Monthly archive

November 2016

Read U-32’s Chronicle Online!

in 2016-17 School Year/Uncategorized

Where does one go for the latest news about U-32 Middle and High School? To the student-produced Chronicle, of course. It’s the news organization that’s been covering U-32 since 1971.

The school has had a student paper since the beginning. In the early days the paper was called everything from “Name This Paper,” and “National Lame Prune,” to “The Shadow,” and “The U-32 Ooops!” “The Chronicle” started in 1984, with teacher advisors Joanne Greenberg and Steve Barrows.   

But the latest change is that the Chronicle has now become an online publication. A yearly magazine, Zoo Chronicles, for pieces with a longer shelf life, is also produced in printed form.  Advisor Ben Heintz says, “I’m really proud of the magazine from last year and there are still copies for sale in the front office and the library.”

There are a lot of reasons for going digital, for any media outlet. The Chronicle benefits as stories can be published when they’re finished, instead of in a big batch all at once, and can be any length. Also, they have access to a much broader audience and the online format offers the ability to include photos, audio, video, and use interactive features.  Another advantage – student editors have the opportunity to learn skills in digital media production that are more transferrable than print layout.

Advisor Ben Heintz says that students mostly come up with their own stories, or he proposes ideas in class.  “For most kids this is the hardest part.  They’re not asked to think this way in school very often,” Heintz continues.   He says that it’s often hard for students to see that the issues and stories in our small community are actually compelling, “so a lot of good stories are invisible, or don’t come on the radar.”   He works to expose the students to models of strong local reporting, and in fact, they just had a visit from VT Digger reporter Elizabeth Hewitt!

The Chronicle is working to grow their audience.  Their biggest source of readers comes from Facebook. Therefore they are working to increase the number of Facebook followers into the thousands.

Keep Reading

U-32 Student Council

in 2016-17 School Year/Student Activism

By Sarah Kinter

The U-32 Student Council has always seen service as part of its mission. Many community members may have heard of their program, SCOP, Senior Community Outreach Project, which matches seniors in their last week of school with community members in need of help. For one day, whether it be wood stacking, gardening, or painting to name a few, students branch out across our community to perform service. Their blood drives are also well-known and well-served. Less well-known perhaps are their days of food sorting at the Vermont Food Bank or shelving books at local libraries. They recently participated in running a Wellness Day at U-32, promoting wellness through nutrition, tobacco prevention, with partner Central Vermont New Directions, rock climbing, and blood pressure testing performed by Allison Gauthier’s Anatomy class. The Student Council wants to do even more by offering monthly service opportunities for middle and high school students to help community members in our 5 town district. November’s goal is food drives. If you would benefit from service from a group of students please email either Emma Curchin, co-President, at ecurchin17@wcsu32.org or Kit Walker, co-Teacher Adviser, @ kwalker@wcsu32.org. Or contact any one of their members, one of their four Presidents, Ellie Stroh, Lauren Morse, Emily Richards, or Emma Curchin, or either of their teacher advisors, Kit Walker or Deb Stevens. 

World Food, Health & Wellness Day

in 2016-17 School Year/Student Activism
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New Directions Prevention Specialist Ginny Burley plays “Substance Jeopardy” with U-32 students at a World Food, Health & Wellness Event at the school October 21st. During that time High School students had the opportunity to participate in a variety of events from test tasting stations to yoga, ropes course, Turn Off Texting demonstrations, and more. At the New Directions station, students tested their knowledge about alcohol, opiates, cannabis and tobacco. While the students proved quite knowledgeable, a few gaps stood out: students underestimated the extent to which cannabis can be addictive; and they overestimated how many Vermont students had ever used marijuana. They guessed 90-100%, but the answer is 37%.

U-32 senior Lauren Morse makes applesauce from local apples from Burtt’s Orchard during U-32’s wellness day October 21st.

Harwood Strong

in 2016-17 School Year/Student Activism

U-32 soccer players, coaches and family members form a circle with Harwood players at Harwood High School October 13th to honor the 5 students, 4 of whom were Harwood juniors, who were killed in a tragic accident. Photo credit: Jeb Wallace-Brodeur

Planting Hope

in 2016-17 School Year/Arts

Cultural Arts & Educational Exchange

During the week of October 11-14 students and staff from Berlin Elementary School participated in a Nicaragua Meets Vermont Cultural Arts and Education Exchange. Throughout the week 7 Nicaraguan staff from Planting Hope worked with Berlin Elementary staff to provide rich cultural experiences during Allied Arts classes. In Art, students painted with coffee to create unique expressions of Vermont and Nicaraguan life. In Music, students engaged in traditional songs, movement, drumming and music. In PE, students learned customary dances of Nicaragua. In Guidance, students learned Spanish vocabulary.

On Friday evening community members were treated to a culminating event where students and staff presented their learning from the week. There were colorful costumes, songs, dances, whole group movement, an art show, coffee and a fruit dessert. The PTNA sponsored the week-long event. Berlin teacher Cindy Gauthier said “We are so grateful for the Planting Hope staff who provided an experience that has left our community wiser about life in Nicaragua.”  Gauthier traveled to Nicaragua

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Gleaning Apples

in 2016-17 School Year/Student Activism
Berlin Elementary third and fourth graders gleaned apples at Liberty Orchard on October 21st. The apples went to Community Harvest of Central Vermont for distribution in our community.
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