For this week's showcase, we have the great pleasure of spending some time in BTMES Math Teacher Glenda Allen's class with her group of 6th graders. Like all of our visits, there is so much to celebrate here, and we hope this brief visit will help you see how our teachers strive to meet the needs of all our kids. Students in this 6th-grade classroom are active participants in their learning and having fun while doing so. Ms. Allen makes it clear that she is working hard to improve her practice and make every student feel welcome, challenged, and successful in her classroom. Even our most veteran teachers are lifelong learners looking to grow and improve!

Important Step Up Night Information: 

Step Up Night, 6:00 P.M, Thursday, June 16th

More details to follow.

This week's Showcase comes to us following a recommendation from incoming Director of Curriculum, Instruction, and Assessment Karen Fredericks, and it will be a different experience than we usually share.  For this visit, we get to join BTMES 3rd-grade teacher Merrin Rousseau's reading group for an eyewitness account of how children learn to read.  Typically, our goal is to show you a 2-3 minute snapshot of some of the learning opportunities we have for our students across the arts, athletics, and academics.  For this, however, we are taking a much deeper look into how students learn to read with a talented teacher and their classmates.  This eight-minute clip includes two separate uncut mini-lessons with Ms. Rousseau and two students.  This is going to be worth your time!

One thing I've learned in over thirty years as an educator is that the best way to put yourself in a good mood is to visit a Pre-K or Kindergarten class. There is nothing like it! For this week's Showcase, we are visiting the Pre-K programs of BCEMS and BTMES, and I can assure you that you will soon have a smile on your face! We joined BCEMS Pre-K teacher Nancy Benoit and BTMES Pre-K teacher Kelsey LaPerle's classes recently and learned a whole lot about car detailing and the solar system during our visits.

I'd like to thank BTMES Technology Integrationist Jess Van Orman for giving us a great tip for this week's School Showcase!  Ms. Van Orman has been working with BTMES 5th Grade Social Studies teacher Darby Heibert on an outstanding North American Indigenous Peoples literacy research project using 21st Century technology.  Ms. Heibert's students were incredibly proud of the progress they're making on their projects and eager to share them with us!

I got to spend time with the BUUSD Art teachers last week as they set up the annual BUUSD Art Show at the Aldrich Public Library.  The work on display from students of all ages was beautiful and I strongly encourage you to attend - the show is on display now through the end of March.  This show has always been a highlight of the year for me and many others, and after hearing from our student artists you will understand why!

Children have a wealth of untapped potential! At the Y, we ensure children are involved, engaged, valued, and cared for in out-of-school hours. We help to build skills and confidence as children explore new interests and passions through the Y.

Click above to learn more!

This week's School Showcase brings us to the Winter Wonderland of ECO at BTMES! Our friends at the North Branch Nature Center in Montpelier have helped bring ECO (Educating Children Outdoors) to both BTMES and BCEMS for years, and we got to experience a wonderful couple of hours in the woods with a group of BT 6th graders this week on a perfect winter's day.

This week's school showcase comes from Veronica Eldred's 2nd Grade Classroom at BTMES, and we had a great visit! Ms. Eldred's students have been spending time talking about gratitude and things they are thankful for, and they were very eager to share their thoughts with us.

This week's School Showcase takes us to the Barre Town Middle and Elementary School Community Garden. Students from the Building Trades Program at the Central Vermont Career Center, led by instructor Dimitri Kolomeitsev, are working on upgrading and reconstructing the fencing and structures in the garden, and they are doing excellent work! 

The school year is right around the corner and we are so excited to see you all on Monday. We made a short video for you introducing our new Assistant Principal, Mr. Mills, as well as some information on masks, arrival/dismissal, and bus routes. See you soon!!