PBIS Recognition

CVSD schools were recognized for implementing Positive Behavioral Interventions and Supports (PBIS).  PBIS is a framework for promoting school-wide expectations where expectations are explicitly taught, encouraged, and practiced by staff and students.  For example, Allen Brook School's expectations are to BE safe, BE kind, and BE responsible.  At Charlotte Central School, students are encouraged to Take CARE of Ourselves, Take CARE of Others, and Take CARE of This Place.  At Hinesburg Community School, BE a STAR by Belonging, Sharing, Trust, Accepting Responsibility, and Respect.  

When a school uses PBIS with fidelity, typically, the adults outline expectations for behavior so that everyone has a common understanding. We use this way of managing behavior in our schools because research has shown that teaching the behaviors we want to see in a school and at home and then marking those behaviors with verbal acknowledgement and natural rewards builds long lasting positive behavior. Positive reinforcement (catching someone doing something right and letting them know what is great about what they are doing) is far more effective in shaping desired behavior than consequences or punishment.

At last week's VT PBIS Leadership Forum, several of our schools received recognition. The Allen Brook School won an Exemplar Award for showing positive academic and behavioral outcomes for students and Hinesburg Community School and Charlotte Central School both received Merit Awards for showing positive behavioral outcomes for students. 

We are especially thankful to the PBIS leadership teams in each building, as well as the CVSD leaders, Cindy Cole and Cassandra Townshend. 

Congratulations to all faculty, students, and staff who help contribute to a positive learning environment for our students. 

Exciting Happenings at SCS on Wednesday!

We've noticed that there are many exciting things happening on Wednesday at SCS. 

First, Walking Wednesdays happens each week in October. Families and students are encouraged to meet at the parade grounds in the heart of Shelburne village to walk from there to school together. 

From the SCS blog, we learned that Ms. Stephanie’s First Graders helped prep this month’s Vermont Harvest of The Month taste test. They shredded a whole lot of kale, grated cheddar, and juiced lemons for the dressing. The taste test will be a kale and cheese salad and will be available for sampling to all students on Wednesday during lunch periods.

Thank you to Shelburne Farms for donating the cheese, the parent volunteers and Becky Mashak and her cafeteria staff for making this happen.The kale comes from Vermont’s Lewis Creek Farm and any retrieved caterpillars have been lovingly moved to the stem buckets by the 1st grade caterpillar experts. It appears that wellness is on the menu tomorrow in Shelburne! 

Celebrating More CVSD Educators

We are thrilled to share that two CVSD educators have been recognized as UVM Oustanding Teachers. There was a ceremony yesterday to honor all educators in Vermont who received that recognition this year.

Congratulations to Sarah Pierson, world language teacher at Charlotte Central School and Sarah Malcolm, science teacher at CVU! Our students benefit from your talents.

 Sarah Pierson 

Sarah Malcolm

Adam Bunting: Principal of the Year

Each year the Vermont Principals’ Association honors distinguished educational leaders at its annual VPA Leadership Academy in August.  We want to congratulate Adam Bunting, CVU principal, for recognition as Vermont's Principal of the Year. Last week he traveled to Washington, DC for more celebrations. 


Here are some thoughts about his recent travels, in Adam's words. 


It was an honor to represent CVU and Vermont in Washington DC this week. Of course, as I soon discovered, CVU was already well represented on the staffs of Welch, Leahy, and Sanders (see photos below: Hans Lynn, Lucas Hilker, Alex Beaton).

The trip was a homecoming of sorts as I grew up in DC public schools until the age of 9. Memories of elementary school flooded back as soon as the plane touched down: I hated school! It wasn’t until moving to Vermont — joining the organized, caring, and dedicated SCS — that I relaxed enough to understand that education wasn’t a punishment. We may not recognize it as kids, but we feel functional school systems on a deep level...and functional systems are often reflections of the cultures around them. I’m biased, but everywhere I turned made me remember how much I love our small state. Unlike many of my colleagues from around the US, I was excited to meet with our representatives. Most of the principals in my group got passing glances from their reps at best; Senator Leahy spent nearly 30 minutes with me. When I asked him what message he would like me to bring back to CVU students, he walked me to a photo hanging on his wall--one taken by the Senator himself years earlier in China.

