This morning I was discussing student assessments with a teacher as we looked at one student’s recent response to a writing prompt. While we discussed the desired learning outcome, as well as how the class interacted with one another’s work, the conversation connected to where we seem to be in our path to bring education and student life to a higher level of positive normalcy. The teacher mentioned that students seem to be getting back their school “sea legs and educational mojo”. The reasons for this are many.
The full year that we have been in pandemic education may be broken into three parts, at least for BFA. The first part, complete virtual learning where many students rightfully struggled to make sense of their world, gave way to a second phase this fall where students tried to acclimate to in-person learning with the day starting with a much-needed Enrichment period followed by three classes. The current third phase has seen greater engagement with their learning by more closely duplicating a known schedule that starts with everyone in morning class for a total of four academic periods with Enrichment midday.
Extracurricular activities have also changed and improved with each of the three phases. Last spring saw all students suddenly have clubs, athletics, music, and drama eliminated from their education. This fall BFA was proud to offer after-school activities within the first two weeks of school while athletics followed state mandates that opened up many opportunities, even if the competition looked different. Unfortunately, music as previously performed in band, chorus, and musicals, was still not allowed. Phase three, coinciding with the second semester, has increased student engagement and educational connectivity by expanding our club offerings, allowing most athletics, and, finally, bringing more music back into our students' lives. Drama has continued throughout but looks to hopefully once again have live performances in front of an audience.
Our staff has also adjusted to each of the three phases in order to better meet student needs. The dramatic suddenness of last March’s move to fully virtual education left schools scrambling to adjust. While staff proved to be resourceful, caring, and willing, the pandemic environment of fully virtual learning was not conducive to everyone’s well-being, especially with learning. This summer, staff put in an extraordinary effort to prepare for hybrid learning; given their high level of professionalism, this effort continues. Our second phase saw all our staff working to recover lost learning from phase one, while simultaneously engaging virtual and in-person students. Currently, it is amazing to see the variety of engaged learning that is occurring in our classes, as well as the energy with after-school team activities. In many ways, BFA continues to be a model for successful hybrid learning. We plan on continuing to lead the way and look forward to a phase four, fully in-person learning within our building.
Have a great weekend, and for those taking next week off, enjoy the time.
Sincerely,
Brett Blanchard
Principal
PHOTOS AND MORE INFORMATION
Updated 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. Please advise us if special meal accommodations are required for allergens or other special dietary needs. Meals are available for parents to pick up on Fridays between 12:00-1:00 in the north building. Students may pick up after school in the cafeteria on Tuesdays and Fridays. 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 the grab and go cooler in the cafeteria.
Guidance Dept. News:
BFA seniors joined their school counselors in the library this week during enrichment to kick off the local scholarship process.
The local scholarship event was started 3 years ago to support students to better understand the resources available to them and how to apply. Since the inception of this event, we are seeing a much more diverse applicant pool.
Thanks to one of the most active alumni communities in Vermont, around $300,000 dollars are donated annually from community members and their families to BFA seniors heading off to post-secondary opportunities.
The BFA School Counseling Office is proud to support our seniors!
The local scholarship event was started 3 years ago to support students to better understand the resources available to them and how to apply. Since the inception of this event, we are seeing a much more diverse applicant pool.
Thanks to one of the most active alumni communities in Vermont, around $300,000 dollars are donated annually from community members and their families to BFA seniors heading off to post-secondary opportunities.
The BFA School Counseling Office is proud to support our seniors!
Class Photos:
Mrs. Tourville's sophomore English class. Creating a story with realistic dialogue.
This week's Sports Photos:
BFA Varsity Comets basketball team.
Levi Webb celebrating his goal in BFA's 2-0 win over Colchester.
Comet hockey team helping to clear snow.
Senior Solo:
BFA Senior Karah White is our next featured vocalist performing the song “Tightrope,” from The Greatest Showman written by Benj Pasek and Justin Paul. Please enjoy Karah White’s recording which is now available on YouTube as well as BFA’s Facebook page. Congrats to Karah and Melissa Ewell for their outstanding musical efforts.
“Tightrope,”
From The Greatest Showman
Benj Pasek and Justin Paul.
Performed by Karah White
Melissa Ewell - Piano
Audio and Video Recording/Editing - Armand MessierGood luck to the following sports teams as they compete this weekend:
Saturday:Virtual Dance Competition filming @ 9:00/9:30 a.m.
JV & Varsity Boys Basketball at MUHS @ 11:00/12:30
JVB Boys Basketball Host NCU @ 1:00 p.m.
Boys Hockey at Essex @ 4:00 p.m.
Girls Hockey host Burr & Burton @ 7:00 p.m.
When BFA is traveling the links for the live stream will be posted on our BFA Athletic Website.
When our teams are playing at home please follow this information:
Northwest Access TV has been supportive of our BFA Families by live-streaming our Home JV & Varsity Basketball Games as well as our Varsity Hockey Games this winter because of the Vermont COVID ban on spectators at games. When they broadcast basketball, the stream will be the same for JV & Varsity so anyone watching will be able to keep watching the same video.
