Recently, a parent inquired whether students receive the e-News each week or not. The answer is most definitely. What we don’t know is how many of them read (or even browse) the e-News. We encourage morning meeting advisors to review the e-News each week with their students, but this parent question made us realize how great it would be for parents/guardians to use this as a way to start conversations with their students about all the opportunities available to them. (We know that many of you probably already are having these conversations.) From this edition, you might talk with your student about:
What teachers to set up conferences with and about your student attending too.
Brother-to-Brother event for middle school boys.
The talk through Sister-to-Sister (but available to all community members) by author Tanya Lee Stone.
Students in grades 9, 10, and 11 participating in a Governor’s Institute summer program.
10th and 11th graders visiting UVM.
11th graders and the SAT Prep Workshop
11th and 12th graders taking the ASVAB, which helps students think about interests and careers, and doesn’t obligate them in any way to the military.
Scholarships available to 12th graders.
Some thoughts from the students in Julia Beerworth’s Personal Finance class.
Participating in the Teen Broadway class or lifeguarding course.
Thanks for using this week (and beyond) to talk about some of these opportunities and anything on your students’ minds.
Student/Parent/Teacher Conferences are during the afternoon and evening on Wednesday, March 4th, 3:00-6:15 pm and Thursday, March 5th, 3:00-8:00 pm. The online sign-up will be shared with everyone this coming week.
Have a wonderful break.
Stephanie, Ed, & Jay
Click here for more information related to the 2020 ANWSD Annual Report and meeting.
Team Endeavor Conference Sign-ups - see more info here.
Middlebury College Brother-to-Brother Nerf Contest - Saturday, February 22nd, 2-4 pm
Middlebury College Sister-to-Sister Event - Talk by Tanya Lee Stone about her book “Girl Rising” - Saturday, February 22, 2-3 p.m. (with question and answer time to follow), Hillcrest 103, Middlebury College
Author Tanya Lee Stone will talk about her book, which accompanies and expands upon the widely popular 2013 documentary of the same name. In her talk, she will unpack the major obstacles to education, including where and why they happen and how we can easily be activists. Organized by the student group Sister-to-Sister, this talk aims to stimulate an intergenerational conversation about what it means to be a girl in Addison County. International snacks will be provided. For further information, please contact Karin Hanta by email at [email protected] or by phone at (802)443-5937.
Middlebury College Sister-to-Sister Event - Open to any community members. Talk by Tanya Lee Stone about her book “Girl Rising” - Saturday, February 22, 2-3 p.m., Hillcrest 103, Middlebury College
COURSE REGISTRATION FOR 2020-2021 SCHOOL YEAR
All course request sheets were due in the School Counseling Office on Friday, February 14. If you haven’t turned yours in, please drop it off this week, scan and email it, or bring it to the office on Monday, February 24th. If you have any questions, please contact your student’s school counselor. Below are links to all of the documents passed out to students.
Grade 8 Course Registration Sheet
Grades 9-11 Course Request Sheet (taking courses only at VUHS)
PAHCC Course Request Sheet for grades 9-11 (taking courses at career center and VUHS)
The Governor’s Institutes of Vermont (GIV) Summer Programs 2020
GIV is for any Vermont 9th-11th grader with a passion for or particular interest in arts, engineering, world cultures and events, math, science, technology, entrepreneurship, or activism. Students who enjoy GIV tend to have a strong intellectual or artistic curiosity, possess academic skills equal to or above their grade level, and function well in a highly independent learning environment. Most institutes select students based on their application answers and referrals, not their grades. Ability to pay doesn’t matter.
Ten programs are being offered this year. Scholarships are available. Application (and more information) is online at giv.org. Information (including the 2020 program catalog) is available in the School Counseling Office and on posters throughout the school. The VUHS application is done online and the deadline is March 20, 2020.
