Superintendent Update

As we enter the eleventh week of the school year, it’s a perfect moment to recognize the energy and dedication across our district. This week, BFA collaborated with UP for Learning, helping students grow and take active roles in shaping their learning experiences. Meanwhile, our eighth-grade students from Saint Albans Town Educational Center and Saint Albans City School explored future career possibilities at the Northwest Career & Technical Center. City School students showed impressive leadership by organizing a candidate forum, engaging directly with community representatives.

BFA’s Fall Music Concert filled the gym with fantastic performances, and BFA and NCTC students also had the opportunity to tour Husky Technologies, sparking interest in manufacturing and local career paths. It’s inspiring to witness the variety of experiences our students are having, each one building a foundation for future learning and success.

On another note, last week I addressed the district’s approach to school safety. In times when safety is on everyone’s minds, please know that we prioritize each student’s well-being. Our Threat Assessment Team continues to work closely with administrators and law enforcement to maintain secure and supportive environments for all.

Thank you for your dedication and support as we build a dynamic, safe learning community for all students. Let’s keep up this momentum!

We’re excited to introduce two of Bellows Free Academy’s passionate Social Studies teachers, Justin Bedell and Caitlin Madeiros, who recently joined myself, Bill Kimball and John Muldoon on Tap Into Maple Run to share insights on their teaching journeys and their innovative use of AI in the classroom.

About Caitlin and Justin

Caitlin Madeiros joined the BFA team after moving to Vermont from Massachusetts, where she completed her Master’s degree at the University of Vermont. Now a proud Vermonter, Caitlin teaches 9th and 10th grade Social Studies and serves on the district’s Restorative Practices (RP) and Social Emotional Learning (SEL) teams. She also brings her love for dance into her work as the BFA Dance Team coach. Fun fact: Caitlin was once a member of Team USA for tap dance, traveling to Germany to compete!

Justin Bedell, a Saint Albans native, has been a dedicated part of the BFA community for 26 years and now leads the Social Studies Department. Born in the former hospital that’s now BFA’s library, Justin has a special connection to the school and is deeply committed to making history engaging for his students. Outside the classroom, he’s a longtime bassist who has been performing music with freind and BFA Music Director Eric Bushey for three decades.

Navigating AI in the Classroom

In their interview, Caitlin and Justin discussed the opportunities and challenges AI brings to education. While AI can be an exceptional teaching assistant, it also introduces concerns about misuse and cheating. Caitlin admitted she was initially hesitant to incorporate AI, but has found that it can be a game-changer for student research. By guiding students to use AI responsibly, Caitlin helps them dive into complex topics that might otherwise be challenging, due to reading comprehension barriers. AI becomes an accessible tool that enhances learning when used thoughtfully.

Justin and Caitlin emphasized the importance of fostering a mindset of curiosity and ethical responsibility in their students when using AI. They view it as a valuable resource that can enrich education if approached with care and intention.

To hear more about Caitlin’s and Justin’s teaching approaches and their experiences with AI, tune into Tap Into Maple Run on Spotify or Apple Podcasts!

I am thrilled to announce our new partnership with UP for Learning, an organization dedicated to transforming educational experiences through meaningful student-adult collaboration. This partnership will bring the Youth and Adults Transforming Schools Together (YATST) initiative to our district, aimed at enhancing student engagement and fostering a culture of shared responsibility in learning.

YATST focuses on four essential pillars: rigor, relevance, relationships, and shared responsibility—collectively known as the 4Rs. By bringing together student leaders and their advisors, we will create a platform for young voices to influence decision-making and address issues that affect their learning environment.

Throughout the school year, our student and teacher teams will meet three times to engage in Participatory Action Research (PAR). This approach allows them to explore important topics from multiple perspectives, gather insights, and implement actionable solutions. By actively involving students in this process, we not only enrich their learning experience but also equip them with valuable skills for the future.

This partnership aligns perfectly with our mission to empower every student at Maple Run. The insights and recommendations generated from these meetings will help guide our efforts in creating an engaging, inclusive, and responsive educational environment.

We look forward to sharing updates on the progress of our YATST teams and the positive changes they will bring to our schools. Together, we can foster a collaborative community where every voice matters.

