Friday, January 29, 2021, Weekly Administrative Update

Dear BFA/NCTC Community:

The start of the second semester has brought some anxiousness with new courses, trepidation with a return to 7:30 start time, and great anticipation for athletic competition with hopes for an expansion of the performing arts. The most noticeable change, however, has been with a visible sense of energy renewal and enthusiasm. The interesting aspect of this more pronounced vibrancy is it being had despite the state’s guidelines, the seldom-seen Vermont sun during the coldest time of year, and no timelines for when students will be allowed to return to education normalcy. The reasons for this renewed energy tells us much about what has been going on at BFA this week. 

Enrichment, which served its purpose of setting the stage for success while affording students time and guidance for proficiency recovery, is no longer the start of the day. There is a beauty to starting the day engaged in new learning while having Enrichment after the second class. Some students have spoken to me about being tired but the majority of my many conversations have shown students prefer to be engaged, discussing and getting their day started while having Enrichment after two academic courses.

The challenges of an additional class, less Enrichment time and heavier workload will cause some nervousness but they also provide greater purpose for many of our students. As I have mentioned before, during hybrid learning being able to concentrate on four classes is advantageous over trying to manage seven. I also remain greatly impressed with our staff who continue to seek innovative ways to merge the virtual and in-person learning.

One very important aspect of the high school experience is the positive social connections that team unity brings. At BFA, this unity is developed in our athletic, music, drama and club teams. Since this fall, we have kept most of our clubs up and running, created new extracurricular opportunities and practice sports as much as the state has allowed. We know that fulfilling student personal interest is what enables many to feel that strong sense of connectedness to BFA so we look forward to upcoming plays, games and, before long, larger musical performances.

Have a great weekend and, despite the cold, get outside.

Sincerely,

Brett Blanchard

Principal

PHOTOS AND MORE INFORMATION

News from the Business Department:

Congratulations BFA Business Department Dale Carnegie Leadership Training Class Award Winners.

News from the Guidance Department:

The school counseling office continues to try to create community and togetherness for seniors while following safety protocols during this difficult time. This past Tuesday during enrichment blue cohort students joined their counselors and classmates to complete VSAC assisted scholarships. VSAC administers more than 120 scholarships to Vermont residents annually. Applications are due to VSAC by February 11. The green cohort students will join us tomorrow during enrichment.

Students may be asking staff to adjust their letters of recommendation to meet the VSAC requirements. The VSAC letter of recommendation required format is attached.

Thank you for all that you do to support our students as we teach them to dream new dreams during trying times. Due to the changes in the world, we probably have more of an influence than ever in the lives of the students we serve. You make a difference!

    Aria Garceau

Alonso Cifuentes

News from the Music Department:

BFA Senior Bella Bonasera is our next featured vocalist performing “Alto’s Lament ” written by Marcy Heisler & Zina Goldrich. BFA Chorus seniors continue to be featured during the COVID-19 pandemic showcasing their musical talents through high-quality audio and video performances. Although these recording projects cannot replace live performances, much of the same effort to prepare and perform have occurred in producing these videos.

We very much hope you enjoy this recording as well as future upcoming videos within the next month to 6 weeks highlighting all of our Senior vocalists in the music department. Watch Bella’s performance here!

After School Clubs and Classroom work:

    Improvisation Club 1/25/21

    Music Class 1/28/21

    Ms. Rico's Book Club 1/28/21

    Mr. Symula's Wood Design Class 1/28/21

Yearbook Info:

Friday, January 22, 2021 Weekly Administrative Update

Dear BFA/NCTC Community:

Today marks the last day of the first semester with a fresh start for all students occurring this Monday. This new semester brings new hope and renewed promise as not only will new classes and learning opportunities be had, but societally there looks to be light at the end of the tunnel as we progress towards spring.

In typical BFA fashion, the troubling events at the Capitol gave rise to a positive new after school club led by Ms. Schubert and Mr. Rider. The stated purpose: The Bellows Free Academy Social Justice Club works to establish an understanding of the current domestic and global issues that concern the human rights and social justice of all citizens. We focus on current events, understanding the past historical issues, and problem-solve for the future. We work to educate all students at BFA on Social Justice Issues. Please see either teacher for more information, including meeting times.

Another terrific new opportunity starting the second semester is an afterschool Orchestra Club on Mondays and Thursdays from 2:45-3:30 under the guidance of Mr. Charpentier. The Orchestra Club will meet in Mr. Bushey’s room. As we continue to bring an ever-increasing music presence back to BFA, this is one more positive step in doing so.

As many of you have heard me say, BFA continues to be a model for successful hybrid learning and our recently held virtual BFA Experience is one more example. While all of us would have greatly preferred an in-person experience inside our school, our newly created BFA Experience allowed the opportunity for students and parents to meet with our teachers, view videos on our offerings, and interact with Guidance and Administration. It was terrific to see some of our future students and families in the various chat rooms engaging with our staff. The site will remain on our website so that the informative videos may continue to be viewed. Do feel free to reach out to any of us at BFA should you have questions. 

