Benson Village School

PBIS celebration!

about 14 hours ago, Kelley Schultz

A candid indoor group photograph features nine smiling young children gathered in a school hallway, posing with plastic cups containing black and yellow treats. The child in the foreground, wearing a green t-shirt, holds their cup up and smiles. To their left, a boy in a tan hoodie holds his cup with both hands, while behind him, a girl wearing a black t-shirt with a unicorn design holds hers. On the right, several other children hold their cups, and one girl stands, holding a water bottle up. The children display joyful expressions. They are situated in front of a yellow bulletin board adorned with various school related items, including illustrations of doughnuts and several small, decorative items. The background shows neutral grey and white tiled walls and floors, with a pink plastic water bottle placed on the floor to the right. The lighting is functional for the indoor school setting.

Action based learning with Kinders and 6th Graders

1 day ago, Kelley Schultz

A boy in a red shirt and plaid flannel runs across a gym floor toward a large cream-colored poster on the ground. The poster features various hand-drawn letters, and several 3D plastic letters are scattered across it for a matching game.

In a gym with blue wall mats, a girl in a grey sweatshirt stands on a small green raised platform. Another girl in a tutu and an older student holding flashcards look on, suggesting a "step-up" or jumping game based on the cards.

High-angle shot of children sitting at a brown folding table practicing math. They are using colorful interlocking plastic cubes to match the numbers printed on blue sky-themed cards (like 2, 5, 8, and 9) placed on pink sheets of paper.

A young girl in a pink shirt focuses on a math task at a table. She is holding a small stack of green and black plastic cubes, sitting in front of a pink paper with the number 6 on it. A large green bucket filled with colorful cubes sits nearby. Active Learning Games IMG_6114.jpg: In a gym with blue wall mats, a girl in a grey sweatshirt stands on a small green raised platform. Another girl in a tutu and an older student holding flashcards look on, suggesting a "step-up" or jumping game based on the cards.

: Two children are captured in motion playing a letter-matching game in a gym. A girl in a tutu skips toward the camera while a boy in a blue shirt runs toward the back wall. Between them lies a large paper on the floor covered in colorful alphabet letters.

A line of young children waits their turn to jump onto a green platform in a gym. A boy in a bright neon yellow hoodie stands to the side, acting as the leader and holding up a small card for the next student in line. IMG_6113.jpg: A boy in a red shirt and plaid flannel runs across a gym floor toward a large cream-colored poster on the ground. The poster features various hand-drawn letters, and several 3D plastic letters are scattered across it for a matching game. IMG_6119.jpg: Two children are captured in motion playing a letter-matching game in a gym. A girl in a tutu skips toward the camera while a boy in a blue shirt runs toward the back wall. Between them lies a large paper on the floor covered in colorful alphabet letters.

Tonight at Benson Village School, students proudly showcased their creativity and problem-solving skills during this year’s STEAM Challenge!

Students in all grades were tasked with designing and building their own marble runs using recycled materials, tape, glue, and lots of engineering creativity. From start to finish, each project reflected thoughtful planning, perseverance, and innovation.

It was incredible to see students confidently demonstrate how their marble runs worked and share their thinking behind each design. Their pride in their work was clear!

Thank you to all of the families and community members who came out to support our students and celebrate their hard work.

2 days ago, Slate Valley

A whiteboard sign reads “Welcome to the BVS K-6 STEAM Showcase” with a description of the marble run project, next to a sample cardboard marble run display.

A family, including two adults and two young children, gathers around a table as a student demonstrates a decorated marble run project.

A young student sits on the floor next to a completed marble run made from cardboard tubes and paper plates, smiling proudly.

A young student stands between two adults in a classroom, explaining a tall cardboard marble run model while pointing to different parts of the structure.

A student kneels on a colorful classroom rug beside a handmade marble run constructed from cardboard boxes and tubes, smiling at the camera.

A student stands at a desk working with cardboard, straws, and small plastic pieces while building a marble run during a classroom activity.

Two students stand over a cardboard structure, dropping a marble into the top of their marble run to test how it travels through the design.

Three students kneel on the floor collaborating on a long marble run made of cardboard tubes, wooden blocks, and other materials.

