Graduation Challenge 2014
Friday, May 23, 8:00 a.m - 3:00 p.m.
Required day of school for all juniors and seniors. Optional day for freshmen and sophomores.
Community Members and Parents: Graduation Challenge Presentation Day is a day to celebrate learning. All seniors present their independent project learning in 8-12 minute presentations to 5-member panels made up of faculty and community members. Please join us as a panelist or as an audience member. The day is segmented into three presentation sessions with four students in each room (20 - 30 rooms).
To sign up as a panelist, please use the Grad Challenge Community Panelist Sign-Up form on the CVU home page.
Grad Challenge 2014
Seniors: You are on the home stretch with Grad Challenge! Final papers, Community Consultant Verification Forms, and the Tangible Product Critique Forms were all due to your Advisor on Friday, April 4th.
Grad Challenge Presentation Day is Friday, May 23. It is a required full day of school for all juniors and seniors. You are expected to be audience members for your friends' and classmates' presentations. The schedule for the day is posted on the Grad Challenge website. Presentation schedule will be posted in the middle of April.
If you have any questions, talk to your Advisor, contact MaryAnne Gatos, and check your email.
Required day of school for all juniors and seniors. Optional day for freshmen and sophomores.
Community Members and Parents: Graduation Challenge Presentation Day is a day to celebrate learning. All seniors present their independent project learning in 8-12 minute presentations to 5-member panels made up of faculty and community members. Please join us as a panelist or as an audience member. The day is segmented into three presentation sessions with four students in each room (20 - 30 rooms).
To sign up as a panelist, please use the Grad Challenge Community Panelist Sign-Up form on the CVU home page.
Grad Challenge 2014
Seniors: You are on the home stretch with Grad Challenge! Final papers, Community Consultant Verification Forms, and the Tangible Product Critique Forms were all due to your Advisor on Friday, April 4th.
Grad Challenge Presentation Day is Friday, May 23. It is a required full day of school for all juniors and seniors. You are expected to be audience members for your friends' and classmates' presentations. The schedule for the day is posted on the Grad Challenge website. Presentation schedule will be posted in the middle of April.
If you have any questions, talk to your Advisor, contact MaryAnne Gatos, and check your email.
Future Business Leaders of America Leadership Conference
The FBLA Spring Leadership Conference was held March
11-12, 2014. At the conference, business students from around the state compete in a wide range of business events. CVU students did an amazing job representing our school and showcasing their business acumen. As you will see in the results below, some were individual events and some were team events. Students placing first in an event qualify to compete at the FBLA National Leadership Conference in Nashville this June. Here are the results:
Business Calculations: 2nd place, Chris Mallow
Business Communications: 2nd place, Chris Mallow
Business Ethics: 1st place, Alex von Stange and Bailee Pudvar. 4th place, Anthony Burds and Graham Hulvey
Cyper Technology: 4th place, Alex von Stange
Economics: 2nd place, Chris Mallow. 3rd place, Alex von Stange. 4th place Corey Williams
Entrepreneurship: 1st place, Anthony Burds and Graham Hulvey
Help Desk: 1st place, Forrest Dodds
Impromptu Speaking: 1st place, Alex von Stange
Management Decision Making: 2nd place, Chris Mallow and Jessica Holly. 3rd place, Bailee Pudvar and Alex von Stange. 4th place, Anthony Burds and Graham Hulvey
Management Information Systems: 1st place, Corey Williams and Forrest Dodds
Marketing: 1st place, Chris Mallow and Jessica Holly
Public Speaking: 1st Place, Alex von Stange
Chapter Awards: 1st place for Annual Report. This is the most coveted award of the competition, and the CVU chapter was thrilled to be recognized as first. This report was created by Jessica Holly and Julia Sokolowski.
Newly elected state officers: Bailee Pudvar, FBLA State Secretary/Treasurer. Christopher Mallow, FBLA State Reporter
Overall, the conference was a great success, and the students did an incredible job representing our school.
Annual Congressional High School Art Competition
Each year, CVU is invited to send five student works to compete in the Annual Congressional High School Art Competition, now in its 33rd year. The Visual Arts Teachers come together annually to recognize five students whose commitment to craft and artistic potential make them a good match to send forward to represent CVU. It has been our decision to invite juniors as this is a good opportunity for these students to experience an art show outside of our school building as well as enhancing their artistic resume prior to their senior year college application process. The following students have submitted their work: Madison Tieso, Jake Quatt, Christian Vien, Sierra Saia, and Elizabeth Fields.
