Celebrating CVSD Retirees

It's that time of year where, with bittersweet emotions, we recognize those that are moving on and retiring from CVSD. 

Thank you, thank you. 

If you'd like to reach out to any of these people, feel free to use the CVSD Kudos topic on Let's Talk and we'll make sure your message gets to them. 

WCS School Counselor in the Spotlight

 

Williston Central School's school counselor, Chris Ford, is in the Vermont School Counselor Association's Spotlight this month. Chris answered a few questions below. Congratulations on this honor and well-deserved recognition, Chris!  

What influenced you to become a school counselor?

In reflecting on this question, I think three things influenced my path to becoming a school counselor: 1. Always enjoying and having fun with kids in all parts of my life; 2. Having a high school counselor that was supportive, kind, and helpful; 3. Seeking a career path that is meaningful and rewarding each day.

What's your favorite part about being a school counselor?

Definitely connecting with kids in my role as a school counselor. Whether it is in classes, groups, or individual meetings, the days I work more with students are the days that seem more satisfying (even when the work is challenging).

What’s unique about your school community?

I appreciate all the student leadership and extra-curricular opportunities that our students have available to them during the school day, and after school, to help them connect with others, find their passions, and contribute to making our school community better for all students.

We are proud to call Chris a colleague and thankful for the work he does on behalf of students.

A Unique Look at the CVU Class of 2002

Through a series of recent events, we discovered that there are a number of CVSD (and what was formerly CSSU) alumni working in the district. We reached out to those that we know of from CVU's class of 2002 and asked them to share a few memories. Here's what they shared, in their own words. 

    

Mariel Adsit (CCS and SCS school psychologist)

I grew up in Charlotte– I attended CCS K-8 and then CVU. I have many fond memories of both CCS and CVU. At CCS, I forged strong connections with peers and adults and discovered some of my strengths and vulnerabilities as a learner. I got the support I needed to develop my weaker skill sets, even if it meant going to a room in the basement to get extra help (the room is no longer!). Luckily I was allowed to bring a friend! I think this early experience ultimately inspired me to help others figure out their learning profile and to get the necessary support (as a School Psychologist). At CVU, I enjoyed my time on the tennis and Nordic ski teams and expanded my interests. Sadly, Psychology was not a course option at the time.

Doug Pierson (CCS special educator)

Memories from CVSD schools:

Being completely confused that in the middle of our math class all of a sudden we would start doing Tai Chi with Mrs. Heatherlee

Walking in to Mr. Mares class and having him announce to the entire class that an average student will get a C in my class. Being an athlete and getting a C didn’t really work so I remember turning to Pete Cernosia and thinking this is going to be a really long semester. It turned out that after a hard few weeks he was one of my favorite teachers and he had this great ability to push students to pay attention and give everything their best in his class. This class helped me the rest of my years at CVU.

For some reason, I was nominated to be the class Marshall (I think that is what it was called) and I don’t enjoy being the center of attention but as part of being the Marshall I had to walk the senior class (class of 2001) down and light a candle with a match in front of everyone (the entire class, parents etc.) My hands were shaking I was so nervous being up on stage that I was having a hard time lighting the match. It took me some time but once I finally lit the match and the candle I took a deep breath of relief and ended up blowing out the candle.

At SCS, I was on the Delta house and I remember Mr. Carlson would sit/stand on tables and sing to you in his Elvis voice happy birthday.

For sports, I was fortunate to have Shep all four years at CVU for my soccer coach and I’ll never forget him driving us to play North Country. We were close to the top of this big hill and all of a sudden we heard a giant pop. He pulled the bus over and we were all wondering what was going on and what happened until we looked behind us and saw all the soccer balls rolling down the road. The loud pop was us running over a ball but we also all had to get off and run down to retrieve all our soccer balls.

A small connection I have from then to now would be I remember being a big brother while at CVU and coming back to SCS to read to a young boy in 2nd grade. I also remember doing a project around teaching the first grade and going into HCS to help out for a semester. I remember having to teach my own lesson at the end and thinking back I had a great time doing this. I also had some family personal connections in special education and going into college didn’t know what else I wanted to be so decided education it was. I am now in my 14th year at CCS as a special educator working with the 3rd and 4th grade teams.

