Missisquoi Valley Union

Dear Alumni & Friends of MVU

On behalf of the MVU Communications Committee I want to take the opportunity to thank you for registering on the MVU web site.

We would like to invite you and your friends to attend a gathering at the VFW Post on Merchants Row in Swanton on May 17^th at 7:00pm. The purpose of this gathering is to discuss the establishment of a MVU Alumni Association in order to nurture the bonds formed during our years at MVU. There will be a cash bar and light refreshments will be served.

Our tentative agenda is:

7:00 – 7:30      Meet and Greet

7:30                 Welcome and Introductions

7:40                 Words from Presidents of the Alumni Associations of

St. Anne’s Academy               Swanton High School

Highgate High School                        Franklin High School

(who have all been invited)

7:55                 Goals of an MVU Alumni Association

8:15                 Selection of a Steering Committee

8:30                 Adjournment

To view and/or print the Proposed Expenses and Projected Revenues for the 2013-2014 year click  Here.

Dear Alumni and Friends,

As MVU enters its 42^nd year, we are trying to foster better communications with our communities, alumni and friends. As a result, we wish to replace our sign located at MVU’s entrance with an electronic sign so that we may better communicate important information to the community.

The electronic sign would be dedicated to all the members of the MVU community who have served our country in the armed forces.

If you would like to donate to our cause, please make your check payable to:  The MVU Sign fund, and mail to:

The MVU Sign Fund
100 Thunderbird Drive
Swanton, Vt. 05488

For anyone wishing to make a donation online, please click the Donate Now Button located below.

MVU would like to say “Thank you” to all who could make a donation and to all those who serve the community through various efforts.

And to register as an MVU Alumni click here.

Missisquoi Valley Union MS/HS is proud to announce that Stephen Belisle and Andrew Bingham will be inducted into the alumni Hall of Fame on May 18^th at 1:30 in the Paul B. Trahan Theater.  The addition of these people will make twenty-six graduates of MVU who have been inducted into the Hall of Fame since its creation in 1996.

Stephen E. Belisle grew up in Highgate and graduated from Missisquoi in 1988 as class valedictorian.  He earned a Bachelor of Science degree in mechanical engineering from ClarksonUniversityand later earned his law degree from GeorgeWashingtonUniversity.  He is presently a partner in the Washingtonlaw firm of Fitzpatrick, Cella, Harper and Scinto where he specializes on patent and trademark litigations, and unfair import investigations.  Previously Stephen was a captain and platoon leader in the U.S. Army’s 10^th Mountain Division where he served on tours of duty both inHaiti andKorea.  During college he co-opted in the engineering department at the Everready Battery Company inSt. Albans.  Stephen and his wife Michele along with their daughter, Jill, reside inBurke,Virginia.

Andrew T. Bingham was raised in Enosburgh and graduated from MVU as salutatorian of the class of 2003 and earned a double major in mechanical and aeronautical engineering fromClarksonUniversityas part of the school’s honors program.  He presently works for Firestar Technologies in Mohave,Californiaon the development of non-toxic hardware for the International Space Station and previously was an engineer at the California Institute of Technology in Pasedena where he helped design and test robotic manipulators and deployable booms associated with the Mars lander mission.  In 2009/10 he worked with La Canada High School nearLos Angelesto help organize and mentor a robotics challenge.  Andrew has also been a sponsor and supporter of MVU’s efforts to secure aChallengerLearningCenterforVermont.

New Proposal lowers tax rate from last year’s rate.

To View the proposed budget click Here.

                                                     *Photo and Article courtesy of the St. Albans Messenger*

State average stagnant in yearly NECAP results

By MICHELLE MONROE
Messenger Staff Writer

SWANTON — Missisquoi Valley Union High School (MVU) has claimed its fifth straight year of improvement on the state’s standardized test – the New England Common Assessment Program (NECAP).
The Vermont Dept. of Education released the most recent NECAP scores on Tuesday.

    Based on its test scores, MVU for about a decade has been identified as a school in need of improvement by the state education department. It still is, but officials at the school are encouraged by the test results.

   Statewide, Vermont schools have shown little improvement. Scores remain relatively stagnant with roughly three out of every four students performing at or above grade level in reading and 65 percent of students in grades 3 through 8 performing at or above grade level in math.

   However, there continues to be a precipitous drop off in math performance between middle school and high school, with only 36 percent of the state’s eleventh graders proficient or better in math.

