John Halligan visited Barre Town School on March 28, 2013

A student presentation will occur at Barre Town School for grades 6-8 @ 8:30 a.m.
A parent presentation will be offered at Spaulding High School (intended for adults only) @ 7:00 p.m.
A letter will be sent home soon that contains additional details about this event.

Here are some links to Parent Resources:

1)  Who is John Halligan?
2)  A Sample Parent/Child Cell Phone Contract
3)  Parent Suggestions for Technology

Juice Pouch Recycling
(click on the images below to enlarge)

A warm spring day in March at BTMES: Kindergarten students are busy outside practicing their math skills while helping take care of where they live. Juice pouches have been deposited all year long in a recycling bin next to the dining room compost station, counted each week and sent to NJ for reusing. Now it’s this Kindergarten class’ turn to help keep these items out of the landfill.

BTMES has been participating in TerraCycle’s Juice Pouch Brigade since the spring of 2008, when two Kindergarten teachers, Susan Koch and Ellen Sulek, latched on to this environmentally proactive company featured in the Times Argus. They were looking for a meaningful project that would help their students grasp the math concepts they were focusing on in their professional development course.

TerraCyle of Trenton, NJ, pays $.02 per pouch for this “trash”, which they then creatively use to make cool, desirable products such as backpack, lunch boxes, totes and pencil cases, to name a few. Barre Town’s five and six year olds continue to have a great opportunity to practice counting by 1’s and 10’s to 100 as they prepare these pouches for the free shipping offered by Terra Cycle if packed in groups of 500. The money earned from keeping these pouches out of the landfill goes to buying seeds, compost and mulch for the Crops by Kids garden. Sounds like a win-win situation, wouldn’t you agree?

Thank you, Kindergartners, for thinking of our collective future.

by Bill Croney, The Northfield News

The spacious dining room at Mayo Manor on Lower Water Street was turned into a theater in the round once again last Monday morning as nearly twenty second-grade students from Barre Town Elementary School provided an energetic, lively and well-received program of song and dance for the residents. The first half of the nearly hour long performance featured the students, in colorful Korean costumes, singing along with Northfield’s Paula Gills and then taking over the large, open space to perform a pair of native Korean dances: the Fan Dance, and the Moon Dance. During the fan dance the students moved gracefully to the Korean music to display their fans and work themselves into a line that created a serpentine effect with the fans, as they seemed to move up and down as a single serpent along the length of the entire line. The second grade students pulled off this difficult maneuver without a hitch.

If the audience was impressed by the Fan Dance they were absolutely enthralled by the Moon Dance- especially the finale. At the conclusion of the nicely performed dance, as a part of the finale, second grader Molly Bombard (selected because she is the smallest member of the troupe) walked across the backs of the other dancers, who had knelt on all fours in a straight line, to conclude the dance. The audience exploded in applause. Then, still on costume, the kids all sat on the floor and then sang ”It’s A Small World” with Paula Gills.

Following that song the kids retired to change into their everyday school clothes for the second half of the program while Paula entertained the audience with songs that held the rapt attention of the audience.

Part two of the performance saw the students performing traditional American square dances and a Virginia Reel. The American dances seemed to bring back lots of memories for the Mayo Manor residents and when the kids danced to “A Hot Time in the Old Town Tonight” the audience got into the act by clap-ping enthusiastically along with the Music.

After finishing up by singing “The Valentine Song” and performing the Farewell song from “The Sound of Music” the students passed out their hand made Valentines to the residents. The residents were impressed. “ It’s wonderful. The kids are so well mannered,” said Mayo resident Fern York. “I really enjoyed it.”

The Mayo performance was just one of five performances that the students from Susan Barnard’s Physical Education classes perform in Central Vermont. Each of her five second-grade classes performs at a different venue but they all started in January and the hard work showed last Monday at Mayo Manor.

It wasn’t just the audience that appreciated the kid’s effort. “This is one of my favorite things to do every year,” said Paula Gills. “The children work so hard and perform so well that it is a joy to sing with them.”

Harvest Soup Contest

For the past three years, eighth grade students have been invited to participate in the Harvest Soup Contest. To prepare our students, Sarah Chap, our Family and Consumer Science teacher, discusses eating local, and how to create great tasting soups.

The “Soup” finalist had their cook-off on November 22nd amidst classmates and a panel of judges and served up samples to claim the title of Tastiest Soup Chef. The winner of our 2011 Harvest Soup Contest this year goes to Shaun Melkonian with Baked Potato Soup. Shaun will be presented with a monogrammed chef apron within the month when his soup creation will be featured in our dining room.
The purpose of the contest is to celebrate healthy, local, and nourishing food and is a part of our Crops By Kids, Farm to School initiative.

