
The following changes have been made to the FHUHS practice schedule for 1/7 & 1/8:
4-5:30 pm Cheer practice in the band room
6:15-7:45 pm V Boy Basketball practice

Good morning,
Please be aware of the following bus change:
Bus 6 - As of Monday, 1/11/21, Bus 6 will no longer run in Castleton. Those students who currently ride Bus 6 will ride either Bus 7 or Bus 8. We should know which students will be on Bus 7 and which will be on Bus 8 before the end of the week. We will let you know as soon as we know details from the bus company.

Slate Valley Unified School District is seeking temporary part-time Custodians, up to 25 hours per week, during the COVID pandemic to maintain the cleanliness of the school facilities as well as 1 regular part-time Custodian 20 hours per week. Custodial experience preferred.
For additional information, contact Chris Cole, Director of Operations at 265-4905 or email ccole@svuvt.org.
This position will remain open until filled. E O E

First winter practices are right around the corner! Here is the FHUHS Winter Sports Practice Schedule for the week of 1/4-1/8:
Bowling @ Rutland Bowlerama 3-4:30 pm / bus departure 2:30 pm. Monday and Thursday only!
JVB & JV Boys Basketball @ 2:30 - 3:45 pm
JV & V Girls Basketball Practice @ 4:15 - 5:45 pm
Cheer @ 6:15-7:30 pm
V Boys Basketball @ 8-9:30 pm
Practice schedules will be available via the FHUHS Athletic Calendar on our website and will be updated on a weekly basis.
Athletes should arrive ready to practice no earlier than 10 minutes prior to their practice time slot. All athletes will be screened upon arrival to practice. Anyone who does not pass screening will be sent home immediately.
FormReleaf is still open for anyone interested in participating in a winter sport this season. Registration will close on January 3rd. Please make sure to register prior to the deadline and be sure to bring an up to date physical with you to the first practice if your physical is expired (14 months or older). Anyone not registered or with an out of date physical will not be allowed to participate.

Test your knowledge of Slater trivia with this quiz: https://bit.ly/2WF2mrN

Governor Scott announced updates today during the press conference in regards to the start of winter sports and multi-family gatherings.
Fair Haven Union High School (9-12) will begin non-contact winter sports practices on January 4th, 2021. The complete practice schedule will be available our FHUHS Athletic Calendar in the coming days.
FormReleaf registrations will remain open until January 3rd for anyone interested in participating in a winter sport. If you have any questions on how to register, please contact Activities Director, Ali Morgan, at amorgan@svuvt.org. If you are not registered prior to the due date or if you do not have an updated physical (within the last 14 months) on file with the school nurse, it may affect your ability to participate.
Please make sure to follow the newest executive order from the AOE in regards to multi family gatherings and travel. Students traveling out-of-state over the holiday break, or at any other point in time, must follow ACCD and Department of Health guidance around quarantine before returning to school; the same quarantine requirements also applies to participating in any school- based activity, including sports.
Out-of-state travel currently requires a mandatory quarantine
upon return. More information is available on the Vermont Department of Health’s COVID-19 travel site.

Dear Slate Valley Community Member,
On 12-22-20 we learned about a person with Coronavirus Disease at the Fair Haven Union High School. This person was not in attendance while contagious and therefore no special actions need to be taken. We recommend that you take action to help limit the spread of COVID-19, even if your child is not experiencing symptoms. This is especially true going into the holiday break and knowing the virus is in our communities.
Please read the full letter from Superintendent Olsen-Farrell with links to resources here: https://5il.co/o60d

Based off of Governor Scott’s press conference today, winter sports will continue to be on “pause” until further notice.
It is not too late to sign up for winter sports! The FormReleaf online registration deadline has been extended until January 3rd, 2021.
The updated 20-21 basketball game schedules have been released and can be found on our website through the FHUHS Athletic Calendar.

Reminder! Tonight (December 14, 2020)
You’re invited to the Slate Valley Unified Union School District Board meeting at 6:30 p.m.
Participation will be VIRTUAL ONLY. Connect by going to http:// meet.google.com/srb-bmfc-qwa OR BY CALLING (US) +1 320-416-1017 PIN: 600 914 747#
Tonight’s Agenda: https://5il.co/nw73

Substitute Teachers 2020-2021 Vacancies Slate Valley Unified Union School District is seeking Substitute Teachers for the 2020-2021 school year for an hourly rate of $15.00.
For the weeks of January 4th - 15th - anyone who substitutes in Slate Valley will be paid $15 per hour plus $30 a day bonus for each day they work.
All applicants must apply on https://www.schoolspring.com/. Positions will remain open until filled. EOE

