An Award Winning App for a CVU Student

Congratulations to Jaden Parker, this year's Vermont Congressional App Challenge winner!

 
Jaden, a senior at CVU from St. George, created an app called Hollow Valley using JavaScript and HTML programming languages. 

When asked about how it feels to have won this challenge for Vermont, Jaden said, 

"If I had to summarize my feelings about winning down to one word I'd choose empowering. Computer programming is a fiercely competitive sector. While the coding itself is difficult, creating something of your own design requires a different level of creativity than I'm used to. With my app, I put some of my best work forward and a lot of hours. Winning this award makes it all feel worth it. I'm incredibly thankful to my mentors who pushed me to submit my app to this challenge, without the guidance of people like Charlie MacFadyen I wouldn't have been able to have this opportunity."

Jaden provided the following information about his app and the development process.

Please briefly describe what your app does.
My app is a platforming game consisting of three levels. Each level operates on a canvas with platforms drawn using a series of intervals and functions. Each level is re-playable and is accessed through a level-select screen.

What inspired you to create this app?
I was introduced to HTML files and canvases during a computer programming class I took at CVU during the spring of 2022. For my final project I chose to create a simple game. The game I submitted for that class was used as a building off point for the app that I submitted for the contest.

What improvements would you make if you were to create a 2.0 version of your app?
I am currently working on the next version of the app. I will be adding more levels, improving the textures of the platforms, and adding a life-counting system that will make it possible to lose each level.

Where did you do most of the coding for your app?
I did most of the coding on the program VScode, with most of my time spent at home. However, I did spend some time at school in a CVU computer programming class where I am a Teacher’s Assistant, debugging with assistance from some of my students.

Did you create this app as part of a project for school, a coding club, or a similar organization?
The app began as a project for school, and is now a personal project that I hope to improve as I become a better programmer. One day I may even be able to publish the game as a playable app.

Jaden submitted this video describing his app as part of the application process and gave us permission to share it here. 

The Congressional App Challenge is an official initiative of the U.S. House of Representatives, where Members of Congress host contests in their districts for middle school and high school students, encouraging them to learn to code and inspiring them to pursue careers in computer science. Each participating Member of Congress selects a winning app from their district, and each winning team is invited to showcase their winning app to Congress during our annual #HouseOfCode festival. The program is a public-private partnership made possible through funding from Omidyar Network, AWS, theCoderSchool, Facebook, Replit, Accenture, and others.

We remain hopeful that Vermont students will continue to have this opportunity as Becca Balint joins the House as Vermont's representative. 

The 2021 Vermont winners of the Congressional App Challenge, Addison and Max, are also CVU students. We are very proud of the accomplishments of CVU students and are thrilled that their work is being recognized by others.

On a somewhat related note, Jaden was also one of three CVU students who visited Shelburne Community School recently to judge and provide feedback on 5th-graders' app concept presentations.

Congratulations to Jaden, and again to Addison and Max! 

CVSD Update December 2022

Dear CVSD Families and Caregivers,

We are happy to share this December update. It includes: 

• A letter from Superintendent Sanchez
• A reminder from our health offices
• Information about strategic planning
• Information about budget development
• and more!

Thank you for taking the time to read it and have a wonderful holiday season.

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

CVU's Math League's Historic Win

 Thank you to CVU educator, Charlie MacFadyen for sharing this exciting news. 

Yesterday, the CVU Math League team traveled to Colchester to compete against 14 other schools in our region and came away with the win! This is the first CVU 1st-place finish in Math League that anyone can remember (and most likely ever). South Burlington placed second and Essex third. Combined with their second-place finish in Meet 1, CVU now leads the league heading into Meet 3. There are five meets in all (ending in March) so there's still work to be done, but this is the best-ever start for the team.

Individual honors went to Elias Leventhal for top papers in Arithmetic and Advanced and Wylie Ricklefs for a top paper in Arithmetic. They were joined by Jacob Graham, Keaton St. Martin, and Sam Yager for a perfect team paper, sealing the win. It was a strong overall team effort, with contributions by Anna Dauerman, Patterson Frazier, Dan Knight, Thomas Garavelli, David Merchant, Veronica Miskavage, Clay Nicholson, Lily O’Brien, and Julia Shrier.

Even more important than winning is the camaraderie and enthusiasm in this fine group!

Thanks as always to Kiran McCormick for all his help with the team.

Math and Music Are Connected

The information for this post was shared by Lori Marino, music teacher at Shelburne Community School. 

A fourth grade class was learning musical notation. Specifically, the associated number of beats each note is “worth” in a 4/4 measure. I drew the diagram shown in the pictures below. The last student to leave class had left the class line and drawn a note with multiple flags with a number written beneath it in the first picture. The student knew to increase to the power of 2 each time a flag was added to the eighth note which is valued at 1/2 beat in a 4/4 measure.

Curious when I saw the large number written below the note the student had drawn, I called a colleague, Jodi Sanders, in to see if we could verify. Sure enough after we worked through each power of 2 (we did have to resort to a calculator!) we verified that the student (who did not have a calculator!) nailed the value!! 

