RISE at CVU 2024

The last two weeks took on a distinct character as the academic year wound down at Champlain Valley Union High School. The regular class schedules and programming gave way to a flurry of final projects, presentations, and assessments. Once these culminating activities were complete, the school transitioned into RISE, an enrichment program that occupied the remaining two weeks before summer break.

RISE stands for Reflective Interest-based, Student Experiences. Students attended either two sessions a day, morning and afternoon, or chose to participate in a full-day session each day. Students might also have explored an Independent Learning Seminar. RISE is a part of the academic school year and attendance is a graduation requirement.

An excerpt from the RISE 2024 Catalog: 

Our current educational model needs regular, system-wide, and equitable opportunities for student to develop and cultivate interests. We believe that RISE better accounts for the whole student (their interests and values), connects to the pursuit of lifelong learning, and will increase engagement and a desire to learn. Our model shows that, as a student-centered school committed to personalization, proficiency, and social-emotional wellbeing; we value the fusion of conventional and flexible learning opportunities to meet the needs of all students. 

Thank you Peter Booth, Carly Rivard, and Luke Dorfman for your incredible efforts to make this experience happen. And thank you to all staff for sharing your interests and passions with students in an enriching way.

Here's a small sampling of some of the varied offerings this year.

• Art and Activism: Puppets, Power, Protest, and Paint

Puppets? Protest? Join us for an integrated creative and theatrical experience. One of the many uses of art is to communicate, to express thought, to educate, and to motivate. Art and Activism explores the historical and contemporary use of images to create platforms for social issues through art and community engagement. While gaining perspective and context through examination of contemporary artists, we will work together to bring our own passions and interests to the masses. How will we do this? Through the creation of larger-than-life puppets! We will conclude with a theatrical presentation created entirely by participants. 

• Explore Non-Traditional Career Pathways

The intention for this RISE session was for students to be exposed to a variety of career pathways that may not require a 4-year college degree. We explored regional workplaces and career and Technical centers, with a focus on the fasted growing careers in Vermont, especially the trades. We did some career development work to explore interests and abilities and visited different workplaces that aligned with those interests. The goal was to visit a different place of employment daily off campus so that we could explore all of the careers involved and figure out next steps after high school. 

• Sports Analytics

Sports Analytics offered an exciting introduction to the world of data-driven sports analysis. Participants learned statistical techniques, explored data visualization, and applied their skills to analyze performance data from various sports. They unlocked the secrets of sports succedss through data-driven insights!

•  Game Programming

Students learned how to write code to create games of different types. They grew to understand that programming a game is a different experience from playing a game. They looked into the creativity and logic behind creating games. They learned through tutorials, experimentation, and examples from professional game developers. 

• Linguistics: The Art and Science of Language(s)
• Why is it so hard to say "She sells seashells by the seashore?" (Phonetics)
• What's the difference between a tapping bot and a dabbing pod? (Phonology)
• What is the "cran" in cranberry? (Morphology) 
• You this sentence can understand - but how? (Syntax)
• How did 'hlafweard' become 'lord'? (Historical Linguistics)

Participants explored these questions (and more!) by completing linguistic puzzles, investigating word histories, playing language games, composing metrical poetry, and digging into examples from the world's 7000+ languages. 

One session at RISE was called Documenting RISE: Photojournalism in Action. Facilitated by Olivia Gatti, CVU librarian and a Pulitzer prize-winning photographer, a group of students branched out to visit and capture the essence of various RISE offerings, in and out of the school building. See their photos below. (The names on the slides are the photographers.)

Thank you to everyone who helped make RISE a success once again! 

Past posts about RISE: 

2023

2019

The Origins of RISE

SCS Students Present to State Board of Education

 This guest post was provided by Lashawn Sells, DEI coach at the Shelburne Community School. 

Photo with newly-elected US House representative, Becca Balint

In late September, a group of 22 students from the Shelburne Community School went to Montpelier for the Day of Anti- Racial Equity and Education. The event was sponsored by Vermont Student Anti- Racism Network (VSARN). Students were chosen by teachers and some students self selected. Students from Charlotte Central School and Hinesburg Community School attended the event as well.

