Montpelier High School Commencement just ended - and we have celebrated the Class of 2013 in a ceremony fitting to their talents. There was juggling, singing, and dancing; there were eloquent speeches, hugs, and even a few tears. The Class of 2013 goes off into the next chapter of their lives, as our gift to the world.
While I have not been as faithful to this blog as I had hoped this year, I end the school year on a high note with the celebrations that have taken place recently in MPS. Here is a snapshot of the amazing things happening in Montpelier Public Schools!
Rhonda Brace, Anne Giroux, and Jason Miles (MSMS) -
Crafter's Edge students have had a very successful year. Total sales for
the year $10,625.20, with a total profit for this year $6,639.79. These
students are giving $500 to the Central Vermont Humane Society, $500 to the
Make a Wish Foundation of Vermont, and $500 to the American Cancer Society on
behalf of their teacher Ludo Buret.
Spooky Buzzi (CO) - I was down in the gym where the
seniors were practicing for graduation. The new ramp is set up and looks
like it's been a part of our graduation ceremonies for years. Mary
O'Neill, Thom Wood, Dennis Maranville, and Carrie Cook's hard work and
diligence are making a student's participation in graduation possible.
This ramp will enable many students in years to come to participate in their
school community events. I have another one. After Neil Rosenblad
left, Nancy Chase continued a long time tradition with Unified Sports.
With fewer athletes and partners, she has maintained a wonderful spirit of involvement
and partnership among a group of high school students. She has a big
heart and a generous soul that she uses to model her passion for all students
to be active participants in their high school community.
Stephanie DiLena (MSMS) - I am writing to say that I
can share something "new" I did last week that I thought was
powerful. About a month ago, I met with employee and advocate Stephen
McArthur from Circle (formerly Battered Women's Shelter) to plan a week-long
co-teaching mini-unit on understanding healthy and unhealthy relationships,
bullying, teen dating violence, and domestic violence, gender
"boxes," and stereotypes. We did the mini-unit recently.
Steve was our guest in language arts for four days, and it was neat because
he mostly goes into P.E. or Health classes but has never been invited into a
language arts class. So much of the work we have to do with students
around these issues has to do with language and the many messages that swirl
around them (and us!) telling them what to think, who and how to be. It
was a very powerful experience for students and adults.
Sylvia Fagin (MSMS) - This year, a group of faculty and
staff at MSMS have been meeting to discuss diversity – ethnicity, race, and
economic class, and the myriad intersections thereof. We met six times from
November through May, with seven people participating. We took an
appreciative inquiry approach, beginning with the questions, “What's good about
having a diverse student body?” and “What skills and information do we need to
be effective in building on these assets?” We then constructed a mission
statement for our time together: "We are a group of educators learning to
talk about diversity [including race, ethnicity, and economics] [from our
position of power] and our own backgrounds, while walking on the eggshells of
public school." The agreements under which we interacted included
the Four Agreements of Courageous Conversation (Singleton & Linton, 2006):
Stay engaged; speak your truth; experience discomfort; expect and accept
non-closure. For each meeting, participants read one or two articles
which we then discussed as a group. We also wrote and shared our own
“opportunity narratives,” autobiographical stories about the individual-,
community-, and institution-level influences that shaped us. "The
group offers thought-provoking discussion and material that offers new
perspective on children, society, and the people who teach them,” said
participant Don Taylor. Participant Lisa Moody noted, “Aside from enjoying
the great conversations with my peers in such a safe atmosphere, I would say
that the way the topics and discussions tied in with my social studies
curriculum was great. We are all about culture in sixth grade, and the articles
we read in the group gave me some good supplementary information for my
classes.” The desire to continue the group next year was unanimous, so we
will! In September, we'll pick back up and welcome new folks who wish to join
another year of interesting, challenging, timely discussion. The readings
and information about the group process we used can be found here. Identity,
race, ethnicity, and class are deeply personal issues. Talking about them takes
courage and trust. I am grateful to my colleagues who went on this risky and
rewarding journey with me this year.
