Tag Archives: students

Racial Justice Protest April 30, 2021
CVU Community, Volume '22, Issue 1, Wellness

Navigating CVU’s reporting system

By Bevan Roberts-Williams

HINESBURG, VT – Are students during the 21-22 CVU High School being ignored when reporting racism themselves or on behalf of other students? Are complaints being followed through? Is action being taken on these reports? These are the questions CVU students have following concerns regarding the reporting system.

New rules and regulations were put into place at the start of the 22-23 school year in response to CVU events including the racial justice protest. This was a school wide walkout that students did in response to national racial reckoning and the Black Lives Matter movement in April of 2021.

The new regulations include online reports, surveys, and more. Information on the reporting system can be found online on the CVU website, detailing how the process works. “…The House Director will give you a copy of the CVU BHH [bullying, harassment, hazing) procedures and go over it with you, making sure you understand the process. You will be asked to share your perspective on what happened. After an investigation, the House Director(s) and/or Title IX Coordinator will make a determination as to whether there is a violation of the BHH policy.  A record will be made of the complaint and outcome (due to confidentiality, you will not be told of consequences for others involved).”  (CVU Handbook)

Even though these systems are in place, students are voicing how they do not feel heard, “A teacher told me that [student name] is allowed to say slurs, and CVU can’t retaliate,” says a CVU senior, 17, who has chosen to stay anonymous. When asked how this made them feel, they responded, “Honestly, I was expecting it. I have never had great luck at CVU with reporting situations.” Students at CVU simply want to see results and feel like they will be protected in the school environment.

The reporting system is something that neither students or faculty feel is transparent enough. “What we know is very vague,” says a teacher at CVU who has requested to stay anonymous. When asked if they think reports are being dealt with, they say, “I think it’s a combination of both. There have been cases where the school has done nothing; I’ve heard ‘boys will be boys’ and whatnot, and it’s bullshit.” 

Faculty members at CVU are Mandatory Reporters for any bullying, discrimination, or hazing they see in the building. This means that…..  Teachers show that they are advocates for CVU students by reporting these acts to CVU. The strict confidentiality means that teachers nor students get to know the outcome of the report or if there was any action taken. “…But everything is confidential, so there are no specifics. I know it’s frustrating, it’s frustrating for me, I can’t imagine how frustrating it is for students of color,” says an anonymous teacher. “ As teachers and students, we don’t know many details that go into the investigations. I know SJA is pushing CVU to give us more information about the process. I think that if there is action and consequences for the reported situation, we should know the outcome of the investigation. I know the school is working hard to combat this.” Knowing that the adults in the building care about CVU’s students of color matters most for both faculty and students, but the system as it exists now does not reassure people that change is actually taking place.

After an interview with the principal of CVU, Adam Bunting, he opened up about his own struggles and experiences with the reporting system. “I think one challenge of [dealing with] bullying, harassment, and hazing is that it feels so formal.” With the private investigation, the steps the school must follow (such as making sure this doesn’t create more drama, making sure students respect the confidentiality agreement within the report, etc) he recognizes this issue and feels for the students, “even if you know there’s been an investigation and you know there’s been consequences, you don’t necessarily feel better about it, and that’s something we’re really working on as a school based on feedback.”

As for the action taken among the system after complaints, there has indeed been a significant improvement on the faculty side. “I think in the past there has been so much focus on the consequences on the person who inflicted the harm, but often what happens is the person who’s received the harm doesn’t get to experience that repair,” says Bunting. In the past year, faculty members have worked hard in figuring out how to achieve that feeling of safety for the student, “So let’s say you had a complaint that was verified against someone else, and you’re like ‘when I see that person in the hallway or in class, it’s so uncomfortable’ we’re taking that person out of your class and mapping this person’s progress through the hallways so you don’t see them.” 

The improvement within the system is definitely on the forefront of the minds of administrators, but it is going to be a process. Students should know that complaints are absolutely being taken into consideration, and although some students have felt unjustified in the past, there has been a lot of growth since then. We are looking forward to seeing how improvements and changes are made throughout the rest of the 23’ school year.

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CVU Community, Volume '22, Issue 1, Wellness

Should school start later?

By Bevan Roberts-Williams

The time that school starts has always been a debate between students and schools. Most teenagers don’t enjoy waking up for school or going to bed early. As a result, these students are tired throughout the school day. Is the lack of sleep impacting the student’s ability to work? Are students attentive during their first period? Should CVU change when school starts, or is the responsibility on the student?

According to John Hopkins medicine, teens need more sleep than the average adult, but school start times in the mornings can make the amount of sleep students get be less than sufficient. When teenagers experience sleep deprivation, the effects can certainly be detrimental to their grades. Teenagers may experience mentally ‘drifting off’ in class, a shortened attention span, and concentration difficulties.

A CVU senior, Molly Simons, has said that she is “barely” engaged in her first period class. Along with this, she has reported feeling especially tired on her longer days of school. Despite this, she does not wish the school day started later, stating “I like getting my work done sooner in the day.” On average, Molly sleeps 7 hours and 45 minutes, which is far less than the recommendation of 8-10 hours of sleep per night.

