Students in Mrs. Schuyler's class are busy constructing paper globes as part of their world geography unit. Students made their own grid lines and are using latitude coordinates to draw the continents.
1 day ago, Kelley Schultz
mage 1 Alt Text A four-paneled collage of middle-school-aged students working at round wooden tables in a classroom. The students are focused on a large-scale graphing project using long, oversized sheets of grid paper and rulers. They are referencing data sheets to plot points and draw lines, appearing deeply engaged in a mathematics or science lesson. The classroom setting includes a portable air conditioner, colorful storage bins, and books like "Mountain of Fire."
A four-paneled collage showing diverse students and a teacher working together on large coordinate planes spread across classroom tables. In the top-left, a teacher guides a student with a ruler; in other panels, students work independently or in small groups to plot data on the long, white grid sheets. Some students are using yellow highlighters and reference lists to track their progress. The background shows organized classroom cabinets and school supplies.
Switch in action!
1 day ago, Kelley Schultz
A young boy in a teal t-shirt and blue joggers stands at the whiteboard, pointing to the letter "e" next to a "t." He is leading a literacy activity for a small group of classmates who are sitting on a large, patterned rug. The wide-angle shot shows the classroom environment, including a yellow activity table, educational posters on the walls, and fluorescent ceiling lights. Image 4: Boy in Camo Hoodie
A young boy wearing a camouflage hoodie and tan cargo pants stands at the blue easel. He is holding a letter "d" card and pointing toward the word "wet" spelled out at the top of the board. A girl in a floral dress watches from the rug nearby. Markers and a spray bottle are visible on the easel’s tray and the floor.
A young girl with blonde hair, wearing a white t-shirt, pink pants, and purple rain boots, stands at a blue mobile whiteboard easel in a colorful classroom. She is smiling at the camera while arranging large letter cards on the board. The letters "w," "e," "t," "n," "d," "i," "b," and "a" are visible. Another student sits on a colorful rug in the background. Image 2: Girl in Blue Long-Sleeve
A young girl with a blonde ponytail, wearing a blue long-sleeve shirt and butterfly-patterned leggings, focuses on a whiteboard easel. She is using both hands to position the letter cards "w," "i," and "n" in a row. Below them, other letters like "s," "b," "d," "e," and "a" are scattered. The classroom background shows shelves filled with books and organized bins. Image 3: Boy in Teal Shirt
Slate Valley Estimated Tax Rates Remain Stable - Decreases Expected in Largest Towns

As we approach the FY27 budget revote on March 31, 2026, here are a few key highlights:

• Education spending (budget less local revenue) increase: just 0.86%
• Per-pupil increase (2.7%) is due to declining enrollment—not new spending
• No estimated tax rate increases at or above 7%
• Estimated decreases in our largest towns:
  Castleton: –3.44% | Fair Haven: –0.56%

By the numbers:
• $32M budget supports all five schools
• Among the lowest per-pupil spending in Vermont
• Estimated equalized tax rate: $1.2955 (down 5¢ from last year)

What this means:
• 62% of taxpayers pay based on income sensitivity—many may pay less than property-based estimates
• Local tax trends continue to differ from statewide headlines

📍 Informational Meeting: March 30 | 6:30 PM | FHUMHS Band Room
🗳 Budget Revote: March 31, 2026

