Dear CVA Community,

At the February 10 meeting of the Board of Trustees, the CVA Board enthusiastically voted to adopt the updated version of the mission statement above.

A task force of fourteen teachers, coaches, staff, parents, trustees, and alumni met throughout the summer and fall to examine the current mission, review information, study peer school and organization mission statements, and draft an updated mission for recommendation to the Board. Most notably, the new mission is not a directional change for the CVA; it is a clear articulation of the Academy’s purpose. CVA’s mission guides our work as a Board and the work each and every day at CVA. The Board of Trustees is incredibly grateful to the mission review task force members for their thoughtful and important work, and most especially to the co-chairs Lydia Barbie and Amanda Newton Gray ’96. Thank you!

As a best practice, schools examine their mission statements periodically to ensure they accurately articulate the school’s purpose. The timing often aligns with an association’s re-accreditation process, leadership transition, or as a foundational step for creating the next strategic plan. For all these reasons, the timing for CVA to review the mission was ideal. 

The Board is embarking on the strategic planning process and is working with school leadership to complete a number of foundational steps to inform the process, in addition to reviewing and adopting the updated mission. CVA’s recent re-accreditation with the New England Association of Schools and Colleges (NEASC), the US Ski & Snowboard Gold Club recertification process, and the head of school search each provided an abundance of data and information for the Board and the administration as it begins strategic planning. A new strategic plan for CVA will articulate strategic priorities and initiatives to ensure the sustainability of the institution and to maintain and increase competitive advantage. In the coming months, I look forward to sharing more about the strategic planning process and the future strategic direction and vision for CVA as the next strategic plan is established. 

Sincerely,

Lindy MacKinnon Gruen ’92

Chair, Board of Trustees

The Big Dog community was excited to welcome our friends from Special Olympics Maine back to Sugarloaf for a special on-snow training day in February. CVA students, coaches, and teachers spent the day working one-on-one with Special Olympic athletes, providing alpine and snowshoe training.

Under the organizational leadership of the CVA National Honor Society, CVA volunteers set up racecourses, provided timing, served up hot cocoa and cookies, ran the ceremony, and gave lots of encouragement to the Special Olympians. Thank you to the National Honor Society for their help in organizing this special day.

For more than 30 years, CVA's involvement with Maine Special Olympics has been one of our most meaningful traditions. Many hands and hearts made for a smooth, enriching, fun, and safe day. Thank you to everyone who was a part of this special event!

CVA is now accepting applications for the 2024-2025 school year! Have you ever wondered what it's like to be a student-athlete at CVA? Learn more about the CVA experience by attending one of our Open Houses. Meet our admissions team, teachers, and coaching staff; get answers to your questions, take a tour of our campus, and discover what being a CVA Big Dog is all about.

Contact Director of Enrollment, Lydia Barbie at lbarbie@gocva.com for more information.

Virtual Open House

Tuesday, February 20th at 7pm

On-Campus Open House

Wednesday, February 21st, 3pm

at the Webber Academic Center,

5015 Begins Way, Carrabassett Valley, Maine

No registration required.

Directions: Across from The Rack, turn onto Begins Way. Drive straight past the soccer field, veer left at the parking circle. Park on your right in Visitor Parking in front of the school. Enter the door closest to Visitor Parking.

On Saturday, February 24th, 2024, CVA will hold its annual Scholarship Bash. The Scholarship Bash is CVA's only fundraising event to raise money for tuition assistance. Each year, CVA awards financial aid to over half the student population. Funds are raised through ticket sales, auction items, a paddle raise for cash donations, and our generous event sponsors. Your support helps us make the CVA experience available to student-athletes that otherwise could not afford it. Thank you for supporting this critical piece of CVA's fundraising efforts.

Get ready for an event like no othah. CVA is thrilled to announce that Maine's Finest Athlete, Donny Pelletier, will be our Master of Ceremonies for this year’s Scholarship Bash!

Want to point ‘em downhill with, Donny? Now’s your chance! You could win a two-hour ski with Donny Pelletier at Sugarloaf. Ayuh, we ain’t kiddin’ bub. 

Yessuh, the winner of this package will receive a private 2-hour free ski with Maine legend, Donny Pelletier, at Sugarloaf on Saturday, February 24, 10 am - 12 pm, for up to 11 people. It’s gunna be wicked pissah. Note: lift tickets and Moxie not included.

Only 500 raffle tickets will be sold, for an opportunity to win the grand prize of $10,000.

Tickets are $100 each. All proceeds support the CVA Scholarship Fund. Each ticket provides entry for two to the in-person event (limit to the first 200 who RSVP). Ticket holders need not be present at the event to win the $10,000 grand prize.