Adult bodies, and children before they hit puberty, have a natural sleep cycle that starts at 10-11pm when the brain essentially tells you to go to sleep. According to Johns Hopkins sleep expert Laura Sterni, teenagers experience a natural shift in circadian rhythm (a natural, internal process that regulates sleep). For teenagers, the need for sleep is delayed for about two hours, making falling asleep early more difficult for them than the average adult.

A CVU senior, Zach Zizza, sleeps about 5 hours a night, but must “consume enough caffeine” to keep him awake. He does not feel that he gets enough sleep, but it “doesn’t matter” to him when school starts in the morning, especially considering his first class starts at 11:35.

A teacher at CVU, Lacey Richards, says this about her first period class, “my students are significantly more tired in the morning, but by the fourth block they’re pretty out of it as well.” She also states that she has worked at CVU for 16 years, and the start time has improved significantly, saying it “makes sense for school to start later.” When asked if she thinks the start time should be later, she says “I think it’s pretty good where it is. I think if we started later it would begin to interfere with sports and other afterschool activities.” 

There is no clear solution for the sleep deprivation of students, because of their natural sleep cycle and the inability to start later. The lack of sleep affects both the students and the teachers, by hindering the students’ ability to focus during the earlier hours of the day.

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CVU Community, Volume '22, Issue 1, Wellness

Exam Week:  Are You Stressed?

By Maggie Whitman

After returning from winter break, students and teachers alike will quickly jump into the dreaded finals week to finalize Semester one. Although, do all students feel this dread? Finals week has been notorious for dumping immense amounts of stress, chaos, and weariness on young adults, and maybe even teachers, but is that changing this year? 

So the big question was asked, are you stressed? Molly Simons and Jocelyn Kaplan, seniors at CVU, both answered yes. For Molly, she’s most stressed about AP Human Geography. Jocelyn’s stressed about AP Physics. Are Advanced Placement (AP) classes the issue at hand?

According to a study done by The University of Wisconsin-Madison, Advanced placement courses are a direct link to lower self esteem and lost confidence. Although this sounds daunting, it’s actually proven this doesn’t alter the effectiveness or legitimacy of the AP courses. Found in their study, low self esteem issues don’t correlate with doing worse in a class. If anything, this is building important problem solving skills for the future and will properly prepare them for the workload that is college.

Another big stress is the changing of classes. The fall semester finals week marks the end of lots of classes. CVU will be a revolving door around the building during mid January. Fortunately, this can lead to a better schedule for some. Jocelyn Kaplan told us her future semester is much lighter, only having her AP classes rolling over. New schedules will mean new change, and change is good, but not according to Molly. Her spring semester will be very busy meaning she is very much not excited. 

Important question for students: do you prefer a self made project reflecting your research and comprehension skills throughout the semester, or are you old-fashion and prefer an exam that only requires studying and showing up to take said exam. 100% of respondents said they’d rather do a project all the way. According to most, they believe it’s a better representation of their learning and they don’t have as much stress.

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CVU Community, Vermont, Volume '22, Issue 1, Wellness

CVU TARDINESS POLICY

Aidan Militello

CVU– This year, CVU has decided to double down on school policies for students who arrive at school late. Arriving more than ten minutes after eight forty five is considered an unexcused absence.

Three unexcused absences triggers a meeting with a teacher to discuss why you are arriving late. Five unexcused absences triggers a meeting with teachers and parents to discuss strategies on how to arrive on time, and if the absences are all in one class, the cut process may be applied.

In interviewing Fairbanks house administrator Arthur Chiaravalli about the late policy this year, I found that the policies are not new and have not been altered this year. The school is simply reinforcing policies already in place in order to create a more normal classroom environment. During Covid, CVU was much more separated, and by reinforcing these policies this year, the hope is that it will help to bring the CVU community together.

According to Chiaravalli, “We want to be more present with each other finally after two years.” He was referring to the two years of Covid isolation and detachment from the community. Chiaravalli wants to make sure that we can all be there for each other on time. “When you think back to Covid, there were in some cases students who slipped through the cracks.” There was not as much emphasis on ensuring that students arrived on time. The enforcement of these policies now allows for students to show up on teachers’ radar, and become apparent that they may need help.

In interviewing students, I found a much different picture. I spoke with one senior at CVU who did not want to be named. I asked if he thought coming into class late affected his learning. “Not at all, I can just email the teacher or ask a friend what we did in class.” Although this strategy may not be for everyone, it demonstrates that being tardy or absent may not affect the students that much. Though what Chiaravalli said is important, being part of the community by showing up on time may not be important for every student. I asked if a ten or fifteen minute tardiness affected his learning, “Not really no, the class usually hasn’t even started by then and everyone is usually still talking.”

The big picture is if a student is tardy for a class enough, the student will be scheduled for a cut meeting. In this meeting the student will discuss with their teachers and parents why they should be allowed to remain in this class despite their tardiness. The student must explain why they have been tardy, and make plans for how they are going to resolve their tardiness problem. As Chiaravalli said, it is important for us to come together as a class and as a community, on time, and ready to participate.

