Updates from U-32

Dear students, families, and caregivers,

Nearly 400 people joined our Free Community Meal on Thursday. This was truly a moment in which young people, caregivers, and families and individuals from across our communities came together to share meals and conversations. I heard stories of reconnection, new connection, and gratitude for the exceptional food. Community and Connection are themes for us this year and joining together with food in community is a way of connecting across the bounds of towns. Nearly all of the food from Thursday's dinner was locally sourced and each of our elementary school communities contributed to the preparation for the meal. U-32 students and staff chopped onions and carrots, and made apple crisp and cornbread. The meal was also a testament to the quality of U-32 Food Service. We are thrilled that Ron Scholtz and Brad Rice share in the vision of community and connection through food. If you missed this one or any of the community events in September, be on the lookout for more ways to volunteer, engage in learning, and join in community throughout the year. Thank you to all who contributed to make this first meal a huge success!

Best,

Becca

U-32 is pleased to announce that Alden Bond, Mayla Landis-Marinello & Ben Warfield have been named as Commended Students in the 2026 National Merit Scholarship Program. They have demonstrated outstanding potential for academic success and they represent a valuable national resource: recognizing their accomplishments, as well as the key role their schools play in their academic development, is vital to the advancement of educational excellence in our nation.

In addition, Mya Gould & Arwa Meiloud are National Merit Semi Finalists

More than 16,000 of the high scorers, representing less than 1% of the nation’s high school graduating seniors qualify as Semifinalists. Only Semifinalists will have an opportunity to advance in the competition for Merit Scholarship® awards. NMSC designates Semifinalists in the program on a state-representational basis to ensure that academically accomplished young people from all parts of the United States are included in this talent pool. Using the latest data available, an allocation of Semifinalists is determined for each state, based on the state’s percentage of the national total of high school graduating seniors. For example, the number of Semifinalists in a state that enrolls approximately 2% of the nation’s graduating seniors would be about 320 (2% of the 16,000 Semifinalists).

Congratulations!

Hello U-32 community,

You may have noticed from our last board meeting agenda that the board was asked to approve the hire of a .4 FTE special educator at U-32. I'm so excited to say that the board approved the nomination of Betsy Vanderlip to join our staff. For those who don't know Betsy, she has been a valued member of our Washington Central community for many years as a special educator at Berlin Elementary.

Betsy brings a wealth of experience supporting students, working with families and teams, and is a skilled case manage. As a result of assigning a number of students to Betsy's case management load and away from their current case manager, our students may be working with new special educators. Case managers will be reaching out to families, if they haven't done so already, to connect with new IEP teams.

Please join me in welcoming Betsy Vanderlip to our U-32 community.

Thank you,

Cat Fair

The Outing Club took it's first trip up Camels Hump last weekend.

The Outing Club is open to EVERYONE and meets during Callback to plan trips locally in the outdoors.

Art in Public has completed their first, BEAUTIFUL, mural.

A reminder: This group meets Mondays afterschool until 4:30, and is open to EVERYONE.

Wednesday was the last night of the Community Learning Series this Fall.

Over 100 community members, ages 5 to 85 signed up and participated in classes ranging from chainsaw sharpening, to bike repair, fiber arts, intro to digital photography, and many classes in-between. We are grateful for the gift of time and shared knowledge. We hope there will be many other opportunities to experience the vast expertise and resources in this community.

Out of the Darkness Prevention Walk 10/5/25 Check in 8:30 am / Start time 9:00 am

📍 Vermont State House, Montpelier

You can scan here to join the U-32 team! If you can’t make it to the Walk,

click here to donate to our U-32 team!

Walk with us to prevent suicide.

You matter. You deserve to be here.

Student Job Opportunities and Career Labs

Does your student need a job?!

There are more ways than ever for students to explore careers, gain experience, and get involved at school and beyond:

→ Check Out Our Student Job Board
Looking for part-time work, internships, or volunteer gigs?

Our Student Job & Volunteer Opportunities Board is up and running! You can find it:

Online via the Pathways website
In-person on the brand-new bulletin board outside of Student Services

→ Discover Career Paths with Our New Career Labs Resource
We’ve launched a Career Labs resource – a guide for upcoming conferences, events, and workshops that help students explore different career paths throughout the year. Whether you're curious about healthcare, tech, trades, the arts, or beyond – there's something for everyone.

→ Join the New Volunteer Club
Want to make a difference and build your resume at the same time? Our brand-new Volunteer Club is all about connecting students with meaningful volunteer opportunities throughout the community. It’s a great way to get involved, meet new people, and gain real-world experience. Email lsemler@u32.org for more information.

→ Find Everything in One Place: The Pathways Website
All of these resources – job board, volunteer opportunities, Career Labs info, and more are available on the Pathways website. Be sure to check it regularly for updates.

→ Have a job or opportunity you’d like to share with students?
Email the Work-Based Learning Coordinator, Liza Semler, at lsemler@u32.org.

Don't Forget to Order This Year's School Pictures

ENJOY 10% OFF

your order!