   Here in Franklin County, Bellows Free Academy in Fairfax matched the statewide average with 36 percent of eleventh graders proficient in math, as did MVU with 35 percent.

  The county’s other three high schools – Richford, Enosburg and Bellows Free Academy in St. Albans – all lagged behind the state performance in math.

  In high school only eleventh grade students are tested, making comparisons difficult, as each group tested is relatively small and completely different from the previous years. High schools are generally not able to point to scores and show that students improved from one year to the next.

   However, MVU has shown improvement between its middle school and high school students in reading. This year, 53 percent of the middle school students were proficient in reading, while 70 percent of the school’s eleventh graders were proficient in reading. When MVU’s current crop of eleventh grade students was in middle school only 58 percent of the seventh and eighth graders that year were proficient or better in reading.

Read the rest of this entry »

Missisquoi Valley Union MS/HS is proud to announce that Brian R. Raleigh will be inducted into the alumni Hall of Fame on May 24th at 2:00 in the Paul B. Trahan Theater. The addition of Mr. Raleigh will make twenty-seven graduates of MVU who have been put into the Hall of Fame since its creation in 1996.

Brian Raleigh grew up in Swanton and graduated from Missisquoi Valley in 1983. He went on to earn a Bachelor’s Degree in 1987 from the University of Vermont and two years later received his Master’s Degree from Western Carolina University. After a brief time in education, health, and fitness Brian went to work as a lead financial advisor for Mutual of Omaha. In 2004 he became the founder and CEO of TruWealth Capital Management financial planning in Raleigh, North Carolina and today serves clients in eight states. He has made numerous public presentations and seminars, and has authored many financial articles that have been featured in USA Today, CBS Moneywatch, CNBC, and other media outlets. Brian has also written a book entitled “Rounding Third and Heading for Home” to be released this summer. Brian is active in the Raleigh area Chamber of Commerce, the Better Business Bureau, and serves on a number of church and community boards. He also helps coach soccer, baseball, and ice hockey at the youth level. Brian and his wife Jill live in Cary,North Carolina with their four children, Mikayla, Jake, Shaelyn, and Brandon.

Missisquoi Valley Union High School presents SINGIN’ IN THE RAIN, that most beloved of all movie musicals, live on stage from May 23-25, 2013 at the school’s Paul B. Trahan Theater. Adapted for the stage from the original 1952 MGM film which starred Gene Kelly, Debbie Reynolds and Donald O’Connor, each unforgettable scene, song and dance is accounted for – including the show-stopping title number. In 2006, the American Film Institute named SINGIN’ IN THE RAIN the number one movie musical of all time.
In 1927 Hollywood, Don Lockwood and Lina Lamont are Monumental Pictures’ biggest silent film stars. But with the invention of sound film, studio head R.F. Simpson is forced by public demand to produce talking pictures. It looks like Monumental is heading for disaster, as Lina has a voice like a chainsaw and can’t sing or dance. With help from his best friend Cosmo and the beautiful up-and-coming starlet Kathy Selden, Don cooks up a scheme to save the studio. But when Lina discovers their plan, it could spell heartbreak for Don and Kathy.
Missiquoi Valley Union High School presents SINGIN’ IN THE RAIN Thursday, May 23rd, Friday, May 24th and Saturday, May 25th at 7:00pm. There will also be a matinee performance Saturday, May 25th at 2:00pm. Tickets are $10.00 for adults, and $7.00 for students, senior citizens and children. Reserved seating available. Tickets will be available at the high school, or can be ordered online through the Enosburg Opera House box office at enosburgoperahouse.org. The Paul B. Trahan Theatre at MVU is wheelchair accessible.
SINGIN’ IN THE RAIN is presented through special arrangement with Music Theatre International (MTI). All authorized performance materials are also supplied by MTI. 421 West 54th Street, New York, NY 10019 Phone: 212-541-4684 Fax: 212-397-4684 www.MTIShows.com. Screenplay by Betty Comden and Adolf Green. Songs by Nacio Herb Brown and Arthur Freed. Based on the classic Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer film, by special arrangement with Warner Bros. Theatre Ventures, Inc. Music Published by EMI. Original Movie Choreography by Gene Kelly and Stanley Donen. Produced by Arrangement with Maurice Rosenfield, Lois F. Rosenfield and Cindy Pritzker, Inc.

The State Treasurer’s Office holds the yearly competition to promote student interest in and knowledge of personal finance, economics, and consumer affairs topics.