 

A new rail system has been installed in the connector with hopes of soon showcasing student work. One of the many, many life changes we look forward to when guidelines go away and we return to a greater sense of normalcy is having the community into our building to see firsthand some of the amazing accomplishments of our students. We also look forward to having community work displayed alongside our students. All of these new clubs and experiences, including those shown below, offer meaningful new ways for students to engage in their school while we get ever closer to the light awaiting at the end of the tunnel. 

Have a great weekend.

Sincerely,

Brett Blanchard

Principal

PHOTOS & MORE INFORMATION

Reminder to Students from Mrs. Kattam:

HAPPY LAST DAY OF SEMESTER 1!!

REMINDERS: 

• Beginning Monday, school starts at 7:30 am. Doors will open at 7:15 for drop-off. 
• Check PowerSchool for your S2 class schedule.
• Keep an eye on your email for the new Google Classrooms links from your S2 teachers. 
• Finish your Q2 PLP and share it with your advisor if you haven't already done so. 

Meal Pick Up Information:

Students are offered meals to take home to help with the days they are not in school. The 5 days worth of food consist of individual items and bulk items such as a loaf of bread, lunch meat, and milk.  Meals are available for parents to pick up on Friday’s between 12:00-1:00 in the north building. Students may pick up after school in the cafeteria. Parents and students may sign up for these meals by emailing Mrs. Brunelle at tbrunelle@maplerun.org or by calling her at 527-6404. This will put you on a weekly list. If you are unable to pick it up, please call to suspend your order for that week. If other pick-up arrangements need to be discussed, please call her. We understand that people sometimes forget to sign up or situations change so we will have some extras made up just in case.

BFA Freshman Parent Orientation: 

We are inviting parents of 8th-grade students to learn about BFA, Athletics, NCTC, and more!
This YouTube Live event will take place on January 27th from 6:00-7:00 p.m.
Click this link to join: BFA Freshman Parent Orientation

VSAC Scholarships:
Need help with the VSAC scholarships? The Senior VSAC Scholarship Event will be held in the BFA Library during Enrichment (10:20-11:00 a.m.) on the following dates:
January 26th, 2021 – Blue Cohort
January 29th, 2021 – Green Cohort

News from the Business Department:

Congratulations Business Quarter 2 Outstanding Students!

News from the Math Department:

Congratulations to the Math Students of the Month of December!

The names are in the same order as the pictures. 

Wendy Ainsworth, Camryn Bushey, Liam Cox, 

Thomas Curry, Madison Gould, Hannah Hisman, 

Genevieve LaClair, Sarah McElree, James Pare, 

Ashley Seymour, Jessica Southwick

News from the Mercury:

Check out this recent article regarding BFA's Baseball Dynasty.

BFA Baseball Dynasty

Art News:

The principal's office would like to thank Reagan Richard for painting our new VT seasons mural. Great work Reagan!

Thank you, Reagan!

Athletic Photos:

Varsity Bobwhite practice 1/21/21

Classroom Work:

Last day of Semester 1!

Friday, January 15, 2021 Weekly Administrative Update

Dear BFA/NCTC Community:

The new year continues to bring challenges to all walks of life, including in education. At BFA, we continue to face those challenges head on while looking at the possibilities, not liabilities. For most students and staff, the second semester will be more difficult with more work expected. For those students in grades 10-12, the 7:30 AM start time will be nothing new, although it will entail a shift from the first semester. During the continuing difficult times of the pandemic, BFA continues to be a leader in hybrid learning, especially given the number of Vermont schools that have been in a virtual learning environment either entirely or partially. We have remained open for in-person instruction as much as the state regulations have allowed and our first-semester schedule was built around maximizing success while preparing for a more robust second semester. Increasing course load from three (for most students) to four may not be easy but we are thankful that students and staff are not trying to juggle seven courses on a daily basis. Communication will be more important than ever so students will need to make valuable use of Enrichment to connect with their teachers, check on assignments, and seek assistance whenever needed.

Another way BFA continues to lead is with creative use of technology for positive problem solving within the state guidelines. As schools are not allowed to have visitors into the building, yet we desire to still hold our BFA Experience for prospective students, everyone is invited to a live online experience on January 19th. Staff and students have been working before, during, and after school to prepare for this creative alternative; please see details below.

Many of our staff and students remain working hard, and behind the scenes, to support both our school and local community. Some of this week's contributions are also highlighted below.

This weekend is extended with Monday’s Martin Luther King, Jr. Day being celebrated. This year it feels more important than ever to honor inclusion by reflecting on our role in making society a more welcoming place where we look to support one another regardless of race or beliefs. The challenges of the past year are not gone with the advent of a calendar change. The various violent protests that have rocked our nation need to serve as a reminder that Dr. King led a nonviolent revolution that dramatically improved the lives of millions. As he presciently said, “I might not get there with you, but I want you to know tonight that we as a people will get to the promised land.” This three-day holiday weekend offers all of us the opportunity to reflect on the impact of Dr. King’s nonviolent protests and look to how we, as individuals, may continue to lead our country to that promised land; if not for the adults then for the future of our students. Have a terrific weekend and I look forward next week to sharing some more of the great work going on at BFA.

