FHUMS Newsletter: August 29, 2025
https://secure.smore.com/n/jbma9
2 months ago, Slate Valley
First page of Fair Haven Union Middle School newsletter dated August 29, 2025. Includes a note from the principal to families about the start of the school year, upcoming safety drills, the role of class and teacher advisors, and guidance on student support during advisory period.
You never know what cards the first day of school might deal, but these 7th graders stacked the deck in their favor by playing their best hand! 🃏

Mr. VanDerKern and Mr. McKeen teamed up to welcome new students with a mix of design challenges and team-building activities, giving them a glimpse of what to expect in Design and PE at FHUMHS this year.
2 months ago, Slate Valley
A group of boys work together to hold up a tall, vertical tower of playing cards.
Two girls concentrate while stacking playing cards into a tower.
A small house of cards built from red and black playing cards on a wooden table.
A smiling teacher takes a selfie in a clean and organized classroom with tall tables, stools, and workstations.
Happy first day to all of our students and families! FHUMHS will start the year strong with a focus on safety. Within the next week, we will have students practicing bus evacuations, fire evacuations, and ALICE option-based drills. Please feel free to reach out to us if you would like to learn more!
2 months ago, Ben Worthing
School Safety
First Day Freeze Frames 📸
See the full video at https://www.facebook.com/share/r/19xeZ8KHb8/
Welcome Back to All Slate Valley Students!
2 months ago, Slate Valley
Screenshot showing young students posing for a photo with their teacher behind them peering through decorative blue streamers.
Today we welcomed our newest Slaters! Fair Haven Union Middle & High School’s 7th and 9th graders had the building all to themselves. It was a special day designed just for them—meeting teachers, exploring classrooms, learning schedules, and getting comfortable before the rest of the grades arrive tomorrow.
2 months ago, Slate Valley
A group of middle school students sit at classroom tables and wave toward the camera, smiling.
Middle school students sit at cafeteria tables in a gymnasium, listening to staff members lined up along the wall. A climbing wall and basketball hoop are visible in the background.
A boy in a blue shirt opens a tall, navy locker in a school hallway.
A male teacher sits at the front of the classroom, speaking to students sitting at desks. Posters and student work decorate the wall behind him.
A Spanish teacher gestures while speaking to students, with a large screen behind him displaying “Bienvenidos al Español I.”
Two boys with backpacks walk down a school stairwell; one holds a paper schedule.
A female teacher stands at the front of a classroom holding a paper, while high school students sit at tables and listen.
Three boys walk down a school hallway together, carrying schedules and chatting.
A male teacher stands and speaks to a group of middle school students seated at cluster desks, listening attentively.
Students walk through a school hallway between classes, chatting and smiling.
We’re excited to kick off the 2025–2026 school year and invite you to our first Slate Valley Community Advisory Council (CAC) meeting on:

Tuesday, September 2, 2025 | 5:45 PM
Central Office Conference Room
Fair Haven Union Middle & High School

The agenda link is below. We’ll review council goals for the year, share key district updates, and set priorities together. Your insights help us strengthen family, school, and community partnerships—thank you in advance for your time and perspective.

We look forward to seeing you there!

Agenda link: https://5il.co/3opgw
2 months ago, Slate Valley
Slate Valley Community Advisory Council meeting announcement for September 2, 2025, at 5:45 PM in the Central Office Conference Room at Fair Haven Union Middle & High School.
✨ Middle School Open House Success! ✨
Thank you to all the families who joined us last night—your support means so much! 💙

📊 Attendance was fantastic:
✔️ 92% of 7th grade families
✔️ 68% of 8th grade families

We’re so excited to welcome our students back:
7th graders only – Tomorrow, August 27
7th & 8th graders – Thursday, August 28

