Lamoille Union High School

"Building a community prepared for the choices and challenges of life."

Dear Lamoille Union Students, Families, and Caregivers,

As we move through this busy stretch leading up to winter break, I’ve had the pleasure of spending substantial time in classrooms. I continue to be impressed by the intentionality and clarity of the learning outcomes driving instruction. Our teachers are doing exceptional work crafting purposeful, thoughtfully designed learning experiences. In the photo to the right, you can see hands-on learning in action. Students in this class were fully engaged and eager to begin a cardiovascular lab during my visit to Ms. Carbine-March’s room.

One expectation that has stood out across all of my visits, and one that deserves real celebration, is our collective commitment to keeping cell phones put away for the entire school day. The impact of this practice is noticeable and overwhelmingly positive. Without phones present, students are more focused, more attentive, and more engaged in their learning and classroom communities. This shift reflects our shared dedication to academic growth, student engagement, and student wellness. Maintaining consistency is not always easy, and I am incredibly proud of the effort shown by both staff and students.

I’m looking forward to the final stretch before winter break!

Friday, December 12 - Jamtones to Madrigal Festival in Burlington

Friday, December 12 - Business Program hosts Candy Cane Lane

Monday, December 15 - through the 19 - LUHS Spirit Week

• Monday - Long Winter's Nap - Wear something cozy!
• Tuesday - Winter Wonderland Whiteout - Dress in white!
• Wednesday - Dress to Impress - Channel your New Year's sparkle!
• Thursday - Winter Wonder Hat and Hair - Go bold or go crazy!
• Friday - Ugly Sweater Day - End the week with a smile!

Wednesday, December 17 - Hyde Park Elementary Winter Concert at LUHS 5-7

Friday, December 19 - NWEA MAP Testing 9-12 with a fun winter carnival afternoon!

Monday, December 22 - NWEA MAPS Makeup

Monday, December 22 - Hot cocoa and muffins in the lobby!

Monday, December 22 - Performing Arts Community Tour

Tuesday, December 23 - NWEA MAPS Makeup

Tuesday, December 23 - Candy canes for all!

Wednesday, December 24 through Friday, January 2 - No School

Monday, January 5th - Welcome students back!

Monday, January 5th - Review of semester 2 classes (any changes need to be made in the two week window before the start of the new semester)

Friday, January 16th - Last day of Semester 1/Quarter 2

Friday, January 16th - Options Based Safety Drill: Lockdown Drill

Saturday, January 17th - LU Home Dance Competition

Monday, January 19th - No School

As a quick reminder, please use the appropriate channels to report concerns or ask any safety-related questions so that everyone in our school community knows exactly where to turn for information, support, and guidance. Below are the email addresses and phone numbers for our high school staff, including administrators and school counselors, all of whom are well-equipped to receive reports or concerns.

If you need support after hours, please review the district safety slide included below. They provide additional avenues for safety-related inquiries.

Immediate Safety Concerns

• Lamoille County Sheriff’s Department – 802-888-3502

• Emergency Services – 911

Non-Emergency School-related Contact Information

• Bethann Pirie, Principal – bpirie@lnsd.org | 802-851-1206

• Ashley Creighton, Assistant Principal – acreighton@lnsd.org | 802-851-1284

• Ian Trombulak, School Counselor – itrombulak@lnsd.org | 802-851-1210

• Noreen Hopkins, School Counselor – nhopkins@lnsd.org | 802-851-1211

• Brittany Bullard, School Counselor – bbullard@lnsd.org | 802-851-1208

Applications for Green Mountain Tech are now open! Current 10th and 11th grade students may apply using this Google Form. You can fill it out on your own, or schedule an appointment with your school counselor if you'd like support.

The application asks you to list your Top 3 program choices. Students who submit applications will be schedule for full-day visits to their first choice program. Visit days will be scheduled in December and January. Acceptance decisions are typically sent out beginning in February and continue throughout the Spring.

