District Newsletter

Dear HUUSD Community,

As I write this column we are enjoying what may be our last glimpse of warm fall weather before transitioning to cooler temperatures that will lead us into winter.

One of my favorite parts of fall involves the ability of our children to participate in fall activities like the fall play, soccer, field hockey, bass fishing, cross country, volleyball, and golf. HUUSD believes that all of our co-curricular activities are an important part of the overall educational experience. They support students with opportunities to develop citizenship, sportsmanship, critical thinking, and social and physical skills.

Best wishes to our boys' soccer team on yet another opportunity for the Vermont D2 state championship. They will defend their current title TODAY, November 1 at 5:00 pm at Burlington High School against Stratton Mountain School. Tickets here

Finally, I encourage all of our community members to attend this year's Harwood Union High School fall play. Our students will be performing Treasure Island on November 7, 8, and 9 at 7:30 pm in the high school auditorium.

Sincerely,

Dr. Mike

mleichliter@huusd.org

The Finance Committee of the HUUSD School Board is asking community members for their thoughts on the Fiscal Year 2026 school budget. These questions reflect issues the Finance Committee has discussed over the past five months. Community input regarding priorities is appreciated before making budget recommendations to the school board.

The questionnaire asks for community feedback on academic and extracurricular priorities in our students' education, as well as the budget constraints that citizens view as important. There are questions about school consolidation, particularly for the middle school, whether increased class size as a cost saving measure is desirable, and possible areas of budget reduction.

Thank you for your consideration and input.

The HUUSD School Board Finance Committee

As a reminder, guardians and staff MUST sign up to receive texts from the HUUSD.

You may sign up by following the instructions in this flyer.

The show will feature limited onstage seating, with only 100 seats per performance. Shows take place on November 7-9, at 7:30 pm. Tickets are $10 for adults and $5 for students.

For the past two years, a team including Warren School PTO members (Shawn Kimon, Jess Washington, and Rachel Grigorian), Whitney Doenges (teacher), and Warren School principal Sam Krotinger, have been diligently planning a comprehensive rebuild of the school's aging, dilapidated playspace. Rachel Grigorian, a professional landscape designer, created a dynamic master plan that incorporates the school's historical natural aesthetic traditions, with universal accessibility for students and visitors.

This July, the team was awarded a substantial ARPA fund grant from the town of Warren, and concurrently, the Warren PTO also fundraised and commissioned a dual play house structure project with Yestermorrow Design/Build School. These structures were collaboratively designed and constructed with the oversight of Yestermorrow's Nick Pattis. On October 4, both structures were transported and installed in Brooks Field.

Pictured below, left to right: Andrew Spencer (Mad River Metalworks), Tyler Anderson (Yestermorrow), Nick Pattis (Yestermorrow), & Sam Krotinger, Warren School Principal

The Friends of the Mad River invited all 3rd/4th grade students in the valley for a day of river exploration. Experts from Vermont Fish and Wildlife and Trouts Unlimited facilitated hands-on activities to help students connect with the Mad River and better understand ways they can serve as stewards of our watershed. Ask a 3rd/4th grader about the cool process through which they were safely able to catch, view, monitor, and release fish!

Presenters: Bret Ladago, Fisheries Biologist, Vermont Fish and Wildlife; Clark Amadon, Board Member, MadDog Chapter of Trout Unlimited; Luke Foley, Climate and Engagement Manager, Friends of the Mad River; Marcy Bucheit, Watershed Engagement Coordinator, Friends of the Mad River and Ira Shadis, Executive Director, Friends of the Mad River.

Emma Aither placed 5th in Division 2 golf and 13th overall for the state out of 46 golfers. Tessa Palmer finished 13th in Division 2 and 27th overall in the state. Harwood girls finished 3rd in the tournament as a school. Boys' golf finished 3rd overall in Division 2. Celia Wing and Christopher Cummiskey have qualified for the Cross Country New England Championships on November 9.

Winter sports sign-ups are now live; click here to register. The parents' meeting will be November 20 at 6:30pm; this is for high school and middle school parents and athletes. The winter season starts on December 2.

Recent playoffs:

• Field hockey lost to Windsor in the division 3 semi-finals Wednesday night in South Burlington.
• Girls' soccer lost in a shootout to Mt. Abe in the division 2 semi-finals Wednesday night at HU.
• Boys' soccer is off to the division 2 finals after beating Montpelier 3-1. They will face Stratton Mountain School. The game is TODAY, Nov. 1 at 5:00 at Burlington High School.

CLICK FOR EVENT DETAILS

On November 16, from 10AM-noon, join 80 volunteers from Waterbury and the Mad River Valley at Harwood Union High School to package meals to be delivered to school feeding programs in developing countries through Rise Against Hunger, a nonprofit dedicated to eliminating hunger in our lifetime. This high-energy event is fun for all ages 4 and up!

• Today, November 1: Boys' Soccer Div. 2 Finals, Burlington High School, 5:00 PM. Tickets here
• November 6: School Board Meeting
• November 7, 8, 9: Fall Play @ HUHS, "Treasure Island"
• November 9: Waitsfield Ski and Skate Sale
• November 16: Rotary Rise Against Hunger
• November 20: School Board Meeting
• November 27-29: No School

Website: huusd.org

Facebook: HUUSD
Phone: 802-496-2272

Location: 340 Mad River Pk, Suite 7, Waitsfield, VT 05673