Lamoille Union High School

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

Dear Lamoille Union Students, Families, and Caregivers,

As we enter the week before our November break, I want to share my appreciation for the strong momentum we’ve built so far this year. We began the year grounded in our three community agreements: respect is non-negotiable, academics matter, and we are a cell phone and substance-free campus. These agreements have guided our positive start and will continue to shape our daily work. We intentionally look for opportunities to revisit these expectations, stay consistent, and celebrate when students meet them, which they have done remarkably well this fall.

Celebrating Success - On Friday, we gathered as a whole school to do exactly that. We celebrated the incredible fall musical, which continues to receive enthusiastic praise from our community, and we recognized the academic success of Quarter 1. Students who prioritized their academics were entered into a drawing to spin our prize wheel and be celebrated in front of their peers. We also added a few “Minute to Win It” games, bringing plenty of laughter to the afternoon.

Community Forum - Last week, I also had the pleasure of attending the community forum focused on next year’s budget. Community members engaged in thoughtful dialogue as we reviewed the results of our community survey, which had a record number of responses. The top priorities that emerged were instruction and classroom resources, student support services, and co-curricular programming. Gathering this feedback is invaluable as we begin planning for the upcoming year. If you did not have a chance to complete the survey but would like to share feedback or insight about what matters most to your family, please know you can always reach out to me. Your voices help guide us and ensure we are meeting the needs of all students.

If I don’t get the chance to see you or speak with you this week, I hope you enjoy the upcoming break!

Week of Monday, November 17 - Student Council Pie Drive

Tuesday, November 18 - National Honor Society Induction Ceremony

Wednesday, November 19 - MS/HS Music Concert

Friday, November 21 - Scholars Bowl to Spaulding 2:45 pm

Saturday, November 22 - Dance Company to Lyndon Institute for VT State Dance Fest

Saturday, November 22 - Ice Skating Fundraiser (Prom) Jackson Arena 6-7 pm

Monday, November 24 through Friday, November 30 - No School

Tuesday, December 2 - 10th Grade Class Meeting 1:10 pm

Thursday, December 4 - Early Dismissal 11:00 am/Parent Teacher Conferences (see below)

Friday, December 5 - No School/Professional Development

Saturday, December 6 - Winter Craft and Vendor Sale GMTCC 10-3

Tuesday, December 9 - Guitar Classes to Circle Strings Guitar Factory

Wednesday, December 10 - Winter Dance Recital @ 7:00

Thursday, December 11 - Math Team to Vergennes.

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

Tuesday, December 23 - NWEA MAPS Makeup

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

On Thursday, December 4th, LUHS will have an early release day with a dismissal time of 11:00 a.m. That afternoon, we will be meeting with parents and caregivers who would like to conference with their student’s teacher(s).

If you would like to schedule a conference, please call Christine Cooney at 802-851-1203. The deadline to schedule is Monday, December 1st. Conferences will be held on December 4th after students are dismissed.

When calling to schedule, please be prepared with:

• The name(s) of the teacher(s) or school counselor you wish to meet with

• Whether you prefer a phone call or in-person meeting

Shoutout to the incredible cast, crew, and band of Chicago: Teen Edition! Not only did they deliver three stellar performances that earned rave reviews, but they also shared their talent with our middle school and two elementary schools. Congratulations to everyone involved for bringing this phenomenal production to life!

This photo features the talented students who brought this year’s Haunted High, LUHS Midnight Prom, to life. Their hard work, creativity, and commitment made the event a memorable success. Thank you to everyone who came out to support the Performing Arts Club!

Volunteering opportunities are everywhere, and Senior Aaliyah Adams jumped right in! Aaliyah volunteered to clean out the social studies storage area, tackling a collection of materials spanning more than 30 years. She dedicated 15 hours over the course of a month to complete the project. Huge shoutout to Aaliyah for her hard work, initiative, and commitment to helping our school!

It was an exceptional fall season at LUHS! The girls soccer program hosted two home playoff games and advanced to the semifinals, while the boys soccer team hosted a home playoff game and enjoyed a season full of success. Both JV soccer teams also had fantastic seasons. Support for the program runs deep, as both JV and varsity teams drew large crowds and created an incredible school spirit atmosphere at every game.

Bass fishing earned a 3rd place finish at States, and the golf team had a historic five-match winning season. Football had a very successful season and hosted a home playoff game. Cross country had a fun and competitive season, highlighted by Hailey Porter, who qualified for the New England Championships after finishing 2nd at the Division 2 State Championship.

As we take a few weeks off and prepare for our winter sports season just ahead, we look forward to building on this energy and continuing to celebrate the achievements of our student-athletes.

Scholars Bowl is alive and well at Lamoille! Our teams have been hard at work sharpening their knowledge, teamwork, and quick-thinking skills. In this photo, Lamoille Team A and Lamoille Team B face off, building confidence and strategy. We are incredibly grateful for our dedicated advisor, Chris Bologna, Social Studies teacher, whose enthusiasm and leadership keep the club thriving.

On November 4th, I attended the Statewide Strategic Planning Retreat in Killington, where educators and state leaders explored potential updates to Vermont’s graduation requirements. After the Agency of Education released its follow-up survey, our leadership team met to provide thoughtful feedback that will help shape the state’s next steps. We left the conversation feeling well-positioned with our current model and requirements, and regardless of where the state goes, this was a powerful discussion as we think deeply about what it means to be a graduate of Lamoille Union High School.

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!

Truth Initiative has a great article, “8 Foods and Drinks That Could Help People Quit Nicotine.” It highlights how certain foods—like fruits, vegetables, milk, and cinnamon sticks—can reduce cravings and support people through withdrawal. It’s a simple, science-backed resource families can share with youth or loved ones who are trying to quit. Read the article here