The Bobcat Den
October 9, 2026
October 9, 2026
Hello All -
It is hard to believe the calendar has already turned to October! We have been loving the beautiful weather here in Underhill. It was wonderful to see so many of you at our Open House on Thursday! The energy throughout the building was fantastic, and it was great to have families connecting with teachers, visiting classrooms, and seeing the amazing work students have done to begin the school year.
We have continued our work around our monthly theme of Growth Mindset, embedding this throughout the curriculum and specifically in our Friday SEL (Social-Emotional Learning) work. Be sure to check in with your child about how they help their brain grow both in and out of the classroom and the importance of trying new things. They also all are great at singing the song, "The Power of Yet!"
As a reminder, all elementary schools in MMUUSD operate on a trimester system rather than quarters. Report cards will be sent home twice a year: once in January and again in June. Teachers have already shared communication regarding the first-quarter conference window (October 12–22). Please be sure to sign up for a conference time so the classroom teacher can discuss your child’s early-year successes and target areas for growth.
IMPORTANT DATES TO REMEMBER
October 15th: UCS Taste Test during Lunch
October 16th: SEL Friday - Buddy Classes
October 21st: Monthly Fire Drill
October 22nd & 23rd: No School for Students
November 6th: All-School Morning Meeting (Bernier)
November 7th: PTO Play Date (11:00a - 1:00p)
November 11th: PTO Meeting @ UCS (7:00 - 8:00p)
November 20th: SEL Friday - Buddy Classes
November 23rd - 27th: NO SCHOOL - November Break
OCTOBER'S THEME: GROWTH MINDSET
As the calendar turns to October, our school-wide focus has shifted to Growth Mindset. A huge thank you to Mrs. Giguere's 3rd and 4th-grade class for putting together a fantastic video on Growth Mindset, which was featured during our recent All-School Morning Meeting. The video brilliantly showcases what it means to embrace challenges, learn from mistakes, and keep trying when things get tough. It was inspiring to see our students leading by example and reminding our entire school community that our abilities aren't fixed, we can grow our brains through effort, strategy, and perseverance! It's all about the Power of Yet!
GIRLS on the RUN is COMING to UCS in SPRING 2027!
● 10-week season | Begins the week of March 15
● Twice-weekly practices | 90 minutes each
● Celebratory 5K | Saturday, June 5
READY TO JOIN THE FUN?
If your child would love to be part of a Girls on the Run team, complete the GOTRVT Participant Interest Form! This form helps us gauge interest and plan for the season—it is not official registration. Registration for Spring 2027 will open at a later date.
Learn more at gotrvt.org/programs or email stephanie@girlsontherunvermont.org.
NEWS FROM THE PTO
Dear UCS Families,
The UCS PTO is creating a Student Directory for grades K-4! This is a simple and great way for families to connect throughout the Underhill Central School Community.
If you would like to be included, please fill out this UCS 26-27 DIRECTORY SURVEY form. Please remember to only include information you are comfortable sharing. We will not give away or sell any information collected. The UCS 26-27 DIRECTORY link will be updated and will be featured here in the Bobcat Den.
Thank you so much for your participation!
SCHOOL PICTURES - LATE ORDERS
Did you miss the initial deadline to order school pictures? Don't worry, you still have time! While online ordering has closed, you can still submit a late order by sending your paper form and payment (including tax) directly to the main office. We’ll be accepting late orders until retake day (date coming soon!). Please note that late orders won't be in the first batch of prints; they’ll arrive at the school with the second delivery following retakes. Because of this timing, late orders aren't eligible for retakes, but satisfaction is always guaranteed. Have questions? Reach out to Diane directly at DianePhotoVT@gmail.com.
ONLINE SCHOOL STORE
Welcome to the UCS Bobcats Online Sideline Store, the place to score personalized Bobcat Swag and accessories from all your favorite brands 24/7/365. Get ready for the summer with new styles and brands
**Profits do go back to the UCS** Happy shopping!!!
FROM THE HEALTH OFFICE
In October and November, Nurse Tara will conduct vision and hearing screenings for students. These quick screenings help identify potential concerns that may affect a child's ability to learn and participate fully in school. If your child's results are outside of the normal range, you will receive a notice recommending follow-up with a medical provider. Please share any follow-up results with Nurse Tara. Early identification and care support your child's health and educational success.
Please follow this link to find all of the beginning of the year info from the health office. If you have any questions or concerns, please feel free to contact nurse Tara using the information below:
Tara McMahon, MSN RN
Direct number: 802-858-6316
Fax: 802-899-5173
ucshealthoffice@mmuusd.org
We want to ensure our families have the resources they need. Please utilize our UCS Resource Sheet, which includes helpful information for families.
Five Towns, One Heartbeat
Stay connected with MMUUSD! Head to the MMUUSD District Website for essential enrollment forms, podcast episodes, School Board agendas, curriculum updates, special services resources, staff directories, and career opportunities.
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During the early evening hours of Thursday, October 15th Mount Mansfield Unified Union School District will conduct a test of our Emergency Notification System. This routine test ensures our communication tools are working properly AHEAD of an emergency. Please see this letter for more information from the district.
STAY CONNECTED with WHAT'S HAPPENING @ UCS