Missisquoi Valley Union High School was awarded the Vermont Treasury Cup as the winner of the 2013 challenge. State Treasurer Beth Pearce awarded the gold challenge cup to the team. Pictured here with the State Treasurer are: (top l to r) business teacher Jacob Hartman and students Elijah Eaton and Eamon Murphy; (lower l to r) Cole St. Francis, Kraig McFadden, and Taylor Marquis.

State Treasurer Pearce Challenges High School Teams to Understand Personal Finance

MONTPELIER, Vt.—In an academic challenge of personal finance and economic knowledge, a dozen Vermont high schools recently competed to be named champion of the 2013 Vermont Treasury Cup Challenge. State Treasurer Beth Pearce awarded the large gold traveling trophy to Swanton’s Missisquoi Valley Union High School. Second place was won by Bellows Free Academy in Fairfax and Fair Haven Union High School took home third place.

“The aim of the challenge is to encourage Vermont high school students to learn about personal finance and economics,” said Pearce. “The tournament provides students and teachers with a fun educational event where they can showcase and grow their knowledge of finance. It’s important that Vermont’s youth learn financial skills and be able to understand basic economic principles. I congratulate all of the high schools that participated this year for their commitment to financial literacy.”

May 3, teams assembled in Montpelier for the fifth annual competition. The Vermont State Treasurer’s Office has offered the state tournament since 2009. Since its beginning, twenty-one different high schools have competed in the challenge.

“The challenge provided our students with a great opportunity to compare their knowledge in personal finance and economics to other students across the state,” said Missisquoi Valley Union business teacher and team coach Jacob Hartman. “The success that our students were able to achieve will help highlight the hard work that MVU has done to make the very important topic of personal finance an integral part of our curriculum.”

As the winner of the tournament, Missisquoi Valley Union High School wins the right to display the gold challenge cup for one year. Individual student members of the first place team also won trophies and each one received a $250 college savings account donated by the Vermont Student Assistance Corporation. Student team members were: Taylor Marquis, Kraig McFadden, Elijah Eaton, Cole St. Francis and Eamon Murphy.

Second place winner Bellows Free Academy was coached by math teacher John Tague. Student team members were: Austen Carpenter, Aman Saini, Ben Tague and Courtney Meunier. The third place winning team, Fair Haven Union High School, was coached by business teacher Kim Ransom. Student team members were: Cody Juckett, Dylan Carter, Shannon Halnon, Rachel Butrimas and Jenna Ray.

In addition to the schools that placed in the competition, teams participated from Burlington High School, Harwood Union High School, Lyndon Institute, Montpelier High School, Mount Mansfield Union High School, North Country Career Center, St. Johnsbury Academy, South Burlington High School and U-32 High School.

“The students had a great time at the Treasury Cup Challenge! The format was challenging and fun,” said Bellows Free Academy math teacher John Tague.

Four-person student teams competed against each other in a quiz-show style contest that tested individual and team knowledge. In round one of each match, students were asked questions on personal finance. Questions covered such topics as how to responsibly use credit, ways to budget money, understanding taxes, and signing a lease. In the second round, students addressed questions on the economy. Students were asked about the rate of inflation, what is the gross domestic product, the importance of the unemployment rate, how stock markets work, and monetary policy. The final lightning round allowed students to compete to answer questions that covered both personal finance and economics.

“We learned a great deal about personal finance that we didn’t know before we got there,” said Fair Haven Union High School student Rachael Butrimas. “It was a great day at the State House. We want to win next year!”

The event was underwritten by TD Bank. The Vermont Jump$tart Coalition also supported the competition and supplied volunteers for the event.

The Project Free Graduation Committee has been working on making the 2013 graduation party a safe and fun event for our seniors.  We are excited to announce this year’s Project Graduation event will be held on the University of Vermont campus immediately following the commencement ceremony on June 14, 2013.  Students will board buses at 10:00 p.m. to travel to UVM with return to MVU at 4 a.m.  Planned events include a pizza buffet, a Hypnotist will perform, swimming, video games, black-light volleyball, badminton, basketball, dance, a photo booth and various games.  Prizes will be awarded to attending students through drawings or contests.  We are still compiling ideas to enhance the fun.

