CVU Celebrations

Dear Community,

Some days tug at the heartstrings more than others, and Exit Experience Presentation Day is undoubtedly one of them. Listening to our seniors speak authentically about their growth, challenges, and aspirations fills me with profound hope. These thoughtful, creative, and caring young adults are ready to head out and do incredible good in our communities.

To our seniors: you made your parents, caregivers, teachers, classmates and principal extremely proud today. Thank you for sharing your journeys with us. You reminded us what it means to reflect deeply, to take ownership of your story, and to step forward with purpose. It is a privilege to witness who you have become—and who you are continuing to be.

The student directed CVU one acts were fabulous.

Semester 1 Environmental Literature students had their art in the Climate Creative Pop-up Art Exhibition at Shelburne Farms' Coach Barn on April 17th. These students included Annabel Johnson, Grady Falkenbush, Elle McAvey, Deidre Higgins, Rachel McLaughlin, Amelia LaMothe, and Penelope Hoehn.

Astraea Garcia-Derbes, has had their artwork awarded the Chittenden County Winner prize in the Congressional Art Competition!

The Congressional Art Competition Gallery Showing & Awards Ceremony will be this Friday, May 1st at VSU Johnson. The Gallery Event will be at the Visual Arts Center, and the Award Ceremony will be at the Dibden Center for the Arts.

• 10:00am - 10:45am – Art Showcase in Visual Arts Center – 337 College Hill, Johnson, VT 05656
• 11:00am-12:00pm - Congressional Art Competition Award Ceremony and Student Q&A with Congresswoman Balint at to the Dibden Center for the Arts - 200 S Pond Rd parking, Johnson, VT 05656

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BTC Digital Media Lab and Design & Illustration student work is on display at Main Street Landing at 1 Main St. in downtown Burlington, the location of the old train terminal. The work will remain on display until June 3. If you happen to be downtown, stop in and admire the incredible work that our CVU students are doing. Many pieces are available for sale.

The Scholastic Art & Writing Awards is a prestigious national recognition program for aspiring visual artists and writers. Each year, students in grades 7-12 are invited to submit art and writing in dozens of categories, including ceramics, digital art, painting, photography, poetry, science fiction, personal essay/memoir, and more. Submissions are judged on a statewide level, with the top award winners then considered for national awards, including college scholarships, museum exhibitions, and publication opportunities.

BTC Scholastic Art & Writing Award Recipients -

Levi Olsen, CVU, Gold Key, Photography

Astraea Garcia Derbes, CVU, Silver Key & Honorable Mention, Painting

Maya Giangregorio, CVU, Silver Key, Illustration

Anderson Howard, CVU, Silver Key & Honorable Mention, Drawing

Lio Miller, CVU, Honorable Mention, Digital Painting, Drawing, & Collage

6 CVU students: Lio Miller, Eva Fewell, Myrrh Pitkin, Eloise Glascoe, Renee Rodney and Ace Garcia-Derbs had their art work selected for the Congressional Art show and displayed at the VT State University at Johnson. Congratulations to Lio and Astrea for winning Judges Choice and Chittenden County respectively. Their artwork will be displayed at Congresswoman Becca Balint’s office for a year!

CVU junior Brady Driver was recognized as the 5th place finisher statewide in the annual Talent Search put on by the Vermont State Mathematics Coalition. The Talent Search is a series of four sets of challenging math problems. As a result of his performance, Brady will attend the American Regions Math League championship held at Penn State as a member of the Vermont Math All Stars.

CVU teacher Kiran MacCormick directs the Talent Search program.

This past Sunday the Shothawks, 10 student shooters, 5 parents and 4 coaches were at Minute Man shotgun club in Burlington, Mass. for the SCTP state shoot. The kids did well, were a pleasure to be with, parents were appreciative of the program and everyone enjoyed a tailgate lunch, followed by the awards ceremony.

CVU senior soloist Yvonne Miceler's interview with the VYO.

