Family Cheetah Tracks

February 18, 2026

2025-2026 Student/Family Handbook

JES Website

Lunch Menu

2025-2026 District Calendar

Happy February Break JES Families!

Dear JES Families,

As we wrap up another exciting chapter of winter learning, we are closing out Snow Motion this week! For the past five weeks, our students have enjoyed incredible opportunities for growth, practice, and fun on the slopes. From first-time skiers and snowboards to many seasoned on the slopes, it has been wonderful to see skills develop alongside confidence and perseverance. A huge thank you to Cochran's Ski Area and to all of the dedicated volunteers who made this experience possible. If you didn’t catch the recent news clip about Snow Motion, featuring another one of our district elementary schools, Richmond Elementary School, be sure to check it out!

This week we will conduct our February Safety Drill, which will be a school-wide Fire Drill. These drills are an important part of maintaining a safe learning environment and helping students practice calm, prepared responses in the event of an emergency.

Today, we gathered for our February Cheetah Connect Assembly, thoughtfully led by 3rd grade students. The assembly honored Black History Month with a meaningful celebration of the influential Black change maker, Mabel Fairbanks, while also giving a nod to the spirit of the U.S. Olympics, highlighting how perseverance can change the future.

To round out the week, we’re looking forward to a special All School Celebration on Friday! Thanks to the teamwork and collaboration between our JES Nutrition Team and JES PIE, students will enjoy hot chocolate and a campfire on the playground during recess. We are grateful for the strong sense of community that makes events like this possible and for the many hands that help create joyful experiences for our students.

Looking ahead, next week is school break, which extends through Town Meeting Day. We hope our families enjoy a restful and rejuvenating break. We also encourage everyone to participate in Town Meeting Day and remember to get out and vote on the proposed school budget. Your voice and engagement makes a meaningful difference in supporting our schools and community.

When we return from break, family conferences will be on the horizon. Please note that Friday, March 20th will be our once-a-year half day to support conferences, with an 11:20 a.m. dismissal time. This dismissal is earlier than our typical Early Release schedule, so please plan accordingly and mark your calendars now. We look forward to connecting with families and continuing our partnership in support of every student’s growth.

Warmly,
Katie Barea
JES Principal

IMPORTANT DATES TO REMEMBER

February 23rd - March 3rd: No School February Break
March 20th - April 3rd: Spring Family Conferences
March 20th: Half Day 11:20 Dismissal (Different Time From Early Release Days)
April 15th: K-2 Spring Concert 5:30pm
May 20th: 3-4 Spring Concert 5:30pm

School Happenings

Order Seeds Here

School As A Haven

Dear MMUUSD Families and Community,

I want to take a moment to reaffirm something that I hope you already know: our schools are places of safety and belonging for every student, every staff member, and every family in our community. In our Mount Mansfield Unified Union School District - five towns, one heartbeat - we are defined by our commitment to one another.

In times of uncertainty, schools matter more than ever. They are where children learn, yes, but they are also where they are known, where they are cared for, and where they belong. For many of our students, school is a haven. It is a place where the outside world pauses, where routines bring comfort, and where trusted adults show up for them every single day. We take that responsibility seriously.

I also want to be clear about how we approach safety and access to our buildings. Our schools work hard to maintain positive, collaborative relationships with local law enforcement for safety planning, emergency response, and educational support. This partnership is vital to our community and remains unchanged.

However, regarding enforcement actions not initiated by the school, we have strict protocols in place to protect student privacy and the learning environment:

● Restricted Access: No part of our schools or school property (like buses) is considered open to the public during the school day.

● Warrant Requirement: Law enforcement seeking access for non-emergency enforcement purposes must present a valid judicial warrant signed by a judge. An "administrative warrant" or "detainer" does not carry this legal authority and will not grant entry to our buildings.

● Centralized Review: Any such request is immediately routed to my office and legal counsel for review before access is considered.

These practices reflect longstanding expectations under federal law, including FERPA, and recently updated guidance from the Vermont Agency of Education.

Furthermore, we do not collect information about students' immigration status, nor do we require Social Security numbers or immigration documents for enrollment.

Our goal is simple: every student should feel safe coming to school, and every school day should be uninterrupted by fear or distraction. School is where our children should be able to focus on learning, on friendships, and on growing up. We intend to protect that.

If you have questions or concerns, please reach out to your student’s or students’ principal(s) or to my office directly. We are here to listen, and we are here for your family.

With gratitude for your trust and in partnership,

John Muldoon Superintendent, MMUUSD

NEWS FROM JES PIE

Mission Statement

Partners in Education is an organization whose purpose is to enhance and strengthen the educational and social environment for the Jericho Elementary School students.

Upcoming JES PIE Meetings

Join us in the JES Library Wednesday, March 11th at 7:00pm.

Can't make it in-person but still want to join? No problem! Join us virtually: Meeting Link

No Fundraiser Fundraiser

PIE used to host multiple fundraisers throughout the year in order to fund our efforts for the school. Last year, we switched it up and just asked for donations instead and it worked! We’re doing the same this year and we need your help! Our goal is $8,500 which comes to around $30 per student.

DONATE HERE