It’s going to be an amazing year!
2 months ago, Slate Valley
Flyer introducing Fair Haven Union Middle School 7th- and 8th-grade core teachers with photos, names, subjects, emails, and extensions. Center panel highlights FHUMS Open House on August 25, 2025, and first day dates: 7th grade on 8/27/25, 8th grade on 8/28/25.
Flyer introducing FHUMS admin team and support staff with names, photos, roles, emails, and extensions. Includes principals, assistant principals, special educators, guidance, clinicians, nurses, and student support staff, along with a contact number: 802-265-4966.
Please join us in welcoming our new faculty and staff to Slater Nation!
2 months ago, Slate Valley
Portrait of John Alexander with text: “Welcome John Alexander, Maintenance Tech., Fair Haven Union Middle & High School.”
Portrait of Robert Baxter with text: “Welcome Robert Baxter, Instructional Assistant, Fair Haven Union Middle & High School.”
Portrait of Zachary Belden with text: “Welcome Zachary Belden, Study Hall Monitor, Fair Haven Union Middle & High School.”
Portrait of Alexander Chirgwin with text: “Welcome Alexander Chirgwin, Middle School Math Teacher, Fair Haven Union Middle & High School.”
Portrait of Sarah Mahood-Wormuth with text: “Welcome Sarah Mahood-Wormuth, Special Education Teacher, Fair Haven Union Middle & High School.”
Portrait of Gabrielle Whitty with text: “Welcome Gabrielle Whitty, Instructional Assistant, Fair Haven Union Middle & High School.”
🎶✨ “We Ready!” ✨🎶
Slate Valley faculty & staff are pumped to welcome back our amazing students this week! #WeAreSlateValley #BackToSchool #WeReady
See our video at: https://www.facebook.com/share/r/1CdPHhQrHx/
or
https://www.instagram.com/reel/DNwfSiVYvDY/?utm_source=ig_web_button_share_sheet&igsh=ZDNlZDc0MzIxNw==
2 months ago, Slate Valley
Group of Slate Valley faculty and staff smiling in a hallway, holding colorful painted canvases with the letters "R" and "A" as part of a back-to-school celebration.
🎨✨ On Friday, during Inservice, every Slate Valley faculty and staff member came together for a powerful group art project.

Each table received a canvas—some with hidden letters—tasked with one simple rule: cover it completely with color. Every Slate Valley member added at least one brushstroke, symbolizing our shared commitment. The letters were revealed and brought together to spell out the phrase:

“We Are Slate Valley.” 💫

In every splatter of paint, every dab of color, and every stroke of life, our faculty and staff captured a shared truth: no matter the distractions or challenges beyond our control, we will continue to show up fully for the students who show up for us every day.

This art piece is more than just decoration—it’s our collective promise. The completed canvases will be displayed throughout Slate Valley school buildings as a reminder of the strength, unity, and dedication of our Slate Valley family. 💙
2 months ago, Slate Valley
Group of people painting letters on canvases together at a table.
Two women smiling while painting on a paper plate with bright colors.
Group of women painting designs on a canvas at a shared table.
Two women painting a colorful canvas with others around the table.
Group working together on a shared painting, adding colors with brushes.
Two women painting a vibrant canvas with brushes at a table.
Woman smiling and painting with others at a colorful group art activity.
Woman focused on painting colorful designs on a canvas.
Woman peeling tape from a painted canvas while others watch.
Group lined up in the gym holding painted canvases that spell “We are Slate Valley.”
First day vibes! Our Slate Valley faculty & staff officially kicked off the school year on Friday, August 22nd with Opening Day Inservice—full of laughs, hugs, summer stories, and lots of catching up. Here's some photos from a great day with great people. 💙
2 months ago, Slate Valley
Two men wearing lanyards sit together at a table in a gymnasium, smiling at the camera.
A young woman and an older man sit at a table in a gymnasium, smiling and talking with others seated around them.
Two women sit at a table smiling, one holding a fork with fruit and the other with colorful tumblers. A laptop with stickers is on the table in front of them.
Three women smile while sitting together at a table in a gymnasium. Two are seated with plates of food, and one stands behind them wearing a yellow shirt with the word "Mentor." The background shows blue gym wall padding with large white letters.
Five people sit together at a long table in a gymnasium during a school event. They are smiling at the camera, with laptops and tumblers in front of them. Other attendees can be seen seated at tables in the background.
Two women smile and stand side by side in a gymnasium, both wearing denim jackets over long floral dresses with Slate Valley lanyards around their necks.
Three women stand at a table looking at Slate Valley Unified School District folders and pens. One woman in a pink shirt reaches for an item, while the others observe and smile.
Four women sit at a table during a school event, smiling at the camera with plates of food, drinks, and bags in front of them. Other attendees are visible in the background.
A group of five women sit and smile at a table during a school event, with notebooks, food, and drinks in front of them, while more people gather in the background.
Man and woman gather Slate Valley materials from a table with pens, folders, and tote bags, smiling and engaged.
At Slate Valley’s Opening Day Inservice, three special awards were presented to individuals who embody the heart of our district and consistently go above and beyond their duties. 🌟

