FHUHS Administration

Some of our Science students, fresh off presenting their projects in both the Fair Haven Union High School Science Fair and State fair, have another great educational opportunity this week. Mr. Shaun Ketchum’s AP Biology class will be traveling to Essex High School for a Genetics Update Conference. The conference features the Speaker Sam Rhine, an adjunct professor at Indiana State University who teaches “Causes and Prevention of Birth Defects”. He has spoken all over the US, Canada, and Europe. Mr. Rhine has received awards from the Academy of Pediatrics, the National Association of Biology Teachers and was named Distinguished Hoosier Scholar. Mr. Ketchum and his students are looking forward to a very interesting conference.

One of the many pleasures of being Principal of FHU (said very seriously, by the way) is witnessing the many and diverse talents of our students. I took advantage of my position Thursday night to be the lone audience member for the dress rehearsal of the Drama presentation of Nunsense. The ease of all the performances really struck me, but not nearly as much as the stunning vocal display of our girls. For those fortunate to see either the Friday or Saturday show, you know of what I speak. Amazing.

The following Scholar Bowl students departed Friday for the NAQT tournament at Spaulding High School in Barre: Jon Murray, Jon Russell, Forest Immel, Adam Cecil, Mike Wayne, Louis Chamberlain, Mitchell Dundon, and Jack Connolly.

All-MVL All Star Selections-Winter 2007-08 have been named. Congratulations to:

• Maeghan Hutchins-2nd Team Girl’s Basketball,
• Emily McIntyre-2nd Team Girl’s Basketball,
• Keith Schneider-1st Team Boy’s Basketball,
• Chris Davis-1st Team Wrestling,
• Brian Duclos-Richard Hall-Joe Durfee- Honorable Mention Wrestling.
• Ashley Brown & Nick Montello-Vermont Indoor Track Female and Male Athletes of the Year

Here is an example of our students once again taking the initiative to be involved in meaningful educational opportunities that few of us usually hear about. Forest Immel, a junior, recently spoke with me about the FIRST Robotics mentoring program he is involved with. Forest had been on Vermont’s only team located in Randolph, VT, for the past 3 years. This year a team was started in Rutland with the help of GE Volunteers and Alderman’s Chevrolet. Seventeen high school students from the Rutland area schools participated, including FHU senior John Durfee. John and Forest named their team IBOTS 2370. This team of students and mentors built a 120 lb. robot in the allotted six weeks to compete in the annual FIRST game challenge. They recently returned from the Granite State Regional held in Manchester, NH, with two winning awards, the ‘Highest Rookie Seed’ award and the ‘Best Regional Website’ Award. Out of 48 teams, the boys placed 13th, which allowed their team to play in the quarter finals. The team website, www.ibots2370.net will go on to the FIRST Championships held in Atlanta, GA, mid-April to compete with the 42 other regional website award winners. Mrs. Margaret Immel mentioned to me that there are plans to start another area team for next year; any students interested can contact her at rutlandrobotics@gmail.com. Best of luck and creativity to Forest and John.

Staff Sergeant Eric R. Kent just received the “55th Aircraft Maintenance Squadron” crew chief of the year award for 2007 at Offutt Air Force Base on the E4B aircraft. Eric is a 2000 graduate of FHU. Congratulations Eric, what an honor this is.

The ninth grade FACT teachers recently received a grant from the Vermont Community Foundation to use the South Lake Champlain Basin as a classroom for interdisciplinary teaching of Geography, English, Math and Science. For the past two years grant money has supported field trips and speakers at the Buckner Preserve in West Haven, VT, for FACT students.

The Child Development class spring semester preschool has openings for children ages 3 to 5. Spring preschool will consist of 9 sessions beginning May 1 and ending May 29. The preschool meets Tuesday and Thursday, 11:15 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. If you are interesting in having your child participate, call 265-4966, ext. 221, and leave a message with your name and phone number. You will be contacted about registration materials. This program is free of charge, serving all families in the ARSU district. Admission is on a first-come basis. Please contact us soon. We look forward to hearing from you.

I have not yet heard how last Friday’s fundraiser organized by the band Salad Daze went, but it was a thrill to hear band members and FHU students Josh Ferguson, Amber Beayon and Josh Jakab on the Lakes Region Radio morning program last Thursday. As I mentioned to Amber, when I likely embarrassed her during math class, the three of them sounded incredible, especially given the physical space that I thought would not be overly conducive for live music. Listening to them was a great way to start the day.

Next week’s newsletter will highlight FHU’s Valedictorian and Salutatorian for the Class of 2008.

Hope the week is a great one,

Brett C. Blanchard, Fair Haven Union High School Principal