Orwell Village School

Dear Slate Valley Families, We have been through a lot this year and over the last four years as a Slate Valley Community. In the past four years we have experienced a threat to school safety and COVID-19. As a result, anxiety has increased for some of our staff, students and community members. The safety, social and emotional wellbeing of students, staff and our community continue to be priorities for Slate Valley as we move towards recovery. As we move forward with recovery from the pandemic, we are also faced with the potential release of a person who threatened staff and students at Fair Haven Union High School. In 2018, the individual who threatened FHU was adjudicated as a youthful offender, a designation for a defendant under the age of 22 and facing charges within the adult criminal justice system. Youthful offender status only follows an individual through their 22nd birthday, which this individual will turn this year. In some cases these individuals are reintegrated into the community or area prior to the regulation of their youthful offender status. When someone is adjudicated as a youthful offender, information about that individual's whereabouts, treatment, or possible consequences cannot be shared. In this case the Department of Corrections and Department of Children/Families have joint oversight of this individual until his 22nd birthday which is in August. I pride myself on being able to accurately communicate when I have knowledge of matters which may impact our community, but in this case I don’t have any additional information. I have repeatedly asked for the information and have been denied access to the information. I have been left to assume there is a likelihood that this individual could return to Vermont in the very near future. If I did have the information, you would have the information as well. Although I know I don’t have specific information on this one individual, I do know that we have been doing great work in terms of school safety and we will continue to be vigilant as a school community. If at any time you have concerns directly related to this individual or any safety concern, please contact local law enforcement. They take these calls very seriously and will promptly look into concerns. I am fully aware of the anxiety that this may cause some of you on top of COVID-19. However, I felt the need to bring it to your attention as I believe you have the right to know as much as possible. Again, the safety, social and emotional wellbeing of students, staff and our community are the priorities for Slate Valley. Below you can find contact information for those agencies or individuals you can contact if you are in need of support: Students can contact their school counselors and other school support by calling the individual schools. To access community based support for mental health issues, please call Rutland Mental Health (for intake appointments) at 775-2381 or the Crisis Line at 775-1000. Families/Community Members may also contact Rutland Mental Health (for intake appointments) at 775-2381 or the Crisis Line at 775-1000. As in the past, we encourage community members to report any suspicious or concerning behaviors that may have a negative impact on schools within the District to your local law enforcement agency: Fair Haven Police Department: 802-265-4531 Castleton Police Department: 802-468-5012 VT State Police Rutland Barracks: 802-773-9101 We are all in this together and we all need to do our part to take care of one another. Sincerely, Brooke Farrell, Superintendent

We have three basketball games scheduled for today that will be streaming on our FHGS Athletics YouTube channel. https://bit.ly/3rbjAtV At 4:00 the FHGS/BVS 7/8 Girls tip off against the CVS/OVS 7/8 Girls. At 5:30 the FHGS/BVS Grade 7 Boys tip off versus the CVS/OVS Grade 7 Boys. In our third and final game of the evening, the FHGS/BVS 8th Grade Boys tip off against the CVS/OVS 8th Grade Boys at 7:00.

Reminder! Tonight (March 22, 2021) You’re invited to the Slate Valley Unified Union School District Board (Virtual) Meeting Fair Haven Union High School, 6:30 p.m. Participation will be VIRTUAL ONLY. Connect by going to http://meet.google.com/yyb-ypeg-juu or join by phone (US)+1 617-675-4444 PIN: 867 675 227 0575# Tonight’s Agenda: https://5il.co/qtk1 Previous Meeting Minutes: https://5il.co/qgoh

We have two games featuring the CES/CVS/OVS Grade 5/6 combined teams this afternoon streaming on the CES Athletics YouTube channel, https://bit.ly/2PcjHb1. At 4:30 the Grade 5/6 girls take on the FHGS/BVS Grade 5/6 girls. That game will be followed by the 6th grade boys vs the FHGS 5/6 boys team with tip off scheduled for 6:00.

This afternoon at 5:00 we have a basketball game between the FHGS/BVS 5/6 Boys and the CES/OVS 5th Grade Boys that will be streaming live on the FHGS Athletics YouTube channel here: https://bit.ly/2QjfhQr

Today we have two games scheduled on the CVS Athletics YouTube channel, https://bit.ly/3eRyrHf, as the CVS/OVS combined teams take on Poultney. At 4:30 the CVS/OVS 8th Grade Boys tip off and will followed at 6:00 by the 7/8 Girls. Rosters can be found here: https://bit.ly/3lqMgOh

Link Updated: meet.google.com/uew-eubv-gvi Join us this afternoon at 3:30 PM for a virtual meeting to discuss our draft Title I Parent Involvement Policy (E-1). This meeting will be an opportunity for parents to provide feedback on the policy. In an effort to focus our work on Wednesday afternoon, please review a draft Title I Parent Involvement Policy https://5il.co/qm74 and accompanying draft procedures https://5il.co/qm6y. These two drafts will be considered in relation to the Title I Parent/Family Engagement Toolkit https://5il.co/qm6u provided by the Vermont Agency of Education. Meeting ID: http://meet.google.com/uew-eubv-gvi Phone Number: +1 443-671-8799 PIN: 834 838 577#

This afternoon on the FHGS Athletics YouTube Channel, https://bit.ly/3dX3Nf7, the FHGS/BVS Grade 5/6 Boys will take on the CES/CVS/OVS 6th Grade Boys with tip off scheduled for 5:00. Rosters for the FHGS/BVS team can be found here: https://bit.ly/3lm0Je5 Rosters for the CES/CVS/OVS team can be found here: https://bit.ly/3cDWs1S