🏆 SVUUSD Executive Board Awards were given to the Orwell Village School PBIS Team and to Mrs. Cynthia Hutchins, Fair Haven Grade School’s dedicated Music Teacher.

🏅 The SVUUSD Special Service Award was presented to Carrieann Wolcott, Slate Valley’s committed Home–School Coordinator.

👏 Congratulations to all of our honorees—thank you for your passion, service, and unwavering dedication to our students and community!
3 months ago, Slate Valley
Three women smiling and standing next to a man on their left. The woman in the middle holds an award plaque.
Two women stand together smiling; one holds a plaque award while the other has their arm around her.
Three women smiling and standing together. The one in the middle holds an award plaque, while the other two women have their arms around the middle woman's back.
During our Opening Day Inservice, Slate Valley Unified Union School District proudly celebrated our Instructional Assistants of the Year. 🌟

These outstanding IAs truly represent the heart of our classrooms—offering support, encouragement, and care that help students grow and thrive every single day.

We are deeply grateful for all they do. Congratulations on this well-deserved recognition! 👏💙

Picture are:
Taylor Coloutti - IA at Castleton Elementary School
Annie Bartholomew - IA at Fair Haven Grade School
Alicia Bouzianis - IA at Orwell Village School
Ashley Bruce - IA at Fair Haven Union Middle and High School
Colleen Howard - IA at Benson Village School
3 months ago, Slate Valley
Two women stand together smiling; one holds a plaque while the other has their arm around her.
Two women stand together smiling; one holds a plaque and both have their arms around each other.
A man and woman smile while holding a plaque award together inside a gymnasium.
Two women stand together smiling; one holds a plaque and both have their arms around each other.
Two women stand together smiling holding a plaque award in a gymnasium.
At our Opening Day Inservice, Slate Valley Unified Union School District proudly celebrated this year’s Teachers of the Year, along with two educators honored with the prestigious UVM Outstanding Teacher Awards. 🏆

👏 Congratulations to all recipients! These well-deserved honors reflect the hard work, passion, and dedication to students you demonstrate every day.

Pictured are:

UVM Outstanding Teacher and SVUUSD Teacher of the Year: Mr. Kyle Ruby - History Teacher at FHUHS

UVM Outstanding Teacher: Ms. Amanda Eddy - Special Education Teacher at BVS

SVUUSD Teacher of the Year: Ms. Makayla Ackert - Kindergarten Teacher at BVS

SVUUSD Teacher of the Year: Mrs. Patty-Ann Holden - Grade 5 Teacher at OVS

SVUUSD Teacher of the Year: Mr. Parth Patel - Physical Education Teacher at FHGS

SVUUSD Teacher of the Year: Mrs. Andrea Gorruso - Grade 3 Teacher at CES
3 months ago, Slate Valley
Two men stand together smiling; one holds a plaque award while the other has his arm around him.
Two women stand together smiling; one holds a plaque award while the other has their arm around her.
Two women stand together smiling; one holds a plaque award while the other has their arm around her.
A man and woman smile while holding a plaque award together inside a gymnasium.
A man holding a plaque stands next to a smiling woman in a gymnasium.
A woman holding a plaque stands next to a smiling man in a gymnasium.
Slate Valley District Newsletter: August 22, 2025
https://mailchi.mp/7cc8c55d6a27/slate-valley-district-newsletter-august-22-2025
3 months ago, Slate Valley
Slate Valley Unified USD newsletter dated August 22, 2025, with the district logo at the top. Below is a colorful “Back to School” graphic with stars, a smiley face, and a backpack. The headline reads “It’s That Time!” followed by a welcome message about the start of the school year, excitement from teachers and staff, and thanks to custodians for preparing clean, safe buildings.
🎉✨ Slate Valley is officially back in action! Today marked our Opening Inservice Day with all district faculty and staff filling the high school gym.

