Cutthroat Chronicles

In Brazil, they are called Bahia Bands, which are basically wish bracelets. The bands have a rich history spanning over 200 years and have recently become more popular throughout the world. Thought to bring the wearer good luck, each band’s color conveys a message or a desire. And now, at SVCS, ES and MS art teacher Cara Frost has brought this beautiful international tradition to the Elementary School, where students have been expanding their understanding of weaving with a symbolic weaving of wishes.

And that’s a wrap! Sun Valley Community School’s Upper School recently brought one of William Shakespeare’s most popular comedies, Much Ado About Nothing, to Sun Valley Community School’s stage February 10-12. But this wasn’t your typical Bard performance; director Kevin Wade ‘06 brought new life to this classic Shakespearian comedy by updating the story to take place in the 1980s and audiences could not get enough. 
 

Congratulations to SVCS/SVSA alum Chase Josey '13 who was recently named to the 2022 Winter Olympic Games in Beijing, China. Chase will compete in the snowboard halfpipe. To honor Chase’s achievement, some of his fellow Cutthroats embarked on a letter writing campaign with words of encouragement. These creative words of congratulations were sent to him in Beijing as a part of a care package. 

Freshman Cutthroats Addison Featherman and Eloise Hogan have more in common than just being in the same grade. Both are Sun Valley Ski Academy boarding students in their first year at SVCS; they compete for Sun Valley Ski Education Foundations’ Big Mountain team and yes, they are roommates. Addison hails from Crested Butte, Colorado, while Eloise counts the Big Apple as home. We sat down with both to find out why they joined Sun Valley Community School, what life is like in the dorm and on the mountain, and overall, and what they’ve learned from each other.

What does it mean to go beyond tolerance? Students in Joel Vilinsky and Kira Faller’s 7th grade class have recently been diving into the ideas of tolerance and going beyond it during their recent Beyond Tolerance Project, which explores the roots of intolerance in a subject chosen by each student and asks the students to investigate and understand how to move past intolerance and beyond a hard-earned tolerance to acceptance, empathy, and understanding.

Giving back to others on a regular basis is what we like to call inspiration. Eighth-grade Cutthroat Simone Tumolo is just that: she has been volunteering her time since 1st grade, but it wasn’t until 6th-grade summer that she realized she had a passion for it. 

For many of the players, basketball has been a big part of their time as a Cutthroat. All six co-captains have played since middle school, with five of the six playing for Community School since then. The varsity squad has 8 seniors on the roster this year who enter the season with hopes, dreams and memories.

Raise the curtains! The 24 Hour Drama Fest was such a success in 2020 that it returned to the Cutthroat stage December 10. This year’s performance did not disappoint, and in the words of the students, was imaginative, fun, and collaborative.

Lights, camera, action! Yes, for those students interested in pursuing the media arts—think video cameras, creative writing, and storytelling—look no further than US Media Arts teacher Michelle DeLateur’s classes.

Heading into the 2021-22 school year, Parents’ Association co-presidents Hollis von Summer and Kristen Dittami have worked diligently to continue building community through innovative ways, while at the same time taking advantage of opportunities to gather safely in person. 

Time flies. It was 10 years ago that Sun Valley Ski Academy launched. The founding was an act of terrific courage and vision and for that we are grateful. Here's to those who made SVSA a world-class program for student-athletes to pursue their passion for snowsports while also having a full high school experience. Our Winter 2022 issue of Here+There includes a feature about the founding of SVSA written by Cutthroat and SVSA alum Annie Pokorny '11.

As part of their Wilderness Navigation Class’ final exam and an Outdoor Leadership Academy (OLA) requirement, Sun Valley Community School's OLA students hosted their annual Orienteering Event this year in November drawing close to 75 participants of all ages racing in two categories to the finish line. 

Middle and Elementary School students are soaking in an intensive exploration of all things woven this fall.

Stay updated with our amazing Cutthroat athletes!

Congratulations to senior Cutthroat Ben Colbeck on being named a National Merit Scholarship Semifinalist in the 2022 National Merit Scholarship Program!