Friday, May 27, 2022

Friday, May 27, 2022, Weekly Administrative Blog

This blog focuses on sharing important information, classroom work, and photos taken throughout the week.


Good Day BFA,

This Monday is Memorial Day, one of the Nation's most revered holidays. The BFA Band will be playing during the St. Albans Memorial Day Parade and Ceremony in Taylor Park: https://www.facebook.com/events/428785849057746/?ref=newsfeed. I would encourage everyone to either attend this, or similar local ceremonies in order to pay respect to those that have fallen while serving our country.

I would also encourage you to listen to former President Reagan's two-minute Memorial Day Speech as it explains the importance of the day: https://youtu.be/EbnRatgk1Ew

Have a great extended weekend.

Mr. Blanchard
Principal

Important Dates

END OF YEAR SCHEDULE:

 

Please note Friday, June 10th is a full day of school for 9th-11th graders.  Seniors have mandatory graduation rehearsal from 1 - 3 p.m. followed by an ice cream social.

 

Final week schedule:

June 13 = Wednesday

June 14 = Tuesday

June 15 = Wednesday

June 16= Tuesday

June 17 = In-service

Congratulations

Shedricks Martial Arts brought some students to Troy, NY this past weekend to compete in the Adirondack championships. Cole Boyle received the following: gold in patterns, silver in sparring and gold in breaking.

Congratulations World Languages and Classics May 2022 Students of the Month!

Congratulations St. Albans Messenger Athlete of the Week, Sylas Trask!



2021-2022 Yearbook Dedication
Watch the video to see the 2021 - 2022 Yearbook dedication!  https://youtu.be/E2btV8jPCdM
This year recipients are: Mark Capsey and Peggy Goldsbury.


Classroom, clubs and other


May 25th BFA Movie Night at CPSC!







May 26th Junior Jam:
Student written, directed, and acted play contest.




District Music Festival:

BFA hosted this year’s District Music Festival at the Collins Perley Complex on Friday, May 20th. Normally in the Winter months, this event was rescheduled to the Spring due to the pandemic. Around 120 students from BFA St. Albans, BFA Fairfax, Milton, MMU, MVU, and Enosburgh came together to make music for the whole day and perform together at the evening concert.

Aimee Bushey from South Burlington High School directed the festival chorus, Michael Colburn directed the concert band. Colburn, who is a 1982 graduate of BFA and son of late BFA band director Verne Colburn has recently retired from both Butler University and the “President’s Own” United States Marine Corp Band where he was the director and conducted the band in both the George W. Bush and Obama inaugurations.

District Chorus photos. The District Chorus is 50 total and BFA St. Albans has 25 in the ensemble!






Geometry students working on alternate designs for cereal boxes.





Digital Citizenship project with art and technology students.


Mercury News:
Rachel Ledoux’s article, “School Resource Officer or School Safety Officer: What’s the Difference?” been published in VTDigger as part of the "Underground Workshop" student journalism program.

Senior Information

May 24, 2022


Dear Seniors and Families,


Three weeks until graduation!  


Cap and gown pick up is on Wednesday, June 1st from 8:15 am to 9:30 am (during enrichment) from the cafeteria. Cost is $23. Cash or check made payable to Balfour.


Rehearsal is on Friday, June 10th at 1 pm at the CPSC. Report to the rink. Please note that graduation rehearsal is mandatory in order for you to walk at graduation.


Here is a bulleted list of What to Expect at this year’s 92nd Commencement for the Class of 2022 on Saturday, June 11th at the Collins Perley Sports Complex:

  • The decision will be made on Friday, June 10th if graduation is an outdoor or indoor event. An alert call/message will be sent to seniors and families.

  • Seniors are to arrive at the Complex no later than 10 am and promptly report to the rink to line up.

  • Please dress comfortably as it can be very warm regardless of if graduation is outdoors or inside.  If graduation is outdoors, graduates will be walking on turf and sitting on the bleachers so ensure your shoes are appropriate (i.e. high heels can get caught in grass and on bleachers). Seniors should arrive with their cap and gown on.  

  • Please ride with your families to limit the number of vehicles for parking. Traffic in and around CPSC is congested. Carpooling is encouraged.