Our soup contestants this year were:

• Tyler Sancibrian and Winter Morse: Beef Stew
• Shelby Jewitt and Cody Lanpher: Country Chicken Corn Chowder
• Shaun Melkonian: Baked Potato Soup
• Bobby Austin and Greg Thivierge: Chili
• Grayson Glosser: Tomato Pepper Soup
• Katherine Paterson and Caitlyn Wilkin: Maple Buttercup Soup

A special thanks to our judges: Timothy Crowley, Susan Barnard, Ellen Sulek, Chef Kevin Otis, and Ben Feld. Thanks to Katie Bryant for helping the kids after school and score keeping and the Abby Group for their support.

Heather Kralik ~Librarian

Article published June 12, 2011
Work and play come together at gym show
By Linda Freeman, Correspondent, The Times Argus and The Rutland Herald

Super Bowl halftime met Radio City Music Hall at Barre Town Elementary School June 1 and 2 as 90 or so second-graders participated in their annual and well-known gym show. Susan Barnard, a first- and second-grade gym teacher, masterminded an extravaganza that reached from patriotic to international, coupled structure with creativity and inextricably linked work with play. “Every child will feel great in the second-grade gym show,” Barnard said. And so they should. “Having fun and putting on these shows means self-esteem is sky high.” Barnard reveals “secrets” that help explain the success of this ambitious production. “I have children in the older grades who always want to help,” she said. In addition to the seven classes of second-grade participants, their teachers, the seventh- and eighth-grade jazz band, and many extra hands, Barnard incorporates help from previous performers who serve as assistants, guides and role models to the younger students. Barnard, who lives in Northfield, has taught at Barre Town Elementary School for 24 years. “I’ve come to the physical education world from the synchronized swimming world,” Barnard said. “This has made me very creative. I have a movement approach to physical education.” Though each number in the gym show is carefully choreographed with orchestrated transitions that challenge any marching band or grand stage production, and though children “anticipate the gym show from day one,” Barnard said, “We do not use the whole year working on the gym show.” Gym classes are focused on developing skills and fitness concepts. “Lessons are pretty exciting,” Barnard said.

In addition to soccer, beach ball, volley ball, slow-flight badminton birdies, fitness testing, nature trails, walks and hiking, Barnard helps the children to appreciate birds, flowers and gardens as they run from one spot to the next.

As with many schools, Barre Town Elementary is doing its best to address childhood obesity and teach the children about health and nutrition. An afterschool cooking program helps children to be able to serve a meal at home while others participate in the new Crops by Kids garden currently being developed. (See www.btmes.org.)

Preparing for the gym show is an exercise in cooperation, focus and community involvement as much as it is a test of physical strength, coordination and skills. Each child, for example, jumps rope.

“You would be surprised to see second-graders who can Double Dutch,” Barnard said. “Our older children who have already learned, come back to teach them. Every child will be on the jump rope team regardless of their skills.”

Another of Barnard’s “secrets” is 73-year-old Irene Brown, who helps with the tedious chores of rehearsing a traditional Maypole dance. This is a “hard dance,” Barnard said. “They understand it’s a process and they feel really good to achieve it.”

Holding the ends of their ribbons and progressing in an over and under pattern weaving a spider web of color on the Maypole, the children achieved success.

“I’m going to do that when I’m in the second grade. That’s going to be super-duper fun,” one first-grader in the audience said. “That was goooooood,” another said in awe.

Unique to Barre Town for the third year was the role of a Korean exchange student from the University of Vermont. Gayoung Lee taught and performed authentic Korean dances, with the children sharing elements of Korean culture that demonstrate universal commonality. Explaining the meaning of the South Korean Mask Dance, for example, Lee said: “Take out the bad habit and put good things in our body. Take out junk food and put in vegetables, reading a book and exercise.”

Later the Drum Dance was performed to petition “rain and sunshine for our gardens to feed the Korean people” and likewise the Barre Town school and community.

As each number progressed, Barnard sat or stood by, on her face a large smile of encouragement, pride and pure enjoyment. Barnard is proof that one person can make a difference. Over the years her enthusiasm and the energy to sustain it have multiplied encompassing and touching an entire population.

“I have spoken in Japan and nationally about fitness and education,” Barnard said. “Change only starts in schools. Like recycling. Our son brought us into the habit.”

Learning and then doing helps the children to take responsibility for their own well-being. Wearing helmets, eating healthy snacks, drinking water — all become habits.

“The earlier you can get them,” Barnard said, “It all happens in schools first. It’s more important than money in the bank.”

Valentine's 2011 at Mayo by Bill Croney

The bright and spacious dining room at Mayo Manor was effectively turned into a very convincing “Theater In The Round” for a little over an hour on Valentine’s Day morning as over thirty elementary school students entertained the residents and their guests. The second grade students from Barre Town Elementary School led by Northfield’s Sue Barnard provided the majority of the entertainment assisted by Hannah Morvan’s first grade class from Northfield Elementary School. The Barre Town students performed three types of dances: Traditional Korean folk dances, a Traditional Thai dance and some American square dances.