On Monday, May 6th, Grupo Sabor visited Spanish students at Missisquoi Valley Union High School. More than 70 Spanish students from Señora Salemno’s and Señora Cibula’s classes participated in the event. Grupo Sabor, un conjunto de música (a music group), is based in Vermont and is known for its mix of salsa, merengue, and classic selections. During the group’s visit, students sang along with the group and participated in a dance workshop, where they learned the basic steps of merengue and salsa. After the workshop, students had the opportunity to show off their skills while listening to the group perform live. Muchas gracias (many thanks) to Grupo Sabor for bringing their Latin flavor to MVU!

Grupo Sabor performs while students show off their new dance skills.

When:    Friday, May 3rd at 5:30 PM

Where:   C10

Who:      Open to all students, parents, and community members

What:    “Une Vie de Chat”/ “A Cat in Paris”

(In French with English subtitles)

RSVP:    Madame Tanner 868-7311 (x460) or      sarahtanner@fnwsu.org

or

Madame Ingham 868-7311 (x432) ordingham@fnwsu.org

Movie Synopsis:  “The Academy Award-nominated “A CAT IN PARIS” is a beautifully hand-drawn caper set in the shadow-drenched alleyways of Paris. Dino is a cat that leads a double life. By day he lives with Zoë, a little girl whose mother is a detective in the Parisian police force. But at night Dino sneaks out the window to work with Nico a slinky cat burglar with a big heart, whose fluid movements are poetry in motion as he evades captors and slips and swishes from rooftop to rooftop across the Paris skyline. “A CAT IN PARIS” is a delightful animated adventure perfect for both adults and children a witty and stylish “animated noir” with a jazzy soundtrack featuring Billie Holiday and a thrilling climax on top of Notre Dame cathedral. 

Featuring the voices of Academy Award winner Marcia Gay Harden (Mystic River), Academy Award winner Anjelica Huston (The Royal Tenenbaums) and Matthew Modine (Full Metal Jacket).” (movie cover)

Received an Oscar and César Nomination in 2012 for Best Animated Film

Runtime: 70 minutes    Release Date: 2010

Genre: Animation/Adventure/Crime

Dream Team – Brian Paradis – Outstanding effort in all core academic areas and always safe, respectful and responsible for his learning
Voyager Team – Taylor Connolly – Hard worker, positive attitude, always cooperative, conscientious student
Firebirds Team – Christine Messier – Self-driven and focused on academics
XStream Team – Dawson Bourdeau – XStreamly Diligent

Students pictured left to right Brian Paradis, Dawson Bourdear, Dan Palmer, Taylor Connolly, Christine

*STC Engineer Manager Brian Gold, Dana Maria Dezotell (teacher) and students: Eamon Murphy, Elijah Eaton and Kraig McFadden, missing from image is Taylor Marquis*

MVU Wins  Awards at the State Math and Science Fair

MVU students won $120,000 dollars in scholarships out of $900,000 total and $1,600 in cash out of $8,000, on April 13^th, at Norwich University. MVU participated with three projects and eight students. The students’ advisor, Dana Maria Dezotell, whose passion for STEM is already known in the area and at the state level, trained the students in sustainability projects, which are her first priority.

Dezotell was delegated as the State Official Party at the International Science and Engineer Fair May 12-17 in Phoenix, Arizona. The passionate teacher received this award  “in recognition of the potential that teacher has to improve the VSSMF program and the certain knowledge that that teacher will bring back from the experience wonderful new ideas that will take her students to a new level of competition in the future.”

There were 236 students present in 196 projects.

MVU received 5 big awards:

Producing Biodiesel by Heatless Transesterification of Recycled Cooking Oil by Elijah Eaton , Taylor Marquis, Kraig McFadden, and Eamon Murphy

Biodiesel won 4 awards:

1. Next Generation Scholarship Top 5 Juniors: $20,000 scholarship at Norwich University for each student over four years.
2.   ISEF National Society of Professional Engineers in Industry: Innovative Engineering Award- Certificate, Lapel Pin, & entry in a drawing to win $1000 to share equally
3. Superior Technical Ceramic Award for the Best Project in Franklin County- $1,000 cash for the students to share equally
4. Next Generation Scholarship at Norwich: $20,000 scholarship at Norwich University for each student over four years.

Saponification of By-Product Glycerol Formed in Production of Biodiesel from Recycled Cooking Oils

By Lindsay Daly, Lillian Meunier, and Kaylee Clark

Northeast Institute of Food Technologists Award: Best food-related science projects, any grade level – $200 each & dinner for two at NEIFT Student Recognition Night

The students and their instructor want to thank the following people for their continuous support: James Daly, Principal Robert Pequignot, Director of Education Christie Martin, Vice Principal Jay Hartman, Dr. Allan Crowley, Director of Building Paul Gregoire, tech assistant Corey Salter, and to all the teachers for their willingness to allow students to work on projects during the Thunderblock.

