Benson Village School

3rd grade field trip to Echo!

about 11 hours ago, Kelley Schultz

A young boy in a green shirt and a girl in a bright blue t-shirt construct paper cones at an interactive science museum exhibit. They stand in front of a tall, clear vertical wind tunnel tube where other paper structures are being tested. A blue bin filled with discarded paper cones sits in the foreground.

Two young girls with long blonde hair look into a brightly lit aquarium tank from behind. One girl stands on a wooden stool to get a closer look. Inside the tank, several large goldfish and reddish-pink fish swim around large pieces of submerged driftwood and green aquatic plants.

A group of children and adults stand along a large, curved panoramic aquarium viewing window. The tank is styled like a riverbed habitat with tall reeds, smooth river stones, submerged logs, and large fish swimming through the water.

Two young girls smile playfully while riding together on a life-sized, pinkish-purple model of a Triceratops dinosaur. The girl in the back has a wide-eyed, comical expression with her mouth open in a mock scream, while the girl in front wears a blue patterned dress and smiles warmly. The background features a dense jungle backdrop.

A young girl with shoulder-length brown hair smiles brightly while sitting atop a model Triceratops dinosaur. She is wearing a blue and white patterned shirt and black shorts. A green, leafy jungle scene is visible behind her.

A young girl with long blonde hair and a blue t-shirt smiles while sitting astride a model Triceratops dinosaur. She rests her hands on the dinosaur's bony frill.

A young girl with her hair in a bun and a teenager look at an interactive "Guess Who?" museum display about aquatic life. The display features flip-up panels with fish silhouettes on top and detailed photos and information underneath. Dinosaur Exhibit Photos

A smiling girl in a blue marbled t-shirt sits on the back of a large, realistic model dinosaur with textured orange skin and large eyes. In the background, a fossil dig pit with a dinosaur skull and other prehistoric models are visible.

A teenager in a bright pink t-shirt and black shorts laughs while sitting on the back of a large orange dinosaur model against a dark wall and jungle backdrop.

🏛️ FREE Vermont Historic Sites Pass for 4th Graders! 🏛️
Explore Vermont History Where It Happened!

Attention Vermont 4th Grade Families!

The Vermont Division for Historic Preservation is offering a FREE Historic Sites Pass for all Vermont students who have completed 4th grade during the 2025–2026 school year.

With this special pass, students and one accompanying adult receive free admission to all Vermont state-owned historic sites throughout the 2026 season (through October 2026).

🌟 Visit These Historic Vermont Destinations

📍 Bennington Battle Monument State Historic Site
📍 Chimney Point State Historic Site
📍 Hubbardton Battlefield State Historic Site
📍 Mount Independence State Historic Site
📍 President Calvin Coolidge State Historic Site
📍 President Chester A. Arthur State Historic Site

🎟️ How It Works

✅ Print the 4th Grade Pass Letter
✅ Bring the letter to any participating historic site
✅ Present it to site staff for free admission

No registration required!

🌐 Learn More

For site information, hours, and directions, visit:

HistoricSites.Vermont.gov

❓Questions?

Joshua Bell
Director of State Historic Sites
📞 802-505-8592
📧 Joshua.Bell@vermont.gov

about 11 hours ago, Slate Valley

Flyer titled “Free Vermont Historic Sites Pass for 4th Graders.” It explains that Vermont 4th graders who have finished the school year can visit all Vermont state-owned historic sites with one adult for free during the 2026 season, ending in October. It lists steps for using the pass: print the 4th Grade Pass Letter, bring it to a participating historic site, and show it to site staff for free admission. No registration is required. Sites listed include Bennington Battle Monument, Chimney Point, Hubbardton Battlefield, Mount Independence, President Calvin Coolidge, and President Chester A. Arthur State Historic Sites. More information is available at HistoricSites.Vermont.gov, with a QR code and contact information for Joshua Bell at 802-505-8592 or Joshua.Bell@vermont.gov. The flyer uses green, blue, and gold accents with a “VT History Pass” badge and the message, “Make history part of your summer adventure!”

