CVU Celebrations

Dear Community,

I’m stepping in for Principal Riley with this week’s Celebrations opener. While I don’t get to spend as much time at CVU as I used to, I had the chance to participate in two meaningful events this week: chaperoning a Harkness field trip to Harwood and attending the Gone Guys film and panel last night. Both experiences left me thinking about student leadership: the assumptions we make about who leaders are and the assumptions we make about what leadership looks like. Too often, we highlight the wrong things, focusing on accomplishment and title instead of the kind of impactful leadership I saw this week. What I witnessed were students building a culture where they used their voices and their kindness to invite vulnerability and bravery from one another. They listened intently seeking and valuing perspectives that differed from their own. So thank you, students, for reminding me what leadership looks like…that it is often at its best when it is simple and human, and that everyone has the agency to create change. I hope you always know how powerful you are!

Adam Bunting

One of our CVU Seniors, Kenadi Mora, attends the Emergency Medical Services Program at The Center for Technology - Essex. Kenadi is graduating with more than 30 college credits and has been selected as one of Vermont’s 2026 Presidential Scholars in Career and Technical Education, an honor given to students who demonstrate outstanding leadership, achievement, and perseverance in technical education.

Please see her WCAX interview here.

CVU Latin Students traveled to UVM for the 48th Annual Latin Day on Tuesday. Participants performed in skits, attended workshops, heard the spoken Latin language, sang and enjoyed time together outside of school. This year's theme was Heroes, Feats and Journeys and CVU focused our skit on the heroes that attempted fate by visiting the Underworld. It was extra nice to have some CVU alumni and alumnae (now UVM students) join in on the celebrations and support their fellow Latin peers.

Pictures include members preparing for the skit, the obligatory toga wrapping, and some team building game during a break.

Gavin Terry helping to keep the residents at Shelburne Farms warm in the colder months. Gavin will be helping to stack a load of wood with his cousin, a CVU Grad (1998), Jeremy Bessett.

The CVU Men’s Mental Health Club partnered with Connecting Youth mentoring programs to sponsor a well attended showing of the film Gone Guys in the CVU Theater on Thursday, April 2.
Filmed in Vermont, this documentary sheds light on the challenges boys and men face in our communities, as well as programs that are working to reengage them.
William Wallace, student leader of the CVU Men’s Mental Health Club, did a wonderful job introducing the film and leading a panel discussion that included Wesley Moriarty (CVU senior), Adam Bunting (CVSD Superintendent), Jim Hyde (Community Mentor), and Matt Meunier (SAP Counselor).
The discussion was thoughtful and inspirational.
Thanks to everyone who made this event possible and especially to those that attended.

The CVU GSA club initiated a letter writing campaign on Tuesday, March 31st (Transgender Day of Visibility) to request support from local legislators for pro-trans school policies.

Members of the CVU Volunteer Outreach Club and their friends are participating in the Spectrum Student SleepOut on Friday April 3rd. This annual event helps to raise money for Spectrum Youth Services. Our goal is to raise $5000 this year. Your donation will give youth access to a warm meal, a safe place to sleep, counseling, mentoring, and coaching on life and job skills. Donations help keep Spectrum's doors open for the next teenager or young adult who needs help.

If you'd like to make a donation to our team page please use this link! Thank you for making sure teens and young adults in our community will get help when they need it most!

French 2 students in Lianna Reed's classes are learning about Francophone artists and this week we learned about the impressionists. Students used oil pastels to recreate two impressionist paintings. Mont Saint Victoire by Paul Cézanne and Les Nymphéas by Claude Monet.

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Students participating in the DREAM Guided Mentoring program attended a retreat at Camp DREAM in East Fairfield, Vermont, focused on team building, goal setting, and mentorship development. The program equips CVU students with the skills and support needed to foster meaningful relationships with their elementary-aged peers in the CVSD.

The Harkness Leadership club had its annual spring field trip to Harwood Union High School for a morning of inter-school discussion. It's always one of the loveliest parts of 2nd semester for that group.

A hike and a tasty treat to close out our year together in advisory! Thanks to Elle McAvey, Story Holmes, Laura Clouatre, Josh Kalbfleisch, and Aubree St. Amour for taking the trip.

NEXUS Projects in full swing, these are just a few of many!!

Small Boat Restoration (Bennett Hanson), Preschool Math at The Homestead Preschool (Lexi OHara), Temperature Effects on Coral Reefs (Phoebe Gignoux), and Restoration of a 1920's Saxophone (Finn Cray-Buddington)

Principles of Business is a year-long introduction to business class open to students in any grade. During the spring semester students work in teams to form their own micro-businesses to practice what they’ve been working on and learn about entrepreneurship. All proceeds from their sales go toward a non-profit their team has chosen to support. This week we’re featuring three of our teams who are producing products and ready to accept orders! Please consider supporting these students, their businesses and their entrepreneurship education!

