Family Cheetah Tracks
August 2025
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New Year, New Tracks!
New Year, New Tracks!
Hello JES Families,
It's going to be a great year of learning and fun!
This year’s theme, "New Year, New Tracks! Growing Together with Cheetah Pride," celebrates fresh beginnings and the exciting paths ahead. Just like cheetahs move forward with speed and purpose, we’re ready to learn, grow, and thrive together as a strong and united school community.
As your child progresses through their elementary years, each year brings fresh opportunities to develop new skills, build relationships, and grow both academically and personally. Whether your child is returning to our school or joining our community for the first time, please know that we are here to support you every step of the way. The partnership between home and school is essential, and we truly value working together to help your child thrive.
Starting Strong: Why Attendance & On-Time Arrival Matter from Day One
When students are present and on time from the very first day, they build the habits, connections, and confidence that help them succeed all year long. Early attendance sets the tone, it ensures they don’t miss critical introductions to routines, expectations, and learning, and it helps them feel part of the community right away. Every day in the first weeks is an opportunity to make friends, meet teachers, and start building momentum toward their goals.
We look forward to seeing all of our returning and new students for the first day of school on August 27th. If you have any questions, don’t hesitate to contact jesoffice@mmuusd.org.
Let's have an awesome school year!
Warmly,
Katie Barea
JES Principal
IMPORTANT DATES TO REMEMBER
August 26th ~ Kindergarten Welcome Visit
August 27th ~ First Student Day of School
September 1st ~ NO SCHOOL
September 10th ~ September Early Release (dismissal 2 hours earlier)
September 10th ~ JES PIE Meeting
September 11th & 12th ~ Student Picture Days
JES DAILY INFO
ARRIVAL
We welcome students onto the playground at 7:15 a.m. and into the building starting at 7:30 a.m. The school day begins promptly at 7:50 a.m.
Arriving on time each day helps ensure your child is ready to start the day and doesn’t miss valuable learning opportunities.
Arrival - Bus Drop Off
Staff will greet students arriving off the bus. Students will enter the building using the bus entrance and head directly to their classrooms.
Arrival - Parent Drop Off
Vehicles should pull around the side of the school and follow the traffic flow to the front entrance. Please stop at the sidewalk in front of the main office, where staff will greet your child and open the car door. Students will then enter through the main office entrance and go directly to their classrooms.
DISMISSAL
Dismissal - Parent Pick Up (2:20-2:35 p.m.)
Parents should remain in their cars, lined up in front of the building. At the checkpoint, please let staff know who you are picking up. Our dismissal team will call into the classrooms, and your child will be released. Once you pull forward, your student will be escorted directly to your car.
Dismissal - Bus Pick Up (2:30 pm)
Students will be dismissed by bus # to load buses.
Dismissal - Part2 After School Program
Students will be dismissed to the after school program from their classrooms.
BICYCLES & WALKERS
BICYCLES & WALKERS
If you wish to have your child ride a bike or walk to school, your child will need a written note/email from a parent or guardian. Students will be expected to follow safe bike riding expectations including:
Wearing a helmet
Locking bike on racks in front or in back of school
ATTENDANCE
Consistent, regular attendance is essential to your child’s growth and success. Arriving on time helps set a positive tone for the day and ensures they don’t miss valuable learning. If your child will be absent or tardy, please notify the main office through our attendance app, PickUp Patrol.
Main Office: 802-899-2272
Erin Cohen: jesoffice@mmuusd.org
Health Office: jeshealth@mmuusd.org
Our first priority is your child’s safety. If we have not been notified of absence or tardy by the family, the main office will begin contacting families at 8:15 am. If a child is not at school, and contact with family members has been unsuccessful, the principal may call the state police. Students are marked absent until they arrive and check in at the main office.
WHAT TO BRING TO SCHOOL
A backpack large enough to carry library books and a home folder.
A daily snack and lunch, unless your child is getting meals from school
A labeled water bottle
Appropriate clothing for learning and the weather:
shoes or boots for active play
sneakers are required for Physical Education classes
jackets, snow pants, boots, mittens/gloves for winter outside play
raincoats and appropriate footwear for rainy play
BUILDING ACCESS & SAFETY
Visitors/Volunteers
Visitors/Volunteers
In accordance with the 2023 Vermont Agency of Education Access Control and Visitor Management Policy, and MMUUSD ACCESS CONTROL AND VISITOR MANAGEMENT POLICY all exterior doors at Jericho Elementary School will remain locked at all times.
All visitors, regardless of the length or purpose of their visit, must enter through the main entrance and check in at the main office. Visitors with a scheduled meeting or classroom visit will be required to sign in using our new digital sign-in system before proceeding beyond the office.
For the safety of our students and staff, visitors without a scheduled reason to be in the building during school hours will not be permitted to go beyond the main office. We appreciate your partnership in helping us maintain a safe and secure school environment in full compliance with state safety guidelines.
Safety Drills
In accordance with state statute, all schools are required to conduct safety drills throughout the year. At Jericho Elementary, these drills include fire drills, options-based response drills, and a relocation drill. Drills are scheduled at the principal’s discretion, with careful consideration given to factors such as programming, weather, and student health. In most cases, students are outside the building for no more than five minutes.