3rd grade trip to Echo!

about 12 hours ago, Kelley Schultz

A medium shot of two smiling young girls riding a large, brown toy dinosaur prop inside a museum or exhibit. The girl in front is wearing a sleeveless blue dress with a pink turtle pattern, holding onto the dinosaur's head. The girl behind her is wearing a light blue sweatshirt and white floral-patterned pants, smiling warmly at the camera. The background features a green, dense jungle backdrop.

A medium shot similar to the previous image, showing two young girls posing on a brown toy dinosaur prop. The girl in the front wears a blue dress with a pink turtle pattern and smiles directly at the camera, while the girl behind her, wearing a light blue sweatshirt, looks off-to the side with a gentle smile. They are set against a lush, green jungle wall backdrop.

A high-angle shot of an indoor museum fossil dig exhibit. Three children are gathered around a large, rectangular wooden bin filled with black sand, using brushes to uncover a white replica skeleton of a dinosaur's spine and limbs. An adult woman in a blue patterned dress and teal leggings stands nearby watching, and a kiosk in the background displays a blue screen reading "Learn About the Fossil."

A high-angle shot of a museum fossil dig activity. A boy wearing an orange baseball cap and a green T-shirt, along with two girls, are using brushes and small metal buckets to uncover a large, white dinosaur skull replica buried in black sand inside a wooden bin. Safari Vehicle Photos

A wide shot of five young girls sitting side-by-side on a long, polished wooden bench inside a museum lobby. The two girls on the far left are hugging tightly and smiling, with one making a peace sign. The other three girls sit in a row next to them, smiling happily. In the background, other museum visitors, a service desk, and an exhibit staircase are visible.

From FHUMHS Band Director, Ms. Samantha Adams: Marching Band sign ups for grades 7-12 are OPEN. If you are an incoming 7th grader or above, you are invited to join! Scan the QR code or click the link to sign up! Sign ups close at the end of the day July 1st, 2026. If you have any questions, please reach out to Samantha Adams at sadams@svuvt.org

https://forms.gle/a8HQgJoAS94FM8kt9

about 16 hours ago, Slate Valley

📚🎉 Happy Retirement, Tina Rampone! 🎉📚

After 16 years of dedicated service to the students, staff, and families of Slate Valley, we extend our heartfelt congratulations and gratitude to Castleton Elementary School and Orwell Village School librarian, Tina Rampone, on her retirement.

For more than a decade and a half, Tina has inspired a love of reading, learning, and curiosity in countless students. Through story times, library lessons, book recommendations, special projects, tech. integration, and her welcoming presence, she helped make the library a place where every child could discover new worlds, ideas, and possibilities.

Tina's passion for literacy, commitment to students, and support of both schools have left a lasting impact that will be felt for years to come. The thousands of young readers she has encouraged and the memories she has helped create are a testament to the difference one dedicated educator can make.

Thank you, Tina, for 16 years of service, kindness, and unwavering dedication to our school communities. We wish you all the happiness, relaxation, adventures, knitting and good books that retirement has to offer.

Congratulations on your well-deserved retirement! 🧶📖✨

about 16 hours ago, Slate Valley

Read important information about the future of Slate Valley in this issue of the SVUUSD Newsletter - June 12, 2026: https://mailchi.mp/f9c5248ac253/slate-valley-district-newsletter-may-15-13836886

3 days ago, Slate Valley

Kinders were inspired to create their own band!

4 days ago, Kelley Schultz

A vibrant elementary school classroom scene where a group of young girls are gathered in a circle during an activity. On the left, a girl with her blonde hair in a braided crown stands facing the group, raising a blue marker in the air as if conducting or leading. Five other girls sit in a row on chairs and colorful wobble stools; four of them are holding up rolled-up paper tubes to their mouths like kazoos or telescopes. The background features a "Number Corner" bulletin board with educational posters about maps, a calendar showing June 2026, and a rainbow-striped curtain hanging on a door. The floor is covered in a bright, multicolored patterned rug, and student desks with school supplies are visible in the foreground.

BVS and OVS combined bands!

