As you may imagine, I have been asked via email, phone calls, and at this week’s board meeting why BFA will remain in hybrid learning for the remainder of the 2020-21 school year. Let me first say that I appreciate all those with whom I have personally spoken, and all those at Wednesday’s board meeting, as everyone has afforded me the opportunity to explain. So, why is it best for our students to finish the year in our current hybrid system?
At BFA, we believe that learning objectives and educational outcomes should drive what we do. With less than two months of school to go, BFA’s year-end objectives are to provide our students:
- Continuity of learning for students that have experienced disrupted education for over a year.
- Consistency with expectations as we develop a more comprehensive recovery plan. Those expectations include:
- Remaining open for in-person learning, after-school activities, and athletics.
- Working recovery into our current system.
- Maximum opportunities for in-person senior events
For those who followed Vermont athletics this winter, the impact of quarantine and school closures was dramatic. I am extremely proud of our girl’s basketball team and our boy’s hockey team as both earned their respective DI state championships; other teams throughout the state had their season cut short due to contact tracing and quarantine. Currently, our contact tracing takes place at least five days a week, and most weekends. Should we bring the entire school back for in-person learning, our contact tracing would likely overwhelm our system and lead to the closure of athletics, senior events, plays, in-person learning and put a live graduation at risk. Even in our hybrid model and conscientiously following state guidelines, those activities are at risk given the community cases. What some may not understand is that while physical distancing was just announced at three feet, contact tracing remains at six feet; the impact of this is potentially huge. For every case needing to be followed up on, this would likely more than double the numbers needing to be contact traced and/or quarantined.
For the past four months, we have also been examining creative ways we could open for full in-person learning given a high percentage of our classes do not allow even three feet of distance. As we already use the Performing Arts Center (PAC) for multiple classes, our gym for advisories, lunch and food distribution, and our cafeteria for both lunch and advisory, we sought opportunities for classes to be held outside our building. Mayor Tim Smith spent a great deal of time and effort helping us try and do just that. Unfortunately, after months of exploration, this looked to no longer be an option given administrative coverage, insurance, student liability issues, and the daily cleaning necessary. Student input also voiced concern with using some of our local buildings. The Collins-Perley Complex also was not an option given the tennis courts continue to be needed for vaccination clinics. Throughout all of this, the staff at BFA has been exemplary. All staff are willing to do whatever it takes, as they have all year.
Lastly, after April break there are a total of thirty-seven school days. We have many students currently making progress with proficiency needed to earn credit. The potential for school closure and going fully virtual would likely significantly set back these students.
There is no question that the past thirteen months have been dramatically disruptive. Throughout this school year, the staff at BFA has been exemplary and I could not be more proud of their efforts. They willingly took on the unprecedented challenge of simultaneously teaching virtually and in-person. They looked for creative ways to engage our students and, most importantly, all faculty have been showing up to work with their students since August. I also personally would like to thank the greater community for their support during this tumultuous time. Perhaps the most unrecognized and underappreciated aspect during this pandemic has been the impressive strength our kids have shown since day one. All students have exhibited respect for one another by wearing masks every period, every day, and often for twelve continuous hours (for those involved in afterschool programs). This summer we will be offering a variety of engagement learning opportunities which we hope to be made public within the next month. I know I speak for all of us at BFA when I say we desperately await a return to education normalcy with the anticipated return to full-time in-person schooling this coming fall.
Have a great weekend.
Brett Blanchard
Brett Blanchard, BFA Principal
April 12th thru April 16th, please log in to see teacher’s availability.
Please give teachers at least one hour to receive the Google meet link if scheduling close to meeting time. If you are new to pickAtime, you will need a valid email address and your student’s id number to set these up.
Teachers ask that you turn your video on, so it is a face-to-face conference when possible.
Video on how to sign up and make appointments (2:20 minute video)
Please contact bfaguidance@maplerun.org or Stephanie Gagnon (802)527-6571 or Kelly Hirss (802) 527-6570 with any questions.