Student work will be part of this juried exhibit in Montpelier and will be under consideration for different awards. The artwork with the top award will go on to be displayed at the White House, and students will be invited to a special ceremony there. To our CVU students: congratulations, and best of luck!
Student work will be part of this juried exhibit in Montpelier and will be under consideration for different awards. The artwork with the top award will go on to be displayed at the White House, and students will be invited to a special ceremony there. To our CVU students: congratulations, and best of luck!
2014 Junior Vermont Iron Chef Competition
The CVU Chefhawks competed at the Jr VT Iron Chef Competition on March 22, 2014. The team consisted of Morgan Schnell, Kaitlyn Kaplan, Emily Gagnon, David Roy, and Emma Spitzer. The team won the Crowd Pleaser Award for their Flatbread Tacos. This award goes to the team that best incorporates color, texture, and taste for a true crowd-pleasing dish. Plans are in the works with the school cafeteria to feature the winning dish before April break. The students all received a grocery bag of cooking tools to foster their love for cooking. The school received a set of cookware for future competitions. The team had a great time competing and is looking forward to next year’s competition.
CVU Faculty Recognized
Mike Burris was honored as a Project IGNITE teacher for 2014. Each year, Vita-Learn and Vermont ASCD recognize a new cadre of Vermont educators who exemplify innovative and transformative instructional practices. Mike was nominated for the work he has done extending his classroom via online lessons and interactive web activities. Congratulations to Mike!
Congratulations to Corey Mansfield pictured here with his trophy as Most Improved Athlete of the Year this year. Great job, Corey!
Used Books Requested by Student Council & Key Club
CVUHS Student Council and Key Club are teaming up with the African Library Project to collect used books to start a community library for the Mileme School in the Phalombe district of Malawi. Here, students and community members would have access to educational resources this village is currently lacking. We are asking students, parents, and members of the community to donate "a book and a buck" as we collect the 1,000 books we hope to receive as well as raise the $300 required for international shipping costs. The book drive will be held April 14- May 2; bins marked Readhawks Support ALP will be found in CVU's main office and library. We are looking for preschool-8th grade reading level material as well as teacher resource material. Please participate as a CVU Readhawk as we show our appreciation for our own educational opportunities by making a difference for another community. Please contact Emily Coffin or Gabby Ribeiro with any questions: [email protected] or [email protected]
Redhawk Cafe
You should be able to find most all information that you will need on our website at: http://cafe.cvuhs.org/ but if there are any questions, concerns or comments, please don't hesitate to contact Leo LaForce.
Email is my preferred method of communication, but please feel free to contact me by phone if you prefer. My email is [email protected] and the Cafe phone number is 802-482-7176.
What happens to any money left on my senior's account at the end of the school year?
If the senior has a returning sibling that is known, then the balance on the senior's account will be transferred to that student. Any account balance $5.00 or more left over in all other senior accounts will be refunded back to the family. Any balance less than $5.00 will be donated on your behalf to the School Student Support fund to benefit future CVU students. It is important to manage your senior's account to make sure that there are no large deposits towards the end of the school year.
If you were using the “Smart Pay” or automatic payment plan through www.mylunchmoney.com to make deposits into your senior’s account, please make sure to disable that option by May 5th to avoid more debits from your credit card. Because of the process involved, some balances may continue to show on a past student's account on the Website mylunchmoney. In reality, there will be NO balances left on a senior's account after we transfer to a sibling, make refunds, or donate to the Student Support Fund. Any student ending the year with a negative balance of (-$3.00) or more will be on the School Obligation List and will not receive last quarter grades.
Please make final payments so this does not occur. The obligation list is posted, so students are aware of this information and are aware of the procedures. If you are paying off an obligation after the third week of June, please contact Sue Jipner in the Main Office to have the student removed from obligations. All other balances will be carried over from year to year.
Please note that mylunchmoney will be disabled after the first week of June for year-end procedures.
Email is my preferred method of communication, but please feel free to contact me by phone if you prefer. My email is [email protected] and the Cafe phone number is 802-482-7176.
What happens to any money left on my senior's account at the end of the school year?
If the senior has a returning sibling that is known, then the balance on the senior's account will be transferred to that student. Any account balance $5.00 or more left over in all other senior accounts will be refunded back to the family. Any balance less than $5.00 will be donated on your behalf to the School Student Support fund to benefit future CVU students. It is important to manage your senior's account to make sure that there are no large deposits towards the end of the school year.
If you were using the “Smart Pay” or automatic payment plan through www.mylunchmoney.com to make deposits into your senior’s account, please make sure to disable that option by May 5th to avoid more debits from your credit card. Because of the process involved, some balances may continue to show on a past student's account on the Website mylunchmoney. In reality, there will be NO balances left on a senior's account after we transfer to a sibling, make refunds, or donate to the Student Support Fund. Any student ending the year with a negative balance of (-$3.00) or more will be on the School Obligation List and will not receive last quarter grades.
Please make final payments so this does not occur. The obligation list is posted, so students are aware of this information and are aware of the procedures. If you are paying off an obligation after the third week of June, please contact Sue Jipner in the Main Office to have the student removed from obligations. All other balances will be carried over from year to year.
Please note that mylunchmoney will be disabled after the first week of June for year-end procedures.
Host An Exchange Student Next Year
PAX and EF Foundation for Foreign Study work with students from all over the world ranging in age from 15 to 18 who would love to be a part of your family for the academic year. Students arrive with their own health insurance and spending money. We're looking for families who are open-minded, interested in the world beyond Vermont, and excited about sharing their life and family with an exchange student. The main requirement for host families is to be warm, welcoming, and willing to share their daily routine. Our students come from all backgrounds and interests - much like our host families. Let us help find the right student to help expand your horizons and your family.
For more information, please contact:
Kelley Cartularo, PAX community coordinator, at 802-373-0011, [email protected], or visit www.pax.org.
Or
Jan Bedard, International Exchange Coordinator for EF Foundation for Foreign Study at 802-482-3494, [email protected] or visit www.effoundation.org
For more information, please contact:
Kelley Cartularo, PAX community coordinator, at 802-373-0011, [email protected], or visit www.pax.org.
Or
Jan Bedard, International Exchange Coordinator for EF Foundation for Foreign Study at 802-482-3494, [email protected] or visit www.effoundation.org
From the CVU Direction Center
AP Exams
Exams area scheduled during the weeks of May 5 and May 12. Students should check their schedule for their date/time/location.
SAT and ACT
SAT and ACT deadlines approach quickly. College testing requirements vary widely, so students should double check which tests are required by each college to which they will apply. Students register for the test directly with the testing companies through their websites (collegeboard.com for SAT and act.org for ACT). Register early to ensure a spot in the testing location you prefer. CVU’s CEEB (testing) code is 460-175. Please remember that colleges require official test scores. Be sure to request that your scores be sent directly to the college by the testing company.
Dual Enrollment Opportunities for Rising Juniors and Seniors
Don’t miss the opportunity to earn college credits while still in high school! The state of Vermont has set aside funds for every VT high school student to take two tuition-free college courses before they graduate. Juniors and seniors can enroll for either an online or on-campus college course during the academic year or during the summer. Study in core areas such as Math, Science, English, Languages, and the Arts. Check UVM, CCV and VTC websites for more information. The Vermont Legislature is also expanding the early college options for seniors. The Vermont Academy of Science and Technology (VAST) program is part of Vermont Technical College. VAST is an accelerated program that allows high school seniors to take a full year of college-level classes while completing their high school degree. The classes taken at Vermont Tech (either in Williston or Randolph) simultaneously serve as a student’s senior year of high school and a full year of college credit. Application and more information can be found at: http://www.vtc.edu/vast.
Start Fall 2014 with a Virtual High School Course!
VHS, a non-profit, global network which includes over 500 high schools, enables students to consider 200 online courses. Now that CVU is a member school of Virtual High School, students can pursue specific areas of interest with other students from around the globe.
Virtual High School’s fall semester starts at the end of August but registration opens in May! Some of the more popular courses fill quickly, but we will be signing students up through June.
Since this is an online program, most of the work is done independently. Interested students need to make a commitment to the class and be able to attend an Early Block check-in each Wednesday morning. Students should have a good attendance record, be a self-motivated, self-disciplined learner, and have academic skills that will help ensure successful course completion. Each class is challenging and requires students to be actively engaged in their coursework for at least 6 - 8 hours per week.
Jane Krasnow is meeting with students interested in fall courses right now. If your son or daughter is interested in an online option, you are welcome to review the VHS catalogue at www.govhs.org. The next step would be to have students see Jane in the Direction Center to learn more about the application process. Questions? Emails are welcome: [email protected]
Raising Aspirations for 2014
Sophomores and Juniors: There’s still time to add Raising Aspirations into your schedule for next year!
This group meets once a week to focus on long-range goals for college and careers. Our goals are:
To increase the number of students who pursue postsecondary education;
To increase student knowledge of the opportunities available to them after high school;
To increase students’ exposure to cultural opportunities;
For students to develop a greater connection to the school and community;
To provide parents with the information and assistance to support their child in planning for his/her future; and
For students to develop an improved self-esteem and feel more confident in their ability to attain post-secondary pursuits.