5 days ago, Kelley Schultz

IMG_3418.jpg Alt Text: A wide, eye-level shot inside a school gymnasium where a student band is performing for an audience of younger children. The band students are seated in a large semi-circle on a teal mat under a basketball hoop, playing various woodwind and brass instruments. A female conductor in a green shirt and jeans stands at the center facing them. In the foreground, a large group of elementary school students are sitting cross-legged on the floor, watching the performance. Several adults are seated at cafeteria tables on the right side of the gym.

A high-angle, wide shot from the side of a school gymnasium during a band demonstration. On the left, a student band is seated with music stands, while a conductor in a green shirt stands before them. In the center and foreground, a large group of younger students sit on the polished floor, looking toward the band. Along the right wall, thick blue athletic mats are stacked vertically against a climbing wall structure, and several instrument cases are lined up neatly on the floor beneath them.

A wide shot focusing on the audience inside a school gymnasium turned cafeteria. Dozens of elementary-aged children are sitting cross-legged on the floor in rows, facing toward an unseen performance on the left. In the background, several adults and older students are seated at long brown cafeteria tables, watching the event. A scoreboard labeled "Benson Village School" is visible on the far wall.

A close-up shot focusing on the brass section of a student band seated on folding chairs in a gymnasium. In the foreground, a boy wearing a black T-shirt, blue jeans, and tan boots holds a trumpet. Next to him, other students are visible holding trumpets and cornets, some chatting or adjusting their instruments. Black instrument cases are scattered on the floor beneath their chairs, and blue and green gym mats are stacked in the background. IMG_3421.jpg Alt Text: An angled shot of a student band rehearsing in a school gym under a basketball hoop. A conductor with long hair wearing a blue patterned dress stands on the right, raising a baton to direct the musicians. The band includes students playing flutes, clarinets, and trumpets, all seated on folding chairs with music stands in front of them. Instrument cases rest on the floor nearby.

An angled shot of a student band rehearsing in a school gym under a basketball hoop. A conductor with long hair wearing a blue patterned dress stands on the right, raising a baton to direct the musicians. The band includes students playing flutes, clarinets, and trumpets, all seated on folding chairs with music stands in front of them. Instrument cases rest on the floor nearby.

A wide, eye-level shot inside a school gymnasium where a student band is performing for an audience of younger children. The band students are seated in a large semi-circle on a teal mat under a basketball hoop, playing various woodwind and brass instruments. A female conductor in a green shirt and jeans stands at the center facing them. In the foreground, a large group of elementary school students are sitting cross-legged on the floor, watching the performance. Several adults are seated at cafeteria tables on the right side of the gym.

Yesterday was "Eat with a Teacher" and today is "Decorate our tables for our fun countdown!"

5 days ago, Kelley Schultz

: A wide view of the classroom showing multiple groups of children engaged in a collaborative drawing project at yellow and blue tables. Each table is topped with a large sheet of pink paper. In the foreground, a group of girls use markers to draw and write their names on the paper, with one girl in a red shirt smiling directly at the camera.

A bright, busy early childhood classroom where a group of about ten young children are sitting around interconnected blue and yellow kidney-shaped tables. Some children are eating lunch and snacks from trays and lunchboxes, while others are working on drawings and activity sheets with markers. The room is filled with colorful learning materials, including a handprint-patterned rug, bookshelves, and a whiteboard in the background. .

Two young girls sit side-by-side at a yellow table, working at the top edge of a large, mostly blank sheet of pink butcher paper. The girl on the left, wearing a pink shirt, is writing letters with a blue marker, while the girl on the right, with her hair in braided pigtails, carefully draws a small square box. In the background, a colorful handprint rug and a white rocking chair are visible.

Clover Exploration fun for 5th & 6th Grade!

6 days ago, Kelley Schultz

Several children build with large gray modular panels in a gym or classroom space with blue wall mats in the background. Three children work together to attach triangular and rectangular gray panels into a tall structure while others move nearby.

Five children standing inside a small gray panel fort or enclosure, looking up and smiling at the camera. A boy sits inside a gray geometric play structure on a classroom floor, looking up at the camera. A smiling boy with glasses sits inside a larger gray panel structure while other children assemble pieces around him. Several children build with large gray modular panels in a gym or classroom space with blue wall mats in the background. Three children work together to attach triangular and rectangular gray panels into a tall structure while others move nearby.

