Memorial Day Celebrates Courage

Memorial Day Observances, Folsom School, May 27, 2011

Local Veterans, from WWII through the modern conflicts, joined Folsom students in observance of Memorial Day and in tribute to the courage demonstrated by members of the military and shared by their families. Isabella Fearn, along with members from the Veterans of Foreign Wars, V.F.W., led the pledge of allegiance. Gerry Carlton, of the V.F.W., addressed the students on courage through thoughtful and compelling stories that focused on how he, and others, managed to do the right thing, despite being scared and nervous. The students appeared to particularly enjoy Mr. Carlton's story about taking responsibility when he broke his family's cookie jar.

Members of the V.F.W. presented the students with small flags as a token of appreciation before Robert Merrihew, "Chef Bob", read the list of veterans that were related to students enrolled at Folsom. After hearing his or her name, the students stood and were recognized with applause from the flag waving audience in recognition for their family's service. Students also sang the Vermont State Song and the Folsom School Band, under the direction of Mrs. Little, performed "America the Beautiful" and "The Star Spangled Banner" with singer Isabella Fearn. The observance concluded with horns section's performance of "Taps".

Among the honored veteran attendees were: Bob Merrihew, John Lake, Everett Dubuque, John Buermann, Tim Brisson, Michael Guernsey, Gerry Carlton, Herbert Prakelt, Mark Rocheleau, John Roy, Russ Warring, Penelope Spaulding and Jon Wells.

Boston Trip

Folsom’s 7/8 team visited Boston this past week to experience history, science and culture. The trip began at the Museum of Science, where 8th grade students presented research on the science concepts they have studied the past two years.  Students also interacted with displays and witnessed a lightening show. 8th grade students also made presentations on science concepts at the New England Aquarium, where students interacted with touch displays of sharks, skates and sea stars and where students observed rare and common aquatic and marine life in exhibits. 7th grade students made presentations throughout the Freedom Trail at sites such as the Public Gardens, Boston Common, the Granary, the Old North Church and the U.S.S. Constitution. The students were also treated to a behind-the-scenes tour of Old North Church that included a tour of the crypt and the bellfry. The trip would not have been possible without tgenerous efforts of the volunteers, Jeff Kuhn, Barbara Robinson, Kathy Robinson, Penelope Spaulding, Trish Bessette, Bernie Toth and Cynthia O'Hara. Additionally, the team would like to thank the ongoing parent and community support that enabled the fund-raising efforts to pay for the trip. 

Acting Toward Fluency!

In full costumes and with bright accents, Folsom 8^th grade students performed scene five from Shakespeare’s A Mid-Summer Night’s Dream  before students in the 5^th-7^th grades on Thursday, 5/26.  The performance is the culminating activity for this challenging reading assignment, which stretches the limits of each student’s reading fluency.

Reading fluency refers to the speed and accuracy with which students read. Folsom teachers measure students’ fluency throughout the year so that students can monitor progress, which has been instrumental to the goal setting process on the 7/8 team.

For the past three years, all graduating students have participated in a goal setting process where students select a reading, writing and problem solving goal based on their strengths, weaknesses, interests and future plans. Students receive weekly class time to work on their goals, document their progress with videos and pictures and to reflect on their own learning. This goal setting process is instrumental in helping students learn to take charge of their own learning.

Numerous students select fluency as their focus for their reading goal because reading faster makes reading less daunting to students. This cascades through the entire reading process because students can understand more and more as they feel more confident. For many students, the only way to improve fluency is to read more and to read out loud.

Reading out loud is a routine on the Folsom middle level team during book clubs and during language arts classes. During these opportunities, students receive coaching on how to read more expressively and how to read like the character might speak. This process helps students evaluate the context of a book and more richly engages their imaginations.

Shakespeare’s writing is exceptionally challenging for students to read, never mind read before peers. Mrs. Pidgeon, the 7/8 Language Arts and Social Studies teacher, masterfully balanced the stress and excitement by matching students to roles that speak to them. She also placed students in roles that were at the edge of their comfort zone, which made the activity rigorous.

The GISU initiated a transition toward the “Rigor/Relevance Framework”  (R.R.F.), this past year in order to better meet the needs of all students. The R.R.F. aims to challenge all students, but not necessarily in identical ways. For example, some students in the play received prominent roles with pages of text and other students performed smaller roles with lines of text. This is popularly known as differentiation, which allows heterogeneous groups to collaborate simultaneously at different depths.

Mrs. Pidgeon created an audience for the students, which elevated the base level of rigor and relevance to a greater degree because the students often read more seriously when they are observed and students know that Shakespear’s works were meant to be performed, not read like a novel. Folsom is fortunate to have such a talented teacher as Mrs. Pidgeon because she seamlessly manages to integrate the arts, promote reading and honor each student while at the same time students are smiling, laughing and learning.

Girls Science Day

Folsom students Gabrielle Fionda and Jordan Lawrence recently attended the Girls Science Day at the University of Vermont College of Medicine. The American Medical Women's Association Chapter at the College of Medicine sponsored the event in hopes of inspiring girls to pursue careers in medicine and science. While in attendance at the day long event, the girls experienced actual human organs, medical technology and interactions with medical doctors and students. It is hoped that the girls will share their learning with their peers over the next year of classes at the Folsom School.