Please note that many GMTCC programs receive more applications than they have spots available. That means not every student who applies will be accepted. You will receive one of the following acceptance decisions:

CONDITIONAL ACCEPTANCE: This means you have been accepted into the program, and must maintain passing grades, good attendance, and a clean disciplinary record through the end of the year. GMTCC will receive end-of-year reports and they reserve the right to take away your acceptance due to any new grade, attendance, or behavioral concerns.

WAITLISTED: This means you have not been accepted, but they will consider your application again if space becomes available in the program. They will also consider you for your 2nd and 3rd choice programs.

NOT ACCEPTED: This means you have not been accepted based on GMTCC's review of your application. They will provide feedback for why you were not accepted, and will be happy to receive an application from you again the following year showing growth in the areas of concern they identified.

For more information about GMTCC and its available programs, their website is an excellent resource and you can also schedule an appointment with your school counselor!

Thank you Lancers!

Below: The LUHS chapter of the National Honor Society collected 144 toys for children in our county this holiday season which is a new school record!

Below: LUHS Lancers past and present came together to volunteer at the Johnson Jubilee! The LUHS Student Council Community Service Committee and the LUHS Volunteer Club helped at craft stations and with road crossing. It was a treat to see former teachers Doug Boardman and Chris Whitlock caroling!

Below: Our students enjoyed the (now) annual trip to Circle Strings Guitar Factory in Burlington, learning about guitar-making and the luthier business before trying out some unique and impressive instruments!

Below: Sweet creativity on display during Cupcake Wars in the FACS room!

Below: WCAX meteorologist David Busch visited the meteorology class to give a weather forecast demonstration and share his journey to becoming a meteorologist.

Below: The Prom Committee hosted a fun-filled night of ice skating at Stowe Arena!

Below: Inspiration in action! Awesome moments captured during the Art Department’s MASS MoCA trip back on Oct. 17th.

Holiday Break: Simple, Fun Ways to Connect as a Family

Holiday break offers a great opportunity to slow down, enjoy time together, and build positive memories. Simple, shared activities (whether active or cozy) can help strengthen family connections and keep kids engaged in healthy, meaningful ways. Here are a few easy ideas to try:

Festive & Creative Activities

• Bake & Decorate: Make cookies, popcorn garlands, or handmade cards and ornaments.
• Neighborhood Light Tour: Bundle up with hot cocoa for a walk or drive to see festive lights.
• Nature Crafting: Take a winter walk, collect pinecones, and make pinecone bird feeders to hang outside.

Active Outings
• Go Skating: Visit a local ice-skating rink for some movement and fun.
• Outdoor Play: Sledding, snow-fort building, or a simple winter walk can be an easy reset for everyone.

Cozy Indoor Options
• Family Movie Night: Pop popcorn and enjoy a holiday-themed movie together.
• Library Visit: Explore books, toys, or special winter programs your local library is offering.
• Reading Nook: Create a cozy blanket spot for shared reading time.
• Board Game Marathon: Pull out favorite board games for friendly competition.

Tips for Success
• Include Kids in the Prep: Let children help with decorating, cooking, or choosing activities.
• Keep It Simple: Quality time matters more than elaborate plans! Small activities often make the biggest memories.

Holiday Drinking & Parental Modeling – Screenagers:
A quick read on how parents’ modeling around alcohol during the holidays can shape kids’ understanding and help them make healthier choices. Read it here!

Resource Reshare: ParentUp & Talk They Hear You

We’re resharing these two parent-friendly tools because they continue to be some of our most helpful resources for building strong, supportive conversations at home – and could be especially helpful for the holiday season:

ParentUp has a great resource called “How Do I Prevent My Teen from Misusing Substances?” It offers simple, practical strategies for parents to help their kids make healthy choices, from safe storage to setting clear expectations and modeling positive behaviors. Check it out here!

Talk They Hear You – App:
This is one of our favorite resources for supporting conversations. The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration’s (SAMHSA) "Talk, They Hear You" campaign provides fact sheets and resources to help parents and caregivers start these important conversations with the youth in their lives. Additionally, you can explore the 5 Conversation Goals for discussing alcohol and other drugs with kids. There’s even a mobile app that you can download so you’ll have conversation starters at your fingertips!