A boy sits inside a gray geometric play structure on a classroom floor, looking up at the camera.

panels to form fort-like structures, while extra triangular and rectangular pieces lie scattered across the gym floor. IMG_6029.jpg A full-length shot of a young girl standing playfully on a flat geometric design constructed from the grey building panels on a gymnasium floor. The panels are arranged into a large, flat octagon with a small triangle in the center where she stands. She is wearing a white graphic t-shirt, grey leggings, and a light blue sweatshirt tied around her waist. She smiles at the camera, offering a playful military salute with her right hand. IMG_6021 (1).jpg A high-angle, close-up shot of a young boy peeking out from inside a small, triangular fort built from the grey modular panels. The structure is positioned against a dark green gym wall. The boy has dark hair, rosy cheeks, and a bright smile as he looks directly up at the camera from his cozy, makeshift hiding spot. IMG_6026.jpg A close-up shot looking through a square window cutout of a grey modular structure, framing three smiling boys crowded together inside. The boy on the left wears a grey shirt, the boy in the center foreground wears a black shirt and smiles widely with tilted head, and the boy on the right wears a bright orange t-shirt. The interior of the fort is dimly lit, creating a cozy clubhouse atmosphere.

A wide shot inside a school gymnasium where a group of about nine middle-school-aged children are working together to assemble large, modular building structures. The building pieces are made of thick, grey felt-like panels with dark grey borders. In the foreground, a large rectangular base has two square window cutouts on top. To the left, a boy carries a panel with a window cutout. In the background, other students attach panels to form fort-like structures, while extra triangular and rectangular pieces lie scattered across the gym floor.

A close-up shot looking through a square window cutout of a grey modular structure, framing three smiling boys crowded together inside. The boy on the left wears a grey shirt, the boy in the center foreground wears a black shirt and smiles widely with tilted head, and the boy on the right wears a bright orange t-shirt. The interior of the fort is dimly lit, creating a cozy clubhouse atmosphere.

BVS Bike and Groove!

6 days ago, Kelley Schultz

A girl wearing a blue helmet and a grey t-shirt rides a purple mountain bike down a wide gravel path, casting a long shadow in front of her. Other children on bicycles follow behind her under a clear blue sky, with a playground and parking lot visible in the distance.

A young girl with a black helmet and a pink shirt smiles while riding a light blue cruiser bicycle on a gravel path. The bike is decorated with yellow streamers on the handlebars and frame. In the background, there is a grassy field with a playground, parked cars, and other people.

A young child wearing a bright pink helmet and a light yellow t-shirt rides a purple bicycle with training wheels and a wicker front basket. The child is riding on a gravel driveway in front of a building with a sign that reads "Benson Village School."

A young boy wearing a large black helmet and an orange graphic t-shirt rides a black and red youth bicycle designed to look like a motocross dirt bike. He is riding on a gravel path with a sunny playground and parked cars in the background. IMG_0586.jpg Alt Text: A smiling girl wearing a pink helmet and a pink and white color-blocked t-shirt rides a blue mountain bike on a gravel path. Another boy on a bicycle follows closely behind her, with a parking lot and tree line under a bright sky in the background.

BVS Bike and Groove!

6 days ago, Kelley Schultz

A wide shot of the school's "Bike and Groove" event. Dozens of students are riding their bicycles along a paved path winding through the school campus, surrounded by green grass [and trees/school buildings].

BVS Bike and Groove!

6 days ago, Kelley Schultz

Cube measuring and balance.

7 days ago, Kelley Schultz

A smiling woman with long brown hair stands in a classroom doorway, gesturing toward a tall vertical column of interlocking plastic blocks. She is wearing a grey tank top and dark green athletic shorts, and her left arm is raised to touch the top section of the block tower. The colorful tower of blocks is attached to the wooden door frame and stretches from the floor to the top of the door. The door behind her has a green privacy curtain and a colorful banner spelling out part of a word. A red fire alarm pull station is visible on the wall to the right.

Kinders have been doing a fun activity every day for the last 10 days. Today was shaving cream play, and tomorrow will be bubble play outside!