For even more detailed information, visit www.slatevalleyunified.org
2 days ago, Slate Valley
Graphic titled “Slate Valley Estimated Tax Rates Remain Stable” outlining FY27 budget highlights, including March 31 revote, minimal spending increase (0.86%), no tax rate increases above 7%, estimated decreases in Castleton and Fair Haven, a $32M budget, and an estimated tax rate of $1.2955 (down 5¢), with info meeting details and website link.
2nd and 4th Grade Reading Buddies
2 days ago, Kelley Schultz
Five children sit in a circle on a classroom floor, surrounded by small yellow slips of paper with handwritten words. They are engaged in a word-sorting or matching game.
A close-up, high-angle shot of a young boy in a black hoodie holding a fan of yellow word cards. The card on top clearly shows the word "Continue." Other cards on the floor show "Moon," "noon," and "blue."
A group of students sit on a colorful paw-print rug. Two boys hold up small whiteboards; one has the number "45" and the word "school" written on it. They appear to be practicing spelling or vocabulary in a small group. IMG_0284.jpg: Five children sit on a patterned rug working with whiteboards and markers. One girl in the foreground writes the words "So," "Sound," and "+100" on her board. Educational posters and a bookshelf are visible in the background.
: Five children sit on a patterned rug working with whiteboards and markers. One girl in the foreground writes the words "So," "Sound," and "+100" on her board. Educational posters and a bookshelf are visible in the background.
A top-down view of two children holding yellow word cards. One child holds a card that says "rescue," while the other holds cards saying "cook" and "grew." Several books, including If You Give a Cat a Cupcake, lie on the floor nearby. IMG_0286.jpg: A close-up focus on a child’s hands holding two yellow slips of paper labeled "cook" and "grew." In the background, other slips of paper with words like "shampoo," "moon," and "rescue" are scattered on the floor.
A close-up focus on a child’s hands holding two yellow slips of paper labeled "cook" and "grew." In the background, other slips of paper with words like "shampoo," "moon," and "rescue" are scattered on the floor.
First grade had so much during their PBIS celebration. They did an amazing job with their pearl bead creations!
3 days ago, Kelley Schultz
Text A group of four elementary-aged children sit around a large, red clover-shaped table in a classroom. They are focused on a craft project using Perler beads (meltable plastic beads), using small plastic tweezers to arrange beads onto pegboards set inside individual colorful plastic trays. One boy wears a light blue Pokémon shirt, and a large black Yeti water bottle sits on the table. The background shows a classroom environment with a colorful handprint rug, a number line, and bookshelves. Photo 2 Alt Text High-angle shot of seven children gathered around a large, red activity table in a classroom, working on bead art. Each child has a colorful tray (pink, yellow, blue, or red) containing a pegboard and small cups filled with various colored beads. Some children are using their fingers while others use blue plastic tweezers to carefully place the beads. The children are dressed in casual school clothes, including a green "Boston" hoodie and a light blue t-shirt.
Text High-angle shot of seven children gathered around a large, red activity table in a classroom, working on bead art. Each child has a colorful tray (pink, yellow, blue, or red) containing a pegboard and small cups filled with various colored beads. Some children are using their fingers while others use blue plastic tweezers to carefully place the beads. The children are dressed in casual school clothes, including a green "Boston" hoodie and a light blue t-shirt.
Number scroll update!
3 days ago, Kelley Schultz
A smiling young girl in a classroom stands behind a long, vertical scroll of paper covered in hand-written numbers. The scroll stretches from her hands all the way down to the floor and several feet toward the camera.
A young girl with a purple headband smiles proudly while holding the top of a long paper scroll. The scroll is filled with mathematical grids and numbers, extending down to a light-colored tile floor.IMG_4919.jpgA young girl with long brown hair stands in a classroom doorway, holding up a long, hand-written number scroll that unfurls onto the floor. In the background, a whiteboard shows a schedule and student initials.
A young girl with long brown hair stands in a classroom doorway, holding up a long, hand-written number scroll that unfurls onto the floor. In the background, a whiteboard shows a schedule and student initials.IMG_4921.jpgA young boy holds the top of a very long, multi-page paper scroll covered in rows of numbers. The scroll reaches the floor and extends forward, showcasing his hard work in a bright classroom
A young boy holds the top of a very long, multi-page paper scroll covered in rows of numbers. The scroll reaches the floor and extends forward, showcasing his hard work in a bright classroom.
A young girl smiles while holding a long scroll of number charts in the corner of a classroom. She is standing on a colorful rug featuring large, multi-colored handprints
A young boy with a joyful expression holds up a long paper scroll filled with hand-written numbers. He is standing on a vibrant handprint-patterned rug next to a bookshelf and a whiteboard dated March 23, 2026.IMG_4925.jpgA smiling young boy wearing a "Miles Morales" shirt holds a long, rolled-out scroll of number grids. The scroll extends down to the classroom floor, where another student is visible in the background.
A smiling young boy wearing a "Miles Morales" shirt holds a long, rolled-out scroll of number grids. The scroll extends down to the classroom floor, where another student is visible in the background.
🏀 Slate Valley Celtics 5/6 Boys – Tournament Success! 🏀

