Slate Valley Unified School District

Middle School Slaters were featured on WCAX News this past weekend! Check out their story here: https://www.wcax.com/2025/03/09/fair-haven-students-shoot-stars-nasas-techrise-challenge/

🍪 Today's Cookies & Conversation at Fair Haven Grade School! 🍪 Superintendent Brooke Olsen-Farrell and Director of Curriculum Casey O'Meara had a sweet time at Fair Haven Grade School sharing Cookies & Conversation with some amazing Kindergarten and first-grade students! Between bites of delicious cookies, they chatted about fun school activities, and BIG dreams for the future! It’s moments like these that make our school community so special—building connections, one cookie at a time!

Slate Valley District Newsletter: March 6, 2025 https://mailchi.mp/49ecef75ad88/march-6-2025-slate-valley-newsletter

Board Meeting - March 10, 2025 You’re invited to the Slate Valley Unified Union School District Board Meeting at 6:30 p.m. at the Benson Village School Gymnasium This meeting will be in person. Virtually connect by going to: Video call link: https://meet.google.com/igi-fbrq-ckm Or dial: (US) +1 314-730-2201 PIN: 778 295 060# 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.

Flaunt it Friday! - Fair Haven Union Bowling Team Wins VPA Championship! This marks the Slaters' fourth bowling state title since the program’s inception in 2016—the most of any Vermont school! Congratulations to all bowlers and coaches on another outstanding season!

#ThrowbackThursday: Taking a trip back 57 years to celebrate Fair Haven Union High School’s 1968 Betty Crocker Homemaker of Tomorrow! This prestigious award recognized students for their knowledge and skills in homemaking. Want to learn more about this historic program? Check out the details here: https://www.generalmills.com/news/stories/remembering-betty-crocker-homemakers-of-tomorrow

🐾 Woof Wednesday: Spreading Smiles One Paw at a Time! 🐾 Throughout the week, the halls of Slate Valley Unified Schools are filled with wagging tails and happy hearts thanks to Caring Canines of Southern Vermont! These wonderful therapy dogs make special visits to all our schools, bringing comfort, joy, and stress relief to students and staff alike. From excited greetings in the hallways to quiet moments of reading with a furry friend, times with the therapy dogs are often the highlight of the week for so many. Research shows that interacting with therapy dogs can reduce anxiety, boost confidence, and create a positive, welcoming school environment—something we see firsthand every week! A huge thank you to Caring Canines of Southern Vermont for their dedication and to our incredible school community for embracing the pawsitive impact these dogs bring!

Slate Valley Unified USD Budget DID NOT Pass: 789 yes to 1107 no Dear Slate Valley, I hope this message finds you well. We want to take a moment to update you on the recent school budget vote that, unfortunately, did not pass. The vote was 789 yes to 1107 no. The article transferring money to a reserve account was successful. We understand that this news may be disappointing for some of you, as it is for us. The proposed budget primarily maintained level services, with a reduction in funding for the afterschool program as well as a redistribution of programming throughout the district. We understand this outcome may be disappointing, but we respect the democratic process and appreciate the community’s thoughtful participation. Despite this setback, our commitment to providing the best possible education for our students remains unchanged. We will explore alternative solutions to meet student needs within our financial constraints. We value your input and encourage open dialogue as we navigate this challenge together. In the coming weeks, we will hold board meetings to discuss the budget, gather feedback, and explore next steps. Your participation is essential, and we welcome your ideas and concerns. Thank you for your continued support and collaboration as we work towards our shared goal of delivering exceptional education to our students. Sincerely, Brooke Olsen-Farrell Superintendent

🔍 Trivia Tuesday! 🔍 Do you know the 5 most common school mascots? 🤔 Do you think any of ours made the list? Drop your best guess in the comments before peeking at the answers! Find out the top mascots here 👉 https://bit.ly/topschoolmascots

🗳️ Reminder: Today is Town Meeting Day! 🗳️ Make your voice heard—please get out and vote! Every vote counts! ✅

After a brief hiatus… WE’RE BACK! Restarting Meet Slate Valley Faculty & Staff Mondays with this week’s feature: Sarah Winters! Stay tuned as we once again spotlight the amazing educators and staff who make Slate Valley great! #WeAreSlateValley #MeetMondays

Slaters Strike Gold at VPA Bowling Championship! The Slater bowling team traveled to Sparetime Lanes in Colchester to compete in the highly anticipated VPA Bowling Championship. Entering as the #2 seed, FHU dominated #7 South Burlington with a 4-0 sweep in the quarterfinals. In the semifinals, the Slaters showcased their resilience, battling back from a 3-1 deficit to edge out #3 Essex in a thrilling 4-3 comeback victory. That momentum carried into the championship round, where the Slaters stunned top-seeded Randolph with a 4-2 upset, securing the 2025 Vermont State Championship! This marks the Slaters' fourth bowling state title since the program’s inception in 2016—the most of any Vermont school! Congratulations to all our bowlers and coaches on another outstanding season!

Week of February 28, 2025 - Slate Valley Unified USD Newsletter: https://mailchi.mp/47a74afdbdf1/this-weeks-slate-valley-newsletter

Thank you to everyone who attended last night's Slate Valley Community Connection event! Director of Curriculum, Mr. Casey O'Meara, and his team of PBL coaches shared valuable insights on instructional strategies, academic and behavioral support systems, assessments, and college and career readiness.

Please vote on March 4th! 🗳️ Not registered? No worries, it’s not too late—and it’s easy! Register now: https://www.vote.org/register-to-vote/vermont/

Thank you to everyone who attended the Slate Valley Unified Union School District Annual Meeting last night! It was wonderful to see such strong participation from our community as we reviewed the proposed budget, and discussed important topics. For those who couldn’t join us, we encourage you to stay informed by reviewing the materials from the meeting: 📄 Presentation Link: https://5il.co/38j89 📺 Video Link: https://youtu.be/LW37JLZCxhA We appreciate the engagement and support of our community in shaping the future of Slate Valley schools. If you have any questions or would like further information, feel free to reach out or visit our website budget page: https://www.slatevalleyunified.org/o/svusd/page/budget Please Vote March 4th!

Reminder: Tonight Join us for the Slate Valley Unified USD Annual Meeting at 6:30 PM in the Fair Haven Union Middle and High School Bandroom. This meeting is in person. To attend virtually go to: https://meet.google.com/tyh-rjfi-seg Or dial: (US) +1 929-299-3807 PIN: 188 319 510# Anyone who attends virtually will be seen as a "passive participant" meaning they can ask questions and comment but cannot vote from the floor.

We hope our faculty, staff and students have enjoyed their break! Just a reminder that all Slate Valley schools resume classes on Monday, February 24th, 2025. We can't wait to see our schools buzzing with activity again! Also, Here is this week's Slate Valley Newsletter link: https://mailchi.mp/49e1050044fd/catch-up-with-slate-valley-this-weeks-highlights

Come be part of the SVUUSD Annual Meeting on Monday, February 24th, at 6:30 PM in the Fair Haven Union Middle & High School band room. Take part and play a role in shaping the future! And remember to cast your vote on March 4th—every vote counts!

Join Us for a Community Connection Event! 📅 February 25, 2025 ⏰ 5:30 – 6:30 PM 📍 Fair Haven Union Middle & High School Library Engage with Director of Curriculum Casey O'Meara in a discussion on: ✅ Instructional structures & strategies ✅ Academic & behavioral support systems ✅ Assessment, Community Connections & College/Career Readiness Plus, a Parent/Guardian conversation on Title I & Act 1 Policies and Continuous Improvement Planning. Bring your questions and join the conversation!