MVSU Fine Arts Night

The MVSU first annual Fine Arts Night was a resounding success! The halls were filled with the sights and sounds celebrating the achievements of the actors, artists, and musicians from all of our schools. 

The art galleries were bursting with enthusiasts and the performers had a packed house with standing room only! Thank you all for supporting the MVSU Fine Arts programs!

Heather Vonada was named the Vermont-NEA Angelo J. Dorta Teacher of the Year

Heather Vonada was named the Vermont-NEA Angelo J. Dorta Teacher of the Year, which means she will also advance to the national level competition for the NEA Awards for Teaching Excellence. She was recognized at their recent Representative Assembly on March 29, and they are pleased to have her representing Vermont nationally in the coming year.

Heather was recommended by Mountain Views Education Association President, Stephen Stuntz, who had glowing remarks about Heather’s commitment to her students.

Ms. Vonada has shown her expertise in all levels of mathematics and has worked to make her classes both challenging and inclusive for students of all learning styles, including advanced students and those who may need additional instruction and support. Ms. Vonada has a relatable and engaging teaching style which forces all students to engage and keeps an appropriately high standard. She helps all students meet that standard by putting in extra time with individual and small groups of students both before and after school, during the elective ARE time and even during her lunch period.  Further demonstrating her commitment to students is her work running the local student/teen center each weekend, organizing fun and engaging activities and growing the program to be a healthy place that students want to be. In addition to her work with students in both upper and lower level math classes and at the teen center, Ms. Vonada is a valued colleague and professional. She has worked as the Department Head of the HS/MS Mathematics Department working to align the curriculum with Common Core standards and to make sure we have a scope and sequence to cover all students’ needs, including several AP level math classes. She has worked on the Math Equity Committee, working to make sure there are equal opportunities for all students in our district. She has achieved National Board Certification as well as being recognized as the VT Outstanding Mathematics Teacher, the UVM Outstanding Teacher of the Year and the Presidential Award for Excellence. For these and numerous other reasons, Heather Vonada is the Vermont recipient of the Anthony J. Dorta Award for Teaching Excellence.

Angelo J Dorta Award for Teaching Excellence

An honor bestowed annually to celebrate teaching excellence, public education, and our

Vermont-NEA believes that all students deserve the highest quality education and that the single most essential ingredient is a caring, competent, and qualified teacher who is supported by skilled and committed school support staff. Expert teachers who understand both the subjects they teach and the children they teach make the most important difference in student achievement.

Therefore, Vermont-NEA will select and honor one of its active members each year in order to celebrate teaching excellence, public education, and our dedicated school workforce. The Angelo J. Dorta Award for Teaching Excellence will be presented annually.

The Award, which carries with it a $1,000 cash prize, will recognize, reward, and promote excellence in public school teaching and underscore high standards of service to students and to the teaching profession.

The winner will represent Vermont in the national competition for the NEA Foundation Award for Teaching Excellence, which pays the winner $25,000.

The Award: 

A $1,000 cash award, recognition at the annual Vermont-NEA Awards Luncheon during the Association’s Representative Assembly, and submission of the awardee’s nomination materials to the NEA Foundation for the Improvement of Education for national consideration as Vermont’s nominee that year for the annual NEA Foundation Award for Teaching Excellence.

Selection Process: 

Selection of the award recipient will be made at the state level by the Angelo J. Dorta Teaching Excellence Award Selection Committee, comprised of two statewide officers, two Board Directors, and two local affiliate teacher leaders/members. Finalists also may be asked to provide additional information and materials.

Nominations are judged according to the criteria listed below:

PROFESSIONAL PRACTICE: The awardee demonstrates expertise, creativity, and innovation in providing rich learning opportunities for students. The awardee uses a variety of strategies to effectively address students’ different learning styles and needs. 

ADVOCACY FOR THE PROFESSION: The awardee is a current, active member of the local, state, and/or national education association, and has assumed leadership roles at one or more of these levels. The awardee is an active member of other professional organizations and engages in activities that advance the profession and public education. The awardee is a strong, effective spokesperson for students, educators, and the profession. 

