Last night, the Lakes Region FreePress held their Best of the Best 2023 Awards Ceremony, honoring those who were voted into the top of their categories by our community. Slate Valley was well represented with Fair Haven Grade School's Applefest placing second for the Best Annual Event! Slate Valley also had 3 out of the 7 teachers who made it into the finalist voting, they were Castleton Elementary's Amy DeSantis, and Fair Haven Union High School's Ashleigh Sanborn and Jennifer Clement. Ms. Sanborn finished in second place to Mrs. Clement, who was awarded highest honor as the community's favorite teacher! Congratulations everyone!
NOTICE FOR TODAY, FRIDAY, OCTOBER 6, 2023: Due to the concern in our communities, it has been directed to CANCEL all activities HOME and AWAY for our athletes 5th - 12th grade for Fair Haven Union Middle & High School AND all other Slate Valley Schools.
Therefore:
***ALL PRACTICES are CANCELED - 5th - 12th grade
***5/6 Boys and Girls Soccer AWAY at Middlebury - CANCELED
***7/8 Boys and Girls Soccer HOME vs. Barstow -- CANCELED
***VG Soccer HOME vs. Mt Abe 6pm - CANCELED
Dear Slate Valley Families,
I am writing to inform you, yet again, about a concerning incident that recently occurred on our school grounds. The safety and well-being of our students are of the utmost importance to us, and I want to assure you that we are taking this matter very seriously. On Tuesday, October 3rd, we became aware that two Fair Haven Union Middle/High School students were in fact in possession of a stolen handgun while on the grounds of Fair Haven Grade School. The incident occurred afterschool on Friday September 29th. This has been reported to law enforcement and we are following all of our school safety protocols and policies.
Please rest assured that we are doing everything in our power to maintain a safe and secure learning environment for our students. We are also cooperating fully with law enforcement as they conduct their investigation.
I want to take this opportunity to remind all parents and guardians that bringing any kind of weapon, including firearms, onto school property is strictly prohibited by both our school's policies and state/federal law. In light of this incident, we kindly request your support and cooperation in reinforcing this message with your child(ren). Please have a conversation with them about the severe consequences of possessing or bringing any weapon to school, as well as the importance of reporting any suspicious activity to school staff or law enforcement.
If you have any questions or concerns, please do not hesitate to reach out to your building administrator. Thank you for your understanding and support as we work together to ensure the safety of our school community.
Sincerely,
Brooke Olsen-Farrell
Superintendent
Thank you to our incredible custodial and maintenance crew for working behind the scenes to keep Slate Valley Schools safe and clean!
The first annual Slaterbration 5K run is approaching fast! The race will be held on Saturday, October 14th with a 9:00 AM start on the FHUMHS Track. Hope to see you there! To Register go to: https://5il.co/24luo
Reminder, Tonight before Open House at Benson Village School, September 28th at 5:00PM - Please join Slate Valley Interventionists and Coaches, for an informational meeting on leveraging Title I Schoolwide Programs to Address Barriers to Academic Success. The meeting can also be accessed using the following google meet link, meet.google.com/zcm-ggvq-ssf You may view the slides (with a survey at the end) from the presentation here: https://docs.google.com/presentation/d/1YT199Tzt3lXdmpfQzQgpf2hjjiES3f4Vh5qdoEcyZrA/edit?usp=sharing
The Coffee & Conversation originally scheduled for Friday, September 29th in Orwell at Buxton's Store has been RESCHEDULED TO OCTOBER 20TH.
Trivia Tuesday: Did You Know?
Honey anyone? Students from Mr. Merolle's Horticulture Class are busy extracting honey from the hives maintained on the FHUMHS campus. Yum!
Meet Slate Valley Faculty & Staff Monday: Featuring Bryan Muller
Where Are They Now Wednesday: Highlighting Elizabeth Sheldon Morris - Class of 2003
FHUHS Class of 2003 alumna Elizabeth Sheldon Morris loves her hometown. Elizabeth was raised and educated in the community of Fair Haven. Such fond memories led her to settle here with her young family. She wanted her children to experience the same wonderful upbringing and education. When asked if there were any teachers in particular that she would like to give credit to, she replied, “I had many wonderful teachers at Fair Haven, but Mr. Pierce and Mrs. Laplaca really stand out. They were skilled music teachers but beyond that, they helped me gain confidence and a strong sense of self.”