Sign up starts at 3:30 PM ~ April 5th (Monday)
Nathaniel Begnoche, Emma Bordeau, Alyssa Boudreau,
Allison Bushey, Alivia Bushway, Ryan Caldwell,
Joshua Lanfear
Great job Mike and very well deserved! Check out this video: SkillsUSAVermont2021
Northwest Technical Center students recently participated in the 2021 SkillsUSA State Leadership & Skills Competition. These competitions tested our students through a variety of rigorous practicals, written tests, and professional interviews.
We are proud of them all.
The following gold medal winners from our state SkillsUSA Leadership competition will be representing the state of Vermont in Louisville Kentucky (Virtually or at a local practical site) this June.
Please congratulate and wish them the best of luck!
Gold Medal Winners
Richard Page Motorcycle Services (Automotive Technology)
Isabella Williams Technical Math (Engineering Technology)
Silver Medal Winners
Leah Hale
Mackenzie Hutchins Professional Job Interview (Public Safety & Fire Services
Jordan Sylvester
Connor Powell Related Technical Math (Engineering Technology)
Alonso Cifuentes
Bronze Medal Winners
Corbin Gralnick Related Technical Math (Engineering Technology)
Jarod Gravelin
What is SkillsUSA
SkillsUSA is a partnership of students, teachers and industry working together to ensure America has a skilled workforce. We help each student excel. A nonprofit national education association, SkillsUSA serves middle-school, high-school and college/postsecondary students preparing for careers in trade, technical and skilled service (including health) occupations.
Mission Statement: SkillsUSA empowers its members to become world-class workers, leaders and responsible American citizens. We improve the quality of our nation’s future skilled workforce through the development of SkillsUSA Framework skills that include personal, workplace and technical skills grounded in academics. Our vision is to produce the most highly skilled workforce in the world, providing every member the opportunity for career success.SkillsUSA serves more than 372,655 students and instructors annually. This includes 20,598 instructors who join as professional members. Including alumni, SkillsUSA membership totals over 434,000. SkillsUSA has served 13.6 million annual members cumulatively since 1965 and is recognized by the U.S. Department of Education and the U.S. Department of Labor as a successful model of employer-driven workforce development.
If you see Calvin Storms or Quincy Fournier today, please thank them for their service!
Senior Solo - Sophie Thompson Performs Thank You for the Music:
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 highlighting all of our Seniors vocalists in the music department.
Attention Seniors and Families:
I hope you had a chance to watch our YouTube senior event last week. If not, here is the video link: Senior Activities Informational Session. As we mentioned at the event, I will be sending you weekly communications.
I’d like to thank those of you who have reached out to me and your willingness to help with our end-of-the-year senior activities!
All caps, gowns, and diplomas have been ordered and have arrived at BFA! It might seem early but I wanted to ensure that I had them and I thank you for your early orders. It is hard to believe that we have only 2+ months for graduation.
Main Street Graphics is thinking of our 2021 graduates. Click here if you would like to order your senior a personalized lawn sign.
If you would like to order graduation announcements through Balfour, below are the instructions. Please note that you can use whatever printing service you would like; however, I wanted to provide you with an online option.
Sincerely,
Theresa Callan
Graduation Coordinator
Online Ordering Instructions for Graduation Announcements
Go to www.balfour.com (Note: there are 2 Balfour sites: Balfour.com and Balfourvt.com)
Click on Shop My School
Scroll to Official Announcements. There will be two choices, one w/names & one w/photos.
The choice with name means that your name will be printed in the custom announcement so there is no need for name cards.
The choice with photos means you can upload your photo into the announcement.
Both choices can be ordered in groups of 20 and include the two envelopes.
Be sure to check all the graduation items that are available
Please contact balfourvt@gmail.com with any questions.
Additional Senior Info:
Hello Senior Parents,
It's that time! We want to see your son/daughter's best baby picture for our senior class slide. We are looking to have this photo be sent either to Chris Pepin (cpepin@maplerun.org) or Christine Trombley (ctrombley@Maplerun.org) by Friday, May 7th.
Thank you so much,
Chris Pepin and Christine Trombley