  • Once families have parked, they will be directed to the registration area for check in. Please have your (4) tickets ready to present. Seniors will each be given 4 tickets for reserved seating. Other family members/guests may sit in the open seating area. Once registration is complete, you will be ushered to your seating area. Note: Seniors will receive tickets at rehearsal.

  • If you have special accessibility requirements, please ensure that an usher assists you.

  • At 11 am, the seniors will march in, be seated and the commencement begins.

  • Whipple Photography will be set up near the diploma stage and will take photos of the graduates receiving diplomas and a pose prior to leaving the stage. BFA is purchasing one 5x7 photo for each graduate which will be mailed home. Additional photo packages will be available for families to purchase. I will send the link for that site as soon as it is available.  Another photo opportunity will be located inside the Complex. This is where you can choose to do family portraits. The family portrait option will be set up before and after the ceremony and will be similar to “cruise ship” portrait styles; quick group posing with the families and graduates. I will include links to the Whipple Photography site as graduation gets closer.

  • Northwest Access TV will be live streaming graduation. I will provide you with this link as well.


As always, if you have any questions, please feel free to reach out to me 802-527-6400.


Sincerely,

Theresa Callan, Graduation Coordinator


We have two types of summer opportunities for BFA students. 
1. Credit Recovery (By teacher recommendation to reach proficiency in classes for which you need additional time.)

SUMMER SCHOOL CREDIT RECOVERY: CLICK HERE FOR MORE INFORMATION


2. Academy Breakout (Enrichment: Not for credit) see below.


ACADEMY BREAKOUT!!

SUMMER 2022


We are excited to offer these incredible workshops and experiences this summer. Sign up for one or all! Activities are open to all students 9-12 (this includes incoming 9th graders) unless otherwise specified.  Lunch will be provided, except for the Justice and Poetry event. Transportation is also provided for any events not held on campus at BFA. 



Any questions, please contact Sorel Chaput, Summer Program Coordinator, at schaput@maplerun.org or 802-752-1059.



Digital Media Smorgasbord

This 8-day Maple Run summer enrichment program is a project-based course where students will have the opportunity to learn about a wide variety of digital media equipment and software. The enrichment program will meet from 10 AM to 2 PM including a lunch break, starting Monday July 11th and ending on July 20th. Students will get a basic introduction to video production, post-production (editing), photography, graphic design, 2D animation, and multi-track soundtrack composition. Students will explore digital still cameras, video cameras, microphones, and 3 Adobe CC applications: Photoshop, Premiere Pro, and Audition.

8 days from 7/11-7/15, 7/18-7/20, from 10-00-2:00

Teacher: Steven Davis



"Nailed It" at BFA

Have you ever wanted to create your own cake or cupcake like you've seen on popular TV shows like "Nailed It", "Cake Boss", or "Is it Cake?".  How about recreating the popular cake pops from this year's prom?  Join Mrs. Corrigan for a week as you learn about baking and frosting any dessert you can think of.  Over the course of the week, you'll learn basic cupcake and cake decorating skills, how to make the perfect buttercream, and perfect a cake pop.  As a "final project", you'll choose your perfect cake that you want to create and bring home to share!

Monday-Friday 7/18-7/22, from 9:30-2:00

Teacher: Kristin Corrigan





Art & The Outdoors

We will offer outings that each include a nature-based activity paired with an opportunity to play with various forms of art. Locations and activities are subject to change based on weather and student interest.  The goal for these days is to play, create, relax, and have fun together.

Teachers: MaryEllen Tourville and Jamie Bristol

Tuesday and Thursdays 10:00-3:00:

7/12 Mrs. Tourville's camp on Lake Champlain and watercolor painting

7/14 Mrs. Tourville's camp on Lake Champlain and Shibori cloth dying

7/19 BFA based with a visit to a farm and cooking with fresh ingredients

7/21 BFA based with a variety of types of jewelry making

7/2 Milton Town Forest, visit to greenhouse, and macrame plant hanger creation

7/28 Mill River and rock painting with messages- then spread around St. Albans

Sign up for as many days as you would like



SAT Prep

Are you a sophomore, junior or senior that wants to prepare for an upcoming SAT?  Join Mrs. Corrigan for a 5 day session where you'll work on learning skills to improve your test taking ability.  There will be 4 days of structured lessons focusing on strategies for SAT Reading, Writing and Math, and day 5 will be a proctored mock-SAT.  SAT Prep books will be provided, as well as feedback on drills and scored practices throughout the week.  The 1 week course will align with the August 27th SAT test date.  It is strongly suggested that you have already taken Algebra 2 before signing up for this activity.