More recently, six SCS students presented virtually to a committee of the State Board of Education . These students shared about the day they went to Montpelier with other students across the state to learn more about Anti- Racial Equity and Education. The students discussed how much they enjoyed connecting with students from other districts and how they want to use this information to help make change in their school community. They also took this moment to share some things they feel we need to work on across the state such as hiring BIPOC teachers, diversification of curriculum, and opportunities for students to learn outside the traditional classroom. 

The committee was elated to hear from our students and are taking their suggestions into consideration.

CVSD Update, October 6, 2022

Dear CVSD Families and Caregivers,

Happy Fall! We are eager to share this latest update with you as it contains important and timely information about upcoming events happening around the district and for the district. We hope you will get involved and share your voice. 

In this edition, you will find: 

• A letter from Superintendent Sanchez
• Information about our Strategic Planning process, including Community Forums and a survey
• An invitation to join us at the DEI Virtual Town Hall next week
• Celebrations throughout the month of October 
• and more
  

As always, let us know if you have questions, feedback, or compliments using our Let's Talk page on the district's website. 

CVSD Update, September 15, 2022

 Dear CVSD Families and Caregivers,

We are happy to share the latest update from the district. We know that you also receive school newsletters and hope that you take the time to read both. They each provide you with important and timely information. 

In this CVSD update you will find: 

• A letter from Superintendent Sanchez
• Information about our strategic planning process (it's underway!)
• A reminder to fill out the school meal application (it's for everyone to fill out)
• Upcoming events
• Additional reminders
• and more!

Thank you for taking the time to read this newsletter. As always, reach out with questions, feedback, and compliments using Let's Talk.

The Champlain Valley School District

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. 

 

CVSD Update, February 4, 2022

 

Thank you for taking the time to view this recent update. It includes: 

• Information about diversity, equity, and inclusion in the district
• An invitation to the upcoming DEI Town Hall
• COVID mitigation measures and testing
• Budget and bond information and resources for voters

and more!

CVSD Update November 22, 2021

 

We are happy to share the latest update from the Champlain Valley School District. This newsletter includes:

• A letter from Superintendent Sanchez
• News about Test to Stay and Vaccines
• Ways to get informed and involved in the Budget Development Process
• Celebrating some CVSD-named snowplows
• and more!

We hope you have a healthy, safe, and joyful Thanksgiving!

Superintendent's Thoughts on Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion in CVSD

 

November 14, 2021

Hello CVSD Families, Staff, and Community,

I write to you today to share my thoughts on the status of diversity, equity, and inclusion work in our beloved district.

In these first months of my tenure, we’ve had several equity issues come to light that are very concerning. Upon personal reflection and through conversations with those folks directly impacted, I understand that these concerns could have been addressed in a more thoughtful and collegial manner. As we, as an institution, continue to grow, we will improve our knowledge and implementation of practices that support students, staff, and others in diversity, equity, and inclusion work.

I recognize that, often, growth comes with growing pains. In this case, the growing pains manifested in some of our staff feeling let down and frustrated. Folks have expressed that they feel vulnerable, targeted, and even afraid to come to work. Our staff should never experience hostility while at work in our schools. These essential community members must be encouraged to continue their work focusing on the outcomes that we aim to achieve for every student in our care.

As superintendent, I’ve learned that developing and strengthening relationships goes a long way toward solving personnel issues and furthering diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) work. With honest and open communication, we can face personal and professional discomfort and grow together while also learning more about each other in the process.

But personal and administrative growth is only part of this complex picture. For significant change to occur as a district, it is essential to focus on the more significant systemic issues. A comprehensive equity policy can immediately call for a review of our board and administration policies and procedures to ensure they are equitable and fair. A sound equity policy has guidelines for formal and informal communication--how we talk to each other, how we provide access to co-curricular and other activities outside of the classroom, and how we measure and adjust for a student’s growth and progression through our system.

To address these systemic issues, I am taking a proactive approach. But I realize achieving equity takes more than one person. We must come together and work together. So, I’m asking you — the CVSD community — to guide and hold your district accountable along the way.

Under my leadership, these are some upcoming diversity, equity, and inclusion initiatives that I am excited to share with you:

First (pending final board approval next week,) we will contract with Mass Insight to undertake a formal equity audit that will review many current district systems. This audit will start, in full swing, in January. We will seek volunteers to participate in focus groups on specific topics. Based on the audit results, we may need additional feedback or budgetary steps to fulfill the recommendations.

