District Newsletter: September 18, 2026
Click Link: https://canva.link/9xy4c4tpc1y148g
about 20 hours ago, Slate Valley
Slate Valley Unified Union School District newsletter banner dated September 18, 2026, featuring logos for district schools including Castleton Elementary, Fair Haven Grade School, Fair Haven Union Middle School, Fair Haven Union High School, Orwell Village School, and Benson Village School.
Friday Focus: Our Technology Team Superheroes!

When Slate Valley faced a recent cybersecurity incident, our technology team didn’t flinch. Chris, Walter, Jesse, Brandon, and Ed worked around the clock—remaining calm, focused and determined—to secure our network and safely restore critical systems.

Thanks to their expertise and tireless efforts, internet service and staff email are returning across the district. All services continue to be carefully evaluated and restored.

This week’s Friday Focus is a heartfelt tribute to our technology superheroes. If you see a member of our tech team, please take a moment to thank them for everything they do for Slate Valley!
1 day ago, Slate Valley
Friday Focus graphic honoring Slate Valley’s technology team following the recent cybersecurity incident. Five illustrated superheroes wearing capes are labeled Brandon, Ed, Walter, Jesse and Chris in front of the Slate Valley logo. Text reads, “When Slate Valley faced a recent cybersecurity incident…our technology team didn’t flinch!” The background features circuit lines and lock icons in teal, green and white.
📚 Throwback Thursday: Did You Cover Your Textbooks? 📚

Remember when one of the first back-to-school tasks wasn’t logging into a Chromebook — it was covering your textbooks? ✏️📖

Those books had to last year after year, passing from one class of students to the next, so protecting them was serious business!

Now we want to know… how did YOU cover yours? 👇

🛍️ Did you master the art of turning a brown paper grocery bag into the perfect book cover — then decorate it with doodles, names, and notes throughout the year?
🎨 Did you buy the fancy, colorful covers at the store?
📚 Were you one to use the stretchy cloth book covers?

And who remembers opening a textbook and immediately checking the names written inside the front cover to see who had it before you? Sometimes those books had quite a history!

So, what kind of book cover was part of YOUR school days?
2 days ago, Slate Valley
Throwback Thursday graphic featuring vintage textbook covers, including decorated brown paper bag covers, colorful store-bought covers, and a stretchy cloth book cover. Text asks, “Remember when one of the first back-to-school tasks wasn’t logging into a Chromebook—it was covering your textbooks? Did you do this? If yes, how did YOU cover your textbooks?” The Slate Valley logo appears at the top, with “Vintage Book Covers” at the bottom.
Where Are They Now Wednesday:
Keenan Donaldson, Class of 2023

For Fair Haven Union alumnus Keenan Donaldson, finding the right career path started before he even
graduated. A member of the Class of 2023, Keenan took advantage of career and technical education and a
co-op opportunity that helped turn an interest in the trades into a career he enjoys today.

While attending FHU, Keenan enrolled at Stafford Technical Center, where he studied plumbing and electrical.
Through Stafford’s co-op program, he began working every other day with Long Trail Electrical Contractors.
That hands-on experience proved to be an important first step toward his future.

After graduation, Keenan continued working with Long Trail Electrical Contractors and began an electrical
apprenticeship program through Vermont State University Castleton. He has now completed three years of
electrical classes and is beginning his fourth and final year as he works toward earning his journeyman’s
license.

Once he completes his classes, Keenan expects to be eligible to become a journeyman next year. From there,
after two additional years of work experience, his goal is to take the exam to earn his master electrician’s
license.

Looking back on his school years, Keenan remembers two educators who made a particularly meaningful
impact on him.
“First would be Mike Bruce, my homeroom teacher,” Keenan shared. “Just a nice guy. Always good to talk to.”
He also credits Chris Tooley, his plumbing and electrical instructor at Stafford, as someone who helped shape
his experience and career path.

Outside the classroom, Keenan was involved in baseball and bowling at FHU. When part of the Slater's
bowling program, he helped earn two state titles—with his dad also serving as a bowling coach.