Monday-Friday 8/1-8/5, from 9:30-2:00

Teacher: Kristin Corrigan



Euro Food Trip and Films: Explore a different country each day of the week. We will watch a film and prepare and eat traditional foods from each country studied. We will visit England, France, Spain, Italy and a country chosen by the group. 

Monday-Friday, 7/11-7/15, from 10:00-3:00

Teacher: Bruce Pollard



Hiking, Prospect Rock, Jeffersonville

Enjoy Vermont's great outdoors on a hike at Prospect Rock, a 1.8 mile out-and-back trail near Johnson. This is a moderately challenging hike with beautiful views. Enjoy your lunch on a flat rock area, and bring any outdoor games that would fit in a backpack. Depart BFA at 9am, return at 3:00. Please bring a backpack and water. Lunch will be provided. 

Friday, 7/15, from 9:00-3:00

Teachers: Hannah Mangham and Lisa Gunderson


Rocks and Writing

Join BFA English teacher, Larissa Hebert, and her dad, Maine state geologist Dr. Woodrow Thompson, for a field trip to the fossil park on Isle La Motte.  Students will be exposed to the geology and fossils of the Lake Champlain valley, including the Paleozoic sea that was there (leaving all the fossils seen in the park), and much later the story of Ice Age glaciers, followed by a huge glacial lake, and lastly another ocean just after the glacier left.  Students will also become aware of the long sweep of geologic time that's evident in the Champlain Valley and how special their area is for its long record of Earth History.Throughout the day, students will be given the opportunity to engage in creative/reflective writing activities.  


If you haven’t had enough geology after the field trip, head to the Champlain Valley Fairgrounds for the 41st Annual Champlain Valley Gem, Mineral and Fossil Show. Theme: "Garnet and Tourmaline.”  Saturday, July 30 and Sunday, July 31 10:00 a.m.-5:00 p.m.  Admission:  Adults $4. Kids under 16 FREE with a paying adult.

Friday, July 29, from 9:00-3:00

Teachers: Larissa Hebert and Woodrow Thompson



College Essay Writing

Enter your senior year feeling relieved because you have written your college essay and a few scholarship essays. Be a step ahead in the college application process and start to apply for scholarships! 

7/18-7/22, Tuesday-Thursday, from 9:00-11:00

Teacher: Kieran Kivlehan



Justice and Poetry Event: 

Celebrating Native Voices - Journeying Home

 Please join Mrs. Hebert on July 22nd at the Kill Kare State Park in St. Albans, where the Sundog Poetry organization will host a Justice and Poetry event featuring a celebration of Native voices. The event will include the Abenaki writer Cheryl Savageau, as well as a group of local poets, storytellers, musicians, and visual artists. Light refreshments will be provided. The tentative time frame is 5:00-8:00p.m. and a bus will bring students to and from the event, departing from BFA.

Friday, July 22, from 5:00-8:30pm

Teacher: Larissa Hebert


Friday, May 20, 2022

 This blog focuses on sharing important information, classroom work, and photos taken throughout the week.

Important Dates & Upcoming Events

On May 27th BFA will host incoming 9th graders for Move-up day. BFA students will be dismissed at 10:30. The Bell Schedule is as follows. 

May 27th Schedule
7:30-7:55 P1 
8:00-8:20 P2
8:25-8:45 P3
8:50-9:10 P4
9:15-9:35 P5
9:40-10:00 P6
10:05-10:30 P7
10:30 dismissal
8th grade Move-up activities

Please note Friday, June 10th is a full day of school for 9th-11th graders.  
Seniors have mandatory graduation rehearsal from 1 - 3 pm followed by 
an ice-cream social.

Final week schedule:
June 13 = Wednesday
June 14 = Tuesday
June 15 = Wednesday
June 16= Tuesday
June 17 = In-service


Classroom, clubs & other

BFA is hosting this year’s District Music Festival at the Collins Perley Complex on Friday, May 20th. Normally in the Winter months, this event was rescheduled to the Spring due to the pandemic. Around 120 students from BFA St. Albans, BFA Fairfax, Milton, MMU, MVU, and Enosburgh came together to make music for the whole day and perform together at the evening concert.

