CVA opened its doors to welcome the families of our student-athletes for Fall Family Weekend and Sugarloaf’s Homecoming Weekend October 11-13. The fall foliage was at its peak and Saturday featured Sugarloaf’s famous wind, we even got a dusting of snow! Despite the weather challenges, our Big Dogs were out in force around the mountain, enjoying all that this unique community has to offer.

The CVA Annual Harvest Dinner for students, their families, teachers, coaches, and staff was held on Friday evening, featuring a delicious multi-course meal prepared by our talented kitchen staff. On Saturday, teachers and coaches held conferences with visiting parents while the CVA Enrollment team gave tours. CVA, The Rack, and Sugarloaf sponsored the annual Ski Swap & Sale in The Rack parking lot. The CVA Environmental Club was fundraising and collecting winter clothing and equipment for local schools and area charities, and the Parent Support Organization held a Holiday Wreath Pre-sale. On Saturday afternoon the PSO hosted the CVA community at their annual Oktoberfest. A Big Dog thank you to Phoebe Folger-David for hosting this event!

Participating in these community activities, both on and off campus, help strengthen our students’ connection to Sugarloaf, Carrabassett Valley, and each other. As members of this community, they learn life lessons including the importance of responsibility, generosity, kindness, and inclusion - helping them to grow into well-rounded, confident adults capable of achieving their goals.

Congratulations to the CVA Student Spotlight award winners for September! 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.

Rocco worked really hard over the summer and his commitment to his training is evident. He continues to work very hard with dryland training and is on task and focused every day. He is a great teammate, always helping out others and has a great attitude.

Keep up the hard work, Rocco!

Penny is charging right in to the Big Dog way her first year at CVA! She is doing well athletically on all fronts and nailed down her backflip at water ramp training earlier this fall.

Way to be, Penny!

Ethan was a stand out during the class orientation trip. He was self reflective, cooked dinner, told stories, and displayed his leadership by showing responsibility for himself and others, and being 'present' at all times.

Thank you for your awesome community spirit, Ethan!

Lauren's teachers say her work in English is out of the park, more than college ready, and that she is a high-achieving student in Chemistry. Her concentration and attitude is amazing.

We are so proud of you, Lauren!

The process of evaluating, selecting, and applying to college can be stressful for many high school students and their families. The College Counseling program at CVA is dedicated to helping student-athletes navigate the path to college after graduation. Led by counselors Jenny Wiltse-McClure and Peter Taliaferro, the program emphasizes a proactive approach to college readiness.

Jenny and Peter work closely with teachers and coaches to provide an early start to planning for life after graduation for our Big Dogs. From early in their high school careers, CVA integrates future planning into various aspects of student life. Coaches discuss potential pathways with athletes, and teachers incorporate future planning into assignments and class discussions. Additionally, college tours are sometimes organized when student-athletes travel for competitions and training. The more formal application work begins at the start of junior year when students begin to compile college lists and prepare for the SAT.

SAT prep classes are offered to juniors in the fall as a weekly scheduled class in the academic calendar. Typically, juniors take the PSAT/NMSQT in the fall and the SAT in May. Some students take/retake the SATs in the fall of their senior year.

In the spring, juniors officially begin the College Bound classes with Jenny and Peter, then resume these classes in the fall of senior year. The class meets once per week as part of the regular academic schedule, with a second optional class offered in the evening in the fall of senior year. The class guides students step by step through the Common App college application process.

“Our objective is to have all applications completed and ready to submit by November 1st of senior year,” said counselor Taliaferro, “This timing ensures that early decision deadlines are met and that applications are complete before seniors are busy with the competition season.”

College essays are first introduced to students as a Junior English assignment. This early start to the application process allows students the time to craft a personalized and unique essay to help them stand out to college admissions staff. This initial essay is then refined and polished, going through multiple reviews before it is included in the application during the fall of senior year.

CVA places special emphasis on letters of recommendation, an important component of the college application. Juniors start to request letters from their teachers in the spring of their junior year. Additionally, counselors Jenny and Peter work closely with teachers, coaches, and staff on each student’s counselor recommendation to highlight the strengths of each Big Dog.

