Attention Fair Haven Union Middle & High School families!
Registration for the upcoming winter sports season is officially open.
💙🤍🏆 Winter Sports Offered (Middle & High School):
Indoor Track, Bowling, Competition Cheer, Wrestling, Girls Basketball, & Boys Basketball
📅 Key Information & Dates:
🔗 Sign Up Online: Register today at students.arbitersports.com/programs/athletic-registration-sy26-27
🗓️ Season Begins: The winter season officially starts the week of November 30th.
📋 Schedules & Practice Times: Practice times, locations, and schedules will be posted prior to Thanksgiving break.
. Sports List: Red heading reading "WINTER SPORTS OFFERED BY SLATE VALLEY/FAIR HAVEN UNION MIDDLE & HIGH SCHOOL:" followed by an itemized list:Indoor Track Bowling Competition Cheer Wrestling-Middle & High School Girls Basketball-Middle & High School Boys Basketball-Middle & High School Timeline Notice: Red italicized text reading "The winter season will officially begin the week of November 30th. Practice times, locations, and schedules for teams will be posted prior to the Thanksgiving break." Footer Requirement: White bold text on a navy banner next to a basketball illustration reading "ALL ATHLETES NEED AN UPDATED SPORTS PHYSICAL ON FILE AT SCHOOL".](https://core-docs.s3.amazonaws.com/slate_valley_unified_school_district_ar/live_feed_image/image/31972555/large_2026_Winter_Sports_Announcement_Flyer.jpg)
Congratulations to Brody Kendall, our November 9th winner! Brody has won a $25 gift card to Dunkin' Donuts! ☕🍩
Thank you to everyone who continues to support our Middle School through this raffle. Your generosity makes a difference, and we appreciate you!
Stay tuned for tomorrow's winner! Good luck, everyone! 💙

Our Fair Haven Slaters are heading to the State Final! After a fantastic semifinal victory, the Slaters are set to take on the Colchester Lakers for the Division 2 Title this Saturday in Burlington!
Let's pack the stands with navy and white and show Vermont what #SlateValleyPride is all about! 💙🤍
📅 Game Details:
Matchup: Fair Haven Slaters vs. Colchester Lakers
Date: Saturday, November 14, 2026
Kickoff Time: 11:00 AM
Location: Burlington High School
🎟️ Tickets & Admission:
Pricing: $10 (Adults) / $5 (Students & Seniors)
How to Buy: Purchase in advance online at GoFan.co or pay at the gate.
📺 Can't make it to Burlington?
Catch the official live stream exclusively on the NFHS Network!

https://app.smore.com/n/mvyw58
You’re invited to the Slate Valley Unified Union School District Board Meeting at 6:30 p.m. in the Orwell Village School Gymnasium.
This meeting will be in person. Virtually connect by going to:
Video call link: https://meet.google.com/ief-mrrj-odo
Or dial: (US) +1 669-220-6009 PIN: 326 925 499#
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.

Let's hear it for Joan Brown, our November 8th winner in the Fair Haven Union Middle School Gift Card Raffle!
Joan has won a $50 gift card to Bomoseen Lodge! 🎁
Thank you to everyone who continues to support our Middle School Gift Card Raffle. Your participation and generosity mean so much to our school community!
Stay tuned for more winners! Good luck, everyone! 🍀💙

A big congratulations to Rick and Amanda Salamin, who have won a fantastic prize package featuring a $25 gift card to Liberty Street Market and one Vermont State Inspection at Sam's U-Save Fuels! 🚗🎁
Thank you to everyone who continues to support our Middle School through the November Gift Card Raffle. Your participation makes a difference, and we appreciate you!
Stay tuned for more lucky winners! Good luck! 🍀


Congratulations to Cindy Mahoney (2nd time winner!), our November 6th winner in the Fair Haven Union Middle School Gift Card Raffle!
Cindy has won a $25 gift card to Toad’s Burger Bar! 🍔🎁
Thank you to everyone who continues to support our Middle School and make this raffle a success! We love seeing our community get involved!
Stay tuned… more winners are coming! 🍀💙

November is the season of thanks, and Slate Valley students are putting gratitude right where it belongs—into action! 💚✨
Students drew secret appreciation prompt slips—like "Bring this to someone who turns hard lessons into fun games" or "Bring this to the person who helped you gain confidence"—and delivered them directly to teachers and staff members across our schools. From joyful high-fives to warm hugs, seeing the smiles on our educators' faces made this activity extra special!
Click the link to see the full video: https://youtube.com/shorts/ioytgH6iTao?feature=share
Thank you to our incredible teachers, staff, and school heroes who go above and beyond for our students every single day. 🌟

Pack the stands at LaPlaca Field tomorrow night as our #2 Fair Haven Union Slaters host the #3 Lyndon Institute Vikings in the VPA Division 2 Football Semi-Finals!
📅 Game Details:
Date: Friday, November 6, 2026
Time: 7:00 PM
Location: LaPlaca Field
Matchup: #2 Fair Haven Union vs. #3 Lyndon Institute
🎟️ Ticket Information:
Please note that because this is a official VPA postseason tournament event, VPA ticket pricing is in effect (rates are slightly higher than regular season games): Adults: $10 Students & Seniors: $5
(Reminder: Per district policy, pets are not permitted at athletic events.)
Come out early, wear your navy and white, and cheer on our Slaters! 💙🤍

A big congratulations to Brian Tursi, our latest winner in the Fair Haven Union Middle School November Gift Card Raffle!
Brian has won 4 Rodeo Passes to Pond Hill Pro Rodeo Summer 2027! 🤠🐎
Thank you to everyone who continues to support our Middle School through this raffle. Your generosity makes a difference, and we appreciate you! 💙
Stay tuned for more winners! Good luck, everyone! 🍀

