CVU Celebrations

*Thank you Essential Arts team for taking over Celebrations this week. And congratulations on what Williston Central School Principal Greg Marino called "...a kaleidoscope of art, creativity and skill."*

Dear CVU Community,

The Champlain Valley School District's Celebrate the Arts Night returned this week on Thursday, January 9, marking a revival of the district's annual artistic showcase. Visitors were treated to an evening of performances and presentations highlighting the musical, theatrical, artistic, business, and technological learning of CVSD students from across the District and all grade levels.

The event was a comprehensive celebration of student achievements in arts education. Design and Engineering Technology classrooms were open for welding, laser cutting, and vinyl cutting demonstrations, with the CVU robotics team providing an exciting exhibition of their engineering skills. Acting classes performed various scenes and theater students performed a short selection from the fall musical, “Footloose”. Musical performances by CVU Madrigal Singers, CVU Band, 8th Grade Chorus, CVU Jazz Ensemble, and CVU Chorus complemented the visual arts displays throughout the CVU hallways, creating a rich, immersive experience of student creativity.

This year's Celebrate the Arts Night expanded beyond a traditional district arts showcase into a more expansive community event. Local organizations were present to offer support with financial aid forms and career opportunities, while food donated by local businesses added to the festive atmosphere. The event also featured a special presentation, compiled by CVSD music educator Lori Marino, honoring CVSD alumni artists who have gone on to remarkable achievements in various artistic fields, underscoring the lasting impact an arts education can have on the life of a student in our community.

A Celebration of CVSD Alumni Artists

If you missed the event in person, you can view the LiveStream recording courtesy of the CVU Show and CVU media studies educator, Gary Lambert.

For pictures and videos of the event, you can view this folder of media courtesy of communications manager, Tyler Cohen.

1/20 - No school - Martin Luther King Jr. Day

1/22 - Juniors - Virtual College Panel Night

2/8 - Winter Ball

It's Poetry Out Loud season! Students interested in competing this year should sign up during C3 on Wednesdays January 15 up until February break. Advisors: Please let your advisees know about this opportunity!

What is Poetry Out Loud? POL is a national recitation competition in which high school students memorize and perform poems for their peers. Each competitor must recite 2 poems during CVU's annual competition the week before February break. The school winner will compete at the state level, vying for cash prizes and a chance to compete at Nationals!

Who should compete? Anyone! This opportunity is especially fun for those who love poetry and/or theater.

What if I'm busy Wed. C3? Email Lizzy Fox Lausier at efoxlausier@cvsdvt.org to make an alternative arrangement.

GRADUATION TASK:

Seniors, in preparation for graduation on June 13, 2025, please stop by the Direction Centers as

soon as possible to check the spelling of your name and how you want it to appear on your

diploma. It is important that your name appears just the way you want it! Is your name spelled

correctly? Do you want your middle name or just your initial? Should there be a “JR or lll”

attached to your last name?

Parents, please encourage your graduating senior to verify the spelling of their name as soon as

possible. If you prefer, you can email the appropriate spelling directly to our Registrar, Colleen

McSweeney at cmcsweeney@cvsdvt.org.

The deadline for making changes is Thursday, January 30th . Once the order is placed with

the printer, changes can only be made at your expense.

From Geoff Glaspie: Students wrapped up their semester in Computer Science 1 with a unit on Networks and the Internet. The class set up their own private local area network consisting of a switch and 5 Raspberry Pi's. Through much trial and error, they collaboratively learned how to access other devices, copy files, and even find secret password files on other Raspberry Pi's on their network! Lots of successful work accomplished!

From Magali Simon-Martin: French V classes enjoyed making French madeleines. Students followed a set of steps in French learning new vocabulary and the metric system in a recipe. After a vote one team per class won the best madeleines contest! Thank you to Juanita Galloway for letting us use the kitchen!

From Andrew Scott: A huge shout out to Eddie Krasnow for volunteering his time with the woodshop students and teaching them how to turn wooden bowls on the lathe over this past semester! Chips were flying and woodworkers were smiling. Woodworkers, beautiful work on your first bowls!

