Williston Loves a Parade

Last Friday, many Williston teachers got in their cars and traveled through Williston and St. George to connect with students. A short video was featured on the Burlington Free Press site. We've added a few photos here as well.

Planning for the Summer and Next School Year

Dear CVSD Families:

We know that many of you are hearing or seeing news about colleges and their plans for the next year and you may be wondering the same about PreK-12 schools. The Center for Disease Control (CDC) shared recommendations for how businesses and schools might reopen. That is likely raising many questions and concerns about what school might look like when we return in August and what summer learning opportunities might exist. While we do not have definitive answers at this time, we want to reassure you that work is underway exploring and planning for a variety of contingencies. Balancing the need to plan with waiting to use the most updated public health data is important.

It’s important to clarify that the extent to which the Champlain Valley School District can return to in-person instruction will be determined by Governor Scott in conjunction with the Vermont Department of Health. The Vermont Department of Health will use the CDC guidelines and the status of the situation in Vermont to make informed decisions. The Vermont Agency of Education (AOE) will then issue specific guidance for schools.

In preparation for potential instructional guidance, CVSD leadership teams, in collaboration with faculty and staff, are establishing contingency plans to address the following:

• In-person instruction within health and safety guidelines (TBD)
• Remote learning curricula
• Hybrid models that blend in-person instruction and remote learning

As teams work on these contingency plans, we will be examining data in at least three critical areas so that we can be ready to meet the needs of all learners:

• Student and family feedback: We will seek information and feedback before the end of this school year to inform decisions about how to best meet the academic and social-emotional needs of all students.
• Assessment results: We are developing a system to efficiently assess students’ understanding and skills to inform academic instructional design.
• Curriculum assessment: Faculty will examine and communicate the extent to which grade-level expectations related to curricula were met during this past school year to inform adjustments to instruction.

We understand parents’ concern for the safety of their children, their families, and the entire community. We also know there are parents who need a safe, structured environment for their children while they work, or feel they are not able to support their child’s learning effectively from home and are concerned for their academic progress. Please know that we will do everything we can, within the guidance, to ensure safety and excellent learning opportunities for all CVSD students.

Summer Programming

During a typical school year, April and May are spent finalizing the planning for the various summer programming options that exist in CVSD. On Friday, May 15th, Governor Scott released information that signaled that in-person instruction may be able to be provided in schools this summer, so long as health outcomes in the state continue to look positive and schools can comply with relevant health information at the time. This has allowed CVSD administration to begin the process of planning for what summer instruction could look like - perhaps with both a remote and in-person option. The Agency of Education will issue additional guidance with more specifics about what in-person instruction could look like, which will continue to inform what we are able to provide. CVSD administrators are convening a working group with faculty to develop summer instruction options. We understand that the uncertainty is a challenge - however, as noted above, we are bound by state-level guidance that has not been developed to date.

Families of children who may receive Extended School Year (ESY) services through their Individualized Education Plan (IEP) will be receiving additional information regarding those services for the summer.

As we receive new guidance and develop plans accordingly, we will communicate updates and engage students and families in the process of meeting the unique needs of all CVSD students.

We hope you have a safe, healthy, and enjoyable Memorial Day Weekend.

~ The Champlain Valley School District Administration

School Counselor of the Year

We would like to extend our congratulations to Rachel Petraska, school counselor at Shelburne Community School. Rachel was selected to receive the James F. Crawley School Counselor of the Year Award from the Vermont School Counselor Association.

According to their website:

*The James F. Cawley Award*

Outstanding School Counselor of the Year so named in honor of the first recipient. It is presented in recognition of distinguished contributions to school counseling and acknowledge and honor those instrumental in bringing outstanding innovation's to the development of counseling in Vermont youth. Recognition criteria for nominating a school counselor for the James F. Cawley Award are as follows:

• The nominee must be a school counselor who is a current member of the Vermont School Counselor Association.
• The nominee must be currently employed as a full-time school counselor, in addition to practicing for more than five years in the field of school counseling.
• The nominee must hold a Master's Degree in school counseling.
• The nominee maintains high moral standards in the their personal and professional conduct.
• The nominee is responsible for school counseling innovations or further development of programs to support the academic, career and social/emotional development of all students.
• The nominee demonstrates leadership, advocacy and collaboration in their work promotes rigorous educational experiences for all students.

We are proud to share this news and thank Rachel for her many contributions to the students and families of SCS. 

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     

Our Very Own Superheroes

According to the School Nutrition Association, May 1st is School Lunch Hero Day.

"School Lunch Hero Day is a chance to showcase the difference school nutrition professionals make for every child who comes through the cafeteria. School Lunch Hero Day provides you with the perfect opportunity to recognize the hardworking professionals in your school cafeterias."

We feel that way everyday and especially since we last saw students on March 17th! Almost 25,000 meals were prepared and distributed in the month of April alone. Today, we would like to honor and recognize the wonderful heroes that continue to make and distribute meals to students across our district.

Our food service directors are: Debra Bissonette, Scott Wagner, Leo LaForce, Elizabeth Skypeck, and Rebecca Mashak.