Woohoo! 😊 Elle McAvey recently took part in the USA National Brain Bee competition at UC Irvine. We hear that she represented CVU very well!

https://mailchi.mp/f49dc14dab65/2025-usa-brain-bee-13911395?e=77a85eec82

Amelie Fairweather won the AI and Impact Symposium on Wednesday! Students from schools around Vermont pitched projects using AI tools. One of the challenges was to use AI to help solve a problem that would help the community. Amelie created Weatherbird - an App that would improve safety on the roads during storms. You can see her project pitch here:

Weatherbird Pitch Deck

Lizz and Henry's C3 students picked up trash along CVU Road in anticipation of Green Up Vermont Day, which falls on Saturday, May 2nd. We filled an entire bag before we even reached the 116 intersection! If you'd like to help beat last year's record (427 tons of trash), visit greenupvermont.org to find details for your town.

CVU Students in Latin and Art classes traveled to Italy over April break and spent 12 days exploring the country. Students wandered archaeological sites reading inscriptions and toured museums admiring Renaissance artists. We took a cooking class, hiked Mt. Vesuvius, and did some sketching while practicing their language skills. We are proud of their problem solving skills, patience with long travel days, and their ability to drag their luggage through cobbled stone streets.

This summer we will be offering a few learning opportunities in July. Click here to see what is available!

These courses will only run if enrollment is adequate. The abbreviated summer schedule means students must attend all class meetings to earn credit for the course. We will confirm that sections are running in late May so students can plan their summer.

Please register for summer courses using this link.

REGISTRATION FOR SUMMER ACADEMY IS OPEN THROUGH MAY 8th.

My name is Zoe Epstein and I am the president of the Vermont Learners Association a student-run nonprofit organization working "to understand and amplify the voices of Vermont students." We are hosting our first Student Voice Conference on Saturday, May 9th from 2-5 pm at Champlain Valley Union High School in the Library, and we would love to see you there. The doors will open at 1:45 pm and the conference will begin promptly at 2:00 pm. We will have an opening ceremony with speakers, two workshop blocks where students, administrators, educators, parents, and decision makers can learn how to thoughtfully seek out student perspectives, through curriculum, policy, and practice changes. Through hands-on workshops, discussions, and panels we aim to make the day as interactive as possible. The event will end with a closing ceremony and student club/group information fair. Please extend this invitation to anyone you believe would be interested. You can register here and learn more through the flyer attached below!

Please reach out with any questions at vermontlearnersassociationcorp@gmail.com

CVU Juniors and Seniors! We are thrilled to celebrate this year's Prom at the historic Coach Barn at Shelburne Farms! To ensure a smooth and magical evening for everyone, please click the link to review the following details regarding our venue and arrival procedures. Contact Mark Pogact at mpogact@cvsdvt.org for questions.

On Tuesday, April 28, the CVU Library hosted a poetry reading in celebration of the 30th anniversary of National Poetry Month. The reading included poets Bethany Breitland (Fire Index, CVU parent), Lizzy Fox Lausier (Red List Blue,CVU English teacher), Kerrin McCadden (American Wake and Landscape with Plywood Silhouettes, parent of CVU grad), and Meg Reynolds (most recent release Condition, published in April 2026). Following the recitations, students engaged in a Q&A session with our guests, gaining insights into the creative processes, inspirations, and other words of wisdom. A big thank you to all the students and classes in attendance and an especially big thank you to Bethany, Lizzy, Kerrin and Meg for their generosity in sharing their time, passion, and literary talent with the CVU community!

From: Christina Daudelin

Voices of the Valley: A Celebration of Language & Culture

On the evening of Wednesday, May 6, join us for a celebration of language and culture from across CVSD. Voices of the Valley brings together our community to learn about the languages spoken in CVSD through food, music and activities.

Learn greetings, songs and proverbs in Swahili, Spanish, Marathi, and Arabic at this interactive cultural event. Join us!

Wednesday, May 6, 5-7 p.m.
CVU Library

Principles of Business is a year-long introduction to business class. During the spring semester students work in teams to form their own microbusinesses to practice what they’ve been working on and learn about entrepreneurship. All proceeds from their sales go to a non-profit they’ve chosen. Please consider supporting these students, their businesses and their entrepreneurship education!

CVU Scents: Gabe Milne, Reese Kingsbury, Eliza Mulvey, Sawyer Lake. Our group is making natural fragrances from a blend of high quality essential oils. We have two signature scents available for purchase; Orange & Incense (citrus, blood orange, lavender, jasmine), and Midnight Mocha (cocoa, coffee, tonka, tobacco). The scents come in 5ml roll-on bottles for $10 per bottle. Orders can be placed through our order form and any questions can be directed to gabrielmilne@cvsdvt.org. All profits from our micro-business will be donated to COTS homeless shelter in Burlington.