Do you want to become part of MVU’s cheerleading team? An Interest Meeting will be held April 19th during your Block class.

MVU wishes Riley Wetmore, Class of 2007, and the U-Mass Lowell Riverhawks good luck at the NCAA Division I ice hockey championships taking place this weekend in Pittsburgh.

MVU wishes Riley Wetmore, Class of 2007, and the U-Mass Lowell Riverhawks good luck at the NCAA Division I ice hockey championships taking place this weekend in Pittsburgh.

MVU is pleased to announce that 10th grader Linsday Daly and 11th  grader Eamon Murphy presented a STEM workshops at the VSTA Annual Conference on April 4, 2013 at Lake Morey, VT. The students and their teacher, Dana Maria Dezotell shared their experience on engineering design to make biodiesel and soap from recycled oils to teachers in Vermont.

MVU would like to congratulate senior Justin Gates for his outstanding achievements.  As part of their Student Composer Showcase, Vermont Public Radio (VPR) Classical has named Justin as the Student Composer for April 2013, for his string quartet piece entitled, “What I Knew Would Come.”  He wrote the piece last summer during his participation in the String Quartet Project, which is a program for young composers.  The Project is run by Music-COMP, the Burlington Ensemble and Vermont composer Erik Neilsen.  His composition was first performed in September 2012 in Burlington.

*Photo Courtesy of Sandi MacLeod*

In addition, Justin has been named the All-State Scholarship Performance Recipient, after receiving the highest score of composition pieces submitted.  As a result, his quartet piece will be performed on Thursday, May 9 at Mount Mansfield Union High School, in the scholarship concert portion of the Vermont All-State Music Festival.

Justin has been accepted to both Ithica College and Berklee School of Music.  He is also currently in the process of writing a piece for Vermont’s professional vocal ensemble Counterpoint, which is scheduled to premier either in either late April or May of this year.

To listen to an interview with Justin, along with the audio of his Quartet, “What I Knew Would Come,” click Here

THE Senior Banquet which is Saturday, May 11th at 6:00 pm, here at MVU.  Any Junior and/or Junior parent who would like to help out with this may contact Sherry Moser at 782-4226 and/or at MVU or Roland Laroche at MVU.  The only thing that has happened was the theme and a meal decision; otherwise, we will need lots of help decorating and serving at the banquet.  It should be fun and all are welcome!!!

We will have a meeting for any junior and parent that are interested in helping on Saturday, April 13th in the Theater at 9 am.  This should be a fun event for Junior and Senior students and parents!!!  Looking forward to hearing from anyone interested.

MVU is proud to announce that 11th grade students, Hannah Choiniere and Rebecca Cross presented at the Vermont EPSCoR Student Research Program the culmination of their research on the “Impact of Superstorm Sandy on Water Quality in Vermont” under the direction of science teacher, Dana Maria Dezotell. The 5th annual VT EPSCoR Student Research Symposium, held on April 4th at the DoubleTree Hotel in South Burlington, works to celebrate, “cultivate and prepare students to consider science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) careers, and to broaden participation in these fields by immersing students in active research.”

The evening of 2-19-13 was a culmination of a process that started several weeks ago by Lynette Fresn. The Monsanto Company has a $2,500 grant called “America’s Farmers Grow Communities” which is made available to a non-profit organization that is involved with making “rural communities a vibrant place to live, work and raise a family”.
Mrs. Fresn chose the Missisquoi Valley FFA as the rural non-profit organization because of its involvement with youth in our area. The grant will help support the local FFA Chapter by providing funding to subsidize member’s expenses to the state FFA convention, purchase FFA supplies, provide a small stipend for members who wish to go to the national FFA Convention, and for other local Chapter activities.
Mr. Klaus Busch, Territory Sales Manager for the Monsanto Company attended a dinner event where he presented Mrs. Fresn, Ronna Messier (local FFA advisor), and FFA members with a check for $2,500.

MVU is very excited to announce that Matt and Hannah Choiniere have been selected to attend the Organic Valley Annual Convention in Wisconsin to represent their generation of future farmers during the week of April 8-12, 2013.

Six teenagers across the country were selected to attend, and Matt and Hannah received two of the spots.

Congratulations Matt and Hannah!