Due to the weather, baseball and softball practices will be moved indoors today, 4/28/21. Baseball will be in the CVS gym (please enter at the front of the school) and softball will be at FHGS (please enter on the south side of the building - directly into the gym) Thank you!
Due to the weather, 6/7/8 Track and Field is canceled today. Thank you.
Wednesday, May 5th, we are hosting a virtual meeting for families to learn more about Positive Behavioral Interventions and Supports or PBIS.
The champions of today's Chicken Leg Piece hide and seek game!
Good Evening,
Please read the following letter regarding the special airing of “Angst: Raising Awareness Around Anxiety” on Monday, May 3: https://5il.co/ry3u
Save the Date!
Virtual Listening Tours with SVUUSD Board Members (Note: You are welcome to attend any of the meetings regardless of what town you reside in.)
Join board members for a conversation about Middle School Reorganization prior to their vote on May 24th.
May 17th, 6 PM - Fair Haven/West Haven - Connect by going to https://meet.google.com/pdu-abre-xnm or by phone (US) +1 585-532-5413 (PIN: 713397202)
May 18th, 6 PM - Castleton/Hubbardton - Connect by going to https://meet.google.com/gee-acpe-ota or join by phone (US) +1 442-900-4083 (PIN: 398252852)
May 19th, 6 PM - Orwell/Benson - Connect by going to https://meet.google.com/djm-sekz-bca or join by phone (US) +1 786-563-9119 (PIN: 104762513)
Preschoolers hunting for bugs and signs of spring!
Save the date!
On Monday, May 3, 2021, Slate Valley will hold a special screening of the documentary, “Angst: Raising Awareness Around Anxiety," online to open up a dialogue between local families, community leaders and experts. The event will feature a viewing of the 56-minute film, followed by an informative panel discussion, led by Kristin H. Benway, Director of Special Services, with special guests Megan Oldenburger, RMHS School Based Clinician, Michael Kell, School Counselor, and former Slater Cael Christian.
Register at https://us02web.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN__ElOViTuQDG2QTV7IWdFqA. iNDIEFLIX Education has sparked a global conversation about anxiety through screenings of its documentary, “Angst: Raising Awareness Around Anxiety.”
For more information: https://5il.co/rpnd
Our April newsletter is out now! Check out our upcoming events and see some of the great things happening at FHGS : https://5il.co/rw0p
FHGS middle school is employing a "work hard, play hard" model to motivate students during SBAC testing. Students are designing spring bulletin boards, decorating spindles for a tower building challenge, and competing in relay races. Students complete their testing sessions in the morning and have fun in the afternoons.
Dear 8th Grade Students and Families,
We understand that there are a lot of questions regarding the end of year activities. We wanted to touch base with you regarding our current plans, knowing that it is likely that guidance may change and therefore, these plans may change. First, we want to recognize how different this year has been for you. There have been many changes and some of those changes have resulted in the loss of events and activities that are long-standing traditions. In addition, there are changes that have impacted your day to day existence here at school. You have faced these challenges and persevered. The fact that we have been in person 5 days a week at FHGS, with only a couple exceptions, is a HUGE success - attributed, in part, to your efforts and work in following our Health and Safety Guidelines. We thank you for your role in this success.
We are expecting additional guidance from the Agency of Education regarding end of the year activities in the next couple of weeks. When we receive that guidance, we will revisit our current plans and see if there are changes we can make.
Currently, we are working to plan an 8th grade trip that is in-state, likely to the lake. We still have to determine the details of this trip. Graduation is currently planned to be in-person with students and 8th grade advisors/teachers. The event will be recorded and/or streamed live for families to view. If new guidance comes out and indicates that we can have spectators present, the plans for graduation may shift. There will possibly be limits to the number of spectators that a student can have present and there will be mask and distancing expectations to enforce. Another component to consider will be weather. It is possible if we can hold an event with spectators, it may need to be outside. It will be challenging to have a contingency plan for this when our tentative graduation date for FHGS is the last day of school.
It has been over a year of living differently and rethinking how we do everything. We applaud our successes, are grateful for light at the end of this tunnel, honor all that you have endured and done, and ask you for a bit more patience as we navigate the last few months of this year. We know you are tired and we are all longing for our old normal. We will do our best, and the work required, to lessen the impact of loss experienced during this time, in any way that we can.
