Bus Stop Conversations - U-32 High School

Vol. 20, #13 April 11, 2012 Next issue: May 2
Selling apples at the "store" at the East
Montpelier Elementary School PreKindergarten.
Rumney School Presents "A Connecticut
Yankee in King Arthur¹s Court"
Hank, the "Connecticut Yankee"
(played by Ethan Scharf) is questioned by
members of the court. From left to right: Eric
Scharf (Jester), Jessica Hepinstall (Queen
Guenevere), Hank, Harrison Bushnell (King
Arthur), Rena Schwartz (Lady Alisande).
Sir Sagamore (Sam Darmstadt) argues
with Sir Lancelot (Joshua Farber) Looking on
are: Anne-Marie Mattogno, Forrest Spencer,
Natalie Pudvah, Charlotte Harris. See page 3
for show times.
Kindergarten students at Berlin Elementary
recently learned how to write poetry using
similes. After reading their work to the entire
school, several of the poems were displayed
in Montpelier as part of the Poem City project,
an effort that brought together the creative
work of over 160 adult poets and that of
students from WCSU and Montpelier.
Bus Stop Conversations
Neighborly news about the Washington Central Supervisory Union schools of Berlin, Calais,
Doty Memorial (Worcester), East Montpelier, Rumney Memorial (Middlesex), & U-32.
Inside This Issue:
Retirement Reception
for Superintendent Brook
Literacy Initiative
Central Vermont Robotics, Robo-Raiders,
Win the Rockwell Collins Innovation Award
By Michelle McFadden & Chuck Hoffert
The Central Vermont Robo-Raiders, Team
4946, competed at the 2012 FTC Northern New
England Championships
in Antrim,
NH on March 10,
2012. During the
competition, the
team was awarded
the Rockwell Collins
Innovation
Award, recognizing
the team for
building the most
innovative and creative
robot design
solution to meet
the game challenge.
Elements of
this award include
elegant design, robustness,
and ‘out
of the box’ thinking
related to design.
This was an exciting
and noteworthy
award since this
is Team 4946’s
rookie year. Team
4946 is comprised
of students from
The Central Vermont Robo-Raiders, Team 4946,
was recognized for building the most innovative and
creative robot design solution at the New England
Championships in New Hampshire on March 10.
Kick Butts Day at U-32
By Central Vermont New Directions Coalition
On Wednesday, March 21, 2012, students and
staff at U-32 learned about thirdhand smoke and
Big Tobacco. Central Vermont New Directions
Coalition, the U-32 Teen Leadership Group and
the Middle School Student Council hosted a
KICK BUTTS event in the atrium. Kick Butts
Day is a national day of
activism that empowers
youth to speak up and
take action against Big
Tobacco. In all, 15
students planned and
organized the event putting
together interactive,
information booths
highlighting the dangers of
tobacco products. Students
from both the high
school and middle school
were able to check out the different booths and
gather information which hopefully will keep
them from smoking or chewing tobacco and give
those who smoke or chew the incentive to quit.
Some of the activities offered were a graffiti
wall for students to sign telling Big Tobacco:
“We’re Not Your Replacement Smokers.” Over
U-32 and Northfield High Schools and adult
mentors from the local area. The team received
the 2012 game
challenge called
“Bowled Over”
in September
2011 and worked
over 120 hours to
design, build and
test their robot.
Their robot, affectionately
named
“Frankie” (short
for Frankenstein),
really came alive
during the competition.
The
team would like
Students who are interested in engineering,
mechanical design, computer programming and problem
solving are encouraged to check out CVR Robo-Raiders
Open House on Friday, May 4 from 4:30—7:30 p.m. in
the Technical Education Classroom at U-32. Refreshments
will be provided.
50 students signed
the wall. There was
a dice throw game
showing the physical
effects of chewing
tobacco, a video
U-32 students check out health
information during Kick Butts Day, March 21.
to thank Principal
Keith Gerritt,
the U-32 school
board, the U-32
Boosters, and all
of the mentors
and parents who
supported us this
year. Without your
commitment and
support, we could
see robots on pg. 3
about the little known
dangers of second and
thirdhand smoke, and
giant displays imaging
the evils of cigarette
smoking. The day was a
success as the event was
experienced by about 275
U-32 students and staff.
What is thirdhand
smoke and why do the
big tobacco companies
advertise to youth?
