Dear U-32 Families, Students, and Caregivers,

Our school and district are committed to fostering inclusivity, centering humanity and justice, and affirming our commitment to community. We will continue to do so and to practice the policies and procedures we have in place.

Our young people are deeply aware of the national discourse surrounding the many Executive Orders that have been published over the last two weeks and their impacts on schools and our communities. As educators, our role has been, and always will be, to help students understand, navigate and critically engage with the complexities of our democratic processes while ensuring that our schools remain places of safety and belonging.

A remarkable example of the uplifting hope ever present in our community is Hadestown. This incredible collaboration between multiple communities by adults and young people has made our stage come alive these past two weekends. With all the complexities of the world around, the play, its playwright, the actors and crew, remind us that spring will return "to us with... enough to share...Asking nothing in return except that we should live, And learn to live as brothers in this life And to trust she will provide And if no one takes too much, there will always be enough She will always fill our cups And we will always raise them up To the world we dream about, and the one we live in now" (from Livin' it Up on Top, Hadestown).

Best,

Becca

Photo credit: Django Matchstick

School Counselors Celebrate During National School Counseling Week, Feb. 3–7, 2025

National School Counseling Week 2025, “School Counseling: Helping Students Thrive,” sponsored by the American School Counselor Association (ASCA), will be celebrated from Feb. 3–7, 2025, to focus public attention on the unique contribution of school counselors within U.S. school systems and how students are different as a result of what school counselors do. National School Counseling Week highlights the tremendous impact school counselors can have in helping students achieve school success and plan for a career.

At U-32, we want to thank school counselors for being actively engaged in helping our students examine their abilities, strengths, interests and talents; for working in a partnership with parents as they encounter the challenges of raising children in today’s world; for focusing on positive ways to enhance students’ academic, career and social/emotional development; and working with teachers and other educators to provide an educational system where students can realize their potential and set healthy, realistic and optimistic aspirations for themselves. Our school counselors are certified, experienced educators with a master’s degree in school counseling. The combination of their training and experience makes them an integral part of the total educational program.

As part of our celebration for National School Counseling Week at U-32, we would like to encourage parents and students to share a short and quick SHOUT OUT to their U-32 school counselor by filling out this 2 question form. Responses will be shared with our school counselors!

Our fabulous team of school counselors:

As in previous years, our school board has chosen to participate in the Winooski Valley Regional Public School Choice Collaborative for 2025-2026. Through this program and the state school choice program, students may apply to go to any public high school in Vermont at no cost. The Vermont Legislature passed a law in May 2012 (Act 129, Sec. 34. § 822d 2A) which allows high school students to apply through school choice to any public high school in Vermont. This law sets rules for school districts regarding the number of entering and exiting student slots allowed through school choice. Students are chosen by lottery from all the applicants for each school district based on the number of open slots. You may view school choice information at the Vermont Agency of Education website:

http://education.vermont.gov/vermont-schools/school-operations/public-schools/public-high-school-choice.

If your student is interested in attending a high school outside of your district next year, please contact U-32 Student Services to obtain a school choice application by calling 802-229-0322 or emailing tmartin@u32.org. Completed applications must be received in Student Services by Friday, February 21, 2025. You will be informed of the outcome of the lottery by April 1, 2025. You will need to confirm whether your student will accept or decline the placement by April 15, 2025. If you do not confirm placement by this date, your slot may be given to another student if the school has a waiting list. If you have any questions, please call Tracy Martin at 802-229-0322 or email tmartin@u32.org.

**Parents are responsible for providing their student's transportation if they are chosen.**

NEACAC announces its Annual Essay Contest for high school juniors and seniors (grades 11 and 12). High school juniors and seniors from NEACAC-member high schools in Connecticut, Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Rhode Island, and Vermont are invited to submit a 500-word essay on the following topic:

Describe a trusted mentor (counselor, teacher, coach, or peer) who has had the greatest impact on your decision to attend college.

A panel of high school counselors and college admissions officers from NEACAC-member institutions will select the winning essays. Essays will be evaluated holistically, taking into consideration factors such as originality, creativity, focus, clarity, and structure. Priority will be given to applicants who hold an identity that has been historically excluded from higher education.

In addition to the $1000 scholarship awarded to the 6 New England state winners, NEACAC will award one overall winner a $2,000 scholarship.

