The Bobcat Den
May 2, 2025
May 2, 2025
Welcome back! The building is once again buzzing with energy, smiles, and the warmth of spring—both inside and out. It’s been wonderful to see students return from break refreshed and ready to jump back into learning and fun. A huge shoutout to everyone who attended our Arts and Music Night on Thursday! The student work on display was truly inspiring, and the performances were nothing short of amazing. Hats off to Ms. Aucter and Ms. Bolio Gillaspie for putting on such a joyful and memorable celebration of student creativity!
Next week is Teacher and Staff Appreciation Week. Our incredible PTO has planned a fantastic week of support and celebration for the UCS team. If you’d like to get involved, please see the information below—we’d love your help in making our staff feel appreciated and loved! Make sure to stay updated on all events UCS on our website! Here’s to a strong and sunny start to May and final sprint to the end of the school year!
Looking Ahead:
Student Early Release Day is on Wednesday, May 7th. Dismissal begins at 12:20 PM. Please plan for your child to arrive home approximately two hours earlier than usual.
Mrs. Cowan's Class leads our All-School Meeting on Friday, May 16th
Announcement for the 2025-2026 SY
Our enrollment has increased from our projected numbers. To support this growth, we are hiring a full-time 1-2 Multiage Classroom Teacher. Our 2025–2026 classroom alignment will be:
Kindergarten -> 2 classrooms (Ms. Cowan, Ms. Poor)
Grades 1–2 -> 3 classrooms (Ms. Jones, Ms. Ferreira, +1)
Grades 3–4 -> 3 classrooms (Mia, Abby, Kristy)
This change won’t impact the district budget or staffing at UCS as current positions will remain the same next year. Feel free to reach out with any questions!
IMPORTANT DATES TO REMEMBER
May 5th - May 9th ~ Teacher Appreciation Week (see note in PTO section below)
May 7th ~ Student Early Release Day
May 16th ~ All-School Morning Meeting (Mrs. Cowan's Class)
May 21st ~ BRMS Music Presentation @ UCS
May 26th ~ NO SCHOOL - Memorial Day
May 29th ~ 4th Grade Track Meet @ MMU
May 30th ~ 4th Grade Move-Up Day @ BRMS
UCS NIGHT at the LAKE MONSTERS
Come join us at the Lake Monsters game on June 1st for UCS Night! 50% of every ticket sold using the QR code will come back to the school! Please share with families and friends and let's fill the park and show our Bobcat Pride as we cheer on the Lake Monsters!
ALL-SCHOOL MEETING UPDATE
Throughout the rest of the school year, each class at UCS will lead a Friday All-School meeting 1x a month. The meetings are on Fridays from 8:00-8:30. When your child's class is leading the meeting, families will be notified ahead of time, invited to join and be in the audience. Stay tuned for when your child's class will be leading a meeting so you don't miss out on this great opportunity!
** NEXT UP: Ms. Cowan's Class - Friday, May 16th **
NEWS FROM THE PTO
Teacher and Staff Appreciation Week is also around the corner!! We are still looking for volunteers who can help us execute a wonderful week. Please email us by April 16 at UCSPTO@MMUUSD.org to be on the Appreciation Week planning and activation committee! We need your great ideas and energetic support!
If you can't volunteer, but can help by donating something to make the week great, click here to sign up for a list of items we need. Donated items can be dropped off in the main office starting April 28! Of course, we also welcome cash donations to support our annual catered lunch. You can also purchase items from the UCS school wishlists (updated links to come). As always, everything you donate goes to help our school, dedicated team, and amazing students! THANK YOU!
We are also looking for a new PTO board member to serve as secretary and lead communications for next year. We also need a new PTO President-Elect! This person will serve alongside the existing board next year in preparation for the 2026-2027 school year. This is a GREAT role for a kindergarten, first or second grade parent. We need you! Please reach out to us at UCSPTO@mmuusd.org or attend our next meeting (4/15 at 7pm) to learn more!
Buying labels for your family's gear? Use our school's name to help support the PTO's fundraising efforts for opportunities such as Math through Art, visiting authors and artists and more. All families need to do is click the link, under support, type in our school (Underhill Central School) in the search bar in the middle of the screen, and start buying!
UCS PTO will receive 20% of each sale.
2025-2026 AFTER-SCHOOL UPDATE
After thoughtful consideration and careful attention to the feedback we’ve received from families and caregivers, we are excited to move forward with the PART 2 After-School Program for the 2025–2026 school year. We shared an initial communication last week and will continue to provide updates as we move ahead in the planning process. If you’d like to read the letter we sent out, you can view it HERE.
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Open registration for everyone has begun for next SY! See the Part2 flyer for more information and details! Can also click HERE registration info!
From the District
2025-2026 SY District Calendar
The district has put out the SY calendar for next year over the weekend. There are minimal changes compared to this year’s school calendar. The First Student Day is back on a Wednesday (August 27th).
You can view the full 2025-26 SY Calendar HERE and it was shared in the District Happenings as well!
FROM THE HEALTH OFFICE
Please check your children carefully each day for ticks (How To Do A Tick Check) ... Go to healthvermont.gov/BeTickSmart for facts about tick-borne diseases in Vermont and to see a video to learn how to safely remove a tick.
Health Department offers these tips to Be Tick Smart:
Protect
Ticks live in wooded and brushy areas with high grass and leaf litter. Walk in the center of trails to avoid contact with host-seeking ticks.
Take extra precautions in spring through fall when ticks are most active.
Use an EPA-registered insect repellent on your skin.
Consider treating clothing with permethrin, which kills ticks on contact and gives protection through several washes. Do not use permethrin on skin.
Talk to your veterinarian about tick prevention products for pets.
Wear pants, long sleeves and long socks. Light-colored clothing can help you spot ticks more easily.
