CVSD Update
August 18, 2022
September 15, 2022
Superintendent's Message
Hello CVSD Families and Caregivers,
The first few weeks of school have provided so much hope for the concept of returning to a time similar to before the pandemic. Students and educators are excited to be back together in classrooms, learning areas, athletic fields and courts, and retreats inside and outside the buildings. (In case you missed it, here is a short video of all of the pictures I took on the first day of school.) Even though I know that everyone is excited, we are still cautious after all that we have been through together. As the year continues forward, I am hoping that we all get the opportunity to participate in school-wide and community events that take place in person. I look forward to meeting you at one of those events. Here are some upcoming events of importance.
Strategic Planning
CVSD held its first Strategic Plan Steering Committee meeting in late August. The group, consisting of administators, teachers, parents, students, and community members went through a process of suggesting and reviewing the values, goals, mission, vision, and other items that we consider when we think of CVSD. On Wednesday evening of this week, we held our first virtual Strategic Planning Town Hall meeting. The purpose of those town halls will be to inform the larger community of where the district is in the planning process. Here is the slide deck from the meeting and the Zoom recording is posted on CVSD Strategic Planning page.
We are hosting three stakeholder feedback opportunities where our Vermont School Boards Association consultant, members of the steering committee, and I will lead conversations around what the district does well, how we can improve, and what participants feel the direction needs to be for the next five to 10 years. You’ll see the dates below in our Strategic Planning section. Our next Strategic Planning Town Hall will take place on Zoom on Wednesday, November 9 at 6:30 pm.
Equity Audit
As many of you may remember, we contracted with Mass Insight during the spring and summer of this year to analyze our systems and our data and to create a baseline for implementation of our equity policy. The results and recommendations will be presented at our next School Board meeting on Tuesday, September 20. All are welcome to attend in person at CVU or online. The meeting information will be posted on the district’s website calendar soon.
Mass Insight reviewed our systems, our student and adult data and conducted interviews, focus groups and outreach during their time with CVSD. We are excited to receive and to align the results with our upcoming strategic plan.
We will have our first of three Diversity Equity and Inclusion virtual Town Halls to discuss the results the Equity Audit. The DEI Town Hall will take place on Wednesday, October 12 at 6:30 pm.
National Hispanic Heritage Month
These next 30 days, September 15 to October 15, 2022, will be celebrated as National Hispanic Heritage Month. This time is set aside annually to celebrate the many contributions to our country and our world of the people with Hispanic, Latino, or Latinx descent. To learn more about National Hispanic Heritage Month, please visit these to websites that contain resource for your students’ and your own learning. Smithsonian, US DOE.
Finally, I’d like to congratulate CVU principal, Adam Bunting, on a wonderful performance at last weekend’s Dancing with the Burlington Stars. This event raised funds for the Vermont Association for the Blind and Visually Impaired. Modeled after the television show, Adam was partnered with dancer Olivia Schrantz and had a few months to learn a lot. It was a great example of perseverance and determination, and he modeled the value of learning new things. Adam and his dancing partner received the Fan Favorite Award for raising the most money for the organization. It was a fun and lively event.
I hope you all have a wonderful weekend. It’s starting to feel like fall!
Rene Sanchez, Superintendent
Champlain Valley School District
Our Definitions
Identity is developing a sense of one’s self with respect for the uniqueness of others.
Connection exists when all individuals see themselves in others and in their environment. It is the feeling that our individual and collective story is known. We learn and appreciate new perspectives. Connection is committing to the time and effort to build shared experiences and understandings.
All learners find direction by discovering purpose and exploring passions or interests. We honor where learners are and support their growth, helping them navigate pathways and empowering them to reach their fullest potential.
Proficiency: All students and staff members demonstrate progress and develop capacity toward CVSD student and educator learning targets.
WCS Students Celebrated Dot Day
Students in Equinox (and likely elsewhere in our schools!) watched a live performance online to celebrate Dot Day.
Birdmen at CVU
HCS First Day Photo
Students started learning about metamorphosis on the first day of school!
CVSD Strategic Planning
Get Involved in CVSD Strategic Planning!
Please view the Strategic Planning page of our website for the latest updates, including the slides and minutes from recent meetings.
If you would like to provide input, we will be hosting forums on these dates:
- October 13, 6-8pm
- October 15, 9:30-11:30am
- October 17, 9:00-11:00 am
(more information to follow)
CVSD Virtual Town Halls
We will host a Virtual Town Hall on the 2nd Wednesday of each month this school year.
- On the even-numbered months, the topic will focus on Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion.
- On the odd-numbered months, we'll provide updates and gather input about the Strategic Plan and process.
Please mark the 2nd Wednesday of each month at 6:30 pm to engage with us for one hour. The Zoom meeting information will be posted in advance on the DEI site and the Strategic Planning page of our website.
View the recording of last night's Strategic Planning Town Hall!
UPCOMING EVENTS
Engineering and Robotics Opportunities for Students
CVU's robotics team, the RoboHawks, is offering a First Lego League (FLL) workshop and support for CVSD students, teachers, parents, and coaches. We are in the process of seeking coaches and volunteers to form and support a First Lego League team at each of our PreK-8 schools, primarily focused on middle school, though that might be flexible in some schools. To learn more, please join the Robohawks at their first workshop at CVU on Tuesday, Sept. 20th from 3:45 to 5-ish in the robotics lab (room 154). See this flyer for additional details.
Girls in Aviation Day
This information was provided to us by Beta Technologies:
This event is free and open to elementary, middle, and high school age students and their family. Our goal is to inspire young students and provide opportunities for them to meet an array of female pilots, see and tour various aircraft, fly multiple flight simulators, and enjoy other fun aviation themed activities.
