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Region In Review
May 19, 2023
by Jane Manley, Elementary Art Teacher
Students participated in a wonderful collaborative project created by the classroom teachers and the art teacher. The project was initiated by classroom teachers through a read aloud and discussion of two inspiring books, Home written by Carson Ellis for K-2 students and, The Map of Good Memories written by Fran Nuño for 3-5 students. To deepen meaning, teachers used a sequence of high level questioning to encourage thoughtful discussion and written responses with their students.
Subsequently, students utilized their understanding of the text and worked on a variety of projects in art that visualized places that held special memories for them. Each student reflected on the feelings they had of their special place - comfort, safety, fun, or love - and then visualized that place - the colors, shapes, lines, and other details. Kindergarten students used shape, color, and line to make their homes from construction paper, while first and second-grade students used their drawing and cutting skills to make pop-out pictures of their special places.
Third and fourth graders used the Vincent van Gogh Bedroom painting as the basis for drawing their own bedroom pictures. They worked in oil pastels and used perspective to help make their pictures resemble van Gogh’s style. Fifth graders used Google Maps to locate their special places. They then transformed the maps into basic shapes, lines, and colors to create watercolor abstract works of art. Students' interpretation of their special places were diverse and showed an understanding of not only the messages of the books but also important art skills.
From Region 12 to the Capitol Rotunda
by Dr. Gosselin, Superintendent
Word of our incredible Agriscience Program has spread from Shepaug to the halls of the U.S. Capitol. Congresswoman Jahana Hayes highlighted Shepaug's agriscience program in a recent meeting of the House Agriculture Committee. Representative Hayes discussed the value of agriscience programs to help strengthen pipelines for a strong workforce in agricultural careers.
Representative Hayes even invited USDA Under Secretary Jennifer Lester Moffitt to come out and visit anytime. We love to tell our story and share our program and would welcome Ms. Moffitt anytime. Our vision for Shepaug Valley School and Region 12 is to position the region as a lighthouse district that can serve as a model for the state and the nation of how small communities can provide exceptional, high-quality educational experiences that unlock endless opportunities for students.
The Spartan Scope
Please enjoy the May 2023 edition of Spartan Scope. News anchors Madox Wodjenski, Peyton Ongley, and Peyton Thomas introduce three of the recent submissions to the FOX61 Student News competition.
First, The Filmtastic 4 consisting of Alexandra Quilli, Thea D’Amico, Ivanna Ortega, and Avery Peburn, visited a local business called “Soulbury”, in Woodbury, and reported on this unique store.
Next, Annabelle Churyk and Mitch Goldberg have a report about Shepaug seniors who are trying to decide which colleges to attend this fall.
Last but not least, Tilly Skiles and Peyton Ongley visited The Pratt Nature Center in New Milford, where students experience healthy doses of nature every day regardless of the weather.
Shepaug Students Make the News, Literally
by Dr. Gosselin, Superintendent
Mr. Mowen's Digital Media Communications class at Shepaug submitted student news packages to a contest sponsored by FOX61 to promote student video journalism. As a result, news packages from Shepaug students will air on FOX61 as part of the student news competition. "When I told the students about this, they literally screamed with happiness!" said Mr. Mowen.
So tune in to view stories from the following news teams from Shepaug:
- May 18 - Mikey Andrews and Spencer Campbell's news package, "Dangers of teen vaping."
- June 2 - Alexandra Quilli, Avery Peburn, Thea D'Amico, Ivanna Ortega, "Finding the soul in Soul bury Shepaug Valley HS student news."
FOX61 will broadcast stories on fox61.com, Facebook, Instagram, and YouTube at 7:00 am, and segments will be featured on-air during Friday's Morning News at 7:45 am, 5:45 pm and 10:45 pm news and during the FOX61 Morning News on Saturday at 7 am.