7 days ago, Kelley Schultz

A high-angle shot of a classroom setting where children are sitting at a large, blue clover-shaped table covered in swirls of white shaving cream. A young girl with long blonde hair on the right smiles proudly at the camera, holding up both hands coated thick with foam. On the left, another girl concentrates on rubbing the shaving cream. Names like "Paisley" and "Makenna" are written on the table near a blue folder and a water bottle resting on a paper towel.

A wide shot of a classroom showing two large group tables pushed near each other—one bright yellow and one deep blue—with about ten young children and older students sitting around them. Everyone is actively engaged in sensory play, spreading white shaving cream all over the table surfaces. Several children laugh and hold up their messy hands, while others focus on smoothing the foam out in front of them. The classroom background features storage shelves, a whiteboard, and a window.

An overhead shot of four young children sitting around a large yellow, flower-shaped table in a classroom, enthusiastically playing with white shaving cream spread across the surface. Two boys on the far side hold their messy, foam-covered hands high in the air with big smiles. A girl with blonde hair on the right rubs the foam on the table, while another girl in a blue shirt in the foreground lifts her foam-covered hands. Stacked folders and a colorful drawing sit in the center of the table.

A high-angle shot looking down at a large yellow table in a classroom where children are playing with white shaving cream. Two young girls are visible; one with blonde hair smiles broadly toward the camera, lifting her foam-covered hands, while a girl in a bright blue shirt next to her rubs the foam onto the table surface. Handprints and upside-down names like "William" and "Demila" are written on the table near a stack of blue folders. The background shows a colorful classroom rug and cubbies.

Whack a mole with heart words. Kinders are quite the theatrical group!

7 days ago, Kelley Schultz

A group of six young children are sitting in a circle on a vibrant, multi-colored handprint-patterned rug in a classroom. Each child is holding a square white card featuring a cartoon mole illustration against their forehead. A classroom whiteboard in the background displays a message written in marker: "Today is Monday, June 8, 2026. Our specials are health and STEAM. Love, Miss Ackert." A white rocking chair with "miss ackert" written on the backrest sits in the background near colorful storage organizers.

A classroom scene showing a group of young children playing on a colorful handprint rug. In the foreground, a young boy in a grey-and-white striped hoodie and black shorts smiles broadly as he steps forward. Behind him, another boy in an orange t-shirt lies on his stomach on the rug, looking at a cartoon card. To the right, two young girls are seated on the floor; one is holding a cartoon card to her forehead, and the other looks on. The classroom background includes a white rocking chair, shelves, a globe, and rainbow decor. IMG_6694.jpg An action shot in a classroom setting where several young children are playing on a colorful handprint rug. In the center, a boy in a striped hoodie is captured mid-movement, facing away from the camera. To his left, a boy in an orange shirt sits on the floor, laughing while holding a white card to his forehead. To the right, a girl in a blue shirt also holds a card to her forehead, while another girl sits nearby. The background features a white rocking chair, a globe on a wooden shelf, and a whiteboard with handwritten classroom schedule details.

A close-up shot of a young girl with blue eyes and light brown hair with freckles, wearing a bright green t-shirt. She is sitting on a colorful classroom rug and holding a square white card against her forehead with both hands. The card features a black-and-white cartoon illustration of a mole popping out of a hole with dizzy swirls in its eyes and stars spinning over its construction hat. The word "See" is handwritten in pink marker at the bottom of the card. In the background, another young girl is partially visible, holding up a similar card.

A close-up shot focusing on a young girl wearing a bright blue t-shirt, who is holding a white card directly over her forehead and eyes. The card shows a gray cartoon illustration of a mallet striking a surface with impact sparks and stars. Below the image, the word "See" is written in pink marker. The background shows a blurred classroom setting with storage bins and a colorful rainbow-patterned wall border.

Ready for Middle School!!

8 days ago, Kelley Schultz

A group photo of seven diverse children and teenagers lined up on a vibrant green lawn on a clear, sunny day. They are dressed in casual clothes, t-shirts, and sneakers, with a few of them smiling or giving a thumbs-up. In the background is a long, brick and white school building under a bright blue sky, with an American flag flying on a tall pole. Yellow school buses and a couple of cars are parked in the driveway behind them, and a rustic wooden fence frames the right side of the lawn.