Dear Slate Valley Families,
We have been fielding questions today about the possibility of Slate Valley going remote after December break as many of our neighboring districts have decided to go remote for a period of time beginning January 4th. While that is something that is always on the table should the data specific to Slate Valley indicate that it is appropriate, we do not have data in Slate Valley that would support that move at this time. As such, our intent is to remain in person as we return on January 4th. I continue to believe that in person learning is what is best for students, staff and our communities.
Our schools are some of the safest places for students and staff to be as we carefully follow the health and safety guidance. Of course student and staff safety is always our priority and we will adjust as the data indicates, but going remote is the very last thing we want to do. We continue to encourage students, staff and families to follow Vermont’s Health and Safety Guidance. If everyone continues to do their part, we will get through this together.
As always, please reach out if you have any questions.
Best,
Brooke Farrell, Superintendent

Reminder! Tonight (December 7, 2020)
You’re invited to the Slate Valley Unified Union School District Board meeting at 6:30 p.m.
Participation will be VIRTUAL ONLY. Connect by going to http://meet.google.com/pcg-apgw-ehr or by calling (US) +1 929-279-3293 PIN: 353 796 419#
Tonight’s Agenda: https://5il.co/nhqo
Previous Meeting Minutes: https://5il.co/ng0u
Upcoming Meetings:
December 14, 2020 - SV Board Meeting, 6:30 p.m. (FHUHS)
December 14, 2020 - SV Building & Grounds Meeting, 5:30 p.m. (FHUHS)
December 14, 2020 - SV Policy Meeting, 5:30 p.m. (FHUHS)


Governor Scott reiterated today during his weekly press conference that winter sports will remain on “hold” until further notice. Winter sports will be re-evaluated again on December 11th.
The FormReleaf registration due date has been extended to December 20th.

Dear Slate Valley Families,
I know that the new Executive Order from the Governor has been confusing to navigate. First, please understand that an Executive Order from the Governor is law and we must as a school district follow it. In the very simplest of terms this order means that "except for school, students should only be having contact with immediate household members and/or caregivers as needed for parents to work. No visiting between friends/families outside of school is currently allowable and will result in quarantine." This will be in effect for the foreseeable future; we are expecting at least through mid-January.
There is a Frequently Asked Questions document from the State of Vermont which should help answer some of your questions and give you more details. Please click on the link to read the document.
Frequently Asked Questions https://5il.co/nkuv
If you have additional questions please contact the Vermont Department of Health. (802)863-7240, option 0
As of this moment we will not be including a question on multi-household gatherings in our screening process as we do not want to put our students in difficult situations. Instead we are asking that parents be honest and keep their children home to access learning remotely if they have violated this Executive Order. Please find the Executive Order linked below:
Executive Order https://5il.co/nkus
We fully recognize this is difficult but need your help to keep our schools open. If we find that students are not following the guidelines and then attending school, it may force us to move to remote learning. We know that is not what is best for our families and students and as such do not want to have to make that decision.
Sincerely,
Brooke Farrell, Superintendent

Reminder - You’re invited!
Slate Valley School Board Members are hosting a week of Virtual Listening Tours beginning tonight (November 30th).
Currently the board is exploring a plan for district reorganization that would include the consolidation of all district middle school students to the high school beginning with the 2022-2023 school year. This would result in the closure or educational repurposing of Castleton Village School. Sixth grade students in Castleton would then attend Castleton Elementary School. To address low enrollment of middle school students in Benson Village School, the board is considering in-district school choice (with transportation) for 7th and 8th grade students for the 2021-2022 school year.
Listening tours are an opportunity to have a conversation with your board members. Please join board members at 6 p.m. to discuss district reorganization on the following dates:
Nov. 30th with Tanya, Angela (West Haven) https://meet.google.com/bsc-wcrm-zbw or join by phone (US) +1 929-287-3647 (PIN: 876141866)
Nov. 30th with Josh, Christine (Hubbardton) https://meet.google.com/piw-sqjk-crt or join by phone (US) +1 470-208-3216 (PIN: 271699166)
Dec. 1st with Tim, Julie, Toni (Castleton) https://meet.google.com/byi-qppv-qgq or join by phone (US) +1 515-518-4964 (PIN: 853077567)
Dec. 2nd with Peter, Glen, John (Orwell) https://meet.google.com/viq-uxim-get?hs=122&authuser=0 or join by phone (US) +1 218-296-8729 (PIN: 318 417 490#)
Dec. 2nd with Mike, Rick Tara (Fair Haven) https://meet.google.com/cjv-qqvq-fhe or join by phone (US) +1 601-909-0134 (PIN: 703665728)
Dec. 3rd with Pati, Becky, Beckah (Benson) https://meet.google.com/ezx-zxdi-zct or join by phone (US) +1 605-777-0574 (PIN: 127269244)