If you miss it live, stories can be viewed at:
The Life of a Butterfly
by Sarah Berns, Special Education Teacher
The high school Science Strategies class started observing the butterfly life cycle on April 25th. We had 10 baby caterpillars in our classroom, and in their small, fragile state, we had doubts they would all make it to the end of their life cycle. We kept a close eye on them, drew pictures, and noted any changes we saw.
We compared their life cycle stages to different animals’ life cycles, including ours. We learned the butterfly life cycle is surprisingly fast and the metamorphosis from caterpillar to chrysalis to butterfly is pretty amazing. We released them all by May 11th; it was a bittersweet goodbye.
Exploring How Artists Create Mood
by Donna Wright, Art Teacher
Eighth graders just completed a Drawing & Painting unit learning about how artists create mood in portraiture. Students learned that the first step in improving drawing skills is simply learning to look. Lobsters were drawn without reference photos and then redrawn while looking at a photo of a lobster. Students applied sight measurement strategies to align objects horizontally and vertically, compare and measure using proportions, and finally how to check angles in order to improve their drawing skills.
In their final summative painting, students were asked to choose their favorite photos from their skill builder lesson and adjust the colors in Photoshop to match their chosen mood. Hard-edge opaque painting techniques were used to capture their final mood portrait.
All are welcome to visit the K-12 Art Exhibition in the Shepaug Valley School mall from May 4th-23rd to see all of the students' beautiful portraits.
Senior Project Spotlight
Sophomores will be doing research for debates next week. Ryn created a paper avatar to bounce ideas off. She and her partner, Talon Profeta, will argue that the US should deploy troops to Ukraine in its struggle against Russia.
Region 12 Reads!
by Dr. Gosselin, Superintendent
The results are in for the 2022 Governor's Summer Reading Challenge and Region 12 Schools are tops in the state.
At the end of May last year, Governor Ned Lamont launched the 2022 Summer Reading Challenge, an annual statewide program encouraging students to read books during the summer. The theme for the 2022 contest was "Read Beyond the Beaten Path."
Research shows that reading is crucial to a child's brain development and intellectual stimulation. Studies show that students who don't engage in learning activities over the summer could lose up to two years of academic skills. The program has inspired students to read over a million books during the 26 years of the challenge.
The schools with the highest percentage of participating enrollment and the highest number of books read by participating students are recognized by the Governor and the Education Commissioner each year.
Governor Lamont's office notified Region 12 that Booth Free School, Burnham School, and Washington Primary School are top performers in the 2022 Governor's Summer Reading Challenge. Our schools claimed three of the six top spots. An upcoming press conference at the Connecticut State Capitol will celebrate the winning schools.
What an honor for Region 12 readers!
A Helping Hand
A group of Leo Club members recently went to Bernhardt Meadows in Roxbury to help the seniors clean out their gardens. The kids had a great time and the seniors loved having their help!
Fliers & Upcoming Events
Region 12 Calendar
May 20th - Farm-to-Table Dinner, Toplands Farm, 5:30-8pm
May 22nd - Long Range Planning Committee Meeting, SVS, 6pm
May 22nd - Board of Education Meeting, SVS, 7pm
May 23rd - Middle School Spring Concert, SVS, 7pm
May 24th - Academic Awards Ceremony, SVS, 6pm
May 25th - Reich Award Ceremony, SVS, 9:40am
May 25th - FFA Banquet, SVS, 6pm
May 26th - 8th Grade Graduation Dance, SVS, 7pm
May 29th - Memorial Day - No School
May 31st - Senior Scholarship Night, SVS, 7pm
June 1st - Middle School Play, SVS, 7pm
Follow Region 12 on our social media channels for updates and information!
The Region 12 community educates, challenges, and inspires all learners to become compassionate, creative, and courageous individuals who are empowered by the knowledge, character, and perseverance to achieve their greatest potential within the global society.
Email: rir@region-12.org
Website: www.region-12.org
Location: 11A School Street, PO Box 386 Washington Depot, CT 06794
Phone: 860-868-6100
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Shepaug-Regional-School-District-12-153899298123985/
Twitter: @Region12Schools