Superintendent's Message

With school vacation the week after next, this will be my last newsletter before our community votes on our FY26 budget. With the timing of this, I find myself reflecting on the many wonderful things provided by our current budget to support students and staff. FHTMS hosted a Naturalization Ceremony complete with student speeches, RMCS unveiled the new street named Dattilio Drive, decided on by the students, Chamberlin students’ ornaments were included on the Vermont tree at the National Tree Lighting, Orchard students put on The Frontier Express, wowing their classmates with lots of singing and dancing, and SBHS celebrated 50 years of exchange students with Germany.

Schools have hosted visiting artists like Troy Wunderle, Tim Brookes, and Raph Draws not to mention, robotics competitions, Poetry Out Loud, Science Fairs, Renaissance Museums, World Regions Showcases, 100th Day celebrations, and amazing sports games. I am always amazed by our incredible students, staff, and parents/guardians. Thank you for all that you do to support our exceptional school community!

We’ll have 4 months of school left when we return and as the weather warms, I look forward to seeing what the rest of the school year brings.

Enjoy your well-deserved break and don’t forget to vote on Town Meeting Day!

Sarah Meisenzahl (in maroon), a Social Studies teacher at FHTMS, is a dynamic force in our middle school, inspiring students and colleagues alike with her dedication, energy, and leadership. As a passionate social studies teacher, Sarah brings civic engagement to life, making learning meaningful and relevant for her students.

Beyond the classroom, Sarah leads our student voice and choice initiatives through the Student Council, empowering students to take an active role in shaping their school experience. Most recently, she guided students in planning and leading our school-wide spirit week and Winter Carnival, a student-led event focused on belonging and relationship-building across our almost 600 student middle school. Her ability to foster leadership and collaboration among students was evident in the success of this engaging and inclusive experience.

Sarah also plays a vital role in teacher leadership, serving on our FHTMS Teacher Leadership Team to ensure that educator perspectives contribute to student learning and schoolwide decisions. She is a strong advocate for both students and staff, working to create a learning environment that is responsive, inclusive, and community-driven.

Thank you, Sarah, for your unwavering commitment to our school, students, and families! Your leadership and passion make a lasting impact every day.

Here is the schedule for board meetings in the coming months and when the budget will be presented:

March 3: Pre-Town Meeting and Public Hearing of City and School District Budget (This meeting will be at City Hall)

March 4: TOWN MEETING DAY

Thank you to everyone who came to Donuts and Discussion last week. It was wonderful to have the opportunity to connect with parents/guardians.

Mark your calendars for our next Donuts and Discussion, which will be on Friday, March 7th from 1:00-2:00 pm at 577 Dorset Street. I hope to see you there!

We’ll be updating our transportation page with pictures of all our bus drivers and aides. Visit the Transporation page to see the photos. More coming soon!

A friendly reminder to all families about bus stop schedules:

• Please have your student ready to be picked up 5 minutes before their scheduled pick up time.

• Be ready for your student to be delivered home 5 minutes before or 5 minutes after their scheduled time.

• Many students are required to be greeted by an adult when the school bus arrives. Please be on the lookout for us! And be visible to the driver when they arrive.

We thank you for your partnership in safely transporting your students to and from school!

Visit our Transportation Update page for up to date information.

For questions and concerns about transportation, please contact Stephanie Hyatt, Transportation Dispatcher. Stephanie is the point of contact for families with questions about transportation in-the-moment. She can be reached at 802-233-0673. You can also call the bus garage at 802-652-7479. For general questions, please reach out to Jean-Marie Clark, Operations Director, at jclark@sbschools.net.

View the full school 2024-2025 calendar here

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