Friday Notes 4/29/22

SCHOOL INFO

April 29, 2022

Dear L&G Families:

It’s HOMESTRETCH time folks!  We have 33 days of school left (29 for seniors!) in this year and a variety of activities to come in the next two months.  I’ve included a partial list of these things below.

This past week began with a WRED board meeting that led to two separate Brattleboro Reformer stories.  One was about a disruption at the meeting which led to police intervention.  The other story was about incidents of racism occurring within our school community.  While we cannot entirely prevent all types of inappropriate behavior, we can always do better at both creating a culture of acceptance and compassion AND responding to incidents when they are reported.  As some of you might know, there are very clear state laws that have led to clear board policies which in turn have led to clear and concise administrative procedures.   We have been and will continue to be committed to these protocols to prevent and respond to allegations of hazing, harassment and bullying.

Additionally, as a school community we often prepare trainings and educational opportunities for both students and staff.  Next week is an example - we are running an “Anti-Bullying” week long campaign, concluding with John Halligan, a nationally known speaker who lost his son due to bullying.  We will begin the week at our Monday morning assembly with a presentation about the historical perspective of oppression.  This will include a student performance of the Billie Holliday song, “Strange Fruit,” which is a poem about lynchings in the early 20th century and is thought by some to be symbolic of start of the modern civil rights movement.  We will conclude the assembly with a performance of an old spiritual called “Wade in the Water,” which is symbolic for us as we wade into the complex themes of the week together as a community.  I am sharing this information with parents in advance and welcome any questions or comments.  I hope you will support our journey as we strive to ensure that every student feels that they are a part of our school community.

Upcoming Dates:

• May 4 (Wed) - AP Eng exam

• May 6 (Fri) - AP US Hist exam

• May 9 (Mon) - AP Calculus exam

• May 11 (Wed) - Spring Pep Rally (1 hr at end of day)

• May 12 (Thur) - AP World Hist exam

• May 16-26 - SBAC Days (more details to come next week!!!)

• May 21 (Sat) - Prom at River Ledge Farm (Grafton)

• May 27 (Fri) - Music Trip to 6 Flags (Mostly HS, some MS)

• June 1 (Wed) - 6th grade Move Up Day

• June 2 (Thur) - Pops Concert AND Elks Student of the Month Banquet

• June 3 (Fri) - Underclass Awards/Field Day

• June 7 (Tue) - 8th Grade on Ropes Course (other culminating events too)

• June 9 (Thu) - Last Day for Seniors (Make-up Day)

• June 10 (Fri) - Grad Rehearsal/Senior Breakfast

• June 11 (Sat) - Graduation 

• June 14 (Tue) - Last day of actual underclass classes

• June 15 (Wed) - Last Student Day - Summative Make up Day

• 
  

Bob Thibault

Principal

Band and Chorus Update:

This week middle school student from Leland and Gray visited 5th grade classes around the district to help prepare these classes for the transition to middle school. L&G students educated 5th graders about how the day works, what parts of the school they will be using, and showed them what we do in band and chorus.

WRED Future Planning:

L&G Co-Curricular Calendar:

http://lelandandgray.org/index.php/co-curricular-calendar

School Calendar:

COMMUNITY

West River Valley Thrives:

West River Valley Thrives wants to hear from you! 

 

We are a non profit organization that works with all sectors of the community to help towns in Vermont's West River Valley thrive. We are currently in the process of doing some strategic planning and are looking for feedback from our Leland & Gray families. Please help us to better serve you by answering the following question:

What do West River Valley families need to Thrive?

   Email your thoughts to wrvthrives@gmail.com by May 13th and you will be entered to win a $20 gas card. 

EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITIES

WRVT Community Outreach Intern:

Are you looking for some extra money before summer? Are you someone who is outgoing and likes to connect with the community? Are you organized and open to do some data entry? If you said yes to all of these questions then we have a great opportunity for you. West River Valley Thrives is looking to hire a Community Outreach Intern $15.00 an hour for 40 total hours starting May 1 to the end of the school year. To apply please send a resume and statement of interest to wrvtdirector@gmail.com. If you do not have a resume, please submit a statement of interest and include any relevant experience(s) or skills.

Career Fair:

View this email in your browser   SIGN UP TODAY Let's fill some jobs.  The Associated General Contractors of Vermont is hosting “The Super Bowl of Career Fairs”, a multi-sector career/job fair with the potential to host 150 recruiters and 1500 job-seekers from Vermont on April 26th from 10:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. This multi-sector Career Fair will be like no other, in that we have rented the Champlain Valley Expo in Essex Junction for the event. We will have both the Blue Ribbon Room and the Miller Auditorium with 150 booths for employers to recruit prospective employees. We believe this will be the largest multi-sector career/job fair ever held in Vermont. This will include both the traditional recruiter booths, virtual hiring islands and static outdoor displays.   We are inviting high schools, technical centers and colleges from all of Vermont to take part in this event. We’re also inviting employers from all employment sectors to take part in this event. This career fair is sure to kickstart employment across the entire state.   We need your help! Please register to participate and include it in your social media outreach (post it, share it, tweet it). This is the “Super Bowl of Job/Career Fairs!” The ultimate goal is to bring together employers and job seekers under one roof. The first half of the day will be geared toward students, while the second half of the day we are advertising to and recruiting job seekers from all over the state to attend. Additionally, we will be applying various innovative ways for attendees to get the most out of the career fair.   Participating and attending in this career fair will be investing in Vermont and its move back to work.   We encourage you and your organization to embrace this event, and we look forward to seeing you at the “Superbowl of Job/Career Fairs” on April 26th in Essex Junction. Here is a link to the registration page.   If we can be of any assistance or if you have specific questions, please let us know. We can be reached at 802-223-2374 or by emailing shawn@agcvt.org  We look forward to working with you and seeing you at “The Super Bowl of Career Fairs”   Thank you. Shawn Rouleau Workforce Development Director Associated General Contractors of Vermont (802)223-2374 shawn@agcvt.org Vermont Construction Jobs

