On the Horizon
VUHS February 16th, 2024
Principal Message
February Break is here. I hope that you all have something fun planned whether it is by plane, a road trip, or just staying local and enjoying Addison county.
This past week I sent out communication about our bathroom renovations. Based on the questions we have received, Colden Golann, Sheila Soule, and I have created this FAQ sheet. Please take a moment to check out the presentation and the FAQ sheet and if it does not answer questions you may have please feel free to email me. Just so you are aware I am working a few days next week. If I do not get back to you next week I will respond when we get back from vacation.
Grades should be updated on Jump Rope as of 3:00 today. If you have any specific questions about a class please reach out to the teacher. Be aware that they are on break next week and they will get back to you when we return from break.
Family Teacher Conferences are the Wednesday February 28th and Thursday February 29th. Please take a moment and sign up to meet with your student's teachers. I will be around both of those evenings as well. You can sign up here. If you are not able to come you are always welcome to reach out to the teacher directly. Please remember that due to the evening conferences there is no school on Friday March 1.
Some events that are coming up in the next few weeks are:
- 2/19 - 2/23: February Break
- 2/19: JV & Varsity Girls Basketball Home vs. Colchester, 5:30/7pm.
- 2/20: JV & Varsity Girls Basketball Home vs. Otter Valley, 5:30/7pm.
- 2/21: Varsity Boys Basketball Playdowns vs. TBA, 7pm.
- 2/22: JV/Varsity Girls Basketball @ Milton, 5:30/7pm. The bus departs at 4pm.
- 2/23: Varsity Wrestling @ VPA State Championships (Otter Valley), 2:00pm. No bus.
- 2/24: Varsity Wrestling @ VPA State Championships (Otter Valley), 9:30am. No bus.
- 2/24: Varsity Girls Basketball Home vs. Stowe, 11:00am.
- 2/28 - 2/29: Family Teacher Conferences
- 3/1: No School
Have a great week!
Jody Chamberlin JChamberlin@anwsd.org
Messages from the District
Thank you for our School Board members for serving our educational community!
You can view the Annual Report online on our website. Hard copies will be available by Friday, Feb 16 at the Central Office and the Town Clerk's Office. You should also receive a flyer in the mail this weekend.
School Spotlights
Congratulations to Benjamin Hargett for the student of the week in the Addison Independent.
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The Commodores once again had an excellent meet - they are on fire this year! Congratulations to the Vergennes Math Team for placing 5th out of 14 teams at the meet on Feb. 15th at MIlton High School. We triumphed over BFA ST. Albans, Burlington, Colchester, Milton, Mt Mansfield, MVU,U 32, Lamoille and Rice.
Top Category Tests:
Arithmetic: Megan Mentzer
Geometry: Riley Gagnon & Luke Davis
Algebra: Cal Gramling, Megan Mentzer & Grey Fearon
Adv. Math: Luke Davis & Grey Fearon
Congratulations to our Team Test takers Ben Hargett, Grey Fearon,Megan Mentzer, Calder Rakowski and Quincy Sabick
Top Scores Overall:
5th: Ben Hargett
4th: Grey Fearon
3rd: Megan Mentzer
2nd: Riley Gagnon
1st: Luke Davis
Great Job to all the VUHS Mathletes: Adrienne Smits, Maddie Stroup, Kyan Barcomb, Di Hunt, Chance Koenig, Peter Maneen, Quincy Sabick, Luke Davis, Grey Fearon, Sophia Johnson, Megan Mentzer, Jing Williams, Alex Badore, Riley Gagnon, Cal Gramling, Ben Hargett, and Calder Rakowski.
Our final meet is Tuesday, March 19th at Vergennes. Go Commodores!!!
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Congratulations to the students below for making High Honors and Honors for 1st semester.
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The Green Team is partnering up with a recycling company called Trex to convert 1,000 lbs of trash into a bench that will be at our school! We need to collect this by fall of next year, so we need everyone's help. There is a collection bin in the front office where we will collect clean soft plastics like:
-Grocery and Bread bags
-Bubble Wrap
-Dry Cleaning bags
-Newspaper sleeves
-Plastic shipping envelopes
-Ziplock and cereal bags
-Salt bags
-Wood Pellet Bags
Each Elementary School is making their own bench and has their own collection bins.
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The VUHS National Honor Society is hosting its annual Blood Drive on Friday 3/8/24 from 9 am until 2 pm. in the MS Gym. We need the VUHS community to support this drive by signing up to donate. Did you know someone in the US needs blood every two seconds? If you are 16 years old (with parent permission) or older, you can sign up to give blood. First time donors are welcome.
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School Counseling News
School Counseling Office Upcoming Events:
Tuesday, 2/27 - Matthew Binginot - The Governor’s Institutes of Vermont - in cafeteria blocks 4&5
Wednesday, 2/28 Clinton Community College rep in the cafeteria blocks 4&5
Reminder - VSAC Scholarship Deadline for Seniors - Application deadline is now March 1
Reminder - Application deadline for School Choice 24-25 is March 1
VSAC’s College & Career Pathways Event at Saint Michael’sCollege - Grades 10 & 11:
On Thursday, March 14, we will be bringing 10th and 11th grade students to VSAC’s College & Career Pathways event at Saint Michael’s College. Students will attend the event from 9am-2pm (bus will depart from VUMHS at 8:10 am) and participate in three workshops of their choosing. There is no cost to attend, and lunch is included. Workshops will include how to choose, apply to, and pay for college or career training programs, and pathways to skilled trades and great careers that don’t require a college degree.
