Vid-Chats

         

          6th graders at PAML have been having "Vid-Chat Tuesdays!"  This is a totally student led activity.  A student identifies someone they might want to talk to, anywhere in the world, and then they set up a Video Chat.  That student is the greeter and facilitator of the conversation. During the talk, 3 different students ask 3 questions: how do they use math in their job, how they use science, and how they use literacy in their job.  This vid-chat takes about 10 minutes, and the students learn a lot about academic needs of various jobs. It's been interesting for the students to learn about the real-world connections to all the subjects they are studying.

 Vid-Chat with Chris Kaiser, President

 Vermont Peanut Butter Company in Morrisville, VT

Vid-Chat with Stephanie Craig, Owner and Founder

 Embodico in Morrisville, Vermont

A local soap making business 

Teacher Appreciation Day

Tuesday, May 7th is National Teacher Appreciation Day!  How do we celebrate the thousands of men and women who commit to teaching our country's children and in doing so, work daily to touch the future?  Thanking a teacher is a simple place to start.  It is sort of like the bumper sticker says, "If you can read this, thank a teacher."

When I think about my own teachers as I went through my years of school there are many who stand out for me in terms of having made a difference in my life.  I think of Miss Crow, my 5th grade teacher, who brought her guitar with her to school and taught us songs such as Charlie and the MTA and The Night They Drove Old Dixie Down.  Mr. Corey, in 6th grade, encouraged us all to be authors, of "books," not just papers or assignments!  We stayed in for recess to keep on writing for him. I could go on and on, as I'm sure so could you, when you think about some meaningful teachers you encountered.  If you can help your student think about a teacher, current or in the past, and find a way to thank them, it goes a long way!

Teaching is art. 

Teaching is science. 

Teaching is joy. 

Teaching is struggle. 

Teaching is growth. 

Teaching is life.

~ Jessica Keigan

Visit to Montpelier!!

    Two PAML students had a wonderful day in Montpelier as a part of a Drug and Alcohol Prevention Day for students around the state.  Thanks to our Student Assistant Program coordinator, Peter Hathaway, these girls had the opportunity to meet a couple of famous Vermonters! Next year, Mr. Hathaway hopes to bring more students to this event!

Earth Day

It finally appears to be Spring at PAML and students were lending a helping hand on Earth Day with the winter "leftovers."

Students from Mrs. Bronner's In-Service to the Community Expert were "greening up" our school.  Thanks for helping PAML!

A2VT CONCERT

We had a fabulous time at the PBIS celebration Friday. The band A2VT visited with 6th grade and then they rocked the school with their music. Middle and high school students (and teachers) enjoyed dancing!!

Parent Resource

PRESS RELEASE:

BURLINGTON – Four years ago, the Vermont Department of Health launched ParentUp, a web-based campaign focused on the important role of parents in preventing underage drinking. Research shows that parents are the number one influence on a child’s decision to drink or not to drink alcohol.

The website www.ParentUpVT.org offers information, tools and videos that illustrate simple, proven steps parents can take with their children to help reduce underage drinking. As part of Alcohol Awareness Month, the Health Department has added new videos and a listing of local events for parents to talk with each other about the problem of underage and risky drinking.

“Talking with your kids about alcohol beginning around age 11 can be one of the best prevention steps a parent can take,” said Deputy Commissioner Barbara Cimaglio.

“We also understand that parents also need a place and time to talk with each other about this issue.” 

The Health Department funds 17 community coalitions as part of a coordinated statewide effort to reduce the prevalence of underage drinking. According to the Vermont Youth Risk Behavior Survey, underage drinking has steadily decreased – from 43 percent in 2007 to 33 percent in 2013.

“We know these discussions can be difficult and awkward,” Cimaglio said, “but parents are usually surprised at how receptive children are, and how much they rely on you as a resource and source of support.”

Enhancements to the website include a new “Talk: They Will Hear You” video from the federal Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA).

Local meetings where parents can talk and get good information include a Town Hall in Ludlow on April 22, a presentation on the impact of drinking and drugs on a young person’s brain in Hardwick on April 24, and a discussion of Fetal Alcohol Syndrome on April 25 at the VFW in Brattleboro.

ParentUp is designed to support communities with appropriate tools to create the right localized approach with ParentUpVT.org acting as a clearinghouse for information and resources.

For more information on about the ParentUp campaign and a full list of alcohol and tobacco prevention events, go to ParentUpVT.org or http://healthvermont.gov.

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6th Grade Visitor

Last week the 6th grade had the good fortune of a visit from Adama from Senegal.  She works at Fletcher Allen and has been in the US for over 10 years.  The students have been studying Africa and actually have pen-pals in Namibia.  The pen-pal project is exciting, as was visiting with Adama.  She told the students about growing up in Senegal, what the educational system was like, how families live and care for each other as well as many other interesting things.  The students had a wide-range of questions for her, and her passion for teaching our students about her homeland was evident.  Here are a couple of photos from that day...

     

                     

On Friday, April 11th, the whole school will enjoy a concert by the group A2VT - a band who have formed in Winooski but are from Africa.  The members of the band will visit with the 6th grade for a bit before the whole school concert begins.