Lauren Goracy Named Williston’s Director of Special Education

 

Photo of Lauren thanks to AMV Photography

Lauren Goracy has been appointed Director of Special Education for the Williston Schools, which includes Allen Brook School and Williston Central School. Ms. Goracy will begin her leadership duties on July 1, 2022.

Williston’s Lead Principal, Greg Marino, shared this about Lauren joining the community, “The Williston Schools Leadership team is excited to welcome Lauren to our learning community. Lauren's knowledge of CVSD’s MTSS systems, structures, and current focus areas will help to power ongoing positive momentum. Her fresh and current leadership outlook will be an asset in our quest for continued growth and innovation in the service of student learning.”

Ms. Goracy graduated from the University of Vermont (UVM) with a Bachelor of Science degree in Elementary Education and a minor in Special Education. She holds a Master of Special Education degree, also from UVM. She is projected to complete a Certificate of Advanced Graduate Studies in School Leadership from Saint Michael’s College in the near future.

Lauren joins the Williston schools after working most recently as a special educator at the Shelburne Community School, also a part of the Champlain Valley School District. In that role, she has supported the summer school program and was a co-director of the Early Childhood Summer Program. Lauren was an intern in the Williston schools when she was working on her degrees.

CVSD’s Director of Student Support Services, Meagan Roy, shared, "Lauren has been a member of the CVSD special education community for several years. Her dedication to our system and her more recent leadership coursework made her a clear choice for the interview committee. We are excited to welcome her to this new role!"

Lauren shared this message with us, “It feels special coming back to Williston Schools where I learned so much from the staff and students. CVSD has always been my home and it is an honor to continue to be part of this amazing community. I look forward to working with students, staff, and parents; it is a privilege to be a part of this innovative teaching team again!”

We look forward to working with Lauren in this role beginning on July 1.

Allen Brook School Student Chosen as the Vermont Winner in Doodle for Google Student Contest

 

A talented Williston, Vermont, student could soon have his art on the Google homepage for hundreds of millions to see. This week, Google announced the 54 State and Territory winners in its 14th annual Doodle for Google competition, a contest where K-12 students across the United States have the opportunity to create their own version of the Google logo inspired by the prompt “I care for myself by....”.

Kyle Adams, a 1st grader from the Allen Brook School in Williston, Vermont, is one of the 54 US State and Territory Winners with his Doodle, “Mind Over Monsters”. Kyle’s Doodle was selected from thousands of entries received this year. Students at the Allen Brook School helped Kyle celebrate during a surprise assembly on May 25.

When Kyle submitted his design, he wrote, “Meditation is a powerful way to manage hard feelings, troubling thoughts, and lets our mind take a needed rest.”

At the celebration, Kyle was presented with a backpack full of goodies including a t-shirt with his design on it, and he received a Google Pixel tablet. The school was presented with a very large replica of Kyle’s design. 

Jessica Wilson

Every year, Williston’s Digital Learning Leader, Jessica Wilson, has encouraged teachers and their students to participate in Google's Doodle contest. Jessica was recognized at the event as well.

To help their favorites succeed, everyone across the USA can vote for their favorite Doodle from the 54 State and Territory Winners. Voting will be open soon on this site: https://doodles.google.com/d4g/. The public vote will determine the Five National Finalists (one in each grade group). Google will announce these five National Finalists in June, one of which will have their Doodle featured on the Google homepage for a day.

The National Winner will take home a $30,000 college scholarship and their school will receive a $50,000 tech package towards the establishment or improvement of a computer lab or technology program.

Voting is open through July 12! Vote for Kyle's design. https://doodles.google.com/d4g/  Be sure to spread the word!

The Adams family

ABS students and staff at the surprise celebration

Kyle with ABS Principal, Angela Filion, and Williston Lead Principal, Greg Marino

Credit for many of these photos goes to Kyle's mom, Jennifer Adams @Studio 2N Photography. Thank you! 

CVSD Response to Texas School Violence

 

May 24, 2022

Dear CVSD Community,

Many elements of this letter come from a well-written statement from the Addison Central School District. Thank you to them for sharing it with us. 

It is with immense sadness that I write to mourn another act of gun violence in our nation’s schools, especially after just acknowledging recent violent acts in our most recent newsletter. Our thoughts are with the parents and community of Robb Elementary School in Uvalde, Texas. As a native Texan who began my educational career in a district similar to Uvalde, it really pains me to see this happen yet again in schools and in Texas.