What do students get from the program?
· 1/2 credit for successful participation in the program;
· Intensive future planning support beginning in the fall of 10th grade year and continuing throughout senior year;
· Several visits to local colleges;
· A FREE course at CCV called Introduction to College Studies;
· Job shadowing opportunities;
· Community resource visits—students will visit VSAC (a great community resource); and
· A GREAT TIME!!!.
Call Jane Krasnow in the Direction Center for more details.
CVU Turns 50: A Legacy of Innovation, Leadership, & Community
In 1960, Shelburne resident Barbara Snelling, wife of future Governor Richard Snelling, chaired an Exploratory Committee to study the possibility of creating a supervisory school district to provide one regional high school for area elementary schools. Sound familiar? The tension between retaining or consolidating local school districts is as fresh and relevant in Vermont today as it was 50 years ago. If the past informs the future, the remarkable success of Champlain Valley Union High School serves as an exemplar for the great potential and challenges that define school consolidation efforts. Thankfully, we are all the beneficiaries of the epic efforts of Mrs. Snelling and a cadre of community leaders who exemplified the strong leadership, innovation, and sense of community that continue to be the hallmark qualities that define and enhance the CVUHS community today. Our story is extraordinary.
From the start, things moved quickly. IBM had arrived; the population was growing rapidly. Vermont was awakening from a century long snooze. The Exploratory Committee, comprised of the towns of Charlotte, Hinesburg, Shelburne, St. George and Williston, worked quickly. By 1962, the towns approved the supervisory union. An organizational committee was quickly formed, a school board elected, and building plan completed.
The August 1962 ground breaking anticipated a September 1964 school opening. The new building was mandated to be "a simple, practical structure, without frills, to accommodate 750 students and be expandable to 1000." The completed structure was comprised of three separate buildings connected by breezeways. It was guaranteed to handle anticipated enrollments for 10 years. At the last minute, the board dropped the track and greenhouse to meet their frugal budget.
In the meantime, the Board hired a superintendent, principal, and faculty; purchased furniture; created and approved policies; developed curriculum; and bought six school buses. The school was ready a month ahead of schedule. The new board (chaired by Barbara Snelling) noted "a most rewarding association" with the construction contractors.
Our doors opened in 1964. CVU served 13 area elementary schools with an initial enrollment of 460 students. The faculty had one week to prepare for the first day of school. The School Board faced two alarming concerns: they needed one more bus and 10 more teachers!! As soon as the first student stepped into the school, the School Board was faced with the realization that student population was to increase in a far faster rate than anyone had anticipated. In fact, in 1966, new projections anticipated that student population would reach 2,400 in eight years!! The School Board proposed two bonds to expand the school. Both were defeated. Instead, in 1968 – just 4 years old – CVU purchased their first ‘temps’ – modular classrooms that, we would eventually learn, served CVU with a remarkable sense of permanence!
In spite of these concerns, CVU was off to a great start. The board noted that “…from the beginning, the community has demonstrated its enthusiasm and support for the school." The newly hired faculty was "an extremely well prepared, professional staff," and Principal Vince Durnan noted "the students quickly absorbed into the greatly expanded program of courses and became a close knit student body, functioning as a unit.” CVU won the State Championship for Soccer in 1964 AND 1965. Soccer Central had arrived.
In 1968, Barbara Snelling announced her resignation as chair of the CVUHS School Board. Her vision and leadership left an indelible mark for future generations of students, teachers, administrators, and school board members. Her legacy provided a rock solid foundation which would serve us well during the tumultuous 70’s. Her departure corresponded with the purchase of four more temps. No one had anticipated that overcrowding would emerge so quickly as such a paramount concern.
Our great tradition for innovation was born of necessity. With two failed construction bonds, how were we to deal with our ‘instant overcrowding’? In 1966, Principal Vincent Durnan proposed some possible solutions for restructuring staff and facilities to accommodate growing enrollment. The considerations included: team teaching, correspondence courses, independent research projects, staggered session, UVM courses, and summer school. Off campus classrooms, an extended school year, and CVU’s ‘original and nationally recognized and innovative scheduling’ that allowed for classes of various lengths. None of these innovative ideas required added expense.
In 1970, the DUO (Do Unto Others) program started. Ultimately this community service/internship/career exploration program would see 300 CVU students engaged in the community. This impressive, cutting-edge initiative had the added benefit of getting lots of students out of the building. In 1971, the LIFE program, an alternative off-site program for students who struggled in our large school, opened its doors under the leadership of Tom Hart. The LIFE program continues to serve as a pre-eminent model for alternative programming. It has a phenomenal track record of student success. The LIFE program is a precious gem.