High School counselors will be visiting morning meetings to share information and give out permission slips. 10th and 11th grade students who are interested in participating should bring their signed permission form (extra hard copies can be picked up in the school counseling office) to the school counseling office by Friday, March 8th. Space is available on a first-come, first-served basis for 40 slots. Students in the class of 2025 will have priority.
Families are also invited to attend the free event on Saturday, March 23, with options to participate in-person at the University of Vermont or online via Zoom. All sessions will also be recorded for future viewing. You can find more information and additional college and career planning resources for families at vsac.org/ccp.
Vermont Visitation Day for Juniors at UVM
UVM Vermont Visitation Day for Juniors, Tuesday, March 5, 2024, 2-4 pm. More information can be found here
VSAC Scholarship Deadline Now Extended to 3/1/2024
Reminder - VSAC scholarships deadline is fast approaching. Hard copies of the scholarship book are available in the school counseling office. Click here to visit the VSAC site for more information and to apply. Transcripts will be uploaded by the School Counseling Office once the USA application has been submitted. If students or parents have any questions, please contact your school counselor in the School Counseling office. Click here for VSAC Scholarship Instructions. Application deadline Extended: March 1, 2024. To ensure your transcript is uploaded to meet the deadline, you will need to complete the USA application before 3pm on 2/29. VSAC also highly recommends you complete your application and submit all required documents one week prior to the deadline 2/23/24.
The Governor’s Institutes of Vermont (GIV) - Summer Sessions 2024 - Apply Now:
Students currently in grades 9,10,11 can now apply for this year’s summer sessions being offered. Apply for Summer Sessions at GIV 2024 A rep from GIV will be in the cafeteria on Tuesday, 2/27 during high school lunch times - stop by and get information and/or ask questions!
Summer Programs 2024
A list of summer program information that we have received in the School Counseling Office can be found here. And also on the School Counseling Resources Webpage. While we are not endorsing or recommending any one program, we wanted to make this information available to students and families. Each opportunity is a link to further information online from the sponsoring organization. Parents and/or students are also welcome to visit the School Counseling Office at any time to look at the information we have on file regarding summer programs. Please contact your school counselor if you have any questions.
Job Opportunities For Students
Job opportunities for students are posted on the School Counseling Resources Webpage as well as in Job Opportunities for Students 23-24 document. As opportunities arise, they will be added to this document throughout the year. If you are looking for a job, check one of these two places often. Job opportunities are also posted on the wall right outside the School Counseling Office.
Reminder for Seniors - Available Scholarships:
Seniors are encouraged to check the linked document, Scholarships Currently Available for Application, often. This document is updated on a regular basis and scholarships are starting to come in more often now.
Boosters, CPTG, Friends of Music
CPTG - Commodore Parent Teacher Group Sign up. Let's work together to ensure that our children have access to a stimulating and nurturing educational environment. Your partnership with VUHS Commodore Parent Teacher Group will help shape the minds of future leaders, innovators, and lifelong learners.
Friends of Music - Consider joining the Commodore Friends of Music for our children, our music educators and our community. Meetings are held the 3rd Tuesday of each month at 6:30pm via the Zoom link. For more information please visit our website https://sites.google.com/view/commodore-friends-of-music/home
Food Services
Nurse Announcements
Please contact me if you have any questions or would like to discuss your child's illness. Jaime Wells at jwells@anwsd.org or 471-2298
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We have put together a new Community Health and Wellness site that can be accessed from the ANWSD website. The site is updated as new info becomes available.
Athletics
Be sure to check out a game or two :)
Athletic Information- Winter 2023/24
Since we are a small school we are not able to offer every sport. We do have players on the following teams for the winter. Use the link to find out games!
Patricia A. Hannaford Career Center News (interested and current students)
Check out the new and updated (January) PAHCC Newsletter!
Important Documents
Community Events
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Check out all of the different workshops available at Teen Makery!
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Registration open for Teen Expeditions on Lake Champlain
Do you have a teen who wants to build a kayak or kayak, row, or sail on Lake Champlain? Lake Champlain Maritime Museum has opened registration for their 2024 summer expeditions and all their programs are pay-what-you-can! Trips this year include a kayak expedition to the Canadian border, an 8-day rowing expedition, and an overnight sailing skills camp and trip. Also offered is a build your own kayak program. All the 2024 teen programs are listed on their website at www.lcmm.org/expeditions.
Contact Krissy Navrat if you have any questions: krissy@lcmm.org
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Contact Information
Vergennes Union High School
Email: JChamberlin@anwsd.org
Website: https://vumhs.org/
Location: 50 Monkton Road, Vergennes, VT, USA
Phone: (802) 877-2938