Aimee Bushey from South Burlington High School directed the festival chorus, Michael Colburn directed the concert band. Colburn, who is a 1982 graduate of BFA and son of late BFA band director Verne Colburn has recently retired from both Butler University and the “President’s Own” United States Marine Corp Band where he was the director and conducted the band in both the George W. Bush and Obama inaugurations.








31 Students attended Vermont Young Playwrights Festival in Burlington on May 17th day to celebrate Madi Gagner and Suzi Chiappinelli who had their plays selected. 






The principal of the Vermont Chinese School and Champlain College professor (Wei Kian Chen and Shen Mien Teo) visited Mrs. Tourville's  9th graders about the Chinese language. 




Congratulations Burlington Free Press Athlete of the Week Sierra Yates!



Prom 2022

"An Elegant Evening-BFA’s 2022 Prom"- by Rachel Ledoux


















BFA Admin Team


Mercury News






Asher Ballantine, who is responsible for the digital media for The Mercury, has had his photography and video of the Share Your Heart, Share the World poetry event published on Sundog Poetry's website. Sundog is the non-profit organization that hosts Share Your Heart for Vermont students.



An Editor's Goodbye-Brooke Holland ('22)


Summer Program Info

BFA is offering summer classes in July for students to recover credit in an engaging, 25-hour, in person course. Course information and registration forms are available in the Guidance and Main Offices, as well as on Facebook and the BFA website.


BFA SUMMER RECOVERY CLASSES

Summer 2022


All classes run from 10:00-3:00, in-person at BFA.

Students must attend all 5 days and demonstrate proficiency to recover credit. 

Classes offered are for proficiency recovery only. Eligible students are those students who have been attending classes, are nearly proficient, and have a recommendation from their current teacher.

Breakfast and lunch will be provided.

Transportation is not provided. 


Pick up a registration form in the Guidance Office or the Main Office.


Return completed, signed registration forms to the Guidance Office or the Main Office by June 16, 2022.


Any questions, please contact Sorel Chaput, Summer Program Coordinator, at schaput@maplerun.org or 802-752-1059.

____________________________________________________________________



ENGLISH

Rebels and Outcasts with Talent 

This short course aims to develop students’ reading, writing, language, speaking, and listening skills through the study of rebels and outcasts with surprising talent. Through the examination of literary and informational texts and film, students will learn about the various ways in which both historical figures and literary characters devise innovative ways to break all the rules! 

Teacher: Eric Telfer

Dates: 7/25-7/29


Songs, Speeches, and Social Media: An analysis of modern communication 

In this course, students will explore communication styles and analyze how different forms of media convey tone, emotions, and themes. Students will look at song lyrics, contemporary speeches, and a variety of social media platforms to develop their own interpretations of modes of communication. This course will emphasize collaboration and have students evaluate how we can effectively communicate with each other

Teacher: Emily Schwartz

Dates: 7/11-7/15




HEALTH

Health Warriors

Students will start their days participating in different workout modalities such as yoga, pilates, HIIT workouts, Zumba, and BARRE in the mornings, exploring effects on HR, major muscle groups, and effects on endurance, strength, and flexibility. Integrated discussions and group activities will guide students in designing their own individualized workout routines in a culminating project designed around fitness and health goals that will help promote lifelong fitness goals.

Students will explore healthy eating practices through meal preparation, design, and execution. Students will explore nutrition to promote energy, endurance, and balanced eating habits through different dietary preferences such as vegetarian, vegan, mediterranean, paleo, etc. Students will work in small groups to design and cook their lunches as well as go home with dinner and breakfast recipes they can try at home. Students will work towards a culminating project of designing an individualized book of recipes that focuses on adequate nutrition, time management, and balanced eating habits. 

Students can receive either a health credit, PE credit, or both.