Laura Dyer (ABS teacher)

My memory would be of working in Carmen LaFlamme's class for WISH (Williston Student Helpers) in 8th grade (Mr. Ford would drive us over to the newly-built Allen Brook School from Williston Central in his car!). Mrs. LaFlamme told me I would make a great teacher and that I could have her job someday, which was the highest compliment from my very own kindergarten teacher! I went on to get my degree and come back to teach kindergarten at ABS, but I missed Carmen's retirement by one year.

Of course, a highlight was meeting Mariel Adsit in Justin Chapman's lit class at CVU and making a friend for life!

Brett Cluff (SCS 5-8 principal)

My favorite part of CVU was the purposeful community-building activities and structures. Coming from Charlotte, I felt like a small fish in a big pond. Some of the memories from CVU that come to mind first were the time I spent in advisory. Chris Hood was my advisor! I loved the relaxed atmosphere and the chance to get to know kids across grade levels. Climbing the wall in Project Adventure and all the field trips we took in Nichols Core were also really helpful in making us feel like part of the same team.

I got to learn from some amazing educators in my time at CCS and CVU. I think my favorites were usually the ones who really listened to what kids had to say and brought some humor into the classroom. I've tried to reflect that in my own career. As a school principal, I may not always be able to solve every problem, but I can at least listen with empathy and try to connect with kids and adults through laughter.

Laura Rice (CVSD Director of Human Resources)

As I think back to my time as a student in CVSD, there is one person that always comes to mind. Ms. Downer was a school counselor at CCS for many years. She is a beam of light and every time I saw her, she would make it a point to stop and chat. I always enjoyed the opportunity to spend time with her. Ms. Downer was never a downer, even in some dark moments when she had to give me bad news. She was a rock for me and I am forever grateful for her patience, kindness, and welcoming attitude. I ran into her this past spring at a restaurant and when I told her who I was, it was like no time had passed. We picked up in conversation. I hope that someday there is a person who thinks back fondly to my interactions with them in this same light.

When I was a kid, I often thought I would be a teacher mostly because of the awesome teachers I had at CCS and CVU. There was a culture of kindness and support that felt like an extension of home. I wanted to be in a place where I could support people the same way I felt supported. In college, I discovered my passion for supporting adults and it has now all come full circle with being in HR in education.

Dianna Fletcher (transportation)

I am a proud alumni of both CVU and CCS and would love to share! There are so many wonderful memories from my time as a student here.

One of my most cherished memories was when I was in the CCS Jazz Band. We were playing on Church Street on the very last day of my 8th-grade year. As we all came down the stairs to leave, all the teachers and staff had gathered in the lobby to send us off since we wouldn't be there at dismissal time. It was so heartwarming and special. And now, even after all these years, there is still a wonderful sense of warmth and caring flowing through the halls.

It is so amazing to connect with old peers that you haven't seen since graduation. They are your coworkers and the parents of the students you work with. The result is a community that feels more like family than individual groups and a real connection to where we all came from. I feel truly blessed to work where I grew up and to give back to the community.

Jennifer Goodspeed (SCS food service)

I remember one of my teachers at Charlotte Central School, Catthy Folly. One of her family members worked with my mom after I had been in her class. When she heard through the grapevine that I was having a baby, she made me a baby blanket and I still have it.

For my CVU grad challenge, I learned how to decorate cakes. It didn’t lead to what I’m currently doing, but now I see the connection!

I am happy to be doing this job as the hours align with being able to be there for my daughter, who is now a student at CVU.

Amanda Laberge (WCS teacher)

I attended Shelburne Community School from K-8th grade. My fondest memories there are of teachers and projects that I enjoyed, like the Pioneers unit with Ms. Morrissey (yes, Marybeth Morrissey, a current colleague at WCS was my 5th-grade teacher) and the Salem Witch Trials unit with Dick Carlson. I also remember the teachers that I connected with most and stayed in touch with long after graduation from SCS and CVU, like Meg O'Donnell, Dave Ely, and Carl Recchia.