From Katie Antos-Ketcham: CVU's EnAct Club held its annual Alumni Panel on January 3 during C3, and we were so grateful for Olivia Brand, Julian Cichoskikelly, and Abby Niquette to take time to join us! Olivia is a junior at UVM, Julian is a sophomore at UVM, and Abby is a first-year student at Claremont McKenna College. Each took some time to reflect on their CVU experience and to talk about what they've been up to. Thank you, Olivia, Julian, and Abby!

From Nick Canaday: Nichols and Snelling students worked together to make key lime pies for our Common Read celebration! Students from both Cores came together to read the novel The Field Guide to the North American Teenager by Ben Philippe. On 1/3, we celebrated getting to the end of the novel by eating the key lime pies and watching a movie in the library! Thanks for a great 1st semester, 9th graders!

From Katie Kuntz and Lacey Richards: Several AP Human Geography classes spent their exam block participating in a speed dating activity where they made connections amongst the vocabulary from the political geography unit. This unit explores how geographical factors shape power dynamics between countries and regions, influencing everything from border formation to global geopolitics. Students researched their term, created a costume and made connections among other words in a fun filled class full of laughter and witty conversation.

From Amy Wardwell: Jill Kiedaisch, who has been a part of the CVU family for the last four years, most recently in the job of Snelling House Administrative Assistant, to pursue some exciting new professional opportunities. Jill's last day at CVU will be Friday, January 17th. We are so sorry to see her go and we wish her the best in her new adventures!

Starting on January 21st Julie Bevins will take over as the new Snelling House Admin Assistant. Julie held this job previously and we are excited to have her return! Please join me in welcoming Julie back to our community.

Parents and students are invited to our Virtual College Panel Night for Juniors on Wednesday, January 22nd from 6:00-7:00pm. College admissions representatives from a variety of colleges including UVM, Middlebury, St. Lawrence, Champlain, Vermont State University, Saint Michaels and Rochester Institute of Technology will provide a panel discussion. We will offer a question and answer session about the college application process, campus life and more. Hope you can join!

Here is the YouTube link for our presentation (1/22 @6pm): https://www.youtube.com/live/SHrHz2XslEw

Governor's Institutes of Vermont Welcomes High School Students for the Summer Learning Adventure of a Lifetime!

The Governor’s Institutes of Vermont (GIV) is now accepting applications for the 2025 offerings of its residential summer programs. Passionate and curious Vermont 9th, 10th, and 11th grade students are invited to apply for the learning adventure of a lifetime. At GIV, students learn from industry professionals, participate in hands-on projects, and explore career options; all while having fun and making friends!

This summer, GIV will be offering eight different summer Institutes including:

• Arts (June 22 - July 6 @ Vermont State University Castleton)

• Engineering (June 22 - June 28 @ Norwich University)

• Entrepreneurship (June 22 - June 27 @ Champlain College)

• Global Issues & Youth Action (July 10 - July 20 @ Champlain College)

• Health & Medicine (offering two Institutes, choose based on preferred date/location!)

• July 6 - July 12 @ Vermont State University Lyndon

• July 13 - July 19 @ Vermont State University Castleton

• Mathematical Sciences (July 13 - July 20 @ University of Vermont)

• Technology & Design (June 21 - June 29 @ Champlain College)

• Weather & Climate Science (July 6 - July 12 @ Vermont State University Lyndon) [new for 2025!]

Students can attend for as little as $10, and each Institute offers a life-changing experience of content, community, and collaboration.

Learn more at GIV.org. Online applications are open now through March 31st, 2025.

Please join our Parent Circle of Support. CVU clinician Katy Farnham LCMHC is offering a weekly meeting for CVU parents & caregivers who are intersecting with the mental health system, (and all of its challenges!). If you find yourself feeling confused, stressed, or isolated as you try to help your adolescent navigate the mental health system, this meeting is for you! Come meet other caregivers trying to navigate similar challenges, and learn more about mental health resources & systems. Participants come to share their experience, strength & challenges with each other. Discussion will be facilitated by Katy. Format: standing 60-minute meeting, offered 12-1 PM on a day that works best for most parents, accessed in-person or remotely. No fee. No commitments. If you are interested to join or learn more, please email Katy Farnham at kfarnham@cvsdvt.org If there is enough interest, Katy will offer 2 weekly Circles of Support: 1 for families navigating general mental health challenges and 1 specifically to support families with an autistic adolescent.