Ideas on keeping ourselves busy; small businesses are under stress
We interviewed some families, and learned that most kids would rather be at school than at home. For example, 4th grader Parker Trono hasn’t gone anywhere except outside.
CVU’s Grad Challenge both liberates and burdens students
Since 1994, every senior who has graduated from Champlain Valley Union High School has completed a graduation challenge project. The guidelines are very open ended, encouraging creativity and allowing students to do virtually anything they want—all for half of a credit.
New policy at CCS puts phones on silent for the day
The perpetual challenge for parents of tweens and teens is getting kids off their electronic devices and encouraging them to participate in the real world. Charlotte Central School is taking steps to do just that for students during the school day, rolling out the Away for the Day program as school started last week.
CCS faculty and staff gear up for the new school year
Charlotte Central School faculty and staff will officially return on Thursday, Aug. 22, with the annual CVSD convocation at CVU. This day will include a welcoming from CVSD Superintendent Elaine Pinkney, school board representatives and members from the CVU student council.
Farewell, Quonset hut; hello, new stairs…and maybe more
The exterior improvement most visible to the public for now is the removal of the outside stairs on the east side of the building. The cement staircase is currently in the process of being replaced with safer steps that are also compliant with the Americans With Disabilities Act.
Gerry Leckerling and Ena Jesset retire from CCS
Gerry Leckerling and Ena Jesset have a combined 42 years of teaching service at Charlotte Central School. This week is the last for both women, who spoke recently the bittersweet language of walking away from many years in teaching and into their private lives.
A love of baking: an interview with Meg Dawson, Philo Ridge Farm pastry chef
It’s 6:30 AM, an hour before the sun has risen over the hills, and Meg Dawson is in the kitchen preparing for a long day.
Mentoring youth at Charlotte Central School
The Charlotte Central School is currently seeking adults from the community who would be interested in mentoring a fifth or sixth grader at our school. The program is school based and asks mentors to meet with a student for one hour a week.
Sports Report – Nov. 14, 2018
It has been a full fall sports schedule that is finally closing down with great success for many of the Champlain Valley Union teams and individuals. To call it “Redhawk Nation” on the basis of three months’ worth of wins and titles may be a bit excessive.
Vermont Day School wins Champlain Mini Maker Faire award
Take your mark…get set…..go! On Saturday, Sept. 22, Vermont Day School students participated in the Champlain Mini Maker Faire and challenged the community to a Great Zucchini Race. Visitors to the booth were presented with a design challenge to create an ergonomic vehicle out of a zucchini, using wheels, axles and a variety of creative materials, ranging from pipe cleaners to cardboard and feathers to duct tape.
CVSD negotiating a contract for CVU school resource officer
At its September 18 meeting, the Champlain Valley School District took a step closer to hiring a school resource officer (SRO) for the district.School directors gave the nod for the district to negotiate a contract with the Shelburne Police Department. The contract would cost about $85,000 yearly.
CCS strives to sustain community collaborations and seeks new opportunities
This past Friday, the Charlotte Central School Parent Teacher Organization and my CCS co-principal, Jen Roth, and I hosted a New Family Social as an opportunity for new families to get an overview of how the school and the PTO work together to provide opportunities for the students of CCS.
One final year at CCS
It’s back to school season once again! And this week I’ve been thinking about the past 10 years I’ve spent at Charlotte Central School. All the way back in 2008 I walked down the hallways of the CCS basement to begin my school career. I remember being so nervous as a little three-year-old starting preschool for the first time, but all the memories I have from that time in my life are good ones.
Sports Report
Shelburne Little League baseball team to appear on Red Sox pre-game show – The Storm, Shelburne’s Little League baseball team, will appear live from Fenway Park before the Red Sox game with the Cleveland Indians on the NESN Clubhouse on August 26 at 11:30 a.m.
CCS readies for a new year
On August 29, Charlotte Central School will be welcoming students back for the 2018-2019 school year. Teachers and staff members are looking forward to getting to know several new students and families joining our CCS community.
Reflections on an astronautical collaboration
In doing this project, I was able to step back and allow my students to use their existing skills, self-identify areas where they need support and develop genuine questions.
CCS’s students perform the classic Annie Jr.
CCS students from grades 6–8 put on several wonderful performances of the classic show Annie Jr. between Thursday, April 12, and Saturday, April 14. CCS drama students have been rehearsing since January, under the guidance of Director Allison Talis.
CVSD works to improve school safety and emergency preparedness plan
After the outbreak of school violence in Parkland, Florida, and our own threats closer to home in Vermont, I’m reaching out to assure you that the safety and well-being of our students is our top priority. While statistically, school shootings remain rare, these horrific incidents focus our attention on critical security needs and cause us to re-evaluate our safety plans.
CVU students offer thoughtful, passionate response to Parkland shooting
Six students at Champlain Valley Union District High School (and one who weighed-in via email) gathered recently to discuss their responses to the mass shooting at Stoneham Douglas High School in Parkland, Florida on February 14. All of the students agreed that their initial reaction to the news of the shooting was that it was “just another in a long line of school shootings,” but that this one, this time, has become a game-changer, with the voices of so many students being heard now.
CVSD FAQs about the upcoming budget vote
In response to input about the budget, we have developed the following list of questions and answers. You are also invited to check out our web page at cvsdvt.org/budget or email us at [email protected]. Budget Q: How will my local school budget be voted on now that we are consolidated? A: The funding for all schools is now combined on a single ballot question, which residents will vote on by Australian ballot at their local polling places. On Tuesday, March 6,