Cracking the Code: Computer Science Gets a Boost

The Champlain Valley School District congratulates both Tim O’Leary (SCS) and Charlie MacFadyen (CVU) on being named fellows by the Rowland Foundation. Tim and Charlie are both Digital Learning Leaders in their schools.

Tim O'Leary and Charlie MacFadyen

The 2020-2021 Rowland Foundation fellowships provide Vermont secondary school educators with a unique professional development and leadership opportunity and resources (through a one-year, $100,000 grant) to positively affect student achievement and the culture and climate of their respective schools. The Foundation supports proposals which:

• will lead to systemic change in the school, particularly in its culture and climate
• are visionary and comprehensive (what percentage of the population will they serve)
• are sustainable after The Rowland Foundation completes its funding
• are exportable to other schools. The Rowland Foundation is keenly interested in affecting change throughout Vermont.
• have the complete support of the principal or head of school. This will be a key element of the interview process by the Executive Director prior to the selections.

Tim and Charlie, on behalf of SCS and CVU, have been awarded this Rowland Fellowship as co-applicants who, together, represent a PreK-12 continuum of instruction in the largest district in Vermont. The project aims to address the inequities and marginalization of females, nonbinary, and gender-nonconforming youth that occur within Computer Science (CS) education and the workforce. It envisions a world where all can become creators, change-makers, and leaders. Malala Yousafzai, Nobel Peace prize winner and educational activist, is quoted in their proposal saying, “every girl deserves to take part in creating the technology that will change our world, and change who runs it.”

From their proposal, titled, “Cracking the Code: Closing the Gender Gap in Computer Science,” Tim and Charlie state:

"Over the coming year, the project will support the development of a K-12 computer science program because we believe schools must assume a critical role to create computer science learning opportunities. Otherwise, students will continue to develop identities informed by a world where males far outpace female participation in this area. Nationally, only 28% of the students who have taken an AP Computer Science exam over the last three years identified as female. And, the disparity is 8.5 % greater in Vermont. We bear a responsibility to dismantle this inequality by creating new systems, and we plan to develop a program to do just that."

SCS and CVU are uniquely positioned to engage in this work and embrace an awesome responsibility to share innovative teaching and learning practices as it develops. The school district looks forward to supporting the partnerships and collaboration that Tim and Charlie will lead over the coming year to create a more equitable future for our students.

Tim and Charlie’s proposal to research and implement a framework for the Shelburne Community School will be closely observed so that we can explore this as a model for all of our district PreK-8 schools. Our school district values innovation, design-thinking, and the personalized pursuit of excellence. We are committed to determining ways in which computer science education is provided to all students, PreK-12. The proposal to Crack the Code for SCS and CVU ensures that we’re on the path to success, for all of CVSD. 

Fulfilling a Birthday Wish for a Former Colleague

Some of you may have seen the story that ran on WCAX last night. What you may not have known is the connection to our school district.

Susanne London's grand-daughter reached out to CVSD to suggest the idea of a birthday surprise for her mom, a bus parade with 16 school buses in front of her house. Susanne worked as a creative writing teacher at CVU in Hinesburg for years and LOVES school buses. She lives alone and cannot have visitors because of the pandemic. She turned 88 years old.

Happy birthday, Susanne. We were so glad to be a part of it!


Photos from Robin Fawcett, CVU educator:

CVU Student's Food Drive a Great Success

CVU student Ella Kenney organized a food drive this past weekend with the help of friends, her parents, and her advisor. Here's the message that was shared with families via newsletters and on Front Porch Forum:

In light of the current situation, a food drive is being set up for families who have been affected by the novel coronavirus. Many families in our community have lost their primary sources of income and families have been increasingly relying on food shelves. Our local food shelves are in desperate need of supplies. If you are fortunate enough to be able to donate, please strongly consider it. All donations from this food drive will go to the local town food shelves. Please spread the word about this food drive with your friends and neighbors. During the following times, a station will be set up where you can drive by and drop off donations (contact free of course). This is a great way/excuse to get out of the house!! The times are organized by town to reduce the amount of driving on your part.

We asked Ella if she would answer a few questions for us and she nicely provided us with these responses.

How did you get the idea to do this?
I got this idea by reading the news. Lately there have been a lot of articles on the food shortages and hunger that many families are going to face in the near future (as well as now). I then started thinking about our own community and how the crisis would affect us. I came up with the idea of a food drive because I realized it could immediately and directly benefit many people.

