CVU Celebrations

Dear Community,

I love CVU, but I especially love the energy of Winter Carnival—a time when our students fully embrace being kids, with uninhibited playing, laughing, and cheering. These are shared moments of joy and spirit that make our community special. Enjoy the break.

Thanks for our photographers.

CVU Blood Drive – March 13
CVU is hosting its annual blood drive on Friday, March 13, and students are encouraged to sign up and be part of this important effort. Last year, our community far surpassed its donation goals, helping provide life-saving blood to patients across Vermont. This year, we’re aiming to make an even bigger impact. Students interested in donating should click the sign-up link included in this newsletter or check their inbox for the blood drive email, which contains eligibility guidelines and detailed instructions. Every donation counts—help us make this year’s blood drive our most successful yet!

Eligibility/Sign Up Guide

Vermont Brain Bee UPDATE: We have an important addition to our previous post! A huge congratulations to Thomas Schramm for their incredible performance at the Brain Bee. We also want to apologize for the typo regarding Elle McAvey —we were just too excited to share these accomplishments! We are so proud of all our competitors.

Auf Wiedersehen, Amelie. On Tuesday this week, we said an early goodbye to Amelie Toedtheide, an exchange student from Germany, who needed to return home early than planned so that she could assist her family. Though shorter than intended, she had a wonderful experience at CVU this year, enjoying many of Vermont’s traditions and treasures, all while making many friendships and connections along the way. On her last day, she read an announcement of thanks to all of CVU, and later we held a luncheon with her closest friends.

Congratulations to the following students on their accomplishments in their technical programs!

Kenadi Mora

Program: Emergency Medical Services

Center for Technology - Essex

~2026 Vermont Presidential Scholar in Career and Technical Education

Levi Olsen

Program: Digital Media Lab

Burlington Technical Center

~2026 Honorable Mention for Vermont Presidential Scholar of the Arts
~2026 Honorable Mention for Vermont Presidential Scholar in Career & Technical Education

Travis Glock was recognized by Superintendent Bunting during Tuesday's CVSD School Board Inspirations for his advocacy early this month in Washington, DC on behalf of the Special Olympics. Adam couldn't be there in person so Meghan took the selfie for him!

On February 12, Theo Novak represented CVU at Poetry Out Loud State Semi-Finals at the Barre Opera House. Theo placed in the top 10 for our region and will compete in State Finals at the Flynn on March 5th. Congratulations, Theo!

In Chittenden Humanities, we explored the philosophy of Transcendentalism by bringing nature indoors and asking students what Truth it revealed. While, Rafi Schwetlick, our resident naturalist really vibed with the fox, our students had great insights derived from the natural world:

Shell: "A home could be anything and anywhere."

"Beauty can be found in boring or saddening places. There are two sides to everything."

Feather: "Do you have a soul? Can you fly, or just float? Are you.... carefree? Light on your feet? Going with the wind?

"In this single feather is there order? An order undeniable and real, unlike societal orders? In the parade of the fingers, there is a sense of unity. All the fingers have an origin, an origin that connect them all. The fibers are small but together they form a unit. Are we but fibers on a single feather?"

"Dear peacock, do you know how pretty you are?"

"We let go and drift away from our homes or special places to new ones with new people."

Antler: "All animals have feelings."

"Losing something can turn into something beautiful."

Plant: "Does it like being in this pot? How you doing?"

"Enduring with friends is easier than alone and endurance is all important."

"Everything is created to give us obstacles and ways to overcome them. Science solves."

Congratulations, Zoey!

Congratulations, Ben & Charlotte !

Her Education Requireds event at Wake Robin last Monday in celebrations. The girls met Madeleine Kunin, amongst other incredible women, and engaged in a discussion about the importance of women's history, and how women's rights have evolved since the 50's!

The art student's of CVU's Compass Program proudly presented portrait drawings and paintings in the Gallery Space during C3 on Wednesday. The work presented includes self-portraits, inspiring teacher portraits and artist, actor & celebrity portraits. Take a walk through and check it out!

Congratulations to Parker Chappelle and Jonah Hay who were recognized at Tuesday's CVSD Inspiration Awards for their creativity, leadership, and engagement in the CVU community.

The members of CVU's Harkness Leadership Club are beginning their journey into group facilitation over the next several months, and to model strong, student-led discussion, expert facilitators Ethan St. Amour (junior) and Emma Jean Armstrong (senior) volunteered their time to show the crew how it's done.