Raffle tickets are available now at:

• Mountainside Real Estate
• Downhill Supply Company
• CVA on Rt. 27 and at the King Cummings Campus

If you want to volunteer to help sell raffle tickets, please contact Jennifer Pulk at jpulk@gocva.com or 207-237-4484.

The proceeds from all auction items benefit the CVA Scholarship Fund. Auction items are being added daily.

In-Person Live Auction:

Please join us at the in-person event on February 24th for a chance to bid on unique, hard-to-find items and experiences including a locker in the Competition Center, securing your spot in the CVA Weekend Program, and a fantastic Red Sox package!

Can't make it to the event but want to bid on a live auction item? Contact Melissa Fogg to make your proxy bid for you.

For a full list of Auction Items, visit

www.32auctions.com/CVA24.

Private Race/Training Session w/CVA Coaches

Private GS training or race simulation for up to 12 people utilizing the CVA Colby T-bar with your choice of TWO CVA alpine coaches. (Subject to availability) This 90 minute session will take place on a Thursday afternoon or Friday morning and includes coaching, timing, and video! Alternative times may be available. Valid for one year, expires February 22, 2025 

Donated by: CVA

Congratulations to the CVA Student Spotlight award winners for January! Each month CVA teachers and staff nominate students who exemplify what being a Big Dog is all about in each of the three foundational pillars of our mission: academics, athletics, and community.

Thank you to D'Ellie's Bakery & Deli for sponsoring our Student Spotlight award recipients. Each month D'Ellie's provides gift certificates to our winners and displays their photos proudly on their wall.

Jack is doing well academically across the board. As a senior, Jack has pushed himself in his course selection. His interest in learning is always apparent in the classroom where he proactively asks questions to make sure he has a firm grasp of the material. Great job, Jack!

Abigail has been a true asset to the Big Dog community this Winter Term. Her quiet confidence makes her a great leader whether she is directly balancing social situations in the dorms, or tutoring and helping out fellow students even though she is not, yet, a Peer Tutor. Way to be, Abigail!

Students in Dave Koenig’s Precalculus and Calculus classes receive a traditional yet multi-faceted classroom approach to help them understand the real-life applications of advanced math such as algebra, geometry, trigonometry, and calculus. He provides in-class lectures, with an emphasis on problem-solving skills, example problems, and application which is then reinforced on independent assignments. As with any class, there are quizzes on each section culminating in a test at the end of the chapter to ensure that his students understand the material and have built the foundational knowledge of the algebraic rules to ensure the successful application of math to solve real-world problems.

To keep students interested and engaged, Dave’s classes utilize some project-based learning to help them understand the real-life applications of the math they learn in the classroom. A favorite among Big Dog students, Dave’s projects take the kids out of the classroom and into the field where they not only learn how to apply mathematical concepts to solve real-world problems but also gain an understanding of why a technique or instrument may not be well-suited to a particular situation.

“Ironically, I struggled in math through high school and into college,” Dave admitted. “It wasn’t until I grasped the ‘why’ of math - why does this rule apply in this instance or why doesn’t it apply in certain situations - that I gained a deeper understanding and an affinity for the subject.”

To better understand how math can be used to solve real-world problems and teach the ancillary skills of organization, neatness, time management, and attention to detail, Dave’s students complete several projects out in the field. 

The third trimester of Honors Calculus class is dedicated to integration, the applications of integration, and an applied calculus project. The goal of the project is to assimilate several of the concepts learned during the year and use math in an applied and experimental setting.

Last year the Honors Calculus class designed a dam for the Carrabassett River at the Campbell Field bridge. Each lab group built a diorama of the Carrabassett River upstream of the bridge and included a model of their dam. In addition, lab groups use several applications of integration in order to determine the fluid force acting on the face of their dam, the work required to empty the hypothetical reservoir, the volume of water retained, and the time required to empty it using a 1 HP pump.

Each year, the Precalculus class wraps up the units on trigonometry by performing an applications project in place of a test. They use transits on the top of Sugarloaf to record measurements for the peaks in the region. Then they head to the classroom and use their data, as well as data collected by Dave from the top of Burnt Mountain, to perform calculations which allow them to find the mountains' locations and elevations. They then use these calculations to make a map of the surrounding region, find the acreage between any three surveyed points, and calculate the distances between any of the surveyed points.

These projects give students the opportunity to develop skills in team-work and project management and give them the experience of collecting data, reviewing foundational math concepts and rules to ensure calculations are correct, and applying their findings to the real world. They are challenged to use the math skills learned in the classroom in a practical and precise way, are required to write up a formal lab report, and are given the opportunity to learn the limitations of math, and the equipment used in the project.

