Introducing the New CCS Assistant Principal

We are pleased to share that Ms. Amanda Riggleman has been appointed the Charlotte Central School (CCS) Assistant Principal. She will join Principal Jennifer Roth and Special Education Director, Beth Slater, on the CCS leadership team. Amanda will assume her leadership duties on July 1, 2023.

“Amanda is a great addition to the Charlotte Central School and CVSD administration team. She comes to us with a strong knowledge and implementation experience that aligns with CVSD’s priorities of academic growth and student belonging. From serving as a science teacher leader and curriculum writer to serving as an administrator for student behavior and support, her past experiences have prepared her well to immediately contribute to our team,” Superintendent Rene Sanchez said.

Ms. Riggleman joins the Champlain Valley School District from Manassas, Virginia, where she has been a Special Assignment Administrator, implementing individualized restorative practices, carrying out district policies, supporting educators, and performing many administrative functions expected of an assistant principal. Before that, she was a science lead teacher and developed science curriculum, all of which took place with the Prince William County Schools.

Amanda earned a Bachelor of Science from Longwood College and a Master of Education from Western Governors University.

CCS principal Jen Roth shared, “I am really looking forward to getting to know Amanda and showing her how special CCS is. Her instructional background is based in the sciences. I am hoping together we can create learning and foster stewardship for our campus and surrounding natural resources.

From our many conversations, I find Amanda to be student-centered. She has experience utilizing student interests and passion to engage them in learning. She has supported restorative work among students who have experienced conflict which is a practice I hope to improve upon for myself. We have so much to celebrate with Amanda joining our school community.”

Amanda shared her excitement about this new opportunity with CVSD, “I am so excited to join Champlain Valley School District and Charlotte Central School. I could immediately feel that CCS is a special place, as well as the community that surrounds it. I can't wait to get to know all of the students, staff, and families and contribute to the amazing work taking place with CVSD.”

We all look forward to welcoming Amanda officially as the CCS assistant principal on July 1.

Recognizing This Year's Retirees

Sadly, it's the time of year when we recognize those who are retiring from CVSD. Thank you for your many years of service and dedication to CVSD students, schools, colleagues, and the larger community.

You will be missed. 

We wish you all the very best on your next adventures!

The Return of RISE

It was four years ago that we last wrote about RISE at CVU. You can learn more about the origin of RISE and see some highlights of the 2019 program. CVU took a hiatus from RISE after 2019 due to COVID and the many adjustments to school and schedules. Happily, it has returned and it is off and running as of June 1! 

Given that it's been four years, it's likely new to most students and families in our district. Here's a bit of a refresher.

RISE stands for Reflective Interest-based, Student Experiences and is taking place during the last two weeks of the school year. Students attend either two sessions a day, morning and afternoon, or choose to participate in a full-day session each day. Students may also explore an Independent Learning Seminar. RISE is a part of the academic school year and attendance is a graduation requirement. It culminates on June 14 with a Presentation of Learning Day. 

Peter Booth, a Nexus teacher at CVU, is also the coordinator of RISE. Thank you Peter, and all CVU staff, for your incredible efforts to make this experience a reality once more! 

Here's a small sampling of some of the varied offerings this year followed by photos from some of the sessions.

