Hello Craftsbury Families,
As we reflect on the exciting activities and events that have taken place over the last couple of months, it is evident that our students have been engaged in a wide range of enriching experiences both in and out of the classroom.
Our elementary and middle school students embarked on adventurous field trips to the Craftsbury Outdoor Center, where they embraced the winter wonderland through snowshoeing and cross-country skiing. Looking ahead to the spring season, our middle school students eagerly anticipate their upcoming mountain biking classes at the outdoor center, fostering a love for outdoor recreation and physical activity.
Meanwhile, our high school students have actively participated in our CAPE activities, including thrilling pursuits such as ice fishing, indoor rock climbing, downhill skiing, and dog sledding. These experiences promote physical fitness and cultivate teamwork and resilience among our students.
As our seniors diligently work on their senior capstone projects, we eagerly anticipate their upcoming presentations, where they will showcase their hard work and creativity. The success of the recent VT state chess tournament hosted at our school is a testament to the strong sense of community and volunteerism within Craftsbury.
Looking forward, our students are preparing for the upcoming Solar Eclipse on April 8th, with engaging activities and educational opportunities planned to enhance their understanding of this celestial event. Additionally, our students are currently focused on completing their VT-Cap assessments, which are essential measures of student learning mandated by the state.
As we continue to provide our students with diverse and meaningful learning experiences, we are grateful for the unwavering support of our school community. Their dedication and involvement enrich our students' educational journeys.
Thank you for your ongoing support and commitment to our school community.
Matt Foster
Principal
On Monday, February 12, Craftsbury 4th and 5th grade students were treated to a visit by author and Craftsbury resident Christine McDonnell. Ms. McDonnell engaged students in a discussion of her recent book, Sanctuary, illustrated by Victoria Tentler-Krylov. Based on the actions of civil rights and social activist Kip Tiernan, who, in 1974, in Boston, opened Rosie’s Place, the nation’s first shelter for women, Sanctuary showcases how one person’s compassion can change the world for individuals in need. The students read Sanctuary in school before the author’s visit. Ms. McDonnell, who is a librarian, educator, and former educator at Rosie’s Place, fielded students’ thoughtful questions such as, “How do you choose an artist for your books?” and “When you start to write a book, do you write about what you like, or do you have inspiration?” Ms. McDonnell shared her practice of free writing, where you “write and write and write and you don’t stop…you just keep trying to catch ideas as they are coming through.” Sharing her free writing journal with the students, the author encouraged young writers to jot down their ideas as a habit. Commenting on the revision process in writing, Ms. McDonnell had sage words to share. “If you think everything you write is so precious and that no word has to be changed, you will never succeed as a writer. You have to be willing to revise and take people’s advice.”
We are so grateful that Ms. McDonnell shared her time and craft with our students! To learn more about Christine McDonnell’s work, visit https://christinemcdonnell.com/.
The 37th Annual Vermont State Scholastic Chess Tournament hosted by Craftsbury Academy on Sunday, March 24 is in the books, and we want to thank the committed group of teachers, parents, and interested community members who organized this event and those who have spent countless hours igniting a passion for chess in our students!
Despite the weekend snowstorm, Craftsbury welcomed 192 registered K-12 students and their families from across Vermont, representing almost 70 schools and the home study community. Thirty-two students represented OSSU schools including Craftsbury Schools, Hardwick Elementary, Lakeview Elementary, and Wolcott Elementary.
Special congrats to the Craftsbury players who took home the Middle School Team State Championship trophy!
OSSU players who placed first, second, or third in their respective categories are:
Wolcott first-grader Cyrus McCarty placed 2nd
Wolcott first-grader Jude Warfisch placed 3rd
Craftsbury third-grader Lawrence Fox placed 3rd
Craftsbury sixth-grader Hollis Allen placed 2nd
Craftsbury seventh-grader Max Royan placed 3rd
You can view complete tournament results at https://vermontchess.org/.../37th-annual-vermont-state.../.
Me and the Boss is one of ten picture books nominated for this year's Vermont Red Clover children's choice award. The narrator and his sister learn to sew at their local library: threading the needle, stitching, and tying knots.
On February 23rd, our first and second graders got to bring the story to life thanks to head custodian Navia Shedd. "Miss Navia" brought in a few of her memory quilts to show students how they are constructed. Then she spent an hour and a half patiently guiding 7 and 8-year-olds through the process of choosing fabric, thread, and buttons to create cloth bookmarks. She offered a banquet of pieces already cut, stitched on two sides, and ready with a colorful elastic fastener. Ms. Mascolino and Tule joined in to re-thread needles and wield the iron. A few knots pulled through. Some had to back-track, undoing stitches, but nobody quit, and everyone was completely engaged. One second grader coached himself, "Slow down, hands!" (a direct quote from Me and the Boss). We are all grateful to Navia for sharing her expertise and taking the time to prepare this project for an unforgettable library class.
The 3rd Grade went on another adventure!
They skied part of the Catamount Trail, 310 miles stretching from the Massachusetts Border to the Canadian Border. Students have been helping out on Section 27 and doing trail work all year.
Thanks to Matt and Courtney from the Catamount Trail Association for sharing the ski cache with us and making this adventure possible.
The Craftsbury Schools Winter Artist Showcase held on March 12 was an absolute masterpiece! From colorful canvases and shimmering sculptures to imaginative storytelling on stage and screen, our talented young artists truly stole the show!
A huge thank you and shout out to teachers Alayne Tetor who inspire creativity and nurture talent in our students every day!
