As December settles in and winter fully arrives in Carrabassett Valley, I want to take a moment to wish our entire CVA community a joyful holiday season and a healthy, happy New Year.
This time of year invites reflection, and I am continually grateful for the people who make Carrabassett Valley Academy such a special place. Our students inspire us daily with their commitment, curiosity, and resilience. Our faculty, coaches, and staff bring energy, care, and expertise to every classroom and every training session. Our families, alumni, and supporters strengthen CVA through their trust, encouragement, and generosity.
I want to extend particular thanks to Sugarloaf Mountain and the Ski Club for their steadfast partnership and belief in the CVA mission. Their ongoing support plays a vital role in providing our student-athletes with extraordinary opportunities—on the hill, in competition, and in their personal growth. CVA simply would not be what it is today without this shared commitment to excellence, community, and the joy of skiing and riding.
As you’ll see throughout this issue of The Spillway, our students continue to embody what it means to be Big Dogs—showing determination on the slopes, kindness toward one another, and gratitude for the community around them. It’s a powerful reminder that CVA is about much more than performance; it’s about developing confident, capable, and thoughtful young people.
Thank you for being part of the CVA family. I hope the holidays bring you time to rest, connect, and celebrate, and I look forward to all that the new year will bring for our community.
As December settles in and winter fully arrives in Carrabassett Valley, I want to take a moment to wish our entire CVA community a joyful holiday season and a healthy, happy New Year.
We share this reflection with heavy hearts as we remember Clermont “Clem” Begin, who passed away peacefully on December 1, 2025. Clem was a cornerstone of the Carrabassett Valley community and a devoted supporter of CVA. In the reflection, former Head of School John Ritzo honors Clem as a builder, mentor, and friend whose legacy will endure.
Each month, CVA recognizes students who embody the values that define our community: commitment, respect, kindness, and gratitude. These qualities shine not only in the classroom and on the hill, but in the way our students support one another and strengthen the spirit of CVA. This month’s Student Spotlight recipients exemplify what it means to be a Big Dog.
Carrabassett Valley Academy prohibits discrimination against or harassment of any member or group based upon age, gender, race, color, religion, disability, categories sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, national origin, genetic predisposition, ancestry or other categories protected by Maine or federal law. CVA does not discriminate on these bases in the administration of its admission process, scholarship and aid programs, educational policies, athletics, or other school-administered programs.