Wednesday, December 22, 2021

Wednesday , December 22, 2021, Weekly Administrative Update

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


Veteran's Day Update:
On Tuesday, December 14th, members of the BFA student body including the band, vocal quartet, and speakers were recognized by the Veterans of Foreign Wars for their participation in the recent Veteran’s Day parade and ceremony in Taylor Park.

VFW members Melody Thibault and Allen Brown presented awards to the BFA students in front of the school Tuesday morning. Emily Parent, Sarah McConnell, Pilot DesLauriers, and Nicolas Paquette were recognized for their performance of the National Anthem under the direction of BFA Choral Director Armand Messier. Bug Galuszka and Ryan Naef were recognized for their performs of “Taps” at the ceremony. Cadien Shuford was recognized for the speech he delivered about being the son of a veteran. The BFA Marching Band, Eric Bushey Director, was also recognized for leading the parade and performing “The Dirge” in the park.

Veteran’s Day (formerly known as “Armistice Day”) has been celebrated in St. Albans for around 100 years with BFA participating since 1930 when its first band director, Sterling D. Weed led the band. With the exception of 2020, when we did a virtual presentation for the Veterans, BFA Music has been involved continually.



Powder Puff Donation to Camp TaKumTa-thon:
Wednesday morning (12/15/2021), representatives from both the BFA and MVU Powder Puff teams came together once again to be able to donate part of their proceeds to Camp Ta Kum Ta. As has been the tradition for the past few years, the teams wait until KOOL105 Radio Station has their Camp TaKumTa-thon to make their donation. The four ladies who represented the two schools talked with the radio station via phone conference.

The 2021 Powder Puff Event was able to donate $13,082.50 to Camp Ta Kum Ta this year. This will send at least five kids to camp this summer!

Thank you Franklin County for helping these two groups of seniors do great things!

Abigail Paquette (MVU), Maddie Lampman (MVU), Dan Palmer (MVU), John Lumsden (MVU), Dan Marlow (BFA), Jay Hartman (MVU), Jenny Parent (BFA), Naomi Edele (MVU), and Sophie Zemianek (BFA).


Operation Happiness:
Operation Happiness, 900 boxes across Franklin County! NCTC and BFA students packed boxes on Thursday and on Friday the BFA boys and girls hockey team helped distribute them to families.





















Food Collection:
This year the BFA community came together to provide food and gift cards to 30 of our BFA families! A special thank you to Mary Brouilettes' classes for helping organize the food, BFA teachers and staff who have volunteered to deliver, Vermont Federal Credit Union for their generous donations, and the greater Saint Albans Community for coming together to help one another. We couldn't have done it without you!

BFA Rotary Interact and National Art Honor Society:
BFA Rotary Interact, National Art Honor Society and our very own district occupational therapist, Sandra Casavant spent the morning building adaptive stands to hold IPADS and phones for those living with physical challenges in the community. The devices will be used within the district and also at area rehabilitation centers.

BFA Instant Decision Day:
BFA hosted its 4th annual Instant Decision Day with the Vermont State Colleges. 14 seniors participated in this exciting event and even some graduates!!! Thank you for your support of our students.
 

Fine Arts Night: 
BFA hosted its first-ever Fine Arts Night on December 9th.  Please read our recent Mercury article by Cassidy Audette and enjoy the photos of this event.





















Cora Thomas wins Silver Gloves and will head to Regionals in January 2022!
Cora Thomas of Fairfield defeated Brooke McBrine of Windham, NH, via 2nd round TKO. With the win, Thomas became the New England junior female open class champion at 119 lbs.


Congratulations Business November and December Students of the Month:


















Career Exploration Class:
Game of Life Tournament learning how to live on our own.























Leadership Training Class:
Working on a positive mindset with the Buzz Rings.

















Algebra II:
These are students working on gathering data for stats and data representations with coins, dice, cards, and balloons in Algebra II.




















