Mrs. Lanfear's third grade class made apple pies just before December break. They were delicious!
4th grade minions rose to the challenge of creating wind turbine blades that had the best shape and angle to produce the most energy . A voltmeter determined the energy created as the blades spun around on the VEEP generator facing the wind source made by a large box fan. Students discovered they needed a consistent angle on all blades to harness the most wind power, like a sail on a ship.
Yesterday, 4th grade celebrated the winter solstice with hot chocolate by the campfire. They read the story "The Shortest Day" by Susan Cooper.
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.
Last night, our second graders presented to the school board. They talked about their experience working with Casella to engineer structures. This is the third year we have partnered with Casella. These second graders rocked it last night!
Elly Moriarity from Castleton University visited with our 3rd graders to talk about the Granger House project and showed students the artifacts the archaeologists dug up there. Pretty cool!
Meet "FHUMHS's Social Studies Teacher, Archie Clark" Monday
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
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
Throwback Thursday: Taking it back 60 years! Do you recognize what this building is used for now in Fair Haven?
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.
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?
Mrs. Lucci's and Mrs. Ray's 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.
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!