Brian Gallagher & Liz Bailey (MHS) - Liz Bailey and I
applied for this and we hope to raise some more funds in the fall to add to
this amount to purchase as second AED
for the school. Montpelier High
School
Hilary Goldblatt (MSMS/MHS) - Music students at MSMS
and MHS used Noteflight, a web-based music notation program, to create original
musical compositions. They then shared and commented on each other's
scores (think facebook for musicians). Some students worked with professional
composers as online mentors through the state-wide Music-COMP program. A
total of 11 students represented Montpelier Montpelier
Amy Herrick (UES) - Our daughter is going to
graduate tonight from MHS. She has been in the Montpelier Montpelier Montpelier
Todd Keller (UES) - UES saved money on the electric
bill again this year and our custodial staff has done a great job. The
"Facelift to our heating system" and the many positive projects that will
happen this summer to make UES an even safer, cleaner, and healthier school for
both students, staff, and families.
Morgan Lloyd (UES) - Thank you to Marie Jennings and
Emmanuel Riby-Williams for this biking unit to our students! It was so
amazing to watch my entire class ride off in to town! They were so happy (even
the ones who like to complain). They rode all the way to the pool and the
rec fields. On the way back, one student was overheard exclaiming,
"I never knew it was so close!" You can be sure that student
will be returning to the pool on his own, now that he knows the way.
Another student, who is often seen trailing behind the group on walks,
was right out in front as the class returned to UES, with a big smile on his
face. Later, two students were discussing their ride, and they expressed
their appreciation that "Mr. Williams and M.J. really listen to us."
I think the students felt both honored and grateful that their proposal
to ride to the pool was accepted. I am certain that this unit will have a
lasting positive impact on many of my students. Of course, it's not only
the bike riding-- My students reflected this afternoon that they have really
enjoyed PE with you this year. "We do units," they said and "We
learned stuff." I reflected that although not every kid loved every
unit, I thought that there was great balance, and that the PE units had offered
something for everyone, and had really been engaging to all students. I
have appreciated your monthly letters to families and your focus on fitness,
cooperation, and self-reflection. Thank you both for all you had done for
UES! We are lucky to have you.
Marianne McNamara (MHS) - One of my students has been
accepted at Rice and he has been given a substantial scholarship. I'm
pleased to say this story has a happy ending - he couldn't stay at MHS but now
has a great opportunity at Rice. One of my other students has applied to
Castelton State College for the fall. Three years ago this student didn't
speak English. It often takes more than five years for ELL students to
become proficient with academic language.
Melissa Pierce (UES) - Ari Markowitz, Luke Burton
and Nathan Burton put on an amazing break dancing show for us at UES. I had
Nathan in fourth and fifth grade and have kept in touch with him, showing
support at his dance performances whenever possible. When I saw them perform
this winter, I asked Nathan if they would consider coming to their alma mater
to give a show. I got the parents group to donate some money and the boys
readily agreed to come. They put on two separate energetic, age
appropriate shows with demos, dancing, music, Q and A, getting kids on stage,
etc. Everyone LOVED it, and the hallways were filled with kids dancing all
afternoon, they were so inspired. Ari, Nathan and Luke were gracious, polite,
and sweet with the students. They said "Thank you for the opportunity to
do this."Best quotes I heard - "Now THAT was the least boring thing
that has EVER happened in the auditorium!" "I always thought
dancing was girly, but man, those guys were SICK!"
Colleen Purcell & Dan Miller-Arsenault - This
quarter Dan Miller-Arsenault and I collaborated on an interdisciplinary unit
based around the novel The House of the Spirits by Isabel
Allende. All of my Spanish 4 students are in Dan's Interpretations of
Literature class where they read this book as part of the final unit of the
year on magical realism. The book takes place over the course of the 20th
century in Chile
I truly appreciate anyone who has taken the time to read my blog this year, even with the limited entries. I will do better next year.
Have a wonderful summer!