Check
Check clothing, gear, and pets before going inside.
Put your clothes in the dryer on high heat for 10 minutes.
Perform daily tick checks on yourself, your children, and pets
Shower soon after spending time outdoors
Remove
Use tweezers to grab the tick up close to the skin
Pull the tick straight up, do not twist
Wash hands and bite area with soap and water
Watch
Watch for symptoms of tickborne illness for 30 days after a tick bite.
Symptoms may include fever, chills, rash, headache, joint pain, muscle aches, or fatigue. Not all people with Lyme disease report a rash.
Contact your healthcare provider if you develop any symptoms, and tell them about your recent tick bite, when the bite occurred, and your outdoor activities.
Some tickborne diseases, including Lyme disease and anaplasmosis, can be treated with antibiotics.
Most people who receive a timely diagnosis and begin treatment early in the course of their illness fully recover.
Illness is on the rise across the country. We are seeing it here at school as well. Please review with your child the importance of good hand-washing
There are many ways you can prevent the spread of germs. The best thing you can do is wash your hands regularly with soap and water for at least 20 seconds. Other ways to prevent the spread of germs include:
Using hand sanitizer that contains at least 70% isopropyl alcohol. This works in a pinch if you can’t access soap and water to wash your hands.
Sneezing or coughing into your elbow or covering your nose or mouth with a tissue.
Staying home if you’re sick.
Avoiding people who are sick.
Practicing good food handling when cooking and storing food.
Frequently cleaning and disinfecting surfaces and objects that are touched often.
Source: Cleveland Clinic.orgma
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!!!
FREE FAMILY SUPPORT/EDUCATION PROGRAMS
Ongoing Support Groups (can join any time)
❖ Single Mom’s (Thursdays at 5:15pm via zoom)
❖ Children with Special Needs (Tuesdays at 12pm via zoom)
❖ Circle of Fathers (Mondays at 8pm via zoom)
❖ Circle of Parents of Adoptive Parents (1st Wednesday of month at noon via zoom)
❖ Perinatal Circle of Parents St. Johnsbury (1st Wednesday of month at 5pm)
❖ Perinatal Circle of Parents Zoom (2nd Monday of them month 10am via zoom)
Upcoming Nurturing Parents Programs Available:
All programs are offered virtually and FREE!
All programs are 2 hours per week for 14-18 weeks. Want to enroll in any of the programs offered?? Please complete THIS FORM to enroll today!
Nurturing Program® for Families in Substance Use Treatment & Recovery
-> Thursdays at 5:30pm starting April 24th
-> Tuesdays at 10am starting May 6th
-> Tuesdays at 5:30pm starting June 10th
Nurturing Skills™ for Families
-> Thursdays at 1pm starting May 8th
-> Mondays at 6pm starting June 2nd
Free VIRTUAL/Online Parent Education Programs to any parent/caregiver in Vermont who wants support and/or to learn new parenting skills. Do you or someone you know want to learn more about the programs offered?
Visit the website at: www.pcavt.org/family-support-programs
Email at familysupport@pcavt.org
Call 1-800-CHILDREN
COMMUNITY NEWS & EVENTS
Info about this program with UVMMC and an opportunity to purchase your own helmet for ONLY $15.00
RunVermont hosts the ultimate youth running celebration, the Mini Marathon and the Vermont City Two Mile, on Saturday, May 24th at Waterfront Park in Burlington. The Mini Marathon includes a 1/2 mile and 1 mile fun run for kids age 4-14, and a hilariously entertaining Mascot Dash. Registration includes a tshirt for the first 400 kids to pickup their bib and medals for all finishers. The inaugural Vermont City Two Mile is a timed 2 mile run for youth age 9-14. Registration includes a unique tech shirt, medals for all finishers and overall awards (M/F/NB). Food trucks and fun galore! Join hundreds of kids to celebrate running on the day before the M&T Bank Vermont City Marathon.
https://runsignup.com/Race/VT/Burlington/MVPHealthCareReadySetRunFestival
Contact youth@runvermont.org with questions
Track is Back! The Mt. Mansfield Summer Track Program returns for our 31st year. We are a program open to all athletes from beginners to those looking to specialize in certain events. Athletes will practice and compete based on age groups from 5-6 years old up to the 13-15 age group. It is a great way for younger kids to learn a new sport and helps the middle school athletes prepare for high school. Practices are Monday and Wednesday from 5:30-6:30 at the MMU track. The program starts on Monday, June 23 and wraps up on Wednesday, July 16. We have 2-3 meets with other teams from Chittenden County and there is the option of competing at the Vermont Recreation and Parks state meet at the end of the season. Registration is $40 for the first child in a family, $30 for the second, and $20 for each additional child and includes a team t-shirt. The program is run by Mt. Mansfield Track Coach Bill Eschholz and members of the 2025 MMU Track Team. For additional information or to request a registration form please email Bill Eschholz at MMSTXC@gmail.com.
Sign Up for Summer Camps with ReTribe in Underhill
Leave your ordinary life behind and enter the fantastical world of might and magic at ReTribe Day Camp! Play awareness games, track animals, build forts, make fires, learn songs, drum on logs, trade crafts in the village market, and become a hero in an epic role play adventure. For ages 5-12. Campers will be grouped by age into three clans. Clans visit each other throughout the week and gather for a big adventure at the end of each week. Choose from 7 weeks of camp featuring 2 unique themes. Learn more at https://www.retribe.org/day-camp
STAY CONNECTED with WHAT'S HAPPENING @ UCS
We will keep our WEBSITE updated on a regular basis. We also invite you to follow us on our two main social media pages: TWITTER (X) and INSTAGRAM. I also encourage you to reach out to the classroom teachers as they all communicate in a variety of different platforms!