As we hold these families in our hearts, it is crucial that we continue the daily work that keeps our students, families, and staff safe and cared for. I want to assure you that we are focused both on our safety systems and on strengthening the relationships and lines of communication that prevent acts of violence.

CVSD’s staff and leaders receive training as recommended by the Vermont School Crisis System, created by the Agency of Education and the Department of Public Safety. We host training and drills at each school to prepare for school crises. Each school has an identified Crisis Team. We have strong working relationships and work actively with emergency responders in all of our district’s towns to support inter-agency leadership in the event of a school crisis. We continue to fund safety improvements to our buildings and utilize safety audits to determine areas for future investment.

In concert with these systems, it is essential that we continue to build a culture where every student feels safe, seen, and understood. We have an incredibly strong group of leaders, educators, counselors, school clinicians, social workers, school nurses, and school psychologists that are providing, every day, critical support for the students in our community.

These events can make us feel helpless and unsure of how to talk to our children. Events such as these provide us the opportunity to talk to them. Help them identify the trusted adults in their life and remind them of the importance of sharing any concerning words or behavior that they see in school, on social media, or elsewhere with you, a teacher, school administrator, or other trusted adult.

It is unfathomable that we have faced so many of these tragedies together. In these moments, I join you first as a parent. It is my sincere hope that we will join together to ensure a safer future for our children.

~ Rene

 

Additional Resources:

• For additional support, visit the National Association of School Psychologists’ guide to talking to children about violence.
• Restoring a Sense of Safety: Tips for Parents and Professionals
• Helping Your Child Cope with Public Tragedy
• First Call 802.488.7777
• Explaining News to Children, Common Sense Media

Emily Cogan Named SCS’s Director of Special Education

 

Emily Cogan has been appointed Director of Special Education for the Shelburne Community School (SCS). Ms. Cogan will begin her leadership duties on July 1, 2022.

SCS co-principal Alison Celmer shared this about Emily joining the community, “I am thrilled to welcome Emily Cogan to the SCS leadership team and our school family. She brings a warmth and friendliness that will help students and families connect with her, a compassionate and supportive approach to coaching faculty and staff, and uses data to inform decisions and problem-solving. She'll be present, approachable, and collaborative - modeling best practices and living her values. We are fortunate to have her perspective and expertise at SCS and CVSD!“

Ms. Cogan graduated from Saint Michael’s College with a Bachelor of Arts in Philosophy, and a Master of Education degree in Special Education. She has almost completed a Certificate of Advanced Graduate Studies in Educational Leadership, also from Saint Michael’s College.

Emily comes to CVSD from the Burlington School District where she is a Special Education Coordinator. She was a special educator at BFA Fairfax in the Franklin West Supervisory Union for many years. Since 2014, she was a Chinese Cultural Exchange Program Teacher and Student Service Coordinator with BFA’s partnership with Spiral International, before the program was canceled due to COVID-19. She was also an accessibility coach and special educator in other schools in northern Vermont.

CVSD’s Director of Student Support Services, Meagan Roy, shared, “The SCS committee is thrilled to welcome Emily to their leadership team. Her experience as a special educator, her creativity and commitment to making education more accessible to her students, and her leadership experience as a special education coordinator made her the unanimous choice for the committee.”

Emily summed it up well by sending this message to us, “I am so excited to join the Shelburne and CVSD community. I am passionate about supporting Vermont's educators, students, and families. I know we have a lot of great work to continue and I look forward to joining this fabulous team.”

We are very excited to welcome Emily on July 1.

Erin Gagne Named CVSD’s Director of Early Education

 

Erin Gagne has been appointed Director of Early Education for the Champlain Valley School District (CVSD). Ms. Gagne will begin her leadership duties on July 1, 2022.

The CVSD Early Education Director position is a critical component of our district’s commitment to early education. The Director oversees all aspects of early childhood education, including early childhood special education, Act 166/Universal PreK (and managing the 50 community-based PreK programs that CVSD partners with) and coordinating 0-3 services for young children with special education.

Ms. Gagne graduated from Rivier College with a Bachelor of Arts degree in Elementary Education, Special Education, and Human Development. She earned her Master of Education degree in Intensive Special Education from the University of Vermont. She has almost completed a Certificate of Advanced Graduate Studies in Educational Leadership from Saint Michael’s College.