Some of my favorite memories at CVU were from events with the Madrigal Singers, and the performance of Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat my 9th-grade year, during which I was thrilled to wear gold go-go boots and play the honorable part of the Camel's Second Hump.

I also remember an English course at CVU in which our teacher asked each of us to perform part of a song. I don't remember which song I performed, but I do remember Brett Cluff's rendition of "Turn the Page" by Bob Seger and the Silver Bullet Band. I think in my young mind, it was Grammy-worthy!

I remember exactly where I was and what I was doing at CVU for almost the entire day of Tuesday, 9/11/01 when we were just starting our senior year.

Overall, I remember finding my people in both my peers and teachers; they were people who supported and accepted me and who I'm grateful to have known. I feel very fortunate to work with several of them now, and to catch up a little bit at every district inservice and hear about their families and experiences living and working in.

When I was a student at SCS and CVU, I learned the value of teachers who care deeply about who their students are as human beings; that is the most important lesson that I have carried with me into my role as a middle-level classroom teacher. It is a lesson that transcends time and all of the changes we've seen in our society over the past 20+ (!) years.

Thank you for being a part of our community in so many ways, from student to employee! We value what you bring to our district and its schools.

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!

Celebrating All CVSD Employees

For those who don't know, this week is often referred to as Teacher Appreciation Week. Scattered throughout the school year are appreciation days, weeks, and months for a large variety of important roles people play in our schools and in our district. Rather than scatter the recognition and thanks, here in the Champlain Valley School District, we are recognizing ALL employees this week. You will see a variety of social media posts honoring about 30 groups represented in our district throughout the week. 

In addition, we compiled a list of employees who have contributed to CVSD for more than 25 years. One of the wonderful things about this list is how it is made up of people who play many different roles, including teachers, bus drivers, food service, paraeducators, administrative assistants, librarians, and more. This group comprises about 7.5% of our workforce. Their devotion, connection, and commitment to CVSD and our students speaks volumes and provides a great example for others to follow. 

Thank you ALL. 

See a larger version of the image

Let's Talk and Engage in Conversation

Last March, the school district softly rolled out a new communication tool called Let's Talk. Let’s Talk makes it easy for parents, students, staff, and community members to ask questions, request information, and share feedback. Over the summer, we added topics for each of our schools. 

Anytime someone submits something to Let's Talk, it goes to the people who are most knowledgeable about the topic. There's often a team of people behind each topic, ready to engage with you on any inquiry.

“As a school district, we want to create a thriving school culture and climate, and that’s only possible by listening to community feedback,” says Superintendent Rene Sanchez. “Let’s Talk makes it easier for our stakeholders — including students, families, staff, and community members — to reach out with questions or concerns and provides the district with data needed to make informed decisions.”

Let’s Talk delivers dynamic features including:

• 24/7 accessibility from any device, including smartphones, tablets, and laptops; and will soon support texting
• We are working to add translation tools that can translate dialogues to a number of languages to meet community needs and manage multilingual communications
• Data collection to help education leaders make informed decisions

"Let’s Talk enables our district to accommodate the communication needs and preferences of our community members with a variety of channels and translation tools (soon!), and address issues and inequities experienced by students and families. This is directly tied to findings from our equity audit,” reports Superintendent Sanchez. “No matter how our community contacts us — we are able to provide a timely, accurate response through Let’s Talk within 3 business days, though it's typically less.”

Every voice deserves to be heard and every question deserves to be answered. Let’s Talk makes this all possible. We encourage everyone in our community to use Let’s Talk to share your feedback, questions, and ideas to help us deliver high quality customer experiences and make CVSD an even better place for our students, staff, and families.”

Here's a short how-to video to help you see how easy it is to share your thoughts.

We look forward to hearing from you!

CVSD's Let's Talk page

Welcome Back CVSD Faculty

Today marked the official first day back for our faculty across CVSD. For the first time in three years, we gathered together at CVU for Convocation and professional development. With nearly 500 faculty members in CVU's auditorium and library (livestreamed), we started the day with speeches and a fabulous keynote. 