Today, Keenan’s hands-on interests extend well beyond his workday. He enjoys ice fishing with his friend
Caleb and spending time helping his parents. In fact, he is currently putting his handyman and carpenter skills
to good use by helping his parents build a house. With the exception of the concrete foundation, the family has
been tackling the work themselves rather than contracting it out.

A favorite quote from his dad seems especially fitting for the career Keenan has chosen:
“If you love the work you do, you’ll never work a day in your life.”

Keenan says that, for the most part, the saying rings true. Like anyone, he has days when work feels like work,
but he knows the effort is worthwhile and is happy with the career he has chosen.

When asked what advice he would give to today’s Slater students, Keenan offered a simple reminder that
comes from his own experiences:
“Take the time to do things you love. Otherwise, you may miss out.”

From Stafford’s classrooms and a high school co-op placement to an apprenticeship and a career with Long
Trail Electrical Contractors, Keenan’s journey is a great example of how opportunities during high school can
help students discover a path that is right for them.

We are proud to see Keenan continuing to learn, build his skills, and work toward his goals—and we look
forward to seeing where his career takes him next!
3 days ago, Slate Valley
Where Are They Now Wednesday graphic featuring FHUHS Class of 2023 graduate Keenan Donaldson standing beside a work vehicle. Highlights include his plumbing and electrical studies at Stafford Technical Center, co-op experience and current employment with Long Trail Electrical Contractors, pursuit of his journeyman’s and master electrician’s licenses, influential teachers Mike Bruce and Chris Tooley, and two state titles with the Slaters bowling team. His favorite quote is, “If you love the work you do, you’ll never work a day in your life.”
✏️ Trivia Tuesday: Back-to-School Edition

As Slate Valley students begin a new school year with freshly sharpened pencils, did you know that Castleton once had its own pencil mill?

In the 1800s, slate pencils used by students for writing on slate tablets were manufactured right here in Castleton!

Question: At its peak, approximately how many slate pencils could the mill produce in a single day?

The slate pencil mill was established along Sucker Brook in 1843, and its pencils were eventually shipped around the world. Today, Pencil Mill Road, named for the mill, along with a historical marker at the intersection of Pencil Mill Road and North Road preserve this unique piece of Castleton—and school—history.

For more information, visit: https://www.hmdb.org/m.asp?m=97291

Answer: 100,000 ✏️
4 days ago, Slate Valley
Trivia Tuesday graphic featuring the Slate Valley logo and a question about Castleton’s slate pencil-making history. Text asks: “In the 1800s, slate pencils used by students for writing on slate tablets were manufactured right here in Castleton. At its peak, approximately how many slate pencils could the mill produce in a single day?” Images include antique slate pencils, a student slate tablet, and a historic image labeled “American Slate Pencil Works, Castleton, Vt.”
🚌 Now Hiring School Bus Drivers! 🚌

Bet-Cha Transit is seeking school bus drivers to help safely transport students while making a difference in our local communities.

Pay: $29.50–$31.50 per hour

Benefits include:

✅ Paid training
✅ Family-friendly schedule
✅ Child ride-along program
✅ Extra earning opportunities through charters, field trips, athletic events and shuttles

If you are looking for rewarding, part-time work that supports local students and families, learn more and apply today:

🔗 https://ridesta.com/careers/
5 days ago, Slate Valley
Bet-Cha Transit recruitment graphic featuring a yellow school bus traveling through a Vermont landscape. Text reads: “Now Hiring School Bus Drivers. $29.50–$31.50 per hour.” Benefits include paid training, a family-friendly schedule, a child ride-along program and extra earning opportunities through charters, field trips, athletics, events and shuttles. The graphic concludes, “Make a difference in your community! Apply today.”
📣 Join us in shaping the future of Slate Valley’s elementary schools!

As we begin our Elementary School Reorganization Study, input from families, staff, and community members will be essential. Please join us at an upcoming engagement session to share your perspective, ask questions, and help guide our district’s direction:

📍 Monday, September 21 | 6:30–8:00 PM
Benson Village School — In person only

📍 Tuesday, September 22 | 8:00–9:00 PM
Castleton Elementary School — In person only

💻 Thursday, October 1 | 6:30–7:30 PM
Virtual — Link provided closer to the date

We are also seeking community representatives—especially residents of Benson and Castleton—to serve on the Steering Committee. Members will help gather feedback and analyze options throughout the process.