Two students stand beside an extended marble run built along the floor, guiding a marble through the structure during a demonstration.

An adult and several children stand in a school hallway looking at student work and materials displayed on a table during the STEAM showcase.

Dear Slate Valley Community,

Thank you for your continued engagement and thoughtful participation throughout this year’s budget process. In response to the initial budget vote on Town Meeting Day, the School Board carefully reviewed the proposal and made targeted adjustments to reduce overall spending while continuing to support our students and staff.

The revised FY27 budget reflects a reduction of approximately $202,500 from the original proposal. These changes include:
Reducing one additional elementary teaching position in Orwell due to a smaller-than-anticipated kindergarten class size ($72,500)
Reducing tuition funds that had been allocated to support a Registered Teacher Apprenticeship Program ($30,000)
Scaling back planned spending on buildings and grounds ($100,000)

With these adjustments, the revised budget is now $32.3 million, which is down from the original proposal. This brings the year-over-year increase to 2.16%, which is below the current inflation rate of 2.4% and the 2026 Cost of Living adjustment of 2.8%.

As Vermont continues to work to manage rising education costs, Slate Valley, one of 19 districts out of 114 whose budgets did not pass on Town Meeting Day, remains under significant fiscal pressure. These include rising healthcare and insurance costs, inflation, evolving student needs, and a growing number of unfunded state and federal mandates. Together, these factors make it increasingly challenging to balance educational priorities with affordability for taxpayers within the current state education funding formula.

As a district within Vermont's statewide education funding system, we operate within these broader fiscal realities. While neighboring districts may spend more per pupil, the system's structure means we collectively support all students across the state, not just those in our own communities.
At the same time, we want to recognize that last year, all Slate Valley communities experienced decreases in tax rates, and current estimates suggest that tax rates may decrease again this year in our largest town, Castleton.

Throughout this process, our focus has remained steady: supporting student learning, maintaining essential services, and aligning with the district’s long-term goals, while being mindful of our responsibility to taxpayers.

We invite you to join us for an informational meeting on Monday, March 30, at 6:30 PM in the band room at Fair Haven Union Middle and High School to learn more about the revised budget. Your voice and participation are important as we prepare for the revote on Tuesday, March 31, 2026.

For more detailed information, please visit the FY27 Budget page on our website at www.slatevalleyunified.org.

Thank you for your continued support of our schools and our students.
Sincerely,
Slate Valley Unified Union School District

2 days ago, Slate Valley

Graphic promoting the “Revised FY27 Proposed Budget” for Slate Valley Unified Union School District, featuring a QR code to access more information, the website slatevalleyunified.org, and school logos along the side.

Thank you to everyone who joined us for last night’s Executive Board Meeting to discuss the revised FY27 Proposed Budget. We appreciate the time, thoughtful questions, and community engagement as we continue this important process together.

📅 Next Steps:

Information Meeting: March 30

🕡 6:30 PM

📍 Fair Haven Union Middle & High School Band Room

🗳️ Budget Revote: March 31

Your voice and participation matter—thank you for being part of the conversation and staying informed.

3 days ago, Slate Valley

Community members sit around tables in a school library during a meeting, listening and participating in a discussion.

Two adults sit at a table during a meeting, with one person speaking and gesturing while holding a document.

Group of community members seated in a library, listening attentively during a discussion at a school meeting.

Girls On The Run is so much fun!

3 days ago, Kelley Schultz

A medium outdoor wide shot features a high ceiling gymnasium as a crowd of eight young girls are on the court. On the left side of the gym are four girls standing on the court. One is wearing a light grey long-sleeved shirt with shorts and grey shoes. The person is facing right towards another girl on her left, who is standing with her hands on her hips wearing a white short-sleeved shirt, black pants, and red shoes while facing backwards. Another girl next to her is wearing a red long-sleeved shirt with black pants. In front of her, facing the person, is a girl standing wearing a beige short-sleeved shirt with blue pants. Behind these four girls, on the far left, is a tall girl who is wearing a white short-sleeved shirt, light beige shorts, and light grey shoes. She is facing right with her hands at her side. On the right side of the gym are four other girls who are wearing: Short-sleeved pink shirt, dark blue pants, white shoes facing forward. Long-sleeved pink shirt, black pants, and pink and white sneakers, facing backwards. Long-sleeved dark purple shirt, black pants, and black sneakers facing forwards. Short-sleeved light blue shirt, black pants, and white sneakers facing left. Behind the two girls on the far left are padded horizontal boards on the wall. Behind the four girls on the far right are padded vertical boards on the wall. Behind all the girls is a door and a window on the wall that lets natural daylight light in the gym. Overhead is lighting and a scoreboard. The left side has a basketball net. The gym floors are light grey.