Our 6th Graders got to check out the Middle School this morning! They met their Teachers for the 7th Grade, and engaged in team building activities!

8 days ago, Kelley Schultz

A boy with glasses and wavy brown hair is seated at a wooden classroom desk, looking down intently at a piece of purple paper he is folding. He is wearing a black t-shirt featuring the cartoon character Stitch and the text "NOT TODAY." On his desk, there is an instructional sheet, a pair of black and purple scissors, and another small piece of purple paper. In the background, a green door frame and student artwork displayed on the wall are visible.

A young girl with blonde hair tied back in a ponytail sits at a wooden desk, smiling directly at the camera. She is wearing a grey Nike hooded sweatshirt with a name tag. She holds a folded piece of red paper over an instructional sheet on her desk. The background shows a bright classroom with empty desks, a glass door leading outside, and walls decorated with various student projects.

The same young girl with blonde hair in a ponytail is shown from a similar angle, but she is now looking down, focused on carefully folding the red paper in her hands. The instructional sheet for the "Paper Football Game" sits flat on the wooden desk in front of her. The classroom background remains the same, showing desks and a sunlit door.

Two students are seated next to each other at a desk in a classroom. On the left, a boy in a black graphic t-shirt looks off to the side with a slight smirk, holding a small piece of white paper. Next to him, a girl with long wavy brown hair and glasses looks forward with a neutral expression, wearing a pink t-shirt. The background features a large map on the wall and a small sign that reads "VERMONT" above a green silhouette of the state.

A young boy with short brown hair sits at a light-colored wooden school desk, leaning forward with his elbows resting on the surface. He is wearing a blue t-shirt and a small white name tag on his chest. His attention is focused downward on a yellow piece of paper he is holding and folding with both hands. In front of him on the desk is an instructional worksheet titled "Paper Football Game." The background shows a classroom setting with bookshelves filled with novels and a hockey-themed poster on the wall. Another student's hands holding red paper are partially visible in the bottom-left corner.

A vertical, framed motivational poster hangs on a beige classroom wall. The text uses a variety of colorful fonts and hand-lettered styles. It reads: "SOME KIDS ARE SMARTER THAN YOU. SOME KIDS HAVE cooler clothes THAN YOU. SOME KIDS ARE better at sports THAN YOU. IT DOES NOT MATTER. YOU HAVE your THING TOO. BE THE KID WHO CAN GET ALONG. BE THE KID WHO IS generous. BE THE KID WHO IS happy for other people. BE THE KID WHO DOES THE RIGHT THING. Be the nice kid." A small illustration of a blue graduation cap sits at the top, and a simple green leafy vine illustration decorates the bottom.

Our 6th Graders got to check out the Middle School this morning! They met their Teachers for 7th Grade, and engaged in team building activities

8 days ago, Kelley Schultz

A close-up of a boy with short dark hair sitting at a school desk, looking down intently as he carefully folds a piece of red paper into a triangle shape. An instructional sheet for making a paper football is visible on the desk to his left. He is wearing a black graphic t-shirt and two wristbands. IMG_5959.jpg: A girl with long brown hair and glasses sitting at a school desk, smiling as she looks down at a small piece of purple paper she is holding in both hands. An instructional sheet titled "Paper Football Game" sits on the desk in front of her. Other students and adults are visible in the background of the classroom.

A girl with long brown hair and glasses sitting at a school desk, smiling as she looks down at a small piece of purple paper she is holding in both hands. An instructional sheet titled "Paper Football Game" sits on the desk in front of her. Other students and adults are visible in the background of the classroom.

Special Board Meeting - June 8, 2026 -
You’re invited to the Slate Valley Unified Union School District Board Meeting at 6:30 p.m. in the Orwell Village School Gymnasium.
This meeting will be in person. Virtually connect by going to:
Video call link: https://meet.google.com/vsx-qjxt-kye
Or dial: (US) +1 234-719-4117 PIN: 856 473 497#

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.

8 days ago, Slate Valley