CODE: F2510OFF

EXPIRES: July 31, 2026

Redeem Now

Don’t forget to order your FREE Digital SmileSafe card!

More about the Smilesafe program here.

We are producing a Middle School Winter Play!

For the first time ever, we are producing a Middle School Winter Play! Erin Bogart (director of last year’s Spamalot and this year’s spring musical, Mean Girls) will be directing.

Please note: this play conflicts with fall sports, so students will need to choose one or the other. If you cannot participate this time, we hope you will consider the spring musical, which takes place between winter and spring sports seasons and will not have conflicts.

We have not yet chosen the script—we’ll make the final selection based on who signs up. If you’d like to participate (onstage or backstage), please sign up on this form: SIGN UP FORM

Stage 16 Winter Play Important Dates

Dec 1–2, 2025: Tech Rehearsals (potluck dinners)
Dec 3, 2025: Final Dress Rehearsal
Dec 4, 2025: In-school performance
Dec 5, 2025: Evening performance 7:00 PM
Dec 6, 2025: Matinee 2:00 PM

Stage 32/Stage 16 Calendar - this will give you an idea of what the whole year looks like.

Thanks so much!

Erin Galligan-Baldwin

Director of Theater

U-32 Middle and High School

Please review the 2025-2026 Student/Family Handbook. Below are some updates to the handbook that are important to note. Students will review this in TA and we encourage you to review the handbook at home as well.

School Entry

Our Main Office has been revamped. Visitors must sign in at the window to the right as you enter. Sports equipment can no longer be stored in the entryway. If you are picking up your student, please let us know that you are here by entering the building and letting the main office know you are here. Thank you for helping our entryway run smoothly and safely.

Food Deliveries

To maintain a safe and focused learning environment, food deliveries (from services such as DoorDash, UberEats, Grub Hub etc.) are not permitted for students during the school day. Deliveries create disruptions, pose safety concerns, and can place an added burden on office staff. Students are encouraged to bring lunch from home or utilize the school meal program. Food deliveries are only permitted for after-school activities.

If you identified on the Annual Health Form that your child has any allergies which require an Epi pen, please have your doctor send us an Allergy Action Plan. These need to be submitted each school year.

If you identified on the Annual Health Form that your child has Asthma and carries an inhaler, please have your doctor send us an Asthma Action Plan. These need to be submitted each school year.

These can be faxed to 802-223-7411 or emailed to healthoffice@u32.org

The Civil Air Patrol Cadet Program offers young people, ages 12 to 21, a fantastic chance to explore aerospace, emergency services, and leadership while fostering a remarkable network of friendships and enhancing their self-confidence!

Adults can take advantage of free professional development in various fields, including emergency services, aerospace science, and marketing and communications. Plus, you’ll have the opportunity to volunteer alongside our incredible cadets!

Teachers are welcome to join and gain access to complimentary classroom materials and STEM kits provided by the Air Force!

Tuesday, 30 September 2025, 6:30 - 8:00pm

Edward Knapp Airport, Berlin, VT

All Seniors!

Open this LINK to see all the information you need for your yearbook submissions.

News from Student Services

STUDENT/PARENT resources:

IC PLP courses- all students have a course called PLP in the AS (After School) slot in their IC schedule. There is a lot of info so we hope you will check it out.

Naviance - Remember to frequent Naviance as this site helps U-32 students explore post high school planning options, build a resume, manage timelines and deadlines for making decisions about colleges and careers. This is also where all of the scholarship opportunities are housed. Each student will work with his/her TA and school counselor in Naviance to create his/her Personalized Learning Plans (PLPs).

If you have forgotten your password, you can reset it yourself. If you have misplaced your registration code, please notify Student Services.

IMPORTANT GRADING INFORMATION

Report Card Dates for 2025-2026

Semester 1 Date available to Students

Quarter 1 HS/MS Progress Report Thurs, November 6, 2025

Quarter 2 HS/MS Report Cards Thurs, January 29, 2026

Semester 2

Quarter 3 HS/MS Progress Report Monday, April 13, 2026

Quarter 4 HS/MS Report Cards TBA mailed pending snow days

OCTOBER 1st at U-32 (lots happening in the HS)

9th grade field trip- more info coming from the 9th grade teams

10th gr- PreACT-

PreACT October 1, 2025 from 8:30-12:00PM at U-32

All sophomores can take the PreACT. The PreACT gives students an estimated ACT score and can be used as an indicator of college and career readiness.

11th gr- PSAT

PSAT Wednesday, October 1, 2025 from 8:15-12:15 PM at U-32

All juniors can take the PSAT. It is a practice test and scores are not reported to colleges. It allows students to become familiar with the SAT format.

12th gr- In School Field Trip

Senior In-school field trip on October 1st: (More info to come)

Workshops being offer:

Common application time

Essay feedback

FAFSA /VSAC grant application

Interviewing skills

Job Search

Resume writing

SAT / ACT Test Preparation (FREE On-line)

U-32 College Fair in the U-32 Atrium on October 7th from 1:00-1:45pm

NEACAC Fair: Saint Michael's College Tarrant Center
October 8th- 6:00pm-8:00pm over 200 colleges/universities attend

Use https://app.strivescan.com/registration to register and make your time at the college fair more efficient.