Benson Village School DOES HAVE POWER! We do have school today, Tuesday, March 17th!
Reminder: STEAM Event tonight, 5 - 6:30 pm!

3 days ago, Amy Roy

Last Thursday afternoon marked the conclusion of Parent-Teacher Conferences, and on Friday teachers across the district spent the day collaborating and learning during Professional Development.

Staff participated in collaborative sessions led by colleagues and district coaches, exploring topics such as OpenSciEd science instruction, Artificial Intelligence in education, teaching neurodivergent learners, vocabulary development, and school safety practices. Teachers rotated through short sessions, shared strategies, and engaged in professional learning rounds designed to strengthen instruction and support students.

Professional learning is an important part of keeping our classrooms innovative, supportive, and responsive to student needs. Thank you to all of our educators who continue to grow, collaborate, and bring new ideas back to their classrooms every day.

3 days ago, Slate Valley

An educator sits across from a parent in a classroom, smiling and talking during a conference with a laptop open on the table.

A teacher presents information on a laptop to two colleagues seated at a table during a small-group professional development discussion.

A group of educators sit together at a table reviewing materials and discussing instructional resources during a collaborative professional learning session in a school library.

Instructional assistants sit in a circle of chairs in a gymnasium participating in a safety training discussion during professional development.

An instructor stands at the front of a classroom presenting a slide titled “Overstimulation – Tips” while educators listen and take notes during a professional development session.

A small group of teachers sit around a table discussing classroom strategies while a presentation about guiding student AI usage appears on a screen behind them.

Educators sit at tables in a school gymnasium listening to a presentation during a large-group professional development meeting.

A group of elementary teachers sit around a table with laptops, collaborating and discussing instructional planning during a professional learning session.

A teacher stands at the front of a classroom pointing to a projected slide while educators seated at tables listen and participate in a professional development workshop.

⚾🥎👟 Spring Sports Are Approaching in Slater Nation!

Spring athletics are getting ready to begin at Fair Haven Union Middle & High School, and we’re excited to see our student-athletes back in action!

High School (Grades 9–12)

Baseball & Softball: Pitchers and Catchers report March 23

Regular season begins March 30

Track & Field: First practice March 30 at 3:30 PM

Middle School (Grades 7–8)

Track & Field, Baseball, and Softball will begin the week of March 30. Practice times and locations will be shared soon.

Track & Field Opportunity: Students in grades 5–8 are welcome to participate.

📄 Important Reminder: A current athletic physical must be on file with the school before participating.

For questions, families can contact:

Baseball: agreenlese@svuvt.org

Softball: jhayes@svuvt.org

Track & Field: jon.oakman@svuvt.org

MS Track & Field: sarah.robles@svuvt.org

3 days ago, Slate Valley

REMINDER: Tonight - 6:00 PM - Fair Haven Union Middle & High School Library
Please join the conversation!

4 days ago, Slate Valley

Graphic flyer titled “FY27 Budget Challenge: What Changed… & What is Next?” promoting a community conversation on the revised FY27 budget. Meeting is March 16, 2026 at 6:00 PM in the FHUMHS Library. Additional meetings: March 23 School Board Meeting and March 30 Budget Revote Information Meeting, both at 6:30 PM in the FHUMHS Band Room. Budget revote is Tuesday, March 31. Encourages community members to stay informed, ask questions, and be part of the conversation.

Stuffed animals hard at work today in Kindergarten!

