MUHS Family Newsletter
January 27, 2023
Note from Interim Principal Caitlin Steele
Dear MUHS Community,
This has been a week of unexpected change with Principal Justin Campbell’s resignation. I joined MUHS as the interim principal after 7 years in the Addison Central School District. I will be working alongside Assistant Principal Ben Weir and our entire MUHS staff who have done an exceptional job supporting our students and each other during this transition.
MUHS is an amazing school. I am grateful for my first few days here, greeting students at the door, talking with staff, and understanding the culture of our school. My time as interim principal will be spent ensuring that the structures at MUHS remain strong and that our administrative team is flexible and responsive to the needs of our students and staff. In these weekly newsletters, I will share updates about our new principal search, along with opportunities to engage and highlights from our school.
In closing, I want to share my appreciation for Justin and his time at MUHS. He brought joy and energy to our community and had an effortless way of making a place for everyone. I know I join many who miss his presence here. If you would like to send a note or card to Justin thanking him for his work or impact, we invite you to drop them off at our front office and we will deliver them to him.
I welcome and encourage you to connect with me or Assistant Principal Ben Weir with thoughts or questions.
Thank you,
Caitlin
Caitlin Steele, Ph.D.
MUHS Interim Principal and ACSD Assistant Superintendent of Teaching and Learning
802.382.1199
MUHS Updates and Opportunities
Reading Buddies reuinite!
Nora (MUHS ‘19) and Audrey (MUHS ‘24) were reading buddies at Mary Hogan years ago! They reunited recently at MUHS when Nora returned to talk about her experiences at Yale University! Each of our elementary schools practice reading together with multi-age groups. This builds literacy, social skills, and lasting connection!
Music Department News
Middlebury Music Department Winter Recital: February 6th at 7 PM in the MUHS Band Room. Featuring Solo Instrumental Repertoire, DP Music Students, and Camerata Singers!
Senior Play auditions: Thursday, March 12th 3:15 - 6:30 pm in the Auditorium. Please be prepared to sing, read part of a scene, and dance with a small group. If you have athletic practice beginning at 3, please attend after practice. If practice starts at 4, please come to auditions at 3:15. Questions? Shannon sbohler@acsdvt.org
Student Music! Check out music (linked below) that was produced by students Silas Quinn (Calm By Mind) and Callan McDowell (Fire Trap Sleepy Bedtime) in the MYP Music Production Class! Follow: cZBEATS on Spotify to hear more of Callan’s work.
Student Writing and Art Contest
The Young Writers Project invites young writers and visual artists, ages 12-18, to respond to the challenge: Who are you? What is your life like as a teenager in 2023? Cash prizes and publication. Deadline: March 1, 2023. Find out how to enter: https://youngwritersproject.org/teenager
Middle Years Programme (MYP) News
Grade 10 students are working on their personal project reports, and using evidence to support the good work they’ve done on their products. Here is Sophia teaching tennis to a group of first grade students at Salisbury, who loved learning how to play!
One of the most important ways we can ensure our students experience an equitable, robust, and coordinated curriculum is when our colleagues collaborate. This week, the MUMS and MUHS science departments dove deep into MYP training with an IB science specialist: they asked great questions, examined and refined their units of study based on this new learning, and reflected on how to improve learning for our students and how to engage them as scientists and global citizens.
Success Saturday
The next Success Saturday will be February 11, 2023 from 9-1 in the Learning Center at MUHS. We ask students to sign up ahead of time, either via email cgiorgio@acsdvt.org or stopping by B102.
School Counseling
MUHS Course Registration Information for 2023-24:
Course registration for the 2023-24 academic year is well underway! Current 10th graders have just begun meeting with school counselors this week to complete course requests. Please refer here for important information about the process for each grade level, registration timeline, the MUHS Course Description catalog, Hannaford Career Center information and more!
