Message from Principal Mills

Greetings TES Families,

I hope this message finds you well. I wanted to share an exciting educational experience that your children recently enjoyed at TES.

In case you weren't aware, our school boasts a variety of fruit trees growing around the playground, including apple, pear, and peach trees. These trees not only add beauty to our campus but are a valuable learning resource for our students.

Last Thursday, students in grades K - 6 had the pleasure of working alongside Cat, our dedicated garden expert, in the cider-making process. The children had a blast taking turns operating the cider press, watching in amazement as the apples were transformed into delicious, sweet cider. It was an interactive, hands-on experience that allowed them to connect with the natural world and gain a deeper understanding of how some of their favorite treats are made.

Once the cider was fully pressed and strained, the children had the opportunity to taste the fruits of their labor. It was heartwarming to see their faces light up with joy as they sipped on the fresh, sweet cider they had helped create. This shared experience created memories that they will cherish.

We believe that these kinds of experiences are an essential part of their education, connecting classroom learning with the world around them. It instills a sense of wonder, appreciation for nature, and a greater understanding of where our food comes from.

We would like to extend our heartfelt gratitude to Cat Buxton, Joette Hayashigawa, and Jody Horan for all the support they provided. Experiences like these would not be possible without their dedication to our school.

Thank you for being a part of our TES community, and we look forward to more exciting learning adventures in the future. 

Best,

Bernice Mills

Principal, Thetford Elementary School

News from the Library with Mary

It’s getting spooky around here!



We have been getting ready for Halloween by reading spooky, scary, and just plain fun Halloween stories! 

Some of our favorite Halloween Stories:

It’s Raining Bats and Frogs by Rebecca Colby

The Widow’s Broom by Chris Van Allen

Creepy Carrots! By Aarob Reynolds

Room on the Broom Julia Donaldson

Frankencrayon by Michael Hall

Day of the Dead or Día de los Muertos—celebrates life 

5 Facts About the Day of the Dead 

-Maria Anderson, Smithsonian Sparks October 30, 2016

1. It’s not the same as Halloween

2. It originated in Mexico and Central America

3. It’s a celebration of life, not death

4. The ofrenda is a central component

5. Flowers, butterflies and skulls are typically used as symbols

The Spirit of Tio Fernando / El espíritu de Tío Fernando A Day of the Dead Story / Una historia del Dia de los Muertos written by: Janice Levy Illustrated by: Morella Fuenmayor, 

In this touching bilingual spanish/english book, we learned that The Day of the Dead is a time to remember people who have died, and whom we will always love. Nando and his mother honor the spirit of his favorite uncle on the Day of the Dead. Nando wonders how he will recognize his uncle's spirit, but in the end he is reassured that Tio Fernando is happy because he has not been forgotten.

News from the Art Room with Ms Mathis

Dear TES Families:

It’s been a busy few weeks in art classes! Primary Wing students have been working on oil pastel drawings featuring maple leaves. Kindergarteners have been focused on matching the colors and details that they notice in their chosen leaves, while first and second graders have been given the additional challenge of drawing the shape of their maple leaf by observing the linear structure of the veins. During this project, students are learning about three of the main Elements of Art: Line, Shape, and Color, as well as how to blend and mix colors with oil pastels. In addition, Kindergarteners are practicing their scissor skills and learning techniques for safely cutting out the more difficult, detailed shapes.

Meanwhile, Upper Wing students have also been exploring oil pastels, but with a focus on animals. Third and fourth graders have been working on pastel bird portraits as well as small pencil sketches featuring local wildlife, which they will use to make prints later in the year. 

Fifth and sixth graders are also finishing up animal portraits featuring all manner of creatures both wild and domestic. They will soon be switching gears for some Halloween fun, and then moving on to a unit on Ancient Greek pottery. Here are some of their oil pastel drawings:

Also, you may have heard from your children that we now have a therapy dog in the art room! Lobito (Spanish for “little wolf”) is a young Puerto Rican Sato who was brought to Vermont in 2022 by a local rescue group. In the past year, he has completed a training course as well as behavioral and health evaluations, and he is now certified through Bright Spot Therapy Dogs. Lobi is currently in the process of getting to know the students, and the kids have been wonderfully kind and helpful as he gets acclimated. Lobi will be available to take breaks with children during art classes, and he will also be reading with a group of third and fourth graders, enjoying recess with kindergarteners, and participating as a model during drawing and photography units. 

Last but not least, Upper Wing students have been doing some fantastic independent work during the 5/6 elective, and also during Art club! It’s been exciting to see the breadth of creative ideas and interests. The elective group has been making new signage for the gardens and school building, and Art Clubbers have been engaged with a wide range of activities, including: potholder weaving, character drawing, sculpting with modeling clay, sculpting with natural clay, painting with acrylics, tempera, and watercolors, pencil and pastel drawing, and working on existing projects from classes.