Castleton Elementary School

Dear CVS/CES Families and Staff, We are very appreciative of all of your support and cooperation this week as we have temporarily transitioned CVS students to CES building. Due to everyone’s positive mindset and willingness to help it has been better than we could have ever anticipated. Thank you all for that! We received the results from further testing at the Village School last night. As a result we were able to move teaching materials from the building. We are hopeful that if the state grants us an emergency permit for asbestos removal, we can begin that process next week. The start date of the remediation work is dependent upon the permit. From there we will remove and repair the walls throughout the “newer” part of the building. Due to the asbestos removal, our timeline has been pushed out further in regards to a return date for our CVS students. We expect that date to be sometime in the middle to end of March. We have every intention of returning to CVS and finishing the school year there. While CVS certainly appreciates CES’s hospitality it is not an ideal situation. The costs for this work will be covered by our insurance and it will not be a local budget expense. As always, if you have additional questions or concerns, please don’t hesitate to ask. Brooke Olsen-Farrell, Superintendent

Tonight - Community Connections Virtual Chat - 6 p.m. You're invited to join Central Office administrators for an informal, virtual conversation on district reorganization and the FY23 budget. Google Meet: https://meet.google.com/pbg-uvwb-idb or by phone (US) +1 402-751-0259 (PIN: 257707057)

Tonight - January 24, 2022 You’re invited to the Slate Valley Unified Union School District Board Meeting at 6:30 p.m. in the Benson Village School Gym. This meeting will be in person or virtually connect by going to https://meet.google.com/dpf-dqdu-grc or join by phone (US) +1 617-675-4444 PIN: 408 056 886 3092# Tonight’s Agenda: https://5il.co/14kn5 Previous Meeting Minutes: https://5il.co/147pz Next Board Meeting: February 14, 2022, 6:30 p.m. at FHUHS

Tonight the CES/OVS Grade 5/6 basketball teams take to the court against FHGS/BVS in a basketball doubleheader. At 4:30 pm the girls game will tip off to be followed by the boys game at 5:30. If you can't join us in-person in the CES Gym you're welcome to follow along live on our YouTube channel, https://bit.ly/33Opv1U.

Dear Slate Valley Families, We again thank you for your patience and understanding as we all contend with the ever changing guidance. This is happening nationwide in regards to the Return-to-Play Protocol. While it is still recommended, we no longer require the medical clearance form for your child to return to physical activity including sports, PE, and recess. We encourage you to communicate with your child’s physician after their covid diagnosis, but they will no longer be excluded from physical activity. Please let us know if your child has restrictions following their covid illness, but otherwise they will be able to participate fully in all physical activity. Again, we apologize for this change and please contact your school nurse with any questions. Sincerely, Brooke Olsen-Farrell, Superintendent

Dear Castleton Village and Elementary School Families, I am writing to inform you that we will not be able to hold school for several weeks or more at the Village School. This is due to the remediation needed as a result of the water damage sustained over the holiday weekend. We have been very clear throughout the pandemic that remote learning is not what is best for our students. To that end, we will be transitioning the Castleton Village School students to Castleton Elementary at least through February break. This will not be ideal but we strongly believe that it is what is best for our students. We fully expect to return to Castleton Village School either in late February or early March. In order to allow staff to prepare classrooms, there will not be school at Castleton Elementary and Village School on Monday, January 24th. Additionally, there will not be school at Castleton Village School on Friday, January 21st. This means no remote learning on Friday, January 21st for Castleton Village School. Staff still need to report. Beginning on Tuesday, January 25th all PreK-8 students will attend Castleton Elementary School for the immediate future. We will have Boys and Girls Club available on Monday, January 21st from 7:30-4:30 at Castleton Elementary School. Additionally, tomorrow Friday from 8:00-3:00 students may pick up their locker contents from Castleton Village School. Please access the school from the back door. Again, while this will not be ideal, we believe it to be an acceptable solution in the short term. Mr. Hall and Mrs. Prehoda will be communicating with you all on Monday as to what you can expect. I thank you for your continued support and understanding as we navigate this current situation.

