Good afternoon U-32 families,

This week's newsletter is full of exciting content. Yesterday, the Ski and Ride Club headed to Bolton for their first afternoon on the slopes. Last Friday we held a high school dance, and will hold a middle school dance later this evening. Below you will find a number of shout-outs to teachers and students, in recognition of their achievements and contributions to the U-32 community.

As I write this, our Teacher Advisors and School Counselors are hard at work helping students make their class selections for next fall. Keep an eye out for information if you've not yet begun this process with your student. You will also find a recap of J-Term and a message from our Flexible Pathways/Work-Based Learning team.

If your household was impacted by the July flooding and qualified for disaster assistance, be sure to read the information below from the Red Cross. Vermont has qualified for additional assistance, but the deadline is quickly approaching.

Stay safe, warm, and dry.

Steven

In order to help keep everyone safe, U-32 has installed stop signs at the end of the exit lanes for each parking section. These stop signs require drivers to stop and look before entering the bus lane.

We also ask that when the buses are lined up and leaving the school to get out on their routes, that cars let them leave campus without trying to get ahead or in between them. The bus line will go so much faster if they are just allowed to roll out. Please be patient and wait for the line of buses to leave before trying to exit the parking lot. We have had several situations of cars cutting in front of buses, cars trying to pass buses and cars nearly hitting buses as they try to get off campus.

A reminder that travel is prohibited in the bus lanes, regardless of the time of day. Please use the designated lanes for parent pick up and drop off.

Also, we have noticed a considerable amount of speeding in the parking lot. For the safety of our students and staff, we ask that everyone observe the 5MPH posted speed limit.

If you are a parent/caregiver of a student driver, please take a moment to share this important information with them.

Caregivers, a reminder that students must have a parent/guardian written note in order to ride on a different bus or, get on or off at a location different from their scheduled stop. All changes must be turned in to the main office via note or email to releasenotes@u32.org before 11:00 am. This helps us to manage the high volume of requests, and to ensure that your student makes it to their intended destination.

Also, students leaving school early due to illness must check-in with the nurses office prior to being dismissed, even if we've already received notice via email or phone.

An update from our U-32 Director of Buildings and Grounds:

As of now all material sampling is completed and some of the results are beginning to come back. Stone Environmental is hopeful they will have all the results after we return from winter break. They would like to wait until they have more results for a thorough analysis before releasing them.

The second round of air sampling will be done over winter break. This will tell us if we will need to do more material sampling and how well the carbon air filters are working.

In our most recent meeting we also discussed increasing the airflow in rooms 33 and 101, as well as the auditorium. We have increased the airflow in the auditorium by 25%. Due to the nature of our ventilation system, we are unable to increase airflow to rooms 33 and 101. We've just received notice that we may utilize those rooms without making any other changes for the time being for an unlimited number of hours for students grade 7 and up as well as our adult staff, while we continue our PCB remediation work.

Last week the Montpelier Bridge published a wonderful tribute to our dedicated theater teacher, Erin Galligan-Baldwin.

The article, titled "A Labor of Love: Teaching Shakespeare To Middle-School Students at U-32", was written by Peter Gould, who recently completed a ten-day residency at U-32.

You can find it here, on the Montpelier Bridge website. Congratulations, Erin!

Congratulations to U-32 Robotics and Team Robo Raiders for their advancement to New England Regionals!

This past Saturday, U-32 Robotics participated in the VT FIRST Technical Challenge Championships at Lamoille Union High School, where only 2 teams out of the 21 participating would advance to the next competition. FIRST Tech Challenge is an international robotics competition to engage students and build 21st century skills like teamwork and problem solving. Participants design, build, and program robots to compete in annual challenges, promoting STEM education and interest in STEM careers.

Team Robo Raiders finished second overall and will advance to the 2024 New England FIRST District Championships in Springfield, MA on April 5th and 6th!

Additionally, Team Robo Raiders, placed 1st for the Motivate Award and 2nd for the Connect Award and Team Bubbert Innovations, placed 2nd for the Motivate Award and 3rd for the Design Award. (more on each award below)

We wish Team Robo Raiders luck in their upcoming competition!

Also, check out the U-32 Robotics Photo Gallery!