Thirdhand smoke is generally considered to
be residual nicotine and other chemicals left on
walls, floors and car interiors by tobacco smoke.
It can stay on unwashed surfaces for days,
weeks, even months. This toxic mix of thirdhand
see kick butts on page 3
Bus Stop Conversations Page 1

Activities
U-32
April 12: MIddle School Parent Meeting, 6:30 p.m.
April 12-15: Legally Blonde, the Musical, see below
April 20: Middle School Dance, 7 p.m.
May 3: Literacy Presentation, see below
Berlin
April 12: PTNA Meeting, 6:30 p.m.
April 14: Chess Tournament, 8 a.m.- 4 p.m.
April 18: Whole School Meeting, 9:15 a.m.
Calais
April 21: Rec Field Work Day, 8 a.m. till finished. Info:
Mike Hudson 456-1168
May 4: Drama Club Performance 6:30 p.m.
May 23: Kindergarten Parent Information Night, 6-7 p.m.
May 24: Kindergarten Registration & Screening, 1-3 p.m.
Doty
April 16: Book Fair
May 1: Family and Special Friends Day, 1 - 3:30 p.m.
May 31: Spring Concert and Art Show
East Montpelier
April 16: Facilities Committee Meeting, 5:30 p.m
May 6: Spring Dance
June 7: Fifth and Sixth Grade Parent night with John
Halligan
June 14: Sixth Grade Graduation 6:00 p.m.
Rumney
May 8: Sixth Grade Parent meeting, 6:30-8 p.m.
May 23: Spring Concert, 6:00 p.m.
May 31: Fine Arts Night, 6:30-7:30 p.m.
June 2: Spring Fair, 10 a.m.-2 p.m.
June 13: Sixth Grade Graduation, 5:30 p.m.
Bus Stop Conversations is published 16 times in the school year by Washington Central Friends of Education, Inc.,
a private, non-profit corporation committed to strengthening the communication and cooperation between residents
of the five district towns of Berlin, Calais, East Montpelier, Middlesex, and Worcester, and the Washington Central
Supervisory Union schools. No tax money is used for the production or publication. Send correspondence to:
Editor, Deborah Wolf, Washington Central Friends of Education, PO Box 324, Montpelier, VT 05601; e-mail:
dwolf@u32.org
Page 2 Volume 20 #13
Notes on the Chalkboard
Board Meetings
U-32: first and third Wednesday at 6 p.m, April18;
Berlin Elementary School: second Monday at 6:15 p.m., May 8;
Calais Elementary School: third Tuesday at 6:15 p.m., April 17;
Doty Elementary School, Worcester: second Wednesday at 6:30 p.m., April 11;
East Montpelier Elementary School: third Monday at 6:30 p.m., April 16;
Rumney Elementary School, Middlesex: first Tuesday at 6 p.m., May 1;
Washington Central Supervisory Union Executive Committee, April 30, 6:15 p.m. at WCSU offices.
April 13 - Inservice, no school for students
April 23-27 – No School – Spring Break
You can view current and past issues of Bus Stop on the
web at www.u32.org
Click on the resources link at the top of the page, then
click on the publications link, then click on Bus Stop
Conversations.
Board Minutes
Berlin, February 13, 2012
✦ Chris Dodge led a discussion about NECAP scores
and work to improve them.
✦ Discussed the rationale for the discontinuance of
letter grades in the early grades.
✦ Approved the tuition rate of $12,249.00 for FY
2013.
✦ Approved the move to rescind the Restraint and
Seclusion Policy and follow state rule 4500.
✦ Approved the adoption of the Vision Statement.
Calais, February 21, 2012
✦ Discussed studies on Wi-Fi and accepted the recommendations
from consultants.
✦ Accepted the principal's resignation and appointed
a search committee with Jen Miller-Arsenault,
chair, and Brian O'Reagan, consultant.
✦ Discussed the needs of students who exceed the
standards and activities.
✦ Lindy Johnson presented information regarding the
WCSU Literacy Initiative.
A message from Central Vermont New
Directions Coalition:
Researchers at San Diego State University
report that "thirdhand smoke" was found
on surfaces even after homes had been
vacant for two months and cleaned and
repainted.
April 28
Washington County Sheriff W. Samuel Hill, in cooperation
with the DEA, has coordinated collection sites within
Washington County.
Saturday April 28, 2012, 10 am to 2 pm
Pills and capsules only!
Locations:
Washington County Sheriffs Department
10 Elm Street
Montpelier, VT
Northfield Police Dept.
110 Wall Street
Northfield, VT
Barre City Police Dept.
15 Fourth Street
Barre City, VT
Vermont State Police – Middlesex
1080 Rte 2
Middlesex, VT
Mad River Valley Ambulance
1477 Main Street
Waitsfield, VT
✦ Grace Hoffman talked about the PATH Grant and
plans for its use this year and next.
✦ Approved the hire of Katrina Rob and Mary Carpenter.
U-32, March 21, 2012
✦ Luke LaRosa, student representative, reported that
Charlie Hoffert and Alicia Danyew received the
principal's award at the recent winter sports dessert.
✦ Jack Shea has won the state "Gatorade Award" for
soccer.
✦ Keith Gerritt reported that U-32 was inducted into
the League of Innovative Schools and the business
department has received a $15,000 Discover Card
grant.
✦ The Central Vermont Robotics team spoke of their
year-long project and recent competition where
they won the Rockwell Collins Innovative Award.
✦ Approved the reductions in force for Brian Albee,
Beth Allen, Tracy Gandin and Gillian Thomas.
✦ Accepted with regret the year-end resignation of
Mike Law.
✦ Approved the hire of Trudy Smith, paraeducator. v
WCSU wants to share this presentation
with you: parents, community members,
board members, teachers, and administrators.
An evening with Dr. Marjorie Lipson
Come Find Out About the WCSU
Literacy Initiative
Thursday, May 3, 2012, 6:30-8:30 p.m.
U-32, Auditorium
Refreshments will be served
For the last three years, WCSU has
engaged in a sustained focus on improving
literacy instruction for all students in grades
PreK-8. Dr. Lipson has been the primary
consultant on the project and has worked with
teachers and administrators across WCSU.
She will be reporting out on what we have
accomplished and defining the work ahead.
"A Connecticut Yankee in King Arthur's
Court," the Musical!
Friday, April 13, 7:00 p.m.
Saturday, April 14, 2:00 & 7:00 p.m.
Rumney Memorial School
Rumney Memorial School's 4th, 5th and 6th
graders will present this lively musical adaptation
of a Mark Twain classic. Meet King Arthur,
Queen Guenevere, Morgan le Fey, Merlin,
Lancelot, and a modern-day Yankee who travels
back in time and changes their world.
Singing, dancing, and plenty of laughter for
the whole family!
$10/family or $4/adult, $2/child
Delicious bake sale too.
For information: Rumney School, 223-5429.

You are
invited to a
Retirement
Reception
in honor of
Superintendent
Robbe Brook.
Friday, May 18, 5:00-7:00 p.m.
in the atrium at U-32.
Light refreshments will be served.
Lead Yourself 2012
The U-32 Athletic Department is proud to
present a mini Leadership Presentation at U-32
on Tuesday, April 17 from 2:45-4:30 p.m. in
the Auditorium with Q & A Breakout session
following (a chance to ask questions, hear more
and get more in-depth).
This multi-media event will feature former
U-32 student-athletes who have made notable
achievements. U.S. Olympic skier Liz Stevens,
U.S. Runner Rob Mitchell, College Football
players Miles Levine (Miami) and Phil Hall
(Castleton) will present key facets of Self Leadership
that have helped them on the road to
higher achievement.
Coaches and athletes of all ages will benefit
from the knowledge and experience presented at
“Lead Yourself 2012.” The motivational elements
and skills presented at this event will help
you or your team to the next level in personal
development and personal leadership.
Main Presentation (2:45-4:30)
Q+A breakout to follow 4:30-5:30
This is a very beneficial program for any
student or adult to attend, regardless of whether
you are an athlete or not. Figuring out how to
lead ourselves, and find ways to self-motivate are
skills that we can all use in our daily life!
U-32 Athletic Director Amy Molina looks
forward to this presentation, and hopes that U-32
can extend a warm welcome-back to our very
successful alumni!
For more information, please contact: Amy
Molina - 802-229-0321 ext. 5113. v
Hunter Safety Education
for kids & adults with
Sheriff Sam Hill
at Doty Elementary School
Before you head out into
the woods, learn the safe and
proper way to handle guns,
how to clean and care for them, and how to conduct
yourself in the woods. Students must attend
all classes.