Teacher: Alisa Aylward

Dates: 7/11-7/15


Summer Health Group 

This class is designed to empower all students with the knowledge, understanding, and skills to make informed, health-enhancing decisions. Students will have the opportunity to practice skill proficiencies while developing an understanding of health information related to personal wellness, emotional health, drug prevention, and sexuality education. Proficiencies: analyzing influences, accessing valid information and products, interpersonal communication and advocacy, decision-making and goal setting, and self management.  

Teachers: Ashlie Czelatka and Mark Ginsburg

Dates: 7/25-7/29



MATH

Math is Fun, Part Uno, Algebra I

Do you need to recover your Algebra 1 credit, but are dreading retaking the same class

next year? Do you often wonder “WHEN WILL I EVER USE THIS?!” Come to Math is Fun, Part Uno, and actually learn all that you missed in Algebra 1 via super FUN

project-based learning and math gaming. After 25 hours, we guarantee you’ll have learned more with us than you did all year long in your Algebra 1 class!

Teachers: Nicole Schubert and Lauren Liberatore

Dates: 7/11-7/15


Math is Fun, Part Dos, Geometry

Do you need to recover your Geometry credit, but are dreading retaking the same class

next year? Do you ask yourself, “WHEN WILL I EVER USE THIS?!” Then this is your opportunity to actually learn real-world applications of Geometry! Come to Math is Fun, Part Dos, and after 25 hours you’ll recover your full year of Geometry!

Teachers: Nicole Schubert and Lauren Liberatore

Dates: 7/18-7/22


Algebra II

In this week-long course students will recover their Algebra II credit from the school year. We will be covering the six core units of Algebra II which are Linear Equations, Quadratics, Polynomials, Rationals, Radicals and Trigonometry. 

Teacher: Cam Caforia

Dates: 7/11-7/15



SCIENCE

Lake Champlain Studies

This credit recovery science course studies the ecology of Lake Champlain, with particular emphasis on the aquatic ecosystems.  We will be learning about the current state of the health of the lake with an emphasis on natural and human contributions.  This week-long course will consist of 1-2 hours of daily classwork, followed by 2-3 hours of field work visiting a variety of sites on Lake Champlain and its surrounding tributaries to experience what we have been learning firsthand. Activities will include wildlife observations, fish identification, angling techniques, and studying the landscapes to learn about geologic processes.

Teacher: Chris Hungerford

Dates: 7/11-7/15



SOCIAL STUDIES 

American Experience

Compelling Question: What does it mean to be an American and how has this meaning changed over time?

The American Experience class allows the student to explore how citizenship, government, and history have shaped what it means to be an American, and how this meaning has changed over time. This recovery course provides students with a basic understanding of our government’s foundation and an opportunity to interpret how historical events, people, and situations have transformed the rights, duties, and responsibilities of citizens both past and present. 

Teacher: Geoff Murray

Dates: 7/18-7/22


Local History

Come dive into the history of St. Albans and the surrounding area. Learn how to discover more about where you live and deepen your own relationship with the past. You'll go on field trips, hear from guest speakers, and engage with a variety of sources to uncover the storied past of your own community. You’ll walk away having learned not only facts, but also methods of revealing the histories of wherever life may take you.

Recover either American Experience or Global Citizenship credit while exploring the history of St. Albans and have fun doing so! 

Teachers: Sorel Chaput and Emily Schwartz

Dates: 7/25-7/29




WORLD LANGUAGES

Spanish/French 

Students will have the opportunity to work towards earning credit for your most recent world language class. Other students will work towards raising their grade so they can advance to the next level.

Teacher: Bruce Pollard

Dates: 7/18-7/22


2022 BFA Summer Recovery Classes

Registration Form


Student Name: ____________________________________________________________


Check the class, or classes, you want to register for. Only one class per week.

Course descriptions


7/11-7/15

  • Algebra I: Math is Fun, Part Uno


  • Algebra II


  • English: Songs, Speeches, and Social Media: An analysis of modern           communication 


  • Health Warriors


  • Lake Champlain Studies


7/18-7/22

  • Geometry: Math is fun, Part Dos


  • French/Spanish


  • American Experience


7/25-7/29

  • English: Rebels and Outcasts with Talent 


  • Local History


  • Summer Health Group


Student Signature: _________________________________________________


Parent Signature: __________________________________________________


Teacher Signature: _________________________________________________


Return this completed and signed registration form to the Guidance Office or the Main Office by June 16, 2022.