding, Brave, and Safe—is through our Tiger Token system!
Ask your child if they earned a Tiger Token this week and what they did to receive it. Students who demonstrate our core values may be recognized with a token, which they add to their classroom token jar.
When a class fills their jar, they celebrate together as a classroom community. So far, three classes have reached this goal, and many others are getting close!
Each time a class fills their jar, we also add a tiger paw to our school-wide Tiger Trail. Once the trail is complete, we’ll celebrate as an entire school!
Our current goal? To fill the Tiger Trail and earn a trip to the Kingdom Corn Maze and Pumpkin Patch at Simpson Farm in Sutton. Let’s keep showing those CUBS values!
At Open House, we encourage you to ask your child to show you our tiger trail to see how close we are to achieving our goal.
REMINDER: Town Hall Meeting tonight
Monday 4:00 – 5:00pm: OCSU is pleased to offer online town hall events this school year! On the second and fourth Monday of each month, from 4-5pm, members of our central office team will be available to field questions and chat with our community. If there are questions we cannot immediately answer, we will bring guests to the next event to address those topics. Check our events calendar for the link to join and specific dates, or check the info below.Time zone: America/New_York Google Meet joining info Video call link: https://meet.google.com/zxa-bhnt-orm Or dial: (US) +1 563-538-1654 PIN: 440 725 860# More phone numbers: https://tel.meet/zxa-bhnt-orm?pin=4536151168752
The tire swing has been lowered to meet the needs of our K-4 students and is officially OPEN for the school year. After reviewing the expectations of this equipment, Mrs. Schneider's kindergarten class got out for an early recess to test it out.
We encourage families to discuss expectations at home and reinforce them if you visit our playground after school hours.
Tire Swing:
- an adult must be present and actively supervising at all times
- one minute turns, one person pushing, one person swinging at a time
- sit facing inward, holding on with both hands
- wait until the swing stops before getting on or off
- do not push the swing too high or spin too excessively
We encourage families to discuss expectations at home and reinforce them if you visit our playground after school hours.
Tire Swing:
- an adult must be present and actively supervising at all times
- one minute turns, one person pushing, one person swinging at a time
- sit facing inward, holding on with both hands
- wait until the swing stops before getting on or off
- do not push the swing too high or spin too excessively
All School Board meetings are open to the public and have remote access.
📍LRUEMSD Board Meeting - Monday, September 8, 2025, 6:00PM
👉 Join in person: Lake Region Union High School
👉 Join by link: meet.google.com/edu-yjzy-bvu
👉Join by phone: (US) +1 435-268-2157 PIN: 993 428 379#
✅Agenda: https://www.ocsu.org/documents/school-boards/2025-2026-school-board-agendas-and-minutes/lake-region-union-elementary-middle-school-district/09-08-25-ems/850313
👉 Board meeting agendas, past meeting minutes, and recorded meetings can be found at https://www.ocsu.org/documents/school-boards/2025-2026-school-board-agendas-and-minutes/lake-region-union-elementary-middle-school-district/829043
Thank you Butlers Bus Company and bus driver, Larry, for visiting our students to review bus safety and practice our bus evacuation drill.
🌟Colleague Spotlight of the Week🌟
CESSILEE FRANKS: Thank you for your efforts in visiting classrooms to review proper handwashing protocols and ensuring that clear signage is posted throughout the building to remind students of these important safety expectations. Your dedication to promoting health and wellness in our community is truly appreciated.
🩹Memo from the Health Office🩹
It has been an exciting first week for our Barton Tigers! I’m looking forward to partnering with staff and families to promote optimal health and wellness throughout our school community.
This week, the health office has focused on the importance of handwashing. Alongside our staff, I have encouraged students to wash their hands:
- After using the bathroom
- Before and after eating
- After touching their eyes, nose, or mouth
- Whenever their hands are visibly dirty
Students have been doing a wonderful job following these expectations! To help reinforce these habits, I kindly ask that families continue to encourage proper hand hygiene at home. Your support will go a long way in helping us maintain a healthy school environment.
A quick reminder: The supply of spare clothing in the health office is limited. We ask that parents please send a full change of clothes in their child’s backpack in case of accidents or unexpected spills. This will be especially helpful as we transition into the cooler, wetter seasons.
Thank you for your continued support!