Who else helped?
I had a few other students help me spread the word through Front Porch Forum and such but it was mainly just me who worked on it! One of my good friends, Heidi Berger, helped me out at the Shelburne Food Drive. Additionally, Jen Selwah (with the Williston Food Shelf), Amy Wardwell (my advisor), and my parents were a great help!!

How much food was collected? 

I'm not sure how to describe how much food was collected, so I'll provide you with some photos! (see below) The Williston Food Shelf took 2 cars full of donations, the Hinesburg Food Shelf took as much as their garage could fit. In terms of monetary donations, the food drives collectively raised $1,277 and in terms of gift cards, $5,000.

The food drive that received the most donations was from Williston-- partly because I did the most advertising in this particular town. I was blown away by their generosity. At the beginning, I thought I'd get a good amount of donations but nothing remotely close to what I received. All 4 communities really came together and you could see the support and willingness to help they had. I received way more donations than whatI had expected at all 4 food drives.

Where did the food collected get distributed? 

The donations went to the Williston Food Shelf, Hinesburg Food Shelf, Shelburne Food Shelf, and the Charlotte Food Shelf. Due to the amount of donations, we've contacted the Winooski Food Shelf and we are reaching out to anyone who might need the donations. The CVU Food Shelf has agreed to take the leftovers after we contact and give away some of the remaining food!

Charlotte

Hinesburg

Shelburne

Williston

Thank you Ella and all who helped and provided donations. Many people will benefit from your contributions.

A Parade of CCS Teachers

Last Friday, teachers and staff from Charlotte Central School arranged some parades to reconnect with students in a different way. They followed the different bus routes around town at various times throughout the day. In their own cars, they formed a parade to drive by and wave to students. They knew that they could not get to each individual house, but hoped that they would see as many of their families as possible in a safe manner!

Families were notified ahead of time that this would be happening and they were definitely waiting! They had signs of appreciation and smiles galore to thank their teachers for making the effort to see them. This was a win-win for all!

April Vacation Week

April 17, 2020

Dear CVSD Community,

We have completed the first week of Remote Learning and it has been amazing to see and hear about the various ways staff and students are connecting, and how teachers are delivering instruction. We are working together as a district and a community to create meaningful learning experiences for our students.

We realize remote learning poses a number of opportunities and challenges for students, families, and faculty/staff. Everyone has been patient and understanding as we’ve forged ahead and worked through these new endeavors. Please share successes, challenges, and any other feedback with your teachers that might inform instructional plans moving forward. Teachers will consider that as they move forward with planning for the next week of Remote Learning, starting on April 27.

April Vacation Week

A reminder that there will be no online learning for students April 20-24. We hope you are able to rest and recharge over the break and we look forward to reconnecting with all our students on Monday, April 27. For those seeking engagement options during this time, we have created an April Vacation Week Enrichment site for grades PreK-8 with a variety of activities and opportunities for students. Take a look at the whole site and all of the offerings. We hope you find it helpful. https://bit.ly/CVSDAprilBreak

CVU has developed their own experiences for students who choose to participate.

Our foodservice teams are working through their April vacation week in order to continue to provide free meals for all children 18 and under. Go to the CVSD website or use this link https://bit.ly/FoodserviceCVSD to find the order form or call your school’s food service director.

Updated COVID-19 Information 

https://bit.ly/CVSDCovid

We have reorganized the section on our website with information about COVID-19. This information can be found on the front of the district’s website and on as each school’s site as well. It includes pages about foodservice, remote learning, technology, and all of our past communications. We’ve added a new link to a Help Form for families needing any kind of support, which can also be found here: https://bit.ly/COVIDhelpform

Please let us know if there is anything additional you’d like to see on the website.

CVSDStrong

Wow, there are so many examples from our schools and families of how we’re staying strong throughout this period of time! Schools are organizing ways in which teachers show their dedication and positive spirit. Families are brought close together, on many levels, and are creatively making the best of it. Here’s the latest collection in a CVSDStrong video: https://youtu.be/QSj4Hz1O8IA

Share yours here: https://bit.ly/CVSDStrong


Thank you again for your unwavering support, encouragement, and outlook. We will all get through this together and come out stronger than we ever were before.

~ The Champlain Valley School District Administration

(VIDEO) An Act of Kindness

At last Friday's press briefing, Governor Scott shared a letter he received from a student named Sully. Sully is a student at the Allen Brook School. The Governor acknowledged the act of kindness and how it made his day. Way to go, Sully!

Here's a clip from the press briefing where Governor Scott mentions Sully.