A proposed alternative yearlong calendar called 45-15 was advanced in 1971 to address overcrowding.. The community did not go for this proposal. At the same time, the state informed CVU that we were 20,000 square feet short of our required size. Our intrepid new principal (Olsen), persevered. He responded with the Multiple Access Curriculum and Calendar. This proposal included sixteen 9-week sessions that began at staggered 3-week intervals. Students could self-design their schedule as long as they attended 175 days a year. They could start and end their school year whenever they wanted! The program featured the possibility of 3-year graduations and year-round schooling. Mr. Olsen’s proposals were not well received.
These tumultuous times found public schools everywhere struggling with rapidly changing social mores, increased substance abuse, very crowded conditions, massive educational reform initiatives, and community concerns about all of the above. CVU was no exception. The School Board was faced with two court-mandated obligations: Title IX required equitable access to programs for males and females and a mandated reconfiguration of the composition of the School Board. On top of this, a bond to improve athletic fields was defeated. In an impressive understatement, the Superintendent suggested, “ It is time that more of the positive things about our school are brought out.”
In 1973, the arrival of new principal Lou Lambert was rightfully perceived as a ‘renewal.’ Lambert noted on CVU’s 10th anniversary that 35-40% of CVU students were college bound, and that we ought to enhance services and programs for students who do not go to college. Finally, in 1974 and again in 1978, bonds passed to improve fields and upgrade our woefully small library. Girl’s Life and The Learning Place, two alternative offsite programs, were introduced in 1975, in part to address overcrowding concerns.
Sadly, Principal Lou Lambert succumbed to an aggressive bone cancer in 1978. Associate and acting principal Greg Sinner noted, “The human dimension of what happened to our school community this year virtually defy description. The powerful and painful reality that Lou was dying banded us together in way that were more significant than those of a more superficial ‘school spirit’. We responded in a thoughtful and humane way. Lou’s death sparks the irrepressible human spirit. To paraphrase Lou, at CVU we not only learn to achieve and to reach beyond our grasp, we also learn to love one another.”
Lambert’s message of love would be sorely tested right away. The overcrowding situation had become critical. The roof was leaking a lot. The Superintendent bluntly noted that "CVU is the least adequate high school in our region." Students were unruly. The school board was busy with teacher negotiations and grievances. In August 1978, CVU teachers chose to begin the first teacher’s strike in Vermont since 1908. A new principal, Barbara Powers, was hired as the next principal, and soon after, Greg Sinner announced his retirement. He pronounced that he was "bone weary." A year and a half later, Barbara Powers announced her resignation. It was a rough patch.
In 1980, CVU hired Jim Fitzpatrick as principal. His theme of responsibility, respect, and learning struck a chord. After defeating two construction bonds in 1980/81, the community voted for a revised bond in 1982. CVU was a busy place. In 1984, our present House (Fairbanks, Chittenden, Nichols, Snelling) system was created. We first started to use computers. In 1985, the community finally passed a bond for a new parking lot. The old lot looked like a mine field. It was "a disgrace to the school." There was a bumper sticker proclaiming: “I survived the CVU parking lot!”
Things were looking up. The school board noted that "CVU has become a well-managed school operating under a well-functioning board and a staff of teachers and leaders who are concerned about students and doing an outstanding job." In 1987, CVU became the first school in the eastern seaboard region to hook up with satellite telecommunication. CVU held an impressive Constitutional Bicentennial Celebration.
In 1988, Fitzpatrick announced his resignation; associate principal Val Gardner became CVU’s 7th principal. Val’s mantra – Take Care of Yourself. Take Care of This Place. Take Care of Each Other - emanated through the school. Under her leadership, a number of initiatives were introduced. In a three year span, the Graduation Challenge program was piloted and implemented. Our Advisory system, the Direction Center , the Freshman Core and Block Scheduling all started up as well. The Winter Carnival ‘bash the trash” (pay to hack away at a car with a sledge hammer) gave way to the Trike Race. CVU received a generous 21st Century Grant to extend the school year beyond its traditional schedule and calendar. CVU was able to extend library hours into the early evening and provide SummerLink and Summer School programs.
Although the building was showing a lot of wear and tear, the community defeated a bond in 2001. Two years later, it passed a bond for essentials – roof, windows, rewiring, etc.. In 2005, the "big bond" passed – 18+ million dollars for a major overhaul and expansion of our main building, a state of the art wood chip burner, as well as extensive improvements to fields. CVU initiated a football program at this time as well.