4 days ago, Kelley Schultz

A bright blue, clover-shaped table in a classroom. Three stuffed animals are "sitting" in the chairs: a rainbow-maned lion on the left, a light pink Highland cow at the top, and a small brown and white animal on the right. In the center of the table, there is a pink tray filled with crayons and several laminated name tags. In the background, there is a row of light blue cabinets and a black filing cabinet.

A high-angle shot of a yellow, clover-shaped classroom table. A pink stuffed elephant with a bow sits in a chair on the left, and a round, teal fuzzy stuffed animal sits in a chair at the top. On the table, there is a green plastic lizard, a drawing on white paper, a blue tray filled with markers and crayons, and a name tag that reads "Amelia." In the background, a blue table and the legs of children are visible. Photo 2 (IMG_6094.jpg) A yellow, clover-shaped table in a classroom setting. Three stuffed animals are positioned in chairs around the table: a brown Highland cow on the left, a small pink and purple creature at the top, and a character wearing a large red hat (Mario) in the foreground with its back to the camera. The table is scattered with colorful markers, a drawing, and several name tags. A blue alphabet rug and a white portable air conditioner are visible in the background. Photo 3 (IMG_6092.jpg) A bright blue, clover-shaped table in a classroom. Three stuffed animals are "sitting" in the chairs: a rainbow-maned lion on the left, a light pink Highland cow at the top, and a small brown and white animal on the right. In the center of the table, there is a pink tray filled with crayons and several laminated name tags. In the background, there is a row of light blue cabinets and a black filing cabinet.

A yellow, clover-shaped table in a classroom setting. Three stuffed animals are positioned in chairs around the table: a brown Highland cow on the left, a small pink and purple creature at the top, and a character wearing a large red hat (Mario) in the foreground with its back to the camera. The table is scattered with colorful markers, a drawing, and several name tags. A blue alphabet rug and a white portable air conditioner are visible in the background.

Slate Valley District Newsletter: March 13, 2026 https://mailchi.mp/d3800efaec74/slate-valley-district-news-march-13-update

6 days ago, Slate Valley

5th and 6th Graders studying the world!

7 days ago, Kelley Schultz

A wide shot of a blue bulletin board titled "Continents of the World." In the center is a large, hand-colored map of the world with cartoon animals. Surrounding the map are various printed informational posters organized by continent: North America, Europe, Asia, South America, Africa, and Australia. Detailed Poster Views South America

poster titled "Countries in Africa" listing dozens of nations in alphabetical order, from Algeria to Zimbabwe. Two small photos at the bottom show a line of elephants at a watering hole and a scenic canyon vista.

A close-up of the "Fun facts about Asia" slide. Facts include: Most populous continent (over 4.6 billion people), 60% of the world's population, home to Mount Everest (tallest peak), and Lake Baikal (deepest lake). Africa I

A close-up of a poster titled "Population" for South America. Text: "There are 438 to 440 million people that live in South America. Most languages people speak are Spanish and Portuguese." Visuals: A colorful map of South America decorated with icons (like a llama and a soccer ball) and a smaller gray political map. Asia

: A collection of three posters about Asia. Title Slide: "Asia By: Paytyn and Mackenzie." Culture Slide: Mentions diverse cultures rooted in "filial piety, respect for authority, and collectivism," accompanied by photos of traditional dancers. Location Slide: Features an antique-style map of Asia and text describing the surrounding oceans (Arctic, Pacific, and Indian). IMG_3132: A close-up of the "Fun facts about Asia" slide. Facts include: Most populous continent (over 4.6 billion people), 60% of the world's population, home to Mount Everest (tallest peak), and Lake Baikal (deepest lake). Africa IMG_3130: A poster titled "Countries in Africa" listing dozens of nations in alphabetical order, from Algeria to Zimbabwe. Two small photos at the bottom show a line of elephants at a watering hole and a scenic canyon vista. IMG_3131: A poster titled "Places around Africa." Text: Describes the Atlantic Ocean to the west, Indian Ocean to the east, Mediterranean Sea to the north, and Red Sea to the northeast. It notes that Africa is "in all four hemispheres."

4th and 5th Graders learning about the 3 branches of Government.

7 days ago, Kelley Schultz

Classroom Bulletin Board Overview A wide shot of a purple bulletin board featuring several student projects about the three branches of U.S. government. Each project consists of three pieces of construction paper—red, white, and blue—taped side-by-side. Below the government projects are math worksheets showing multiplication tables and word problems, along with a few printed photos of toys and a stable.

Close-up of Three Branches Project (Lexi) A close-up of a student’s work on three colored sheets of paper: Red (Legislative Branch): Features a drawing of the Capitol Building with a sun. Text says, "Makes the laws," and lists "House" and "Senate." White (Executive Branch): Features a drawing of the White House with an American flag. Text says, "Enforces laws," and lists "President" and "Vice President." Blue (Judicial Branch): Features a drawing of the Supreme Court. Text says, "Interpret laws, decides if laws are fair," and lists "Judges."

Close-up of Three Branches Project (Detailed) Another student's project following the same red-white-blue format: Red: A detailed drawing of the Capitol Building with "House" and "Senate" labeled on either side of the dome. White: A drawing of the White House featuring a large circular fountain in the foreground. Blue: A drawing of the Supreme Court building labeled at the bottom. The text notes the branch "interprets laws."

Close-up of Three Branches Project (Matty) A close-up of a third student project: Red: A rectangular drawing of the Capitol Building. Handwritten text includes "Makes Laws" and mentions "Senators" and "Congress people." White: A central drawing of the White House. Text identifies the branch as "Executive" and notes it "Enforces Laws." Blue: A drawing of the Supreme Court. Text explains the branch "Interpret Laws" and "decides if laws are fair." The name "Matty" is written in the bottom corner.

Marble run building!

8 days ago, Kelley Schultz

An overhead shot of a girl in a light green textured shirt working at a yellow table. She is assembly a marble run on a cardboard base decorated with bright stickers and a large holographic sticker. Her table is filled with supplies, including purple cups, cardboard tubes, a colorful water bottle, and worksheets.

A young boy in a blue and red plaid shirt sits at a yellow table, viewed from behind. He is holding his cardboard marble run upright, focusing on the placement of his neon-colored stickers and tracks. In the background, other children are visible working on similar projects in a brightly decorated classroom.

A high-angle shot of a boy in a blue t-shirt leaning over a yellow table. He is using both hands to attach a purple cup and a cardboard tube to his decorated cardboard base. A "STEAM Event Reminder" flyer is visible on the table amongst various crafting scraps.

A young girl in a pink patterned outfit sits at a yellow table, carefully aligning a cardboard tube that connects a purple cup at the top to another cup at the bottom of her project. Her cardboard base is heavily decorated with neon orange, green, and pink square and circle stickers.

A young girl wearing a purple shirt and Hello Kitty leggings stands at a yellow table, holding her finished marble run. The project features two purple cups and a cardboard track. She is looking down at a small marble resting in the track, testing the gravity-fed design.

A young girl with blonde hair in a ponytail and a pink long-sleeved shirt sits at a blue classroom table. She is holding a cardboard sheet vertically, which is decorated with colorful neon dot stickers. A purple plastic cup is taped to the top of the cardboard, and she is positioning another purple cup at the bottom to catch a marble.

A young girl in a pink dress is working at a blue kidney-shaped table. She is carefully adjusting a cardboard marble run that features a purple cup at the top and a cardboard tube ramp. Several more cardboard tube segments and white adhesive strips are scattered on the table in front of her.

📢 Reminder for Slate Valley Families

All Slate Valley schools will have an early release tomorrow, Thursday, March 12, followed by No School on Friday, March 13.

📅 Thursday, March 12 – Early Release Day
📅 Friday, March 13 – No School

8 days ago, Slate Valley

🎨 Celebrating Youth Art Month in Fair Haven!

Throughout the month of March, student artwork from Slate Valley schools is on display at the Fair Haven Welcome Center as part of a regional Youth Art Month exhibition featuring talented artists from several surrounding districts.

Visitors are invited to explore the building and discover student artwork displayed throughout the space. The pieces are thoughtfully placed among the center’s maps, books, and displays—almost like a safari for art, where each turn reveals another creative work from a talented young artist.