Every home in the U.S. is eligible to order 4 free at-⁠home COVID-⁠19 tests. If you are interested, you can visit https://www.covidtests.gov/ for more information and to sign up.

Join us later this afternoon either in-person or online over on our YouTube channel, https://bit.ly/3tthLgn, as the CES/CVS/OVS 5/6 basketball teams take on FHGS/BVS. The girls game tips off at 4:30 and will be followed by the boys game at 5:30.

Dear Slate Valley Families, Please read the following letter from Superintendent Olsen-Farrell regarding the new COVID guidance for schools: https://5il.co/14a4u

Dear Slate Valley Families, This is a message to let you know that the State has discontinued Surveillance Testing effective immediately. Therefore, there will be no Surveillance Testing tomorrow. Please stay tuned. I will be putting out our plan later this week to transition to the new Guidance on COVID Management. Thank you, Brooke Olsen-Farrell, Superintendent

Tonight - January 10, 2022 You’re invited to the Slate Valley Unified Union School District Board Meeting at 6:30 p.m. in the FHUHS Library. This meeting will be in person or you may virtually connect by going to https://meet.google.com/udp-oixw-oyn or join by phone (US) +1 219-250-4559 PIN: 684 979 835# Tonight’s Agenda: https://5il.co/13wd1 Previous Meeting Minutes: https://5il.co/13hzm Next Board Meeting: January 24, 2022, 6:30 p.m. at Benson Village School

Dear Slate Valley Community, We plan to be open tomorrow (January 11th) and following our regular schedule. Thank you for your patience and continued cooperation. Regards, Brooke Olsen-Farrell, Superintendent

Good Afternoon, All Slate Valley Schools will be closed tomorrow January 10th due to the number of COVID cases, staffing shortages and not having enough testing supplies. I will update you tomorrow afternoon on the status for Tuesday. We appreciate you patience and cooperation. Please stay well! Thank you, Brooke Olsen-Farrell, Superintendent

Good Afternoon, All Slate Valley Schools will be closed tomorrow January 10th due to the number of COVID cases, staffing shortages and not having enough testing supplies. I will update you tomorrow afternoon on the status for Tuesday. We appreciate you patience and cooperation. Please stay well! Thank you, Brooke Olsen-Farrell, Superintendent

There will be a drive-up Covid-19 vaccination clinic (no appointment necessary) on Saturday, January 8th from 10:30 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. in Fair Haven Union High School parking lot. Pfizer for 12+ for first and second doses (and 12+ are eligible for boosters) and Moderna for 18+ will be available at the clinic. You do not need to live in the Slate Valley School District. Note: You have to meet the current eligibility requirements to receive the vaccine/booster. We are currently working to organize an evening clinic for the following week. More details will be shared as they become available.

Good afternoon, The weekly COVID update letter from Superintendent Olsen-Farrell is now available: https://5il.co/1407c

Reminder: There will be a Covid-19 vaccination clinic at Castleton Elementary School on Tuesday, January 11th and one at Fair Haven Grade School on Thursday, January 13th. If you are interested in having your child vaccinated you can sign-up here: https://bit.ly/3JPq3oy

CES/OVS vs Poultney from Wednesday, January 5th.

Dear Slate Valley Staff and Families, We are seeing a number of COVID cases in our schools, especially the High School. For many of our High School students it has been more than 5 months since their last vaccine and they have not been boosted. We encourage you to sign your child up for Test to Stay if you haven't already. Please register here: https://bit.ly/3eQAtGx. If you are interested in having your child (12 and up) boosted or vaccinated there is a 12+ walk-up clinic in the High School parking lot this Saturday from 10:30-1:00. Preregistration is not required. We continue to do our best to keep students in school but it is especially challenging at the high school right now. Please anticipate that there could be school cancellations in the coming days. Please keep your child home if they have any symptoms at all. If you are unsure if they should attend school please check with the school nurse before sending your child in. Always thank you for your support. We know this have been a challenging time for families as well. Best, Brooke Olsen-Farrell, Superintendent

Since January is National School Board Recognition Month, we wanted to take this opportunity to thank our school board members for their tireless efforts!