Sincerely,

Brett Blanchard

Principal

PHOTOS AND MORE INFORMATION

Important Reminder:
Student pick up and drop off must only be in the front of our new connector; not Ferris Street.

Weekly Meal Pick Up:
Starting the week of January 18th, meal pick-up will be available on Fridays from 12:00-1:00 pm. Meals will include 5 breakfasts, 5 lunches, fruit, juice, and milk. For families interested in Friday meal pick-up, please contact Teri Brunelle 527-6404 or tbrunelle@maplerun.org. Meals will be picked up from the North Building.

The BFA/NCTC Experience:

Bellows Free Academy (BFA) & the Northwest Career and Technical Center (NCTC) invite prospective students and families to the virtual BFA Experience on January 19th, 5:30 – 7pm. We know that families have a very important decision to make about where to go to high school. To help you with this decision, BFA/NCTC invites you to an exciting interactive presentation; The BFA Experience. During this virtual event, we will provide information so that you can learn more about the great opportunities and programs at BFA/NCTC. Please go to: The BFA/NCTC Experience

Student Meetings:

                    Athletic Leadership

Hope Happens Here

Classroom Action:

Friday, January 8, 2021 Weekly Administrative Update

Dear BFA/NCTC Community:

This was a great week. Not, obviously, for our nation but here at BFA. While the chaos on Capitol Hill resonated everywhere, including here at school, it was tremendous to see our students back in the building and, for the first time since the fall, engaged in athletics. The importance of being able to engage, compete (eventually), and work as part of a team was immediately apparent at Tuesday’s first practices. BFA is continuing to do all we can to see our performing arts students also have vibrant options as we head into the second semester. As Assistant Principal Sara Kattam has some important news for our students, I will let her take over the rest of this week’s blog. 

Have a great weekend.

Sincerely,

Brett Blanchard

Principal

A Message to Students from Mrs. Kattam

Dear Students,

HAPPY NEW YEAR! I hope you had a happy and healthy winter break! We are nearly at the midpoint of the year. January 22nd marks the end of Semester 1 which means there is much to accomplish in the coming weeks.

Good to know:

• Q2, PLPs are due by the end of the day on Friday, Jan 22nd.
• You are simply adding to the template you created Q1. Not creating a new document.
• Use enrichment time to complete your PLPs
• You need to submit three pieces of evidence (one for each class) and complete the January/ Mid-year reflection.
• Be sure to share your PLP with your advisor.
• If you are new to BFA and/or haven’t started a PLP for this year click here to learn how: PLPs
• S2 starts on January 25th. Please note the 7:30 start time.
• FTM: Be sure to sign up for Enrichment time on FlexTime Manager!
• TIP: Get into the habit of creating your schedule for the next day/week during Advisory.
• All INC grades from the spring must be resolved by Jan 22.

You must attend your classes and complete your assignments on the in-person days and virtual days. Missing assignments result in 0's. If you are not completing assignments, there is not enough evidence to show proficiency; therefore, credit can not be awarded.

Review the Student Handbook to familiarize yourself with school guidelines, including proficiency scoring, Redo and Retake Policy, and attendance expectations.

Monitor your own progress: If you are unsure of how to check your progress either on Google Classroom or on PowerSchool, be sure to reach out to your advisor so they can help you. It is important to keep up to date on your assignments and do your best!

Stay engaged. Stay Focused. Do your Best!

Warmly,
Ms. Kattam

Photos and More Information

In Remembrance:

BFA and NCTC mourn the loss of former educator and coach Mike Cain. 

"Mike's career was spent advocating for, supporting, and coaching students from all walks of life. He found the good in everyone and focused on that from a strengths-based perspective, similar to the philosophy behind Hiram and Susan Bellows's opening and funding BFA in 1930. Mike lived and walked what BFA's tradition is all about."  

-Justin Bedell 

The BFA Mercury is working on a special print edition which will contain tributes to Mike Cain and Verne Colburn. It should be published and out for distribution (to be mailed to community members and distributed to sending schools and BFA) during the latter half of February.

News from World Languages:

Congratulations to Losse & Yahir Ramirez for winning the 2020 Vermont Foreign Language Association's annual essay contest. Losse, currently a Senior in French V, won in the Pre-Advanced French category. Yahir, currently a Junior in French IV, won in the Intermediate French category. This year's prompt was to respond to Edmund de Waal's quote "With languages, you are at home anywhere".

Typically the winners would have been announced in the spring of 2020 and a reception held with the governor at the State House in Montpelier. However, due to COVID-related complications, the winners were not announced until recently, and there will be no reception. The students will, however, each receive a $50 check from the VFLA. (They are pictured below holding fake euros, for fun.)

Winter sports started this week:

Reviewing a business proposal created by:

Thomas Demar and Ezra Lanfear