The following programs are offered this summer at GIV
Environmental Science & Technology, July 5–11 at University of Vermont, Burlington, VT
Mathematical Sciences, June 21 – 26 at the University of Vermont, Burlington, VT
Global Issues & Youth Action, June 27 – July 6 at Landmark College, Landmark, VT
Engineering, July 5 - 11 at Norwich University, Northfield, VT
Arts, June 28 – July 12 at Castleton University, Castleton, VT
Technology, Design & Coding, June 20 – 28, at Champlain College, Burlington, VT
Entrepreneurship, June 27 - July 2 at Vermont Technical College, Randolph, VT
Young Writers, June 16 – 22 at Bennington College, Bennington, VT
Astronomy, July 19 – 25, at Northern Vermont University, Lyndon Campus, Lyndonville, VT
The Governor’s School, July 12 - 19, Norwich University, Northfield, VT
Health and Medicine, June 16 - 22, Norwich University, Northfield, VT
Opportunity to Visit the University of Vermont
Juniors and sophomores are invited to join us on this field trip to the University of Vermont on Tuesday, March 17th, regardless of their individual college lists/plans. Permission slip is here to print, sign, and return to the School Counseling Office in order to secure your space on the bus. Permission slips are due in the School Counseling Office no later than Tuesday, March 9th.
MEDQUEST Health Careers Exploration
MedQuest is a six-day, summer, residential health careers exploration program for Vermont high school students currently enrolled in grades 10,11 or 12. Admission is competitive and scholarships are available upon parent request. MEDQUEST information and application. Application Deadline is March 6, 2020.
SAT Prep Workshop - Saturday, March 7, 2020 - 8:30 am - 12:30 pm - VUHS Library
Whether you plan to take the SAT this spring or in the fall, this is a great opportunity to be better prepared for the exam. See more information here, including a more thorough explanation of the workshop, cost (including financial assistance), and how to register. Thank you to the Commodore Parent/Teacher Group for making this opportunity possible.
College/University Open Houses
This time of year there are many campus open houses and visit dates for juniors. See more information here. Please stop in the School Counseling Office with any questions.
The Armed Services Vocational Aptitude Battery (ASVAB) will be offered to juniors and seniors who are interested in exploring occupations in line with their interests and skills. This test may also qualify students for entry into the military. The results will not be released to recruiters, unless students choose to, and there is no cost. The ASVAB will be administered on Wednesday, March 11. Students interested in taking the ASVAB should sign up with their school counselor, Mr. Stetzel or Mrs. Vincent on or before Friday, March 6th.
SCHOLARSHIPS
There are scholarships available for application at this time. Scholarships are posted on the School Counseling web page here and updated on a regular basis.
Upcoming Scholarship Deadlines
New England Federal Credit Union Nursing Scholarship 2/29/2020
Knights of Columbus 3/10/2020
Heritage Family Credit Union (membership not required) 3/20/2020
February ANWSD Board/Committee Meeting Schedule
February 17-21 - Winter Break - No School
February 24 - ANWSD Annual Meeting - VUHS Library - 6:00 PM
March 4 & 5 - Student/Parent/Teacher Conferences - More information coming soon
March 4 - Half Day for Students - Dismissal at 11:15, Faculty/Staff Inservice Afternoon
March 6 - No School for Students/Faculty/Staff following evening conferences March 4 & 5
March 27 - Full Day Inservice for Faculty/Staff - No School for Students
April 1 - Spring Networking & Career Fair - VUHS Middle School Gym - 10 am - 2 pm
April 8 - Half Day for Students - Dismissal at 11:15, Faculty/Staff Inservice Afternoon
Every other week a well-deserving VUHS senior is selected as an Addison Independent Student of the Week. These students are actively involved in the community and working hard to make the most of their education. Be sure to check out the Monday, February 17th edition of the paper to learn more about our most recently recognized outstanding senior, Michael Davis. Congratulations Michael!
Congratulations to the VUHS Math Team for placing 3rd out of 14 teams at the meet on February 13th. We triumphed over BFA Fairfax, BFA St. Albans, Burlington, Colchester, Milton, Missisquoi, Mt Mansfield, Rice, U-32 and Enosburg.
Congratulations to Kai Williams for a perfect paper in Advanced Math!
Top Category Tests
Arithmetic: Parker Kayhart, David Nicholls and Reagan Kayhart
Geometry: Parker Kayhart, Pearl Sutton and Xavier DeBlois
Algebra: Kai Williams, David Nicholls and Parker Kayhart
Adv. Math: Kai Williams
Top Scores Overall
5th: Xavier DeBlois
4th: Alex Rice
3rd: David Nicholls
2nd: Parker Kayhart
1st: Kai Williams
Great Job to all the VUHS Mathletes: Xavier DeBlois, Parker Kayhart, David Nicholls, Alex Rice, Reagan Kayhart, Pearl Sutton, Ian Brons, Erich Reitz and Kai Williams!