On Friday, March 20, our Slate Valley Celtics 5/6 Boys team earned an impressive 2nd place finish at the Glodzik Tournament in West Rutland! 👏

Team members included:
Brody Kendall, Sire Beayon, Grant Bixby, Frankie McKeighan, Waylon Hutchins, Griffith Bowen, Logan Vadnais, and Maverick Pope.

A special congratulations to Brody Kendall (FHGS) and Frankie McKeighan (BVS) for being named to the All-Tournament Team—an honor recognizing standout players from across all teams! 🌟

From their coach:
“I am thrilled and proud to share that Brody and Frankie have been selected for the All-Tourney Players Team! At this age, there are so many distractions and challenges every day, yet these boys consistently show up, stay determined, and find ways to make things happen. It has been such a pleasure to watch them grow, not only in their basketball skills over the years but also in accountability and their willingness to help younger players. Their leadership and perseverance truly exemplify their hard work and dedication.”

We also want to recognize Tenley Rice (FHGS) for being selected to the Girls All-Tournament Team—an outstanding accomplishment! 👏

Great job to all of our athletes for representing Slate Valley with pride!
4 days ago, Slate Valley
A youth basketball team in matching Falcons uniforms stands together on a gym court holding a trophy, smiling after their tournament finish.
A young basketball player in a Falcons jersey holds both a trophy and a small award on a gym court with other players and spectators in the background.
A young boy stands in a kitchen holding a basketball award, smiling proudly while wearing a dark green sweatshirt.
A student stands in a gym holding a clear basketball award, smiling with decorative face paint, against a green padded wall.
Board Meeting - Tonight - March 23, 2026
You’re invited to the Slate Valley Unified Union School District Board Meeting at 6:30 p.m. at the Fair Haven Union Middle & High School Band Room.
This meeting will be in person. Virtually connect by going to:
Video call link: https://meet.google.com/iqn-ovgq-etb
Or dial: (US) +1 304-935-5224 PIN: 665 218 411#

Please note: To participate in conversation virtually and/or ask a question virtually, please use the “raise hand” icon in Google Meet. Typing responses or questions in chat is not an option.
4 days ago, Slate Valley
Graphic inviting the public to a Slate Valley Unified Union School District Board Meeting on March 23, 2026 at 6:30 PM in the Fair Haven Union Middle & High School Band Room. Agenda includes consent agenda, MTSS presentation and discussion, Stafford report, letter to governor discussion, contracts, and committee reports including building and grounds, policy, and executive.
Reminder: The Slate Valley Unified USD budget re-vote is coming up on March 31.

A second proposed budget information meeting will be held on Monday, March 30 at 6:30 PM in the FHUMHS Band Room—an opportunity to learn more about the updates and ask questions.

Be sure to review the changes, check your polling location, and make your voice heard. Every vote matters!