In 2005,Val Gardner resigned as the longest serving principal in CVU history, leaving behind a dramatically changed CVU. Perhaps one of the most controversial changes was the retirement of the CVU Crusader for the CVU Redhawks. Although many struggled with this change, it certainly did not impact our athletic prowess. CVUHS has won over 110 State Championships in the last 50 years. In the last two years, CVU has won seven State Championships each year. RedHawk Nation is alive and thriving.
During Sean McMannon’s tenure, CVU reached its peak population of 1389 in 2008. That is a far cry from those early predictions of 2400. We continued to improve our facility with a complete overhaul of the auditorium. It is stunning. One of the most successful initiatives of all - CVU Access – has evolved over the years. Today, thousands of people from the region attend classes at CVU in the afternoon and evening. It has been a phenomenal success, mainly due to the vision and work of Eddie Krasnow.
A lot has changed over the years. The legendary ‘Duffy’ sandwich in the subterranean cafeteria has given way to the Vermonter Panini- cheddar, apple turkey, fresh spinach with Maple Aoili on Grilled Sunflower Bread served in a spacious bright cafeteria with outside garden and volleyball court.There is no sign of any breezeways or courtyards. Former students will be stunned and disoriented by our present building.
But some things will never change. CVU has been blessed with great leadership. Barbara Snelling provided a rock solid foundation. The CVU School Board has offered great continuity throughout the years with high quality membership and very long tenures. It has steadfastly held a strong and steady course in support of the high quality educational program offered at CVU. Today you will find strong and effective leaders everywhere at CVU. We intentionally nurture and provide leadership opportunities for students, staff, and faculty. The culture of our school is embodied in a diversified and diffused leadership model that promotes a profound strength, mission, and vision. Our new principal, Jeff Evans, continues in this tradition as he empowers students, faculty, and stage to engage in the various committees and councils that support and sustain our school.
Our tradition of innovation is a way of life. We know no other way. Our intentions are ambitious. We are mission driven. The capacity and willingness of our educational community to take risks, work hard, and commit to improving ourselves and our school is remarkable.
And most importantly of all, we are a strong community. The warm and supportive relationship between students and adults is the hallmark of CVU. Any graduate can remember a special person – Doc Pepper, Coach Moore, Brem, Kathy Devost, Del, Cluffer, Bunting, a custodian, cafeteria worker, bus driver, librarian, teacher – with whom they had a special relation. We are a friendly and caring bunch. As CVU has grown, we have implemented programs – Advisory, Freshman Core, Sophomore Humanities etc. – to assure that we know our students well. The minute you walk into the building, you can feel the power of our relationships. We are a warm and welcoming community. So, stop by for a visit. Welcome back. And remember…
WE’VE GOT SPIRIT. YES WE DO! WE’VE GOT SPIRIT. HOW ‘BOUT YOU??
From the start, things moved quickly. IBM had arrived; the population was growing rapidly. Vermont was awakening from a century long snooze. The Exploratory Committee, comprised of the towns of Charlotte, Hinesburg, Shelburne, St. George and Williston, worked quickly. By 1962, the towns approved the supervisory union. An organizational committee was quickly formed, a school board elected, and building plan completed.
The August 1962 ground breaking anticipated a September 1964 school opening. The new building was mandated to be "a simple, practical structure, without frills, to accommodate 750 students and be expandable to 1000." The completed structure was comprised of three separate buildings connected by breezeways. It was guaranteed to handle anticipated enrollments for 10 years. At the last minute, the board dropped the track and greenhouse to meet their frugal budget.
In the meantime, the Board hired a superintendent, principal, and faculty; purchased furniture; created and approved policies; developed curriculum; and bought six school buses. The school was ready a month ahead of schedule. The new board (chaired by Barbara Snelling) noted "a most rewarding association" with the construction contractors.
Our doors opened in 1964. CVU served 13 area elementary schools with an initial enrollment of 460 students. The faculty had one week to prepare for the first day of school. The School Board faced two alarming concerns: they needed one more bus and 10 more teachers!! As soon as the first student stepped into the school, the School Board was faced with the realization that student population was to increase in a far faster rate than anyone had anticipated. In fact, in 1966, new projections anticipated that student population would reach 2,400 in eight years!! The School Board proposed two bonds to expand the school. Both were defeated. Instead, in 1968 – just 4 years old – CVU purchased their first ‘temps’ – modular classrooms that, we would eventually learn, served CVU with a remarkable sense of permanence!
