News & Public Notices

Activities Around the Supervisory Union by Superintendent LeBlanc

11/5/2017

I have enjoyed visiting the events of the past few weeks around the Supervisory Union. It is exciting to see so many students engaged in a variety of learning opportunities- science activities in after-school, harvesting a garden to prepare a meal and performing on stage. What fun!!

Two weeks ago, Wolcott had a presentation on Lights on Afterschool. It was fun to see students learning about making bubbles using a variety of items. Students learned to make bubbles inside other bubbles and how large a bubble can be depending on the tool you used. Students also served bread with fixings from their garden. Good eats!

From Wolcott, I was able to attend the Harvest Dinner at Hardwick Elementary. All the food was prepared by the students and came from their gardens. I was fortunate to attend Ms. Bader's class as they were cleaning up after making the bread dough. The students were excited. It was great to see how many parents and community members attended- the largest attendance since it began. What great support for our students!

Last Friday, I attended the Harvest Dinner at Lakeview- another wonderful meal. It was great to see so many families and community members there. The food coming from the gardens that students plant. 

On Saturday, I attended the high school musical "Bye, Bye Birdie". It was wonderful. It was amazing to see and hear so much talent. All of the performers did an awesome job. I truly enjoyed the musical and watching such talented individuals. It reminded me of my days as a Hazen student and doing drama club. Thanks to Marc Considine and Tess Martin for their support of such a talented group of students. 

Hazen Union Showcased in Professional Learning Network Series

8/15/2017

 

The Agency of Education and Center for Collaborative Education published a video showcasing Hazen Union and the work around Proficiency Based Learning. This represents one of the stories as part of Vermont's Professional Learning Network series. To see the video, please click below. 

Hazen Union Invited To Present In Washington  DC

8/10/2017

 

​On September 12, 2017, John Craig, Associate Principal, will be presenting before Congressional representatives and staff at the Cannon Office Building in Washington DC. He will share the work Hazen Union has been doing   regarding flexible pathways to graduation and personalized learning (Act 77). 

Patte Barth, Director, Center for Public Education of the National School Boards Association will be presenting a new report that looks at access to school and program choices within the public school system. On the recommendation of Nicole Mace, VTVSBA Director, Hazen Union was identified as a model for effectively implementing these plans. 

Hazen Union is honored to represent Vermont during this conference. 

Writer: Joanne LeBlanc, Superintendent

Leadership Team Retreat-preparing for the year ahead.

7/31/2017

 

We welcome Patrick Pennock, Principal of Hardwick Elementary School  and Jack McCarthy, Interim Principal of Hazen Union to the Leadership Team.

During the week of  July 24-27, the OSSU Leadership Team had its retreat. Focus was especially given to emergency response protocols, preparing training on proficiency based learning, grading and reporting, and professional development for all staff. During in-service August 22nd and 23rd, staff will receive training on the new Health Insurance, do some team building activities, receive training on new assessments, Green Mt. Technical Career Center, Placed Based Learning, and begin work as curriculum committees as well as participate in professional development academy courses focused on the goals and faculty feedback.

 

Required Annual Notices for Families - Protection of Pupil Rights Amendment

7/1/2017

 

The Protection of Pupil Rights Amendment (PPRA) affords parents certain rights regarding our conduct of surveys, collection and use of information for marketing purposes, and certain physical exams.

 

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Required Annual Notices for Families - Student Records

7/1/2017

 

The Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA) affords parents and students over 18 years of age (“eligible students”) certain rights with respect to the student’s education records. These rights are described in detail below.

 

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Required Annual Notices for Families - Directory Information

7/1/2017

 

The Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA), a federal law, requires OSSU, with certain exceptions, to obtain your written consent before the disclosure of personally identifiable information from your child’s education records. However, OSSU may disclose appropriately designated “directory information” without written consent, unless you have advised the district to the contrary in accordance with district procedures.

The primary purpose of directory information is to allow OSSU to include this type of information from your child’s education records in certain school publications. Examples include: a playbill, showing your student’s role in a drama production; honor roll or other recognition lists; graduation programs; and sports programs, showing weight and height of team members.

 

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Required Annual Notices for Families - Release of student information to military and college recruiters

7/1/2017

 

The No Child Left Behind Act of 2001 requires school districts to provide, upon request, the names, addresses and phone numbers of juniors and seniors to military recruiters and colleges or universities.

If you do not want the school district to provide information about your student to either the military or colleges or universities, you have an opportunity to “opt out” by October 1 of each school year.  To do so, you must check the box marked “I do not consent” next to one or both of the categories (Military or College/University) on the student’s annual registration form. If your child is over 18, he or she must also sign the form.

If you do not check “I do not consent” or if you fail to return the registration/verification forms, the school district must release the student information to military or college recruiters upon their request. Once this information is released, the district cannot control how these institutions use the information.


If you have questions, please contact your school's main office or guidance office. 

Required Annual Notices for Families - Child Find

7/1/2017

 

All children and youth (ages 0-21) who are residents of Craftsbury, Greensboro, Hardwick, Stannard, Wolcott and Woodbury are eligible to receive an appropriate education at public expense, regardless of any disabilities they have. It is possible that the Orleans Southwest Supervisory Union may not be aware of all resident children and youth with disabilities. If you know of a pre-school aged child (birth-5) who may be developmentally delayed or a school-aged child who may have a disability and may be eligible for special education services and who is not in school or otherwise being educated at public expense, please notify the Orleans Southwest Supervisory Union by calling or writing to:

Heather Freeman, Director of Student Services
Orleans Southwest Supervisory Union
P.O. Box 338, Hardwick, VT, 05843
Phone 802-472-6063

Annual Notices for Families - Destruction of Student Records

7/1/2017

 

​All graduates, former students, and parents/guardians of students with disabilities and adult students with disabilities who have attended schools in the Orleans Southwest Supervisory Union, including Craftsbury Elementary and Academy, Hardwick Elementary, Hazen Union, Lakeview Union Elementary, (Greensboro and Stannard), Wolcott Elementary, and Woodbury Elementary.

The educational records of all students who have graduated, dropped out, transferred, or become ineligible for services prior to and including June 2009 will be purged after June 24, 2016. This means that any educational records which are no longer needed to provide educational services, including psychological, medical, disciplinary, court, special education, 504 records, and recommendations will be destroyed. This information may be needed to establish eligibility for certain adult benefits, e.g., social security. If you do NOT want this information destroyed, please contact the respective school office before June 17, 2016.

Each district will maintain without time limitation directory information including student's name, academic record, date of birth, degrees and awards attendance record, and pupil progress record.