We'd love to include the names of each and every staff person and volunteer who is helping to ensure

that anyone ages 18 and younger are receiving meals during this critical time. However, the list is long and we don't want to leave anyone off. They know who they are and we hope that everyone finds a way to say thank you to this amazing group of people.

Here are a few thoughts from faculty and staff about our foodservice heroes: 

• We are so SPOILED by all of you. The professionalism, care, and mostly just the general awesomeness you bring to the school every day!
• All of the friendly faces in the cafeteria! Jockeying for position with hungry adolescents! Looking forward to the next time we can all line up and grab a tray...
• I miss the breakfasts and lunches! Breakfast at my house is lame.
• Our cafeteria is the heart of CVU! You all start our day with a smile and warmth, not only for our stomachs but our souls!
• I have 18-ish years of food service experience and I am nothing but impressed every time I go into the cafe. It is a busy place with a lot going on and you all handle it with calmness and a friendly Hello (even if it doesn't always feel calm). You keep a clean and organized work space and for that I am in awe and so thankful for all that you do. I miss seeing you all and can't wait until we can all be together again.
• Our cafeteria is the best and I am reminded of that every day that I now need to make my own lunch. Thanks for all you do for our school and community!
• Are you KIDDING me right now? How is this only one day of the year??? Y'all know every student, faculty, and staff's face, name, and I.D. number -- heck, our favorite foods for breakfast, lunch and everything in between, besides... Every time we walk through those doors, you can hear Marv Levy's (former Buffalo Bills coach) voice calling out, "Where else would you rather be than right here, right now?!"
• Thank you for everything you are all doing! Amazing!!!
• You are an amazing group of women making a huge difference in children's lives!
• Thank you all for everything you are doing for our wonderful kids!
• They are the greatest bunch of lunch ladies ever.. I am so proud of each and every one of them.

Cracking the Code: Computer Science Gets a Boost

The Champlain Valley School District congratulates both Tim O’Leary (SCS) and Charlie MacFadyen (CVU) on being named fellows by the Rowland Foundation. Tim and Charlie are both Digital Learning Leaders in their schools.

Tim O'Leary and Charlie MacFadyen

The 2020-2021 Rowland Foundation fellowships provide Vermont secondary school educators with a unique professional development and leadership opportunity and resources (through a one-year, $100,000 grant) to positively affect student achievement and the culture and climate of their respective schools. The Foundation supports proposals which:

• will lead to systemic change in the school, particularly in its culture and climate
• are visionary and comprehensive (what percentage of the population will they serve)
• are sustainable after The Rowland Foundation completes its funding
• are exportable to other schools. The Rowland Foundation is keenly interested in affecting change throughout Vermont.
• have the complete support of the principal or head of school. This will be a key element of the interview process by the Executive Director prior to the selections.

Tim and Charlie, on behalf of SCS and CVU, have been awarded this Rowland Fellowship as co-applicants who, together, represent a PreK-12 continuum of instruction in the largest district in Vermont. The project aims to address the inequities and marginalization of females, nonbinary, and gender-nonconforming youth that occur within Computer Science (CS) education and the workforce. It envisions a world where all can become creators, change-makers, and leaders. Malala Yousafzai, Nobel Peace prize winner and educational activist, is quoted in their proposal saying, “every girl deserves to take part in creating the technology that will change our world, and change who runs it.”

From their proposal, titled, “Cracking the Code: Closing the Gender Gap in Computer Science,” Tim and Charlie state:

"Over the coming year, the project will support the development of a K-12 computer science program because we believe schools must assume a critical role to create computer science learning opportunities. Otherwise, students will continue to develop identities informed by a world where males far outpace female participation in this area. Nationally, only 28% of the students who have taken an AP Computer Science exam over the last three years identified as female. And, the disparity is 8.5 % greater in Vermont. We bear a responsibility to dismantle this inequality by creating new systems, and we plan to develop a program to do just that."

SCS and CVU are uniquely positioned to engage in this work and embrace an awesome responsibility to share innovative teaching and learning practices as it develops. The school district looks forward to supporting the partnerships and collaboration that Tim and Charlie will lead over the coming year to create a more equitable future for our students.

Tim and Charlie’s proposal to research and implement a framework for the Shelburne Community School will be closely observed so that we can explore this as a model for all of our district PreK-8 schools. Our school district values innovation, design-thinking, and the personalized pursuit of excellence. We are committed to determining ways in which computer science education is provided to all students, PreK-12. The proposal to Crack the Code for SCS and CVU ensures that we’re on the path to success, for all of CVSD. 

Fulfilling a Birthday Wish for a Former Colleague

Some of you may have seen the story that ran on WCAX last night. What you may not have known is the connection to our school district.

Susanne London's grand-daughter reached out to CVSD to suggest the idea of a birthday surprise for her mom, a bus parade with 16 school buses in front of her house. Susanne worked as a creative writing teacher at CVU in Hinesburg for years and LOVES school buses. She lives alone and cannot have visitors because of the pandemic. She turned 88 years old.

Happy birthday, Susanne. We were so glad to be a part of it!


Photos from Robin Fawcett, CVU educator: