Student Learning & Points of Pride

Much of our work this year has been in supporting student ownership of their learning. We attempted and continue to attempt to accomplish this by creating structures to support challenges at each student's level by creating menus, offering additional differentiated content, and more flexibility with our learning. This model of creating menus from which students own the when of their learning that aligns with the why of their learning. This is a continuation of our work in past years to align our practices, procedures, and expectations.

We were recognized by the Agency of Education for their continued successful implementation of Positive Behavior Intervention and Supports (PBIS). VUES was one of 43 schools in the state recognized for prioritizing social, emotional, behavioral learning, and well-being to achieve success for all learners during this particularly challenging period of time. The recognition VUES received was based on the interventions and support delivered to students and communities to achieve positive outcomes. The VUES team maintained PBIS as a priority, despite many distractions, and worked harder than ever to engage students and families, improve school climate, and consider issues of diversity, equity, and inclusion.

This fall we held what we believe to be our first ever outdoor concert featuring students in every grade singing, dancing, and performing and band. The concert was very well attended and a successful celebration of a lot of hard work by our students.

Culture & Staff

Our students participated in the “Name a Plow Program” with the Department of Transportation. We had each class choose a name and then students voted over a period of days to determine the winner - Glacier We welcomed our plow with the driver (who is also a parent) early in the winter.

We have a few new folks in the building this fall. Some new teaching staff include Samantha Kepes (fifth grade humanities), Melanie King (math intervention), Samara Bissonette (fourth grade teacher), Sarah Grunwell (special education teacher), Cat Weiner (special education teacher), Michelle Houghton (literacy intervention), Susan Dunne (special educator), Colleen Metzler (building based substitute), and Lisa Razo (Speech Language Pathologist). Some new staff are in our building too, Denise Walther (paraeducator), Noah Braun (paraeducator), Sarah Bicknell (paraeducator), Patty Vincent (paraeducator in math), Christina Stinchfield (paraeducator), Davina Desmarais (Home School Coordinator), and John Picanza (tech support).

Building & Grounds

The folks who operate our building on a daily basis continue to be invaluable members of our school community. The daily work of our custodians to maintain the cleanliness and safety of our building continues to be a hallmark of our safety. Thank you to David Loven, Sue Jerome, and Randy Gaboriault for keeping our building looking so wonderfully. Relatedly, Lisa Sprague, Lissa Gebo, and Patty Barnes continue to help us evolve in our understanding of feeding students. These folks have fed meals to around 70% of our students (and some staff) over the past year. Using this number for lunch and a few less for breakfast, it would appear that they have served 55,440 meals. This number does not include summer meals or afterschool snack. It is truly amazing that we can do that. Their work should not go unrecognized.

Community

Our community group supported a number of endeavors this past calendar year, but none so more impactful than the introduction of The Four Winds program to the Kindergarten and First Grade. This program uses our outdoor space to support scientific education, inquiry, and community connections through volunteerism of many parents and guardians.

Our school was fortunate to apply for and receive a Community School’s Grant. This grant will create a viable and sustainable student mentoring program, expand on health services for students during and after school, establish adult learning opportunities for the community, address community issues related to food insecurity, expand outdoor learning and community recreation spaces, improve the school gardens, and engage with the community around instructional programs specifically Universal Design for Learning and Literacy initiatives underway.

Ed Cook, Interim Principal

Student Learning & Points of Pride

We ended the 2020 school year in the hybrid model. This year we were able to return to having all the students back in the building for in-person teaching and learning. Although, we are still wearing masks in the building, it is wonderful to see the school full again with students in classrooms and hallways. Our students and staff are grateful for the opportunity to be back in person. The building is alive with energy, and we are glad to have a return to regular school.

Last year saw some students wanting to have more voice and choice in their school. VUMHS began talks with Up for Learning to increase the opportunities for student voice in our school. This group along with several students from all the grades have planned retreats, held meetings, and given opportunities to allow students to express their thoughts and take some action in defining their vision of what will improve VUMHS.

After a year of virtual Peace One Day, we were able to return to an in-person event this year. Our students took the lead with planning, set up, and execution of this event. Lee Shorey was an amazing cheerleader and mentor to the students that planned this day. We partnered with the United Way to focus on change in our community. It was held on our baseball field and our students were able to listen to speeches; and observe musical and dance performances.