“Dave genuinely cares about his students and making sure that they are learning the material well. Whether we are on trips or in class, he always goes above and beyond to help you,” student Jack Velenchik ’24 said. “I’m the type of person that likes to know where the equation comes from even though it is not on the test. He loves to show where the equation comes from on the board because he knows how much it helps me understand the material.”

As with all classes at CVA, lesson plans need to accommodate students outside of the class too. When student-athletes are on the road, they don’t miss a beat with their studies. Textbooks, homework packets, and even in-class discussion notes are always available online. If a student learning while in Europe gets stuck on a homework problem, Dave has created a library of videos where he demonstrates each step of the problem-solving process of assigned homework problems that students can access at any time.

“Dave truly loves math and has such a gift at teaching it,” remarked Nattee McKenzie ’24, a CVA senior interested in studying Mechanical Engineering in college. “He’s beyond helpful whether I’m sitting in his classroom or on the other side of the world.”

Dave teaches Precalculus and Calculus and is also the Dean of Students. Graduating from the University of Idaho, Dave earned a BS Degree in Geology in 1999 and joined CVA in 2000. Outside of class, he enjoys telemark skiing, biking, canoeing, and time with family and dog Zion.

CVA FIS Alpine coach, Jenny Piot, stopped by one of the local elementary schools - Stratton School - to meet with students and answer their questions regarding her ski racing career as a World Cup and Olympic alpine skier and a former member of the French National Ski Team. She shared stories from her life in France and what she cherishes most about both France and the United States. Students also enjoyed sharing some of their experiences skiing and showing off their French skills. It was an enlightening, fun, and inspirational experience for all. Merci beaucoup, Jenny Piot!

The CVA Community recently gathered for an enriching evening of thought-provoking activities and workshops designed to explore kindness, respect, belonging, and inclusion. These sessions, presented by Hallie Herz and Eva Fury of Kindling Collective, and organized by our CVA CommUNITY Advocates, aimed to give the members of our community the tools to foster an inclusive culture at CVA and to prepare students to be advocates for unity beyond CVA.

A heartfelt thank you to Hallie, Eva, and our dedicated CommUnity Advocates group for creating a collaborative, respectful space for learning about diversity topics. Together, we continue to nurture an environment where everyone feels valued and included.

The mission of CVA CommUNITY Advocates is to promote and maintain a community of belonging where all students, faculty, and staff feel welcomed, valued, respected, and safe.

CVA athlete Nathan Pare PG, a member of U.S. Ski and Snowboard’s SBX Development Group, achieved a remarkable career milestone on January 31, 2024. At the Dolni Morava Snowboard Cross European Cup Race held in the Czech Republic, Nathan delivered an incredible performance, receiving his first silver medal at a European Cup event.

“Nate navigated his way through all of the heats, making multiple passes," said Snowboard Program Director, Freddy McCarthy. "He showcased great strategy and execution, earning his place on the podium.”

Congratulations, Nate, on this awesome achievement and your first EC podium.

In a dazzling display of talent and determination, three student-athletes from Carrabassett Valley Academy made their mark at the Youth Olympic Games held in Gangwon, South Korea. Representing the state of Maine with skill and pride, these young competitors showcased their talent on the international stage. All three athletes secured top-10 finishes in their events and have returned to Maine with two silver medals.

“The pursuit of excellence at the Youth Olympic Games is an intense battle that tests athletes and coaches in many ways," said Mike Phelan, CVA Ski Cross Program Director and Team USA Ski Cross Coach at the Youth Olympic Games. "With 7 challenging heats in Ski Cross and Snowboard Cross racing - 5 initial heats, a semifinal, and the ultimate small or big final - the athletes have a long journey to get to the podium steps. It takes a lot of stamina, grit, and determination to fight that hard, for that long, and our athletes did just that."

In a remarkable feat for Team USA, Morgan Shute '25 earned two silver medals in Ski Cross at the Youth Olympic Games: one in the Individual event and one in the Mixed Team event. She exhibited exceptional consistency throughout the individual race, winning all six heats leading up to the Big Finals. Morgan's stellar performance in the Big Finals earned her a well-deserved silver medal. In the Mixed Team event, Morgan came back from a two-second deficit to clinch a spot on the podium with her Team USA teammate Walker Robinson.