Erin joined CVSD last August as an intensive needs special educator and an early education intensive needs coach. Prior to that, she was an early childhood special educator and intensive needs special educator in the Missisquoi Valley School District in Swanton, Vermont.

Upon accepting the position, Ms. Gagne said, ”I’m excited for the opportunity to work with dedicated early childhood educators and with the CVSD leadership team. I look forward to supporting school, family, and community partnerships to promote high-quality, enriching early learning experiences for all children.”

CVSD’s Director of Student Support Services, Meagan Roy, shared, “Erin is uniquely poised to take on this role, as her background in special education incorporates early childhood education and intensive needs education. This will help her support our youngest learners with complex disabilities as well as continue our work in implementing MTSS across the early education system. I could not be more excited to bring her on board in this position!”

We look forward to working with Erin in this role.

Dr. Asma Ali Abunaib Named CVSD’s Director of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion

 

Dr. Asma Ali Abunaib has been appointed Director of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) for the Champlain Valley School District (CVSD). Dr. Abunaib will begin her leadership duties on June 1, 2022.

Superintendent Rene Sanchez shared, “Dr. Abunaib’s knowledge and experience will enable the district to not only continue our DEI journey but also further it at a more rapid pace. With our other directors, she will help us increase inclusivity and equity within our schools.”

Dr. Abunaib brings a wealth of experience to CVSD. She earned her Bachelor of Science degree from Gezira University, Sudan, and a higher diploma concentrating in Peace and Development Studies from Juba University, Khartoum, South Sudan. After that, she earned a Master of Arts from the Intercultural Service Leadership and Management School for International Training (SIT) Graduate Institute in Brattleboro, Vermont, and a Doctorate in Educational Leadership and Policy Studies from the University of Vermont.

Asma’s most recent professional experience includes that of project manager for the Champlain Valley Office of Economic Opportunity and a senior advisor for Three Stones International, a Rwandan-based non-profit.

Upon accepting the position, Dr. Abunaib said, "I am delighted to join Champlain Valley School District and look forward to starting my new career chapter as the director of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion in June. I am looking forward to learning from and sharing my knowledge and experience with each one of you."

The Director of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion will collaborate with the directors of Learning and Innovation and Student Support Services to coordinate and oversee the DEI work in CVSD. Dr. Abunaib will provide leadership and coaching support to schools and central departments in the implementation of district equity and diversity initiatives aligned with CVSD Equity Policy and strategic focus areas. Additionally, the Director is responsible for planning, developing, and delivering equity and diversity-focused professional learning experiences for district employees, providing personalized leadership support to administrators to advance equity and diversity initiatives. The leader will also assess, interrupt, and remediate opportunity gaps and the predictability of student achievement outcomes based on social and cultural factors while engaging the broader community in furthering the District’s equity policy.

Community member Meredith Kinsel-Ziter, who was on the interview committee shared, “As a CVSD parent, I feel honored that a woman with the education and experience Dr. Abunaib has built over her life will be filling this role. From her academic achievements to her work with global refugee populations to her contributions here in our own community, she embodies the spirit and values of the school district.”

Hinesburg Community School world language teacher and DEI coach, Ainaka Luna, also on the interview committee, had this to say, “I was impressed by her knowledge about restorative practices integrated with Intersectional Justice, Cultural Diversity, and Ecological Background. She brings a wider view of the world and new ways of analyzing and processing information into our systems to change stereotypes and including the historically silenced voices.“

We are very excited to welcome Asma and begin our work together on June 1.

Gary Marckres Named CVSD’s Chief Operations Officer

 

Mr. Gerald (Gary) Marckres has been appointed Chief Operations Officer (COO) for the Champlain Valley School District (CVSD). Gary is replacing Jeanne Jensen, who is stepping down as COO to work on special projects for the district. Mr. Marckres will begin his leadership duties on July 1, 2022.

Mr. Mackres comes to CVSD from the South Burlington School District, where he has been the Director of Operations and Financial Management for four years. He also was Chair of the Grand Isle School/Champlain Islands School District’s board of directors for many years. Gary served in the Army National Guard and was Command Sergeant Major, Commandant of the Regional Training Institute, and Operations Lead. He states that “the assignments as Commandant of a regional training and education institute closely correlate to a superintendent role in a public setting. The financial management, accreditation, security, facilities management, food service, and staffing responsibility provided the direct experience which earned me the position I currently hold.” He is a graduate of Post University with a Bachelor of Business Administration.

