Embedded Files
Family Newsletter
June 2026
Schoolwide Expectations:
Schoolwide Expectations:
R: Respect Others
O: Own Your Actions
A: Act Safely
R: Rise to Challenges
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Important Links:
Stamford School Important Dates and Events
2025-2026 School Year Calendar
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Hello Stamford Families 💚
As the 2025-2026 school year draws to a close, I find myself reflecting on just how much we have accomplished together. This year has been filled with growth, learning, challenges, celebrations, and countless moments that remind me why Stamford School is such a special place. I could not be more proud of our students, staff, and families.
As educators, we often spend our time looking ahead—analyzing data, identifying areas for improvement, and planning for the future. While there will be plenty of time for that in the months ahead, I believe it is important that we first pause and appreciate the journey we have taken together this year. Before we think about what comes next, we should take a moment to celebrate where we are and all that we have accomplished.
One of our most significant accomplishments this year was our commitment to strengthening early literacy instruction through the implementation of UFLI Foundations, a structured phonics program grounded in the Science of Reading. UFLI provides explicit, systematic instruction in foundational reading skills such as phonemic awareness, phonics, decoding, and encoding. Research consistently shows that strong foundational reading skills are critical because they serve as the building blocks for future success in reading comprehension, writing, and learning across all subject areas.
The results of this work have been nothing short of extraordinary.
I am beyond thrilled to share that 100% of our Kindergarten and First Grade students met their spring benchmark goals in reading according to FastBridge assessments. FastBridge is a nationally normed assessment system that helps schools monitor student progress and determine whether students are on track academically. Meeting spring benchmark goals means that students are performing at or above the level expected for their grade and are well-positioned for future academic success. This achievement is a testament to the hard work of our students, the dedication of our teachers and intervention staff, and the support our families provide at home every day.
Our success extends beyond our youngest learners. According to our spring FastBridge data, 87% of our students in grades 3-8 are currently reading at or above grade level. This is an incredible accomplishment and reflects years of focused work around literacy instruction, intervention, and high expectations for student learning.
We are also seeing strong growth in mathematics across the school. Students continue to demonstrate improvement in foundational skills, problem-solving, and mathematical reasoning. Our staff has worked tirelessly to analyze data, provide targeted instruction, and ensure students receive the support and enrichment they need to succeed.
What makes these accomplishments even more remarkable is how quickly they have occurred. Meaningful school improvement does not happen by accident. It happens when talented educators work together toward a common goal, when students are challenged and supported, and when families partner with schools in meaningful ways. The progress we are seeing is the direct result of that collaboration.
This year, Stamford School exceeded state expectations for growth and continued to build upon the strong academic foundation that has been established in recent years. Most importantly, our students are developing the skills, confidence, and perseverance they need to be successful not only in school, but in life.
None of this would be possible without the support of our families. Thank you for reading with your children, helping with homework, attending school events, volunteering your time, communicating with teachers, and trusting us with your children each day. Education works best when schools and families work together, and I am incredibly grateful for the partnership we share.
As we approach the end of the year, I am especially excited for our Academic Excellence Night on June 9th at 6:00 PM. This evening is one of my favorite events of the year because it gives us the opportunity to celebrate the tremendous accomplishments, growth, and hard work of our students. It is a chance for us, as a school community, to recognize the effort and dedication that have made this year so successful.
From time to time, I tell people that Stamford School is the best little Pre-K through Grade 8 school in Vermont. While that may sound like a bold statement, I believe our students, staff, families, and community continue to prove it every day. Thank you for your partnership, your support, and your belief in our students. I am incredibly proud of all we have accomplished together and look forward to celebrating with you as we close out another remarkable school year.
With gratitude,
Julie
WINGs Summer Program/Camp: Information will be emailed to families early next week if they have registered for Summer Camp at Twin Valley.
PTG News: I would like to extend a heartfelt thank you to our Parent-Teacher Group (PTG) for their incredible work throughout the year. Through fundraisers, volunteer efforts, and countless hours of planning, they have provided meaningful opportunities and experiences for our students. This year alone, the PTG helped fund school-wide events such as our BMX anti-bullying presentation and our upcoming Field Day celebration. In fact, the PTG has been hard at work planning Field Day, and while I cannot reveal the details because I do not want to spoil the surprise, I can promise it is going to be a day to remember! We are incredibly fortunate to have such a dedicated group of parents supporting our school community.
We would love to welcome more parents to join the PTG. The work they do has a tremendous impact on our students, and the more members we have, the more opportunities we can create for our children. PTG meetings are held on the first Thursday of every month at 5:30 PM in the library. Our next meeting will be on Thursday, June 4th. We hope to see you there!