First, CVU's student co-presidents Asa and Kyle spoke to the whole group about their experiences in CVSD schools, with shout-outs to the many educators that had a direct impact on them. They reminded us that they have yet to experience a high school year not impacted by COVID-19 and are excited to embark on this final year of learning and connecting. 

Angela Arsenault, our School Board chair, shared an inspirational welcome message. She acknowledged the challenges we've all faced through the pandemic. She led us through an exercise to envision our dream school and district that is supportive and inclusive for all children. 

Superintendent Rene Sanchez told of the work that the district's leadership team engaged in this summer, helping to develop a focus for the year. With teaching and learning at the center of our work, we will emphasize growth and belonging for all. Incorporated into that are the more specific topics of identity, direction, connection, and proficiency. We'll be sharing more information about how we will define and incorporate those terms into our work with students and one another soon. 

Rene also recognized faculty and staff who had been in the field of education for longer than 30 years, culminating with CVU teacher, Norm McClure, who is starting his 50th year! (Yes, you read that number right!)

Our keynote today was Joelle van Lent, a licensed psychologist who focuses on resiliency. Her presentation was authentic, inspiring, and engaging. There are many things that resonated with everyone, especially after the last few years. She provided ideas and suggestions for how we can support our students and each other. 

After a short break, we shifted the focus to those four areas of identity, direction, connection, and proficiency. Everyone was offered the choice of reading an article, listening to a podcast, or watching a video (there were multiple options for each under each topic). Then we gathered in rooms by topic and discussed our experiences and ideas. 

Our final activities were community circles of about 10 in each group. There were 50 groups spread out in rooms around CVU. We responded to questions about identity, direction, connection, and proficiency. And then each group created a collaborative quilt square with some plans and intentions for the year. These squares were collected and displayed together for all to see and appreciate. It's an impressive collection of creative and thoughtful expression and ideas. Zoom in if you can!

It was a great welcome to a new school year with a positive tone, engaging speakers and activities, and inspiration for a fabulous school year. Thank you to everyone who helped plan, coordinate, and facilitate the day. We're excited to welcome students back next week! 

Community For Unity at CVU

This post was provided by CVU teacher, Chris Smith. 

On June 1st, CVU held its first Community 4 Unity Day. The day was designed to bring together the entire CVU community and to create awareness and action regarding the destructive nature of all forms of violence in our community: physical, emotional and psychological. The day was developed and organized by a group of dedicated students and is a testament to their drive to create a safer and more unified community at CVU.

We started the day with an Opening Ceremony in the Theater. The Opening had many highlights, including the raising of a banner for our Unified Sports teams, music from the CVU Jazz Band and an inspiring speech from Jerry Greenfield. 

In the afternoon, there were 30 different sessions offered for students to choose from. Each student attended two sessions. The majority of these sessions were run by students, with the other sessions run by teachers or outside community members. The sessions ran the gamut from a forum featuring Congressional Candidates for Vermont's lone representative the the House of Representatives, a discussion with a student living in Ukraine, a discussion on Sustainable Fashion to a discussion about societal gender roles. 

The day ended with a Closing Ceremony that was highlighted by a presentation by Sue and Joe Hoeppner from Project Hoeppner. They brought all of the messages from the day together with a talk about hope and unity. Their talk was an inspiration to all in attendance. The day was a success and we look forward to the 2nd Community 4 Unity event next year.

Making signs for the upcoming Pride rally

Political Action 101

Congressional Candidate Forum

Meeting Needs During Post-Service

Our educators are hard at work this week! All PreK-8 educators were together in one building on Monday and Tuesday  for a variety of opportunities. The mornings were spent in PLCs, allowing grade level teams, departments, and other cohorts to have time together. for reflection, planning, and working with data. 

In the afternoons, there was a selection of workshop offerings. 

SEL and Mental Health: Annie O'Shaughnessy facilitated Resting in a Community of Care and Debby Haskins hosted Healing Your Heart. 

Technology: Options included Getting Organized (anything tech-related, especially Gmail and Google Drive!) and updating team and department websites.