CVSD’s chief operations officer oversees areas not directly related to academics, including transportation, facilities and grounds, food service, technology, human resources, and finance.

Gary shared this with the district, “I am very excited to join and work with the CVSD leadership team, staff, and students in July! I believe this is a great opportunity to continue my career of service in one of the most respected school districts in Vermont. I am looking forward to getting to know and work with CVSD's dedicated staff and hope that we can continue to advance the work that Jeanne Jensen and her team did so well over the past several years.”

Superintendent Rene Sanchez shared, “Mr. Mackres is a wonderful addition to our leadership team. His previous work in finance and operations in South Burlington will enable him to step into the position and be successful.”

We look forward to welcoming Gary on July 1.

Evan Sivo Named CVSD’s Behavior Systems Director

 

Evan Sivo has been appointed Behavior Systems Director for the Champlain Valley School District (CVSD). Mr. Sivo will begin his leadership duties on July 1, 2022.

The Behavior Systems Director is responsible for overseeing the CVSD ATLAS program (a highly specialized special education program for students with social-emotional disabilities) as well as working with CVSD leaders to provide district-wide leadership in the development of our systems of support for students who struggle with social-emotional learning (SEL). This position will help move forward the work of implementing our SEL systems of support.

Mr. Sivo graduated from Saint Michael’s College with a Bachelor of Arts in History, and a Master of Education degree in Special Education. He earned a post-graduate Certificate of Study in the Florida Institute of Technology’s Behavior Analysis Graduate Certificate program.

Evan joined CVSD in August of 2016 as a special educator at the Hinesburg Community School. He moved to the role of ATLAS Program Coordinator and Behavior Specialist in 2019. Prior to joining CVSD, Evan worked with the Howard Center as a behavior interventionist, a teacher interventionist, and a classroom teacher at the Baird School, where he earned an Excellence in Service Award.

Evan had this to say about assuming this new role in CVSD, “I am excited for the opportunity to examine our Multi-Tiered System of Supports and further the development of SEL. I believe social, emotional, and behavioral well-being is imperative to a student's success and leads to greater academic outcomes.“

CVSD’s Director of Student Support Services, Meagan Roy, shared, “Evan Sivo (the current lead special educator of the ATLAS program), a Board Certified Behavior Analyst and special educator, brings extensive expertise in social-emotional learning and behavioral systems. The committee was most impressed with his firm commitment to ensuring that our classrooms are accessible to all learners. We are excited for Evan to take on this new leadership role.”

We are very excited to welcome Evan on July 1.

Brett Cluff Named Shelburne Co-Principal

 

We are pleased to share that Brett Cluff has been appointed as the Shelburne Community School Co-Principal for grades 5-8. He will jointly lead with Alison Celmer. He follows Scott Sivo, who is moving on to a position in another district at the end of this school year. Brett will assume his leadership duties on July 1, 2022.

SCS PreK-4 principal Alison Celmer is thrilled to have the opportunity to work with Brett. “I'm excited to welcome Brett Cluff back to CVSD. As someone who received his education through our school system at Charlotte Central School and Champlain Valley Union High School, he brings a unique perspective to the district from being a student to becoming a leader. Brett also brings a new perspective to our district based on his previous experiences in different educational settings outside of Vermont. He is calm, consistent, and a great listener who values kindness, collaboration, and flexibility aligning well with my values of kindness, belonging, and growth. I look forward to collaborating with Brett as his family settles into the Shelburne community!”

Mr. Cluff’s recent leadership roles as an assistant principal and senior instructional coach in the New York City public schools prepare him well for this role. He also taught 5th grade in New York and most recently, 6th grade math and science in Essex Junction, Vermont.

He holds a Bachelor of Arts degree from Middlebury College, a Master of Arts in Teaching from Pace University, and a Master of Arts in Education Policy and Social Analysis from Teachers College at Columbia University. He earned an Advanced Certificate from the City University of New York - Bernard Baruch College. Brett is originally from Charlotte, Vermont, and is a product of CVSD schools.

Superintendent Rene Sanchez enthusiastically welcomes Cluff, “We are excited for CVSD native, Brett Cluff, to take the helm of Shelburne Community school. His local roots and the administrative experience he gained while working in New York City Public Schools will both be of great value to Shelburne Community School and CVSD. “

Brett shared his excitement about this new opportunity with us, “As a graduate of CVSD schools and parent of soon-to-be SCS students, I am thrilled to be joining the SCS community as co-principal. It is an honor to have been selected, and I look forward to working in partnership with all students, staff members, and families to continue the tradition of excellence that's been established at SCS over the years."