On a rainy, cold day this fall, 45 seniors left VUHS and walked towards Middlebury. The Senior Walk-A-Thon chose HOPE as the organization to donate to this year. HOPE works with low-income Addison County families. Over $3,000 was raised for this organization. To date, the walk-a-thons have raised over $70,000, most of which has gone to local charities and organizations in Addison County.

Culture & Staff

Over the past two school years, I have seen our faculty and staff plan, teach, build relationships in a virtual, hybrid, and finally in person classrooms. I am continually awed by the work of our faculty and staff to make our building a safe place to be for all students. The faculty and staff have risen to each new challenge that COVID has presented to our students and their ability to learn.

In October of 2021, our long time Principal, Stephanie Taylor, resigned for family reasons. Stephanie was always a champion of the students and staff at VUHS. Her time here will be remembered fondly. We wish her the best of luck with her family and her retirement plans. Edward Cook, the Assistant Principal for the past four years, took on the role of Interim Principal for the remainder of the 2021-2022 school year.

Jamie Wells, VUHS School Nurse, took on the role as the District COVID Coordinator Jamie has been working with the nurses in all the schools in the District, attending meetings at the State level, and managed all of the changing guidelines around COVID. Jamie’s work has been invaluable to the District and we all owe her a huge thank you for everything she has done and continues to do.

We saw two of our long-time employees sail off into retirement this year, both people were also graduates. So, they have spent most of their lives in and around the ANWSD schools.

Steve O’Bryan, Maintenance staff, rode his Harley Davidson motorcycle off on the last day of the 2021 school year. Steve completed a career of 40 plus years in the District in

June. He was a mainstay at VUHS for as long as many of us can remember. We all wished Steve the best and know that he is enjoying his time on his motorcycle when he can ride.

Dianne Marcotte, secretary, will retire at the end of January 2022. Dianne has been a part of VUHS for over 30 years. She is the first-person people see when they walk into VUHS, and she always has a huge hello and a kind word. Dianne loves all the students at VUHS, but especially was a huge cheerleader for all our student athletes. She will be missed and her smile, kind words, and support of our students will be hard to replace.

In September of 2021, we lost a long-time educator, coach, and supporter of athletics. Roland Guyette passed away at the age of 87. Roland was the Driver Education teacher at VUHS for 33 years, he coached almost every sport here during a 30-year coaching career. Once he retired, he stayed on at VUHS to help the Athletic Director with any and all jobs that were needed to help move our teams forward and get our courts and fields ready for practice and play.

Building & Grounds

VUHS wants to extend our gratitude to our custodial and maintenance staff. They have gone above and beyond during this time. They have been tasked with creating classrooms that are socially distant, disinfecting classrooms each night, keeping our hallways, doors, railings, and floors clean. All of this is done in a very professional manner and with a smile on their faces. Each day when our faculty, staff, and students arrive at a building that is clean, safe, and warm it is due to our staff. Without their hard work we would not be able to adequately do our job of teaching our students. Thank you to Ken Sullivan and all the maintenance staff.

Community

In June of 2021, we were able to hold a graduation ceremony that included all the graduates, speakers, and families. Families were required to sit in pods of eight chairs. A tent was set up on the soccer field. Graduates were required to wear masks, but they were able to remove them as they accepted their diploma. It was great to have some normalcy after a hybrid school year. I believe that the graduates and families enjoyed the day.

After not being able to participate in the Spring season of the 2019-2020 school year, our athletic teams were able to compete in each season in the 2020-21 school year. Most of our athletic teams had very successful regular seasons and made great runs in the playoffs. It was great to see our athletes on the court and fields last year. It is a testament to the hard work and dedication of Pete Maneen that allows our athletic teams to continue to be successful and play on the best high school gym and fields in the state.

Our Athletic program has long benefited from the generosity of the community. VUHS was the first high school in the state to offer an automated live video stream of its athletic events. In the fall of 2020, we added a camera on our Varsity soccer field so that the soccer and lacrosse games could be streamed. These cameras and the hardware to make them possible is thanks to the Vergennes Boosters Club. Vergennes Athletics continues its advancement forward and our Boosters Club is a major reason why.