FHUHS Administration

With less than a week left in the regular season for our Slaters, I thought it worth highlighting some extracurricular happenings. The field hockey team played an inspired playoff game on Saturday, earning its first ever postseason victory. Having watched many of their games, I am confident that they have what it takes to bring the title to FHU this year. Friday night saw our boys remain contenders for the DII football playoffs with a solid victory at Colchester. Friday under the lights will see our team take on rival Poultney Blue Devils, after which we will know our playoff status. It is interesting to read of Mrs. Oakman mentioning awarding a trophy on our field after the game. I wonder if that invitation extends to the Slater boys as well?

One playoff game we do know will take place on our field is Tuesday?Äôs girl?Äôs soccer game. Coach Kyle Wilson found out late Friday that his team earned a home game at 3:00 p.m. Exciting time for our Slater athletes and fans!

I recently discovered that FHU alumni and current F-14 fighter pilot Samantha Skeens, Class of 2001 (see newsletter August 27th), has a brother who is also continuing to provide public service for the betterment of the greater Atlanta, Georgia area. William (Bill), Class of 1998, is currently a Police Officer for the Atlanta Police Department. He earned his position after serving seven years in the Marine Corp, including two tours of duty in Iraq. There can be no doubt that the Skeen?Äôs are proud of both children?Äôs accomplishments, as all of us should also be.

LyAnna Sanabria, FHU Pumpkin Princess (see October 8th newsletter), will be attending next month the National Youth Forum on Law in Washington, DC. Having known students who have spent the week in the program, I know it to be an intensive, interesting and valuable opportunity for any student seeking to learn more, or become involved in the field of law. According to the organizers, ?ÄúThe National Youth Leadership Forum on Law provides the nation?Äôs top students with an in-depth look at the legal profession and the judicial process, as well as the opportunity to take an active role in a simulated trial. Law students also go behind the scenes at some of the most prominent law firms, universities and legal sites in Washington, D.C. such as the U.S. Supreme Court.?Äù I am sure LyAnna will make the most of the week.

Freshman Jake Ambrozaitis had a rare opportunity last week when he had dinner with Governor Douglas. His mother was kind enough to tell me that Jake ?Äúmet [Governor Douglas], shook hands and had some interesting conversation with him. We were at the annual Rutland County Farm Bureau meeting/dinner in Castleton. It was a pretty small gathering and we really had the governor all to ourselves during dinner. Later in the evening, Jake was nominated and voted in as a board member of the Rutland County Farm Bureau.?Äù The privilege of the event and the status were not lost on Jake. As the youngest member of the board (when I foolishly mentioned that the rest of the board must be around my age or older, he said succinctly, ?ÄúYes, they are older?Äù). Jake will be working with our own Mrs. Chris Sheldon, who is President of the Farm Bureau. Jake is the son of Robert & Jacki Ambrozaitis of Benson.

Former FHUHS graduate of 2006, Chad Heck stopped by for a short visit on Tuesday, October 16th. Chad is currently enlisted in the United States Navy. Chad graduated from Boot camp and GMA School in Great Lakes, IL. He currently is home on leave until October 31rst and then leaves for a tour in Japan for approximately eight months. It was a pleasure to at least briefly meet this impressive young man.

On Saturday, October 27th, the Scholars Bowl team has been invited to a round robin tournament at Hanover High School in Hanover N.H. The team members participating will be Adam Cecil, Jesse Spaulding, Eric Jakubowski, Michael Wayne, Forest Immel, Matt Couture, and Madeline Jockell. If you see these students this week, wish them luck and skill at the tournament.

The Wednesday and Thursday before the rival football game there will be a sale on all items in the Slate Pit. The Slate Pit will be open periods one, five, and eight. Tee-shirts: $10, sweatshirts: $15 Mrs. Gina Himes and staff are making room for new inventory.

As a culminating project for the close of their poetry unit, students in both Mrs. McCuen Honors English Ten and English Ten courses have created attractive poetry collections. All students have compiled collections of poems personally created by for this course, improved them, word-processed and then add an image to them to correlate with each poem’s theme. Please contact Mrs. McCuen for more information.

Four of our students made the big stage in the competitive world of horse showing. Samantha Forrest, Dan Ellis, Althea Greene, and Lindsy Danforth all earned a spot in the National 4-H Horse Round-Up to be held the 1st of November in Kentucky. To put this accomplishment in perspective, Samantha (at age 14 the youngest to compete) was one of four to earn a spot in the Judging category out of over 200 competitors. This (FHU) team of four will be representing Vermont with Dan also competing in Judging, Althea in Hippology (a written test of knowledge) and Lindsy in Public Speaking. Samantha told me, ?ÄúIt should be fun. I can?Äôt wait. I had to practice so much; the team always practices together. I CAN?ÄôT WAIT!?Äù The students will be stopping at sites along the way, as well as having the opportunity to visit parks, museums and the Fox Trotter Hall of Fame. We wish the team skill and luck and look forward to hearing of their tales from the Nationals when they return.

Hopefully the incredible weather will hold this week so we can better enjoy all the after school activities. I hope to see you at some of them.

Mr. Brett C. Blanchard, Fair Haven Union High School Principal