We all look forward to welcoming Brett officially as the SCS co-principal on July 1.

Cookies Are Great... Right?

Who doesn’t want a free cookie? Well, it depends on what kind we’re offering. In addition to chocolate chip and oatmeal raisin, another type of cookie was distributed to some CVU students last week. Read on to learn more.

A few weeks ago, CVU 9th grade student Alex Fox, as part of research about cybersecurity for a Nexus project, shared a survey with all students at CVU. The goal was to see what they knew and thought about a number of topics. Some of the questions included: What are computer cookies? What do you do when you get a cookie pop-up? What is two-factor authentication? Should passwords for all accounts be the same? What do you do when you get spam? What is cybersecurity, why might it be important, and what are the potential benefits and negatives of cybersecurity? Alex reports that they had over 60 responses to the survey and that most people who responded knew very little about cybersecurity.

That survey whet the appetite to help people learn more about computer or internet cookies. Faculty members of CVU’s technology integration committee, led by digital learning leader Charlie MacFadyen, decided to engage students in a related activity to help them learn about internet cookies, using real cookies.

On Monday, May 9, during the lunch blocks at CVU, students were offered a free cookie. All the students had to do to get the cookie was fill out a one-question form. They were asked “Which best describes you?” with options around whether they liked dogs, cats, both, or neither. When filling out the form, it automatically collected their email address. By the way, special thanks goes out to the Redhawk Cafe staff for the delicious cookies!

About 300 students filled out the survey to get a cookie. CVU advisors were told of this activity ahead of time and were asked not to share what it was about with students until later in the week.

On Wednesday, students who filled out the form got an email that looked something like this, depending on their answer to the form.

Hi _____________,

We hope you enjoyed your cookie in the cafeteria!

And since you're a dog person, here's a picture of some adorable puppies. By the way, we also shared your information with dogs.com, so you may be getting their ads soon*.

*Just kidding-- we didn't really share your info with anyone! But guess what? When you accept cookies on the internet, this is often what happens. Cookies are files that save information about your activity on a website. So-called first-party cookies can be helpful so that sites "remember" you the next time you visit (for example, knowing what preferences you chose or what's in your shopping cart). But when you agree to third-party cookies, you allow websites to share your information with other websites (often, for targeted ads). Next time you're asked to "accept all cookies" on a website, try clicking the option to learn more and choose what you agree to.

At the end of the week, ALL students got an email with the general information about this activity. Advisors were asked to show a video (see the first link below) to their advisories and then pose some questions to get the discussion about the experience going. Some teachers reported that these were valuable conversations.

Hopefully, this will help inform more of you about computer cookies, and maybe you’ll think twice before deciding whether or not to accept one next time.

Learn more here:

• https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rdVPflECed8
• https://www.vox.com/recode/2019/12/10/18656519/what-are-cookies-website-tracking-gdpr-privacy
• https://youtu.be/HFyaW50GFOs
• https://cookie-script.com/all-you-need-to-know-about-third-party-cookies.html

Thank you to the CVU technology integration committee for sharing this with us!

The CVSD Pathway to the Seal of Biliteracy Program

 Here's a guest post from our English Learner teachers at Williston Central School (Melita Sedic-Lawton and Susan Heston Simpson) and Shelburne Community School (Robyn Suarez and Erika Monaghan). 

The English Language (EL) Team is proud to announce that students in Williston Central School (WCS) and Shelburne Community School (SCS) have been attending heritage language classes as a part of the Pathway to the Seal of Biliteracy Program. The Pathway program sets students up for receiving the Seal of Biliteracy when they graduate from high school. The Seal of Biliteracy is a nationwide award that recognizes a high school student’s achievement of a high level of proficiency in English plus another language. At graduation, students get the Seal marked on their diplomas, and their high school transcripts would also note this huge accomplishment. In fact, last year the Seal of Biliteracy was awarded to one student at CVU upon graduation, and this year a student will receive the Seal for biliteracy for English and Nepali.

At WCS, eleven students are taking classes in Chinese, Nepali and Russian, while at SCS, five students are taking Chinese. There is no expense for families. Lessons are once a week after school, and students take the late bus home.

