The Braintree Buzz

Thanks to the incredible efforts of our staff and students, we had another great week at Braintree Elementary. Academics continue to be rigorous and responsive to individual student needs. Mrs. Richards' first and second graders had experiment results that contradicted their original hypothesis when they compared how radish plants grow with and without light. Ms. Emma's sixth grade students learned a visual support for fraction multiplication called an area model this week. Ms. J's students were focused on improving their academic vocabulary when I popped in today. Third graders were showing what they know on a math assessment with Ms. Robinson, and other students were working with Ms. Gershon to group-write a grant application that would financially benefit the farmstand and ongoing projects here at Braintree.

As you peruse the newsletter, you'll see photos of our exciting farm-to-school events and field trips that took place this week. Thank you to the families that joined us for the 4/5/6 hike on Mount Cardigan. Thursday was the perfect day for it!

Our district and school websites and Facebook pages are still down. If you need any information, please contact our office at (802) 276-3153. A reminder: there is no school Monday-Wednesday of next week due to a holiday, inservice day, and conference day.

With the privilege of a beginner's mind and being new to the region, I am able to witness just how incredible our teaching staff is here at Braintree. I have worked in several schools, and believe me when I say that Braintree teachers (and students!) are the cream of the crop!

The first meeting of our family group will be on Monday, October 17th at 2:20pm in the school library. Please join us, if you are able, to discuss our door policy and responses to our recent family survey.

Students will be making apple cider in advance of our pumpkin carving event on the 27th. If you or someone you know have any apples to donate, please bring them in. We would put them to great use!

This week, Farmer Anne from Drift Farm joined us for another Farm to School event. October is Farm to School month nationally, but at Braintree, we live our values of growing healthy, local produce every day. Preschoolers, kindergarteners, and first graders joined Teacher Harriet, Ms. K, Ms. Gwen, Ms. Tammy, and Ms. Emily to harvest potatoes from the raised beds. Then, children harvested the rainbow chard. Intermediate students, with Anne, built a fire and cooked a soup with chard as the star. All of the students were able to try the soup and listen to Giving Thanks, a children's book adaptation of the Haudenosaunee Thanksgiving Address in celebration of Indigenous Peoples Day.

Mr. Green tackled the T in STEM this week with lessons in K-6 classes. Students learned what technology is (something made to solve a problem), identified various forms of technology they use every day, and thought about how those forms of technology have evolved over time.

Please label any items your children take to school, including backpacks, water bottles, coats, lunch boxes, etc with at least their first and last name. It keeps our Lost & Found smaller and makes it much easier to return items when they are misplaced.

Monday, October 10 - Indigenous Peoples Day - No School

Tuesday, October 11 - Inservice Day - No school for students

Wednesday, October 12 - Conference Day - No school for students

Friday, October 14 - Picture Retakes

Thursday, October 27 - Family Event - Pumpkin Carving! 5pm for preschool Story Walk, 5:30pm for all others. Join us for pumpkin carving, cider, and flashlight tag!