School news
Ninth graders present at Shir Shalom Woodstock Area Jewish Community
This spring, the ninth graders have been engaged in an interdisciplinary Holocaust and Genocide unit in their English and Modern World classes. In Modern World History with Mr. Wolfe, students learned about the historical background of the Holocaust, studying the escalation of hate that led up to the atrocities. They also made connections between the Holocaust and other genocides, and examined how hate escalates and manifests in the present day. In English with Ms. SJ, they explored the individual stories of people who endured the Holocaust, including survivors, rescuers, and people whose lives were unfortunately lost. They created informative museum exhibits, honoring their chosen people’s lives and legacies.
On June 8th, all ninth graders went to Shir Shalom Woodstock Area Jewish Community where they were joined by Rabbi Haigh, Lois Fein, and 20 other Shir Shalom congregants. Students displayed their final projects for all to examine. Lux Ringenberg, Yanni Amos, Bowie Appelfeller, Heidi Thompson, Nick Melrod, Gwen Boudreau, and Ariana Franco Montesinos presented their final projects in front of the entire assembled group. Students also had the unique opportunity to view a primary source - Shir Shalom’s Holocaust Torah Scroll, which likely dates back to the 1840s. Finally, students were treated to delicious pizza and popsicles, which were generously provided by Shir Shalom.
Students, congregants, and teachers alike were deeply moved by the experience. Charlie Hauze shared how meaningful it was that the congregants joined us and shared their experiences with us. Nick Melrod remarked that he was surprised by how many of the congregants had personal connections with the Holocaust. Other students reflected on how powerful it was to witness the vibrancy of our local Jewish community.
This field trip was made possible by the generosity of Shir Shalom leaders and congregants, including Rabbi Haigh, Lois Fein, President Elliot Goodman. We owe them all many thanks!
College algebra students present topics
College algebra students presented on topics that they learned independently and then teach the class. These self-taught lessons turned the students into the experts as they broke down the complex geometry and formulas of parabolas, ellipses, and hyperbolas.
Spring in the Innovation Lab
Woodstock Union students are wrapping up their semester-long projects in the innovation lab. Work has been divided between two themes: heavy and light. High School students are working with the heavy material of plaster, building custom molds using desktop CNC machines. Middle School students have been working with light wooden dowels, Chinese rice paper, and 3D-printed joints to build kites based on Alexander Graham Bell's tetrahedral kites from the early 20th century.
Woodstock Envirothon team places second
Schuyler Hagge, Kody Lantiegne, and Pippa Shaw won second place in the Vermont Envirothon Competition. They rotated through four stations where they worked as a team to complete hands-on tests about Aquatics, Soils, Forestry, and Wildlife. They also presented about Nonpoint Source Pollution in our watershed and potential solutions. The team enjoyed spending the day at Buck Lake Conservation Area, showcasing the knowledge they've gained in their science and agriculture classes, and getting to talk with professionals in the field.
If you are interested in joining the Envirothon Team next year, please reach out to Abbie Castriotta (Room 27 or abbie.castriotta@mtnviews.org).
Equitable climate action partnership at VINS
Middle school and high school students presented at the third annual ECAP\(Equitable Climate Action Partnership) at the Vermont Institute of Natural Science on May 8. Students got to experience some activities, check out the birds and trails, learn about birds and climate change and present their projects.
Middle school students Reese Fenity, Isa Contarino and Annabelle Park presented about their food system project from wellness. The girls gathered local foods from Annabelle’s garden, cooked over 80 healthy meals and served them to people in need in Rutland.
Middle achool atudents Reese Fenity, Isa Contarino and Annabelle Park presented about their food system project from wellness. The girls gathered local foods from Annabelle’s garden, cooked over 80 healthy meals and served them to people in need in Rutland.
High schoolers Pea Richardson, Bethany Thorburn, Sadie Boulbol, Owen Whalen and Brody Allen shared about their immersive semester work at the King Farm this past fall where they created a permaculture design for future use of the land and made and planted air pruning beads with native trees.