Art: Mindful Mark Making and Calming Collage

Physical Movement: Rally Ball

Comments we heard afterward: 

"I need more time to get organized!""This is just what I needed." "Thank you for providing this opportunity and the time." "It was fun and relaxing!" "It was great to reconnect with district colleagues and be together again."

The work continues back in school buildings for the rest of the week.

Rising Star at CCS

Congratulations to Andrew Lounsbury, middle level science educator at Charlotte Central School! Andrew was selected to receive the Rising Star Award from the Vermont Association of Middle Level Education. (VAMLE)

According to the VAMLE website:

The Vermont Association for Middle Level Education (VAMLE) honors a Vermont middle level educator who has been passionate about teaching young adolescents and uses middle level best practices for three years or less. Three educators have been recognized by the VAMLE Board for the Rising Star Award this year based on their outstanding efforts and successes as relatively new middle level educators.

Andrew was nominated by his colleague and mentor, Allan Miller during the 2020-2021 school year.

Mr. Miller, now an educator at Williston Central School, notes in describing Andrew’s effects on students, “‘Relationships first’ - as we know middle level students are unique, and not all educators have the passion to connect with them in all their quirkiness, emotions, and energy. But it’s clear from being online or in-person with Andrew that he ‘gets’ them and that he is about connecting with them. Students show up to his office hours just to tell jokes, to share about their new dog or come to be part of the online Chess Club he started just because they enjoy being around him.”

Allan also mentioned, “When I meet with the team, I truly have to remind myself that this is really his [Andrew’s] first year as a teacher - his impact has been that significant already. He truly was the right person at the right time for the CCS Omega Team, and one we hope will be part of CCS for many years to come. Honestly some days I come away feeling like I’ve learned more from him than he from me . . . which is awesome!” It’s a valuable advantage as a team member to have a novice teacher play such a responsible role in the team’s success with students and in organizing challenging alterations in the schedule—a role that Andrew has clearly embraced.

Andrew with VAMLE's Executive Director Dave F. Brown and CCS principals Jen Roth and Stephanie Sumner

Congratulations, Andrew, and thank you for your many contributions to the students of CCS.

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

C3 at CVU: Connect, Clubs, Communities

We thank Emily Rinkema, proficiency-based learning coordinator and educator extraordinaire, for this guest post. 

This year, CVU implemented a significant schedule change in the middle of a global pandemic. While any significant change during such a time may seem like a risky idea, one that added transitions to an already hectic day, required widespread participation of already overwhelmed humans, cut academic time in classes that already felt overpacked, and depended upon last minute flexibility in an already over-flexed system may seem like a downright stupid idea.

Believe us, there have been times (and still are weekly), when we believe it was a downright stupid idea. But then we walk around the building during C3, the 20 minute block (with 5 minute passing on either side) between blocks three and four. There are students painting each other’s nails in Nail Salon, singing along to classic rock and doing puzzles in Music and Puzzles, shooting baskets in Open Gym, talking about sustainability in the Environmental Action Club, planning a campaign to increase understanding about gender in the Gender Sexuality Alliance, learning to breathe in the Meditation and Mindfulness Club, and learning about strategy in the Investment Club. In some classrooms there are just a few students connecting with their teachers about classwork, in others there are dozens who chose to be in a space with students who have similar interests. Some rooms are silent, with students reading together, and others are filled with students cheering each other on in a massive game of Uno.

C3 stands for Connect, Clubs, and Communities, and was born out of the need to increase equity of access to clubs, increase opportunities for belonging, and provide the time and space for teachers and students to connect academically and socially. It is a regular part of every school day, though Fridays during C3 are currently being used to have an extended advisory experience.

The first C, Connect, is not new to CVU. We have tried different versions of Connect in the past, and while teachers and students found it valuable, there were many things that prevented it from catching on in our system. This year, the regularity, increased time, and improved scheduling software have made it the most successful iteration of Connect yet. Teachers can request students to meet with them, and students can request to meet with teachers. Connect is often a time to check in about a skill or concept that a student is struggling with, to finish an assessment started in class, or to be proactive about upcoming absences. Most students only connect once a week at most, which allows plenty of opportunities for the other two Cs.