Vermont Governor’s Institute - Summer 2023
Students who have completed 9th, 10th, or 11th grade are invited to apply now for the Vermont Governor’s Institute (GIV) which will be held this summer on college campuses across the state. Students participate in immersive programming focused on a wide range of topics: the arts, engineering, entrepreneurship, environmental science and technology, global issues and youth action, health and medicine, mathematical sciences, and technology and design. To learn more: https://giv.org/
Registration for SAT:
Interested juniors who wish to take the SAT at MUHS are encouraged to speak to their school counselor about this opportunity. We will offer the SAT at MUHS in March and May. To register for the test, students must sign up using their College Board account. Here is the link to sign up: https://satsuite.collegeboard.org/sat/registration/dates-deadlines
Dates/deadlines for SAT registration: February 10 is the deadline to register for the March 11 test. April 7 is the deadline to register for the May 6 test.
MiddCAM Program:
The Middlebury College Access Mentoring Program is currently accepting applications from students in our junior class. Each student in the Class of 2024 was sent a letter and an application form with information about the program. Middlebury College students who serve as mentors and meet with our students as they begin to navigate the process of considering college and post-secondary options. This is a free service and is open to all members of our Class of 2024. MiddCAM is a supplement to the support offered by the MUHS School Counseling Office. Please see Sarah Soule with any applications. Space is limited to participate in this program.
Patricia A. Hannaford Career Center - Application Information
Applications for next year’s Hannaford Career Center programs are due on February 15th. Students may apply using an online application, a fillable pdf application (must be downloaded before completing it) or a paper application that is available in the School Counseling Office. Further information on Career Center programs can be found here, or on the MUHS School Counseling webpage.
Grade 9+10 Families: DP Information Night (recording)
On Jan. 19th DP Coordinator, Cindy Atkins, and School Counselor, Adrien Preston, virtually hosted our annual DP Informational event. This presentation offered parents and students an opportunity to learn more about earning course certificates or the full diploma program in grades 11 and 12. Watch the video linked here to learn more.
Announcements
Hannaford Career Center:
Join us for our Open House/Student Showcase on Thursday, February 2nd 4:30-7:00 pm at both main and north campuses. Check out the flier for more information.
Check out our January 26, 2023 newsletter for information about our second quarter outstanding students, Teen Time at The Makery, the upcoming Addison Repertory Theatre show, an update about the Tiny House in Construction Tech, Adirondack chairs (for sale) made by Intro to STEM students, happenings in Sustainable Agriculture, a visit from the SkillsUSA state officers, and newsletters from some of our partners.
School Choice:
All public high schools in Vermont offer a state-wide “school choice” option to interested students and parents. This agreement mandates School Boards designate the number of students allowed to transfer from and/or be enrolled into its schools. At MUHS, the Board approved a capacity of 15 students. Process: MUHS forwards applications to a student's school of interest. Applications are processed according to the Vermont Agency of Education (AOE) rules (lottery). Students are notified of their status (accepted, denied or wait-listed) by April 3, 2023. Students already in the program are automatically re-enrolled unless they contact MUHS to indicate they will not return.
To apply to the school choice program, please download the application here or pick up a copy in the MUHS main office. The application deadline is Wednesday, March 1, 2023. Questions: Contact Debra Hurlburt at 802-382-1193.
Transportation Update:
Starting Monday, all routes in Weybridge will be restored. This includes both PM routes.
From The School Nurse and Wellness Center
We are working on setting up our “Tiger Den” in the MUHS Wellness Center which will be a place where students can have access to things they may need throughout the school day such as extra clothing, hygiene products, safety pins, snacks, etc. We are in need of hangers and larger size girls clothing (shirts and pants) that are teen appropriate and gently used/clean. If you have any of these items to spare please drop them off with Nurse Kelly or Brooke Jette. Thank you!
Access to Free COVID Tests
There are three options to access free COVID tests:
Ask your ACSD school nurse
Order through covidtests.gov - every US household is eligible to receive 4 free tests
You are eligible to receive 8 free tests through your insurance provider
Photo Highlights
Advanced Foods classes celebrate BBQ...
...and the food of Italy!
Boat building and restoration with Lake Champlain Maritime Museum
Engage and Connect
73 Charles Ave
Middlebury, VT 05753
TELEPHONE: 802-382-1500
FAX: 802-382-1101