Activists rally for LGBTQ+ rights outside the Supreme Court (New Yorker) (Photograph by Bill Clark)
CVU Community, US Headlines, Vermont, Volume '22, Issue 1, Wellness

LGBTQIA+ Rights Across the US

By V. Sorce

“You can’t hide from everything, and gay people are real.” – X, age 16

CVU – Florida’s “Parental Rights in Education” bill 1557, commonly coined the ‘Don’t Say Gay’ bill, prohibits discussion of topics relating to sexual orientation and gender identity in the classroom up to grade three and beyond. Policies in some other states restrict schools from teaching Lgbtq+ related topics around gender and sexuality, restrict the use of gender-neutral bathrooms, or even prohibit the display of pride flags in schools. Over half of all US states, including Arizona, Alabama, Georgia, Virginia, and Ohio, have laws which impinge upon the rights of millions of young individuals.

Here in Vermont, however, the direction of law seems to be different. But is Vermont actually so different?

According to an NBC article dated March 20, 2022, a staggering 238 anti-Lgbtq+ bills have been introduced in the US thus far in 2022 alone; 23 states in the US have proposed anti Lgbtq+ bills, and thirteen states have signed those bills into law since the beginning of 2022. The ‘Don’t Say Gay Bill’ and rest of policies throughout these areas effect over 20 million adults and 21% of Gen Z in the US who are Lgbtq+.

Students in Virginia high schools walk out (WCBD)
Students in Virginia high schools walk out (WCBD)

Students in many affected schools are taking action by leading walkouts from school. Three states – Arizona, Virginia, and Ohio – instituted more restrictions in September regarding pronouns and gender markers in school. The bills that have been passed aren’t just seen as numbers in a pile of laws to sort through; thousands of high school students in those states organized walkouts from school on September 29th to protest for their safety and rights.

The laws aren’t just affecting their rights; it’s affecting their lives: “I nearly committed suicide. These are really kids who are scared out of their minds because of this policy,” Calabia– a high school student in Virginia–said (as quoted in the Guardian).

Arizona walkout
Arizona walkout

While these students fight for their basic rights in school, it is remarkable to consider how different the circumstances are here in Vermont. For exaxmple, during the spring of 2022, Vermont was in the process of legalizing gender affirming hormone blockers for transgender children without parental consent. As of 5/12/2022, however, the law failed to pass. Although it didn’t pass, the law was an attempted step towards equality.

And here at CVU there has been a visible increase in progress for equality over the years, such as the growth of the GSA network and the uptick of pronoun usage in class. Despite the changes, though, Lgbtq+ teens at CVU still face some difficulty. So despite such examples of “progress”, is Vermont really so different from other states?

Being inevitably stuck in awkward situations because of their identity is often a daily occurrence, and since homophobia is so ingrained in society, it will take every effort for LGBTQ+ normalcy at least reach ‘acceptance’, at a minimum. Slurs and misgendering are among many forms of how homophobia and transphobia are experienced in the halls of our own school.

X is a junior at CVU. They are out as transgender and express some changes they would want to address in US law. They stress the importance of equal rights everywhere, not only in some states: “There should be legal protections for Lgbtq+ people in all states. We can’t be discriminated out of jobs or Healthcare or housing because that’s a very real thing in certain places and it makes it very difficult for people to live their lives.”

A long-standing goal of Lgbtq+ people and allies have been how to educate society in understanding trans and gay identities to create a more inclusive world; the main place that education is taking place is, yes, school— yet schools and the education of Lgbtq+ identities are the places most of these new laws target.

It can be hard to imagine that queer Vermonters are actually in a extremely supportive space compared to the environment Lgbtq+ people might be living through in other US states. X tries to define that difference: “I think in Vermont we have definitely more protections in place, that when we go to get a job or adopt a child or need medical care, there’s a lot less in place that prevents us from getting it.”

However, “I find them [anti- Lgbtq+ laws] highly infuriating. I think they create a lot of unnecessary road blocks in the person’s development trends or just to access of information which is a big thing for rolling into being an adult you actually have to understand the world around you—you can’t hide from everything and gay people are real… Hello…!”

They also say some of the best ways to help these populations, no matter who you are, is “doing research and understanding what’s happening”. T, another student at CVU, wishes more people can “reach out to them in some capacity.” By staying connected and understanding what they’re going through, awareness can always be spread.

With still three months left in 2022, even more bills will be piling up to restrict people from equal rights. Positive Lgbtq+ laws granting rights are hardly balancing the scale currently as tensions rise, and our generation awaits a time when instead of trying to prevent negative bills, the focus can shift to the possibility of progressive protections for Lgbtq+ people. It’s hard to move forward when half the country is still moving in reverse.

phone
CVU Community, Vermont, Volume '22, Issue 1, Wellness

Reintroduction to the CVU Phone Policy

BY Filip Popa

HINESBURG, VT–CVU’s new phone policy has gotten students startled. “I feel like I’m not able to text my parents if I have a family emergency,” said a CVU Junior who wishes to keep their name anonymous. With the start of the new school year of 2022, CVU started re-inforcing a school policy that requires students to either put their phones in their bags or in a designated “pocket” in the classroom. This rule has been off the grid since 2019’s COVID-19 when students were encouraged to go on their phones to keep avoid speaking and potentially spreading the virus.