📊 State Report Card
We are proud to share that Stamford School’s recent State Report Card reflects continued growth and progress. Stamford was recognized as Excelling in Growth, highlighting the meaningful academic gains our students have made over the past year. While we continue striving toward meeting and exceeding all state benchmarks, our upward trajectory demonstrates that the instructional systems and supports in place are making a real difference for students.
🏃♀️ Physical Education Expectations
Students have Physical Education on Tuesdays and Thursdays. If the weather permits, classes may participate in outdoor activities, so students must be dressed appropriately for both indoor and outdoor movement.
Please ensure your child wears appropriate footwear, such as sneakers with secure soles. Crocs, sandals, boots, or slip-on shoes are not safe for physical activity and may prevent full participation.
Physical Education is part of our academic program and supports students’ physical health, teamwork, and overall well-being. Unless a student has a documented medical reason, they are expected to participate and are not able to opt out.
Thank you for helping your child come prepared and ready to move!
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Earn Cash For Schools With Box Tops: Together, We Can Make a BIG Difference!
For over 25 years, Box Tops for Education has given families an easy way to earn for schools with products they already buy. Today, you can find hundreds of participating products throughout the store - and all you need is the Box Tops app.
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Attendance Reminder:
To best support our students as learners, they must attend school regularly. While missing a day here or there might seem insignificant, school absences can add up quickly. Missing just two days each month, excused or unexcused, can significantly impact a child’s academic achievement.
Some reasons for missed school days are unavoidable, but if your child is missing multiple days, especially a few days every month, it’s important to consider how this adds up in lost instruction time and its long-term effects on their education.
In addition to attending school every day, students must arrive on time. Our school doors open promptly at 8:00 am each morning, and our daily announcements are made at 8:25. When students arrive late, they miss these important announcements. They may also miss academic activities that are key to starting the day in their classrooms. Being late also means missing out on opportunities to connect with their peers at the beginning of the school day.
However, with that being said, we also recognize that this is the time of year when illnesses are circulating in the community, including strep throat, influenza, viral colds, COVID-19, and stomach viruses. Even though school attendance is extremely important, we ask that students and staff stay home if they are showing any symptoms of a potentially contagious illness, including:
Vomiting or diarrhea – must be symptom-free for 24 hours before returning to school.
Fever of 100.4°F or higher – stay home until fever-free for 24 hours without medication
Any infection requiring antibiotics – keep your child home until they have been on antibiotics for at least 24 hours
Persistent cough that disrupts normal activities
Influenza or COVID – stay home until fever-free for 24 hours without medication
Any other symptoms that make it difficult for your child to learn or for the staff to work
Students can return to school once they feel well enough to participate and are fever-free for 24 hours without using fever-reducing medications.
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Important Safety Reminder: Arrival and Dismissal Procedures
For the safety and efficiency of our drop-off and pick-up process, please remain in your vehicle at arrival and dismissal times, regardless of your child's grade level. Students riding the school bus are dismissed first, and carline dismissal begins once the bus departs.
Key Reminders:
Stay in your car to keep the carline moving and prevent congestion.
Allow staff members on duty to assist students in safely entering and exiting vehicles.
Safety First: The well-being of our students is our top priority. Your cooperation helps ensure a smooth and secure process for everyone. Thank you for your support.
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CORE Values: Windham Southwest Supervisory Union Mission and Vision Statement: Windham Southwest Supervisory Union creates pathways for our students to become powerful communicators, critical thinkers, and collaborators who use empathy and take responsibility for relationships, lifelong learning, and adaptability in our changing world. Stamford School prepares students with the essential competencies identified by our Portrait of Student Success Design Team. Our core values guide us as we ensure our students’ success.
The Stamford School prioritizes the following competencies:
ADAPTABILITY: Demonstrate agility, creativity, and flexibility in thoughts and actions to negotiate a range of different views, roles, and situations
COMMUNICATION: Articulate thoughts and ideas, listen and respond effectively, decipher meaning, and build on others’ ideas for a range of purposes and audiences
COLLABORATION: Build collective commitment and action to achieve group goals by leveraging strengths, defining roles, sharing feedback, seeking diverse perspectives, and debating respectfully
CRITICAL THINKING: Analyze and evaluate meaning, significance, and impacts using evidence and inference while considering multiple perspectives
EMPATHY: Listen to, engage with, and care for the feelings, emotions, and experiences of others by practicing awareness, consideration, validation, respect, and sensitivity
RESPONSIBILITY: Act honestly, demonstrate care, honor commitments, seek help, repair harm, resolve conflicts, and consider consequences for risks while contributing to the community and the greater good.
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