Interested or have questions? Contact Superintendent Brooke Olsen-Farrell at bfarrell@svuvt.org.

Learn more and follow updates:
www.slatevalleyunified.org/page/elementary-reorganization
5 days ago, Slate Valley
Slate Valley Elementary Reorganization flyer inviting families, staff, and community members to help shape the future of the district’s schools. Engagement sessions are Monday, September 21, from 6:30–8:00 PM at Benson Village School; Tuesday, September 22, from 8:00–9:00 PM at Castleton Elementary School; and virtually on Thursday, October 1, from 6:30–7:30 PM, with the link to be provided later. The district is also seeking Steering Committee members, particularly Benson and Castleton residents. Contact Brooke Olsen-Farrell at bfarrell@svuvt.org. Updates are available at slatevalleyunified.org/page/elementary-reorganization.
Meet Faculty & Staff Monday: Mr. Tom DeMatties

Our first Meet Faculty & Staff Monday of the 2026-27 year takes us to Castleton Elementary School, where we are pleased to feature sixth-grade teacher Mr. Tom DeMatties!

Mr. DeMatties brings many years of experience—and a genuine enthusiasm for working with students—to his classroom. He taught for approximately 19 years at the former Castleton Village School before transitioning to Castleton Elementary School. Earlier in his career, he taught at Champlain Valley Christian School, where he also served as principal. His teaching journey began at Poultney Elementary School and also included five years at the former North Country Christian Academy in Williston.

Through all those years and experiences, one thing has remained constant: Mr. DeMatties truly enjoys teaching.

While the work can certainly leave him tired by the end of the day, each morning brings new energy. He especially enjoys heading outside to greet his sixth graders as they arrive at school, knowing that every day will bring something new.

Outside of the classroom, Mr. DeMatties is rarely sitting still! A fan of winter, he enjoys ice skating, shoveling snow, riding skip-jacks, and just about everything the season has to offer. He also enjoys building and working with his hands. Over the years, he has helped build several houses, a tiny house, and even an apartment for his daughter.

Thanksgiving is his favorite holiday because of its simplicity and the opportunity to appreciate family, faith, and life. Giving back is also important to him. Mr. DeMatties has participated in disaster relief work through Samaritan’s Purse—work that he describes as difficult and demanding, but also incredibly rewarding.

More recently, another family tradition has taken root. Mr. DeMatties and his extended family have been making maple syrup together in a newly built sugar house on his father’s property. Each March, the maple trees are waiting, while throughout the rest of the year, plenty of time is spent gathering firewood.

Whether he is teaching sixth graders, lending a hand to others, building something new, or spending time outdoors with his family, Mr. DeMatties lives by a simple philosophy:
“Be good and do good, give it a try.”

Thank you, Mr. DeMatties, for sharing a little more about yourself and for all you bring to the students and community at Castleton Elementary School!
5 days ago, Slate Valley
Graphic featuring Tom DeMatties, sixth-grade teacher at Castleton Elementary School, for Slate Valley’s Meet Faculty & Staff Monday. Tom has approximately 19 years of experience at the former Castleton Village School and previously taught at Poultney Elementary, North Country Christian Academy, and Champlain Valley Christian School, where he also served as principal. He enjoys teaching and greeting his sixth graders each morning. Outside of school, Tom enjoys winter activities, building projects, and making maple syrup with his extended family. His favorite saying is, “Be good and do good, give it a try.”
Board Meeting - September 14, 2026 -

You’re invited to the Slate Valley Unified Union School District Board Meeting at 6:30 p.m. in the Benson Village School Gymnasium.
This meeting will be in person. Virtually connect by going to:
Video call link: https://meet.google.com/wgp-jpnj-fhh
Or dial: (US) +1 573-518-7206 PIN: 441 811 264#