Physical Science making electromagnets:

Robotics: 



Poetry Out Loud Class:
Samuel Boudreau ('15), who won the VT state Poetry Out Loud competition in 2014 and 2015 and went onto national's, visited Mrs. Hebert's English classes to help students prepare for their Poetry Out Loud class competitions.  
Photos were taken by Asher Ballantine.
Please see this Mercury article for more information: https://bfamercury.org/5230/news/special-guest-samuel-boudreau-15-visits-to-help-with-poetry-out-loud/
















Global Citizenship Class:
The 9th-grade students in Miss Madeiros' Global Citizenship class have been working hard this holiday season to raise awareness and take action to work towards achieving the UN's Sustainable Development Goals. The Sustainable Development Goals, or SDGs, are a set of 17 goals that work towards making the world a safer, more sustainable, and happy place for all. Throughout the semester, students chose a SDG that interested them, completed research, and completed a community engagement activity that allowed them to have an active role in achieving this goal that they learned about. Here are some of the highlights of student work and activities:

One student created a survey for her peers to gain data on gender equality in our community
Two students created Facebook fundraisers to raise money for Martha's Kitchen and together raised over $350.
Two students raised money for St. Jude's hospital by holding a bake sale in the connector after school.
Many students donated food to either Martha's Kitchen or the community food drive being held at our school.
Some students created slideshows to present their information to others through social media, blogs, websites, and more.
Many students created awareness posters that were posted around the school. Here are some examples: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1DR3DaCtLv8hH5W69plY00RBi1Lq71YHy/view?usp=sharing
https://drive.google.com/file/d/1E7Xl34ZcyqKGXVIyIP3J4TR5NLP4cjwi/view?usp=sharing
https://drive.google.com/file/d/1ENxiNeGZuUsuojTRC6eQudh35VatgtD5/view?usp=sharing

Comets Hockey continue the tradition:
With a full regular-season schedule in store for 2021-22, the Comets hockey team was able to bring back a 12-year tradition; the Christi Corrigan Blitz. The tournament acts as a two-game jumpstart to the season for the teams who participate. This year, BFA faced off with the Hingham High School Harborwomen (MA) on Friday, Dec. 10, and the Potsdam Central School Sandstoners (NY) on Saturday, Dec. 11.


Doc Tuilp Hockey Classic:


Bobwhite Basketball Opening Game 12/14/21:


Comet Basketball Team:
















Nordic Team:

The BFA St. Albans Nordic team skied at Rikert on Wednesday, Dec. 12.

















Winter Spirit Week:

























Congratulations to Chef Adam! 
Adam Monette is the Champion of Food Network’s Holiday Baking Competition!!! The BFA/NCTC community is so proud of you!! Congratulations!





Mercury Update:
Click here https://bfamercury.org/ to read recent Mercury articles.

Special Print Edition of The Mercury:
BFA's Journalism club is in the beginning stages of preparing for our special print edition of The Mercury.

We are again looking for local businesses to pay for advertising to help support our production costs. If your business advertised in last year's paper, we can use that ad again (with payment, of course)!
H
ere are the costs:
Small - $20 (2" x "2.75, vertical) maximum 10
Medium - $40 (4" x 2", horizontal) maximum 10
Large - $60 (4" x 4", square) maximum 10

We will also have a page to thank individual/personal donors.
Please make checks out to MRUSD, specifying that the check is for The Mercury advertising. The deadline for advertisements and payment is February 1st. Checks can be mailed to att: Larissa Hebert BFA 71 S. Main Street St. Albans, VT 05478

Thank you for your support!
Larissa & The Mercury staff

YEARBOOK DATES:

 

·         Online yearbook link:  http://jostensyearbooks.com/?REF=A08772600

·         For sale now until December 31st yearbook $50

·         For sale from January 1st-March 4th yearbook $55

·         Personalization available until January 28, 2022



Winter Break Activities:




































VT Food Programs:





































Friday, December 3, 2021

Friday, December 3, 2021, Weekly Administrative Blog

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


BFA ARTS NIGHT DECEMBER 9th
The schedule for the entire event is as follows:
4:00-5:00 Workshops: BFA/Various Locations: Enter through the BFA Connector/Main Entrance
5:00-6:00 Gallery Exhibit, Strings and Chamber Singers Concert, light refreshments in the BFA Connector
6:00-6:15 Musical Performance: Opening of Into the Woods, from the fall Musical in the Performing Arts Center
(The Following Events occur simultaneously. You may move from venue to venue to attend various events. Please do not leave mid-performance. A detailed schedule will be provided at the event and will be available via the BFA website. Student ambassadors will be present to support guests on site.)
6:15-8:00 Dance performances, Improv Team and more in the Performing Arts Center
6:15-8:00 Jazz Band, Chorus, Featured Soloists and more in the BFA Gym
6:15-8:00 There will be open studios, Community Mural Banner and Make and Take options in the Art Rooms at BFA
All Events are FREE! **MASKS REQUIRED AT ALL EVENTS.