The idea behind this policy is that students are better off focusing without their devices on their bodies. The majority of the classrooms have a poster with a quote that CVU uses as a motive for their policy. The quote reads, “A world full of attention-deprived citizens… will be a world of cascading crises where we can’t get a handle on any of them.” – Johann Hari. CVU is enforcing these policies backed up by scientific research saying student learning will increase if phones aren’t present during class in the learning environment. However, the policy allows students to access their phones after class and during passing periods.

Arthur Chiaravalli, the Fairbanks house administrator, agreed with the change, “I feel like I’m getting to know my advisory a lot better, I’m connecting with them, there’s not that distraction of “I’m just gonna zone out.”

On the other hand, a senior at CVU who did not want to have their name included, answered that they think, “No, I don’t think it’s helping me, it actually makes me feel more conscious about my phone,”

So overall, the responses coming from the CVU faculty and the students vary and opinions are mixed. Many of the students “don’t care” as Chiaravalli pointed out, while others claim against it and say it’s not helping.

McKinley Martin, Junior, said, “I realized that not having the access to check in with my family and people that I need to be able to talk to has induced more stress on me than actually helping my learning.” On the other hand, Aidan Militello, Junior, felt that “the phone policy allows me to honestly stay focused and not worry about any notifications that might interrupt me.”

With this policy being reinforced freshly this year after many years of no enforcement, there isn’t enough data to prove if this policy has been making a positive impact or not on the school. What do you think? Fill out this google form and tell us what you think in regards to the effectiveness of this policy, you can do so by clicking here. The answers to the survey will be used to create an updated piece in the near future. If you’d like to be interviewed, leave your name in the survey.

https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSeaWZSiGjoBsNKrgjxE9SJWxDuQKv0_2es8h2vWe-OycxWGPg/viewform

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CVU Community, US Headlines, Volume 11: Sp '21

Will you take the PSATS/ SATS next year?

By Mazzy Ricklefs       

The PSATS were Wednesday, October 13th for all junior CVU students. The weekend before that, Saturday, October 9th, seniors had their first round of SATS, which will continue through October and can be taken in the winter as well. Many juniors take the SATS, too, which will become available this winter/ spring, although most retake it senior year. “I’m taking the SATS later this year, that way I can retake them next year in case I don’t do too well.” says Lucas, an 11th grader at CVU.

Lucas wasn’t really nervous or worried about taking the PSATS and planned to take advantage of the practice it will give him for SATS. The PSAT is just a practice test for the actual SAT. Though it doesn’t count for anything, sometimes people submit the scores received on it to colleges, to see. The SAT is the test that actually matters to most people and can be taken up to 2 times. The SAT is a standardized test for getting into college but not every school requires you to submit your score.

There are 3 parts to the PSAT test: Reading ( 47 multiple choice questions), Writing and Language (44 multiple choice questions), and math ( 40 multiple choice questions and 8 student produced response questions).

As far as the SATS, they are just a more complicated and longer version of the PSATS. Gabby, a senior who took the PSATS last year, states that she, “Didn’t want to go because it seemed slightly stressful but it ended up being pretty easy, just very long.” Megan, a junior that took the practice test this past Wednesday, seems to have a similar thought. “It was very consuming and I couldn’t get through all the questions in the amount of time required, so that was a little disappointing.” As far as what the process of taking the test was like, she says that ” The PSATS were very formal and we only got 5 minute breaks… weren’t allowed to leave the classroom.”

So are taking the PSATS or SATS worth it? This year 10 students opted out of taking the PSATS and it is unclear if they opted out due to the fact that both formal tests are optional this year because many colleges are not requiring them. “By going test-optional, institutions are making a definitive statement that they will not need test scores to make admission decisions this year,” the National Association for College Admission Counseling said earlier this year. For students with low-income families, however, opting out of testing is not an option because scholarships tied to test scores are only more in demand due to the pandemic effect on our economy.     

Hinesburg public house
CVU Community, Vermont, Volume 12: Fall '21, Wellness

Working under COVID: two views

By Mina Radivojevic

HINESBURG, VT – As an exchange student from Serbia, I haven’t been here for a long time, but one of the first things that I learned about Vermont is that a lot of places can’t keep up with demand since they don’t have enough people to keep businesses going.

The people who are holding many businesses together are actually busy, full- scheduled high school students. So, the best way to look at this situation is through two different lenses: grown up employer vs. high school employee. 

Will Patten, the owner of the Public House restaurant in Hinesburg, shared with me his view and experience with lack of workers and hiring students. CVU students, in this case. “So, we don’t have any trouble hiring people from CVU; that is pretty much all we can hire. Which is not great because most people don’t have any experience and they play sports. But that’s pretty much all we can hire now. For people in high school, a job is a form of independence, a way out of the house. It’s gas money, it’s a third place. It’s home, school and now a job. So that’s not where the problem is, the problem is with people who are on their own, supporting themselves, paying the rent, have mortgages and car payment. Those are the people that aren’t coming to work. And it’s not just restaurants, it’s everybody. Every business in Hinesburg wants to hire somebody. It’s crazy. “ 

Patten also made a note that his cafe needs to be closed for two days of the week due to lack of workers.