CVU Sticks is excited to announce a new fundraiser in support of A NEW Place, a local non-profit dedicated to helping those in our community find stable housing and support. You can show your school spirit and support a great cause by purchasing our high-quality CVU gear: Bumper Sticker: $5 CVU Car Magnet: $10 Every purchase goes directly toward supporting the vital work of A NEW Place. Thank you for helping us make a difference! Order Form Thank You, Levi Thompson, Monty Caldwell, Harrison Whitman, Gavin Dunn

CVU Lenses Want a way to support CVU and keep the sun out of your eyes? CVU Lenses are student‑made sunglasses, only $5, and 100% of the profits go to local food shelves. They’re great for games, walking between classes, or just being outside. Grab a pair if you want something useful that also helps the community. Purchase @: https://tally.so/r/dWl8vq

Wick & Wonder, a student‑run candle created by Emma Cote, Anika Zimakas, Sophia Zada-Silva & Brianna Cepana. Our company is excited to offer 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. There's a limited number of candles left, so place your order before they're sold out! For more information, or to place an order contact Anika Zimakas anikazimakas@cvsdvt.org

Fidget Flow is a CVU microbusiness created by Addy Smith, Giovanni Gomes, Caio Newitt, and Kendall Fagnant. Our goal is to provide fidgets that serve as the perfect tool to relieve stress and keep your hands busy. We offer three models: the Flip Chip, the Spinner Fidget, and the Multi-Fidget. All proceeds go directly to the National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) Vermont, helping support mental health awareness. If you are interested in purchasing a fidget, please visit our link to order. For any further questions, feel free to reach out to us at addisonsmith@cvsdvt.org. Thank you for supporting our business and mental health advocacy!

FROM SEEDS:

It's that time of year again...the SEEDS Annual Plant Sale!

Thanks to the generosity of many, over the last few years we were able to raise enough money from our plant sale to buy each member of SEEDS a hoodie sweatshirt to promote a sense of community and belonging for BIPOC students at CVU. We also use the money for field trips like ice skating, bowling and our annual luncheon to celebrate our graduating seniors, some of whom have been SEEDS members since their 9th-grade year. Please consider purchasing a plant (or many plants) to support this amazing group of students and their CVU goals.

We have 4" pots of basil, mini sunflowers or zinnias for $5 each. Please fill out this order form to purchase/reserve your plants. You can also buy directly from students during lunch blocks if that's more fun!

We would like to thank Dave Trevithick, Carly Brown and Michelle PInaud for their insight and plant care over April break!

One last thing, these plants have not been hardened off, so if you're unsure how to do it, follow these instructions before planting.

NEWS:

• The Grade 9 & 10 Spring Fling Dance is Friday, May 8th in the Cafeteria from 7-10pm. Tickets are on sale in House Offices. The cost is $10. Cash or checks are accepted.
• AP Exams will be held May 4-15. No announcements will be made while students are testing.
• The Fitness Center will be closed on Friday, May 1st.
• Junior & Senior Prom is Saturday, May 23rd at the Shelburne Farms Coach Barn from 7-10pm. Join us for an unforgettable night of music, dance and celebration! Tickets are $30 and will be sold in House Offices starting Monday, May 4th. Cash or checks are accepted.
• Summer Academy: This summer we will offer a few learning opportunities in July. Click here to see what is available! These courses will only run if enrollment is adequate. The abbreviated summer schedule means you must attend all class meetings to earn credit for the course. You can register for summer courses using this link. Registration is open through Friday, May 8.
• Spring has sprung, CVU! With spring comes the annual DANCE OF COLORS, a school dance hosted by GSA (Gender & Sexuality Alliance)! Everyone is invited to this fun, unique night to celebrate the end of the school year, let loose with friends, and dance your stress away! It’s Saturday, May 2nd from 7-9pm in Room 160. FREE - no tickets required.
• The first annual CVU Senior Art Show is now on display at the Pierson Library in Shelburne. There are 13 student artists showing drawings, paintings, digital works and photography. The show runs through the first week of June. Stop by and check it out!