Thank you and stay tuned for updates that may come through advisory, emails, mailings and/or information shared on our websites and social media sites.
Stay healthy!
Mrs. Infurna, Ms. Paquette, Mrs. Armitage
View PDF of Letter: https://5il.co/ru8y
Dodge House Donation Drive - A FHUHS Student’s R.E.A.L. Project
Please view the flyer here for more information: https://www.smore.com/xpe32
This drive is being held by the Slate Valley Unified School District. We hope to raise awareness of homeless Veterans, and support the Dodge House in Rutland, which "provides shelter, clothing, food, and an individualized program to reintegrate veterans back into the community and help them to achieve self sufficiency" (http://www.chcrr.org).
Donation boxes will be located in the front offices of all Slate Valley schools from March 29th and April 25th.
Save the date!
iNDIEFLIX Shines the Light on Anxiety with Must-See Documentary,
“ANGST: RAISING AWARENESS AROUND ANXIETY”
ANGST will screen live on:
Monday, May 3, 2021 AT 6:00pm
Register at https://us02web.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN__ElOViTuQDG2QTV7IWdFqA
iNDIEFLIX Education has sparked a global conversation about anxiety through screenings of its documentary, “Angst: Raising Awareness Around Anxiety”.
On Monday, May 3, 2021, Slate Valley will hold a special screening of the documentary online to open up a dialogue between local families, community leaders and experts. The event will feature a viewing of the 56-minute film, followed by an informative panel discussion, led by Kristin H. Benway, Director of Special Services, with special guests Megan Oldenburger, RMHS School Based Clinician, Michael Kell, School Counselor, and former Slater Cael Christian.
For more information: https://5il.co/rpnd
Reminder! Tonight (April 19th)
You’re invited to the Slate Valley Unified Union School District Board (virtual) Meeting at 6:30 p.m.
Participation will be virtual only. Connect by going to http://meet.google.com/nmr-haqy-umb or join by phone (US) +1 617-675-4444 PIN: 151 630 604 3623#
Tonight’s Agenda: https://5il.co/rpa2
Previous Meeting Minutes: https://5il.co/ranl
Dodge House Donation Drive - A FHUHS Student’s R.E.A.L. Project
Please view the flyer here for more information: https://www.smore.com/xpe32
This drive is being held by the Slate Valley Unified School District. We hope to raise awareness of homeless Veterans, and support the Dodge House in Rutland, which "provides shelter, clothing, food, and an individualized program to reintegrate veterans back into the community and help them to achieve self sufficiency" (http://www.chcrr.org).
Donation boxes will be located in the front offices of all Slate Valley schools from March 29th and April 25th.
Dear Slate Valley Families,
I hope this letter finds you well. As we head into April break I would like to update you on new Guidelines released from the Agency of Education yesterday, April 8th. These guidelines are part of Vermont’s Reopening Plan. Starting on April 19th all students will need to be screened at home. We will not be doing temperature checks in schools. We will no longer require the form for entrance to school each day per the state guidelines. We ask that you continue to check temperatures and check for any signs or symptoms of COVID-19 and keep children home that have even 1 symptom. The Department of Health guidelines remain the same in managing illness. Please call your child’s school nurse with any questions as they can guide you in safe school attendance.
Additionally schools are now required to follow ACCD guidelines and Vermont’s Reopening Plan as such there is no quarantine requirement for travel. However, if your unvaccinated child does travel you are required to obtain a COVID test within 72 hours of return. Your child will be able to continue to attend school if symptom free. If you have planned travel, we encourage you to sign up on the Department of Health website for return testing before you leave and as the site allows. Documentation of the negative test may be required if a case of COVID-19 occurs in the school and your child is considered a close contact. Physician offices for the most part will not perform testing unless your child is symptomatic. Please continue practicing the best prevention measures of mask wearing, 6 foot distancing and hand cleansing during your travels to remain healthy and safe.
Social distancing has moved to 3 feet for all students with the exception of 7-12 students when eating. That will remain at 6 feet. Contact tracing is still determined based on the 6 foot standard so we will continue to keep all 7-12 students 6 feet apart whenever feasible. Adults will still need to maintain the 6 feet social distancing.
