CVSD Update
Dear CVSD Families and Caregivers,
As we approach Thanksgiving week, it is a time dedicated to spending time with family and friends, to being able to take a breath from the fall semester, and to prepare for the upcoming holidays and the beginning of the new year, I want to express my profound gratitude to each one of you for your invaluable contributions to our school district. This year, like every other, I am amazed by the incredible strength and resilience within our community.
First and foremost, I am thankful for our students, whose enthusiasm, curiosity, and adaptability continue to inspire us all. I am equally grateful for our dedicated teachers and support staff, who have shown unwavering commitment to our students' education and well-being. Their ability to adapt, innovate, and provide a supportive environment, even in the most challenging circumstances, is remarkable. Thank you, parents and caregivers, for your continuous support and partnership. Your involvement in your children's education, especially during times of uncertainty, plays a critical role in their success and well-being.
I am also grateful for the collaboration and support among our administrative team and members of the staff at the central office. Your vision, caring, and dedication to our district's success are critical in guiding us in ensuring that the students are safe at school and learning every day, as well as working behind the scenes on budgeting, employee services, and academic and social-emotional support.
Lastly, I am grateful to our school board members who have continuously supported our schools with their time, core values, and drive to create the best district possible for our five towns. From policy and strategic plan work, they have worked closely with the administration to ensure strength and stability.
As we gather with family, friends, and guests this Thanksgiving, let us remember the collective strength we draw from our community's unity and support. Entering the annual holiday season is when we can be braver to say thank you and go out of our way to be even more kind to our neighbors, co-workers, and others.
Wishing you all a peaceful and joyous Thanksgiving,
Rene
What is Harkness?
We asked Brad Miller, a CVU social studies teacher, to help our community learn more about Harkness. Here are his responses in a recent blog post.
Hour of Code Week, December 4-8
Many of you are familiar with Hour of Code Week, otherwise known as Computer Science Education Week. It's a period of time where students and adults around the world focus on computer science-related activities. In our district, it often extends beyond the official week and there are many ways in which computer science is happening more often. If you're interested in trying out plugged or unplugged activities at home, check out this site for ideas.
Balloon Parade at ABS
The Horizon House annual Balloons Over ABS Parade took place today. This learning and engineering activity is based on the book Balloons Over Broadway by Melissa Sweet (a history of the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade).
Learning About Vermont Democracy in Shelburne
SCS Blue Team 6th Graders created a logo using Canva that represents Vermont Democracy. The logo was transferred to Cricut Design Space, cut on heat-transfer vinyl, and then transferred onto t-shirts with a heat press. Their research and learning was presented on a website and here is a description about the website from students. (example of the website)
"Our website is about explaining, showing, and representing Democracy. We learned about the different types of democracy, Vermont's democracy, Vermont's current issues, and our rating on how good we think Vermont's democracy is. We use evidence and analysis to explain our thinking and opinions better. We also made a logo that shows what our website should talk about in one picture."
December Virtual Town Hall
Mark your calendars for December's Virtual Town Hall on Wednesday, December 13 from 6:30-7:30. We'll share updates about the budget development process and engage in conversations with those attending. This is a great way to connect with our Superintendent and other district leaders! The Zoom information is posted on the CVSD website calendar.
DEI Town Halls - New Format!
Join the CVSD Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) Team as we celebrate diversity and connect with the diverse cultures of our community. At these in-person events we will learn the history of the various communities in Vermont. There will be shared cultural experiences, including art, food, and conversations about educational experiences. At each gathering various groups, community members and stakeholders will present about their lives, work, and contributions to our state.
January 19th, 6-8pm - Shelburne Community School
Nepali Community in Vermont
March 15th, 6-8pm - Williston Central School
Somali Community in Vermont
Considering the traffic and safety concerns associated with the April 8, 2024 solar eclipse in Vermont, the Champlain Valley Superintendents Association, in consultation with local authorities and representatives from NASA, are moving forward with an early dismissal for students on that day. This proactive measure would prioritize the safety of our students, ensuring that they are not caught in the potential traffic congestion and safety hazards that could arise due to the eclipse's significant public interest.
The path of the eclipse moves directly across Burlington and Saint Albans. Although it is hard to imagine, it is anticipated that more than 250,000 people will travel to this area alone to view the eclipse. This does not account for those of us already living here. It is anticipated that eclipse goers will begin to line up along major traffic corridors and side roads beginning mid-day. The eclipse is scheduled to end in totality at 3:30 and partially at 4:30 creating traffic congestion that could potentially last until 6:30 p.m.