For more information and to apply, click here. For additional writing guidelines, click here. The deadline for submission is April 1, 2025.

Montpelier’s Basement Teen Center:

The BTC is a drop-in space that welcomes all folks ages 12-17.

We have games, art and craft supplies, computers, hang-out space, and FOOD!

Come participate, or just hang out with friends, meet new friends, and grab a snack.

The BTC is for everyone, and there’s never a fee.

LGBTQIA, BIPOC, and you are welcome at the BTC!

Open every Thursday 3-6, and every Friday 3-8, in the ‘Cardboard Teck Instantute’ space on Barre St.

Learn more at basementteencenter.org, or on Instagram at the_btc_123

We are a group of blind and low vision students from Vermont and surrounding areas discussing going to school as a blind student, discussing hobbies, adaptive sports, etc. We’re a space for people to meet a community of other blind students and also gain resources of how to thrive as a student in the classroom. With the support of the National Federation of the Blind of Vermont, we are building a network where students can ask about challenges they face and gain knowledge and camaraderie through this community.

We have an upcoming virtual meeting on Saturday, February 1st at 4pm. If you would like the zoom link, please reach out to Mae Lane-Karnas, blindtwigs@gmail.com or text/call 802-552-6349.

Eighth grade, high school, and college students are welcome.

Please forward this email and our contact information to any blind/low vision/print disabled students you know of that might be interested in joining our group. We are having virtual meetings and a group chat.

Group chat: We are using Google Chat. To be on the chat, you need a gmail account and the app (or have it signed in on a web browser). The chat is by invitation, so please send us an email if you would like to be on the chat.

Sincerely,

TWIGS Student Group
-Teens With Ingenuity Gain Strength -

A big thank you to Onion River Outdoors for giving U32 a deal on fat bike rentals for J-term! We had a blast!

Calling all Vermont podcast creators in grades 4-12!

Vermont Public and NPR’s Student Podcast Challenge has returned. The 2025 contest will close on May 2, 2025, giving students as much of the winter/spring academic term to make something they can feel proud of as possible.

The rules and resources explain that students can make a podcast about any topic they're interested in, as long as they keep it between three to eight minutes. Visit the Vermont Public Educators page for more recommendations for high-quality resources.

Contact: Emily Leute at emily.leute@vermont.gov

2025-26 Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) is Now Available!
Do you have students that need help filing their FAFSA for the 2025-26 school year? VSAC is offering 1:1 appointments, virtually and in person, now through February. Visit the VSAC calendar for a full listing.

STUDENT/PARENT Resources

IC PLP courses- all students have a course called PLP in the AS (After School) slot in their IC schedule. There is a lot of info so we hope you will check it out.

Naviance - Remember to frequent Naviance as this site helps U-32 students explore post high school planning options, build a resume, manage timelines and deadlines for making decisions about colleges and careers. This is also where all of the scholarship opportunities are housed. Each student will work with his/her TA and school counselor in Naviance to create his/her Personalized Learning Plans (PLPs).

If you have forgotten your password, you can reset it yourself. If you have misplaced your registration code, please notify Student Services.

Parents of juniors: In December, the school counselors will meet with the juniors to discuss post high school planning options. Every junior will receive a U-32 Post High School Planning Guide. To view a copy and for additional information check out the 11th gr U-32 PLP IC course or view the pdf on the U-32 website.

IMPORTANT GRADING INFORMATION

Report Card Dates for 2024-2025

Semester 2

Quarter 3 HS/MS Progress Report - Available Monday, April 7, 2025

Quarter 4 HS/MS Report Cards - Available TBA mailed pending snow days

SAT / ACT Test Preparation (FREE On-line)

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DUAL ENROLLMENT: Vermont high school juniors and seniors can take one FREE college class during their junior and senior year. Dual enrollment gives students the opportunity to experience college while still in high school, and they can earn credit toward a college degree (saving hundreds of dollars in tuition fees).

Learn more about dual enrollment at http://www.vtdualenrollment.org/

To create an account and apply for a dual enrollment voucher, go to:

https://dualenrollment.vermont.gov/vtde

Community College of Vermont (CCV) Spring Schedule

Community College of Vermont (CCV) Summer Schedule

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Not All Colleges and Universities Require SATs/ACTs

Not all admissions processes are created equal. One major point of difference among colleges these days is how admissions officers consider your SAT scores. More schools are de-emphasizing SAT scores as part of your application with “test optional” and “test flexible” policies. One college has even eliminated SAT scores completely!

