Fair Haven Union Early College senior Dean Dugan had an unforgettable first visit to the Vermont State House on May 2nd during TRIO Day—a day when the Legislature formally recognizes programs like Upward Bound that support college access and success.
Dean stood with fellow TRIO students as the Legislature passed a resolution honoring the impact of these programs. It was a powerful moment to be recognized on the House floor.
Even more memorable were the personal connections Dean made with Vermont’s elected officials. He had the chance to meet and speak with:
Senator Brian Collamore
Secretary of the Senate John Bloomer Jr.
Lieutenant Governor John Rodgers
Governor Phil Scott
Representative Bill Canfield
Representative Zak Harvey—a proud Fair Haven alum!
Thank you to the officials who took time to connect with our students and show support for the TRIO mission.
(Photos and information submitted by Julie Finnegan, SVUUSD School Board Chair and Director of Upward Bound at Vermont State University – Castleton Campus.)
Trivia Tuesday: Do You Know 3rd Grade Math? In Vermont, all students in grades 3 through 9 take the Cognia assessments in English Language Arts (ELA) and mathematics, while students in grades 5, 8, and 11 are also assessed in science. These tests are administered each spring, and although they are untimed, students must complete them within the designated testing window.
Assessment results are not available until the fall, after the new school year begins. Recently, there has been a lot of discussion about our students' performance on these assessments.
To better understand what our students experience during testing, we invite you to try a few questions from the 3rd grade math Cognia practice test. Keep in mind that students complete these tests on their Chromebooks, which means they must navigate the math tools, scroll and move around a small screen, and once they submit an answer, they cannot go back to change it.
Want to explore more practice tests? Visit: https://vermont.onlinehelp.cognia.org/practice-test/
This past weekend, FHU Band proudly took part in two exciting musical performances!
On Saturday, May 3rd, 27 talented FHU band students performed at the first annual Bloom event in Fair Haven Town Park.
Then, on Sunday, May 4th, the FHU Marching Band brought their energy and spirit to the 62nd Annual Rutland Loyalty Day Parade. Despite the rain, the music was powerful, and spirits were high—everyone had a great time!
A huge thank-you to everyone who came out to support the FHU bands this weekend. Don’t miss your next chance to see them live at our Spring Concert on Tuesday, May 6th at 6:30 PM in the FHUMHS Gym!
A huge congratulations to Gabe Bache on his induction into the National Football Foundation Hall of Fame this weekend! What an incredible honor and well-deserved recognition!
Message from Athletic Director Eric Ramey:
Today's varsity softball game between Hartford @ Fair Haven has been postponed. We have not yet rescheduled.
Coaches will communicate the practice plan to the team.
Varsity Baseball @ Middlebury has been postponed.
We have not yet rescheduled.
Coaches will communicate the practice plan to the team.
JV Baseball vs Middlebury was previously postponed. We have not yet rescheduled.
Coaches will communicate the practice plans to each team for the day.
As we approach the end of the 2024–2025 school year, we invite you to take a moment to review our upcoming end-of-year events. We look forward to celebrating our students’ accomplishments together and hope to see you there!
Thank you to all Slate Valley faculty and staff - You are truly the heart and soul of our district!
MEET Faculty & Staff MONDAY:
This month, we’re excited to feature Jared Danyow!
Jared is currently in his fifth year working in the Slate Valley Unified Union School District, all at Fair HavenGrade School (FHGS), and has spent ten years in public education overall.
Before joining Slate Valley, Jaredworked in several Vermont schools, including in the Rutland Northeast and Mount Abraham Unified School Districts, serving as a teacher, behavior interventionist, and paraeducator.
Starting next school year, Jared will be stepping into a new role as the principal of Castleton ElementarySchool!
Outside of school, Jared enjoys a wide variety of activities. He loves listening to music and attending concerts, running and competing in races, playing golf, hiking, reading good books, traveling to new places, and trying new foods. He also enjoys spending time with his golden retriever, Magnolia, and his orange cat, Winston.
We wish Jared all the best next year in his new Principal position!
Bravo to The Slater Theater Program for a powerful performance of 12 Angry Jurors last night! Your talent and dedication lit up the stage. A heartfelt thank you to all the parents and community members who came out to support—your presence made the night even more special!
Slate Valley District Newsletter: Week of May 2, 2025
https://mailchi.mp/4b6708e10e6e/slate-valley-newsletter-may-2nd
Class of 2025 Project Graduation Information
In celebration of Green Up Day, students from Fair Haven Union Middle and High School went above and beyond by cleaning up around their school, residing town and extending their efforts to neighboring towns. They assisted local businesses and residents with spring projects—from painting fences to raking leaves—taking great pride in making Slater Nation shine.