Lila Shober, one of the working CVU students, had a similar experience at her workplace because of the same problem. “I work at the Windjammer Tuesdays and Fridays and Saturdays. I work in an environment that’s really busy because of the lack of workers. Sometimes parts of our restaurant are closed because of the lack of staff,” she said.

At the same time, Shober had found the silver lining of what’s going on: “But some perks about it is that I do get more income. It’s very stressful being there three times a week. After school. After practice. It can be really tiring and I do go to school tired sometimes, but I do like having extra money. And I am really worried about, at least, my restaurant staying above float so I always try and help out as much as I can.”

One more perk that Shober pointed out is the fact that there are more options to choose from, since there’s no one else to work.

To answer my question why they think this is happening and what role COVID plays, Patten and Shober didn’t hesitate much. 

Patten claims that, during COVID, people were taught not to work. He also considered all that we’ve been going through lately, putting climate change right next to the pandemic as one of the factors why people lost their belief in progress.

Shober’s interpretation of the situation is that people’s mental health was what got most damaged by coronavirus, and that it had also put a lot of fear into people, making them even scared to go out.

Not only did COVID affect people’s work ethic in this and the previous year, but we have yet to see what’s to come and how it will affect the future for businesses and lives in Vermont.

Original photo by Ethan Cook
CVU Community, US Headlines, Vermont, Volume 12: Fall '21, Wellness

Should Vermonters be required to wear masks?

By Ethan Cook

After the brief low of Covid cases over the summer, many people still haven’t gotten their masks back on. Covid cases in Vermont have actually increased since the so-called ‘peak’ of the pandemic, yet many people still aren’t covering their faces while inside.

This is because the vaccine has been thought of as preventative, when it really serves mostly as a reduction of symptoms. According to an article on NBC5 from October 12th, “just over 3,600 fully vaccinated Vermonters have contracted the virus after being fully vaccinated, also known as a ‘breakthrough’ case of COVID-19 as of Oct. 12. That represents roughly 0.8% of fully vaccinated residents.” This data tells us that vaccinations greatly reduce the severity of the virus, but do less of a good job at preventing it altogether. That is a job for masks and other precautions. 

The same article also helps by explaining when to wear masks. “The CDC’s updated mask guidance says fully vaccinated Americans do not need to wear masks or physically distance indoors or outdoors, with some exceptions. People should wear masks in crowded indoor locations like airplanes, buses, hospitals and prisons.” Vermont laws include schools as well.

However, masking is still being pushed back against by some individuals. Masks have been a crucial part of most Americans’ lives for the past year. Laws have been constantly changing in regard to whether or not masks are a necessity, and Vermont is no exception. The Vermont government has put in place regulations requiring masks in schools, and all members of the executive branch, which includes politicians, police officers, and other government workers, were to get vaccinated.

 At the end of August 2021, Twinfield Union school had already closed classrooms due to cases of Covid, and prisons in Vermont have started requiring masks again after over 20 people were diagnosed. Northern Vermont University decided it was best to switch back to online schooling when eight students got Covid in a week. Sylvia Plumb, director of marketing and communications, stated that, “with cases rising in Vermont and throughout the United States, this is not unexpected. This underscores how critically important it is for our community to be vaccinated, masked up properly while inside, and testing as appropriate.” 

Governor Scott thinks that the problem is that people are not getting vaccinated. “Vaccines are still changing the game. We need people to keep stepping up to get their shot and to get the booster when the time comes.” Covid-19 statistics showed an upcoming decrease in early September, but through those weeks, there had been increases of over 20 percent.  On September 23rd, we had a day in which 289 new cases were diagnosed in Vermont. The situation has gotten much worse since June, but taking as many precautions as possible will help to bring us back to normal.

hunter
CVU Community, CVU Sports, Volume 11: Sp '21

Redhawks Give Insight on Spring Playoffs

By Hailey Chase

HINESBURG, VT– It’s the most wonderful time of the year— playoffs! For varsity players, this is what they’ve been working for all season: a shot at being named state champions. Varsity boys/girls lacrosse, tennis, track, ultimate frisbee, baseball, and softball will all be competing in the tournament—dates TBD.

Baseball (Hunter Whitman):

 

hunter Whitman

For the strong CVU baseball team, senior and captain Hunter Whitman weighs in on the upcoming playoff season. 

“Our pitching has really set us apart—Ollie Pudvar, Braedon Jones, and Ryan Canty are all strong pitchers for us this year,” The captain also noted that his advice to the team is to take playoffs game-by-game, and to continue doing what they’ve been doing well so far.

“We just need to continue to play good defense and to hit the ball hard. Some game-changers for us this year on the offensive side have been Ryan Eaton, Ryan Canty, and Braedon Jones.” Whitman predicts that by playing “their game,” the CVU baseball team has a good chance at conquering other strong teams such as Rice, Colchester, and Essex. 

Softball (Sophia Stevens): 

sophias

Junior Sophia Stevens plays on the CVU softball team as the starting shortstop. From her last season with CVU her freshman year, her role on the team has been enlarged tenfold. Stevens is the team’s starting shortstop, has scored 7 RBI’s, and bats third in the lineup. 