There are now over 800 accredited, bachelor-degree granting institutions that have changed their approach to standardized test scores. (Keep in mind that the majority of colleges, especially the more prestigious schools, do still require and strongly consider your SAT scores.) Let’s take a look at the different policies and which schools no longer require applicants to submit their scores for admission. Go to www.fairtest.org for more info

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Looking for an alternative to college?

VSAC is a fantastic resource for college and non college bound students www.vsac.org

VT DOL Apprenticeship Site - This Web site features detailed information on Vermont Registered Apprenticeships, employer-sponsored training programs that offer both supervised work experience and related instruction.

https://labor.vermont.gov/workforce-development/job-training-education-and-apprenticeship/apprenticeship or https://www.apprenticeship.gov/

The U-32 Student Services Office strongly urges all students and parents to frequent the scholarship section on the Naviance Family Connection site. Scholarships are updated weekly.

$54,000 (34 Awards)

Sheet Metal Scholarships

Deadline: February 15, 2025

For Eligibility: Click Here

$5,000 (350 Awards)

ELCA Fund for Leaders Scholarship

Deadline: February 21, 2025

For Eligibility: Click Here

$1,000 (1 Award)

Mental Health System Reform Scholarship

Deadline: February 28, 2025

For Eligibility: Click Here

$2,500 (4 Awards)

Mary E. Smith Foundation Scholarships

Deadline: March 1, 2025

For Eligibility: Click Here

$25,000 (1 Award)

Be Bold Scholarship

Deadline: February 1, 2025

For Eligibility: Click Here

$25,000 (1 Award)

Niche Scholarships

Deadline: March 31, 2025

For Eligibility: Click Here

$2,000 (1 Award)

Faith Based College Scholarship

Deadline: May 31, 2025

For Eligibility: Click Here

$2,000 (12 Awards)

SM Scholarship

Deadline: January 31, 2025

For Eligibility: Click Here

$50,000 (50 Awards)

ScholarshipOwl No Essay Scholarship

Deadline: January 29, 2025

For Eligibility: Click Here

February

• ACT information
• SAT information
• February 4: 9th Grade Information Night for 8th Grade Parents & Students @ U-32 at 6:30pm in auditorium (in person) - More information below.
• February 11: 7th Grade Parent/Guardian Information Night for Rising 7th grade families at 6:30pm in auditorium (in person)
• February 15: Recommended FAFSA deadline.
• Contact colleges to confirm they’ve received all your application materials.
• February 21: CVCC Preview Day
• Continue the scholarship search. Check out fastweb.com and finaid.org for ideas.
• Use February/March break to visit colleges.
• Check in with your Counselor.

March

• Use February/March break to visit colleges.
• Some states have FAFSA deadlines as early as March 1.
• March 12: Program of Studies and Course Selection Sheets to students grades 7-11 during Callback
• March 14: CVCC Acceptance Letters sent out
• March 12-21: TA Advising Conferences begin - all grades
• March 12-21: Scheduling conferences with 8th & 10th grade TAs, parents and students
• March 21: Last day to make changes to course requests with TAs
• April 10: Start of Quarter 4
• Keep your grades up. Study hard for exams. Colleges take senior grades seriously. Colleges will want a final transcript and expect to see a strong senior year. Any serious drop in grades or level of difficulty could result in your acceptance being rescinded.

• Early May: Next year schedules to students
• May: Schedule adjustments

June

• June 10: Move Up Day

9th Grade Transition Night – for 8th Grade Parent/Guardians & Students

February 4th @ 6:30 PM – U-32 Auditorium

This is an evening for 8th graders and parents to learn about course selection for 9th grade, and the transition to high school. This program gives an overview of the transition to high school and provides opportunities for questions. The program is conducted by Rebecca Tatistcheff, Principal, Ellen Cooke, Counselor, & Lisa LaPlante, Director of Student Services

In the weeks following this program individual meetings will be scheduled with 8th grade TAs to select courses for 9th grade. Watch for more information on these meetings.

Here is the link to purchase your yearbook!

You can also purchase your yearbook from Sara Wolf in the technology office. Please bring cash or a check made payable to U-32. Yearbooks will be distributed in June.

If you have any questions please email yearbook@u32.org or call Sara Wolf at 802-229-0321 ext. 5107.