This was a remarkable accomplishment! After acknowledging the student's achievement later this afternoon, they told me that they had memorized all of the powers of two through 300 something million and proceeded to rapidly rattle off all of the numbers Jodi had worked to figure out earlier in about 5 seconds!

I thought this was a great academic/artistic connection to share!

Note: The excitement spread to others and students continue to make these connections. Here's another photo of what they worked on 2 days later. 

Wow, thank you for sharing this with us, Lori!

CVU Graduate Selected for Art Recognition

 

One of Iain's pieces

We are very excited to announce that The 2022 AP Art and Design Digital Exhibit is now available online and that one of our students, Iain Mahaffey - CVU class of 2022, has been featured! Iain is from Charlotte, Vermont.

The exhibit features 50 high school artists from six countries selected from more than 62,000 portfolios who submitted work to the 2022 AP Art and Design Exam. The featured students represent outstanding examples from the Sustained Investigation and Selected Works portfolio components. The exhibit is designed not only to showcase the rigor and excellence of the AP Art and Design portfolio but also as an exemplary teaching tool shared with AP Art and Design students worldwide. In this capacity, high-achieving students' artwork and statements, teacher statements, and school leader statements help teach best practices and support arts advocacy.

Student participation in AP Art and Design requires that each student's work is informed and guided by observation, research, experimentation, discussion, critical analysis, and reflection, relating individual practices to the art world. Students document their artistic ideas and practices to demonstrate conceptual and technical development to create a portfolio of work. Portfolios include works of art and design, process documentation, and written information about the work presented. In May, students submit portfolios for evaluation based on specific criteria, which include skillful synthesis of materials, processes, and ideas and sustained investigation through practice, experimentation, and revision, guided by questions. In addition, the AP Art and Design Program supports students in becoming inventive artistic scholars who contribute to visual culture through art making—annually showcased through the AP Art and Design Exhibit.

"College Board is pleased to showcase the 2022 AP Art and Design Exhibit featuring student works, images, and statements, and teacher and school leader statements," said Rebecca Stone-Danahy, Director of AP Art and Design. "The exhibit provides insight into inquiry-based portfolio development in AP 3-D Art and Design, AP 2-D Art and Design, and AP Drawing. Through AP Art and Design, students define themselves as future art leaders, making visual connections based on honest explorations of internal and external worlds."

"AP Art and Design students consistently demonstrate innovation and creativity through the inquiry-based curriculum," said Trevor Packer, Head of the AP Program. "Their portfolio development based on personal experiences continues to impress and inspire viewers, and I commend them on their accomplishments."

The AP Art and Design program was founded in 1972, and as of 1978, about 4,500 students had completed portfolios for submission to the program. Today, over 62,000 students participate annually. Research shows that AP students are better prepared for college, and those who receive a score of three or higher (on a scale of one to five) are eligible to receive college credit. AP students are more likely to enroll in college, stay in college, do well in their classes, and graduate on time in four years. Following challenging coursework, success on AP Exams helps students save money on college tuition and potentially graduate with less student debt over the course of their education.

There are currently 30 students enrolled in AP Art and Design at CVU.

Congratulations, Iain!


To learn more about the AP Art and Design portfolio and exam requirements, please download and review the course and exam description by clicking here.

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.

Williston's Digital Learning Leader Wins Award

 

Williston’s Digital Learning Leader, Jessica Wilson, was presented with VitaLearn’s Frank Watson Award on Friday at their annual Vermont Fest conference in Killington.

The award is presented to a person whose many years of devoted service, vision, and leadership have significantly advanced educational technology at the local, regional, and state level. Jessica has not only served on the board of VitaLearn for many years, Vermont’s ISTE affiliate, but she also served on the board of RETN (now known as the Media Factory) and continues to serve on the board of the Vermont NEA.

Jessica has educated elementary and middle school students at both the Hinesburg Community School and the Williston schools with the state of the art technology through the rapidly changing eras of iPads and Chromebooks. She inspires students and adults to explore new ideas including video production, live-streaming school events, computer animation, coding and more.

Each year, she inspires teachers and their students to participate in the Doodle for Google contest. As a result, an Allen Brook School first grader was last year's Vermont winner.

She is enthusiastic and passionate about digital learning and how digital tools support and enhance learning. Jessica works with everyone in the Williston schools, supporting all efforts that pertain to educational technology. She also serves on Williston’s wellness and safety committees.

Greg Marino, lead principal for the Williston schools, had this to share, 

"The Williston Schools are so grateful for the years of dedicated and expert support of our Digital Learning Leader, Jessica Wilson. Jess is constantly stepping up and stepping in to whatever it takes to advance student learning, especially in areas of transformative and responsible use of digital-age tools in teaching and learning. She serves as a role model to students and adults - not just for what it means to be a good digital citizen, but also a good human being."

We are truly appreciative of all that Jessica does for Williston, CVSD, and others in Vermont.

Congratulations, Jessica!