Slate Valley District Highlight in today's Rutland Herald
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Discover the Dynamic Classrooms of Slate Valley Unified Union School District
In Slate Valley schools, education is alive with curiosity and creativity. Each classroom reflects a commitment to blending foundational skills with innovative thinking, fostering a lifelong love of learning. Here’s a glimpse into what students are exploring this semester:
Benson Village School: Crazy8’s Math Club - Students are diving into math challenges like building tetrahedrons with glow sticks, exploring probability with dice games, and mastering multiplication through interactive activities. The club inspires students to push their limits and encourage one another.
Castleton Elementary School: Community Helpers - Kindergarteners learned about community jobs through engaging texts and activities, focusing on the police station, fire station, post office, doctor’s office, construction workers, and their school.
Fair Haven Grade School: Creative Writing - Fourth graders studied narrative and opinion writing, culminating in a fun project where they disguised a turkey and wrote persuasive pieces about it.
Fair Haven Union High School: AP Psychology - Celebrity Brains -
Mr. Bruce’s AP Psychology students explored brain functions by analyzing how specific parts contribute to a celebrity’s success. They created detailed posters with creative diagrams and celebrity insights.
Fair Haven Union Middle School: Website Design - Library Media students learned HTML and CSS to build multi-page websites, incorporating text, images, links, and graphic design elements for a polished look.
Orwell Village School: Election Process - The student council embraced the U.S. election process, running campaigns and hosting a school-wide election. Check out the inspiring video by Raspberry Shrub Productions at https://bit.ly/OVSscdoc.
Across Slate Valley Unified USD, students are engaging in activities that spark curiosity, foster creativity, and build critical skills.
From exploring math and coding to learning about community roles and civic processes, these experiences prepare students for a bright and promising future.
🏀 Join us for a Special Moment! 🎉
Fair Haven Union High School invites the community to celebrate our Division II Girls Basketball Team's incredible achievement! 🏆
📅 When: December 20th
⏰ Where: FHUHS Gym (before tip-off) - Game starts at 7:00 PM
Come cheer on our champions as we unveil their championship banner and honor their hard work and dedication. Let's pack the gym with pride and support for our team!
See you there!
💚 A Reminder from Hunger Free Vermont 💚
Did you know there are local food shelves, pantries, and meal sites at churches and community centers all across Vermont? If you or someone you know needs access to meals, help is just a click or call away!
📍 Visit www.vtfoodbank.org/gethelp
📞 Dial 2-1-1 for assistance finding resources near you.
Together, we can ensure no one goes hungry.
The Slate Valley Unified Union School District is currently planning and discussing the FY26 Budget, and we value your input! We invite you to share your suggestions and questions to help shape the budget and provide guidance on community concerns.
How to Submit Your Input:
Online: Submit your suggestions or questions using this link: https://bit.ly/FY26Suggestions.
In-Person: Drop a submission in one of the suggestion boxes located throughout the district. Boxes can be found at:
Benson Town Hall
Orwell Free Library
West Haven Town Hall
Hubbardton Town Hall
Castleton Free Library or Town Hall
Fair Haven Town Hall
Your submissions will be shared with the school board and administration for review, discussion, and response. We are committed to transparency and will provide updates and responses via:
Our district website
Local news outlets
Social media platforms
To view responses to submissions, visit: https://bit.ly/FY26SQResponses.
Your opinion matters, and we sincerely appreciate the time and effort you take to share your thoughts.
A big thank you to the United Way of Rutland County for their incredible generosity in providing winter jackets for local children in need. Through their Welcome to Winter program, over 100 students across three districts in Rutland County received new jackets and snow pants. We are deeply grateful to our Rutland County donors for making this heartwarming initiative a reality!
Monday, December 9th - Today's Ad-Hoc Grading Committee Meeting has been cancelled due to the weather.
Today, Monday December 9th, All Slate Valley After School Activities and Athletics are Cancelled due to the inclement weather. Please be safe and have a good evening.