Masks continue to be required of students and staff at all times in the buildings regardless of vaccination status.
For more information please visit the Department of Health and ACCD.vermont.gov websites for more detailed and specific information on travel, quarantine, and vaccines. The Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) sections are very helpful.
I know this has been a hard road this year and your support for the school district has been very much appreciated. I truly hope you have a wonderful week with your children next week.
Best,
Brooke Olsen-Farrell
Superintendent
Spring Sports Letter
Hello everyone,
Welcome to Spring! Thank you all for a supportive Winter Athletic season. I so appreciate your support and flexibility through everything.
We have a wonderful opportunity this Spring season for our district athletes. We will (like in the Fall for soccer) be combining our OVS/BVS/FHGS/CVS athletes to make one Slate Valley Baseball and Softball team. The registration numbers do not support having separate teams for FHGS/BVS and CVS/OVS as the total numbers for baseball are 19 and softball 21. I reached out to our Varsity softball coach for advice on this and he felt this would be a wonderful way to bring our athletes together, teach them all skills necessary to move to the next level and have enough players to field a team with substitutes during this COVID season. Also, very exciting news, we will be using Castleton University as our HOME field for most games. Fair Haven Grade School will be our HOME practice field for the first part of the season and we are hoping to be able to utilize the field at CU for some practices near the end. I will keep you posted. Your athletes will start practicing on Monday, April 19th.
Our coaches that will be returning to work with our athletes this year are: Will Tyler and Will DiFrancesco for the ⅞ boys baseball team and Peter Baird and Ashley Bruce with Emma Kelly assisting for the ⅞ girls softball team. I am looking forward to an exciting season filled with skill building, game play and team work.
The practice and game schedule will be on the Slate Valley App by Friday, April 9, 2021. Registration on Formreleaf.com closes at 6am, Friday, April 9, 2021.
Our Spring Track is going to be off to an exciting start as of Monday, April 19th. I would like to welcome our new coach Grace Durfee. She brings background knowledge and experience to us. We have 17 athletes registered for that sport. Practices will be held at FHUHS.
The practice and game schedule will be on the Slate Valley App by Friday, April 9, 2021. As in the Fall and Winter for athletics, parents will be responsible for dropping off and picking their athletes up at the HOME Practice and Game sites. A bus will be provided for all AWAY games/meets.
Thank you in advance for your support and cooperation through our Spring Sports season. I will continue to send out weekly reminder emails with practice/game schedules and COVID requirements.
Have a wonderful spring everyone!
All my best,
Kim Alexander
Dodge House Donation Drive - A FHUHS Student’s R.E.A.L. Project
Please view the flyer here for more information: https://www.smore.com/xpe32
This drive is being held by the Slate Valley Unified School District. We hope to raise awareness of homeless Veterans, and support the Dodge House in Rutland, which "provides shelter, clothing, food, and an individualized program to reintegrate veterans back into the community and help them to achieve self sufficiency" (http://www.chcrr.org).
Donation boxes will be located in the front offices of all Slate Valley schools from March 29th and April 25th.
Reminder! Tonight (April 5, 2021)
You’re invited to the Slate Valley Unified Union School District Board (Virtual) Meeting at 6:30 p.m.
Participation will be VIRTUAL ONLY. Connect by going to http://meet.google.com/kdn-osig-qsn or join by phone (US) +1 617-675-4444 PIN: 474 306 975 5652#.
Tonight’s Agenda: https://5il.co/r4fm
Previous Meeting Minutes: https://5il.co/qwix
Dear Slate Valley Community Member,
On 4-4-21 we learned about an individual with Coronavirus Disease at the Fair Haven Grade School. This individual was in attendance while contagious. Contact tracing has been completed and the school will be open for in-person instruction on Monday April 5th. However, one classroom will be remote all next week. All of the parents and staff of the impacted classroom have been contacted. We are working closely with the Department of Health. We continue to advise our staff and students to stay home when sick. We recommend that you take action to help limit the spread of COVID-19, even if your child is not experiencing symptoms. This is especially important given that we know the virus is in our community.
Please see the full letter from Superintendent Olsen-Farrell: https://5il.co/r7g7