While at Fair Haven Union High School, Elizabeth was actively involved in music. She played the piano and flute, along with singing in the choir and keynotes. Elizabeth was also on the soccer team and part of the Nature Club. She graduated class Valedictorian.
Elizabeth attended Bowdoin College, where she earned her bachelor's degree in Neuroscience. After graduating, she worked two years as a medical assistant before her acceptance to the Albany Medical College Physician Assistant Program. In 2011 Elizabeth received her Master’s degree in PA Studies. Currently Elizabeth is working at Community Health in Brandon. She has been there the past nine of her twelve years practicing as a physician assistant specializing in family medicine.
Elizabeth loves hiking, yoga, sewing and reading, with her favorite pastime being spent with family. She is the mother of two young children named Jack and Pippa. Her son Jack has Down Syndrome. Elizabeth and her husband work together to bring awareness to the forefront about Down Syndrome while also addressing the unique challenges Jack will face as he carves out his own path in this world.
When asked if Elizabeth had any words of encouragement for our current Slater students, she said, “I think sometimes our small school is underrated but it truly is a special place. We have such a tight-knit community and talented teachers. As a student at Fair Haven, you get to learn and grow in a very safe and supportive space. We have so many alumni doing amazing things. Make the most of your time at Fair Haven and know that you are capable of greatness.”
Egg-strordinary Endeavors: Moments of Impact and Ingenuity! Today students from Mr. Schwaner's Engineering Class tested their designs in an Egg Drop Challenge.
Are you using the Slate Valley Unified app yet? If not, we highly recommend you do! Go to your Apple Store or Google Play for the free download!
Take part in the first annual Slaterbration 5K run! This is a community event with all runners/walkers welcome to enter or come cheer on the racers. The race will be held on Saturday, October 14th with a 9:00 AM start on the FHUMHS Track. Hope to see you there! To Register go to: https://5il.co/24luo
Please come to our next "Back to School" Coffee and Conversation this Wednesday morning, September 13th, 7:30 AM - 9:00 AM at the Birdseye Diner in Castleton. Join district school board members and administrators for engaging conversation in a relaxed, casual environment while enjoying a cup of coffee on us!
Bring comments, thoughts, and questions concerning the start of the school year.
Tonight - September 11, 2023
You’re invited to the Slate Valley Unified Union School District Board Meeting at 6:30 p.m. in the Fair Haven Union Middle and High School Library. This meeting will be in person. You can virtually connect by going to: https://meet.google.com/qyt-wdzo-eqm
Or dial: (US) +1 559-682-0287 PIN: 159 286 443#
To review the Class of 2023 Senior Destination Survey Summary click the link: https://5il.co/24buk
Please join us for our first of four "Back to School" Coffee and Conversations this Thursday morning, September 7th, 7:30 AM - 9:00 AM at the Wooden Soldier in Fair Haven. Join district school board members and administrators for
engaged conversation in a relaxed, casual environment.
Bring comments, thoughts, and questions concerning
the start of the school year.
As of this moment, Fair Haven Grade School and Fair Haven Union Middle & High School will be open tomorrow, September 1st, unless something new unfolds overnight. Water has been restored to the Town. However, we will be under a boil water advisory. This means staff and students cannot drink the water in the school. We will have bottled water on hand if needed. Staff and students are encouraged to bring their own. Linked here is information on a boil order advisory.
https://anr.vermont.gov/document/public-water-notices
Additionally, hand sanitizer will be available if desired.
Breakfast and lunch will be made off site and transported to FHGS and FHUMHS. It will be a brown bagged breakfast and lunch.
Here's a brief update on the water situation as it relates to the opening of FHGS and FHUMHS tomorrow. Currently, we do not have water in the Town of Fair Haven. The Town fixed the original break but another occurred shortly after. The Town Manager will call later this evening with another update. We do not want to close school for a second day, so the decision will be pushed off as long as possible. A decision will be made before 8:00 PM tonight. If there is school tomorrow, there will be a boil water advisory, meaning staff and students cannot drink the water in the school. Bottled water will be on hand if needed. Staff and students are encouraged to bring their own. Breakfast and lunch will be made off site and transported to FHGS and FHUMHS. It will be a bagged breakfast and lunch.
