Colchester School District

10/12/2026

Have you noticed the Little Free Library & Mini Food Pantry near the crosswalk at Malletts Bay School? 🍞📚 Colchester High School 10th grader Juliet designed, built, and installed the “Snacks and Books” station as part of the journey to become an Eagle Scout.

Only about 5% of Scouts earn this highest attainable rank; it requires earning at least 21 merit badges, serving in troop leadership, and planning and managing a major service project before turning 18.

For Juliet’s project, her mom’s work with the Colchester Food Shelf inspired her to support local students and families. "I know about the food crisis in the community most people don't see," Juliet shared. "I wanted to help while not making it just about food, so I decided that a Little Free Library and a little food shelf would be a good thing to build."

Reaching the Eagle Scout milestone means a lot to Juliet. "It shows the hard work I put into it and how long it took. It feels great to know that people can trust me to help them with things and lead them!"

Seeing the community use the Snacks and Books station makes all the hard work worthwhile: "It means so much to me that it's helping people in our community,” Juliet shared. “Don't be afraid to help or ask for help. There is always someone out there willing to help you."

👏Thank you, Juliet, for your outstanding leadership and care for the Colchester community! 💙💚💛

10/08/2026

We’re thrilled to announce that PPS Kindergarten Teacher Allison Donnelly and MBS 4th-Grade Teacher Mark Wi******er will both be receiving the UVM Outstanding Educator Award this year! 🎉

💚Allison Donnelly is an extraordinary educator who brings kindness, deep care, and exceptional math instruction to her kindergarten classroom at Porters Point School. She excels at recognizing each child’s unique strengths while laying a strong, joyful foundation for their future success. Beyond her classroom, Ms. Donnelly serves as a dedicated leader and mentor on both the Math Professional Development and PPS leadership teams. Her colleagues frequently turn to her for advice, valuing the calm, encouraging support and expertise she generously shares. Ms. Donnelly’s deep commitment to her students and peers enriches the entire school community, making her truly deserving of this year’s UVM Outstanding Educator Award.

💙Mark Wi******er puts students at the center of everything he does, creating a warm, welcoming classroom where every child feels seen, valued, and empowered to learn. Through his thoughtful instructional practices and genuine dedication to student growth, Mr. Wi******er has earned lasting trust and respect across our community. An exceptional colleague and mentor, he consistently gives back by guiding newer teachers, modeling lessons, and serving on key school committees. His professionalism and unwavering commitment have made him an invaluable cornerstone of the Malletts Bay School community for decades. We could not be prouder to see Mr. Wi******er recognized as a recipient of the UVM Outstanding Educator Award.

Next month, Ms. Donnelly and Mr. Wi******er will be celebrated at a formal ceremony at UVM alongside Outstanding Educators from across the state. 🍎🌟Congratulations to all the dedicated teachers from across Vermont who earned this deserving distinction. 💙💚💛

10/07/2026

Ever wondered what it's like to be a substitute teacher or staff member? 🍎✨ Hear directly from our school administrative assistants and a current substitute about why subbing in Colchester is so rewarding, flexible, and impactful for our students.

Whether you're looking to support local kids, give back to the community, or enjoy flexible workdays, we'd love to have you on our team! 🎥 Watch our video to hear more.

Ready to get started? Visit csdvt.org/sub to check out pay rates and apply today.

10/01/2026

Buildings may change, but the memories made inside the walls stay with us forever. 💙💚

This week, the PPS community gathered outside to give a proper send-off and a big thank-you to the school's oldest wing. 👋 For generations, it saw decades of warm morning welcomes at the door, the very first spark of learning to read, and lifelong friendships formed right on the circle rug.

While it's bittersweet to watch a piece of our history come down, it's all part of making room for the future. 🏗️ As part of Phase 2 of our facilities improvement project, this area will soon become a safer full-sized bus and car loop with an expanded parking area to serve the community for years to come.

09/29/2026

Our CHS AP Environmental Science students had an incredible field trip opportunity to set sail on the hybrid-electric research vessel Marcelle Melosira in collaboration with the UVM Watershed Alliance.

Aboard the boat and in the middle of Burlington Bay, students conducted basic water quality tests and learned about Lake Champlain’s tributaries and about how research data informs conservation.

The trip also included visiting the Rubenstein Labs at the ECHO Center and studying lake samples under a microscope to ID varieties of plankton.

A huge thank you to the UVM Watershed Alliance team and the crew of the R/V Marcelle Melosira for giving our high schoolers such an inspiring, real-world STEM experience!

09/28/2026

Students at Union Memorial School have been fascinated by the ongoing construction project, regularly watching the heavy machinery and progress right from their playground.

On Friday, the construction crew stepped over to the playground side of the fence for a special visit. On-site leaders from PC Construction, Chris, Rob, and Abby, spent time answering burning questions, explaining what the big equipment does, and getting to know their biggest fans.

We saw this same magic happen over at Porters Point School last year, where Friday visits quickly became a highlight of the week for students and crew alike. We’re thrilled to see those same special bonds forming here at UMS! 💙💚

09/23/2026

No other district does physical education like Colchester! From the forest, to the lake, to the fields, the PE program at Colchester High School has a wide range of activities for students to try in the hope that they can find something they love and will continue to do outside of school.

For decades, the PE program at CHS has been something our alumni remember long after they graduate, so we figured we'd catch up with our teachers and some current students to give the community a glimpse of how we take advantage of this incredible place we call home. 🛶🌲🚲

09/22/2026

Earlier this month, CMS organized some amazing team field trips that took students around our region.

These field trips are purposely set for the beginning of the year to give students the opportunity to build community and relationships while practicing school-wide norms. This helps set the stage for the year of learning ahead.

Our students reported having fantastic experiences, and we received multiple compliments from members of the greater community about their respectful behavior. Well done, CMS! Here are some photos from the teams that visited Bolton Valley and Oakledge Park. 💚💛

09/17/2026

Mr. Parker and Mr. Marlow were featured in a recent Colchester Sun article for their work empowering CHS students with financial literacy and real-world money management skills. 💡💰Super proud of our dedicated faculty for preparing our students for life beyond the classroom! 💙💚

COLCHESTER — For Colchester High School math teacher Joshua Parker, financial literacy is an essential subject for all students.

09/16/2026

MBS’s young scientists stepped outside three times throughout the school day for an illuminating science experiment—tracing their shadows on the pavement to observe the apparent motion of the sun!

By analyzing the differences in the length and shape of the shadows thrown in the morning, near noon, and then right before dismissal in the afternoon, students gathered real-time visual data to explore light and Earth's rotation.

This turned what would be an abstract Earth science concept into concrete physical observations, and made a connection to the natural cycles of our planet.