Swift Flyer~ May 19, 2022

• May 23rd & 24th- Swiftville!
  
• May 25th-27th- Finish SBAC and iReady Testing
• May 26th - Beginner Band Concert
• Monday, May 30- No School - Memorial Day

• Tuesday, May 31st- 8th Graders to CVU- 10:15-12:10
• Monday, June 6th - 8th Grade Challenge Presentations @ 10:50-12:00, 8th grade luncheon @ 12:00
• Monday, June 6th @ 6:30 pm- Swift Open House in New Gym
• Tuesday, June 7th - Swift field trip to Mt. Philo
• Wednesday, June 8th @ 6:30 pm- 8th Grader Trip on Spirit of Ethan Allen

• Thursday, June 9- Swift House to Sandbar State Park
• Thursday, June 9 @ 6:30 pm- 8th Grade Graduation
• Friday, June 10- Last Day of School (1/2 day)

We are entering our last weeks of the year and it's exciting to see our schedule getting busy! Many of the events above represent Swift or WCS traditions which are thankfully all happening in person this year. Some details include:

• 8th Grade Challenge Presentations-- 8th Graders will share their year-long project-- including their research, community connection, and mentor connection-- to a panel of community members. We will celebrate their efforts with a special luncheon following the presentations. Please reach out to Lisa Barland if you are interested in being on the panel by the 31st.
  
  
• Swift Open House-- We will begin the evening in the auditorium where 8th graders will present an overview of their projects, then head to the new gym to see 5th-8th graders' Spring Independent Projects. For many Swift families, this will be our first in-person open house. Students will be standing with their visuals, ready to share their research with you. We ask that they all present to at least five people, so thank you in advance for being their audience. Attendance is required at the Open House. Please reach out to your child's core teacher if you have an extenuating conflict.
  
  
• We will send further details about our Mt Philo and Sandbar field trips as they get closer!

Pictured Below: Swift Open House, January 2019

What is this "Swiftville" event, anyway? Throughout this week and next, students will be preparing for their roles in Swiftville, our simulation of a micro-economy. Swiftville culminates with a full two days of operations where students manage the businesses as visitors arrive to spend their "Swiftles." Students must manage their stocks, balance their personal and business checkbooks, pay off loans and spend their own money during their time-off. We presented the choices below and began mini-lessons this week.

Want to start a business?

Those that would like to start a business will need to work with Mr. Hunt & Ms. Laberge. In this group, you will create your business plan. The business plan will contain a description of your business, an itemized list of equipment you will need, and a budget for your business containing the expenses and income you anticipate. You will also need to fill out an application for a business loan. You will need to pay back your loan each hour that Swiftville runs. Your business plan will be sent to the town council for approval. The Mayor and Town Council (of which the facilitators are members) will be meeting to discuss and approve or deny each business.

Want to work for a business or the Town of Swiftville?

Those students who would like to work for a business or as a public employee of the town of Swiftville will need to go through a career development class in which you will explore your personal interests and create a professional resume. This resume will be used during the job fair.

Want to work for the bank?

Are you detail-oriented? Good with both technology and people? Looking for a busy, rewarding job with consistent paychecks and time off? If so, apply to work in the Swiftville Federated Bank. As a bank teller you will collect deposits, cash checks, collect taxes from businesses, and enter data into the bank database. Ability to think on your feet and experience with spreadsheets (Google Spreadsheet or Excel) is necessary. Bank tellers will participate in the resume and career development group.

The photos below show our mayor, Evan, working with potential business owner, Harrison, as well as the candidates for mayor and town council delivering their speeches in kiva.

SSAP groups have been busy over the past few weeks. The photos below include snapshots of the following student-run activities:

• The Kid Athletes planned and facilitated a field day for Allen Brook students last week with the goal of promoting fitness.
  
  
• Joy for Kids held a bake sale which raised $210 for VT Make-a-Wish foundation. They also created hand-made cards which they delivered to the VT Children's Hospital.
  
  
• The GSA taught their classmates about pronoun use.
  
  
• Generations Connect created craft kits which they delivered to the Whitney Hill retirement community.
  
