Congratulations to Maddy Helm who recently returned from Tryon, North Carolina at the WCRA DY Youth Invitational Championship Rodeo. She was one of only 10 youths from across the country invited to compete in each event and Maddy WON 1st place in barrel racing! What an accomplishment! Slaternation is so proud of you Maddy!
** SENIOR INFORMATION NIGHT **
WED., OCT. 18, 2023
5:30PM TO 7:00PM
FHUMHS CAFETERIA
Senior Information Presented by School Counselors; David Gale, Karla Ramey, and Tracey Cross-Baker.
VSAC Resource Presentation by Tia Stillman, GearUp Outreach Counselor.
*To RSVP or ask questions, call (802) 265-3636 or stop by the High School Counseling Office
October 9, 2023
Dear Slate Valley Families and Staff,
I hope this message finds you well. We wanted to take a moment to address the recent incident that has occurred in our local community and to reassure you about the safety measures we have in place to protect our school community.
As many of you may be aware, there was a tragic incident near the Castleton University Campus, resulting in a manhunt which has understandably raised concerns in our community. The safety and well-being of our students and staff remain our top priority, and I want to assure you that we are taking this situation very seriously. We have been in contact with law enforcement on a regular basis. We take our direction from them.
We plan to hold school as normal. However, there are some safety precautions we have implemented or enhanced at Castleton Elementary, Fair Haven Grade School and Fair Haven Union Middle/High School in response to this incident:
Outside Activities: We will determine whether or not to hold outside activities based on advice from law enforcement. This includes sporting events and outside recess at the MS/HS, FHGS and CES. Right now we are proceeding with outside activities and we will have additional supervision as appropriate.
Bus Stops: Please consider waiting with your child at all bus stops or driving them to and from school. Consider walking in pairs/groups to and from school. Of course this decision is up to you as a parent but that is the advice we are being given.
Communication: We will continue to keep you updated with any relevant information about the situation.
Counseling Services: Our school counselors are available to support students who may be feeling anxious or upset due to recent events. Please do not hesitate to reach out if your child needs support.
If you have any concerns or questions about our safety precautions or would like additional information, please feel free to contact our school. We are committed to providing a safe and secure learning environment for all our students and staff. Your cooperation, understanding, and vigilance are greatly appreciated as we work together to continue to ensure the safety of our school community.
Thank you for your continued support.
Sincerely,
Brooke Olsen-Farrell
Superintendent
This coming Monday, October 9th, there will be a planned police training at FHUMHS. The training will not impact practices and/or games.
**UPCOMING COLLEGE VISITS**
University of Vermont
Thursday, 10/12/23 - 1:00pm
Fairfield University
Friday, 10/13/23 - 9:15am (Virtual Visit)
Vermont State University
Monday, 10/16/23 - 9:00am
*Don't See A College or Technical Center That You Are Interested In? Stop by the High School Guidance Office & Let Us Know!
Last night, the Lakes Region FreePress held their Best of the Best 2023 Awards Ceremony, honoring those who were voted into the top of their categories by our community. Slate Valley was well represented with Fair Haven Grade School's Applefest placing second for the Best Annual Event! Slate Valley also had 3 out of the 7 teachers who made it into the finalist voting, they were Castleton Elementary's Amy DeSantis, and Fair Haven Union High School's Ashleigh Sanborn and Jennifer Clement. Ms. Sanborn finished in second place to Mrs. Clement, who was awarded highest honor as the community's favorite teacher! Congratulations everyone!
Tomorrow's Football Game (Saturday, October 7th) at 6 PM vs. Peru is CANCELED due to the impending bad weather. Both Athletic Directors agreed on this tough decision, they do not want to risk any players on either team getting hurt.
NOTICE FOR TODAY, FRIDAY, OCTOBER 6, 2023: Due to the concern in our communities, it has been directed to CANCEL all activities HOME and AWAY for our athletes 5th - 12th grade for Fair Haven Union Middle & High School AND all other Slate Valley Schools.
Therefore:
***ALL PRACTICES are CANCELED - 5th - 12th grade
***5/6 Boys and Girls Soccer AWAY at Middlebury - CANCELED
***7/8 Boys and Girls Soccer HOME vs. Barstow -- CANCELED
***VG Soccer HOME vs. Mt Abe 6pm - CANCELED
Today, during Mr. Lisai's Career Exploration class, Mr. O'Meara spoke to the students about his journey to becoming our District's Curriculum Coordinator. Mr. O'Meara is just one of the guest speakers who throughout the year will be sharing their experiences with students.