This week, students in the FHUHS Outdoor Pursuits class took full advantage of the beautiful weather. Half the group continued crafting their canoe oars, carefully sanding and applying shellac in preparation for paddling on local waterways in the weeks ahead. Meanwhile, the other half explored the early signs of spring, observing blossoms, sketching them in their journals, and labeling the different parts of each flower.
Help Us Collect Slater Spring Sports Photos!
We need your help capturing the energy, excitement, and unforgettable moments of our spring sports season! From big plays and team huddles to spirited fans in the stands, your photos help tell the story of our amazing student-athletes and school community.
We’re gathering photos from Fair Haven Union Middle and High School (FHUMHS) Spring Sports teams to feature on our district websites and social media. It’s a great way to showcase the talent, hard work, and school pride of our Slaters!
How to Share Your Photos:
Look for flyers posted on dugouts and fence lines around the high school.
Simply scan the QR code to access the submission form.
Or go directly to: https://bit.ly/SlaterSportsPhotos
Tip: Save the link on your phone so it’s ready to go at your next game or meet!
📸 Thank you for helping us highlight and celebrate student achievements throughout the district!
Note: A Gmail account is required to upload photos.
🌼 🌷A heartfelt thank you to retired doctor Pete Diercksen, who generously donates his time and care to keep the flower beds at Fair Haven Union Middle & High School, Castleton Elementary School, and many other local spots beautiful and thriving. Your dedication and kindness brighten our community in more ways than one! 🌷🌸
🎭 Tomorrow night, Friday, May 2, 2025, the FHUMHS Slater Theater Program proudly presents 12 Angry Jurors by Reginald Rose, stage version by Sherman L. Sergel at 7:00 PM in the FHUMHS Gym. Admission is free — donations welcome to support the arts!
Today, Fair Haven Union Middle and High School hosted a successful Career Fair, welcoming all of our high school students as well as students from neighboring schools including Poultney, West Rutland, and Mill River! There were over 45 companies in attendance! A huge thank you to our Work-Based Learning teacher, Ms. Eliza Lebrun, for organizing this impactful event and helping students explore their future pathways!
We are thrilled to announce the 2024-25 All-Star and All-Opponent team selections for our winter sports, along with the Burlington Free Press selections. We are proud to recognize the achievements of our student-athletes, as their hard work, dedication, and teamwork have made this season one to remember.
Congratulations to the following athletes:
2024-25 SVL Wrestling All-Star Team Selection(s):
First Team: Cole Belden
Second Team: Anthony Szabo, Gabe Bache
Honorable Mentions: Logan Knipes, Liam Robinson
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2024-25 SVL Co-ed Bowling All-Star Team Selection(s):
First Team: George Stamp, Emma Eckler
Second Team: Korbin Hayes
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2024-25 Indoor Track State Champions:
Men's Division 2 Weight Throw State Champion: Caden Lynch
Women's Division 2 Weight Throw State Champion: Rowan Kuehn
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2024-25 SVL Girls A Division Basketball All-Opponent Team Selection(s):
First Team: Kate Hadwen, Izzy Cole
Second Team: Maddy Perry, Victoria Kelly
We would like to congratulate Head Coach Kyle Wilson for being named SVL A Division Girls Basketball Coach of the Year!
Additionally, we are pleased to extend our sincere congratulations to Kate Hadwen, who has been selected to the Burlington Free Press All-State Girls Basketball Second Team. Throughout the season, Kate averaged 14.2 points, 5.4 rebounds, 3.4 assists, and 2 steals per game. She has committed to continuing her academic and athletic career at SUNY Cobleskill. We commend Kate for her dedication, outstanding performance, and for earning this well-deserved recognition.
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2024-25 SVL Boys B Division Basketball All-Opponent Team Selection(s):
First Team: Phil Bean
Second Team: Max Kyhill, Andrew Barker
We are pleased to extend our sincere congratulations to Phil Bean, who has been selected to the Burlington Free Press All-State Boys Basketball Second Team. Throughout the season, Phil averaged 19 points and 13 rebounds per game this year, and had an outstanding four-year career in which he amassed 1,000 points and 772 rebounds for the Slaters. We commend Phil for his remarkable achievements and congratulate him on receiving this well-deserved honor.
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Thank you to our coaches, families, and fans for your continued support, and congratulations again to all our student-athletes for their outstanding performances this season!