The morning was packed with energy — we welcomed new employees, celebrated award recipients, and capped it all off with a special district-wide art project (can’t wait to share more about that soon!).

In the afternoon, teams headed to their buildings for meetings and collaboration to kick off the year strong.

It’s shaping up to be an exciting year — stay tuned for more updates! 💙💚
3 months ago, Slate Valley
A large group of teachers and staff sit at tables in a school gymnasium during a district-wide meeting, facing a presentation screen at the front.

Today was Slate Valley's 2025-2026 Fall Special Education Training at Castleton Elementary School.

The district's Special Education staff attended this full-day session which included updates on district initiatives, resources for special educators, Medicaid program changes, mentoring supports, and strategies to improve outcomes for all learners. Educators also explored high-leverage math practices with Glenn Patterson from the VT Agency of Education.

It was a wonderful day of learning and collaboration!

3 months ago, Slate Valley
Educators sit at tables with laptops, listening to a presenter speaking at the front of a school cafeteria.
Educators sit at tables with laptops, listening to a presenter speaking at the front of a school cafeteria.
August 20th FHUMS Newsletter: https://secure.smore.com/n/d1hf0
3 months ago, Slate Valley
Screenshot of the Fair Haven Union Middle School Newsletter dated August 20, 2025. The header has a teal background with the school’s name in large white letters. A small image on the right says “Welcome back!” The text begins with a Note from the Middle School Principal addressed to students and families, reminding them about an informational email and summer mailing. Highlighted events include: Grades 7–12 Fall Kick Off on Wednesday, August 20 at 6 PM at FHUMHS, sponsored by the Booster Club, with snacks, an informational meeting at 6:15, and athletics overview followed by team info. Middle School Open House on Monday, August 25 from 5:30–6:30 PM, with families asked to arrive at 5:15 to tour the school, find lockers, view schedules, and meet teachers. The newsletter also introduces two new teachers: Alex Chirgwin, 7th Grade Math, and Alexandra Foley-Bowen, Health 7–12. It welcomes new nurses at FHUMHS: Angela Allard and Claire Officer, both experienced in the district but new to the building. Closing notes mention teachers returning on August 22 for three professional development days, and highlight unique middle school activities such as rafting, lifetime activities, and student-led conferences.
🎒✨ FHUMS Open House! ✨🎒
📅 Monday, August 25th
🕠 5:30–6:30 PM

➡️ Pick up supply lists, forms, and 2025–26 schedules
➡️ Find your locker & tour the middle school
➡️ Meet your teachers & visit classrooms

💡 Middle school only — high school Open House will be in September!

We can’t wait to see you there! 💙
3 months ago, Slate Valley
Flyer for Fair Haven Union Middle School (FHUMS) Open House. The top banner features the FHU Middle School logo with bunting decorations. Large text reads “Open House” with the date Monday, August 25th and time 5:30–6:30 pm in green circles. The flyer highlights: “Copies of supply lists, forms, and 2025–26 student schedules will be available!” Other features include: “Find your locker and tour the middle school spaces” with a locker icon, and “Check out your classrooms and meet your teachers!” with a desk and chair graphic. Illustrations of a backpack and notebooks are included. At the bottom, a drawing of a school building labeled “F.H.U.M.S.” is shown. Text below reads: “High School Open House will be held at a later date in September. This night is for Middle School only!”
Slate Valley Kicks Off the Year with their New Teacher Orientation!

The day began with refreshments, a warm welcome from Superintendent Brooke Olsen-Farrell, and introductions to our five schools. Presenters from the Business Office, Educators’ Association, Special Education, Mentoring, MTSS, and more provided key overviews and resources to support our new team members. Teachers also had time for tech setup, curriculum deep-dives, and connecting with mentors over lunch.