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.
5 days ago, Slate Valley
Graphic inviting the community to the Slate Valley Unified Union School District Board Meeting on September 14, 2026, at 6:30 PM in the Benson Village School Gymnasium. Agenda items include the consent agenda, Child Count presentation, District Merger (Act 170) update, elementary reorganization update, and Stafford Regional Advisory Board update.
8 days ago, Slate Valley
Slate Valley Unified USD Newsletter dated September 11, 2026. The banner features a glowing green padlock and cybersecurity symbols above an illustration of students working at desktop computers.
🇺🇸 25 Years — We Remember

Today marks 25 years since September 11, 2001—a day that forever changed our nation.

We pause to remember the nearly 3,000 lives lost, honor the courage and sacrifice of the first responders and everyday heroes who stepped forward, and recognize the families and communities whose lives were forever changed.

For many of today’s students, September 11 is a part of history they did not experience firsthand. As a school community, we have an important role in helping future generations understand its significance and carry forward the lessons of courage, compassion, service, and unity.

Twenty-five years later, we remember. We honor. We will never forget. 🇺🇸
8 days ago, Slate Valley
Graphic commemorating the 25th anniversary of September 11, 2001. The top features the Tribute in Light rising above the nighttime New York City skyline with a large gold “25 Years.” Below, a patriotic “9/11” design in red, white, and blue incorporates the Twin Towers and New York skyline alongside the words “Never Forget.”
Dear Slate Valley Community,

We want to provide an update on our continued recovery following the recent cybersecurity incident that impacted the Slate Valley School District’s technology systems.

We are pleased to report that significant progress has been made, and internet service is beginning to be restored across the district. Staff email is also beginning to come back online, which is another important step in restoring our normal communication systems. Please be aware that email functionality may still be inconsistent as services continue to be restored.

While these are significant steps forward, our systems are not yet fully operational. Our technology team, with the support of cybersecurity professionals, is carefully and methodically bringing systems and services back online. Each system must be evaluated and restored in a manner that prioritizes the security and integrity of our network.

The cause and full scope of the cybersecurity incident remains under investigation. We are working closely with law enforcement and cybersecurity experts as that investigation continues. Because this is an active investigation, there may be details that we are unable to share at this time. We will provide additional information to our community when it is appropriate and when we have verified information to share.

At this time, some technology services remain unavailable or may not function as expected. Student access to Chromebooks has not yet been restored, and we continue to work through other network-connected systems and services.

Throughout this disruption, schools have remained open and learning has continued. Our staff have demonstrated tremendous flexibility and creativity, adapting instruction and operations while many of the technology tools we typically rely upon have been unavailable.

We recognize how important technology and communication are to our students, families, and staff. We greatly appreciate the patience and understanding of our entire Slate Valley community as we work through this recovery.

Our priority is not simply to restore systems quickly, but to restore them safely and securely. We will continue to provide updates as additional services are restored, as we reach significant milestones in the recovery process, and as we are able to share additional verified information regarding the investigation.

Thank you for your continued patience, understanding, and support of our schools.
9 days ago, Slate Valley
Graphic featuring the Slate Valley logo and the words “Slate Valley Community Cybersecurity Incident—New Update, Please Read.” A red alert bell and green lock icon emphasize the important notice.
FHGS will be conducting a fire drill this week and we will notify families when it is completed.
11 days ago, Slate Valley
Graphic of a red box with a white circle containing the announcement that FHGS will be conducting a fire drill this week and we will notify families when it is completed.
Good morning, Slate Valley,

On September 3, 2026, Slate Valley Unified USD experienced an outage on our network that affected our ability to access certain systems. Upon discovery, we immediately took steps to secure our network and began working with our IT staff and third-party computer specialists to investigate and respond to the outage. 

As our investigation and response remains ongoing, we are working diligently to restore affected systems as quickly and securely as possible.  We ask that you please continue to contact the schools through their phone numbers until further notice, refrain from sending emails. We do not expect this issue to result in any closures or missed classes. 

We will provide you with updates once additional information is learned.