The second C is for Clubs. In the past, clubs met before or after school, which significantly limited accessibility. Students who couldn’t get rides to or from school often couldn’t participate, and students who had other activities or responsibilities couldn’t participate. There were also limited numbers of clubs, as club advisors also had to be available before or after school. Now, all clubs meet during the actual school day, so every student can access them (some clubs also meet after school in order to do the activities involved with the club), and because there are four days of C3, many students are now involved in multiple opportunities.

Girls Who Code

The final C is for Communities, which are similar to clubs, but more flexible with involvement and require less preparation. The communities are built around common interests, and students or adults can propose them. They are spaces students can sign up to go to from week to week, and there are frequently new and different offerings. The goal of the communities is to provide places for students and adults to connect in non-academic ways.

As of this week, we have 55 clubs and 28 communities for students to choose from, but this changes week to week as students and adults propose new opportunities.

Board Games

At the center of the C3 experience is belonging. We know that students who feel like they belong to one or more groups are more engaged in school and overall more healthy, so we wanted to maximize the opportunities to build that sense of belonging. Floyd Cobb and John Krownapple, authors of Belonging Through a Culture of Dignity: The Keys to Successful Equity Implementation, write about the importance of belonging to student well-being. “We define belonging as the extent to which people feel appreciated, validated, accepted, and treated fairly within an environment. When students feel that they belong, they aren’t worried and distracted about being treated as a stereotype or a thin slice of their multidimensional identities (Willms, 2000). Instead, they are confident that they are seen as a human being, a person of value. Belonging isn’t just a nice sentiment or a word on a Hallmark greeting card. It’s a need that’s hardwired into human beings. Like neglecting the need for food or water, neglecting belonging is hazardous to our health.” We believe that C3 provides the foundation to build belonging for all of our students.

C3 implementation has not been easy. We are still figuring out ways to shift our systems and make adjustments so that we can sustain and continue to grow what we know is a valuable program. Students have been amazing--so excited about getting to try new opportunities and find what they love to do, whether it’s learning how to debate formally or spending time making friendship bracelets with their peers. Faculty and staff have been so patient and flexible, filling in where needed at the last minute, volunteering to facilitate communities that students suggested (who knew so many high schoolers would want to play pickleball?), and adapting their long-standing clubs to fit a new schedule. And the administrators have been brave and creative and supportive and encouraging, even when the thought of 1,200 students making choices about where they want to be and what they want to do may keep them up at night.

While moving forward with an idea like C3 during a global pandemic was a risky idea, it was the right idea. I am proud to work in a school and be in a community that doesn’t shy away from risk when it comes to doing the right thing for our students.

A Warm Welcome from CVSD's New Superintendent

Good Friday afternoon CVSD!

I am so excited to begin my tenure as the Champlain Valley School District Superintendent. From the Little League baseball fields outside of my office window and the church bells ringing on the hour, to the rainbows on the back-to-back days when I arrived, my joy is overflowing to serve here in your district as superintendent. Though I will oversee the district, I, too, will be a CVSD resident and a parent who will send students to our schools. As we transition from the distance and hybrid learning of the last 18 months to more recognizable instruction for the next school year, we must learn from each other what was missed, what worked well, and what we need to sunset. Like you, I want to ensure that we provide the schools that our students and community deserve. However, CVSD cannot create those schools alone. We are counting on students, families, and the community to help us.

First, this coming fall will be an exciting time. Our students and staff will return to their campuses five days a week. In preparation for the return, many of our schools are undergoing renovations to improve the learning environment. Thanks to additional federal and state funding, our school district will implement a COVID Strategic Response Plan with three main components: Social-Emotional Learning, Student Engagement, and Academic Success. CVSD has created a website and survey for the community to learn more about and provide input for the plan.