  
• Plastic Picker Uppers organized their peers to clean up the WCS school grounds the day before VT Green-Up Day. With the help of Swif and two other teams, they gathered over seven bags of garbage.
  
  
• The Water Ninjas Sustainability group worked with a few Swift friends, community member Chapin Kaynor, and Ms. Laberge to care for young trees in the Allen Brook flood plain. This connects to their work with supporting the health of local waterways, and they also completed this activity on April 29th in recognition of Arbor Day. Students removed the plastic tubes and wooden stakes from the trunks of some riparian plantings and saved the tubes for repurposing at another location. In addition, they cleared grasses and other herbaceous plants away from the young trees to allow them more room to grow.

  
  

As part of our last literature group, held with the support of the Changing Perspectives organization, Swift students facilitated a "Disability Awareness Fair." They organized a series of stations designed to simulate the experience of living with different types of disabilities, with the goal of eliciting empathy for others who may live with visible or invisible differences.

We wrapped up 5/6 science with student-designed investigations of the human body. Student groups identified a testable question related the nervous system, developed a procedure, then collected data using peers and teachers as their test subjects.

Please see announcement below from Zoey McNabb, one of the members of the Sustainability Group Helping Families in Need:

Here is the list of items that we are asking for in our current Hygiene Drive. We will be donating the items to COTS after Memorial Day. Items can be dropped off in the labeled boxes near the front office.

• Deodorant
• Shampoo
• Conditioner
• Toothpaste
• Toothbrushes
• Floss
• Soap
• Febreze
• Body Wash
• Lotion
• Hair Brushes
• Towels
• Baby Wipes
• Nail Clippers
• Laundry Detergent
• Toilet Paper
• Paper Towels
• Garbage Bags
• Chapstick
• Hand Sanitizer
• Razors And Shaving Cream

Here is the picture of Lainey holding her letter from Atty General TJ Donovan after completing and submitting an essay about ways to help Vermont be green!! Her essay was featured on TJ Donovan’s website and published on Earth Day!!

https://ago.vermont.gov/earth-day-essay-challenge/

Does a Bright Child You Know Need the Magic of TDI Summer Camp?

TDI Summer Camp is a one to two week summer program, in person once again at Northern Vermont University in Johnson, from June 19 - 25 and/or June 26 - July 2, 2022. TDI, which is offered by the Green Mountain Center for Gifted Education. TDI combines the relaxed atmosphere of a summer camp with academic and creative opportunities for advanced and gifted students entering grades 4-10. Students have fun with peers while exploring a wide variety of topics, including Writing and Laughing, Case of the Green Ping Pong Ball, Model Roman Senate, Simulating Chaos, Clowning Around, Gravity-Powered Catapults, and Starting a Business. Overnight and commuter options, and partial scholarships, are available. Visit https://www.tdivermont.org/ for our website, and info@tdivermont.org to contact a TDI director.

I have been a camper of TDI and continued on to be a staff member and dorm supervisor. I have been involved with TDI for over 15 years (more than half of my life!) and it is a truly amazing experience and opportunity for ALL kids! If you have any questions about the program please don't hesitate to contact the above email or myself (AliceRussell02@gmail.com)

Alice Russell

https://www.tdivermont.org/

We have just announced our Summer of Science line up of workshops for youth. Learn more here.

• July 7: Stream Monitoring and Aquatic Ecology
• July 15-17: Natural Resources Management Academy
• July 19: Pet First Aid
• July 25-29: Science Exploration Camp
• August 1: Floating Classroom and Fisheries Program

The Youth Environmental Summit (YES) is an annual event for students in grades 6-12 who want to learn about environmental issues and find ways to take action.This year’s Summit will take place at the Barre Civic Center on October 28, 2022 —Save the Date!

We are looking for workshop presenters on a variety of topics and ideas! Learn more here and submit a workshop proposal by June 1. Youth presenters are strongly encouraged to submit.

We are also looking for students who will be entering grades 9-12 in the Fall to step up to serve as YES Teen Leaders. Learn more and apply by June 1.