An incredible success! 🚑✨ Thanks to our amazing community, we collected 727 pounds of food and $1,557 in cash donations during our Stuff an Ambulance event! Your generosity will make a huge difference for those in need.❤️ Special shout out Slate Valley's Home to School Liaison, Ms. Carrieann Wolcott and members from the Fair Haven Rescue Squad for organizing and running this successful food drive.
Elks Hoop Shoot: Sunday, December 15th, 9:30 AM at Fair Haven Union Middle & High School. Sponsored by the Rutland Elks Lodge 345. Open to all children ages 8 to 13.
🚑 Help Us Stuff an Ambulance! 🚑
📅 Today and Tomorrow - December 6th & 7th
📍 Fair Haven Shaws
Join us in supporting a great cause! Every donation helps fill the shelves at Slate Valley Cares and makes a real difference in our community. Together, we can bring hope and help to those in need.💙 # Weareslatevalley💙
Click the link below and watch a great video highlighting key elements of the district wide Bookworms shared reading lessons. In this program, students engage in choral reading and actively reflect on the text through structured discussions. To enhance participation, students first share their thoughts with a partner, then discuss in small groups, before contributing to the whole-group conversation. Bookworms is used district wide in grades 2 and 3. To see go to:
https://bit.ly/SVBookworms
🚑 Help Us Stuff an Ambulance! 🚑
📅 This Friday and Saturday - December 6th & 7th
📍 Fair Haven Shaws
Join us in supporting a great cause! Every donation helps fill the shelves at Slate Valley Cares and makes a real difference in our community. Together, we can bring hope and help to those in need. Let’s do this! 💙 # Weareslatevalley #StuffAnAmbulance #CommunityCare
Join Orwell Village School's student council as they dive into the United States election process, running their own campaign and holding an exciting election. Watch this fantastic video, produced by Raspberry Shrub Productions, which highlights how a single student's request sparked a school-wide initiative.
https://bit.ly/OVSscdoc
New Podcast: Superintendent Brooke Olsen-Farrell talks with members of the FHUHS Law Enforcement Class. See, or listen, to the podcast at https://youtu.be/FakC86NXdps.
Winter Sports Pre-Season Practice Schedules:
Visit our Athletics Page for More! https://www.slatevalleyunified.org/page/high-school
Board Meeting - December 2, 2024
You’re invited to the Slate Valley Unified Union School District Board Meeting at 6:30 p.m. at the Orwell Village School Gym (Town Hall).
This meeting will be in person. Virtually connect by going to:
Video call link: https://meet.google.com/pap-nacy-gca
Or dial: (US) +1 626-838-2792 PIN: 419 015 951#
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.
🦃 Happy Thanksgiving from Slate Valley Unified USD! 🍂
We are grateful for our amazing students, families, staff, and community. Your support and dedication make Slate Valley a wonderful place to learn and grow.
Wishing you a joyful day filled with warmth, gratitude, and time with loved ones. Thank you for being part of our Slate Valley family!
#Thanksgiving #Gratitude #WeAreSlateValley
Students from Ms. LeBrun’s classes posed a simple question to their fellow Slaters: “What are you thankful for?” Here are some of their thoughtful responses. Click the link to see the video. https://youtu.be/lnQDKzFYfHs?si=7QXWBqo2jOpAfriN
During November, Superintendent Brooke Olsen-Farrell and Director of Curriculum Casey O'Meara hosted two Cookies and Conversation events with middle and high school students. These informal gatherings foster meaningful discussions, allowing students to share their perspectives on the school environment, climate, and any concerns they may have.
Students provided valuable feedback on topics such as the "10 and 2" rule and cell phone use, while both groups voiced their dislike for the Wayfinder program. On a positive note, students highlighted improvements in school meals, their appreciation for their principals, and the value of having a School Resource Officer (SRO).
One standout quote encapsulated the school’s supportive atmosphere:
"If I were to tell someone visiting our school what a strength is, it would be teachers caring about you and encouraging you to be yourself."
Calling All Crafters and Volunteers!
Join us in making this year’s Craft Bazaar at Castleton Elementary School a huge success! Whether you’re a skilled crafter or eager to volunteer, we’d love to have you on board.
Let’s create something amazing together! 🌟