👏 Congratulations to our Slater student artists and to all the area students whose work was selected for display. And a special thank you to the dedicated art teachers across our region who inspire creativity and help nurture these incredible talents every day.

If you’re in the area, stop by the Fair Haven Welcome Center and take the journey to find these amazing works of art! 🎨

9 days ago, Slate Valley

The entrance of the 'FAIR HAVEN' welcome center, built with light-colored wood siding and grey slate-stone, featuring a large gabled entryway and a green state seal sign on a sunny day.

A monochrome blue acrylic painting depicting a solitary woman in a flowing dress within a wintery, bare-tree forest and several deer, with a label for 'Shira Hertzberg' below.

Two distinct student sculptures: a symmetrical blue and green origami radial design by Lexi Tursi, and a brown paper pop art piece with the text "BFDI" by Colton King.

A framed student artwork of a fish labeled 'Kess Hunter' hangs above a colorful, hand-beaded purse with the text "ALL YOU NEED IS LOVE" on a wooden display.

Two student art projects: a pink and white dragon egg on cotton with flowers by Jiy Rogers, and a blue and black dragon egg with green paint and LED lights by Waylon Hutchins.

Two student paper collage artworks: one depicts a mountain landscape with trees by Niyah Brown, and the other is a multi-layered, abstract vertical composition by Oak Jutz.

Two student art pieces: a mixed-media portrait of a woman with a butterfly tattoo on a polka-dot background by Nicole Hathaway, and a blue clay vessel featuring a detailed orange octopus by Olivia Hutchins.

Two student paintings, one featuring a skeleton animal figure by Brynn Otto and Irie Swinington, and the other a field of red tulips under a blue sky by Maya Volpe.

Two framed student drawings of fish displayed on a wooden shelf; the top artwork shows a Rock Bass and the bottom a Silverhorse Fish.

Two framed student drawings of fish on a wooden shelf; the top is a stylized Darter Fish and the bottom is a textured Cutlip Minnow.

⚾🥎Spring Sports Registration is Now Open!🏃‍♂️🎾

Student-athletes interested in participating in spring sports should register as soon as possible.

🖥 Register online:
Visit formreleaf.com or click the “Registration” link on the athletics page of your school’s website and select your sport.

📋 Important Reminder:
All athletes must have an updated sports physical on file at school in order to participate.

Spring sports are just around the corner—don’t miss your chance to get involved and represent the Slaters this season!

9 days ago, Slate Valley

Graphic with the headline “Time to Register for Spring Sports!” directing students to register at formreleaf.com or through the registration link on the athletics webpage and choose their sport. The graphic also reminds athletes that an updated sports physical must be on file at the school. Blue arrows and bold text highlight the registration information.

BVS STEAM Event - March 17, 2026!

9 days ago, Slate Valley

Graphic titled “STEAM Event Reminder.” It invites families to join from 5–6:30 p.m. on Tuesday, March 17 at BVS for a STEAM event featuring student marble run and chain reaction projects along with other academic work students have been focusing on.

📣 Slate Valley Budget Challenge: What Changed & What’s Next?

Community members are invited to join us for an open conversation about the revised FY27 school budget.

📅 Monday, March 16
🕕 6:00 PM
📍 Fair Haven Union Middle & High School Library
🗣️This meeting will be held in person only, with no virtual option available.

This Executive Committee meeting will include an open forum with community members to discuss revisions to the FY27 budget and answer questions ahead of the upcoming revote.

Upcoming Meetings
• March 23 – School Board Meeting – 6:30 PM
• March 30 – Budget Revote Information Meeting – 6:30 PM

🗳 Budget Revote: Tuesday, March 31

Your voice matters. Join the conversation.

10 days ago, Slate Valley

Graphic flyer titled “FY27 Budget Challenge – What Changed & What is Next?” inviting community members to a conversation about the revised FY27 budget on March 16, 2026 at 6:00 PM in the Fair Haven Union Middle and High School Library. The flyer encourages community participation to ask questions and stay informed. Additional meetings listed include March 23 (School Board Meeting – approve warning) and March 30 (Budget Revote Information Meeting), with the budget revote scheduled for Tuesday, March 31.