“College Admissions has changed over the years,” Wiltse-McClure noted. “Today there is less emphasis on SAT scores. Colleges like to do more of a deep-dive into each applicant, making the essay and letters of recommendation more important.”

This is good news for students from schools with a high teacher-student ratio like CVA. Teachers and counselors can make recommendations that are personal and insightful for each student to highlight their unique strengths.

“CVA is a special school,” said CVA senior, Ben Mallory, who is applying for early decision to Colorado College. “The teachers and counselors here were able to give me individualized help that met my specific needs in the application process.”

The CVA Peer Mentors hosted a fun-filled bowling event at the Sugarbowl for all 7th, 8th, and 9th graders and new students and staff! It was a great time for everyone to bond outside of school while enjoying some friendly competition.

Peer Mentors play a key role in creating a safe and positive environment. They are trained in suicide prevention and Mental Health First Aid, acting as a bridge between students and staff.

A Big Dog thanks to our Peer Mentor Coordinator, Tristy Wolfe, and our amazing peer mentors for organizing this event. We're proud of our strong and supportive CVA community!

Weekends at CVA are all about fun and community connection. Enjoying a lively all-school volleyball tournament, playing frisbee, spike ball, and other field games, or enjoying day trips to experience fall in New England help create memories and strengthening bonds that make our community so special.

The Big Dogs kicked off fall in New England with some apple-picking fun at Morrison Hill Orchard in Farmington, ME, for a perfect autumn adventure. They picked apples, enjoyed donuts and cider, and even met some friendly farm pigs!

CVA students then embraced the spooky season in true New England style! They ventured back to Farmington for a haunted walk, enjoyed ice cream, and gathered around the fire to make s’mores and spend time together.

Congratulations to CVA Snowboard athlete, August Enos '27, for being named a Flyin' Ryan Adventure Scholar!

August is a sophomore from Vermont. Since the age of two she has considered the mountains to be her happy place. August was 8 years old when she participated in her first snowboard competition and she fell in love with it.

She is using her award to help fund competing in the FIS/NORAM races, at which she will earn points for the snowboard Junior World Championship and the US Snowboard Team. She also enjoys biking, hiking, soccer, campfires, baking, and hanging out with friends.

The Flyin' Ryan Scholarship program highlights individuals who embrace the Core Values Matter philosophy and are passionate about making their dreams come true. This program was created in honor of Ryan Hawks, a Vermont native and respected extreme skier. Ryan's legacy lives on through the Flyin' Ryan Foundation, celebrating his commitment to personal core values.

We are so proud of August for earning this recognition! Go Big Dogs!

The CVA Mountain Bike has been training hard and traveling around New England to attend their races. The first race in Gorham, NH featured courses ranging from a smooth 4-mile track to a challenging 6-mile course and an endurance-testing 10-mile loop.

At the most recent competition in Camden Hills, ME, Abby Manson '26 crushed it with a 1st place finish in the Class A women’s race, while Trenton Wadas '26 took 2nd place in Class B men, and Anders Hildebrand '28 secured 3rd in Class C men. Derek Barbie '26 showed amazing grit and sportsmanship despite a couple of crashes.

Great job, CVA riders, for pushing your limits and giving it your all! 

CVA Alpine athletes attended indoor slalom training at SnowWorld Landgraaf, Netherlands this fall. This camp is important preparation for the early season slalom races, exposure to hard snow, consistency of training between the summer Ushuaia camp and November domestic training, and for accumulating the desired volume of slalom.

"Athletes at Landgraaf camps can average between 600 and 700 gates daily including one day with a single session," CVA Alpine Director and FIS Coach, Kirk Dwyer stated. "The single session day is necessary for recovery and maintaining quality for the final three day block."

CVA's Backcountry team traveled to Canada for an unforgettable canoeing and camping adventure on the Saint Croix River! The team strengthened their bonds and honed their communication skills while navigating the challenges of the wilderness. From fishing to fireside bonding, this experience was all about making memories in the great outdoors.

We’re thrilled to announce the return of Anne Rockwell-Morrow ’10 as the Academy Mountain Bike Team Coach and Weekend Program U14 Head Coach!