Throwback Thursday: Class of 2014 Turkey Trot! 🦃🏃♂️
Taking it back 13 years to November 2013! Check out these photos from when the Class of 2014 hosted their 1st Annual 5K Turkey Trot as a class fundraiser. It turned out to be a fantastic community event that sparked a fun tradition carried on by subsequent classes for a few years.
The stakes were high (and delicious)—the top overall male and female runners each won a Thanksgiving turkey, and category winners were awarded freshly baked pies! Beyond the fun and competition, participants showed true community spirit by bringing non-perishable food donations to support Slate Valley Cares and help stock the local food shelf.
While the high school no longer holds this annual trot, you can still keep the Thanksgiving morning run tradition alive! The Castleton Recreation Department is holding a Turkey Trot this Thanksgiving morning, so grab your running shoes and gear up for race day.

Tonight, two of our exceptional educators were honored at the 46th Annual Vermont Outstanding Educator Awards, hosted by the University of Vermont's College of Education and Social Services and the Vermont Agency of Education at the Dudley H. Davis Center in Burlington!
Please join us in celebrating:
🍎 Margaret Quinn – Fourth Grade Teacher, Fair Haven Grade School
💙 Michael Lenox – Special Education Teacher, Fair Haven Union Middle & High School
Thank you, Ms. Quinn and Mr. Lenox, for your unwavering dedication, passion for teaching, and commitment to student success every single day. We are so proud to have you on the Slate Valley team!


 and district address: "Slate Valley Unified School District • 33 Mechanic Street, Fair Haven, VT 05743 • 802-265-4905".](https://core-docs.s3.amazonaws.com/slate_valley_unified_school_district_ar/live_feed_image/image/31818081/large_clipped-image__16_.jpeg)
Our Outdoor Pursuits class put their grit and safety skills to the test during their recent rappelling unit!
The adventure began right on campus, where students mastered the basics of harness safety, knot-tying, rope handling, and belaying on our outdoor climbing wall. Once they nailed down proper technique and safety protocols, the group headed to Lana Falls in Addison County to put their training into practice on real cliff faces.
In addition to tackling natural rock rappels, students conquered a rigorous hike through scenic fall terrain to and from the site. What an awesome demonstration of teamwork, courage, and hands-on outdoor learning! 🏔️🍂










Cindy is today's lucky winner in our Middle School November Gift Card Raffle! She has won a $25 gift card to Michelle’s Sweet Creations & Old School Bagels! 🥯🍰
Thank you to everyone who continues to support our Middle School! We appreciate you! 💙
Stay tuned for more lucky winners! 🍀

For November’s “Where Are They Now Wednesday” feature, Slate Valley is proud to highlight Kerrigan Allen, a 2023 graduate of Fair Haven Union High School.
Since graduating from FHUHS, Kerrigan has earned her bachelor’s degree in Social Work with a minor in Sociology from Vermont State University–Castleton. Continuing her education, she is now pursuing an accelerated Master of Social Work (MSW) degree at the University at Albany, with plans to graduate this May.
As part of her graduate studies, Kerrigan serves as a clinical social work intern at Bessey House, a Vanderheyden group home in Troy, New York. In this role, she works with older adolescents in foster care, supporting young people with developmental diagnoses and complex trauma histories.
After earning her master’s degree, Kerrigan plans to return to Vermont to pursue her goal of becoming a licensed clinical social worker.
During her time at FHUHS, Kerrigan was an active member of the Student Council. She credits Mr. Ruby with helping shape her academic interests, sharing that his philosophical approach to teaching continues to influence her work in the social sciences.
Kerrigan’s passion for advocacy and helping others was evident throughout her undergraduate studies. She conducted independent research focused on individuals experiencing homelessness in Rutland County. Through interviews with local service providers, she identified community strengths, areas of need, and opportunities for future funding and research. Her work earned her the opportunity to present her findings at a national social work conference in New Orleans.
Kerrigan finds daily inspiration in a favorite quote from scholar and author Shawn A. Ginwright: “We have to see the humanity in others, even if they refuse to see the same in us.”
Reflecting on her journey, Kerrigan shares that she once questioned whether college was even a possibility for her, much less earning an accelerated master’s degree. Today, she encourages Slate Valley students to believe in themselves and remain open to new opportunities. Her advice is simple: Build strong connections, ask questions, and never sell yourself short.
The Slate Valley community extends its sincere thanks to Kerrigan for sharing her journey and offering such meaningful advice to current students and fellow alumni. We congratulate her on her many accomplishments and wish her continued success as she completes her MSW degree at the University at Albany and prepares to return to Vermont to make a difference in her community!

Congratulations to Gary Jamieson, our November 3rd winner in the Fair Haven Union Middle School Gift Card Raffle! 🥳
Gary has won a $40 gift card to Durfee’s, a great local clothing store!
Thank you to everyone who continues to support our Middle School through this raffle. Your generosity makes a difference, and we are so grateful for our wonderful community! 💙
Stay tuned for more lucky winners! 🍀

The first Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade balloons were never deflated. How did organizers actually get rid of them at the end of the route?
Wait for it...
They were RELEASED! From 1928 to 1932, the balloons were set free into the sky as part of the grand finale. How crazy is that? (The practice ended after too many air traffic hazards.)
This year marks the 100th anniversary of the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade! In the early years, live animals from the Central Park Zoo marched down the streets, but they proved too frightening for many spectators—especially young children. To replace them, organizers introduced the parade's very first balloon in 1927: a giant Felix the Cat filled with regular air and carried like an upside-down puppet on sticks. It wasn't until 1928 that balloons were filled with helium, allowing them to truly float high above the crowds for the first time.