The Northfield students were invited to join in the singing of “It’s a Small World. At the conclusion of the entertainment the students presented hand made Valentines to the residents of Mayo Manor. To say the performance was impressive would be an understatement.
Northfield’s Paula Gills, who is a local legend in her own right for her renditions of the Canadian and American national anthems at Norwich sporting events, opened the show with a “sing-along” as the kids were getting into their costumes. On most days Paula’s talents would be a show all by themselves but this was not most days.

Ms. Barnard’s students opened their program when they appeared in traditional Korean costumes and performed three very intricate Korean Folk dances. Led by Miss Ga Young Lee, a visiting scholar from UVM, and presently a Northfield resident, the Barre Town second graders grabbed the immediate attention of the crowd of nearly fifty with their super job on the Korean “Hello Song” and then went into the complicated “Fan Dance”. The students had their moves down perfectly as they swayed and moved to the haunting melody to perform the complex dance. It was very enjoyable to watch and very skillfully performed.

Miss Lee then led the students in the “Drum Dance” and once again the kids performed a complicated dance to perfection. The effort that the students put into preparation really showed in their performances. “The kids really worked hard. It has me in tears to think just how hard they worked for this,” Said Susan Barnard. “We love coming to Mayo. They ask for the shows and they like having the kids visit,” she added.

Following the Korean portion of the program the second graders retired to the dressing room to change out of their Korean costumes and prepare for the second half of their performance. While they were changing Paula Gills stepped in and entertained the large group of residents and guests and invited them to join in as she sang with “This Little Light of Mine” and the new State of Vermont song, “These Green Hills”. When the students returned they invited Mrs. Morvan’s first graders to join in to sing, “It’s a Small World” as they all gathered in a circle surrounding Paula and her guitar. The Northfield students did their part very well.

Next up on the program was a traditional Thai dance led by another visiting scholar from UVM, Jeab (Her full name was given but because of the complexity of the name to American ears she prefers Jeab.) The very impressive Ti-Chi - like dance performance symbolized the rivers of Thailand and the importance of keeping them clean. The dance had two very noteworthy features: The graceful precision movements of the second grade students and the absolutely beautiful gold silk native costume of Jeab.

The final part of the kid’s show was a little more light-hearted. The 16 second -graders performed American square dances and a very entertaining “Virginia Reel”. Spirits were high and smiles were prevalent when the youngsters performed a more complicate square dance to “It’s A Hot Time in the Old Town Tonight”. To close the show the students sang “The Valentines song” and a “Goodbye Song” to close out the performance part of the program.

After the singing and dancing were concluded the youngsters from both classes passed out hand made Valentines to the residents and the smiles on the faces of the recipients said it all.  The Mayo Manor residents really enjoyed the show. Mayo Resident Nancy Carr said, “It was very good. I like having the kids around”. And World War II Veteran Pelton Goudy said he liked the performance and he also enjoyed the kids. It wasn’t just the residents who enjoyed being surrounded by the kids. Paula Gills felt she was the one who was entertained. “This is one of my favorite things to do. Singing with these children is such a delight. They work so hard and try to be perfect. I feel like the amateur,” she said.

Sue Barnard’s closing statement to the audience of Mayo residents and guests put things in their proper perspective. “We hope we brought you joy today,” she said. One look around the room at the bright eyes and smiling faces proved that they most assuredly did.

Emily Thomas' first grade class showing their appreciation to the parent volunteers that they had in their classroom all year.

Science in the News

Congratulations to Kieran Verret, 5th grade student at Barre Town, who is a national semi-finalist in the Discovery Education 3M Young Scientist Challenge.

The Discovery Education 3M Young Scientist Challenge is our nation’s premier science competition for middle school students. Any student in grades 5 through 8 can enter the challenge. One student from each state was selected this past summer based on their science communication skills exhibited in a two-minute video about a specific scientific concept that relates to innovative solutions for everyday life. Of these students, one is chosen as the Top Young Scientist.

For his video, Kieran explained how hanging a curtain across any set of household stairs in the winter can conserve heat and lower heating bills. All video entries were evaluated by a panel of judges and assessed on creativity, persuasiveness, classroom suitability and overall presentation.

Although Kieran was not chosen as the Top Young Scientist, he is the youngest semifinalist selected in the past two years. He received a cash award as well as a certificate for his accomplishment. When asked about his experience, Kieran says he loved the learning experience and is very proud of his work. Kieran’s award can be seen in the display cases in the main lobby at Barre Town School.

For more information about the challenge, visit http://www.youngscientistchallenge.com/ or contact Shannon Lessley, Science Curriculum Specialist at slessbsu@u61.net

12/09

Remembering
Christopher Rogers

A memorial was held in the memory of Christopher Rogers on October 17, 2008.

Third grade students, parents, teachers, and PTO members gathered with members of Chris' family to plant a maple tree and lay a granite plaque. Phyllis Wiggins served as master of ceremonies.

Special thanks to Boulevard Gardens and Joe's Custom Memorial for their generous donations. Visitors will find the memorial at the entrance to the bike path behind the baseball field.