Anne grew up skiing in Greenville, Maine, where her passion for ski racing began at her dad’s high school team practices. A CVA alum and Winter Sport Alfond Scholarship recipient, she later skied for Bates College’s Division 1 team, competing all four years and qualifying for the NCAA Championships. With over 10 years of coaching experience and certifications from USSA and PSIA, Anne brings a wealth of knowledge and passion to her athletes. When she’s not coaching, you can find her competing in Freeride events or exploring Brackett Basin!

In the summer, Anne owns Hungry Mama, a mobile eatery, and works as a Maine Whitewater Guide and Mountain Bike Instructor. She lives in Stratton with her husband, Garrett, and their dog, Blaze. Welcome back to CVA, Anne!

We’re excited to welcome Kevin Broderick to the team as a Men's FIS Alpine coach!

Kevin brings over 20 years of coaching experience, working with a wide range of athletes across different age groups. A Maine native, Kevin grew up racing and began coaching for Gould Academy during his college breaks. He relocated to Vermont, where he contributed to the race club, ski school, and patrol at Bolton Valley while managing the resort’s computer systems. Kevin spent six years coaching at Killington Mountain School then a season in Waitsfield coaching for the GMVS club program. He then moved to Red Lodge, Montana, where he coached U16 and U18 athletes with the Silver Run Ski Club. He returned to Maine and most recently coached Gould Academy’s U16 and U18 alpine teams.

Outside of coaching and working with technology, Kevin enjoys spending time with his young children and his Pomsky.

Airbag Camp

CVA is excited to offer an exclusive early-season training opportunity for moguls, freeski, and snowboard athletes aged 9-15 with USASA or USSA memberships and prior experience in skiing or snowboarding. This one-day camp is designed for athletes aiming to kick off their competitive season with a strong start. Academy coaches will provide expert guidance and personalized coaching. Space is limited, register soon.

Location: CV Anti-Gravity Complex and Sugarloaf Mountain

Date: Sunday, November 24

Cost: $150 (does not include lift tickets).

Alpine Immersion Program

The CVA Alpine Immersion Program for racers in grades 5-8 utilizes a fundamentals-based ski curriculum to develop skills and habits for future success in ski racing. Each session is 3-days of ski training and academic time for student-athletes to work on assignments from their home school. The CVA Alpine Immersion program is a great opportunity for racers to determine if they are ready to join the Academy.

Location: Carrabassett Valley Academy & Sugarloaf Mountain

Dates: 1/8-1/10, 2/12-2/14, 3/19-3/21

Cost: $700/session; $2,100 for all 3 sessions.

Since 1986, the CVA Parent Support Organization has been spreading holiday cheer through our Annual Balsam Wreath Sale, originally started by a few dedicated CVA moms in the basement of the Capricorn. Today, our beautiful balsam wreaths are handcrafted locally in Maine and shipped across the U.S., with hand deliveries to the greater Sugarloaf community.

Your purchase not only enhances your holiday decor but also supports educational, cultural, and athletic projects at Carrabassett Valley Academy, fostering a vibrant environment for our students. Join us in this cherished tradition and help make a difference at CVA!

Our fresh balsam wreaths make delightful gifts and can be shipped anywhere in the continental United States in time for the holidays! Each Balsam Fir Christmas wreath serves as a fragrant and colorful decoration, with the unmatched scent of fresh-cut balsam fir filling your home. Perfect for friends, family, and businesses alike, our wreaths are a wonderful way to share the holiday spirit.

Cost: $40

Order Deadline: December 3, 2024

at 9 am EST.

Delivery Options:

• Free Pickup: Available at the Capricorn Lodge on Rt. 27 on December 7, 2024.
• Free Delivery: To your Sugarloaf-area home on December 7.
• Shipping: Anywhere in the continental U.S. for just $16.00/wreath.

Time to gear up, the season will be here before you know it. Buy team uniform jackets, ski and snowboard clothing, activewear, and other CVA swag right from our website.

Don't forget to renew your membership to the Sugarloaf Ski Club! 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. To become a member, or to renew your membership, click on the link below.

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.