The image was of a Tibetan man holding a forbidden picture of the Dalai Lama; the man had posed for the photo and risked imprisonment because -- in his words -- “the world [needed] to know.” Leahy’s message to me: Help our kids to live with purpose — ultimately nothing brings greater meaning.

Skype with a Scientist

Cancer biologist and biophysicist Dr. Krishna Mudumbi of Yale joined Mrs. Benoit's class of first and second grade students at the Allen Brook School for an interactive event. Dr. Mundumbi shared a bit about his work and answered some thoughtful student questions! Now all of the students want to be scientists! The class was matched with Dr. Mundumbi through "Skype A Scientist."

Dr. Mudumbi talked about super-resolution microscopy- the newest microscope and techniques allowing scientists to see small details in cells and cell biology - what cells are, how he takes pictures of cells to collect data about how normal cells work an what happens with cell mutations. Wow! 

This is quite a lot for first and second graders, but according to Mrs. Benoit, he did a nice job of bringing it down to the kids' level. We are thankful for this kind of opportunity. 

From Our Houses to Yours

We came across this article earlier, celebrating a high school in California. They are doing a terrific job looking out for the well-being of their students by creating a house structure for their ninth graders. This helps to ease them into life at high school by creating smaller communities to build relationships and provides support. Teachers work in teams to truly meet their students’ needs. Advisory groups are in place to offer further support and relationships.

Sound familiar? Upon further research, we determined that the ninth grade house system at CVU was put in place 34 years ago! We often pride ourselves on leading the way, and this is a perfect example. Our ninth graders are settling in, building relationships, and have started classes within the core and are exploring a few electives beyond as well. The house system also continues in many of our K-8 schools, which has been a part of culture for years for many of the same reasons.

Thank you to the forward-thinking educators who made this happen 34 years ago and to those in CVSD today who keep us on the leading edge.

Time to Connect with Your Schools

It’s that time of year, the time where parents and guardians have the opportunity to connect, learn, and meet the educators who make a difference in lives of their children. Curriculum Nights are upon us and we hope you take advantage of these offerings. Here’s a rundown of what’s happening in our schools.

CVU: Please join us on Thursday, September 13, for our annual open house, CVU at a Glance! Starting at 6:30 pm and running until 8:30 pm, you will get a chance to move through your child's advisory and schedule, getting an overview of the curriculum and meeting teachers.

Charlotte: Fall Open House and Potluck Picnic, Thursday, September 13. Join us as we celebrate the beginning of a new school year at CCS. Open House: 5;00-6:30, Potluck Picnic: 6:00-7:30.

Hinesburg: We hope those of you who were able to attend the middle school curriculum night earlier this week found it helpful. The K-4 Essential Arts & Open House/Curriculum Night is on September 20th from 5:30 -7:00 pm.

Shelburne: Please look over the community calendar for details. We have taken care to list all of our upcoming Open Houses and Curriculum Nights. You will find that all of our teams and grade levels will be holding some type of event in the coming weeks. If you have questions or concerns about one of these events, please reach out directly to the teacher/team.

• The 5th Grade Curriculum Night happened earlier this week.
• September 13th - 3rd Grade Curriculum Night - SCS Library 6:00-7:00pm
• September 17th - Holden Curriculum Night - common area 4:45-6:00pm
• September 20th - 4th Grade Curriculum Night – classrooms 5:30-6:30pm
• September 25th - Alpha Team Curriculum Night – common area 5:00-6:00pm
• September 25th - Winton Curriculum Night – common area 5:00-6:00pm
• October 4th - Kindergarten Open House – classrooms 6:00-7:00pm

Williston: Curriculum Nights and Learning Expo Dates

• Thurs. Sept. 13 / Grade 3/4 Curriculum Night & Learning Expo / 6:30 pm / WCS
• Thurs. Sept. 20 / ABS Curriculum Night & Learning Expo / 6:00 pm / ABS
• Thurs. Oct. 4 / Upper House Curriculum & Learning Expo / 6:30 pm / WCS