This week, 8th-grade students from Saint Albans City School (SACS) and Saint Albans Town Educational Center (SATEC) visited the Northwest Career & Technical Center (NCTC) for an exciting Career Exploration Day. City School students arrived in the morning, while Town students explored NCTC in the afternoon. Each student had the opportunity to explore two programs, choosing from a variety of hands-on, career-focused areas, including Automotive Technology, Building Trades, Cosmetology, Culinary Arts, Digital Media, Engineering Technologies, Human Services, Medical Professions, Outdoor Technology, Public Safety & Law Enforcement, and Electrical Trades.

The event allowed students to engage with potential career paths, experience hands-on learning, and start considering programs that align with their skills and interests. Students from Fairfield Center School will have their chance to visit NCTC for Career Exploration Day in the coming weeks.

We’re thrilled to see 8th graders get an early start in thinking about their futures and discovering pathways at Northwest Career & Technical Center!

What an incredible evening at Saint Albans City School! Our seventh and eighth-grade students hosted a highly successful candidate forum, engaging with the four candidates vying for two City of Saint Albans House of Representatives seats. Led by a student moderator, this event provided an authentic platform for students to connect with local leaders and discuss issues that matter to their community.

Candidates were met with thoughtful, student-generated questions on critical topics like environmentalism, housing, public safety, and school security. This forum was the culmination of our students’ hard work in their social studies unit on voting, where they developed questions, practiced moderation skills, and promoted the event themselves. Their dedication to understanding and engaging in the democratic process was clear throughout the evening.

The event was a true community night, bringing together students, families, teachers, and local residents. We are incredibly proud of our students for leading this effort, demonstrating civic responsibility, and fostering meaningful dialogue with local representatives. Thank you to everyone who attended and supported this inspiring evening at Saint Albans City School!

Let’s keep the momentum going as we encourage our young leaders to continue engaging in their community and understanding the importance of their voices in shaping the future.

It was wonderful to see so many staff, families, and community members at the BFA Fall Music Concert on October 30th! Held in the BFA Gymnasium, the evening featured impressive performances across a range of styles, from classic jazz and folk to modern rock and seasonal favorites. Highlights included the debut of the Modern Band ensemble, vibrant performances by the Jazz Band and Chamber Singers, and powerful renditions from both Band I and Band II, as well as the BFA Chorus. Each group delivered an outstanding showcase of talent and hard work, creating a memorable night of music for all. Thank you to everyone who came out to support the arts at BFA!

We are thrilled to share that students from Northwest Career & Technical Center (NCTC) and Bellows Free Academy (BFA) recently had the opportunity to explore career options at local Husky Technologies. This visit allowed students to gain firsthand insights into the manufacturing industry and discover various career pathways available to them.

This exploration is part of the upcoming 2024 Manufacturing & Employment Tours, organized by our Flexible Pathways Coordinator in partnership with the Franklin County Industrial Development Corporation. These tours aim to connect high school students with local employers, providing them with valuable knowledge about potential job opportunities in the manufacturing sector.

Through these initiatives, we are fostering relationships between students and local businesses, helping them envision their future careers. For more details about these tours and how they can benefit your student, please reach out to your school's Flexible Pathways Coordinator. Together, we are paving the way for a brighter future for our students and our community!

Catch the latest episode of Tap Into Maple Run, where Assistant Superintendent John Muldoon, and I, Superintendent Bill Kimball, bring you district news, celebrations, and community stories! Each week, we introduce members of the Maple Run family, sharing insights from staff and community members who make our district special.

Have a question or comment? Send it to TapIn@MapleRun.org—you might even hear it in our “Mail Bag” segment! In Episode 9, we skipped the wellness and mail bag sections to focus on Maple Run highlights and a great conversation with social studies teachers Justin Bedell and Caitlin Madeiros, who shared their experiences using AI in the classroom. Tune in on Spotify or Apple Podcasts!

November 4th String District Wide Festival at BFA

November 6th Community Conversation on Budget Priorities

November 6th Maple Run Board Meeting

November 7th City School Band Fall Concert

November 14th Tech Discovery Day

November 14th City School Chorus Fall Concert

November 20th Maple Run Board Meeting

November 21st - 23 BFA Theatre Company- Disney's Beauty and the Beast