Champlain Valley Union High School District - Chittenden South ...

CHAMPLAIN VALLEY UNION HIGH SCHOOL
Happy 2013! I wish everyone a joyful, healthy and successful new year. Also, I would like to express a
heartfelt "Thank You" from the school community for your continued support of learning at CVU. Due
to your strong support CVU students feel connected to our school community and are actively engaged
through a breadth of learning opportunities across classrooms, labs, stages, fields, international travel
experiences and online. As more and more people around the world become educated and access to
information grows exponentially it is imperative that the CVU community continue to shape the
education of our students for this changing world. Continued advocacy from the community for CVU,
even in the shadow of a challenging economy, demonstrates your resolve to improve learning for our students. Thanks!
This determination is even more important in the upcoming years as CVU prepares to improve learning through our
mission and vision-driven work. At the center of this work are CVU’s transferable skills: Communication, Reading, Writing,
Critical Thinking, Goal-Setting, Habits of Learning and essential content: Mathematics, Science, World Languages, Arts and
Wellness. Through the continuous improvement of these transferable skills and essential content via important content
across our curriculum CVU students will be prepared for our ever-changing world.
Specifically, our educational vision encompasses three areas that we believe will enhance student learning:
Instruction
This area focuses on curriculum, instruction and assessment via differentiation, standards-based instruction &
assessment, formative & summative assessment methodology, and integrated learning. It is a more specific and
intentional approach to teaching so we can meet students where they are in terms of background knowledge
and skills and help them to move forward. To accomplish this we need to maintain reasonable class sizes and
overall student-teacher loads. Currently, 9 th grade Core teams and 10 th grade English/Social Studies teams are
instructing, assessing and reporting on student progress on standards and we have seen great growth in skill and
content acquisition.
Communication
This area challenges teachers and students to develop and implement a standards-based e-portfolio system that
empowers students to capture and convey essential information about their skills, strengths, challenges, goals,
interests, and learning styles. This essential information will be used by students, teachers and parents to reflect,
share and plan for the future. Currently, over twenty advisors are working with their 10th grade advisees to
present their progress during our Very Important Exhibition of Work (VIEW) this coming May and next year all
10 th graders will participate.
Opportunities
This area is developing standards-based Extended Learning Opportunities (ELOs) through the mediums of online
learning, internships/apprenticeships, independent studies, college courses and self-directed & interest-based
learning. These various modes of learning support students in combining their passions and strengths with areas
of need to create relevant and rigorous learning experiences. Currently, we have students piloting our Go Out
and Learn (GOAL) process which allows students to design their own learning and earn academic credit.
The CVU community has consistently demonstrated their support for learning and high expectations for students and
staff. Our students and educators work collaboratively and creatively to reveal depth in content and skills while
compassionately addressing whatever arises in the complex world of adolescence. I feel immeasurably grateful to work
with such a dedicated and caring group of educators and an incredible group of students who never cease to amaze!
Thank you for supporting our work for the benefit of all CVU students!
Sean McMannon
CVU Principal
Champlain Valley Union High School • 369 CVU Road • Hinesburg, VT 05461
www.cvuhs.org
Administration: Sean McMannon, Principal; House Directors: Katherine Riley (Snelling), Dan Shepardson (Fairbanks), Jeff Evans
(Nichols), Robin Lauzon (Chittenden); Patti Tomashot, Guidance Director; Anna Couperthwait, Special Education Director;
Kevin Riell, Student Activities & Facilities Director
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