In spite of these concerns, CVU was off to a great start. The board noted that “…from the beginning, the community has demonstrated its enthusiasm and support for the school." The newly hired faculty was "an extremely well prepared, professional staff," and Principal Vince Durnan noted "the students quickly absorbed into the greatly expanded program of courses and became a close knit student body, functioning as a unit.” CVU won the State Championship for Soccer in 1964 AND 1965. Soccer Central had arrived.
In 1968, Barbara Snelling announced her resignation as chair of the CVUHS School Board. Her vision and leadership left an indelible mark for future generations of students, teachers, administrators, and school board members. Her legacy provided a rock solid foundation which would serve us well during the tumultuous 70’s. Her departure corresponded with the purchase of four more temps. No one had anticipated that overcrowding would emerge so quickly as such a paramount concern.
Our great tradition for innovation was born of necessity. With two failed construction bonds, how were we to deal with our ‘instant overcrowding’? In 1966, Principal Vincent Durnan proposed some possible solutions for restructuring staff and facilities to accommodate growing enrollment. The considerations included: team teaching, correspondence courses, independent research projects, staggered session, UVM courses, and summer school. Off campus classrooms, an extended school year, and CVU’s ‘original and nationally recognized and innovative scheduling’ that allowed for classes of various lengths. None of these innovative ideas required added expense.
In 1970, the DUO (Do Unto Others) program started. Ultimately this community service/internship/career exploration program would see 300 CVU students engaged in the community. This impressive, cutting-edge initiative had the added benefit of getting lots of students out of the building. In 1971, the LIFE program, an alternative off-site program for students who struggled in our large school, opened its doors under the leadership of Tom Hart. The LIFE program continues to serve as a pre-eminent model for alternative programming. It has a phenomenal track record of student success. The LIFE program is a precious gem.
A proposed alternative yearlong calendar called 45-15 was advanced in 1971 to address overcrowding.. The community did not go for this proposal. At the same time, the state informed CVU that we were 20,000 square feet short of our required size. Our intrepid new principal (Olsen), persevered. He responded with the Multiple Access Curriculum and Calendar. This proposal included sixteen 9-week sessions that began at staggered 3-week intervals. Students could self-design their schedule as long as they attended 175 days a year. They could start and end their school year whenever they wanted! The program featured the possibility of 3-year graduations and year-round schooling. Mr. Olsen’s proposals were not well received.
These tumultuous times found public schools everywhere struggling with rapidly changing social mores, increased substance abuse, very crowded conditions, massive educational reform initiatives, and community concerns about all of the above. CVU was no exception. The School Board was faced with two court-mandated obligations: Title IX required equitable access to programs for males and females and a mandated reconfiguration of the composition of the School Board. On top of this, a bond to improve athletic fields was defeated. In an impressive understatement, the Superintendent suggested, “ It is time that more of the positive things about our school are brought out.”
In 1973, the arrival of new principal Lou Lambert was rightfully perceived as a ‘renewal.’ Lambert noted on CVU’s 10th anniversary that 35-40% of CVU students were college bound, and that we ought to enhance services and programs for students who do not go to college. Finally, in 1974 and again in 1978, bonds passed to improve fields and upgrade our woefully small library. Girl’s Life and The Learning Place, two alternative offsite programs, were introduced in 1975, in part to address overcrowding concerns.
Sadly, Principal Lou Lambert succumbed to an aggressive bone cancer in 1978. Associate and acting principal Greg Sinner noted, “The human dimension of what happened to our school community this year virtually defy description. The powerful and painful reality that Lou was dying banded us together in way that were more significant than those of a more superficial ‘school spirit’. We responded in a thoughtful and humane way. Lou’s death sparks the irrepressible human spirit. To paraphrase Lou, at CVU we not only learn to achieve and to reach beyond our grasp, we also learn to love one another.”
Lambert’s message of love would be sorely tested right away. The overcrowding situation had become critical. The roof was leaking a lot. The Superintendent bluntly noted that "CVU is the least adequate high school in our region." Students were unruly. The school board was busy with teacher negotiations and grievances. In August 1978, CVU teachers chose to begin the first teacher’s strike in Vermont since 1908. A new principal, Barbara Powers, was hired as the next principal, and soon after, Greg Sinner announced his retirement. He pronounced that he was "bone weary." A year and a half later, Barbara Powers announced her resignation. It was a rough patch.
