November E-Spillway Newsletter
Note From Kate
As we wrap up a busy fall trimester and welcome our winter term students and coaches, I'm so pleased with how everyone continues to work together to keep each other healthy. Like many other schools, we are using a “swiss cheese” approach, layering several strategies together to fortify our protocols and minimize our exposure to COVID-19. This is not an easy time and the way the students are working and playing and staying positive is just amazing. They bring us purpose and joy each day and we are grateful they are here.

If you have school-age kids, be sure to check out our weekend program, training days, and camps happening this winter. They're a great way to get your skier or rider outside and improve their skills while making friends on snow.

Our annual fundraising time will begin this month, please consider supporting our amazing student-athletes if you're able to do so. And save the date for the annual Scholarship Bash, it will be held virtually this year on February 20, 2021.  

Think snow,

Kate Webber Punderson '89
Head of School
What’s Happening On Campus: Community
Spirit Week was hosted by the student council the last week in October with daily themes for students to earn participation points. The senior class won the grand prize of a take-out pizza party from one of our favorite local restaurants The Rack BBQ. The themes included Pajama Day, Flannel Day, Decades Day, and Twin Day. A bonfire in the field kicked the week off with a special touch, along with a PSO-sponsored bowling night. Thanks to the Parent Support Organization for also hosting trick-or-treating on campus, there were so many yummy treats and creative costumes! View more photos
Proudly announcing 2020 National Honor Society inductees Cameron Arner, Eli Fournier, and Noah Koenig. Advisor Ainsley McClachrie hosted the Junior class members in a ceremony last week. NHS members from the Class of 2020 also participated virtually. View more photos
It was so nice to meet our new and returning Winter Term families on November 1st for Registration Day. Lots of smiling faces and Big Dogs ready to get the winter season started. Thirty new families arrived with student-athletes from all five disciplines (Alpine, Freestyle, Snowboard, Ski Cross and Backcountry), bringing our total enrollment to 101. One of our farthest travelers was the Schad family from South Dakota. On arrival, families received a packet including the student's class schedule, a map of the classrooms in the Webber Academic Center, the schedule for the upcoming week including orientation activities and physical testing, and the school year calendar. New this year, in an activity coordinated by our Peer Mentors, incoming winter term student-athletes also received cards handwritten by fall term student-athletes welcoming them to campus. View more photos
What’s Happening On Campus: Athletics
New mini ramp on the King Cummings Campus: Big shout out to our Snowboard Program Director Todd Johnson and the snowboard families who donated funds, time, tractor, and materials to make this dream of a 4’x16’ mini ramp a reality on our campus. It’s amazing and we are so excited to provide another fun device to play on at CVA!
Alpine & Snowboard teams drove to Big SNOW American Dream in New Jersey, North America’s first and only indoor, real-snow, year-round ski and snow resort, to get their first laps of the season and prepare for November skiing and riding.  Athletes got about 20 runs per 2 hour session, with opportunities for skiers to practice SL turns and for snowboarders to hit rails and jumps. Everyone enjoyed a safe and fun trip. 
Our winter term students brought fresh energy and anticipation of getting to ski and ride soon. Here are photos from the first week of Winter Term, including the traditional activities of Physical Testing, Mobility Testing, and the 1 Mile Run. View more photos
What’s Happening On Campus: Academics
Karin Schott joins CVA as a tutor in the Academic Success Program. She coordinates with Kristin Littlefield to provide academic help for students one-on-one or in small groups at scheduled times. Learn more about the ASP
Students who attended Fall Term worked hard during the last week of October to complete their final projects and study for final exams.  It was a rigorous time for many students, especially those in honors courses. 
Alumni Spotlight: Courtney Canaan Schad '95 (and Daughter Grace Schad '23)
We’re so proud to have a Second Generation Big Dog on campus this year! Grace Schad '23 is an alpine racer and the daughter of Courtney Cannan Schad, mogul skier from the Class of 1995. 

Growing up, Courtney participated in Sugarloaf’s Bubblecuffers program starting in 3rd grade, then skied in the CVA Weekend Program with Joan Dolan when she was old enough. When she was chosen for the NorAm team as a freshman her parents decided it was time to go to the next level. She attended Winter Term at CVA for 3 years, graduating from CVA in 1995. During her time at CVA, she was the 3 time winner of Ski Magazine’s Development Cup and won the female J2 at the U.S. Junior National Freestyle Championship. 