We are excited to welcome these new educators to our Slate Valley community and wish them a great start to the school year! 💙🍎

3 months ago, Slate Valley
A group of adults is seated in a school gymnasium, attending a meeting or training session. Tables are arranged in a U-shape, with papers, drinks, and white gift bags placed in front of participants. At the front of the room, a woman in a gray Slate Valley T-shirt speaks to the group while standing near a podium. A large agenda is projected onto the wall behind her, and an American flag hangs nearby. Colorful murals decorate the walls, and attendees are listening attentively.
A large group of adults sits at tables arranged in a U-shape inside a school gymnasium for a meeting or training session. A woman wearing a Slate Valley T-shirt stands at the front, speaking to the group. Attendees are listening attentively, with papers, pens, and white gift bags in front of them on the tables. Some participants are seated in folding chairs, while a few others stand in the back near colorful murals painted on the walls. A basketball hoop and stacked cafeteria tables are visible in the background, indicating a multipurpose school space.
A close-up of a young woman with blonde hair tied in a ponytail, wearing a brown polka-dot top and an SVUSD lanyard. She is seated at a table with a white gift bag featuring the Slate Valley logo and a reusable water bottle in front of her. In the background, other bags and a projector are visible on a table, indicating a classroom or meeting setting.
Two women are pictured in a classroom or meeting space. One woman, standing on the left, wears a white poncho over a blue patterned dress and has a lanyard with an ID badge around her neck. She is looking to the side with her hands in her pockets. The woman on the right, seated at a table, is smiling and wearing a colorful rainbow-striped crocheted sweater. On the table in front of them are white gift bags and papers. A “Choking” safety poster is visible on the wall in the background.
A woman in a cream-colored top and lanyard hands a paper to another woman seated at a table, who is wearing glasses and a light blue shirt. Another person with long blonde hair sits beside her, facing forward. In the background, a man in a light blue shirt looks down at a paper while standing at a separate table. The room has school posters on the walls, including a large black poster with yellow eyes, and an American flag is displayed. White bags and papers are spread across the tables where participants are seated.
A group of adults sit at tables listening to a woman standing at the front of the room giving a presentation. The woman, wearing a pink polo shirt and denim shorts with a lanyard around her neck, gestures with both hands while speaking. Participants are seated with papers, pens, and bags on the tables in front of them, paying attention to the presenter. The setting appears to be a classroom or meeting room with beige walls and wooden doors in the background.
Several adults sit at tables in a classroom or meeting space, attentively facing forward during a session. They have papers, pens, water bottles, and white bags with the Slate Valley logo on the table in front of them. A woman in glasses and a ponytail is in the foreground, holding a red pen. Other participants are seated in a row, some leaning forward with hands clasped. In the background, a person wearing a Slate Valley shirt and lanyard stands and smiles near a refreshment table. Posters and signs decorate the walls.
Three adults are standing and talking in a school hallway near a table. The person on the left is wearing a gray Vermont T-shirt and lanyard, the person in the middle is holding a tablet and wearing a green shirt, and the person on the right is holding a closed laptop and wearing a light blue button-down shirt. In the background, two women are conversing near a laptop; one is wearing a colorful striped sweater. The setting includes cream-colored walls, posters, and a hallway extending behind them.
Two adults are engaged in conversation inside a school cafeteria. The person on the left, with long dark hair in a ponytail and wearing a black T-shirt, is listening attentively. The person on the right, wearing a white dress shirt, light blue tie, and khaki pants, is speaking while gesturing with his hands. He has a blue lanyard around his neck. The background shows a beige wall, door, and classroom furnishings.
Three adults are gathered around a table working collaboratively. A woman on the left is smiling while seated at a laptop. In the center, another woman is writing on a sticky note placed on her laptop, with a phone and charger on the table in front of her. A man on the right leans over to observe. The background shows additional people conversing near tables, with an American flag visible on the wall. The setting is in a school cafeteria..