In 1980, CVU hired Jim Fitzpatrick as principal. His theme of responsibility, respect, and learning struck a chord. After defeating two construction bonds in 1980/81, the community voted for a revised bond in 1982. CVU was a busy place. In 1984, our present House (Fairbanks, Chittenden, Nichols, Snelling) system was created. We first started to use computers. In 1985, the community finally passed a bond for a new parking lot. The old lot looked like a mine field. It was "a disgrace to the school." There was a bumper sticker proclaiming: “I survived the CVU parking lot!”
Things were looking up. The school board noted that "CVU has become a well-managed school operating under a well-functioning board and a staff of teachers and leaders who are concerned about students and doing an outstanding job." In 1987, CVU became the first school in the eastern seaboard region to hook up with satellite telecommunication. CVU held an impressive Constitutional Bicentennial Celebration.
In 1988, Fitzpatrick announced his resignation; associate principal Val Gardner became CVU’s 7th principal. Val’s mantra – Take Care of Yourself. Take Care of This Place. Take Care of Each Other - emanated through the school. Under her leadership, a number of initiatives were introduced. In a three year span, the Graduation Challenge program was piloted and implemented. Our Advisory system, the Direction Center , the Freshman Core and Block Scheduling all started up as well. The Winter Carnival ‘bash the trash” (pay to hack away at a car with a sledge hammer) gave way to the Trike Race. CVU received a generous 21st Century Grant to extend the school year beyond its traditional schedule and calendar. CVU was able to extend library hours into the early evening and provide SummerLink and Summer School programs.
Although the building was showing a lot of wear and tear, the community defeated a bond in 2001. Two years later, it passed a bond for essentials – roof, windows, rewiring, etc.. In 2005, the "big bond" passed – 18+ million dollars for a major overhaul and expansion of our main building, a state of the art wood chip burner, as well as extensive improvements to fields. CVU initiated a football program at this time as well.
In 2005,Val Gardner resigned as the longest serving principal in CVU history, leaving behind a dramatically changed CVU. Perhaps one of the most controversial changes was the retirement of the CVU Crusader for the CVU Redhawks. Although many struggled with this change, it certainly did not impact our athletic prowess. CVUHS has won over 110 State Championships in the last 50 years. In the last two years, CVU has won seven State Championships each year. RedHawk Nation is alive and thriving.
During Sean McMannon’s tenure, CVU reached its peak population of 1389 in 2008. That is a far cry from those early predictions of 2400. We continued to improve our facility with a complete overhaul of the auditorium. It is stunning. One of the most successful initiatives of all - CVU Access – has evolved over the years. Today, thousands of people from the region attend classes at CVU in the afternoon and evening. It has been a phenomenal success, mainly due to the vision and work of Eddie Krasnow.
A lot has changed over the years. The legendary ‘Duffy’ sandwich in the subterranean cafeteria has given way to the Vermonter Panini- cheddar, apple turkey, fresh spinach with Maple Aoili on Grilled Sunflower Bread served in a spacious bright cafeteria with outside garden and volleyball court.There is no sign of any breezeways or courtyards. Former students will be stunned and disoriented by our present building.
But some things will never change. CVU has been blessed with great leadership. Barbara Snelling provided a rock solid foundation. The CVU School Board has offered great continuity throughout the years with high quality membership and very long tenures. It has steadfastly held a strong and steady course in support of the high quality educational program offered at CVU. Today you will find strong and effective leaders everywhere at CVU. We intentionally nurture and provide leadership opportunities for students, staff, and faculty. The culture of our school is embodied in a diversified and diffused leadership model that promotes a profound strength, mission, and vision. Our new principal, Jeff Evans, continues in this tradition as he empowers students, faculty, and stage to engage in the various committees and councils that support and sustain our school.
Our tradition of innovation is a way of life. We know no other way. Our intentions are ambitious. We are mission driven. The capacity and willingness of our educational community to take risks, work hard, and commit to improving ourselves and our school is remarkable.
And most importantly of all, we are a strong community. The warm and supportive relationship between students and adults is the hallmark of CVU. Any graduate can remember a special person – Doc Pepper, Coach Moore, Brem, Kathy Devost, Del, Cluffer, Bunting, a custodian, cafeteria worker, bus driver, librarian, teacher – with whom they had a special relation. We are a friendly and caring bunch. As CVU has grown, we have implemented programs – Advisory, Freshman Core, Sophomore Humanities etc. – to assure that we know our students well. The minute you walk into the building, you can feel the power of our relationships. We are a warm and welcoming community. So, stop by for a visit. Welcome back. And remember…
WE’VE GOT SPIRIT. YES WE DO! WE’VE GOT SPIRIT. HOW ‘BOUT YOU??
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