Motivate Award - Sparking others to embrace the culture of FIRST! This Team embraces the culture of FIRST and clearly shows what it means to be a Team. This judged award celebrates the Team that represents the essence of the FIRST Tech Challenge Competition through Gracious Professionalism and general enthusiasm for the overall philosophy of FIRST and what it means to be a FIRST Tech Challenge Team. This is a Team who makes a collective effort to make FIRST known throughout their school and community, and sparks others to embrace the culture of FIRST.

Design Award - Industrial design at its best. This judged award recognizes design elements of the Robot that are both functional and aesthetic. The Design Award is presented to Teams that incorporate industrial design elements into their solution. These design elements could simplify the Robot’s appearance by giving it a clean look, be decorative in nature, or otherwise express the creativity of the Team. The Robot should be durable, efficiently designed, and effectively address the game challenge.

Connect Award - Connecting the dots between community, FIRST, and the diversity of the engineering world. This judged award is given to the Team that most connects with their local science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) community. A true FIRST Team is more than a sum of its parts and recognizes that engaging their local STEM community plays an essential part in their success. The recipient of this award is recognized for helping the community understand FIRST, the FIRST Tech Challenge, and the Team itself. The Team that wins the Connect Award actively seeks and recruits engineers and explores the opportunities available in the world of engineering, science, and technology. This Team has a clear Team Plan and has identified steps to achieve their goals.

"Two and a half million middle and high school students vape, according to the United States Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the Federal Drug Administration. The latest state surveys in Massachusetts show 18% of high school students are vaping.

Creed Stilwell never thought his occasional vaping habit would do so much harm -- almost costing him his life. The now 19-year-old was a varsity athlete who inhaled his first vape when he was a sophomore in high school. Last December he suffered severe respiratory failure and was on life support for weeks after being med-flighted from Vermont to Brigham and Women’s in Boston." (continued)

Read the full story (with accompanying video) here: https://www.nbcboston.com/investigations/once-you-start-its-very-hard-to-stop-school-diversion-program-aimed-at-curbing-vaping/3053321/

The American Red Cross has reached out to remind us that Vermont has qualified for “bridge” assistance through our National headquarters.

This means that any families who sustained major damage and qualified for assistance in July is now eligible for Additional Assistance (up to $1200).

The deadline for enrollment is very soon.

If you qualified for disaster assistance in July, we encourage you to contact the Red Cross right away at redcross.org/get-help

This is an exciting time of year with students and families thinking about what opportunities they want to pursue next year, within U32 and with community partners and programs.

We’re happy to be launching our Flexible Pathways Website to help you learn more about the many opportunities that are available to students in addition to the diverse selection of courses. This will soon be linked to the U32 website.

The Flexible Pathways programs at U-32 Middle and High School offer learning opportunities, courses, and programs that promote opportunities for students to drive their own education and develop skills both in and out of the classroom. We are excited for our students to get out into the world beyond the school walls to explore their interests, and learn new skills in a real world setting. Students develop a diverse range of transferable skills such as communication, organization, time-management, commitment, self-awareness, and self-advocacy.

We would love your input! If you have any suggestions or items you'd like to see on the page, please reach out to Liza Semler (lsemler@u32.org), our Mentor and Work-Based Learning Coordinator.

Big thanks to all our community partners and mentors who are helping students pursue personalized learning this year!

Marlow, NH: High school students (including U-32 10th Grade student Una Liebermann!) send powerful climate message by embarking on 500-mile fossil-fuel-free journey through New Hampshire and Maine.

On the heels of the hottest summer on record and unprecedented natural disasters impacting New England communities, a group of 12 students, ages 15-19, are sending a bold climate message as they traverse northern New England under their own power - without the use of fossil fuels. Instead the students, who are part of Kroka Expeditions Full Circle Semester program, will ski, bike, canoe and trek through the backwoods of New Hampshire and Maine, connecting New England’s rural landscape to the main streets of our cities and towns.....

Beginning in the fall semester of 2024, qualified Vermont residents can attend Vermont State University tuition free!

Delivering high quality and affordable education is our number one priority. With locations spanning across the entire state, Vermonters can be sure to have greater access to our programs going forward. VTSU will close the standard tuition* gap with institutional aid after all federal, state, institutional, and employer supported aid is applied to a student’s account.