Following a strong training day, Maggie Swain '24 commenced the Women's Ski Cross race as the third fastest female athlete. Maggie’s results improved with each heat, culminating in first-place finishes in her last two heats. Ultimately finishing in ninth place overall, just outside of Small Final qualification, Maggie's tenacity and resilience were on full display. In the Mixed Team event, Maggie battled hard. With intense competition in every one of her heats, she and her Team USA teammate, Aiden England, made the Small Finals, where they secured a seventh-place finish for Team USA.

Boden Gerry '24 emerged as a standout athlete at the Youth Olympic Games. Entering the competition as the top athlete in his age group, Boden navigated through the heats with finesse, securing victories in six out of his seven heats. Boden showcased grit and determination, finishing strong in fourth place out of twenty-eight competitors.

In the Mixed Team event, Boden and his teammate, Brianna Schnorrbusch, advanced to the Quarterfinals, securing a commendable ninth-place overall finish in the event.

“In witnessing the extraordinary achievements of our athletes at the Youth Olympic Games, I could not be more proud," Head of School, Kate Webber Punderson ’89, said. "Boden, Maggie, and Morgan each set the goal to represent the United States of America on this world stage. They did that and more! Their commitment to long-term athlete development, hard work, and true love of their sports brought them to this well-deserved moment. Their accomplishments are especially impressive given the equal dedication they give to CVA’s challenging academic program and our community values. I’m grateful to everyone at CVA, Sugarloaf, and the Sugarloaf Ski Club who supported these student-athletes in the pursuit of their dreams.” 



In January the Backcountry team traveled to the distant island of Hokkaido Japan. The purpose of this trip was to experience Japan's legendary powder snowpack, deep-rooted cultural traditions, and skiing fuming volcanoes.

While abroad the student-athletes got a taste of ice-cold powder followed by steaming bowls of authentic ramen. In between the chest-deep powder turns the team took time to investigate the layers of the snowpack and even got to trigger a small avalanche on a test slope to see how it would behave.

Needless to say, the team had a killer trip and can't wait to go back!

The slopes were alive with energy as the first US Ski & Snowboard Eastern Region Freestyle A-Mogul Competition, the Kagan Cup, unfolded at Sugarloaf Mountain in January.

A massive round of applause to the Kagan Cup champion and CVA Senior, Chase Littlefield, for taking home the well-deserved victory! Jack Egan '25 also slayed the infamous Skidder course, clinching 2nd place for the men. Shoutout to the CVA Freestyle team as a whole for securing 3 of the top 10 spots for both men and women!

Top 10 results included:

Men:

1st Chase Littlefield '24

2nd Jack Egan '25

6th Gabe Landry '26

Women:

8th Kennedy Hicks '25

9th Celia Rose '27

10th Bea Holstein '25

The Moguls Team followed up with a strong showing at the Killington Classic, with another one-two punch from Chase (1st place) and Jack (2nd place) in the singles event and two Big Dogs claiming a top-ten spot for the women - Celia Rose 7th (2nd for U15) and Nattee McKenzie 10th. Duals saw four Big Dogs in the top eight: Jack Egan (2nd), Chase Littlefield (3rd), Gabe Landry (8th), and Celia Rose (8th).

CVA Freeski student-athletes Shire Cosby '25, Grant Schad '27, Jackson Heald '28, Owen LaRue '26, and Alex Bateman '26 were ripping it up at the first Futures stop in Vermont. All athletes showcased top-tier skills and proudly represented CVA against a fierce lineup of talent from across the country.

Alex and Owen, delivering standout performances in a stacked 1st heat, advanced to finals with impressive scores of 91.33 and 89 respectively. Seeing these athletes in the Finals at this event is a testament to their skills and dedication to their sport.

Next stop for Owen, Alex, and Shire – Futures competitions in Park City, Northstar, and Mammoth!

CVA FIS student-athletes had the home-court advantage for Speed Week. The Big Dogs set the slopes ablaze in the Downhill and Super G.

The men secured two impressive back-to-back top-10 finishes in the Downhill: Caleb Stefanakos '24 delivered a stellar performance, claiming a remarkable 6th place on Tuesday and 5th place on Wednesday; and, Bodhi Boschen '24 showcased his speed clinching a strong 8th place finish on Tuesday and 10th place on Wednesday. In the Webber Family Cup Super G race, Bodhi clinched the bronze medal.

CVA senior Charlie Koenig '24 dominated among the Women all week with gold medal performances!

In the Rand Stowell Cup Downhill Charlie seized victory in the U18 age group and claimed the top spot overall. For the Eastern Cup Downhill, there was no slowing down! Charlie secured an impressive 4th in U18 and 5th overall, showcasing unmatched skill and determination.