Second, on December 8 at 6:30, CVSD will hold its first Town Hall on Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion. Our goal is to have a structured meeting where attendees can work together to create immediate and long-term action steps. I plan to hold town halls bi-monthly through at least the end of the school year. The insights gathered at these forums will help guide us into our five-year strategic plan work.

Third, I have been thrilled to meet with many of our local DEI community and school groups this year. We have many folks interested in the district’s DEI work. I’d like to recruit members of these committees, as well as students, parents, staff, and others, to join a CVSD DEI Advisory Group. The purpose of this group will be to help the district engage the wide range of voices from our five towns, our schools, and the broader community. Our aim is to better understand the needs of our students and staff and ensure that those needs are met in policy and practice.

Fourth, beginning in March 2022 and concluding spring semester 2023, CVSD will undergo a process to develop a five-year strategic plan. This plan will involve stakeholders across the district and use our equity policy as a lens throughout the strategic planning process. We will gather information to establish goals, metrics, and action plans to guide our future budget, operational, and educational planning.

Fifth, while not directly focused on diversity, equity and inclusion, I will create a Superintendent’s Student Advisory Committee. This committee will consist of four students from each school who will provide me advice and feedback on the student experience in the district. Additionally, as a group, we will seek opportunities for leadership and service on their campuses and in the community. From these conversations, I hope to learn more about the daily and yearly experience of the students so my administration can use it as another data point for serving our students.

I want to acknowledge that daily DEI work can be very challenging. DEI work is necessary work, but it will take time and patience to implement correctly. As in other Vermont districts, CVSD is in the beginnings of its DEI work. If we can move the needle forward each day, each week, each month, and each year to improve the academic, personal, and social-emotional outcomes for each of our students, we know we are making needed progress.

It’s important to note that we are still actively managing the effects of COVID-19 on our students and systems. The pandemic has affected every student differently. Knowing and accounting for each student’s needs, especially after the nearly 20 months of irregular student access to school, is at the core of DEI work. Additionally, the pandemic continues to cause increased anxiety and decreased coping capacity and strains the mental well-being of both students and staff. I recognize that this imperative work might seem overwhelming or be viewed as additional work on top of the regular course of business. But I assure you, as a district, we will strive to align our goals and target our outcomes to support this valuable DEI work.

I am honored to be your superintendent during this time of growth, inclusion, and curiosity. I am confident that this journey towards providing equity in our school district is the right path. And I am encouraged by the many passionate voices within the CVSD Community who will join me on this journey.

Sincerely,

Rene Sanchez

Student Voices Lead the Way

The 4th graders at Charlotte Central School recently noticed some stereotypical language being used between peers. They spoke up about how that felt wrong. Their teachers, Dana Hanf and Tasha Grey, respected those thoughts and used it as a spontaneous teaching moment to connect to a greater view of stereotypes and gender language. 

As a group, they made this poster. 

Then, they made their own posters which can be found hanging around the school. 

Way to go, students! And way to go, teachers, for supporting the conversation.

Hands Up Celebration Held in Williston

 

(l to r: Danielle Doucette, Youth Services Assistant, Dorothy Alling Memorial Library, Cara Clopton, Library Media Specialist Allen Brook School, Bonnie Lord, Youth Librarian, Dorothy Alling Memorial Library)

The Dorothy Alling Memorial Library (DAML) in Williston was the proud recipient of an American Library Association (ALA) Libraries Transforming Communities: Focus on Small and Rural Libraries grant this year. They worked in collaboration with Allen Brook School on a special project to provide a free opportunity for family literacy engagement centered on creating a welcoming and inclusive community.

The grant was used to offer Brave Books Bags to each second-grade family at Allen Brook School earlier this fall. The bags included two picture books and two chapter books to spark conversations, understandings, and build caring, valued relationships. These books, created by Black authors and illustrators, were chosen to encourage conversations around racial equity and inclusiveness. The books range from picture books to middle grade titles, to encourage conversations amongst the very young as well as older family members.