Good Morning Slate Valley Families,
I would like to follow-up on the District letter from yesterday. I know yesterday’s news from the Governor was hard for all of us to digest and left many of us feeling unsettled right before an upcoming holiday. Put simply, schools are compelled to follow the state guidelines and executive orders from the Governor.
Our intent is to return to in-person learning on Monday November 30th, however it is undoubtedly becoming more and more difficult due to the increasing restrictions. Given that, the State has told schools that students who attend multi-house gatherings that are not in accordance with the Governor’s Executive Order (https://governor.vermont.gov/sites/scott/files/documents/ADDENDUM%208%20TO%20AMENDED%20AND%20RESTATED%20EXECUTIVE%20ORDER%2001-20_0.pdf) may not attend in person school without quarantining for 7-14 days. Therefore, we ask that if your child has attended a multi-house gathering that goes against the Executive Order that they NOT attend school in-person on Monday the 30th. Instead it is expected that they observe the 7-14 day quarantine and engage in learning remotely.
We have said time and time again that in-person learning is what is best for our students, staff and community. Schools are some of the safest places in terms of the virus as we follow the health guidance closely. Furthermore, please note that these new rules put our staff in an untenable position that isn’t of the schools’ making. We care deeply about the wellbeing of our students and staff and ask that if you are upset by the current rules that you contact the state and not take it out on our staff. We are simply trying to do our best for all at a very difficult time.
I would ask that you speak with your building principal if you have any questions or know your child needs to attend remotely beginning on the 30th.
All the best,
Brooke Farrell, Superintendent

Based on Governor Scott's press conference this morning, winter sports are being put on "pause" until further notice. This will be re-evaluated on a weekly basis.
Winter sports practices will not start on November 30th as previously stated. Once there is an official start date, information in regards to practice schedules will be released.
The deadline for winter sports registrations through FormReleaf has now been extended until December 6th.

You’re invited!
Slate Valley School Board Members are hosting a week of Virtual Listening Tours beginning on November 30th.
Currently the board is exploring a plan for district reorganization that would include the consolidation of all district middle school students to the high school beginning with the 2022-2023 school year. This would result in the closure or educational repurposing of Castleton Village School. Sixth grade students in Castleton would then attend Castleton Elementary School. To address low enrollment of middle school students in Benson Village School, the board is considering in-district school choice (with transportation) for 7th and 8th grade students for the 2021-2022 school year.
Listening tours are an opportunity to have a conversation with your board members. Please join board members at 6 p.m. to discuss district reorganization on the following dates:
Nov. 30th with Tanya, Angela (West Haven) https://meet.google.com/bsc-wcrm-zbw or join by phone (US) +1 929-287-3647 (PIN: 876141866)
Nov. 30th with Josh, Christine (Hubbardton) https://meet.google.com/piw-sqjk-crt or join by phone (US) +1 470-208-3216 (PIN: 271699166)
Dec. 1st with Tim, Julie, Toni (Castleton) https://meet.google.com/byi-qppv-qgq or join by phone (US) +1 515-518-4964 (PIN: 853077567)
Dec. 2nd with Peter, Glen, John (Orwell) https://meet.google.com/viq-uxim-get?hs=122&authuser=0 or join by phone (US) +1 218-296-8729 (PIN: 318 417 490#)
Dec. 2nd with Mike, Rick Tara (Fair Haven) https://meet.google.com/cjv-qqvq-fhe or join by phone (US) +1 601-909-0134 (PIN: 703665728)


Update from Governor Phil Scott’s press conference today:
The start of school sports for the winter season is postponed until further notice. The state of Vermont will assess information weekly to consider when the start to this season will begin.
The governor expressed the following during his remarks, “I hope adults realize the need to sacrifice to give our kids these experiences and keep them in school as much as possible.”
Schools are being encouraged to inquire about participation in multi-family gatherings during Thanksgiving Break. If a staff member is made aware of participation in a multi-family gathering that person may have to quarantine for 7-14 days.

Reminder! Tonight (November 23, 2020)
You’re invited to the Slate Valley Unified Union School District Board meeting at 6:30 p.m.
Participation will be VIRTUAL ONLY. Connect by going to http://meet.google.com/dtb-pfqk-hrp or by calling (US) +1 414-909-6054 PIN: 721 315 535#
Tonight’s Agenda: https://5il.co/n63m
Previous Meeting Minutes: https://5il.co/n0de
Upcoming Meetings:
December 7, 2020 - SV Board Meeting, 6:30 p.m.
December 7, 2020 - SV Finance Meeting, 5:30 p.m.
December 14, 2020 - SV Board Meeting, 6:30 p.m.
December 14, 2020 - SV Building & Grounds Meeting, 5:30 p.m.
December 14, 2020 - SV Policy Meeting, 5:30 p.m.