Next, so we can engage with parents and families about the plan and introduce myself to the community, we have identified several occasions to inform and seek feedback on the Strategic Response Plan and for me to meet attendees to local events. Members of the CVSD administration and I intended to be present at the Williston Book Sale on July 2, but the weather has impacted that plan. So instead, I will be at the Hinesburg Parade on July 4, the Grange on the Green in Charlotte on July 8, and at the Shelburne Farmers’ Market on July 10. Please find me and say hi!

I look forward to meeting you and your current, future, and past students of CVSD over the next few weeks. Please stop by one of the events in July so I may introduce myself to you. If you cannot stop by this time, I will attend school Curriculum Nights and extracurricular activities, so do not hesitate to say hello for the first time or for the second or third time at that point. Have a great holiday weekend with your family, and I hope to meet you soon.

Rene Sanchez, Superintendent



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Champlain Valley School District

A Fond Farewell

Today marks the end of a remarkable era for our communities as we recognize Elaine Pinckney’s final day as Superintendent of the Champlain Valley School District. Over Elaine’s fifteen years of service, our school system has not only led the state in academic success but been a national leader in innovative educational approaches. She has guided our district with intelligence and heart.

Elaine has led through example, modeled how to effectively engage others in the development of systems and processes, and spearheaded a number of initiatives that have been incorporated into our district over the years. Prior to our merging into a single school district, Elaine successfully worked with CSSU’s seven different school boards with 35 different school board directors at any one time. Throughout her 47 year career in education, including serving as principal in Williston and as Vermont’s Deputy Education Secretary, she has been an inspiration and support to hundreds of professionals in the field of education, both within CVSD and beyond.

Elaine remains dedicated to students and focused on what is best for them. Her leadership, colleagueship, smile, and thoughtful nature will be sorely missed. She has new adventures planned as she steps down and we wish her the very best. Words can not adequately express our appreciation and thanks for all she did for CVSD, its students, families, and communities.



The Elaine Pinckney Legacy Fund has been set up and will be dedicated to providing financial support for school-sponsored events, on an as-needed basis, for students and families in need. Please consider a contribution. For a short time, Elaine can be reached at her email address epinckney@cvsdvt.org if you would like to reach out with personal messages.

Honoring CVSD's 2021 Retirees

Sadly, it's that time of year again, where we must say goodbye to the CVSD educators who are retiring. We so appreciate the many years of dedication, care, hard work, and commitment they provided to the students of CVSD. We wish them all the very best on their next adventures. 

Each year, Superintendent Elaine Pinckney brings as many of the retirees as possible together for an afternoon tea. Stories and laughter are shared, tears are shed, and words of thanks are expressed. And, because they're educators who work with students, there's one goofy picture too! 

Wednesdays are for (Optional) Hikes!

Some educators in Williston have recently begun offering optional hikes on Wednesday afternoons to third and fourth graders. These take place in the afternoons after students have engaged in remote learning in the morning. Here's a brief report from PE teacher Lynn McClintock.


For the past 3 weeks we have been taking 3rd and 4th graders by house/team on walking and hiking adventures. The first 2 weeks we explored the Allen Brook Nature Trail in back of Williston Central School (WCS). Last week we took students from Kaleidoscope House on a hike up Five Tree Hill and down Sucker Brook Trail. What a BLAST!! We will be taking Equinox House this coming Wednesday and Mosaic House the Wednesday after that. What a life. It feels like such a smurftastic use of a Wednesday afternoon. Dustin King, Nadine Paffett-Lugassy, and me are on these adventures with Reba the therapy dog too.

I sent an invitation to each WCS third/fourth grade team with information about when it would be their turn and inviting them to come. It included a permission slip and the details for their parent/guardian. The kids have to get to school somehow. Once, I did pick up a student who wanted to go but had transportation issues. For the trip to Five Tree Hill, we all met at school. The bus dropped us off at Five Tree Hill. I called the bus driver when we were almost finished and she left school and picked us up at Sucker Brook. When we went to the Allen Brook Nature Trail everyone was invited and we were ready to take anyone who came. Close to 20 students joined us each time. For the Five Tree Hill hike, we put on the permission form that we had a limited number. We didn't reach that limit for the first hike. We had 20 and our cut off is 30. We are more likely to reach the limit on the next two trips because they are teams made up of four classes, so there are potentially more students that might be interested. This limit is a drawback because we believe that the more the merrier! We're just so happy we are doing something together and providing this opportunity for students to get outside and move.