Students will be dismissed early to provide ample time for them to arrive home safely. There will be no after-school or evening events. We will provide more information as we get closer to that date.
Seeking Mentors!
Join us in the rewarding journey of mentorship! Last week, our Connecting Youth Mentoring programs at SCS, CCS, and WSC each came together for their annual gathering to celebrate our incredible mentor and mentee pairs. Tables were adorned with delicious spaghetti dinners, sweet ice cream sundaes, colorful crafts, brain-teasing word searches, and an exciting game of cornhole!
If making a positive impact in your community speaks to you, consider becoming a mentor for a young person. We're actively seeking volunteers to join our team of mentors for 5th-12th graders across the Champlain Valley School District.
What does it involve?
Weekly meet, for about an hour, with your mentee
Commitment for the school year
Mentor training and ongoing support provided by CVSD mentor coordinators
For middle school mentors: Access to dedicated spaces for cooking, crafting, playing games, and fostering friendships
For high school mentors: Collaborating with students to develop skills, resilience, explore new interests, and gain valuable experiences
Make a difference and build meaningful connections—become a mentor today!
Learn more here or contact a CVSD Mentor Coordinator today
Charlotte Central School, Kate Rooney, krooney@cvsdvt.org, 802-425-6682
Hinesburg Community School, Livy Bulger, lbulger@cvsdvt.org, 802-482-6248
Champlain Valley Union, Alison Duback, aduback@cvsdvt.org 802-482-8921
A Holiday Break Message From ParentIN CVSD
If next week is a time for gathering, celebrating and family connectedness, we wish you joy and happiness. Those moments are precious. If the time brings up more stress or loneliness or missing loved ones, please be kind and nurture yourself.
For those who partake in celebrations involving alcohol, we remind you to be mindfulness when your young people are present. The way adults model responsible drinking behaviors significantly influences the perceptions and actions of young individuals. We recognize that not all aspects of holiday celebrations involving alcohol are within our control. However, many situations are preventable, particularly concerning underage [binge] drinking and impaired driving.
Here's a gentle reminder from Jessica Lahey, a renowned NYT bestselling author, parent educator, and prevention coach.
This time of year is an opportunity to have conversation about alcohol with young people. They should start from a place of safety and genuine concern rather than a restrictive "don’t get caught" mindset. We know that having open, honest and curious conversations about alcohol can make a more significant impact on their choices and behaviors.
PowerSchool Annual Updates
Annual Update Forms MUST be completed annually. Forms may be completed on-line or using the PowerSchool Mobile App.
Returning students and anyone who registered their student for this school year before August 1 must fill out the forms.
Use these directions to use the PowerSchool Mobile App Please contact your school if you need assistance in any way.
Free and Reduced Meal Information - Please Read!
We request that all families fill out the Free and Reduced Meal application each year as well. Students need healthy meals to learn. The Champlain Valley School District offers healthy meals every school day. In School Year 2023-2024, all students will receive free breakfast and lunch at school. Even though there is no charge for breakfast and lunch, we ask that you to fill out this application for free and reduced-price school meals.
This document provides many of the reasons why it is important to fill out the forms even though meals are free to students this year. Please go to the Free and Reduced Meals page on our website to learn more and to access the online and printable forms.
If you did not receive your eligibility letter for Free & Reduced meals and you would like a copy of it, please contact Stephanie Hurlburt at SHurlburt@cvsdvt.org or 802.985.1925.
The Vermont Department of Health recently shared that it no longer plans to send COVID-19 tests directly to schools and that school nurses can no longer administer COVID-19 tests to students. Please see more in this article from VTDigger
The state has made COVID tests available to municipalities, libraries, and food shelves to be distributed for free to the public.
As always, if you are sick, please stay at home. When you feel better, you can return to school. Refer to the Health Services page of our website for the answers to frequently asked questions.
Sign Up to Receive SMS/Text Messages!
Please enroll to receive text messages from the district and/or our schools. If you haven't done this yet or if you are new to CVSD, follow the easy steps on this flyer. We don't overuse this method of communication, but it is helpful for reminders and quick announcements. Don't miss out!
If you've already opted in, there's no need to do it again.
Let's Talk!
Let’s Talk! makes it easy for you to engage with school and district leaders on the topics that matter most. Your inquiry is automatically routed to the person or team best suited to respond, ensuring you receive timely and accurate responses every time.
Please use this platform to share your questions, feedback, suggestions, and compliments.
Look for the Let's Talk tab or page on our district's website.
CVSD Family and Student Handbook
CVSD's Family and Student Handbook has been updated for the 2023-2024 school year.
We are hiring for a variety of positions for the 2023-2024 school year. Join our team!
