Slate Valley Unified School District

It was a busy week of remote learning here in Slate Valley!

VPA Press Release: Cancellation of the 2020 Spring Sports Season

Students from across the state are invited to participate in the #2020Census Video Production Challenge: https://accelerate.census.gov/video-challenge/ Also, view Ms. Ehler-Hansen's blog post here: https://bit.ly/2KEjEiX

Shaw's supermarket in Fair Haven is now a drop off location for our Food Drive.

Slate Valley Food Drive: April 27 - May 8

Reminder: Today from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. at Rutland Southern VT Regional Airport (1002 Airport Road, North Clarendon, VT) The Vermont Foodbank is working with FEMA and the VT National Guard to distribute MREs at five sites around Vermont. Anyone in need of food is welcome and can receive a seven-day supply of Meals Ready-to-Eat for each member of their household.

Everyone has been working hard this week! Here are some scenes from throughout the district:

A huge thank you to Hannaford for donating over 200 boxes of Nature Valley Granola Bars to the Snack Sack Program!

Here are some additional resources for accessing food during this challenging time:

Dear Parent/Guardian, On March 17, 2020 Slate Valley educators provided students with review and/or enrichment material, and/or information for new learning assuming everyone would return to school on April 6th. As Vermont is experiencing a school closure for the remainder of the year, Slate Valley educators are preparing to move students forward with grade-level expectations in pursuit of Proficiencies and Performance Indicators upon our return from vacation, April 20, 2020. Please read the full letter here: https://5il.co/eqcz

Good morning! This is a reminder that we will be having Spring Break next week, April 13 though 17.

Beginning on Tuesday, April 7th - meal pick-up locations will change due to a change in the Federal/State Guidelines: Meals will be available for pick up on Tuesdays and Fridays starting at 10:00 AM until noon at the following locations: -Benson Village School -Castleton Elementary School (no longer Fair Haven Union High School) -Fair Haven Grade School -Orwell Village School

Good evening. Tim Smith, chairman of the Slate Valley School District. I hope everyone is staying home and healthy in these difficult times. Many thanks to our health care providers. While difficult to discuss given the circumstances, I want to remind everyone that our school budget failed on Town Meeting Day by a small margin, 95 votes. The $59.5 million construction bond will be tabled for the foreseeable future, at least until the duration of the virus and its far-reaching impacts are better understood. Nonetheless, we are obligated to re-vote the school budget and hope to have a positive result by June 30th. While we continue to work with VT Govt officials, school administration, and town clerks, it is unclear at this time whether we will be holding an in-person vote by late spring or a mail-in vote. We will keep the public notified of any developments. Public participation is welcome at all of our meetings, however now, the ability of the public to attend is more challenging given the social distancing guidelines. In the past week, Governor Scott amended the open meeting laws whereby a physical location for the public to attend is no longer required. In the same manner that board members participate, the public is invited to attend our meetings in a virtual format. We are scheduled to have a Finance Committee on Monday 4/6 at 5:30pm, the link to attend is: https://meet.google.com/hus-roox-dkq?hs=122, dial in only 1-(502) 947-4166 PIN 781 639 980# We are scheduled to have a regular Board meeting on Monday 4/6 at 6:30pm, the link to attend is: https://meet.google.com/bzx-mcps-foo?hs=122, dial in only 1-(417) 647-1150 PIN 584 195 054# Information can also be found at the Slate Valley website, www.slatevalleyunified.org We appreciate your support and participation. Be well.

Beginning on Tuesday, April 7th - meal pick-up locations will change due to a change in the Federal/State Guidelines: Meals will be available for pick up on Tuesdays and Fridays starting at 10:00 AM until noon at the following locations: -Benson Village School -Castleton Elementary School (no longer Fair Haven Union High School) -Fair Haven Grade School -Orwell Village School

Town Hall for Kids!

The "in-person" Universal Preschool Screenings for Slate Valley have been canceled. If you signed up for the 0-5 developmental screenings, we will contact you about an alternative method for conducting the screening in the next few weeks.

March 23, 2020 Update - Meals During School Dismissal Beginning on Tuesday, March 24th we will only have meal pick-up/delivery twice weekly to help maintain social distancing practices. On Tuesdays breakfast and lunch for Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday will be made available for pick-up or delivery. On Fridays meals for Friday and Monday will be made available for pick-up/delivery Meals will be available for pick up on Tuesdays and Fridays starting at 10:00 AM until noon at the following locations: Benson Village School Fair Haven Union High School Fair Haven Grade School Orwell Village School Meals can be delivered to your home if you have a completed food delivery form on file (https://5il.co/dwgv). Please connect to your school if you have questions. If you are getting delivery at home please leave a cooler out on your porch. This allows for a more efficient delivery process. Meals are available to all children ages 18 or younger. You do not need to reside in our district to pick-up meals. Please note that you can go to any of the schools listed above. You are not restricted to the school that your child attends. Please notify staff at the pick up location if you will be picking up meals regularly and you have any special dietary needs that have medical implications that must be met. **** Due to Federal Guidelines we are not allowed to have Castleton Elementary and Village School as pick up locations because of eligibility requirements. However all Castleton families can pick up at any of the other sites in the district.

All Slate Valley playgrounds are closed to help slow the spread of COVID-19 (Coronavirus). Thank you for your cooperation.

Overwhelmed with information coming from all directions? Our COVID-19 page features information and resources in one central location. Visit www.SlateValleyUnified.org and click on the "COVID-19 Information" link at the top. On this page, you’ll find the latest updates from our district, links to the Vermont Department of Health COVID-19 page, an embedded CDC page, as well as many other helpful resources. It is updated frequently, so check back often.

Update (3-19-20) - Meals During Dismissal: Starting on Thursday, March 19th the school district will make breakfast and lunch meals available to all children ages 18 years old and younger while school is dismissed. Meals will be available Monday through Friday. Friday, March 20th - and each day thereafter a breakfast and a lunch will be available for pick up. Meals will be available for pick up starting at 10:00 AM until noon at the following locations: Benson Village School Fair Haven Union High School Fair Haven Grade School Orwell Village School **** Due to Federal Guidelines we are not allowed to have Castleton Elementary and Village School as pick up locations because of eligibility requirements. However all Castleton families can pick up at any of the other sites in the district. Meals will be delivered to homes if you have a completed food delivery form on file (Link to form: https://5il.co/dwgv). Please contact your school if you have questions. Please note that you can go to any of the schools listed above. You are not restricted to the school that your child attends. Please notify staff at the pick up location if you will be picking up meals regularly and you have any special dietary needs that have medical implications that must be met.