Event Location: Beta Technologies, 1150 Airport Drive, South Burlington, VT 05403
Parking Location: 1130 Airport Drive, South Burlington, VT 05403
Date: September 24th, 10am-2pm
Admissions: Free
Registration: Not Required
Apple Picking Event for Those Who are Deaf or Hard of Hearing
Come have fun picking apples with other families with children who are D/deaf or hard of hearing! D/HH adults and their families welcome, too!
2 locations:
- Saturday, September 17, 2-4pm Shelburne Orchards, 216 Orchard Rd, Shelburne, VT
- Saturday, September 24, 2-4pm: Burtt's Orchard, 283 Cabot Plains Rd, Cabot VT
Enjoy fresh cider, cider doughnuts, and a large bag of apples to bring home with you! Interpreters will be available. No dogs are allowed at the orchards.
RSVP to events@vthv.org so we know you’re coming and can keep an eye out for you!
Please Update Annual Information in Powerschool!
In order to keep them safe, it is important that we have updated and accurate information about each and every student. All parents/caregivers, please take the time to log into your PowerSchool Parent Portal account and navigate to the “Forms” icon on the left-hand toolbar to review, update and submit the following forms for each of your children as soon as possible. Click here for detailed instructions, if needed.
Please note that your submission of the Health and Permissions forms are required before your child may participate in any off-site field trips.
Annual Student Contact Updates
Annual Student Health Update (required for field trip participation)
Annual Student Permissions Update (required for field trip participation)
Annual Student Transportation Update
(PreK is for those students physically attending our schools.)
If you have questions about how to access your Parent Portal account or how to submit the forms please contact your school directly.
Complete The Form by October 1!
While meals are free for students this year, your school still needs you to complete a school meal application. (On the left side at that link, you'll find a form that can be printed and filled out and an online form.)
When you return your school meal application, you are helping your student, your school, and our entire community. When more students turn in school meal applications, that means more money for education in the cafeteria and in the classroom. Even if you do not think you qualify for this, please take the time to fill out the form. Every response helps!
Did you know, there are many benefits to submitting a meal application? This is very important for the long-term possibility of keeping universal meals in Vermont. School meal applications can help:
- Students qualify for waived testing fees, low-cost internet, and discounts to some community programs
- Your school meal program bring in more federal dollars to invest in local food and farm-to-school programming
- Your schools qualify for important federal education funding
- Your community qualify for summer and afterschool meal programs
Read more about how it benefits you and the district in other ways.
Free Internet: Affordable Connectivity Program
CVSD Families and Caregivers: Here's a great opportunity!
If your child participates in the free or reduced-price lunch program at school, then your family is eligible for the new Affordable Connectivity Program (ACP)! It's another reason to fill out the Free and Reduced Price School Meals form. https://bit.ly/cvsdFRmeals
Learn more about qualifying for affordable internet service through the ACP at https://getmyinternet.org/
Reminders
COVID Considerations Going into the 2022-2023 School Year
Sign Up to Receive SMS/Text Messages!
Please enroll to receive text messages from the district and/or our campuses. If you haven't done this yet or if you are new to CVSD, follow the easy steps on this flyer. We don't overuse this method of communication, but it is helpful for reminders and quick announcements. Don't miss out!
Let's Talk and CVSD Kudos
Let’s Talk! makes it easy for anyone to engage with school and district leaders on the topics that matter most. Unlike an email, your inquiry is automatically routed to the person or team best suited to respond, ensuring you receive timely and accurate responses every time.
We invite folks from all of our communities to share kudos for a teacher, staff member, administrator, or anything or anyone having to do with our schools. These can be shared at any time and will be forwarded to the appropriate recipient. Look for the CVSD Kudos topic!
Look for the Let's Talk tab or page on our district's website.
Immediate Interviews!
Here are some upcoming times when we'll be in the community for job interviews and hiring for paraeducator staff.
- September 27, Isham Farmer's Market, Williston
- October 1, Shelburne Farmer's Market
Resources for Families
Resources to keep accessible:
- First Call - 488-7777: phone support, crisis intervention, assessment and referrals
- In Crisis: 1-800-SUICIDE (1-800-784-2433) (National Hopeline Network: USA)
- National Suicide Prevention Life line- 1-800-273-TALK (8255), call or chat online
- Crisis Text Line - text HOME to 741741 (24 hours a day, seven days a week)
- Outright Vermont - support for LGBTQ+ community
- UVM Breathe In Breath Out - How to deal with stress due to COVID-19
- Vermont 211 -Vermont database of resources and services
- Vermont Support Line (833) 888-2557) - peer support warmline open 247 - 365 for call or text
- COVID Counselors @ VT-211
- Teen Crisis Text Line - Crisis Text Line provides free emotional support and information to teens in any type of crisis, including feeling suicidal. You can text with a trained specialist 24 hours a day. Text “HOME” to 741741.
- Society for the Prevention of Teen Suicide - Website where you can find information to help yourself or a friend who may be having thoughts of suicide.
- Trevor Lifeline - 1-866- 488-7386 - provides suicide prevention and crisis intervention services to lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and questioning (LGBTQ) young people. It offers free, 24/7, confidential counseling. TrevorText—text START to 678-678; TrevorChat—instant messaging at TheTrevorProject.org/help. It also runs TrevorSpace, an affirming social networking site for LGBTQ youth at TrevorSpace.
Champlain Valley School District
Reach out using any of the methods below or visit our Let's Talk page. Please use Let's Talk rather than email.
Let's Talk: https://www.cvsdvt.org/page/268
Website: https://www.cvsdvt.org/
Location: 5420 Shelburne Road, Shelburne, VT, USA
Phone: (802) 383-1234
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ChamplainValleySchoolDistrict
Twitter: @cvsdvt