Tiger Tales 11/23/25

Posted Date: 11/23/25 (01:00 PM)

November 23, 2025

Happy week, Tiger families! With only two days of school before the long Thanksgiving break, our building is full of busy learning, gratitude, and excitement. We’re thankful for your partnership and the many ways you support your children and our school community. Here are a few updates and celebrations from around the building!

Tiger Spotlight

This week’s spotlight shines on two incredible members of our Tiger Team.

This week we’re shining the spotlight on Catherine Ward, 2nd grade teacher

This week we’re shining the spotlight on Mrs. Ward, who you might know as one of our second grade teachers but did you know...

Her go-to comfort food is chicken. All the chicken!
The first concert she ever attended? A* Teens @ the Champlain Valley Fair
When she's not teaching, you might find her getting the best snuggles from her little boy.
If teaching hadn’t called her name, she'd probably be running a restaurant/cafe as a community hub
One more fun fact: She went to school for Architectural engineering and really loves design

We're excited for the positive energy and care she brings to her classroom everyday!

This week we’re celebrating Stephanie Higgins, 2nd grade teacher

This week we’re shining the spotlight on Mrs. Higgins who you might know as one of our second grade teachers but did you know…

If she could only eat one food forever, it would be sushi
Right now she's into reading psychological thriller books
A hidden talent you might not guess? She enjoys baking cakes.
If she wasn't working at DES, you'd probably find her working as a zookeeper
A song she'll never skip: Run-D.M.C- It's Tricky
And a fun fact about her? She was born on Friday the 13th and definitely has bad luck.

We’re lucky to have her supporting our Tigers with this essential role!

ROAR Reminder

Safety Is Everyone’s Job

At school, we’re working to make sure every Tiger feels seen, welcomed, and included. When students are greeted warmly, reminded of expectations with kindness, and feel like they belong, they are more confident and ready to do their best.

How Families Can Support at Home:

Small moments of connection help children feel grounded—

Greet them by name during transitions
Use calm, positive tones when reminding them of expectations
Celebrate safe and kind choices

These habits build trust and help students show up as their best selves.

A Favorite Tiger Reminder:

“Being Always Safe means caring for ourselves, caring for others, and caring for our space—the Tiger Way!”

Tigertastic Tips

Keep the Learning Going Over Break—Without It Feeling Like School!

Thanksgiving break is a great time for Tigers to rest AND keep their minds active in fun ways. Here are a few simple, school-connected ideas:

Kitchen Math: Let kids measure ingredients, double a recipe, or set the table for a certain number of people.
Holiday Reading Ritual: Read a short book, poem, or article together each day—maybe even have kids read to you while you cook!
Gratitude Writing: Have children write one thank-you note, drawing, or message to someone who made their year better.
Family Time = Learning Time: Board games, puzzles, card games, and helping with chores all build skills like problem-solving, communication, and responsibility.
Learning in the Wild: Fresh air helps brains reset—go for a walk and count birds, spot signs of the season, or just enjoy time outside together.

Most of all, we hope your Tigers come back rested, recharged, and ready to ROAR!

Encore Program Update

We want to share that our Encore leader, Steve, will be finishing his time with us. We are grateful for the energy, creativity, and support he has brought to our students and program.

Encore will continue as usual, and we are already working on finding the right person to step into the role. Once a replacement is confirmed, we will be sure to share that news with families.

In the meantime, any Encore questions can be directed to Beth Chambers, the NCSU Encore Program Coordinator: elizabeth.chambers@ncsuvt.org

Thank you for your continued support!

Mark Your Calendars

11/26-11/28 Thanksgiving Break