Are you interested in having the 10th graders model a Harkness for your students? Reach out to Brad Miller, Katie Mack, or Molly Tonino to schedule them.

In Theatre Club, led by Marin Walsh and Harrison Melo, students play improvisation games.

English students review grammar concepts with a friendly Cumulative Sentence Competition.

Modern Band

This week the Women in Business Club hosted guest speaker Caroline Corrente, owner and founder of Haymaker Buns. She shared her story or how, after attending pastry school in Paris, she returned to Vermont to found her business. She explained how, what started with her selling her pastries at local farmers markets (while wearing her new baby), has grown into a multi-location restaurant with 40 employees! Their products aren't just available in-stores either, as you can find their frozen four-packs in nearly 40 locations (and growing!) across New England and New York. We enjoyed hearing her incredible story of entrepreneurship.

Spirit Week dress as teachers, dress as students

Thank you to Heather and Colleen for all you do to keep the DC running smoothly. We appreciate you .

Voting Information & Proposed FY27 CVSD Budget

On or before Tuesday, March 3, 2026 — Town Meeting Day — voters will consider one budget for all public schooling in Champlain Valley School District (CVSD). On January 20, the CVSD School Board approved a $107.9M FY27 budget to support and operate the district.

Learn more about the budget in this recent budget presentation and at www.cvsdvt.org/budget

Early and absentee voting is available now: Request a ballot at your town office or online at sos.vermont.gov/elections.

On Tuesday, March 3, the following polling places are open from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. Day-of voter registration is available at all polling places.

Charlotte - Charlotte Town Hall
Hinesburg - Hinesburg Town Hall
Shelburne - Shelburne Town Center, Gymnasium
Williston - Williston Armory
St. George - St. George Town Hall

Celebrate and support the CVU Unified Basketball team this season by making

a purchase from JV Embroidery. The store is open through March 1st.

https://cvuunifiedsports2026.itemorder.com/shop/sale/

The Carpenter-Carse Library Art Night Benefit!

Dress up, bring a date (or a friend!), and celebrate the Carpenter-Carse Library at our first annual Art Night Benefit on Saturday, March 14, at the Hinesburg Town Hall. This festive evening will feature local art, light refreshments, and great company, all in support of expanding a beloved community space!

Your ticket admits two guests and includes a raffle entry. When your number is called, you’ll select a piece of original art to take home! All artwork has been generously donated by local artists and may include paintings, drawings, textiles, clay, or wood. Everyone leaves with art.

When: March 14, 2026 | 6–8 PM

Where: Hinesburg Town Hall Community Space

Cost: $100 per ticket (admits two people and includes one art raffle entry)

Tickets are available at the Carpenter-Carse Library front desk or online here:

https://www.jotform.com/form/260223347657054

All proceeds benefit the Carpenter-Carse Library community room expansion.

Hosted by the Friends of the Carpenter-Carse Library.

We’re entering the final week of our No Hassle fundraiser, and we’re still not quite at the finish line. To fully support all planned student travel opportunities, we’re aiming to reach $20,000 by the end of 2/20—and we need your help to get there!

Every dollar goes directly to students, helping them access real‑world learning experiences that expand their horizons and strengthen their education. Your support today helps make those opportunities possible.

If donating has been on your mental to‑do list, now’s the perfect moment. Truly—every gift, big or small, brings us closer to our goal.

Let’s come together for this final push.
Can we raise $20,000? With our community behind us, absolutely.

Donate here: https://www.paypal.com/donate?campaign_id=V4LHA2JEGT2HQ

Thank you for showing up for our students and helping us make these experiences accessible to all.

NEWS:

• Penguin Plunge: Looking to support our community and have some fun? Sign up to participate in and fundraise for the Penguin Plunge. Brave the cold and take the plunge on Saturday, March 14th at the Burlington Waterfront at 11am. This event helps raise money for Special Olympics Vermont and Unified programming. Check your email for a link to sign up today!

DIRECTION CENTER:

*CVU will offer the SAT to all Juniors on Friday, March 27th. If your child will NOT be taking the SAT, please complete this Google form as soon as possible and we will not purchase one for them. If your child WILL be taking the SAT, nothing further needs to be done. They will automatically be scheduled for the test. If you have any questions, please contact your school counselor.

*VSAC’s College & Career Pathways Program (CCP): The CCP Family Event is Saturday, March 14 at the UVM Davis Center and via Zoom. After the event, the video of the presentation will also be available on the CCP website and YouTube channel. Register for this event at vsac.org/ccp