Thank you, Lynn, Dustin, and Nadine, for making this possible. "Smurftastic" says it all!

Remembering a Beloved Principal

The CVSD community lost a beloved past principal last April. Monica Smith was the principal at Charlotte Central School for 20 years, from 1990-2009. She touched and influenced so many in our community and beyond. 

Today, some former colleagues organized a tree-planting at CCS in her memory and planted a sturdy oak tree. Members of Monica's family were present, along with many others who were recipients of her generosity, time, friendship, and colleagueship. 

Superintendent Elaine Pinckney spoke and shared some thoughts, which are highlighted below. 

Monica was full of love. She took care of everyone. She took care of CCS students and staff in the same way that she took care of her treasured family. Through small tokens of affection and appreciation, she made time together special. She instituted many traditions which are carried on at CCS to this day, including Grandparent's day and the Carnation Ceremony.

Monica was a relationship person and was full of joy. She loved people, she loved life. she was generous, unselfish, caring, thoughtful. Those of us fortunate enough to know her, and that's many, count ourselves so lucky to have been a part of her orbit.

The tree is near the playground behind CCS and has a special sign to help visitors find it.

Thank you to all who helped make this special event for a very special person happen.

HCS Teacher Fills The Virtual Classroom with Love and Support

Amanda Neary, one of many talented teachers at the Hinesburg Community School, is featured in this post from St. Michael's College.

Thank you, Amanda, for your hard work, dedication to all students, and for sharing this with the larger community.

Honoring CVSD Retirees

Sadly, it's that time of year again, where we must say goodbye to CVSD educators who are retiring. This video features most, but not all, of the group that has given so much to our schools, students, and their families for many years. There are those who are leaving, but not retiring, and varied and valued staff members who provided so much for so many.

This Team Makes IT Happen

Last week we honored the school lunch heroes that provide meals to students in-person and now from a distance.

Today we want to recognize another group that is doing so much behind the scenes to keep things functioning smoothly. During the school year, and in fact year-round, the IT staff provides support for everyone in all buildings - students, faculty, staff, administrators, foodservice, facilities - well, everyone! They set up all devices, organize them in an organized, logical manner, track and assess damage, offer repair services, and troubleshoot better than any. They support us not only with computers, but also iPads, our networks, phone systems, document cameras, interactive boards, and much, much more!

Many in this group are mentors to students, forging strong personal relationships. Others support faculty and staff through wellness programs and lead by example. They are more than members of one team, they are truly valuable and contributing members of our community. They welcome everyone with a smile, a positive mindset, and a can-do attitude. They are connected to all of us.

As we transitioned to remote learning, they helped us. They spent countless hours dismantling meticulously-wired carts that housed and charged Chromebooks to ensure that the devices would be available for students to take home. They are on call supporting everyone who works in our buildings, but now they are doing that from afar. They're supporting families with devices that are at home.

Here's one piece of what they've been doing to assist families, from Mike Kanfer, the CVSD Director of Network Services:

Since March 18, we have processed over 450 Helpdesk tickets along with email requests and phone calls. When we receive a family request, we either ask them to try a couple of things (and these often work) or we arrange to swap out devices. This communication is done either by phone or email through the Helpdesk. The turnaround time- from when the ticket is submitted until the problem is resolved is almost always less than 24 hours, most commonly less than 12 hours and often the same day within just a few hours. We disinfect and repair all devices, getting them ready to go back out.

This is no small feat. Our IT team is an underlying backbone of the district, making things possible all of the time,  and especially in this time of crisis. They function quietly and don't ask for or get a lot of recognition. We want to be sure to acknowledge the work they're doing and all that they offer to support our schools and the district.

Thank you, thank you! 

Mike Kanfer              Nancy Colbourn     Matt Vile       Matt Kihm
Nancy Myrick           Nick Clark                  Stephanie Bliss     
Annette Hebert      Joanne Conroy       Jeannie Yocum