Find more information at: https://www.slatevalleyunified.org/o/svusd/page/fy27-budget
6 days ago, Slate Valley
Flyer for Slate Valley Unified USD budget re-vote on March 31, with bold text “Please Vote.” Includes details for a second proposed budget information meeting on March 30, 2026 at 6:30 PM in the FHUMHS band room. Lists polling places and hours for Benson, Castleton, Fair Haven, Hubbardton, Orwell, and West Haven. A section titled “What Changed?” explains a $202,500 reduction from the original budget, including staffing and spending adjustments. A QR code directs viewers to more information on the district website.
District Newsletter: March 20, 2026
https://mailchi.mp/fcbd84a59439/spring-into-action-slate-valley-district-news
6 days ago, Slate Valley
Digital newsletter header for Slate Valley Unified USD dated March 20, 2026, featuring a colorful illustration of Earth split between day and night with the sun, clouds, and moon, and banners reading “Hello Spring.”
Night of the Arts!
7 days ago, Kelley Schultz
An event flyer for the "Night of the Arts & Celebration of Learning" at Benson Village School. The flyer has a bright turquoise background with purple text and several art-themed illustrations, including theater masks, paintbrushes, stars, and a painter's palette. It details an event for Grades K–6th on Wednesday, April 8th, from 5:00 pm to 6:30 pm. The schedule is listed as follows: 5:00–5:45: Classroom art exhibits 5:45–6:30: Music performances in the gym
Snapshots of 1st Grade practicing their word work and doing math work places.
7 days ago, Kelley Schultz
Four children sit at a red table in a classroom, showing off their whiteboards. The boards contain lists of words ending in "-ice" and "-age." A colorful bulletin board with a map and student work is visible in the background.
A classroom scene where students at a red table are engaged in "Word Work." One girl holds up a whiteboard with words organized into columns, while a laptop in the foreground displays a digital lesson on the same topic.
Snapshots of 1st Grade practicing their word work and doing math work places.
7 days ago, Kelley Schultz
Pattern Blocks & Number Lines Image 1 & 1 (1): Two young girls smile while sitting on a colorful "paint splatter" rug. Between them is a game board titled "Last Shape Wins," which they have partially filled with colorful geometric pattern blocks like hexagons and trapezoids.
Two girls stand behind a red table, proudly holding up a math worksheet featuring two number lines. On the table are several circular spinners used for their math game.
An overhead medium-long photograph captures two young girls playing a game on the classroom floor. On the left, a girl with long blonde hair, wearing a gray sweatshirt and black leggings, sits cross-legged. She holds a yellow marker and smiles towards the camera. Next to her is a second girl with curly brown hair, wearing a light blue t-shirt and dark pants, who is lying on her stomach with her legs kicked back in the air. She smiles broadly with her hands outstretched. They are surrounded by various game materials: a yellow bin, dice, pencils, an open purple folder containing a worksheet, and other loose worksheets on the floor. In the background are light-blue cabinets with metal handles and part of a white table leg. The lighting is bright and even.
A medium-long high-angle photograph showing two young boys engaged with a board game on a classroom floor. A boy on the left, with blonde hair, is kneeling on the tiled floor and laughing, covering his eyes with his right hand. He is wearing a light-blue t-shirt and blue jeans and holds game cards in his left hand. The t-shirt features a red logo and white graphic of children around a large wheel with text: "Addison County, For all the kids of the world, for all the world's kids." To his right, a second boy lies on his back on the floor, propped up slightly, looking towards the camera. He has short auburn hair and is wearing a green hoodie, blue jeans, and blue and orange sneakers with purple laces. In front of him, on the floor, is a small square whiteboard with a green-drawn grid and drawings of two frogs on the left. A green plastic box lies on the floor between the boys, containing two white square blocks, each with the number "1" written in black. The background shows a wooden bookshelf with books and red and blue plastic rolling tubes and multi-colored hoops on wheels. Part of a small blue table leg is visible on the upper left. The tiled floor is a speckled light gray.
mage 5: Two boys sit at a red table, laughing joyfully. In front of them are a pile of colorful plastic pattern blocks and a white game board featuring a diamond-shaped grid.
A boy and a girl sit on a colorful rug next to a red bin filled with pattern blocks. They are working together to fill a diamond-shaped outline on a game board with green, red, and yellow shapes.
A young girl with blonde hair smiles as she holds up a small whiteboard. On the board, she has written the word "cage" and drawn a heart with the word "word" inside it.
A group of students sit around a large, red, flower-shaped table. Several children are holding up whiteboards showing their "word work," featuring rhyming words like "mice," "rice," "race," and "cage."
PBIS celebration!
8 days 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
9 days 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.
9 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
9 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.
10 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!
10 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!
10 days ago, Amy Roy