Art 1 students, doing linear perspective drawings.



Guitar class.

Into the Woods set art work.








Come to the first-ever BFA Arts Night on December 9th!















Congratulations World Languages and Classics November Students of the Month:

Sociology of Crime Class News:

Here are a few pictures from our field trip to the NW Family Foods Center/Foodshelf. 

16 students and two staff members participated in the field trip activity. Many thanks to the BFA faculty, staff, and students for their donations. We were able to fill up and deliver two grocery carts of provisions.

The students worked very hard to stack and organize provisions for about 50 minutes. They also engaged in an orientation activity about the Champlain Valley Office of Economic Opportunity and held a brief group discussion about poverty, hunger, and crime.





Additionally, we had some guest speakers.

Lisa Pepe was here to discuss the restorative justice center with our sociology of crime class and how the practices of restorative justice can be applied to the American criminal justice system.

Tim Smith and Chip Sawyer were here to discuss with our American experience students how our westward expansion compelling question, ‘does growth always lead to progress?’ is relevant to the growth and progress to the Downtown St. Albans developments.

We would like to express thanks to our guest speakers as well as the importance of involving the community in the classroom. 

Jeff Moulton





Scholar's Bowl:
BFA hosting Fairfax, Lamoille, and Richford in Scholar’s Bowl contest.


Junior Future Planning Day:
The BFA School Counseling department hosted our first Junior Future Planning Day in the PAC. We were joined by former BFA graduate, Robbie Maher- student-teacher for Maplerun, Liam Mahabir- WBL, and Katie Gesser-VSAC. We will host multiple events throughout the year to support students around resumes, scholarships, college essay writing, and employment/training opportunities.




Student Council Update:

Your class of 2022 officers:
Lindsey Bernard- President
Calla Bourdeau- Vice President
Your class of 2022 representatives:
Dominick Brock
Adelyne Collin
Erika Hart
Kaya Hudak
Loghan Hughes
Marshal Herbert
Alyssa Perkins
Connor Powell
Ayanna Raymond
Kate Reilly
Roxanne Thayer
Izzy Williams

Your class of 2023 officers:
Emma Archambault- President
Genevieve LaClair- Vice President
Heather L’Esperance- Secretary
Rowan Howrigan- Treasurer
Group Introduction Video

Your class of 2023 representatives:
Jakob Birnbaum
Rebekah Dalmer
Elektra LaRocque
Madeline Montagne
Charlotte Pierce
Amiya Sharp
Austin Wagner
Michael Weber
Sierra Yates

Your class of 2024officers:
Maura Thompson- President
Taylor Olds- Vice President
Shelby Bechard- Secretary
Ava Dumont- Treasurer

Group Introduction Video

Your class of 2024 representatives:
Rae Alexander
Aiyana Auer
Leah Fitzgerald
Patience Getty
Ava Hutchins
Rachel Ledoux
Jordan Martin
Sarah McConnell
Caitlyn Mossey
Penelope Noza
Daniella Reardon
Quinn Stanley
Joe Tourville

Your class of 2025 officers:
Addison Finnegan- President
Karina Early- Vice President
Addie Parent- Treasurer
Cadien Shuford- Secretary
Video Introduction of officers

Your class of 2025 representatives:
Analyn Blow
Isabella Broich
Lila Dumont
Erin Jackson
Jillian Mathieu
Jasmine Nolan
Miles Philips
Angelus Porter
Charlotte Reilly
Mackenzie Smith
Emily Vining
Drew Theberge
Zoe Walent
Amelia Weber
Sophia Wolfe

Our BFA Student Council participation in the event donated $280 to Operation Happiness.




Mercury Update:
Click here https://bfamercury.org/ to read recent Mercury articles. Please enjoy Asher Ballantine's full video of the Veterans' Day Ceremony in St. Albans.  https://bfamercury.org/5089/showcase/veterans-day-ceremony-st/
Check out some of the new staff members at BFA in these Mercury profile pieces:



BFA Winter Gear:
Here is an opportunity to buy BFA winter gear:  BFA Winter Gear


Physical Education:

Partner Yoga









Jay Peak Ski Info: