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From A to Z

This book was a joint effort of three different 

summer school writing classes.   The following 

students helped write, design, and edit this work:

Tyler Jewett, Marticka Blair-Parizo, Kimberly 

Jerome, Olivia Wyckoff, Audrey Scribner, Hayden 

Barrows, Liv-Berit Heinz, Reagan Kayhart, Brendan 

Whitehouse,   Skyelynne Thayer, Zach Botala, 

Keegan Curavoo, Jordan Norris, Bethany Cram, 

and Kate Ayotte.  

Every day when students arrive at the school, the cooks in 

the kitchen serve breakfast and then lunch. Usually they give 

students apples to eat for every meal. Apples are very 

delicious and are very healthy. In the kitchen, the lunch 

ladies have to wear gloves to wash off the fresh food such as 

apples. It is then served to students as part of a meal. An 

apple is a good way to stay in shape. 

A is for Apple

B is for Basketball 

Basketball is an awesome competitive sport that students 

can play at school. Usually coaches are parent volunteers. 

Students play on a basketball court in the gym.   The 

basketball season starts in November and goes through 

February. Most of the time the players have practice but 

there are a few games scheduled with other teams from 

around the state. Players wear pinnies to make it easier for the 

referee to tell what team a player is on. A pinny is a colored 

shirt that you wear over your shirt or as a tank top.   At VUES, 

boys and girls play on different teams because there are so many 

students that are interested in this sport. Basketball is a great way 

to exercise and have a good time.    

ABOVE: Students shooting hoops in 

the VUES gym.

RIGHT: A basketball player shoots 

from the free throw line. 

 C is for Computer Lab

The computer lab is next to the library. 

Students and teachers go to this lab to do 

work during the school day. Sometimes people 

go in here for free time too. Students do get a 

lot of their work done because it's nice and 

quiet in there so they can focus.  

ABOVE: This is the computer lab that   students use almost every day.

        D is for Displays

There are many displays of student work and 

topics of study in the halls and in the classroom.   A 

display is a collection of objects arranged for public 

viewing.   All classroom teachers have at least one 

bulletin board in the hall to display student work. 

They are displayed all through the school year.  

Displays decorate the school and remind students 

of what they have been learning about in class.

RIGHT: This is a display of 

Champ that was made by 

some of the students at 

school.

LEFT: This is a 

butterfly made by 

art students.

E is for Experiment

Experiments are put together by VUES teachers but 

performed by students. An experiment is a scientific 

procedure that is meant to prove something or to find 

something out. Experiments take place in school 

classrooms for all grades. Experiments here are very 

common and usually take about 3 to 4 days to work 

on. Students perform experiments to learn more about 

science. As you can see, experiments are a very 

important part of science because they are hands on 

activities.

ABOVE: These pictures show the cardboard platform experiment 5th 

and 6th graders did in STEM (Science Technology Engineering Math).

When do students have field trips?

Teachers schedule field trips throughout the year. Each class has at least one 

field trip during the school year. 

Who goes on the field trips?

Teachers and students go on the field trips and sometimes parent 

chaperones.

How do students travel to the field trips?

Sometimes the class will walk when the place is close by.   Other times, 

students travel by school bus when the location is far away.

Where do students go on field trips?

Classes go to different places like the Flynn Theater, Opera House, Echo 

Museum, Star Base, Lake Champlain, Maritime Museum, and Bixby Library.

Why do classes go on field trips?

Field trips are another way of learning about the environment. 

What can be seen on field trips?

There are a bunch of things to see like a whole bunch of books, people that 

are experts, farm animals, and other things that are interesting. 

       E is for...

ABOVE: Students often take walking field trips to interesting places 

around Vergennes. 

G is for Garden

Students and teachers go to the garden at different times 

during the school year.   In the spring, seeds are planted. In 

the summer, students and community members weed, plant, 

catch Japanese beetles, harvest, and eat the fresh garden 

produce. In the fall, students continue to harvest and eat food 

from the garden. Finally in the winter, students let the garden 

rest.   The only thing that they keep over the winter is garlic. 

The garden is located by the north side of the school on the 

top of the sledding hill.   People in Vergennes volunteered to 

build the raised beds. The garden helps students learn about 

healthy eating.  

(Lynn Rapoport is in charge of the garden.   She provided the information that is in this 

article.)  

RIGHT: Many vegetables are growing in the gardens including beets, 

squash, and carrots.

H is for Health Room

The health room is in the school across from the main office. 

It is a room with a nurse, restroom, medicine, scale, clothes, 

first aid products and a little bed to wait for parents. 

Teachers, students and the nurse use the room.   If you are ill, 

injured, or when you forget your clothes you can go to the 

health room. The health room can help us with eye tests, 

hearing tests, or giving some medicines. It is open on the 

weekdays from 8:00am-3pm. The health room is important 

because the sick kids don't have to stay in the classroom, 

they can go to the health room.

ABOVE: This is the nurse. She is next to a supply shelf with medicines, bandages, 

and rubber gloves. This is her desk and a refrigerator with medicines that need to stay cold.

I is for Ice Skating

In the winter, the students at VUES are very lucky to 

have an ice rink.   The school has ice skating in the 

winter in P.E. class.   This is one way kids get exercise 

and can play. The students like to ice skate because it's 

fun to learn.   Ice skating is a sport and a hobby that is 

energetic.   Students ice skate behind the school at the 

basketball court. You can get lots of exercise when you 

ice skate.

ON THE OPPOSITE PAGE: A student racing against 

an opponent on the VUES ice rink. 

J is for Jump Rope for Heart

In the spring, kids can participate in the Jump Rope for  

Heart event. This is a fundraiser that is put on by the 

American Heart Association. The money raised helps to 

fight heart disease.   It is usually held one day after 

school on the tennis courts.   If it’s raining, it is in the 

gym.   This fundraiser is about two hours long.   The 

important thing is that somebody in your group always 

has to be jumping rope, or doing something with 

another group.   At the end of Jump Rope For Heart, 

participants get to have snack. VUES students are 

caring citizens that do a variety of fundraisers for people 

in need.   This is why students do Jump Rope For Heart. 

in P.E. class we jump rope 

sometimes and we have a lot of 

fun with the P.E. teacher too. 

jump rope for heart is a fundraiser 

that we do to raise money for the 

childrens hospital.

These girls are getting their hearts pumped up for 

Jump Rope for Heart!

K is for Kitchen

The kitchen provides students with healthy meals for 

breakfast and lunch. The kitchen is located next to the 

gym.   This location is easy for everyone because 

students eat meals in the gym. Three lunch ladies plan 

the lunch menu, make the food, and serve food to  

students two times a day. The kitchen is used all day 

to cook meals.   After school it is used sometimes for 

clubs. The kitchen is really important because it 

provides really nutritious meals for students, especially 

for the kids that do not have much food.   Everybody 

gets a chance to have a really good meal.   The kitchen 

program also teaches students about things that 

should be eaten instead of sugars and fat and stuff like 

that.

L is for Library

What is in the Library?

This room is full of all kinds of books like realistic fiction, historical 

fiction, fantasy, and tons of other genres. 

Why is the library important? 

So kids and adults can read books without buying them and wasting 

money.   The librarian also teaches students about how to do research 

and how to find good books to read. 

How are materials and books found in the library?

The online catalog can be used to find books and other library materials. 

Where is the library?

It is located in front of the school

When would you go to the library?

Student visit the library during their scheduled library class every week. 

Students can also visit anytime with permission from a teacher. 

Who gets books from the library?

Kids and adults get to check out some books 

LEFT: Did you 

know we have 

this huge teddy 

bear in the 

library?

ABOVE: These are 

books you can read.

LEFT: This is a 

picture of almost the 

whole library.

M is for Mural

Did you know that there is a painting next to the 

kindergarten playground?   It is called a mural. The 

mural was made in 2007. It was designed in the 

spring and painted in September as a celebration 

for the new art room at school. All of the kids drew 

garden ideas. When they were all done, the shapes 

blended together like a puzzle. All of the students 

helped to paint the mural but the 6th graders and 

teachers painted the black line design on the side of 

the school. They got the idea because the Vergennes 

Community Group donated house paint. This engaging 

mural adds color and beauty to the school.  

ABOVE:   The mural can be seen 

from the playground. 

RIGHT:   Colorful flowers and 

insects can be found throughout 

the mural.

N is for Numbers 

Numbers are used every day in school. In math, students 

add, subtract, multiply, and divide numbers.   Some classes 

do a bit of algebra too.   Also, students learn about money in 

math class. Numbers are used with money to purchase 

merchandise and food.   Other classes use numbers too. 

Numbers are everywhere! Using and learning about numbers 

helps to prepare students for life. 

These are some numbers 

we use all day everyday!

O is for Outdoor Classroom

The outdoor classroom is behind the school. This nature 

area includes a walking trail that leads to the high 

school.   There is wildlife and a pond.   The outdoor 

classroom is for snowshoeing and skiing in the winter, 

and also for the Fun Run in the fall.   Students use it 

during the school day, and it is open to the community 

anytime.   The students and teachers use the space for 

experiments and to take water samples. This space is 

important because it is another place where students can 

learn.  

enter 

text 

here

These photos are of the pond, field, and 

wooded area in the outdoor classroom. 

P is for POPS

POPS stands for Positive, Organized, Polite and 

Safe. These are the behavioral expectations for all 

students at VUES.   Students learn these 

expectations throughout the school year whether 

it's at assemblies, in the halls, or even in the 

classrooms.   Frequently, students are rewarded 

for following and obeying the POPS rules.   They 

might be rewarded with a gift certificate, a key 

chain, or even a dance party.   POPS is important 

because it keeps VUES safe and an upbeat place 

to learn.

LEFT: The school collects 

POPS balls. Each POPS ball 

counts as a POPS reward for a 

classroom or student. 

LEFT: The POPS bulletin 

board can been seen at the 

front entrance of the 

school.

Q is for Quiet 

during Quizzes & Tests

Teachers give quizzes and tests to make sure students 

are learning. About every two weeks, students take a 

quiz in math, social studies, language arts, and/or 

science. There is no talking during a quiz. It is quiet in 

the classrooms to make sure the students are not 

cheating, and also so that there are no distractions. 

Quizzes and tests are important because they show 

the student that they are getting smarter.  

RIGHT: Students 

quietly pass in their 

quizzes.

LEFT: Students quietly 

take a quiz in the 

library.

R is for Recess

During recess, students get out of class to run around and 

play with others. It is meant to give students a break from 

class, and to get them tired out so that they can focus on 

class work.   Recess break is usually twenty minutes long.  

Recess takes place on the playground behind the school. 

Students enjoy recess while teachers watch for safety. Popular 

recess games are black hole, foursquare, monkey bars, and 

kickball.   This part of the day is a student's favorite because 

they get freedom. 

S is for Students

The students at this school work very hard in their classrooms  

to get a better education.   VUES is a public school. Any 

elementary student from Vergennes, Panton, or Waltham can 

come to this school. Currently, there are about 255 kids in this 

building. Many students walk or ride their bike to school. Other 

students are driven in a car, and finally some students take the 

school bus to and from school.   VUES has kindergarten through 

sixth grades. The students at this school make it a great 

community.   

T is for Thundercats

Thundercat is the VUES mascot. The Thundercat is sometimes blue and sometimes grey. 

Nobody knows what the thundercat really looks like. There is evidence of the thundercat all 

around the school.   There are paw prints everywhere in the school. These are the questions 

answered by Mr. Samaritoni   because he is a teacher who has been at the school for a long 

time.      

Who decided that the Thundercat was going to be the VUES mascot?

The students voted on three choices submitted by fellow students to a student council.   

When did they decide the Thundercat was going to be the VUES mascot?

The voting was in 1986-1988 time period.

Why is it called a Thundercat?

There seemed to be no clear favorite among the choices but there was a cartoon series on 

television at the time with that name. I think it was one of the first Japanese animated 

shows on US television regularly. You can google it to see what the animation looked like.

How is a Thundercat designed?

Once voting had chosen the name, a contest was conducted with students submitting 

designs of their creation for the logo.

In conclusion, it's important that VUES has a mascot so that an animal represents the 

school.

ABOVE: This is the thundercat 

that is above the school's  

kitchen.

ABOVE: This 

thundercat was 

created by a student.

RIGHT: The 

school's 

marching band 

banner. 

U is for Understanding Others

Students learn about understanding others in 

guidance class. The people at school accept 

differences and tolerate people with different views. 

Students learn to understand others at VUES to 

have better friendships, make more friends, and 

help kids be more friendly.   The community can 

learn to understand others by asking questions. 

Everyone can understand each other.  

V is for VUES

There are many interesting facts about Vergennes Union 

Elementary School (VUES). The land in Vergennes was 

bought in 1945 from Mr. Bristol. VUES goes from 

kindergarten to sixth grade. The school is on East Street.  

During the school year, there are about 255 students.  

There are many adults too, including the principal, teachers, 

paraeducators, the nurse, and even custodians.   It's most 

busy during the school year but in the summer there is 

summer school for all grades up to sixth.   There is a pool, a 

garden, and a basketball court around the outside of the 

building. Those are the interesting facts. 

LEFT: This is the  

keystone in the front 

of the school.

RIGHT: This is a photo 

of the documents of 

the purchase 

agreement for the 

land.

W is for Walking in the Halls

Everyone is expected to walk in the halls including students and 

teachers.   Students often change classrooms, and move to new 

locations during the school day.   It is important for students to 

walk in the halls because if they run they will trip, and possibly 

fall on their faces.   Walking is safer. The students walk on the 

right side of the hallways. Pupils try to stay quiet and respectful 

while walking because people in the classrooms are trying to 

learn. Most schools have this important rule.

X is for EXtra Recess

Sometimes students get extra recess. Teachers 

use extra recess for a reward. Extra recess takes 

place outdoors or in the gym. It happens when the 

students are good for the week. When the 

students do their work, extra recess might be a 

reward too.   An extra recess reward helps motivate 

students to focus and work hard.   

Y is for Your Friends

Your friends at school help you not to be lonely.   They’re always 

there for you. Friends don’t let you down.   Some activities you 

can do with friends at school are sports, specials, and after 

school programs. Finally, friends are an important piece of life at 

school because they make you feel special. 

Z is for Zero Tolerance for 

Bullying 

Bullying is terrible, aggressive, cruel, and unkind but here in 

Vergennes, it is not allowed.   All people can help to stop bullying 

such as teachers, students, or bus drivers. In guidance and in 

assemblies, students learn about bullying and how to stop bullying.  

People can stop bullying by standing up for a friend, being 

considerate, and treating everyone with respect. Bullying can be 

prevented before it happens when everyone knows the rules.   It is 

important to stop bullying because the school will be safe.   

ON THE OPPOSITE PAGE: This is an example of someone being bullied.