September

• Wed., 9/23 & Thurs. 9/24 - Class picture days
• Fri., 9/25 - Veggie Van Go, 10:00-11:00am @ OV

• Wed., 10/7 - PTO meeting, 7pm
• Fri., 10/9 - NO SCHOOL, teacher in-service day
• Mon., 10/12- NO SCHOOL, Indigenous Peoples' Day
• Fri., 10/30 - Early Release Day, dismissal @ 11:30 K-6, 11:00 for PreK

It's no secret that our Neshobe flock holds a special place in our hearts and caring for them is a true community effort! Looking after our chickens gives students a hands-on, meaningful way to practice empathy, responsibility, and teamwork every day.

Heather Best is looking for people who can help take care of Neshobe's chickens. Even offering to help for one day is greatly appreciated. Click on the Please reach out to Heather Best, hbest@rnesu.org if you can help or would like more information!

Thank you to Gary Dubois for donating sand for our preschool playground and to Nicky and Doug Mohan for delivering it !

At Neshobe, kindness isn't just something that happens by chance, it is a skill that can be taught, practiced, and strengthened every single day. Each morning when our students and staff walk through the doors, we are given a fresh opportunity to build a warmer, more supportive community together.

Acts of kindness don't always have to be grand gestures; often, the smallest actions leave the lasting impact:

• Calling one another by name: A simple greeting in the hallway lets people know they are seen and valued.

• Taking time to truly listen: Giving someone your full attention when they speak shows deep respect.

• Exercising patience: Offering grace when a peer or colleague is struggling can change their entire day.

• Including others: Reaching out to someone sitting alone at lunch or during recess creates a sense of belonging.

Part of practicing kindness is recognizing empathy, understanding that everyone around us may be going through quiet challenges or difficult moments that others know nothing about. Choosing patience and gentleness over frustration is one of the most powerful ways we can support each other through those unseen struggles.

During our recent All-School Assembly, we had the joy of celebrating students who go above and beyond every single day to demonstrate these values. Their leadership and everyday choices serve as an inspiring model for our entire school community.

Because kindness is core to who we are at Neshobe, this work doesn't stop with one assembly. We will continue to teach, model, and practice these essential skills all year round.

Have a wonderful weekend and remember to practice KINDNESS wherever you go!

As we work to ensure a safe, efficient dismissal each afternoon, we’d like to ask for your partnership with a quick update to our end-of-day pick-up routine.

Updated Arrival Time for Pick-Up: 2:30 PM

Our buses are now arriving closer to 2:30 PM, which is also when students are officially dismissed. To help dismissal run as smoothly and safely as possible, we ask that all families arranging for vehicle pick-up arrive after 2:30 PM.

Why the Shift?

• Prioritizing Bus Traffic: Loading and dispatching our buses first clears the bus loop quickly and allows us to shift our full focus and staff attention directly to the student pick-up line.

• Student Safety: Students are often outside playing near school grounds right up until the dismissal bell. Limiting early vehicle arrival dramatically reduces safety hazards and traffic congestion during these outdoor times.

Student safety is always our top priority. Staggering our bus and car departures makes a huge difference in keeping our grounds secure for every child.

If you can wait to arrive until 2:30 PM or slightly after, it would be a tremendous help to our staff and students! Thank you so much for your continued support, cooperation, and commitment to keeping our school community safe.

Warm regards,

Neshobe Dismissal Team

We’re excited to share some great news—Neshobe is once again looking to start a Unified Sports team!

What is Unified Sports?

We're excited to invite you to some special Community Connection events with our Superintendent, Rene Sanchez.

These are great opportunities to get to know our leader, ask questions, and share your thoughts in a relaxed, informal setting. Whether you're a parent or a community member, we welcome you to stop by and join the conversation.

Tuesday, September 8th - 8-9:30am - Morningside Bakery, Brandon
Tuesday, September 15th - 8-9:30am - Whiting General Store
Thursday, September 17th - 3-4:30pm - Brandon Free Public Library
Tuesday, September 22nd - 3-4:30pm - Pittsford Village Farm
Tuesday, September 29th - 8-9:30am - Sugar & Spice, Mendon
Wednesday, September 30th - 3-4:30pm - Chittenden Public Library

More dates and locations to be added - keep on eye on rnesu.org/events

Vermont's new education law, Act 170, creates both important opportunities and significant decisions for school districts across the state. As enrollment continues to decline, we must consider how to maintain strong educational opportunities while addressing financial pressures, changing enrollment, school facilities, and the long-term needs of our communities. Although Act 170 encourages larger regional school districts, no decisions have been made about the future of our schools, and any potential merger would require voter approval.

Over the coming months, residents of our towns will have opportunities to help shape the conversation. This process is about identifying what our communities value, asking difficult questions, and exploring possibilities together—with meaningful local input. Since you currently have children in our schools, your perspective matters! Please take a few minutes to complete our community survey and share your priorities, concerns, and vision for the future of our schools.

A link to the survey can be found at rnesu.org/act170

Thank you for your continued support of our students, schools, and communities - and for joining us in shaping the future of education in Vermont.