Our last math team meet is Monday, March 16th at Mt. Mansfield.
Students came up with these thoughts after playing the board game "Act Your Wage." - Julia Beerworth
"Being an adult is hard."
"Don't have too many kids"
"Stuff is expensive!"
"Always have back-up money"
"Don't buy too big of a house--make sure you can afford it."
"Pay off your credit cards."
"Wait to have kids."
"Braces are expensive."
Interested in musical theater. Check out a class at the Vergennes Opera House with Spotlight Vermont. More information here.
Do you have questions about sexual and reproductive health, birth control, healthy relationships, or anything else related to sexual health? You can ask me! My name is Marlie, and I’m a senior at Vergennes Union High School. I’m a trained peer educator with PPNNE. Email me ([email protected]) to set up a conversation in person at VUHS. Like adults at VUHS, I am a mandated reporter, which means that while I can keep most conversations private, I have to report situations that involve harm or abuse.
The Commodore Parent Teacher Group (CPTG) is planning another great year of supporting academic and enrichment activities and community engagement at VUHS. Please consider supporting the CPTG to help us fund great activities such as: Staff Appreciation - SAT Boot Camp - Outreach Programs - Project Graduation - Enrichment Grants for Teachers and Staff
We recognize that everyone’s schedules are full, so we’d like to keep this simple – no buying, no selling, no events. Please consider making a donation toward our goal of $2000. Send your donation to the main office by March 31st, (make checks payable to CPTG), or visit our GoFundMe site. Every $25 of your donation earns a raffle entry for a $100 gift certificate to the Antidote! Donate to a great cause, and earn a chance for a great dinner! More information here.
Interesting in becoming a certified lifeguard? See information here about a class being offered in our area.
ADDISON NORTHWEST SCHOOL DISTRICT - NOTICE TO ALL STUDENTS IN GRADES 8-11; PUBLIC HIGH SCHOOL CHOICE
Vergennes Union High School, along with all other Vermont high schools, participates in a statewide system of high school choice. Under this system, students from VUHS may apply to transfer to any other high school in the state. For the 2020-2021 school year, the maximum number of students eligible to transfer to another school is limited to fifteen (15). The actual number will depend on the number of students selected in prior years that are choosing to continue their enrollment at other high schools.
To apply to participate in the program for the 2020-2021 school year (grades 9-12):
Complete an application here or from the VUHS School Counseling Office;
All applications must be signed by a parent or guardian;
File the application with the School Counseling Office no later than March 1, 2020.
Notification of decisions to all students who have applied to participate will be no later than April 1, 2020. Additional school choice information, including a timeline, is available from the School Counseling Office or by contacting Jay Stetzel ([email protected]).
If selected to attend another high school, students shall be guaranteed enrollment in that receiving school until graduation as long as they remain residents of the Addison Northwest School District and are not subject to expulsion as a result of the receiving school’s policy and federal and state law.
It’s not too early to be making plans for summer. The school counseling office will receive a variety of summer opportunities over the next several months. Click here to access a list of these opportunities for students currently in grades 7-12. We are not specifically endorsing any of these programs (because we are not familiar with all of them) and encourage you to further research any in which your student might be interested. As we receive additional program information, we’ll add it to this document, so check back weekly.
Lake Champlain Maritime Museum Summer Expeditions - Learn more here.
Our meetings are on the 4th Monday of the month from 6:30-8:00 PM in the VUHS library. The next one is Monday, February 24th. Due to the ANWSD Annual Meeting being at the same time, the group will meet in the health room right next to the library.
Our new email address is [email protected] and you can find us on Facebook at: https://www.facebook.com/commodoreparentteachergroup
VUHS is the first high school in the state to offer an automated live video stream of it's athletic events! Thank you to the Vergennes Boosters Club for the purchase and installation of this camera system. Vergennes Athletics continues it's advancement forward and our Boosters Club is a major reason why. Please consider offering your support by joining the Boosters Club. They meet the 2nd Tuesday of each month from 7-8 p.m. If you are interested, please contact Kirsten De La Cruz, Booster Club President ([email protected]).
To view upcoming events live, please click here. The link is also on the VUHS website on the Athletics page. Thank you and enjoy the games!
Don’t forget that you can also check out the new school website! There are lots of great resources and contact information for families and students. www.vuhs.org