Safety drills are an important part of ensuring the well-being of all students and staff. They are conducted in developmentally appropriate ways to help prepare everyone for the event of an unexpected emergency. Families will be notified in advance of the week during which a drill will occur, the type of drill being conducted, and a brief overview of each type of drill.
In addition to monthly safety drills, every student also participates in two bus evacuation drills each year. These take place on school grounds, once in the fall and once in the spring.
BUS TRANSPORTATION
Below is transportation information for the upcoming school year. Please contact the bus garage with specific questions regarding bus routes.
They can be reached at 899-4840 or their website.
2025-2026 AFTER SCHOOL PROGRAM
Part 2 will be providing after school programming at JES this year. HERE is additional information about the program and be on the lookout for direct communication coming soon from the program director. Part 2 programming begins on August 27th.
School Nutrition
For the 2025-2026 school year, school meals will continue to be free. Even though there is no charge for snack and lunch, we encourage you to fill out this application for free and reduced-price school meals. If many families fill out and return this form, we will get more money from the federal government for free school meals now and in the future. We will also get more money for other school programs. Filling out this form also helps our community provide free summer meals to all kids, and free meals to kids in childcare.
HERE is additional information outlining food service, free and reduced lunch, and common questions asked.
FROM THE DISTRICT
2025-2026 MMUUSD Calendar
We encourage you to review the district calender to help plan for key dates throughout the year. Upon review, you’ll see that there are eight Early Release Wednesdays, when students will be dismissed two hours early to allow our staff time for ongoing professional learning.
Click Here: District Calendar
FROM THE HEALTH OFFICE
Immunizations
Required Vermont Immunization School Entry Requirements
Vermont State law requires written proof of all student’s immunization status. All students must meet the minimum state-required immunizations or exemptions within the first 14 days of school. Please let me know if you need an exemption form (Medical or Religious).
For our new kindergarteners, know that most children get a DTap and Polio immunization at the 5 year well-child visit.
Forms
For New Students:
Please complete Registration online with the district if you have not already done so. The online registration has a section for health information. Please provide all health information pertaining to your child. Information will be shared with staff members in order to safely care for your child.
All newly enrolling students must have a copy of the summary from the most recent well-child visit or physical for your student. If your child’s doctor does not have a form for this, you can feel free to use the MMUUSD form linked here: School Entry Physical Exam
For Returning Students:
Please complete the MMUUSD Annual Enrollment in PowerSchool. You should receive information about this in early August. It is important that you update the Annual Health Update form so the Health Office has current medical information for your child.
Medications
In the event your child needs to take medication while at school, please be sure to have the Permission for Medication form, (prescription / non-prescription), completed by the childʼs physician and parent or guardian. All medications, prescription and non-prescription, must be delivered to school by an adult, with the medication in the original container with all labels intact.
If your child has a specific medical concern, please reach out to me so we can make a safe plan for your child while they are here at school. If you have any questions or concerns about your child’s health needs please do not hesitate to contact me.
Health Office email: jeshealth@mmuusd.org
Health Office telephone: 802-899-2272
Food Allergy Safe School Information
Food Allergy Safe School Information for Celebrations
The Mount Mansfield Unified Union School District elementary schools are “Food Allergy Aware / Safe Schools” and have adopted a food-free birthday celebration model. Please do not send in food to celebrate your student’s birthday. For classroom or whole school celebrations involving food, all food will be provided by the teacher, school administration, or parent-teacher organization, in accordance with our food safety procedures.
Stay Home When Sick
Refer to the MMUUSD District Illness Guidelines to determine if your child should stay home from school.
Communication
Please include jeshealth@mmuusd.org on school communication regarding your child’s health, including absence due to illness or injury. If your child is returning to school after an injury, please share the injury restriction note from the doctor visit with the JES Health Office.
ONLINE SCHOOL STORE
GET YOUR CHEETAH GEAR!!!
GET YOUR CHEETAH GEAR!!!
Welcome to the JES Cheetahs Online Store, the place to score cheetah SWAG.
Get some JES swag for your whole family!
NEWS FROM JES PIE
Mission Statement
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.
Partners in Education’s goals are to:
Complement the school’s curriculum with additional opportunities for students, staff and families to learn, socialize, communicate and grow. To work towards supporting local and or socially responsible companies in our fundraising efforts.
COMMUNITY ANNOUNCEMENTS
Openings in ReTribe's Fall Forest School & Wild Woods After School in Underhill
Would your child enjoy spending time each week connecting with nature through the seasons, learning outdoor skills and crafts, and playing joyfully with a community of friends and mentors? ReTribe is accepting students ages 6-13 for their Forest School and Wild Woods Afterschool programs. Forest School has spaces open on Wednesday and Thursdays in Underhill from 9am-3pm. Wild Woods Afterschool meets Mondays and Thursdays in Underhill from 3-5:30pm.
Learn more at www.retribe.org/the-forest-school & https://www.retribe.org/after-school
Email: jesoffice@mmuusd.org
Location: 90 VT Route 15, Jericho, VT 05465
Phone: 802.899.2272
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