** IN-SCHOOL SAT TESTING **
Registration Deadline - Friday, October 20, 2023
About the SAT
The SAT is an entrance exam used by most colleges and universities to make admissions decisions. The SAT is a multiple-choice, pencil-and-paper test created and administered by the College Board.
The purpose of the SAT is to measure a high school student's readiness for college, and provide colleges with one common data point that can be used to compare all applicants. College admissions officers will review standardized test scores alongside your high school GPA, the classes you took in high school, letters of recommendation from teachers or mentors, extracurricular activities, admissions interviews, and personal essays. How important SAT scores are in the college application process varies from school to school.
Overall, the higher you score on the SAT and/or ACT, the more options for attending and paying for college will be available to you.
When should I take the SAT?
Most high school students take the SAT, the ACT, or both during the spring of their junior year or fall of their senior year. It's important to leave time to re-take the test if you need to raise your score before you apply to college. The SAT exam is offered nationally every year in August, October, November, December, March, May, and June. View all upcoming SAT test dates.
What is on the SAT?
There are two SAT sections:
Math
Evidence-Based Reading and Writing
How long is the SAT?
The SAT is 3 hours long.
How is the SAT scored?
Each section of the SAT is scored on a 200 to 800 point scale. Your total SAT score is the sum of your section scores. The highest possible SAT score is 1600.
Should I take the SAT or the ACT?
Most colleges and universities will accept scores from either the SAT or ACT, and do not favor one test over the other. That said, college-bound students are increasingly taking both the SAT and ACT. Changes made to the SAT in 2016 have made it easier than ever to prep for both tests concurrently—and earn competitive scores on both! The best way to decide if taking the SAT, ACT, or both tests is right for you is to take a timed full-length practice test of each type. Since the content and style of the SAT and ACT are very similar, factors like how you handle time pressure and what types of questions you find most challenging can help you determine which test is a better fit.
How do I register for the In-School SAT?
Bring a check for $60.00 to the Guidance Office on or before Friday, October 20, 2023 to register for the In-School SAT Test on October 26, 2023.
Questions?
Stop in to the Guidance Office and meet with a School Counselor for more information!
This week, Mr. Greenlese's P.E. classes spent their time at the school's climbing wall. The students learned about members of the belay team, the "4 H's" check (Helmet, Harness, Hardware, and Heart) and climbing commands (on belay, belay on, may I climb, climb when ready). Everyone had the opportunity to experience and practice these elements.
Dear Slate Valley Families,
I am writing to inform you, yet again, about a concerning incident that recently occurred on our school grounds. The safety and well-being of our students are of the utmost importance to us, and I want to assure you that we are taking this matter very seriously. On Tuesday, October 3rd, we became aware that two Fair Haven Union Middle/High School students were in fact in possession of a stolen handgun while on the grounds of Fair Haven Grade School. The incident occurred afterschool on Friday September 29th. This has been reported to law enforcement and we are following all of our school safety protocols and policies.
Please rest assured that we are doing everything in our power to maintain a safe and secure learning environment for our students. We are also cooperating fully with law enforcement as they conduct their investigation.
I want to take this opportunity to remind all parents and guardians that bringing any kind of weapon, including firearms, onto school property is strictly prohibited by both our school's policies and state/federal law. In light of this incident, we kindly request your support and cooperation in reinforcing this message with your child(ren). Please have a conversation with them about the severe consequences of possessing or bringing any weapon to school, as well as the importance of reporting any suspicious activity to school staff or law enforcement.
If you have any questions or concerns, please do not hesitate to reach out to your building administrator. Thank you for your understanding and support as we work together to ensure the safety of our school community.
Sincerely,
Brooke Olsen-Farrell
Superintendent
FHUHS Varsity Girls Soccer Senior Night: October 10 at 6 P.M.
Thank you to our incredible custodial and maintenance crew for working behind the scenes to keep Slate Valley Schools safe and clean!
The first annual Slaterbration 5K run is approaching fast! The race will be held on Saturday, October 14th with a 9:00 AM start on the FHUMHS Track. Hope to see you there! To Register go to: https://5il.co/24luo
All FHUMHS students are welcome to Open Gym on October 1st from 7:00 to 8:00 pm.
Upcoming College Visits!
Keene State College - Monday, 10/2/23 - 11:00am
University of Southern Maine - Monday, 10/2/23 - 1:30pm
Saint Lawrence University - Thursday, 10/5/23 - 1:00pm
*Don't See A College or Technical Center That You Are Interested In? Stop by the High School Guidance Office & Let Us Know!
Thank you,
High School School Counselors
Fair Haven Union Middle & High School
During law enforcement class, School Resource Officer, Ed Hunter, taught students the skill and reasons for using handcuffs in the field.