Who is eligible?

• Vermont residents of any age enrolling as new students in degree programs starting in the fall semester of 2024 or spring semester of 2025.
• Student/family adjusted gross income of $50,000 or less as reflected on their FAFSA.
• Students seeking their initial undergraduate degree. Those with previous bachelor’s degrees do not qualify.
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How do students apply?

• Apply and be admitted to Vermont State University for a standard tuition program.
• Submit a FAFSA (School Code: 003698).
• Submit a Vermont Grant Application through VSAC.
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What are further requirements for eligibility?

• Register for a minimum of 12 credits each fall and spring semesters (does not include summer).
• Maintain good academic standing (2.0/4.0) and satisfactory academic progress towards degree completion.
• Eligibility will be reviewed each academic year based on the current year FAFSA.

* The Vermont State University Free Tuition Guarantee covers standard program tuition only. Program tuition for Engineering and Technology; Nursing and Respiratory Therapy; and Dental and Radiologic is not covered by this program.

U-32 is happy to partner with the VSAC Talent Search program that helps students to explore career and postsecondary education options, to succeed in and to graduate from high school, and to enroll in education programs after high school.

Talent Search counselors work at 46 Vermont middle and high schools in 11 of 14 Vermont counties, scheduling monthly meetings for students in grades 6–12.

Students must attend a school that is part of the Talent Search program and meet certain criteria, including:

• be motivated to attend postsecondary education
• meet income guidelines set by the federal Department of Education
• be a first-generation college student (neither parent has a bachelor’s degree)

Talent Search serves approximately 1,000 students each year. Talent Search counselors work directly with students and also with parents and guardians, school counselors, and other educators in students’ lives.

Interested students, please see your school counselor!

Talent Search Website

Stage 16, the Middle School After School Theater Program is excited to present Matilda the Musical this spring.

The Middle School musical, Matilda, will hold auditions on Thursday, February 22 & Friday, February 23 during callback and after school on Friday, February 23 from 3:00-4:30 in the auditorium.

Students who want to be in Matilda must sign up for callbacks on Thursday and Friday and attend the after-school auditions on Friday. Everyone gets in!

For callbacks on 2/22 and 2/23, sign up in Enriching Students under "Erin Galligan-Baldwin: Stage 16 Auditions" in the auditorium.

Questions? Please email Erin GB at egalliganbaldwin@u32.org.

Join us for College & Career Pathways 2024 at Saint Michael's College on Thursday March 14th!

more details in the flyer below-

Sign up in U-32 Student Services by Feb 22nd. First come first serve! (44 students)

The 2024 Governor's Institutes dates and locations have been finalized, and applications are now open!

Students can apply at GIV.org/apply with any internet device.

The application deadline is March 31, 2024

February

• February now thru the 23rd: TA Advising Conferences begin - all grades

• February 23: Last day to make changes to course recommendations with TAs

• February 23: CVCC Preview Day

March

• March 15: CVCC Acceptance Letters sent out

May

• Early May: Next year schedules to students

• May: Schedule adjustments

June

• June 11: Move Up Day

February

• ACT information

• SAT information

• Contact colleges to confirm they’ve received all your application materials.

• Keep your grades up.

• Continue the scholarship search. Check out fastweb.com and finaid.org for ideas.

• Use February/March break to visit colleges.

• Check in with your Counselor.

March

• Use February/March break to visit colleges.

• Some states have FAFSA deadlines as early as March 1.

• SAT Reasoning & SAT Subject Tests.

• Keep your grades up. Study hard for exams. Colleges take senior grades seriously. Colleges will want a final transcript and expect to see a strong senior year. Any serious drop in grades or level of difficulty could result in your acceptance being rescinded.

• March 29: Start of Quarter 4

FREE ON-LINE ACT Test through ACT ACADEMY at https://academy.act.org/

Read the latest Vermont Family Network Newsletter here!

The Town of Waterbury is looking for summer camp staff.

If you are interested in becoming a camp counselor, head counselor or camp director this summer, please visit the link below for more information.

Summer camp runs 8 weeks starting June 24th and ending August 16th.

https://www.waterburyvt.com/departments/finance