Things to Do Before Attending the College Fair

Look over the list of college fair participants. Use Naviance College Search feature to find colleges that match your interests. Choose the colleges you most want to find out more about. If you have time, research those colleges by checking their Web sites.

2. Write up a short list of questions to ask admission representatives. To compare several schools, plan on asking the same questions at each table. The questions you ask should be unique to your interests and not easily found in standard college materials:

a. What are the two or three most popular majors? (This can give you a good idea of the main interests of a majority of the students.)

b. Ask about the availability and quality of the program(s) or major(s) you are interested in. What are the opportunities for undergraduates to participate in research with faculty members or to do internships? What courses would you take your first year in a particular major?

c. Students who are undecided should ask about what services and support are available to help them explore various majors.

d. Ask about: extracurricular activities, what kinds of students the college is looking for, what percentage of students receive financial aid (not including loans), are merit scholarships available, how do they look at AP scores, and other concerns unique to your interests and situation.

3. Make sure you have the following supplies:

a. A small notebook and pen or a handheld device with your list of colleges and questions

4. Print up a sheet of self-stick address labels. Include (in small font, as much as you can of the following): your name, address, phone number, e-mail address, high school, year of graduation, intended major(s), and any extracurricular activities you’re interested in. At the fair, slap the address labels on the college information cards to save you time in filling out the same information over and over at each college. You may want to create an email account just for college purposes that you and your parents/guardians can access. You can delete the account after you choose which college to attend. Thus not cluttering your inbox!

5. After visiting the fair, jot down your impressions of some of the most interesting colleges you saw as well as some of the answers they gave to your questions. Try to do this as soon as possible, while your impressions are still fresh.

College Calendar and Checklist for Seniors (Juniors, please see the Junior planning calendar in the 11th grade PLP Course in IC)

September

September 19: Registration deadline for Oct 4 SAT www.collegeboard.com
ACT information Register atwww.actstudent.org
Make sure your schedule meets your needs. Be sure all graduation requirements are met. Maintain a rigorous program through your senior year.
Make an appointment with your counselor to discuss your postsecondary plans. Become familiar with the application procedure.
Compile / fine tune your college lists to include reach, middles & safety schools
Meet with college representatives visiting U-32
Students applying for Early Decision should approach teachers for recommendations as soon as possible.
Student athletes should check with their counselor or coach about recruiting procedures.
Seek out scholarship information and apply as appropriate.
Use Family Connection as a resource for college searches

October

October 4: SAT
October 24- Registration deadline for Nov 8 SAT
TBD: VSAC Paying for College Night

Start filling out the FAFSA (Free Application for Federal Student Aid). File VSAC application. For more information, visit fafsa.ed.gov.
Attend the VSAC presentation on filling out the FAFSA. Date TBD
FAFSA and VSAC Applications should be filed as soon as possible.
Complete CSS Profile if you haven’t already done so

ACT information
Check out commonapp.org to see which colleges accept the common application.
Meet with college representatives virtually.
Many colleges use data from CSS/Financial Aid PROFILE to provide non federal financial aid. Begin applying online at profileonline.collegeboard.com.
Finish a draft of your essay.
Ask teachers for recommendations. Have a resume to give teachers to help them out.
Heads up for Early Decision and Early Action deadlines – they usually fall on either November 1 st or 15th. Early Action deadline at UVM is November 1.
Arrange campus visits

November

November8 - SAT
SAT Reasoning & SAT Subject Tests information
ACT information
Meet with college representatives virtually.
Check with your teachers, coaches, and/or TA to ensure that letters of recommendation are sent on time.
Mail applications for colleges with “rolling” deadlines as soon as possible.
Keep polishing your essay.
Continue to attend meetings with college representations.
Check in with your counselor.
Remember; Colleges take senior grades seriously.

FIELD TRIP Opportunities

WOMEN CAN DO ANNUAL CONFERENCE PROMOTING STEM & TRADES CAREERS

OCTOBER 9th, 2025 AT VERMONT TECHNICAL COLLEGE

Women Can Do is an annual career exploration conference for high school girls and gender-expansive youth. Students are invited to Vermont Technical College in Randolph, VT for a day of hands-on exploration of STEM and trades careers, and networking with VT professionals, employers, and organizations to learn about secondary education and career opportunities in the state.

If you want to attend, please sign up in U-32 Student Services by Sept 16th

All Scholarships are available on Naviance and the scholarship list is updated weekly.

The scholarships below are accepting applications between September 4th, 2025, and December 5th, 2025. For more details about each scholarship and the eligibility requirements, read the details below carefully.

Scholarships Available

$38,000 (10 Awards)

SMART Scholarships

Deadline: December 5, 2025

For Eligibility: Click Here

$3,000 (6 Awards)

Barbara Lotze Scholarships for Future Teachers

Deadline: December 1, 2025

For Eligibility: Click Here

$1,000 (1 Award)

Duckett Local Conservation Scholarship

Deadline: October 31, 2025