SBAC Results to be Sent Home with Report Cards

This spring students in grades 3-8 and 11 took a statewide assessment called Smarter Balanced Assessment Consortium (SBAC).  This assessment shows a student’s proficiency level of our state standards in English Language Arts and Math.  It also shows a student’s growth toward college and career readiness.

Student results have just been made available, months earlier than previous years. These results will be sent home this week with your child’s report card.  For information about how to read and interpret the SBAC report look for the Individual Student Report Guide that will be included in the report card.

District and state results will be released later this summer.  Shortly after this release the district will share results with the community on our website and in your school reports.

Calculus in the Classroom at Malletts Bay School (Contains Video!)

Over the last two weeks, several MBS classrooms had special guest teachers during their math class!  Ten CHS calculus students paired up to teach standards-based math lessons related to calculus to five MBS classes for their final projects.  Their lessons ranged from teaching about speed & measurement conversions to area of a curved shape and volume.

The CHS students were well prepared for their first teaching experience!  They began by observing their MBS class and interacting with the students they would be teaching.  Each pair of students consulted with the classroom teacher and their calculus teacher to design one hour lessons. Lauren Bergen, Katelyn Hass, Cassie Mallabar, Andrew Lynch, Kristen Schick, Danielle Whitham, Connor Zwonik, Jordan DeMattis, Victoria Mier, and Abby Harrington taught amazing lessons in Mrs. Marlow, Mrs. Ellingson, Mrs. Carney, Mrs. Boucher, and Mrs. Buswell’s classes.

MBS students were impressed that the math they were doing was related to calculus.  Many young mathematicians were inspired by these talented calculus students.  While the lessons were challenging, the MBS students were engaged and excited to solve problems related to their future study of Calculus, and the CHS students had an authentic opportunity to find relationships between the elementary school math standards and the Calculus they learned throughout the year. It was an excellent collaboration between CHS and MBS!

Click here to see a video clip of the students in action.

District Art Show at CHS – May 3-6, 2016

The annual Colchester School District Art Show will be held in the gym at Colchester High School on May 3-6, 2016.  The show will be open daily from 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.

Artwork from each school in the district will be on exhibit.  A reception for artists, families, and the Colchester community will be held on Thursday night, May 5 from 6:00-8:00 p.m., granting the artists the opportunity to discuss their work.  We hope that you will join us in celebrating the creativity and talent of our students!

Malletts Bay School Plans Evening of Math and Cookies

On Wednesday, April 8^th beginning at 6:15 p.m. Malletts Bay School will sponsor a unique celebration of mathematics, open to the entire community.  Entitled “Math and Cookies,” the evening is billed as “a deliciously smart family night.”  Participants will learn how community members use math in their occupations.  Presenters include Eric Nelson of Eye and I Glass; Leah Chiarmonte of the Albany College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences; computer scientist Tom Bacon; and Sean Parker, meteorologist for local station Fox 44.  In addition to the presentations, participants will be able to view displays including “math and quilting” by Town Clerk Karen Richard; “rising nutrient levels in Malletts Bay” by Karen Bates; “math and legos” by Rachel and Mason Alling; and many student displays.  The gymnasium will be filled with activities led by fifth grade students who are part of the school’s “Fuel Up to Play 60” student wellness team.  Of course, there will be cookies!

This unique event is sponsored by the Malletts Bay School’s “School-Community Council” and the Title I program.  To RSVP, please visit the Malletts Bay School home page at http://www.csdvt.org/mbs or call us at 264-5900.

CMS Cougars Compete in Jr. Iron Chef

Colchester Middle School has five young 6th grade chefs competing in the upcoming Jr. Iron Chef Competition at the Expo in Essex on Saturday, March 21.  They have been practicing different dishes like sandwiches, salads, and breakfast each week and have adapted a recipe for Colchester Cougar Corn Chowder served with Parmesan Crisps and Garlic Herb Crostini.  The group has sourced local products whenever possible.  The team has learned basic food safety, preparation, and teamwork over the course of the year.  They are excited about the upcoming competition.  Their chowder will also be served at the upcoming CMS family/community night on March 27, 2015.

From left to right: Tyler Roberge, Max Grenier, Colby Fane-Cushing, Carson Corrigan, Abby Blin.

Join us at the Champlain Valley Exposition to support our students! The day-long event runs from 9:00 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. Admission is $3 per individual or $5 per family.

Good luck Cougars!

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Run, Cougars, Run!

Colchester Middle School athletes made a really impressive showing at the Chittenden County Middle School Track & Field Championship on June 9 at Essex High School.

Members of the CMS track and field team at the 2014 championship event on June 9

“Both the boys and girls won the Chittenden County Middle School Track & Field Championship 2014!” said Jude Olson, a CMS track coach. “This is the first time for CMS! The team showed a lot of depth, talent, and beautiful sportsmanship.”

To view the full results of the event, please click here.

Congratulations, athletes!

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CHS is a Trendsetter for Other High Schools!

As we mentioned in an earlier Spotlight article, several Colchester High School representatives presented at the New England Association of Schools and Colleges (NEASC) conference in October of 2013. Since then, many other schools have visited CHS or contacted CHS administrators for more information about its AT program, which emphasizes academics, assistance, and advising time. The AT program has a more consistent schedule and focuses much more intently upon advancement of learning, assistance with skills, and meaningful engagement in advising.

CHS Principal Amy Minor recently announced that Portsmouth High School in Portsmouth, Rhode Island, will be implementing a similar program based on CHS’s work. The Portsmouth school’s administrators were so impressed with the amazing and thorough handbook that CHS created that they are using it as a template for creating their own!

CHS’s leadership and programming is gaining national attention! On July 30, Principal Amy Minor accepted the prestigious 2013/2014 Vermont Principal of the Year award from the Vermont Principals’ Association. And CHS once again ranks among the top 5 percent of the nation’s high schools according to US News and World Report, giving CHS its silver medal designation. And as we announced in May, The Washington Post has declared Colchester High School as among America’s most challenging high schools!

For more information, please contact CHS at (802) 264-5700.

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Reading Buddies!

Do you know a young person in grades 1–3 who would like some reading practice during the summer?

Or do you perhaps know a student in grade 6 or higher who has a spare half hour per week this summer to help a younger student keep his or her reading skills sharp?

The Reading Buddies program at the Burnham Memorial Library starts on June 20!

The program is designed to provide “buddies” to young readers who have completed kindergarten through third grade and offer them the opportunity to practice their reading during the summer. Students who read over the summer months are typically better prepared for school in the fall, and reading aloud helps children improve their language skills, gain confidence, and practice good communication.

The mentoring older students who are entering grade 6 and up experience helping a younger child, hone valuable work skills, and are able to give back to the community as volunteers (a beneficial addition to future job and college prospects). Buddies and mentors get to know each other, form friendships, and have a rewarding, educational, and fun time together.

If a fourth grader or fifth grader would like to participate but would rather read with a friend his or her own age, he or she could consider being a part of a pair or trio of mid-level readers called RB Friends. They can sign up together or be matched; they meet weekly and attend the celebration just like other participants.

Participants can register at the library’s website (http://colchestervt.gov/Library/) by Tuesday, June 17. Reading buddies participants/parents contact each other and set a time and place to meet; we recommend meeting at the library. Buddies should read to mentors, but mentors can also take a turn reading to buddies.

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Would you like to see a flyer about the program? Please click here!

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Dates to remember:

• Tuesday, June 17—All buddies and mentors must register at the library website (http://colchestervt.gov/Library/) by June 17.
• Thursday, June 19—Mandatory training for all mentors at at 7:00 p.m. at Burnham Memorial Library.
• Friday, June 20—The Reading Buddies program officially starts. Buddies and mentors can pick up their match information.
• Thursday, August 21—End-of-program pizza party with certificates and prizes!

If you have any questions, please contact Gizelle Guyette at gguyette@colchestervt.gov, or call 264-5666.

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UVM Teams Up with MBS to Teach About the Outdoors In the Outdoors

Fourth graders at Malletts Bay School recently enjoyed a special presentation, “Plants Around the World,” as part of their science studies.

Fourth-grade teacher Heather Longchamp examines a pineapple plant while students Austin Manning, Bode Gendreau, Ben Knapp, and Prinsha Neupane look on

Fulbright Fellow Kattia Palacio-Lopez (who holds a master’s degree and is currently a PhD candidate) joined Dr. Jane Molofsky of the University of Vermont in presenting scientific information about various plants brought from UVM’s plant science laboratories.

Students closely examined a variety of plants arranged in various stations, completing a scavenger hunt and matching specific characteristics of each plant. Palacio-Lopez and Molofsky conducted three separate workshops in MBS’s new outdoor classroom, accommodating all seven fourth-grade classes.

Kattia Palacio-Lopez explains the features of plants placed on a world map, showing fourth graders Matthew Romeo, Hazel Nelson, Jonathan Labrie, and Braxton Marcotte the location for each kind of plant

This special presentation aligned with the Colchester School District Vision and Strategic Plan 2012–2017, which contains a number of important pathways, including “Learning Outside Our Four Walls,” “High Standards, Expectations, and Individual Engagement for All Learners,” “Parent, Community, and School Partnerships Among Lifelong Learners,” and “Wellness-Oriented, Balanced, and Healthy Learners.”

If you would like more information, please contact MBS Principal Julie Benay at (802) 264-5906 or by e-mail at BenayJ@csdvt.org.

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Congratulations, Honors Scholars!

Colchester High School recently applauded twenty-eight top-honors students at a celebratory banquet in South Burlington, continuing a long and proud tradition honoring students who have maintained academic excellence throughout their high school careers.

Julia Meadows, Jackie Nagle, Kiley Baillargeon, and Kristi Chapman

The students, celebrated for graduating magna and summa cum laude, were distinguished guests for the special evening, celebrating with a sit-down dinner. Melanie Laquerre, the Vermont health teacher of the year, was the honors banquet keynote speaker. Each honored student was recognized for his or her accomplishments, and all received honor cords to wear during their upcoming graduation ceremony.

Brady Doud and Alana Feeley with teacher Tara Sharkey

The students honored at the special event for their outstanding academic achievements are as follows:

Kiley Baillargeon Alex Barnes Jeremy Barton Daniel Brigante Megan Bullock Henry Butler Kristina Chapman Summer Colley Ben Cross		Brady Doud Tanner Ducharme Alana Feeley Josh Gervais Lauren Hutchings Taylor Lance Julia Meadows Ethan Miller Justin Miller		Jackie Nagle Natalie Orner Sam Pakulski Maia Patrie Chris Prado Carina Sobel Ethan Thibault Amanda Wark Marquel Webster Gabriela Zimbron

 

Jeremy Barton, Sam Pakulski, Justin Miller, Ethan Thibault, and Ethan Miller

CHS teachers Jim Price, Aimee deLaricheliere, and Pat Schiller coordinated the event. Many members of the Colchester School District contributed financially in order to make the event possible, along with many generous members of the community who also sponsored students in honor of academic excellence. To view the program and to see the list of sponsors who funded this event, please click here.

Congratulations, honors scholars!

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