FREE
Thursdays: April 19–1st night registration
5:30 to 6, class 6-9, May, 3, 6-9 p.m., May 10,
5-9 p.m.
Children under 16 must be accompanied by a
parent or legal guardian for at least the 1st class,
to sign registration paperwork.
Please pre-register with Community Connections
Director Kimberly Bolduc at 223-5656
x 134.
robots from pg. 1
not have met this challenge.
Students who are interested in engineering,
mechanical design, computer programming and
problem solving are encouraged to check out
CVR Robo-Raiders Open House on Friday, May
4 from 4:30-7:30 p.m. in the Technical Education
Classroom. Refreshments will be provided. v
News Across the District
Rumney teachers teach classes this
summer: Change the World with Service
Learning, and The Reality of Co-Teaching
Rumney teachers Katy Farber, Heather Dion
and Loralyn LeBlanc are all preparing to teach
professional development classes this summer.
Katy will once again teach a, "Change the World
with Service Learning: How to Organize, Lead
and Assess Service Learning Projects," which is
based on her book of the same title. Heather and
Loralyn will be teaching a new class based on
their experience of co-teaching this year, "The
Reality of Co-Teaching, Making it Work for
You." Both classes will be taught in Montpelier
at the LAPDA (Lamoille Area Professional Development
Association) conference room in the
old NECI building. Loralyn LeBlanc is currently
teaching a class as well: "Diagnostic Approaches
to Learning Disabilities," through the Vermont
Higher Education Collaborative.
Let's Not Forget Irene
Over $2,200 was collected through the Let's
Not Forget Irene Benefit Concert hosted by
U-32 on March 16. All proceeds will be given
to Central Vermont Community Action Council
and 100% of those proceeds will be distributed to
area families.
February Composting News
East Montpelier Elementary School composted
1,430 pounds in February! That’s 0.715 tons
of waste! Way to go!
U-32 Students Win Scholastic Art and
Writing Awards
The Scholastic Art and Writing Awards is the
longest running and most prestigious scholarship
and recognition program for student achievement
in visual arts and writing in the United
States. A ceremony honoring Vermont’s award
winners took place on Saturday, February 18 at
the Brattleboro Museum & Art Center. Awards
include Honorable Mention, Silver Key, and
Gold Key. All award winners receive certificates,
and Silver and Gold Key winners also received
recognition pins. Gold Key entries are sent on to
New York for national adjudication, the results of
which will be announced in early spring.
U-32’s award-winning students:
Emily Delano, Silver Key Vermont Winner—
Ceramics, Honorable Mentions (4)—Ceramics
Alexis McCloud, Regional Winner—Patriot’s
Pen Essay Contest
Eli Pandolfo, Honorable Mention—Short
Story, Honorable Mention—Essay
Tillie Quattrone, Silver Key Vermont Winner—
Short Story, Honorable Mention—Short Story
Melita Schmeckpeper, Silver Key Vermont
Winner—Poetry
Brendan Shepard, Honorable Mention—
Photography
Conner Winkeljohn, Silver Key Vermont
Winner—Photography, Honorable Mention—
Photography
Juliette Rose Wunrow, Silver Key Vermont
Winner—Poetry v
Taking turns with the marble run at
the East Montpelier Elementary School
PreKindergarten.
Working together at the sensory table
at the East Montpelier Elementary School
PreKindergarten.
School Board Openings
There is still one seat to fill on Doty’s Board
of Directors. Please contact Barbara Anne with
a letter of interest (bkomons-montroll@u32.org,
223-5656, ext. 124). Thanks!
If you live in Berlin and would be interested
in serving on the U-32 Board, you should contact
the Berlin School Board. They will make an appointment
to fill the vacancy on the U-32 Board.
If you want to talk about board service and what
it involves, any member of the U-32 Board
would be happy to talk with you.
kick butts from pg. 1
Conner Winkeljohn
smoke contains cancer-causing substances, posing
a potential health hazard to nonsmokers who
are exposed to it, especially children.
Among the substances in thirdhand smoke
are hydrogen cyanide, used in chemical weapons;
butane, which
is used in lighter
fluid; toluene, found
in paint thinners;
arsenic; lead; carbon
monoxide; and
even polonium-210,
a highly radioactive
carcinogen.
According to actual tobacco industry documents,
younger adult smokers are the only source
of replacement smokers. v
Bus Stop Conversations Page 3