Noting a strength for the softball team, Stevens contributed “One of our biggest strengths this year has been hitting and our offensive effort. Even against really challenging pitchers, we have players who are able to consistently make contact,” which she believes will be a driving factor for the team’s success in playoffs. The junior expressed that Essex is the biggest competition in the tournament, and CVU lost to them (insert score and date)

While the team is successful at the plate, the captain noted that players don’t have finalized positions on the field; “We are still trying to figure out who plays best in each position,” she said, “We’ve struggled to execute defensively and that’s contributed to our lack of confidence. We will do our best to overcome this by moving on, and learning how we can improve in the future.” Stevens’ method going into playoffs is to lead by example, and to keep the team positive.

Boys’ Lacrosse (Shane Gorman):

shane

In 2019, the boys’ lacrosse team won the State Champion title against Burr and Burton, with the help of now-senior and captain Shane Gorman. Gorman has been a force to reckon with this season, and has earned 33 goals and 24 assists in only 12 games. 

Gorman stated, “We have the talent and the people to win, it’s just a matter of coming together as a team and performing how we’ve been coached to perform.” 

According to Gorman, the teams to beat this year are Essex, Burr and Burton, and Woodstock. In terms of the team’s strengths, the captain said “Chemistry honestly,” as many of the boys have been playing together for years, “Nolan Shea, Colin Zouck, and Owen Pierce are a great group because they have been coached together for so long.”

As a captain, Gorman preaches to the team about coming together as a team, and taking these playoff games one step at a time. “We need to play our best and not become stagnant. In other words, we just need to keep improving,” he added, hoping the team will respond to his guidance.

Girls’ Lacrosse (Petra Kapsalis):

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Four-year varsity athlete—now-captain, Petra Kapsalis, leads the girls’ varsity lacrosse team into this year’s playoffs. The senior plays midfield alongside freshman Gretta White, who has been a key player for the team. 

In terms of the team’s strengths, Kapsalis mentioned “We have a lot of strong players for each position.” Kapsalis believes the team’s skill depth is what sets them apart from their competition; most players have well-polished skills that benefit the team on the scoreboard. 

In the regular season, Kapsalis expressed that her role was “to organize things and support younger players,” but with playoffs on the horizon, she anticipates her role to shift to “make sure everyones really focused and to get everyone hyped up and excited.” The captain touched on how her team’s leaders in the past made playoffs an exciting and ambitious time, and she hopes to replicate a similar atmosphere for her team this year.

The team is 10-4 and according to Kapsalis, their biggest competition are SB, Burr and Burton, and Rutland. The girls lost to Burr and Burton in the second game of the season, Rutland on May 1st, then finally SB on May 11, but only by two points. Kapsalis hopes that her standout players such as Lena Kerest and Madison Peet will help the team not only with skill, but also with experience—especially against these top-ranked teams.

Boys’ Ultimate (Nigel Wormser):

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Nigel Wormser is one of the captains on CVU’s ultimate Frisbee boys team. This spring marks the handler’s second season on varsity, as his junior year season was cancelled due to COVID. 

Weighing in on preparing his teammates for playoffs, Wormser stated “Ultimate is a real sport that requires a lot of focus.” Wormser hopes to refine team skills in the end zone, as one of their struggles this season has been execution when it comes time to score. 

The No. 2-ranked team is 7-1 with their only loss given to Burlington High School on May 13. Wormser is relying on the team’s chemistry to be the guiding element in the team’s toolbox going into playoffs, as he stated, “This is probably the closest team I have ever been on. We have great chemistry and we all push each other.” Wormser predicts that by doing as they’ve been coached to do, keeping their focus, and calling fouls when they need to be called, the boys can place well in the tournament. 

Girls’ Ultimate (Sofia Cofino):

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Sofia Cofino is a senior on the girls’ ultimate frisbee team. Giving perspective on the team, the senior offers, “Our ability to work together is one of our strengths. We have so many different ages that it’s impressive how we learned to play together—and win.” 

The girls’ biggest competition in the tournament this spring is Burlington High School, and with their coach on vacation, the team has been forced to organize practices without her. Stepping in during games, the boys’ varsity coaches have given aid to the girls.

With the weather warming up, Cofino is concerned about mask-wearing during games, as are most athletes at CVU this spring. “It’s been extremely difficult to play with masks, especially when it’s warmer,” Cofino states. The senior is excited for playoffs, and will lead the team as “Spirit Captain” in these important games. 

Boys’ Tennis (Henry Bijur):

Singles and doubles player, Henry Bijur, is captain of the boys’ varsity tennis team. 

The captain predicts his team will be successful in the upcoming tournament by “Bringing our A game to every match.” Bijur suggests that the team can remain focused and competitive. “We’ve got a lot of depth,” which he hopes will lead to a good turnout. 

“Some of our best players are Ethan Lisle and Charlie Mjaanes,” Bijur claims, and hopes those key players can continue to stand out and play well in the tournament. According to the captain, the team’s biggest competition is Burlington High School.

Girls’ Tennis (Ella Kenney):

 

Ella Kenney from Williston is a senior on the girls’ tennis team, and she is co-captains with Lindsay Beer. Unfortunately, Kenney was playing 1st singles and injured her knee, and has been unable to play since the third match of the season.