Warm regards,
Cessilee Franks
Health Office Staff
CESSILEE FRANKS: Thank you for your efforts in visiting classrooms to review proper handwashing protocols and ensuring that clear signage is posted throughout the building to remind students of these important safety expectations. Your dedication to promoting health and wellness in our community is truly appreciated.
🩹Memo from the Health Office🩹
It has been an exciting first week for our Barton Tigers! I’m looking forward to partnering with staff and families to promote optimal health and wellness throughout our school community.
This week, the health office has focused on the importance of handwashing. Alongside our staff, I have encouraged students to wash their hands:
- After using the bathroom
- Before and after eating
- After touching their eyes, nose, or mouth
- Whenever their hands are visibly dirty
Students have been doing a wonderful job following these expectations! To help reinforce these habits, I kindly ask that families continue to encourage proper hand hygiene at home. Your support will go a long way in helping us maintain a healthy school environment.
A quick reminder: The supply of spare clothing in the health office is limited. We ask that parents please send a full change of clothes in their child’s backpack in case of accidents or unexpected spills. This will be especially helpful as we transition into the cooler, wetter seasons.
Thank you for your continued support!
Warm regards,
Cessilee Franks
Health Office Staff
Registration for the first session of After School Program is now OPEN! Use the QR code to register. To request a paper copy, email Angie (arutherford@ocsu.org).
We are so excited to welcome students into the building tomorrow as we kick off the 2025-2026 school year. Reminder that the building opens at 7:35am and breakfast is served until 8:00. Please do not use the side parking lot for morning drop off as it is reserved for our buses. We look forward to a great year!
Whipple's Studio will be at Barton on September 12. Order envelopes will be sent home with students on the first day of school.
If possible, do not send cash in your order envelope. If you need to pay with cash, please deliver the envelope to the office personally and not in your students backpack. We want to ensure that your desired photos are ordered and sometimes, envelopes do not make it from backpacks into the hands of Whipple's employees.
If possible, do not send cash in your order envelope. If you need to pay with cash, please deliver the envelope to the office personally and not in your students backpack. We want to ensure that your desired photos are ordered and sometimes, envelopes do not make it from backpacks into the hands of Whipple's employees.
🐾 Our CUBS Core Values: Caring, Understanding, Brave and Safe 🐾
As we prepare to welcome students back for a new school year, we are asking for your partnership in supporting a safe, respectful, and inclusive learning environment for all. One important way to do this is by reviewing our school’s Behavior Expectations and Consequence Process with your student before the first day of school.
These expectations are outlined in our Family & Student Handbook, and they reflect our school’s commitment to teaching and reinforcing positive behavior, ensuring consistency across classrooms, and addressing challenges through restorative and developmentally appropriate responses.
Our Behavior Consequence Matrix uses a tiered system to guide interventions and supports based on the type and frequency of behaviors. While the matrix provides general guidelines, please note that the principal or designated staff may make decisions in the best interest of the student and learning community.
We ask that you take time before our first day of school to:
- Review the behavior expectations and tiered consequences with your child.
- Discuss the importance of school rules and how they help keep our school safe and respectful for everyone.
- Talk about ways your child can seek support from trusted adults if they are struggling with behavior or facing challenges with peers.
We truly value your support and collaboration in creating a learning environment where every student feels safe, supported, and ready to learn.
As we prepare to welcome students back for a new school year, we are asking for your partnership in supporting a safe, respectful, and inclusive learning environment for all. One important way to do this is by reviewing our school’s Behavior Expectations and Consequence Process with your student before the first day of school.
These expectations are outlined in our Family & Student Handbook, and they reflect our school’s commitment to teaching and reinforcing positive behavior, ensuring consistency across classrooms, and addressing challenges through restorative and developmentally appropriate responses.
Our Behavior Consequence Matrix uses a tiered system to guide interventions and supports based on the type and frequency of behaviors. While the matrix provides general guidelines, please note that the principal or designated staff may make decisions in the best interest of the student and learning community.
We ask that you take time before our first day of school to:
- Review the behavior expectations and tiered consequences with your child.
- Discuss the importance of school rules and how they help keep our school safe and respectful for everyone.
- Talk about ways your child can seek support from trusted adults if they are struggling with behavior or facing challenges with peers.
We truly value your support and collaboration in creating a learning environment where every student feels safe, supported, and ready to learn.
