This week at Pacem!

We have been continuing to settle into our routines. We had a fire drill and I think maybe some students even received some homework! There are a few new updates this week and added sections for weekly Classroom Snapshots and family resources (feel free to send me more resources, thanks Devon!!).

In this week's Pacem Pages:

1. Updates and volunteer needs.
2. Scenes from last Week
3. Important Dates and Reminders
4. Classroom snapshot

• Volunteer needs (Parents have donated more than 48 hours of time this year so far!):
• Pacem Wish List: We now have a wishlist for school items to make it easy to donate - https://giftlist.com/l/CV4qKywqZZ
• Parent Circle Support! - Parent Circle is an important part of our learning community. We need someone interested in helping coordinate this circle and I can put you in contact with our parent circle representative, Liva Coe!
• Running Club driver on Mondays from 3:15 - 4:45 - Contact Nick - nick@pacemschool.org
• We will need some parents to help transport students to the campout on October 8th and quite possibly an overnight chaperone. Details coming soon.
• 20th Anniversary planning- Some parents and teachers met last week and will have ongoing jobs for folks that are interested in helping out. Please contact Ryan if interested!
• School Happenings!
• The Bridge - We had several visitors from the Montpelier Bridge last week. Mary Melo came and interviewed students and observed classes for an article on Pacem coming out next month and a journalist joined our literature Explorations class to share what it is like to be a reporter!
• Thursday workshops:
• September 24, 1-3pm — Improv Acting Games with Alex Yahm-Halberg (former Pacem student, actor, and theater teacher in training) — This workshop will give both theater enthusiasts and beginners a chance to express themselves creatively in a fun, casual environment. $25 for part-time students, included in full-time tuition
• October 1, 1-3pm — Meet the New Makerspace with Paul Wallich (Pacem teacher and makerspace maven) — Learn about Pacem’s makerspace tools—3D printers (one that can print objects in clay), a laser cutter, a vacuum former, sewing machines, a quilting frame, small mobile robots, and motors and electronics for creating and programming simple gadgets—and get to try out one or more. $25 for part-time students, included in full-time tuition
• GSA - Our first Gender/Sexuality Alliance meeting was held last Wednesday and attendance was awesome. Rumor has it that more painting projects are slated for the future!
• Pacem All School Campout! - Details and registration link is HERE
• Crayfish Escapees! - This week we learned an important lesson about putting crayfish into a small fish tank.They escape and crawl all over the school! Lesson learned...... oops!

Here are some important dates. These include field trips, class visitors, fire drills, community events and more:

• September 30th: Immunization records due to Ryan (full time students).

• September 30th: Explorations class field trip to Seven Days

• September 30th: We will be celebrating our September birthday with a birthday treat made by Amelie's mom Brooke Northcutt!

• Thursday October 8-9: All School Campout at Kettle Pond with a hike to Owls Head. Details and registration is HERE

• Tuesday, October 13th, 6-8pm: Community Song Circle and Potluck with Yasi Zeichner

I’ll be using this space to give you a weekly window into what is going on in one of our classrooms:

My Discoveries Language Arts & Literature class recently discussed how writers use descriptive “snapshots" to bring the reader into the experience of a place, and, similarly, I hope this will help you picture what students are learning and doing at Pacem. This particular class of mine has been doing a unit on nature writing, and we’ve been spending time outside observing nature and taking notes. We’ve also been reading and discussing My Side of the Mountain by Jean Craighead George, which has us pondering things like how a stream can be “athletic.” My favorite moment so far was last Wednesday as students were wrapping up some writing, when one of Pacem’s youngest students declared, “I guess I’m a poet now!”

- Rebecca Yahm

As the students settle into their rythms, norms and social connections its a good moment to reflect on why we have multi age classes. This morning I will be chatting with the students during morning meeting about exactly that. I hope to empower the older students to take on the responsibility of being a role model to the younger students seriously by keeping an eye on their language and knowing when to "code switch". As I always say, "If you are an older student you don't have a choice to be a role model, you simply are one" and that is an honor. The lessons that students in a mixed age cohort can learn from each other are so valuable and enriching. Our students typically handle this very well and this year is no different.

Ryan

Healthcare/Support Groups

• All Brains Belong: Resources for neurodivergent people, by neurodivergent people. Weekly online “Brain Club” https://allbrainsbelong.org/brain-club/

• Outright Vermont: Youth LGBTQ+ resources. Including a TRANSparent support group for families of gender expansive kiddos. https://outrightvt.org/

Teen Programming:

• The Basement Teen Center at Kellogg Hubbard Library: basementteencenter@elevateyouthvt.org

• Clubhouse Commons: Teen hangout and coffee shop in Montpelier- https://www.clubhousecommons.org/

• Montpelier School Sports: If you are in the Montpelier area or have approval from your local district your child can participate in Montpelier school sports. Contact Matt Link for details: mathewl@mpsvt.org