Kenney gives insight to the team’s strengths: “We have brought intensity and focus to the games while learning out individual games and strengths.” The captain also mentions the varsity team is fairly new and very young. “We lost nine seniors from last season, so there are a lot of new faces. 13 to be exact,” which is a huge change for the returning varsity players.

Despite the team’s age, the girls are 7-4, with two of their losses given to South Burlington, who Kenney states is their biggest competitor in the tournament alongside BHS. 

Kenney is leading her team into a hopeful playoff tournament, and is happy with how the season has turned out so far. “This year’s season has been so much fun; it has been great to get back on the courts and be with the team. We’ve done a lot of growing, practicing, and bonding this season.” The captain expects her younger players to be nervous for playoffs, but hopes to channel those nerves into playing a clean and successful tournament. 

Track & Field (Mckenzie Marcus):

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Mckenzie Marcus is currently a senior on the girls’ varsity track & field team at CVU. Marcus has been on the team since her freshman year and is an experienced track & field athlete. 

The girls’ biggest competitors in playoffs this year are St. Johnsbury and Essex. Marcus has observed that both teams have many strong athletes that consistently place well at meets.

Giving insight on her own team, Marcus states, “We have a really strong distance team this year. Specifically, we have some strong female athletes that are consistently improving their times, which contributes to the entire team’s success at meets.” The senior believes that if she can lead her young team consisting of mostly 9th and 10th graders, continue rebuilding, and stay competitive, the girls are capable of placing 1st or 2nd (knock on wood). 

CVU has always been a powerhouse when it comes time to win; hopefully, we can put up seven new banners in the gym to make up for last year’s canceled season. The leaders of the baseball, softball, lacrosse, tennis, and track and field teams are eager to play, and hungry to win. Schedules and scores will be posted on team web pages, and the teams’ social media will be posting upcoming games and scores.

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CVU Community, Opinion & Review, Vermont, Volume 11: Sp '21, Volume 8, Issue 3

Jobs and Summer Activities for Students!

By Erin Fina

HINESBURG, VT–This school year is quickly coming to an end and summer activities are quickly approaching! This summer there are plenty of events for students to get involved in for credit and for non-credit interest based activities through CVU, UVM, and a list of Summer Jobs!

CVU OFFERINGS

For all in-coming 9th grade students:

You have the opportunity to attend the classic CVU Summer Camp! This is open to all 9th graders and is known to help with a positive transition from middle school to high school. There are 2 sessions (with the option of attending both), with Session A the weeks of July 5 and July 12, 2021 and Session B, weeks of July 19 and July 26, 2021. Students have the opportunity to pick one of the following interesting areas to explore in the camp, such as Outdoor Recreation,  Exploring the Arts, and Into the Wild. This is an outstanding opportunity for upcoming highschoolers to get to know their peers from other schools, explore the CVU building, participate in interest based activities and have a ton of fun! Rising 9th graders can sign up HERE and contact Rick Kinsman,  cvusummercamp@cvsdvt.org, with any questions. 

For ALL CVU Students:

There are FREE summer course offerings that will be hosted by CVU over the summer! YOU can receive CVU credit for the completion of the following courses! Some of the many courses range from Writing Prose and Creative Writing to Public Speaking and Anatomy & Physiology to The Oceans and You, among others. Students are able to earn CVU credit for completion of the course, with many earning up to .5 for the subject area. Dates and times vary from course to course, but you can find all of the courses and more information HERE and fill out THIS ONLINE FORM if you are interested. Email Monica Carter for additional information, mcarter@cvsdvt.org.

For ALL CVU Students:

Interested in an interest based workshop this summer? CVU is hosting many workshops for students looking to keep busy over the summer! Workshops range from Computer Programming to Abenaki Culture and Heritage to Paint and Poetry to a Vermont Adventure Week and many more, all free of charge! You cannot earn CVU credit for these courses, but it is a great way to connect with peers, teachers and staff, explore interest- based fields and have fun after such a long, isolated past year. You can find all of the workshops listed here (scroll down to the CVU Workshops) HERE and fill out THIS ONLINE FORM if you are interested in any of the workshops. Contact Monica Carter for any additional information, mcarter@cvsdvt.org.


UVM COURSE OFFERINGS:

Attention CVU Students! You are able to register for UVM Pre-College Courses for the Summer 2021 and the Fall 2021. Most courses are fully-online, but courses like Chemistry will be taught from a Hybrid Learning approach. You are able to receive college credit for the completion of these courses. Additional information can be found HERE and please don’t hesitate to contact your House Counselor about any additional information. 

 

 SUMMER JOBS

*These are some local businesses that are looking to hire potential employees. Age limitations, work experience, job positions needs, etc at specific locations might vary from business to business. Contact businesses directly for any questions and concerns. 

“Part-2″ WORK WITH KIDS

In need of a Summer job? Like working with children?  Part-2 is the perfect place for you! Part-2 is hiring teens like you for preschool and school-aged summer camp positions, at their 8 locations around Chittenden County, such as Shelburne, Williston (Allen Brook School), Montpelier, Richmond, among others. You can apply HERE and Inquire within their website, http://www.parttwokids.com/home.html for additional information. 