Sincerely,
​​​​​​​Brooke Olsen-Farrell
13 days ago, Slate Valley
Graphic announcing an update on our cybersecurity Notice, asking to Please Read in red bold copy
15 days ago, Slate Valley
Slate Valley Unified USD Newsletter banner dated September 4, 2026, featuring a “Hello September” message with a smiling red apple and an apple tree on a warm, autumn-inspired background.
Dear Slate Valley Community,

We want to make you aware that the Slate Valley School District is currently experiencing a cybersecurity issue that is impacting our technology systems.

At this time, we anticipate that we will not have access to the internet, including district email, until further notice. This means that staff will not be able to send or receive email during this time.

Our school phone systems remain operational. If you need to contact your child’s school or a staff member, please call the school directly. School staff will assist you or ensure that your message gets to the appropriate person.

We are actively working with our technology and cybersecurity professionals to address the issue and restore services as safely and quickly as possible. We will provide additional updates to the community as information becomes available.

Thank you for your patience and understanding as we work through this situation.

Brooke Olsen-Farrell
Superintendent
16 days ago, Slate Valley
“Slate Valley Community Cybersecurity Notice.” Internet and district email are temporarily unavailable across all Slate Valley schools. School phone systems remain operational. Families should call their child’s school directly to contact a school or staff member. The district is working to restore services safely and quickly and will provide updates as information becomes available.
🍎 Vendors Wanted for Applefest! 🍎

Applefest is coming up, and we’re looking for vendors to join the fun! Whether you sell handmade goods, crafts, local products, delicious treats, or operate a food truck, we’d love to have you be part of this favorite fall tradition.

Applefest 2026 will be held Saturday, September 19, from 10:00 AM–3:00 PM, with a rain date of Sunday, September 20.

🍏 General Vendors: $30 per spot
🍎 Food Vendors/Food Trucks: $35 per spot

Interested in becoming a vendor? Reserve your spot today-Call 802-265-3883!
17 days ago, Slate Valley
Applefest “Vendors Wanted” graphic featuring apples and fall leaves. Applefest is September 19 from 10 AM–3 PM, with a rain date of September 20. General vendor spaces are $30; food vendor and food truck spaces are $35. Call 802-265-3883 to reserve a spot. Spaces fill up fast!
Building Our Classroom Community, One Square at a Time!

Mrs. McCrea’s first graders started the school year with a special project designed to celebrate what makes each student unique while bringing everyone together as a class!

Each student created their own illustrated square, which was then combined with their classmates’ artwork to create this wonderful classroom quilt. Just like the pieces of a quilt, every student brings something special to the classroom—and together, they make an amazing community.

What a creative way to begin a new year of learning, friendship, and growing together!
18 days ago, Slate Valley
A handmade classroom quilt created by Mrs. McCrea’s first grade students. The large paper quilt features alternating gray and white squares, with students’ colorful drawings filling many of the white squares. Two people hold up the finished project for display.
NOTICE:

Tonight’s CAC meeting is cancelled. We apologize for the short notice.

Thank you for your understanding.
18 days ago, Slate Valley
Slate Valley Community Advisory Council graphic announcing that the September 1, 2026 meeting, originally scheduled for 5:45–7:00 PM in the Central Office Conference Room at Fair Haven Union Middle & High School, has been CANCELLED.
🐐 GOAT of the Week!

Submitted by third grade teacher, Ms. Mead: Our third grade students are kicking off a new incentive called GOAT of the Week! Each week, two students will have the opportunity to earn this special recognition by consistently following our classroom expectations. These expectations include being respectful to classmates, following directions, and taking ownership of their work and actions.

Our GOATS of the Week will receive a certificate and a special trophy to proudly keep on their desk throughout the following week. We are so excited to celebrate students who demonstrate leadership, responsibility, and kindness each day!

Our first GOATS of the Week are Theo P. and Addi H.! 🎉 🐐 Congratulations Theo and Addi! We are so proud of you!
19 days ago, Slate Valley
Two students hold gold G.O.A.T. (Greatest of All Time) trophies and certificates recognizing them as “G.O.A.T. of the Week.” The certificates are dated August 28, 2026.