In the Webber Family Cup Super G Charlie continued her winning streak, dominating with a nearly 1-second lead over the competition – a true force to be reckoned with. In the Eastern Cup Super G Charlie not only secured another podium gold but did it in lightning speed, clinching the top spot for both U18 and overall.

Hats off to Caleb, Bodhi, Charlie, and all the incredible Speed Week competitors for their outstanding efforts!

The U16 Alpine coaching team includes: Sofia Novoselic, Head U16 Alpine Coach (in photo, center), Ben Corriveau (left), and Jeff Beauregard (right).

The CVA U16 Alpine coaches have extensive knowledge and many years of experience in ski racing and coaching at the highest level. The goal of the U16 Alpine coaching team is to continue to support the passion for ski racing through continued skill acquisition, development, and refinement. Athletes are encouraged to pursue their best by committing to their training opportunities and developing habits that support this effort. Conditioning, on-snow training camps, high level technical and tactical development, mental imagery, process-based goal setting, and periodization principles are introduced as the support structure for this level of athlete. A focus on quality volume of skiing is paramount.

The coaching team ensures that ample competition opportunities are provided during the season to develop student-athletes’ point profiles, as well as to qualify to the highest potential championship levels. U16 Alpine student-athletes compete in SL, GS, and SG events in Maine and New England to qualify for opportunities to compete regionally, nationally, and internationally.

Sofija Novoselic joined the Big Dog community as the U16 Head Alpine Coach this year. Sofija competed with the Croatian Ski Team from 2007-2015. She skied in two Winter Olympics (Vancouver and Sochi) and five World Championships. She attended Westminster College where she was a four year member of the ski team and graduated with a BS in Psychology. Her coaching experience includes one year at Ski Club Vail as a women’s FIS coach (2018-19) and most recently as Head U16 Women’s Coach at GMVS (2019-2023). Sofija is a dedicated, personable and passionate coaching professional with extensive personal experience in our sport.

Ben has been skiing for 40+ years and has been coaching ski racing for 8 years. He is a level 100 USSA coach who worked for the CVA Weekend Program for many years before joining the Academy coaching staff in 2022.

Jeff Beauregard P’11, P’13 has been coaching full-time with the Academy since 2015. His track record in developing and improving skiers is fantastic, and the example and tone he sets for the program is even better. Before joining the Academy full-time, he spent 11 seasons with the CVA Weekend Program. Jeff holds a USSA Level 200 certification and is an Alpine official. He brings a genuine passion for skiing, ski racing, and CVA, which he naturally shares with his athletes. Jeff grew up skiing at Jay Peak, VT, and was a member of the ski club there. After ski racing and playing soccer in college, he went on to coach and teach skiing at Jay Peak, and also worked as a member of the race crew at Beaver Creek, CO.

We had a blast cheering on all the athletes at this year's EISA Carnival hosted by Colby College on our shared home hill. The racing skills and excitement in the NCAA Div. 1 EISA circuit is next level. Shout out to Sugarloafers and current and former Big Dogs Charlie Koenig (CVA U18), Luke Kearing (Harvard), and Sebastian Segre (Middlebury), as well as Saint Michael's coaches Gus MacLeod and Nick Stagers.

Congratulations to CVA alum, Liam Moffatt '15, who charged into the Big Final and placed 4th in the FIS Snowboard Cross World Cup in Georgia. Congratulations, Liam!

photo credit: Neil Manson

CVA is hiring faculty for the 2024-2025 School Year. For full job descriptions please visit our website. Interested candidates should send a cover letter and resume to klanoue-egan@gocva.com or Karen Lanoue-Egan, Carrabassett Valley Academy, 3197 Carrabassett Drive, Carrabassett Valley, ME 04947.

Mathematics Teacher

Carrabassett Valley Academy has an open full-time, 9-month salaried position in the Mathematics Department for the 2024-25 school year. This position involves teaching middle school and high school-level Mathematics, with the potential for additional hours tutoring in our Academic Success Program. Minimum qualifications include a Bachelor’s degree (Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in Math or Education preferred) and the ability to teach both introductory and advanced courses in Math.

Humanities (English/History) Teacher

Carrabassett Valley Academy has an open full-time, 9-month salaried position in the Humanities Department for the 2024-25 school year. This position involves teaching middle school and high school-level English Language Arts and History, with the potential for additional hours tutoring in our Academic Success Program. Minimum qualifications include a Bachelor’s degree (Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in an area of Humanities preferred) and experience teaching college preparatory high school English.

The mission of the Sugarloaf Ski Club is to provide the opportunity for all youth to participate and excel in skiing and snowboarding, promote community-building events, support competition, and preserve the history and heritage of the mountain.