Brilliant Pathways Opportunities for Students:

Upcoming (https://brilliantpathways.org/members/events/):

April 11 at 2pm ET: Robotics with SUNY Plattsburgh

April 19 at 1pm ET: Virtual College Tour: New Mexico State University

Camp Counselors Needed: SUMMER CAMP COUNSELOR Sponsored by the WSWSU Wings Community Programs, Town of Whitingham and the Town of Wilmington  General Statement of Duties: Perform duties as assigned by the Program Director.  Supervise and facilitate outdoor activities, arts and crafts activities, supervises breakfast and lunch times. Assist program leaders as needed. Complete assigned duties including adhering to and promoting all safety & health protocols.  Shall be present for all program hours. Supervision Received: Receives supervision directly from the SITE DIRECTOR while exercising individual initiative and independent action Supervision Responsibilities: May exercises direct supervision for children enrolled in the program. Counselors will be trained and expected to participate in Emergency drills and follow all safety & health protocols. Illustrative Examples of Work: Helps support activities for a multiple-week program from 8 a.m. until @4:00 p.m. on weekdays beginning July 11.  The Monday through Friday work week is approximately 40 hours per week or as assigned by the Directors. Counselors are expected to participate in and develop diverse activities of interest to youngsters from preschool to grade 8. You may be asked to help keep a daily sheet of participants by name and a list of daily activities with notes about the interest in the daily program. Masks will be required if recommended by CDC or DOH. Qualifications: Desire to work with children, dependability, self-motivation, creativity, and enthusiasm.  .  Counselors are expected to engage campers and actively participate in summer activities as role models. Counselors are not watchers they are leaders! Experience in recreation and team building activities a plus. We are looking for students with leadership skills who will make a commitment to be drug and alcohol free. Wings Community Programs 1 School ST Wilmington, VT 05363 Questions? Call or email Katie- 802-275-8303 KatieBoyd.wings@gmail.com or  Maria Stewart-mariastewart.wings@gmail.com Link to Application: Application

COMMUNITY SERVICE

Green Up Day Mentor Program:

The Green Up Vermont Mentor Program, open to Vermont Students grades 9-12, is designed to help develop leadership skills while actively engaging students in civic volunteerism and taking care of our environment with a focus on Green Up Day.

The Green Up Vermont Executive Director pairs interested students (mentees) with Green Up Day Volunteer Town Coordinators in their common towns that have voiced an interest in being mentors. 

Green Up Vermont Mentor Program objectives are to: 

• Create connected relationships between coordinators and youth in their towns

• Build awareness and stewardship for clean, healthy environments 

• Promote civic engagement and volunteerism that helps their hometown

• Extend knowledge and the traditions of Green Up Day

• Build pride and commitment in taking care of Vermont

• Add youth perspective and ideas to keep Green Up Day vibrant for generations to come

• Have Mentees assist our Volunteer Town Coordinator Mentors in ways that are helpful 

   and rewarding.

For more information: Click here.

COMMUNITY

Student Opportunities:

Student Business/Entrepreneurship 2022 Competitions – for all VT secondary students.  Open now through May 2, 2022 (submission’s deadline) – Cash prizes

1)      Business Model Canvas (BMC) Plans

2)      Business Video Pitch Plans

Students prepare a Business Model Canvas (BMC) plan and Executive Summary or Business Video Pitch up to 5 min. (MP4 or YouTube) and Executive Summary of a product(s) and/or service(s).  Explanations/Rubrics/Guidelines https://www.vtsbdc.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/02/14th-Annual-Student-Bus-Entrepreneurship-Competitions.pdf

Entrepreneurship Institute “Creativity & Innovation”- GIV (Governor’s Institutes of VT) Students ready to spark your entrepreneurial spirit? June 26 – July 1 - residential @ Vermont Tech College - Randolph Campus  - Rising 10^th – 12^th grade students bring their passion and curiosity to this program where they’ll spend a week diving deep into the creativity and innovation that goes into developing new products and services. With the guidance of proven entrepreneurs and experts, plus a network of peers, students leverage their own unique business ideas to propel them to future success. They’ll learn to develop an “entrepreneurial mindset” and what it takes to create a business or be more successful in any career pathway, college and the workforce.  Option for 3 college credits. https://giv.org/institutes/entrepreneurship/

Laurel

Laurel Butler

Start up Business Advisor & Student/Educator Entrepreneur Specialist

Vermont Small Business Development Center (www.vtsbdc.org)

https://www.vtsbdc.org/specialty-services/youth-entrepreneurship/

lbutler@vtsbdc.org  - 802-922-3692

Prepare Today’s Students for Tomorrow’s Workforce

 

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