We have a basketball doubleheader this afternoon on the CES Athletics YouTube channel: https://bit.ly/2NDiUiX At 4:30 the CES/CVS/OVS Grade 5/6 Girls take on Christ the King - Rutalnd. Following the conclusion of that game the CES/OVS Grade 5 Boys take on their district counterparts from FHGS/BVS with tip off scheduled for 6:00. CES/CVS/OVS team rosters can be found here: https://bit.ly/30Jbf5A

Tonight! (Monday, March 15) Please join us for a virtual community conversation on school safety at 6 PM. This meeting will be an opportunity to discuss in more detail some of our infrastructure upgrades, the threat assessment process, drills as well as our planning process. Join with Google Meet http://meet.google.com/jpc-hjfw-qcu or by phone (US) +1 413-998-6051 PIN: 650 703 945#

This Week! The Slate Valley Unified School Board is hosting a week of Virtual Listening Tours beginning on March 16th to continue the discussion on district reorganization. Listening tours are an opportunity to have a conversation with board members. You may attend any of the meetings - regardless of which town you reside in. Please join us at 6 p.m. for a discussion about district reorganization on the following dates: March 16th with Tim, Julie, Toni, Josh, and Christine (Castleton/Hubbardton) Join with Google Meet https://meet.google.com/wyi-oqrg-pnc or join by phone (US) +1 209-850-2378 (PIN: 574504536) March 17th with Pati, Becky, Beckah, Peter, Glen, and John (Benson/Orwell) Join with Google Meet at https://meet.google.com/ifr-ijcb-qdc or join by phone (US) +1 573-343-8213 (PIN: 143009028) March 18th with Mike, Rick, Tara, Tanya, and Angela (Fair Haven/West Haven) Join with Google Meet https://meet.google.com/ust-vwqk-mmx or join by phone join by phone (US) +1 786-592-9982 (PIN: 735144976)

Today the FHGS/BVS 5/6 basketball teams take on their district counterparts the CES/CVS/OVS 5/6 teams and both games will be streaming live starting at 4:30 on the FHGS Athletics YouTube channel: https://bit.ly/3dX3Nf7 The girls are scheduled to tip off at 4:30 and will be followed by the boys at 6:00. FHGS/BVS rosters can be found here: https://bit.ly/3c0mnjY CES/CVS/OVS rosters can be found here: https://bit.ly/3qkW64N

We have two games scheduled on the CVS Athletics YouTube channel this afternoon as the CVS/OVS Boys take on Otter Valley. At 4:30 the 7th Grade Boys tip off and will be followed at 6:00 by the 8th Grade Boys. Both games will be streaming here: https://bit.ly/38aH5fT

The Slate Valley Unified School Board is hosting a week of Virtual Listening Tours beginning on March 16th to continue the discussion on district reorganization. Listening tours are an opportunity to have a conversation with board members. You may attend any of the meetings - regardless of which town you reside in. Please join us at 6 p.m. for a discussion about district reorganization on the following dates: March 16th with Tim, Julie, Toni, Josh, and Christine (Castleton/Hubbardton) Join with Google Meet https://meet.google.com/wyi-oqrg-pnc or join by phone (US) +1 209-850-2378 (PIN: 574504536) March 17th with Pati, Becky, Beckah, Peter, Glen, and John (Benson/Orwell) Join with Google Meet at https://meet.google.com/ifr-ijcb-qdc or join by phone (US) +1 573-343-8213 (PIN: 143009028) March 18th with Mike, Rick, Tara, Tanya, and Angela (Fair Haven/West Haven) Join with Google Meet https://meet.google.com/ust-vwqk-mmx or join by phone join by phone (US) +1 786-592-9982 (PIN: 735144976)

Please join us for a virtual community conversation on school safety on Monday, March 15 at 6 PM. This meeting will be an opportunity to discuss in more detail some of our infrastructure upgrades, the threat assessment process, drills as well as our planning process. Meeting ID http://meet.google.com/jpc-hjfw-qcu Phone Number (US) +1 413-998-6051 PIN: 650 703 945#

Reminder! Tonight (March 8, 2021) You’re invited to the Slate Valley Unified Union School District Board (Virtual) Meeting 6:30 PM Participation will be VIRTUAL ONLY. Connect by going to http://meet.google.com/jzz-apgt-bsw Or join by phone (US) +1 617-675-4444 PIN: 849 660 115 6341# Tonight’s Agenda: https://5il.co/q7z6 Previous Meeting Minutes: https://5il.co/pibk

Join us tomorrow afternoon at 4:30 live on the CVS Athletics YouTube channel, https://bit.ly/38aH5fT, as the CVS/OVS Grades 7 & 8 Girls basketball team takes on Christ the King - Rutland. A roster for the CVS/OVS team can be found here: https://bit.ly/3kKs0qt

Today the FHGS/BVS 5/6 basketball teams take on their district counterparts the CES/CVS/OVS 5/6 teams and both games will be streaming live starting at 4:30 on the FHGS Athletics YouTube channel: https://bit.ly/3dX3Nf7 The girls are scheduled to tip off at 4:30 and will be followed by the boys at 6:00. FHGS/BVS rosters can be found here: https://bit.ly/3c0mnjY CES/CVS/OVS rosters can be found here: https://bit.ly/3qkW64N

Thank you to the Slate Valley community for your support! Here are the results from Town Meeting Day: Budget: Yes- 868 No- 810 Transfer of $882,500 to the Reserve: Yes- 1028 No-565 School Board Members elected (all incumbents): Tara Buxton Pati Beaumont-Stannard Peter Stone Rebecca Spears Toni Lobdell Christine Pouliot

Apologies for the brief technical difficulties with our 8th Grade Basketball stream but we are now back live here: https://youtu.be/wywnQ-C1ogY