As a follow-up to the distribution of the Brave Book Bags the community was invited to a celebration of the project on the Town Green today. Allen Brook Librarian Cara Clopton read the picture book Hands Up! by Breanna J. McDaniel to celebrate social justice and the partnership between DAML & Allen Brook School. The story will also be featured on a Storywalk® on the Town Green this month.

The photos below were contributed by Cara Clopton. Thank you for your part in making this effort and event happen. 

CVSD Update October 22, 2021

 

In this CVSD Update you will find information about: 

• DEI work in the district
• The COVID Test-to-Stay program
• Updates to the Contact Tracing Guidance and how that impacts schools
• How community members can share their thoughts and voices in the budget development process
• Two upcoming Community Forums - both next week! 
  • (Budget and Test-to-Stay)
• and more!

CVSD Update, October 7, 2021

In this CVSD Update, you will find information about: 

• COVID testing in schools
• A change to the process for collecting student vaccine information
• Updates about our DEI Director search and Equity Audit
• Social Media challenges and Digital Citizenship Week
• Joining in on the budget development process
• and more! 

Please let us know if you have questions or feedback by using this form. 

CVSD Update September 9, 2021

 

In this CVSD Update, you will find:

• A 9/11 remembrance from our Superintendent
• COVID updates
• An announcement about our DEI Director
• Important information about Free and Reduced Meals
• CVSD's COVID Recovery Plan
• and more

As always, let us know if you have questions.
~ Contact your school directly if it's a school-related question.
~ Use this form to share questions for the district.

Introducing CVSD's Director of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion

 

We are thrilled to welcome Dr. Liliana Rodriguez as Director of Diversity, Equity, & Inclusion for the Champlain Valley School District. Dr. Rodriguez will begin her leadership duties on July 1, 2021. Rodriguez’s role will be to work as a part of the CVSD leadership team to lead and direct the district’s diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) work.

Dr. Rodriguez brings a wealth of experience to CVSD. She received her B.A. with honors in psychology from Williams College and her M.S. in clinical psychology and Ph.D. in psychology from the University of Massachusetts, Amherst. She has been a lecturer at Williams College. Liliana (Lili) previously served as an educational consultant, as well as a mental health and substance abuse counselor, for Hampshire College and Berkshire County, Mass., before returning to Williams in 2006 to serve as Director of Diversity Recruitment. She went on to be the Associate Dean of Diversity, Inclusion, and Community Development at Swarthmore College. Her most recent experience is that of Vice Chancellor of Campus Life and Inclusive Excellence at the University of Denver.

She has spent the last 20 years providing DEI training to students, staff, and faculty at the institutions she has served, as well as to non-profit leaders, K-12 educators, and several executive boards from a variety of organizations. She believes that we cannot take a one-size-fits-all approach to this work any longer. As she stated in her letter expressing interest in the position, “Individuals need to be met where they are and compassionately walked toward greater understanding. The field has changed radically and the challenges faced are complex but achievable with a firm commitment and innovative ideas. I think I can draw on my work in higher education to be a valuable resource in K-12 education. I genuinely want to help.”

CVSD School Board Chair Angela Arsenault, a member of the search committee, was impressed with Dr. Rodriquez’s experience in the field. “Liliana has dedicated her career to advancing diversity, equity, and inclusion in educational settings. She holds a deep understanding of the personal nature of the work, a true belief in the value of student voice, and a desire to create measurable goals to effect real change where it's needed. I'm excited to learn from her and to do all we can as a board and a community to embrace the incredible expertise and wisdom Liliana brings to our district.”

Fabienne Boisvert-DeFazio, a community member from Shelburne who served on the search committee added, "I was happy to be part of a fair and impartial interview process of numerous highly qualified candidates. Our lengthy and thorough work resulted in the selection of Liliana Rodriguez, who I believe will bring lived experience, expertise, and mindfulness to the DEI Director position at CVSD. As a community member, I would like to thank the Superintendent and the School Board for following through and filling this vital position."

Dr. Rodriguez impressed the committee with her deep knowledge of equity issues, her successes in identifying and driving real change in educational institutions, her examples of connecting with students, and her demonstrated strength in communication. She says that she is excited to join CVSD and is excited to get started. We are just as excited to begin our work with her and learn with her.