COMMITMENT TO DIVERSITY, EQUITY, INCLUSION AND JUSTICE: The awardee works to provide a safe, supportive learning environment that meets the needs of all students, regardless of differences. The awardee recognizes and explicitly addresses the full array of values, cultures, and experiences represented in our diverse modern society, through interactions with students. 

FAMILY AND COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT: The awardee actively engages families to support student learning and success. The awardee is intentional in engaging the community to enhance student learning and success. 

LEADERSHIP IN PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT: The awardee continually engages in experiences to improve his or her practice and to gain new skills and knowledge. The awardee shares this new learning with colleagues in effective ways. The awardee’s participation in and commitment to professional development has a visible impact on their students, institution, and community.

Middle School Book Club Trip to New York City

The Middle School Book Club's trip to New York City to see the Anne Frank exhibit at the Center for Jewish History was inspired by Alice Hoffman's book, When We Flew Away: A Novel of Anne Frank Before the Diary.

Genevieve Williams wrote in her accordion journal, "The exhibition walked you through almost each year of Anne Frank's life and the journey Otto Frank took to get home. The exhibition included a mock up of their house including each room and furniture. It included many features that made you stop and think. Overall, it was an amazing experience!"

Pictured above: Anne Frank exhibit

In addition to going to the exhibit, the MS Book Club went to the Eldridge Street Museum to learn more about Jewish history, culture and religion and they took a food walking tour of the Lower East Side to enjoy some traditional Jewish foods like knish, rugelach and pickles!

On the second day of the trip, the MS Book Club toured the New York Public Library, saw the Rose Reading Room and saw Christopher Robin's stuffed animal collection including Winne the Pooh in the Treasures of the New York Public Library exhibit.

Pictured above: Genevieve's Accordion Journal

Welcome Assistant Principal, Mr. Chris Lanzalotto

Dear WUHSMS Community,

I am pleased to announce that after a comprehensive and thorough Assistant Principal search process, we have selected a distinguished educational leader with over 30 years of administrative experience to join our team. Beginning July 1, our new Assistant Principal, Mr. Chris Lanzalotto, brings extensive expertise in school leadership, student-centered practices, and a deep commitment to fostering inclusive educational environments. Throughout his career, he has demonstrated a strong ability to connect with students, staff, and families to cultivate positive school cultures built on respect, collaboration, and academic success. We are excited about the contributions and fresh perspectives he will bring to our school community.

Please join me in warmly welcoming Mr. Lanzalotto to the WUHSMS Team!

Dr. Ambros, Nobel Prize Winner in Medicine, Visits WUHSMS!

On April 2, Dr. Victor Ambros, Nobel Prize Laureate in Medicine 2024 visited WUHSMS, his alma mater, to talk about his life, career, and the experience of winning the Nobel Prize! Dr. Ambros graduated from WUHS in 1971 and reflected back fondly on skiing in the winter. He opened his presentations to the Middle School, the Ninth grade, and Ms. Cramer's AP Biology classes with a takeaway for everyone from his presentation. He said he hoped everyone would think, "That's a job that I could do. I want to be a scientist." His presentation on his discovery of microRNA was accessible and inspirational. One of Ms. Cramer's science students stated, "Dr. Ambros noted how all people are scientists. I never thought of it that way before. Science is driven by curiosity which we all exhibit from a young age. I feel invited to stay curious and wonder how the world around me works."

Students came prepared with questions and one student asked Dr. Ambros where he gets his inspiration from when things get difficult. Dr. Ambros recommended:

• talking with other people - you are not alone

• convince yourself that what you are doing is important

• change your thought process - reassess and drop things if they're not working

Dr. Ambros was so kind, gracious, and generous with his time. In a letter of thanks, he stated, "I can't tell you how incredibly exciting and rewarding the experience was for me! The students were so alive, present, inquisitive, and thoughtful. I needed that jolt of reality -- i.e. the reality of the powerful promise of the youth."