ATTENTION: PLEASE READ
Good Morning,
I wanted to update you on the situation at Fair Haven Union Middle/High School that caused the closure of the building today. There was a break in the fuel oil line that supplies fuel to the boilers and upwards of 500 gallons of fuel oil leaked into the utility tunnels under the building and the boiler room. The fuel oil also drained into a sump pump in the boiler room and made its way into the sewer system. We have contracted with a hazardous waste company and reached out to the appropriate state officials. This is an ongoing situation and I will update you as more information is available. The building is closed to all at this time.
Sincerely,
Brooke Olsen-Farrell
Available to every student, every morning!
The 6th graders have been coaching the 4th graders in the game of chess. So much fun learning and sharing all the strategies!
Last week the 40th Army Band from Camp Johnson in Colchester performed a concert for students and staff.
Reminder: Tomorrow night, March 26th, is the second of the two parent information nights. Hope to see you there! You can join by going to: https://us02web.zoom.us/meeting/register/tZAvcuqrpjIpGtAY4HTzgYaN9dzPc4H1C33J
This past Monday, Abagail Hunter, Miss Rutland County came to speak to grades 4-6 about her experience with bullying and what it means to be an Upstander and a Bystander. CES students who wanted to, signed the pledge to stand against bullying with Pacer's National Bullying Prevention Center! CES stands against bullying!
New Podcast: View at https://bit.ly/SVBudgetRevote
In this episode Superintendent Brooke Olsen-Farrell talks with School Board Chair, Patricia Beaumont, and Board Finance Committee Chair, Glen Cousineau about the revised FY25 Budget Proposal that will be put forth to voters on April 11, 2024. They discuss various topics from why the board chose this revised budget option, and they attempt to answer some common questions being asked from their serving community.
Reminder: Continuous Improvement Plan Parent/School Compact Meeting is NEXT WEEK, Monday, March 25th from 3:30 - 4:30 pm at Castleton Elementary School. Please RSVP to the school (802-468-5624) by tomorrow, March 21st, if you will be attending.
Summer in Slate Valley! Hosted by Boys & Girls Club
Tonight - March 18, 2024
You’re invited to the Slate Valley Unified Union School District Special Board Meeting at 6:30 p.m. in the Fair Haven Union Middle & High School Library. This meeting will be in person. You can virtually connect by going to: Video call link: https://meet.google.com/wnq-fgob-uwu Or dial: (US) +1 803-250-5816 PIN: 801 211 859#
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.
It's a Slate Valley Teacher In-Service Day! Superintendent Brooke Olsen-Farrell and guest speaker Jackie Wilson, greet faculty and staff who gathered this morning for a quick introduction to agenda items and work they will be focusing on for the day. Everyone then dispersed into smaller groups for more in depth training.
Monday Night - March 18, 2024
You’re invited to the Slate Valley Unified Union School District Special Board Meeting at 6:30 p.m. in the Fair Haven Union Middle & High School Library. This meeting will be in person. You can virtually connect by going to: Video call link: https://meet.google.com/wnq-fgob-uwu Or dial: (US) +1 803-250-5816 PIN: 801 211 859#
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.
Reminder: Tomorrow night, March 12th, is the first of two parent information nights. Hope to see you there! You can join by going to: https://us02web.zoom.us/meeting/register/tZcvcuGorzMiEtVRUZIiGrqd2Sd8UdoeXDNc
Tonight - March 11, 2024
You’re invited to the Slate Valley Unified Union School District Board Meeting at 6:30 p.m. in the Fair Haven Union Middle & High School Library. This meeting will be in person. You can virtually connect by going to: Video call link: https://meet.google.com/xau-equi-ako Or dial: (US) +1 484-424-5323 PIN: 683 665 442#
Today in Ms. Redding's second grade class, students brought nature and math together by creating groups of 3s out of items found outdoors. They created addition and multiplication sentences to match what they found! They had an absolute blast!
4th grade is reporting out on their Vermont Critters. They know all about the diet, habitat, physical characteristics, and importance of these animals in our local environment. The Critter project is one of Mr. Canty's special assignments taken from the science program Project Wild.
Mrs. Winrich's first graders love reading with their sixth grade class buddies from Mrs. Desantis's class.
Message from Superintendent Brooke Olsen-Farrell:
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 1004 yes and 1468 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 aimed to address critical needs and enhance the overall educational experience for our students. We appreciate the thoughtful consideration that went into the decision-making process by those who participated in the vote. While the outcome was not what we had hoped for, we respect and acknowledge the democratic nature of our community.
Our top priority remains providing the best possible education for our students, and we will continue to work diligently to find alternative solutions in light of the budget failure. This setback challenges us to reassess our priorities and explore creative ways to meet the needs of our students within the financial constraints we face.
We encourage open dialogue and welcome any suggestions or concerns you may have. Your input is invaluable, and we believe that together, as a united community, we can navigate through these challenges and find solutions that benefit our students and the entire school community.
In the coming weeks, we will hold board meetings to discuss the budget failure, gather feedback, and explore potential options moving forward. Your participation and engagement are crucial during this process, and we encourage you to attend these meetings to share your thoughts and ideas.
We remain committed to transparency and collaboration as we work towards a shared goal of providing an exceptional education for our students. Thank you for your ongoing support, and we look forward to working together to overcome this challenge.
Sincerely,
Brooke Olsen-Farrell