The Small Works is a CVU microbusiness run by Natalie Berman, Ethan Richardson, Sadie Perocchi and Amrie Millette dedicated to making fun and fashionable wristlets and lip balm holder keychains for your keys, wallet, or bag. We sell each of our items in three different patterns: camo, cheetah print, and polka dot. We sell our lip balm holders and wristlet separately and as a bundle, and each lip balm holder purchased comes with a lip balm! All proceeds go to HOPE Works Vermont, which helps assault survivors. Go to this link to order! Thank you for supporting us!

Wick & Wonder, a student‑run candle created by Emma Cote, Anika Zimakas, Sophia Zada-Silva & Brianna Cepana. Our company is excited to offer two lavender‑scented candles. Choose our classic candle for $20, or make it personal with our $25 customizable candle, which features a printed photo of your pet. The customizable candle is more than just a fun keepsake—it celebrates the animals we love while directly supporting those still waiting for homes. Since all proceeds are donated to the Humane Society of Chittenden County, every candle helps provide care, shelter, and second chances for local pets in need. For more information, or to place an order contact Anika Zimakas anikazimakas@cvsdvt.org

Community Field Project & Turf Information Sessions

Next week, two information sessions will be hosted related to the proposed field at CVU. While neither event is sponsored by CVSD, this potential project impacts and involves our community. These events are open to all who are excited, concerned, or just curious.

Community Field Project – April 8, CVU Library, 6-7 p.m.

Responsible Growth Hinesburg – April 10, 7-8:30 p.m., Carpenter-Carse Library, 7-8:30 p.m.

Charlotte Central School & Very Merry Theatre proudly present The SpongeBob Musical

Friday, April 10 at 6:30 PM
Saturday, April 11 at 4 PM

Tickets: By donations in any amount at the door.

https://www.mynbc5.com/article/nbc5-in-depth-cvu-educators-work-to-make-ai-a-helpful-and-not-harmful-tool-for-students/70888029

Early College Flye

Congratulations to our Semester 1 Honor Roll students.

3rd Annual CVU Empty Bowls Dinner & Silent Auction

Thursday, April 9

6:00-8:00 PM

CVU High School

This annual event brings community members together for a simple meal with a powerful purpose. Each ticket includes a handmade ceramic bowl (thanks to our team of CVU pottery students and community members, along with a dinner of homemade soups, artisan bread, and ice-cream.

Tickets are limited to 250 this year and will sell out! Advance purchase is required—tickets will not be available at the door.

Hello Rising Juniors!

If you'll have your license by December 31, 2026, you can enter the Junior Parking lottery.

Here's the timeline:

May 4 ~ Applications available in the Main Office

May 15 ~ Applications due by 3:30pm

May 18 ~ Lottery results announced; posted outside Main Office

Lottery drawing

Completed applications are placed in a box, shuffled, and randomly drawn.

We'll draw 135 for the spots available. These students can buy a pass in August ($50).

Waiting List

The remaining students will be put on a waiting list in the order their application was drawn.
If a spot frees up, it will go to the first person on the waiting list and so on.

2nd Lottery for Senior Lot

In August, there's a 2nd lottery where 15-20 applications from the original 135 will be drawn. These students will get to park in the Senior Lot.

Church Lot Lottery

If you end up on the CVU waiting list, you can try for a spot at the Church (40 spaces).

Their lottery will open after May 18. Parking permits cost $50.

If you have any questions, please come by the Main Office.

Thank you,

Jacqui

NEWS:

• The date for the Spring Fling Dance (Grades 9 & 10) is now Friday, May 8th.
• CVU Theater: Get your tickets now to the Senior Directed One Act Plays! Come experience the tragic love story of Romeo & Juliet and the hilarious “retelling” of Shakespeare’s 37 plays, The Complete Works of Shakespeare (Abridged). Shows are Fri & Sat, April 10th & 11th at 7pm and Sunday, April 12th at 1pm. Adults $10 / Students $7.
• CVU Summer Camp is now hiring for this summer! Go to cvusummercamp.cvuhs.org/apply to apply!
• The New American Outreach Club is holding a drive to support our local immigrant families. We’re collecting non-perishable food items and gift cards to local grocery stores. Donations can be dropped off in the Direction Center or Main Office. Thank you for your support!
• The University of Vermont is inviting students to attend a Healthcare Career Fair. If you're interested or wondering about a career in healthcare, you should attend! The fair is Wednesday, April 15; the group will depart CVU at 1pm, returning by 3pm. For more information or to sign-up, please contact Hannah Carey or swing by Nexus in Room 120.

DIRECTION CENTER:

Juniors: If you’re interested in applying to any of the following colleges/universities next year, these schools are currently accepting nominations for scholarship opportunities (for Juniors): Clarkson University; Hobart and William Smith College; Lasell University; Rochester Institute of Technology; Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute; Russell Sage College; Saint Michael’s College. Awards range from $1000 to a full scholarship for all four years of college. If interested in receiving CVU’s nomination for a scholarship from any of the above colleges, please complete this application. Completed applications are due by Friday, April 3, at 3:15 pm.