 

SWEET ROOTS FARMS (formerly Charlotte Berry)-CHARLOTTE

Need a summer job? Former Charlotte Berry Farm, located just off of Route 7 in Charlotte, newly named Sweet Roots Farms is hiring for summer positions for 2021! Strawberries, blueberries, blackberries, raspberries, creemees, baked goods and more, Sweet Roots is a great place for a hard-working, berry- lover! Please email sweetrootsfarmers@gmail.com for more information.

 

CUCINA ANTICA- SHELBURNE 

Delicious pizza, salads, calzones, pasta and more, right in the heart of the Shelburne Village! Located just across from the Shelburne Supermarket and right next to Aubuchon Hardware, Cucina Antica offers delicious Italian Cuisine. They are hiring now for positions including Servers, Counter/Phones, Dish, Kitchen. Some experience is preferred, but not necessary. APPLY NOW AT https://www.bistrocucinaantica.com/form-job-application.

 

AGAVE- WILLISTON

Located in the Maple Tree Place in Williston, Agave is a delicious Mexican restaurant specializing in Mexican-inspired food and drinks! They are short on staff and looking for students like you to join their team. Inquire on their website via the Contact Form, https://www.agavevt.com/form-contact-us for job opportunities. 

 

HEALTHY LIVING- WILLISTON

As of September 24th, 2021, the Williston Healthy Living was officially opened and ready for business! They are looking to hire passionate and hard-working people to join their team, through paid positions such as Dishwashing, Cashier, among others. Visit https://recruiting.paylocity.com/Recruiting/Jobs/All/f6749321-6721-467b-9755-be942a498f22/ROAD-TO-HANA-INC for more information or inquire within at 129 Market St. Williston, VT 05495.

 

TRADER JOE’S- SOUTH BURLINGTON

Trader Joe’s is looking for passionate, hard-working and welcoming employees to join their business in helping to create a warm and friendly shopping experience, as members of their “Crew” team. Duties include Working on teams to accomplish goals, Operating the cash register in a fun and efficient manner, Bagging groceries with care, Stocking shelves, Creating signage to inform and delight customers, Helping customers find their favorite products, among other things. If you are interested in becoming part of the Trader Joe’s Crew, inquire within the South Burlington location (200 Dorset St, South Burlington, VT 05403) or apply at https://traderjoes.avature.net/careers/ApplicationMethods?jobId=8820. Must be at least 16-years old.

 

LANTMANS- HINESBURG

Lantman’s Market; a locally owned quality market since 1925, located in the heart of Hinesburg is hiring NOW for cashiers, stock floor workers, deli personnel who are “available weekends, evenings and/or daytimes.” Potential employees should be “reliable and enthusiastic to provide friendly customer service to our community” and if this sounds like you, apply today via https://lantmansmarket.com/employment-application.html. Age limitations for some departments range for 18+, but also in need for teen positions. Apply Today!

 

 WAKE ROBIN- SHELBURNE

Wake Robin is a retirement community, located just beyond the Shelburne Museum. They are looking for people who demonstrate strong customer service skills and a desire to work with an active population of seniors, and if this sounds like you, apply today! They are looking for Cooking, Cleaning and Wait Staff among others. Apply at https://www.wakerobin.com/contact-us/employment/ or Inquire within

 

Uncategorized

Fonies Rock Winter Ball

Ms. Asha Hickok

We’ve all seen those coming-of-age high school movies with the prom set up in a large high school gym. Neon colored balloons and streamers frame the scene and, most prominent, set up on a stage, front and center, is a band playing hit music.

Although CVU’s Winter Ball does not take place in the gym, nor is the venue typically decked out in neon balloons and streamers, the Winter Ball is headlined by a band.

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Typically, CVU employs Top Hat Entertainment to play a variety of upbeat and slow pop songs. Top Hat Entertainment is a popular entertainment company in Vermont that is typically hired to DJ weddings, school dances and other private functions. 

This year, the CVU Winter Ball provides a mix of traditional DJing and live music from a well-known student band, Fonies.

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Volume 5, Issue 1

Caffeine is love, caffeine is life?

By Ms. Olivia Cottrell

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Photo courtesy of The Odyssey Online

CVUHS- Coffee, coffee, buzz, buzz!  On a regular basis 58 of the 270 students surveyed drink caffeinated tea or coffee. While students are relying on caffeine for many reasons, it always brings back the age old question of is caffeine good for you?

Caffeine, coffee in particular, has benefits other than just giving people that little wake up nudge they need in the morning. It may help lower the risk of liver disease and type two diabetes. Coffee also contains a lot of antioxidants. While there are many upsides to coffee, there are also downsides.

Caffeine, in excess, may cause insomnia, nervousness, muscle tremors, an upset stomach and many other problems. An excess of caffeine is not an exact measure. According to the U.S. National Library of Medicine, anything over 600 mg of caffeine per day is ‘too much’. 600 mg of caffeine is the amount in three 8 oz cups of coffee, or about eight and a half cups the same size of black tea. For the Starbucks lovers out there, this is a Venti’s worth of coffee.

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