We know that many of our students and families are extending acts of kindness toward others. We'd love to hear more! Share them with us at cvsdcommunication@cvsdvt.org or use the #CVSDStrong link: https://bit.ly/CVSDStrong

CCS Shakes it Up

The Essential Arts teachers at Charlotte Central School created this video to brighten up our days.

Thank you for sharing positivity and another example of #CVSDStrong!

Continuity of Learning and Staying Strong

April 9, 2020

Dear CVSD Community,

Whether in-person or online, CVSD is committed to providing a safe and welcoming learning environment for students and staff. We have now had a few weeks to adjust to this new situation and there is still work to be done to iron out all of the details. We know that families are still adapting to being home, working from home, and supporting learning from home. This is not an easy task. We appreciate all that you are doing to provide all that is needed for your children. We are all trying to make the best of a challenging time. We miss the students and we miss in-person school!

In this update, you’ll find information regarding:

• Continuity of Learning
• April vacation
• Links to free meals for children 18 and under
• CVSDStrong

Continuity of Learning begins April 13

CVSD faculty and staff have been working diligently since in-person schooling ended. They have been learners, they have been collaborators, they have been advocates for their students. Please understand we will continue to do all we can to meet the unique needs of each student and family. This will likely require patience as responsive practices evolve based on feedback and engagement during this phase.

Faculty and staff have been preparing for the next phase which begins on Monday. Local schools will soon communicate details pertaining to this Remote Learning phase with students and families. Plans are being designed and informed by the following:

• Feedback from students and families on the recent district survey have been shared with teachers and teaching teams. Thank you for the feedback; it has been extremely helpful. Systems will be in place in the school plans for getting input in the future.
• District-wide guidance and expectations for Remote Learning have been established and shared with all teachers.
• Plans are being submitted to school-level administrators and shared with district colleagues to accommodate collaboration.
• Plans are designed to promote Connections, Engagement, and Learning.

April Vacation Week (April 20-24)

The Vermont Agency of Education shared that school districts will abide by the established calendar. Therefore, we will not be connecting for remote learning during that week. Teachers may provide additional, optional activities and enrichment opportunities for families who desire to access them. We also plan to continue to provide free school meals for those age 18 and under at all of the current pick-up locations.

Food Service

CVSD is providing free meals to all children ages 18 and younger. On Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays you can pick up two days worth of breakfasts and lunches for each child. Click on the link below or on our website to choose your pick-up location and your choice of lunch entrees. Saturday’s meal will be “chef’s choice”. If you can not pick up meals at the times listed, please contact your foodservice director or building principal to discuss options.

https://bit.ly/FoodserviceCVSD

Meal service will continue during the April break. Check the link on Friday, April 17th for an updated menu.

#CVSDStrong

Thank you once again to those that are sharing examples of how we remain strong through this challenging time. Here’s the latest CVSDStrong video: https://youtu.be/pzXzC0Yt9Jw

CVU students put together this video and the Student Council gave us permission to share it. They are finding ways to stay entertained! https://youtu.be/1YJowUkCHvw

Submit your CVSDStrong sample here: https://bit.ly/CVSDStrong

We are navigating uncharted waters, and we are so proud of how everyone is stepping up to meet the challenge. Take care and stay safe. We know that we will persevere through this difficult time together.

The Champlain Valley School District Administration


If you are in need of assistance or have further questions, please reach out to your school or email us at cvsdinformation@cvsdvt.org

Williston Central School Helps Out

In their attempt to fill UVM Medical Center's need for 1,000 face shields, Generator (Burlington's Maker Space) needed more PRUSA 3D printers. Williston Central School has just such a technical 3D printer--which is usually humming all March, printing out the scale models of historical Williston buildings for a 3D Vermont competition.

WCS librarian Ellen Arapakos answered the call, brought the PRUSA 3D printer over to Generator, set it up, and ran calibration tests so it was ready to print!

Amazing volunteers at Generator were busy using all the Prusa printers they could get and their laser cutter to manufacture face shields and intubation boxes.

It's nice to know that even when our school buildings are closed, the 3D printer can be busy printing PPE for UVM Health Care workers!

WCS is listed as a sponsor on Generator's COVID-19 Relief page. Way to go Ellen and WCS! We are #CVSDStrong. 

Next Steps Toward Remote Learning

April 3, 2020

Dear CVSD Community,

We would like to provide families with some additional information regarding our remote learning. From the period starting April 13th until school reopens, CVSD will transition to a remote learning environment that provides all students with access to new learning and feedback on this learning. Based on guidance from the Agency of Education, we will continue to follow our school calendar for the rest of the year, including April vacation. The final day of school in June is still being determined.