As a pilot program this year, we limited participation to our EL students and focused on just three languages. We would love to expand what is offered next year, as well as include a wider audience. Next year, we are hoping to expand the program by hiring more heritage language instructors and having more students take advantage of this opportunity. We have been so happy with how smoothly things have gone thus far, and feel that we are in a good place to really take off next year!

The Pathway to the Seal of Biliteracy is offered in elementary and middle school and then the Seal of Biliteracy is actually awarded to students once they show competency in two languages in their junior or senior year. They can pursue the Seal through the Nexus program. For more information on the Seal of Biliteracy at the high school level, please contact Johanna Shaw-Daniels in the CLD center at CVU or through email jshawdaniels@cvsdvt.org.

Here are some photos of our students taking classes with Ms. Anna Sun, Mr. Phub Lama, and Maria Kapetanovic, who is also the school nurse at WCS.

at WCS

at WCS

Anna Sun teaching characters with flash cards at SCS

An SCS student working on a letter to her pen pal at WCS.

Maria K, the Russian instructor, works with students at WCS.

Thank you to our EL teachers for their efforts to get this program off the ground and for sharing this with the larger CVSD community.

May 9, 2022 COVID Reminders

Dear Champlain Valley School District Families and Caregivers,

You may be aware that Vermont is experiencing a spike in COVID cases that public health experts anticipate will continue through the next several weeks. Because our schools are a reflection of the communities we serve, we are seeing a similar increase in cases in all of our CVSD schools. We anticipate that these higher case counts will continue through this current state-wide surge. Notifications from our schools continue to go out to those impacted.

We wanted to send along some reminders:

• Our schools and offices are mask-friendly. Anyone is welcome to wear masks at any time and should always feel comfortable doing so. Please consider your personal risk factors when determining what is right for your family.
• COVID symptoms may be mild and mistaken for allergies, especially at this time of year. If your student is experiencing any symptoms, please keep them home from school until they are feeling better. If you need help accessing COVID testing, please contact your school’s Health Office or the Vermont Department of Health.
• If your child tests positive, please keep your child home and follow the steps in What to Do if You Test Positive for COVID-19 .
• Please inform not only classroom teachers/advisors, but also the Health Office in your school.
• Please refer to this document which outlines when your child can return to school.
• Home test kits will be made available to any families who request them. Please reach out to your school’s Health Office.
• We continue to update our COVID dashboard each week.

As always, monitor your child for symptoms of COVID-19, regardless of vaccination status. If your child has any symptoms of COVID-19, keep them home from school until they are feeling better and consider getting tested. The most common COVID symptoms that we are currently seeing in our schools include headache, sore throat, congestion or runny nose, nausea/vomiting, and diarrhea.

If you have any further questions, you can reach out to the Health Office in your school or use our Let’s Talk page to share your thoughts.

Thank you for your attention and consideration.

Rene Sanchez, Superintendent

CVSD Update, May 8, 2022

 

Dear CVSD Families, Caregivers, Faculty, and Staff,

Happy Mother's Day! We hope that you will take the time to view our latest newsletter. It includes: 

• Information about Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month
• A survey for families and caregivers to share thoughts for our equity audit
• An update about hiring
• CVSD's COVID Recovery Plan, Phase III
• Let's Talk and CVSD Kudos
• and more!

Thank you for taking the time to read it and stay informed. 

 

Artistic Collaboration Across Schools

 Here's a guest post from Abbie Bowker, visual arts teacher at CVU. 

Abbie Bowker's three sections of Ceramics recently completed a collaborative art project with Lorien Leyden's Hinesburg Community School first graders. The first graders were asked by their art teacher, Lorien Leyden, to make up a "creature" including a drawing of that creature and some other attributes (where they live, what they eat, what they like, etc.). 

The young students sent these along to the CVU students as a type of "call to action" as they needed to then turn around and make something inspired by those artworks. Ms. Bowker's CVU students chose to make a wide variety of things out of clay for their first graders as a "response" to the "call to action" - the creature itself, or the house it lives in, boots to keep their feet dry, food to eat, etc. 

CVU students visited HCS on Friday 4/29 to deliver the artwork. Apparently the first graders started screaming with excitement when they saw the bus! As you can imagine, the exchange was adorable with smiles all around! We hope the project will be featured in an upcoming CVU show, including footage of the delivery. Here are a couple of photos to whet the appetite.