Nothing cuter than our PBIS bees wearing scarves!
Beading and Craft Club fun with Mrs. St Peter and Mrs Howard
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?
We read Remainder of One in 4th grade math, and students used tiles to represent the 25 bugs marching in the parade. Throughout the book they arranged their tiles into different rows to model the story, and were happy to have all bugs fit into the parade formation for 5 rows of 5!
1st and 2nd graders are studying shadows and light. They made shadow puppets today and then wrote about it.
Meet "Benson Village School's Administrative Assistant, Pam Arel" Monday
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
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!
Throwback Thursday: 1991
Where are they now WEDNESDAY - Featuring Zachary Harvey
FHUHS Class of 2012 alumnus, Zachary (Zak) Harvey, has successfully climbed the corporate ladder a mere decade after his high school graduation.
Zak’s educational journey began in Castleton. He acknowledges that each primary and secondary educator were incredible, but credits three in particular for playing a critical role in inspiring his love of learning. First mentioned was Castleton Elementary School’s principal, Jean-Marie Oakman. Zak remembers her charismatic personality, and appreciates her fostering an “environment where learning and excelling in the classroom was encouraged, expected and celebrated”. Next he credits Castleton’s school librarian, who at the time was Mrs. Susan Lyman, for instilling a love of reading and recalls her constant encouragement and support. Third, during his time at Fair Haven Union High School, he remembers Mrs. Sandy Kuehn. “Mrs. Kuehn taught me invaluable lessons in the classroom on civics and geography, but perhaps even more important, to do whatever you do with heart and empathy. I have carried these words with me throughout college and career.” said Zak.
Along with recognizing the support received in school, Zak was certain to mention the love and support of his parents, who always encouraged him to pursue his dreams.
While at Fair Haven Union High School, Zak was actively involved in Student Government and participated in both winter and spring Track and Field.
Zak attended Providence College in Rhode Island. He worked toward a major in Political Science and a minor in Economics. During his third year, Zak studied abroad at the University College London in England. He also interned two summers at Nasdaq, a stock exchange based in New York City. Upon receiving his degree, he joined the company full-time and moved to New York. Zak worked at Nasdaq for two years before joining the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE) in 2018. While there, Zak worked in a series of positions. As of this September, Zak began working in strategy at the parent company, Intercontinental Exchange, for the President of Fixed Income and Data Services.
Zak currently lives in Manhattan, but claims there is nothing better than coming home to Vermont. He plans to remain in the financial services industry, but would someday like to get involved with politics.
When asked if he had any words of encouragement for our current Slaters, he reflected on a piece of advice received in college which was, “don’t pull strings, yank them.” He wants students to remember that everyone starts somewhere, so reach out to family friends, alumni, and teachers for help. Never be intimidated to reach out to those that came before you because “you never know where a conversation will lead or what doors someone can open.” Zak also referred to a quote, by poet Maya Angelou, on the importance of treating everyone with respect and kindness. “I’ve learned that people will forget what you said, people will forget what you did, but people will never forget how you made them feel.” Great advice to keep in mind.
Thank you, Zak, for sharing your journey. Slater Nation wishes you continued success, with a bright, happy future.
More water treatment plant field tri photos- such an amazing field trip!!!
Trivia Tuesday: Did You Know?
K-1-2 field trip to waste water treatment plant! Really bringing the water cycle together!
5th & 6th grade students working with ratio tables.
Meet "Fair Haven Grade School Physical Education Teacher, Parth Patel" Monday
Thank you to the BVS students, families and staff that turned out for the presentation to the Slate Valley School Board on our All -school STEAM project.
Who's this trio?
Please join us for our third and final Listening Tour at the Orwell Village School. The forum begins at 6:30 PM and is in person and open to the public. Connect with us, and partake in discussing the planning of the Slate Valley Unified Union 23/24 school budget with administrators and school board members. Your opinions matter!
We hope you enjoyed your Thanksgiving as much as BVS enjoyed hosting our Thanksgiving luncheon! We had good food ( thank you to our Chef Mellisa and Nina from Abbey Group), live music by Carol Richards on the piano, and most importantly, our wonderful students, their families and our staff!