In the next week, teachers will continue to plan for this transition, as directed by the Agency of Education. We have incorporated many pieces of information into our planning - the feedback of CVSD families on last week’s survey, guidance and directives from the Agency of Education, and collaborative work across all CVSD schools.

In developing our Continuity of Education Plan, we have kept the following 4 Guiding Principles, identified in the VT Agency of Education’s Continuation of Learning Plan Tool at the forefront:

1. Health and Safety. Doing everything that we can to support the health, safety, and wellbeing of our students and their families is our top priority. This includes but is not limited to providing nutritious foods, promoting opportunities for physical wellness, and providing social-emotional and mental health support for all of our students
2. Equity. This crisis affects everyone but will disproportionately impact the most vulnerable students. Equity should be at the forefront of all planning and implementation.
3. Relationships. Making connections and maintaining relationships are at the foundation of all implementation plans. Set a schedule that includes faculty and staff connecting with students as frequently as possible
4. Remote Learning. Remote learning does not exclusively mean online learning. Districts should consider the variable abilities of families to access and utilize the internet and the impacts of increased screen time expectations. Students should not be required to access devices for the traditional length of the school day. Leverage other opportunities for students to learn, such as exploring their outdoor environment (to an extent that is within public health parameters), engaging in self-driven projects and problem-solving, and (virtually) reaching out to their communities.

Faculty and staff members are currently designing learning plans that honor these principles. Designing learning that is “just right” for students and families is challenging, as it can vary from student-to-student and family-to-family dependent upon circumstances. Based on national recommendations and consultation with districts across our region, plans will be designed with the following goals in mind:

• PreK: (30-45 minutes daily), with additional suggested opportunities
• K-4: (1-2 hours daily total, including instruction, practice, Essential Arts), with additional suggested opportunities
• 5-8: (2-3 hours daily total, including instruction, practice, Essential Arts), with additional suggested opportunities
• 9-12: (3-4 hours daily total)
• Weekly opportunities for teacher check-ins, feedback, and support

It’s important to note that designing learning that aligns with these recommendations is an inexact science. To that end,

• Faculty and staff will work to provide additional learning opportunities for those interested
• Faculty, staff, and administration will also work with students and families to adjust expectations, when necessary, to ensure students experience learning that is sensitive to the needs of the learners and their families.

As we all learn to work in an online virtual world, our teachers are learning as well. We appreciate the patience you have shown as we continue to improve our remote learning practices. More specific information about the shifts from our current Maintenance of Learning phase to the Remote Learning phase will be shared by schools and teachers with families and students.

Food

As stated in the message that went out earlier this week, the USDA relaxed its foodservice rules which now allows us to offer free meals to anyone age 18 and younger who resides in Charlotte, Hinesburg, Shelburne, St George, or Williston.

We are currently providing meal pick up service on Monday, Wednesday and Friday mornings in all five of our towns. This flyer provides information about the pick-up locations and links to order your meals.

https://bit.ly/CVSDRemoteFood

In order to ensure we have enough meals at each location, we ask that you pre-order before 8:00 AM on the day of pick up, but if you can’t, please come anyway and we’ll do all we can to send you home with meals. If you have trouble accessing the form, you can call in an order. In fact, if you are having any trouble at all accessing these meals, please reach out to us, we can help.

#CVSDStrong

Thank you again to those who have shared examples of how we’re staying strong during this challenging time. If you would like to contribute, please use this form:  https://bit.ly/CVSDStrong

Here’s the latest collection of images and short video clips from the CVSD community.

https://youtu.be/SVbGxu1kryQ


Stay well everyone,

The Champlain Valley School District Administration

Motivating Students From a Distance

Paul Lasher teaches 5th graders at the Hinesburg Community School. He went to great lengths to engage with students last week, from afar. Paul shared this with us with permission for us to share it more widely.

He set up a trivia question each day for the students to watch on video. They had to research the answer and submit it by Google form. If 80% of all students had correct answers throughout the week, he told them he would shave his hair into a mohawk. The last video is of that happening, which was done live for his students to see.

Here are the video questions:
Day 1- Johnny
Day 2- Professor Plum
Day 3- Special Guest- Author Chris Tebbetts
Day 4- Lothar, King of the Hill People
Day 5 - Old Man
Video of Mohawk on YouTube Live

This week the students are working on getting him to dye the mohawk and if they do, they can take a survey for the color! Thank you for sharing this with us, Paul.