Courtney met her husband, Shannon, while training for the US Team in Breckenridge. He was a competitive mogul skier like Courtney and was also involved in the community developing the half pipe movement and skiing in Warren Miller movies. After her career-ending back injury, Shannon and Courtney decided to start a family in Shannon’s home town of Rapid City, South Dakota. Courtney taught high school social studies for 12 years before beginning her current pursuit of a PhD in Curriculum Design. 

Courtney is currently the president of the Black Hill Ski Team and coaches for the program. Daughter Grace grew up racing in the Northern Division, spending a lot of time with the Black Hill ski team and travelling to Montana for races. Grace has two younger siblings: Lily is 13 and plays soccer year-round, Grant is 12 and hopes to attend CVA with his sister soon.
CVA Weekend Program
Competitive athletes ages 7 to 19 train at Sugarloaf with a coach weekends and vacation weeks from December to April. There are programs for alpine, freestyle, snowboard and ski cross. 
Featured Winter Camp: Alpine Pre-Holiday
December 18-20, 2020. Get ready for the 2020-21 season at Sugarloaf with CVA’s Pre Holiday camp. The camp will be based on slalom and giant slalom technical and tactical fundamentals as well as comprehensive work with the Skills Quest program from US Ski & Snowboard. Daily video, a 6/1 athlete/coach ratio and individualized evaluations will provide campers with a solid framework to start the season. This Camp is open to U12 – U16 athletes. Maximum camp capacity = 12 (sign up early!!)
Featured Winter Camp: Mount Washington Backcountry Skills
December 19-20, 2020, or January 16th - 17th, 2021, or more dates TBA in February and March. This camp is designed for the high-level youth ski and snowboard athlete who wants to bring their skills to the backcountry environment. Backcountry skiing - no lift tickets, lively terrain, fresh tracks - pure mountain! Targeted skills include steep and off-piste technical skills, avalanche awareness, basic ski mountaineering skills, uphill efficiency, transition efficiency, backcountry decision-making and communication, and tour planning. Athletes will have the chance to practice making real decisions, applying backcountry techniques in a big mountain environment, meet and greet with the Avalanche Forecasters from the Mount Washington Avalanche Center, and ski classic runs on Mount Washington.
More Information About CVA Winter Camps
Giving Back: An Integral Part
The idea of giving back to this special place, one that means so much to all of us, has been an integral part of what keeps us going. Gifts allow CVA to continue providing exceptional classroom instruction and a world-class winter sports experience to students who want to pursue their dreams with us. Download this guide to learn more, topics include Making a Difference, Who's Who, The CVA Annual Fund, Event and Campaign Fundraising, Ways to Be Involved, Frequently Asked Questions about Supporting CVA, and Calendar.
Donate Using AmazonSmile
You shop. Amazon gives. Amazon donates 0.5% of the price of your eligible AmazonSmile purchases to the charitable organization of your choice. AmazonSmile is the same Amazon you know. Same products, same prices, same service. Show your support by selecting CVA as your charitable organization when starting your shopping at smile.amazon.com

Support CVA on "Giving Tuesday"
On the global day of giving December 1st we hope you will celebrate with a gift to CVA’s Annual Fund. And to show your support in the run-up to #GivingTuesday, we'll offer an option to add a temporary CVA frame to your Facebook profile picture, more information about this feature is coming soon.
2021 Scholarship Bash
Support the current generation of student-athletes through our annual Scholarship Event, which happens every February and is now our only fundraising event. Proceeds go directly to the scholarship fund which helps roughly half of our student-athletes attend CVA through financial aid. Save the date for this year’s virtual event on February 20, 2021.
CVA / US Ski & Snowboard Clothing Online Store
Options include sweatshirts, joggers, t-shirts, hats, and masks with a CVA logo plus the US Ski & Snowboard Team logo. Place your order online by November 15 to receive orders by January 1 or place your order online by December 1 to receive orders by January 15.
Shop for the Holidays
Support educational, cultural, and athletic projects at CVA by ordering wreaths online. These fresh balsam Maine products make wonderful gifts and can be shipped the first week in December to destinations all over the country to be enjoyed in time for the holidays. Place orders by December 3, 2020. Local deliveries will be made December 5.
3197 Carrabassett Drive
Carrabassett Valley, ME 04947
Phone: (207) 237-2250