On December 20th, Superintendent Brooke Olsen-Farrell and Director of Curriculum, Casey O'Meara, ate lunch with some inquisitive Benson Village School students. The students engaged in lively conversation and shared some funny jokes. It was a wonderful time!
We at Slate Valley, wish everyone a wonderful break. In celebration of the Winter Solstice ("The darkest evening of the year."), Mr. O'Meara, our Director of Curriculum, would like to share Robert Frost's poem, "Stopping by Woods on a Snowy Evening". Enjoy!
Click the link to see the video: https://youtu.be/ORY5IkRAm5g
Trivia Tuesday: DYK?
Last night, the projected Slate Valley Unified School FY24 budget was presented to the district school board. We have set up a ThoughtExchange for community comments and questions. Both the presentation and board video are included in the exchange. To participate click this link: https://tejoin.com/scroll/826931701 or scan the QR code. This exchange will close on January 4, 2023.
On December 3rd, 2022, three of our FHU students traveled to White River Jct. VT to audition for the New England Music Festival. This is one of the most prestigious festivals in our music education system. Students from Pennsylvania, New York, Vermont, Rhode Island, Maine, Massachusetts, Connecticut, New Jersey, and New Hampshire audition for spots in this honored band. Proudly ALL THREE of our students were accepted. Congratulations to Ayame M., Clara Y., and Samuel Y. Not only were they accepted, but Ayame also placed first seat in her entire section and Clara placed 4th.
Tonight - December 19, 2022
You’re invited to the Slate Valley Unified Union School District Meeting at 6:30 p.m. in the Castleton Elementary School cafeteria. This meeting will be in person. You can virtually connect by going to: https://meet.google.com/nwx-ucxq-mnp
Or dial: (US) +1 662-395-1814 PIN: 895 842 986#
Tonight’s Agenda: https://5il.co/1m35r
Previous Meeting Minutes:https://5il.co/1m0ku
Next Board Meeting: Monday, January 9, 2023 – FHUMHS– 6:30pm
Meet "FHUMHS's Social Studies Teacher, Archie Clark" Monday
This week’s focus is on art. The three district art teachers have been exposing our students to various materials and techniques. At FHGS and Orwell, Ms. Ray-Mullikan has her students working on elements of line and how it can be used in designing various patterns. They have also experimented with using medium charcoal to draw a simple mountain landscape. Her younger grades are working on their observational drawing skills focusing on farm animals. So far they have mastered the nubian goat and highland cow. At CES and Benson, Mrs. Parrott’s students have been focusing on painting layered abstract art. First they applied their understanding of the color wheel and created some new colors for the project. Next, they worked week to week painting each layer with shapes, lines, and color in mind. They will finish this big project by using their abstract art to make an explosion style origami book. At the Middle and High School, Ms. Partesi has various projects unfolding. Students are using grids to draw a realistic image, taking sections one square at a time. Another class is exploring color theory and depth by making a 3D window box painting. Last week, FHUMHS students also enjoyed a field trip to the Carving Studio in West Rutland, where they were able to experience sculpting from marble. Scan the QR code or click on the link https://youtu.be/6l7H39QlKII to see even more of our wonderful district wide student artwork.
Today Mrs. Farrell was scheduled to read at one of the schools. But yesterday, when it was decided we would have our first snow day, she chose to record the reading and share it with all the Slate Valley students! Enjoy!
Click the link to see our superintendent read, The Snowy Day by Ezra Jack Keats.
https://youtu.be/DuyBe4m7usA
Due to the impending weather, all Slate Valley Unified schools will be closed tomorrow, Friday, December 16th. This includes Benson Village School, Castleton Elementary School, Orwell Village School, Fair Haven Grade School and Fair Haven Union Middle and High School. Stay safe.
Throwback Thursday: Taking it back 60 years! Do you recognize what this building is used for now in Fair Haven?
Dear Slate Valley Families,
With the recent increase in illness we are experiencing staff shortages, this is especially true with bussing. We are doing our very best to continue normal operations but please note that we may have to cancel bus routes from time to time. This issue is not just confined to Slate Valley. While schools are not required by law to provide regular school to home transportation it is something that we in Slate Valley are committed to doing. If a driver is out sick, there are no substitutes at this time, so we may need to cancel runs altogether due to lack of staffing. If your child can’t make it to school, the absence will not count against them and in some cases we may be able to combine runs or find other options. Principals will be notifying families when runs need to be canceled and/or alternative arrangements need to be made.
We appreciate your patience and understanding as we try to work through this together. I know the bus company is trying hard to hire additional drivers and come-up with creative solutions. Please feel free to reach out if you have challenges getting your children to school in the absence of a bus. We will do our very best to work with you so your children get safely to school.
All the best,
Brooke Olsen-Farrell
Trivia Tuesday: Did You Know?
Castleton Elementary School 4th graders spent a day last week with special guest, Ms. Laura MacLachlan, an instructor from the VEEP program (Vermont Energy Education Program). Ms. MacLachlan set up six stations, of hands-on materials, for students to explore the production of electricty. Stations included hand generators, volt meters, and magnets that moved through coils of copper wire. Each station helped students understand how natural resources such as wind and sun transfer energy to electricity used to power items like their chromebooks.
Tonight - December 12, 2022
You’re invited to the Slate Valley Unified Union School District Meeting at 7:00 p.m. in the Fair Haven Union Middle & High School Library. This meeting will be in person. You can virtually connect by going to: https://meet.google.com/tbs-xnma-rwz
Or dial: (US) +1 530-618-7125 PIN: 991 413 623#
Tonight’s Agenda: https://5il.co/1lss8
Previous Meeting Minutes: https://5il.co/1lm9d
Next Board Meeting: Monday, December 19, 2022 – CES– 6:30pm
Meet "Benson Village School's Administrative Assistant, Pam Arel" Monday
Today's Focus "on Math around the district" Friday comes from Benson Village School, Fair Haven Grade School, and Fair Haven Union Middle and High School. Mrs. Thurston's Benson kindergarteners were playing grab bag doubles, where they grab a handful of cubes and determine if the number is a double or not, along with deciding if it is an odd or even number. Her second grade class was working on solving double digit equations using a number line. Over at FHGS, Ms. Poalino's 6th graders were completing their data and statistics lesson, while upstairs in Mrs. McCrea's class, her first graders were proud to show how they add common denominator fractions, along with using coins to write money equations. Jumping to the the high school, Mr. Marchese's 9th grade students were writing equations in point-slope form of the line passing through given points! Looks like Slate Valley is developing some amazing mathematicians!
If interested, apply online at schoolspring.com or contact the Athletics Director, Kim Alexander at kalexander@svuvt.org
Throwback Thursday - 1991
Each week at FHUMHS, Mr. Chris Stanton, a retired teacher and school board member, meets with a small group of middle school students. The students receive mini-lessons on measurement, trees and different woods. At the end of each lesson, students record their learning by completing a written journal entry. The first group of students completed book cases, and the second group just finished smaller, individual pieces, including beautiful cutting boards. This is yet another wonderful example of Student Learning Achieved Through Engagement! #SLATE
