FHUHS Administration

Last week Mr. Roach’s Band students had an excellent educational experience (at least from my vantage point as I listened outside the doors as to not interrupt the performance). The musical group 35th Parallel spent the morning leading a student workshop/concert. Mr. Roach told me it went extremely well as they were great with our students and very interactive. He informed me that he “personally had a great time and would recommend this group to anyone. They were a world fusion music group playing music from and talking about different cultures especially the Middle East. The best part, for me, was that while the group packed up they engaged the theory students. They answered questions, told stories of past concerts and experiences, and even engaged in some music theory discussion and rhythm exercise stuff. Overall, I couldn’t have been happier with the presentation.” We both want to thank Mrs. Burlette for making this opportunity a reality.

Stafford just announced that seven students earned membership into the National Technical Honor Society with two of those being from Fair Haven Union High School. Huge congratulations to Chelsea Tice-Video Production and Patty Danahy-Architecture Engineering Design for this well deserved honor.

Mr. Worthing and Mr. Cassidy have looked over the site for the new composting project that the students are undertaking. Combined with the recent planting of the 30 apple trees, Mr. Schwaner’s and Mr. Worthing’s Field and Forest Club (with student leadership provided by Jessica Wood) have already made some large positive changes.

Upward-Bound nominated Garry Brown and Michael Green to attend the Three-For-All college tours in Burlington on June 5th based on their excellent academics and attendance at UB. They will be providing transportation for the students nominated. Congratulations to both students.

Mrs. McCuen and Mrs. Burlette collaborated to bring a very powerful and successful Learning Network of Vermont (LNV) event from Vanderbilt University to McCuen’s Honors 10 English students. Presenter and Holocaust survivor, Eric Rosenfeld, shared his personal story of escaping the Holocaust via Kindertransport. Rosenfeld lost many family members in Germany (including his mother to Auschwitz). Later, in the U.S. he became an American soldier.

Our students joined students from six other U.S. schools including New Jersey, Texas, New York, Ohio, Indiana, and Michigan in this interactive conversation. Fair Haven students were able to hear Rosenfeld’s story first-hand and ask him further questions about his life. Here are several responses to the experience:

“I thought the experience was amazing (to talk to someone who lived through the Holocaust). I think it’s really brave of Mr. Rosenfeld to share his traumatizing experience; he relives his experience in front of thousands of people again, and again. . . Learning from textbooks and teachers is a very different experience than hearing it emotionally tied to someone who lost so much when it happened to him first-hand.” – Gywnn Roberts

“It was amazing to be involved with this. Hearing questions from students across the country was really cool. And hearing Mr. Rosenfeld’s story from him really drove home what a horrible time in history it was. The emotion displayed while he told his story was extremely touching. I’m grateful for this experience.”-Meghan Hill

“. . . It was empowering to hear that this man came to America, escaping that destruction and created a life and a family.”- Devin Clark

“Mr. Rosenfeld’s experience was very moving and heartfelt. . . I can’t even imagine how I would react if I came face to face with people responsible for my family’s death.” -Kelsey Burnhans “. . . I also like the technology and being able to see students from other states; that was cool.”- Luke Lendway

Ms. Onderdonk’s English 10 class took a trip to Fair Haven Fitness for a boxing lesson (done for free with Jamie Matta donating his time and expertise). They had a great time and learned quite a bit of what it takes to be a boxer. Ms. Onderdonk told me, “I know I could barely move my arms for two days! This trip went along with our Contender (by Robert Lipsyte) unit.”

I look forward to seeing many of you Thursday night during our 8th Grade Orientation Night. Have a great week.


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