CVSD Update
May 8, 2022
Superintendent's Message
Hello CVSD Families and Caregivers,
This past week was wonderfully filled with celebrations for our school staff. It included National Principal’s Day, Teacher Appreciation Week, School Lunch Hero Day, and the previous week Administrative Professionals Day. Our staff is a true treasure, and each of them plays a critical role in helping CVSD serve our students and meet our mission. If you were able to send them a note or a word of thanks this week, thank you so very much. If you have not had the chance yet, please visit our CVSD Kudos on the Let’s Talk page or tab on the district’s website. Let us know which educator you would like to thank, and we will share the fantastic news with them as soon as we can.
May is Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month. AAPI Heritage Month started in the late 1970s and has become the month-long “annual celebration that recognizes the historical and cultural contributions of individuals and groups of Asian and Pacific Islander descent to the United States.” (history.com). Here’s one resource for families about how to celebrate AAPI Heritage Month.
In this week’s newsletters from schools and on our website, parents and caregivers will find information and a link to a survey from Mass Insight. They are supporting us with our equity audit. We hope you will take the 10-15 minutes needed to complete the survey. There’s more information about it below in this newsletter as well.
We started laying the groundwork for our five-year strategic plan with presentations to our central office administrative team, school board, and campus administrators. A facilitator will lead the development of CVSD’s five-year plan from the Vermont School Boards Association. (Click on the link for more information on the VT VSBA strategic planning process.) We will put together a Strategic Plan Steering Committee to recruit stakeholders from across the district and the five towns. In addition to educator representatives from the district, we will also need parents, students, community members, and others from the safety, government, and business arenas. In addition to the Steering Committee, there will be opportunities to serve or contribute to subcommittees focused on the goals created by the larger committee. We will begin taking and recruiting volunteers in late May, so please keep an eye out for more information. We have a new Strategic Planning page on our website and will keep it up-to-date as the work gets underway.
We have some more hiring news. First, we can share with the community that Tim Trevithick has been hired as the new 5-8 Principal at the Hinesburg Community School. Read more about it in this announcement. Second, CVU Special Educator Jessica Hoskins will take over the CVU Special Education Director position that opened when Anna Couperthwait became the district’s Director of Student Support Services.
I know that we are close to the end of the year, as my own children have been counting down the number of days remaining in the school year each night. That being said, it certainly has been a difficult one for all of us. I can’t begin to list my thanks to the educators and the families of CVSD for making this still a great year.
When I encounter information or entities that may help us work together to get through this pandemic/endemic times, I want to share it. So, I wanted to share that May is the Vermont Department of Mental Health’s Mental Health Awareness Month. I came across their excellent newsletter full of resources and links to more information. It’s not a comprehensive list of assistance, but it is a starting point for learning more or accessing needed assistance.
Finally, I wish everyone a very Happy Mother’s Day. The weather is and promises to be outstanding over the next few days. If you are able, please take some time to celebrate or commemorate the mothers in your life. Have a wonderful and safe weekend.
Rene
Parents/Caregivers - Share Your Insight about Equity
The Champlain Valley School District wants each student to have a school experience that allows them to get what they need every day to learn and feel successful. The district also wants each student to be prepared with the skills and tools to pursue whatever they want once they graduate.
As a part of our equity audit partnership with Mass Insight, we want to hear from you. Our partner, Mass Insight, is offering a 10-minute survey for family members and caregivers to learn about your experience and that of your child/children. Additionally, families may receive a phone call in the month of May which should last no longer than 10 minutes. We hope you will participate and share your thoughts.
We value family and caregiver input as we continue to create a more inclusive environment for teaching and learning, and we hope that you will participate in the survey. A high response rate will enable us to confidently take the necessary steps to make CVSD a more inclusive and equitable place for all. Please use this link to take the survey.
Students in grades 5-12 are also encouraged to fill out a similar survey and have a different link provided by their teachers.
COVID Testing Update
The following was shared by VT’s Secretary of Education, Dan French.
“As of April 4, 2022, and as public health conditions in Vermont relative to COVID-19 continue to improve, the Staff Assurance Testing and Test at Home programs will be discontinued in Vermont schools. With the conclusion of these testing programs, staff and student households may be reminded that they can make an appointment at a State of Vermont testing site to obtain up to eight rapid antigen tests or one LAMP test per appointment for their use at home.
Per the Vermont Department of Health, school nurses should continue to conduct diagnostic testing in school using LAMP or antigen tests. Schools can also make take-home antigen tests available to students, staff and their households on an as-needed basis or at the clinical discretion of the school nurse.”
CVSD has a good supply of antigen tests in our schools. Please reach out to your school’s nurse to request them.
Wondering what to do if your child is ill? This document may answer some of your questions.
Mark Your Calendars
- The last day of school for students in grades K-7 is June 10, which is a half-day for students.
- 8th grade graduations will take place on June 9th! Your schools will share more specific information as it gets closer.
- Grades 9-12 have end-of-year assessments the week beginning June 6.
- CVU seniors graduate on June 10!
Introducing Let's Talk and CVSD Kudos
CVSD recently rolled out a new feature on our website. This is a communication tool for faculty/staff, students, families, and community members.
Let’s Talk! makes it easy for you 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, or administrator or anything or anyone having to do with our schools. We have had many thoughtful submissions so far. These can be shared at any time and will be forwarded to the appropriate recipient.
Look for CVSD Kudos or any other topic on the Let's Talk tab or page on our district's website.
Caution: High Speed Trains Coming Through!
It is critical that we all work together to educate everyone about track safety, especially students and young drivers. Stay Off the Tracks provides more information about the increased need for safety.
Libraries and Librarians Help Develop a Love of Reading
COVID Information and Resources
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.
Email: cvsdinformation@cvsdvt.org
Website: https://www.cvsdvt.org/
Location: 5420 Shelburne Road, Shelburne, VT, USA
Phone: (802) 383-1234
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ChamplainValleySchoolDistrict
Twitter: @cvsdvt