• Empowering Women in Business
• In this session, we will explore the challenges and rewards women face as they enter the workforce. Topics around gender equity, finding your leadership voice, balancing work and life, self-care, and the importance of self-advocacy will be the focus of our class time.
• What participants will gain from this session is confidence in their thoughts and ideas, the skills to implement ideas, a knowledge of the resources available to support women in business, a deeper understanding of what it is like to work in business, and strategies for self-care as they balance the demands of work and life.
• Strategies to reach these goals will include guest speakers, field trips to local businesses, a job shadowing opportunity, and a potential trip to New York City to meet and network with women in business leadership positions.
• Wilderness Leadership and NOLS Wilderness First Aid
• In this full-day offering, students will develop their self-reliance, group-work, and leadership skills in a wilderness setting. They will come to understand the CVU motto of “Take care of yourself, take care of each other, and take care of this place” in a whole new context. 
• Students will become NOLS Wilderness First Aid and CPR certified, do their own leadership inventory and training, hike the trails in the region, and do community service for the Green Mountain Club and Vermont Youth Conservation
• Fractals, Ferns, & Formulas
• In this session, we will explore fractals, the infinitely complex mathematical shapes that are found all around us! After an introduction to fractals and their creation, we’ll investigate the connections to geometry, nature, art, architecture, technology, and more.
• The Science of Happiness
• Based on the most popular course at Yale, The Science of Happiness will focus on the question, “Why do I feel the way I do?”
• In this RISE session, students will grapple with strategies designed around how to increase their own happiness and build more productive happiness habits. We will examine misconceptions about happiness, annoying features of the brain that guide us to think the way we do, and the research/strategies that can help you change. By the end of the session, students will be prepared to successfully incorporate a specific wellness activity (or more) into their life.
• Come join us for a RISE focused on finding happiness and joy!
• Painting and Poetry
• Painting AND Poetry? It’s a win/win combination! The focus of this school-appropriate twist on the “Paint & Sip'' phenomenon is to encourage all students, regardless of artistic or writing ability, to engage in activities where they will be asked to think about varied subject matter, paint it, and then write about it using multiple forms of poetry. The culminating activity will be to participate in an in-house "Paint & Sip" (on age appropriate beverages, of course) class by a local artist who will guide students through a class-selected painting.
• Cooking for Independent Living
• Do you love a home-cooked meal? Do you have a sense of what you love to eat, but you are not sure how to prepare it? Would you like to leave this course with a menu of meals you have already prepared once, and are prepared to make again?
• In this course, we will work collaboratively to prepare meals (some in one pot preparation!) that you can return to time and time again once you are living independently, or for your current living situation! Impress your friends and parents with these go-to meals. Designed for first-time cooks, you will learn some basic techniques for preparing some main meals, paired with sides of vegetables and starches. Important- Many or most of these dinner entrees will not be vegan or vegetarian friendly…Please consider this course only if you are comfortable preparing and consuming fish, beef, pork, and chicken.
• Celebrating Culture and Diversity: A Project-Based Learning Experience
• Are you fascinated by the beautiful diversity of human cultures? Do you want to learn more about your cultural heritage, or are you curious about other cultures?
• In this RISE course, we’ll explore, celebrate, and experience the range of elements that make up culture: language, food, clothing, art, music and dance, spirituality, gender roles, etc. We’ll also open up avenues for you to explore your own cultural interests more deeply.

Click on the three vertical dots below the slides for a larger view/full screen.

Helicopter Lands at CCS

Sam Slater, a Charlotte Central School parent and CPT in the VT Army National Guard, flew a Blackhawk helicopter that landed in the soccer field today. All students were gathered to watch the landing and then smaller groups had the opportunity to take a closer look.

Several Guardsman were present to maintain safety during the landing and takeoff and to help answer questions. Students could explore the helicopter and learn more about the power of STEM education. They did a fabulous job responding and explaining many aspects of the science behind how helicopters work, some things about their roles with the National Guard, and how and when the helicopter is used.

Teacher, Shannon Spellman

Jen Roth, principal, and Courtney Krahn, assistant principal

SCS and Their Special GOAT Guests

Shelburne Community School has some special guest visitors for the next few weeks... goats! The goat visitors are from New Village Farm. Five Nigerian Dwarf goats are stationed in the breezeway at SCS for the next two weeks. 5th grade "Goat Ambassadors" are available to meet with classes and small groups to share more about these animal friends. All classes have the opportunity to sign up for a visit.

Thank you to Jess Howard, Vasanthi Meyette, Devon Morrill, and Sean Murray for helping this partnership come to life. And thanks to 7th graders for helping to build the goats an enclosure last week. If all goes well they hope to bring the goats back in the fall.

Constructing the enclosure