Weekly News
5/9/2016
* Head’s Note
As with any school that has been open for many years, each spring brings news of teachers who are retiring or transitioning to other chapters in their careers. This year, we have five teachers who are leaving our school: Christiana Whittington, Rose Grenier, Libby Robbie, Hope Kremer, and Judy Csatari. We are grateful for all they have done for Crossroads, and in particular, the special teaching moments they have fostered with our students.
In addition, Peter Faletra and Peter Tenney will be reducing their teaching responsibilities to two classes each, focusing their instruction on the seventh and eighth grade students in the coming year. Amy Kreuzburg will transition from teaching fourth grade science to have a greater focus on her role of Technology Integrator as we enhance our coding curriculum. Cindy Williamson will teach fourth grade history in lieu of fifth grade math, working closely with Bruce Freeberg to enhance the Lower School humanities curriculum. Evelyn Lechner will assume new responsibilities as the interim librarian, continuing to build our collection and oversee a new book initiative in honor of our twenty-fifth anniversary next fall. And Gena Doyle, an educator who recently joined our Lower School faculty, will have an expanded role overseeing the writing strand of our curriculum for our youngest students. Under her guidance, our K-3 writing instruction will have a greater emphasis on real-world applications to enhance the writing process. There will also be new opportunities for students to develop writing portfolios and submit select works to school and community publications.
To prepare for staff departures, we have concluded four searches and are conducting two others. We will continue to share updates on new hires but for now, I am pleased to announce that Chery Whipple will be our science teacher for grades 4-6 and our fifth grade math teacher. Mark Nelson and Megan Helm will be our music teachers, with Mark focusing on grades 4-8 and Megan instructing music to K-3 students. Matt McGuigan will be our new PE teacher and will also assist Kathy Barth in co-teaching certain health classes. Chris Cassell will be our new first grade teacher.
Brief biographies of our newest Crossroads faculty are below, and we will have an opportunity to more formally welcome these colleagues to Crossroads in the fall. In the meantime, should you have any questions about these staff transitions, please stop by any time.
—Yours truly, Brad
Follow me on Twitter @CrossroadsHead
*************************
* Head’s Note
* Virtues for this Month: Forgiveness, Graciousness, and Humility
* New Faculty Bios
* Admissions Office News
* Parent Association News
– Lunch Program
– Cedar Circle Farm Plant Sale (5/9-5/23)
– Room Parents for the 2016-2017 School Year
– Last PA Meeting of the Year (5/18, 6:30pm)
* School News
– From the Health Office: Bicycle Season is here!
– LEGO Robotics Workshops – May 11 & 13 and May 18 & 20
– Scribble Bots
– Yoga for Students in Grades Four through Eight
– Summer Programs 2016
– Classroom Clips
************************
* Virtues for this Month
* May: Forgiveness, Graciousness, and Humility
Forgiveness is having enough heart to let go of hurt.
Graciousness is acting kindly, courteously, and making another feel special.
Humility is knowing that I am definitely not perfect.
*************************
* New Faculty Bios
* Chery Whipple
Dr. Chery Whipple earned her PhD in genetics and a master’s in teaching from the University of New Hampshire in 2005. Chery has a wide breadth of knowledge and experience teaching molecular biology, general biology, microbiology, cancer biology, and biochemistry. After building a strong foundation researching pancreatic cancer and melanoma at the Norris Cotton Cancer Center and Geisel School of Medicine at Dartmouth for more than ten years, Chery is excited to bring these experiences into the classroom setting. Chery brings an enthusiastic attitude and a love of teaching, supporting, and encouraging young minds to think critically and independently. She is very excited to join the faculty and staff at Crossroads Academy, to work collaboratively with students and their parents, and, help build a strong and diverse STEM program.
————————————————
* Mark Nelson
Composer, conductor, musicologist, and arts enthusiast, Dr. Mark Nelson is devoted to opening musical and aesthetic worlds to young people. While pursuing degrees in music composition at Yale, the University of Illinois, and earning his PhD in music composition and theory from Princeton, he developed an abiding interest in American experimental- and electronic-music traditions and subsequently launched holistic electronic-music programs at liberal arts colleges and independent schools. Transformed by his initial encounters with the music of India and Indonesia, he later pursued the study of South Indian vocal music and Javanese gamelan at Wesleyan University. More recently, he earned his MEd in school leadership from Harvard. Throughout Mark’s varied education and career, his eclectic tastes and enthusiasms are reflected in the highly varied repertoires of the numerous choral and instrumental ensembles he has conducted over the years. He feels privileged to be invited to enrich the musical lives of students at Crossroads.
—————————————–
* Megan Helm
Megan Helm has been teaching elementary music for over ten years. Between her BME in music education from Kansas University and her Orff intensive student teaching year, she was chosen to be the music and PE teacher and library assistant at the Lawrence Catholic School-Corpus Christi. She has taught pre-school music privately in Lawrence, Kansas, through The Montessori Children’s House, the Lawrence Parks and Recreation, The Music Clubhouse, and in numerous other venues.
Recently relocated to Vermont, Megan has taught band at Thetford Elementary and substituted in the music department at Rivendell Academy. She currently tutors ESL in the International Program at Thetford Academy. Her professional singing career has included work with former King’s Singer Simon Carrington, Grammy award winning conductor Charles Bruffy, and Andres DeQuadros from Boston University and Tanglewood.
As Megan said, “Working with the early grade students at Crossroads Academy is a dream job for me. I use movement, music, and a healthy dose of imagination to bring lessons alive. My teaching style has been described as “action-packed” and we get to sing, play instruments, and move musically in every class.”
———————————–
* Matt McGuigan
Matt graduated from Plymouth State University with a BS in physical education and a teacher certification in K-12 education. He also earned a minor in adventure education. For the last two years, Matt has enjoyed teaching at the Epsom Central School K-8 and serving as a camp counselor during the summer months. This summer, Matt will take on new responsibilities as the Recreation Summer Camp Director in Lebanon.
Matt believes it is important not only to teach basic movements and the skills to live a happy and healthy lifestyle, but also to encourage strong interpersonal relationships through PE. His lessons often involve problem solving while exploring all our world has to offer both inside and outdoors.
When not at school, Matt enjoys hiking, biking, snowshoeing, and snowboarding among many other individual and team sports. He looks forward to being a part of the wonderful community at Crossroads Academy.
——————————-
* Chris Cassell
Chris Cassell earned his BA as a double major in anthropology and sociology from Bowdoin College. Since that time, he worked with young children for many years and in many ways. While living in Maine, he led ecology walks for the Audubon Society in Falmouth and had an experience that changed his life. It was during a special walk that he heard his “calling” to become an educator.
In 1997, Chris joined the Peace Corps to live in the Former Soviet Republic of Armenia from 1997-1999. He later earned his MA in applied anthropology from Oregon State University and was certified to teach in New Hampshire and Vermont, at the Upper Valley Educators Institute with a major in elementary education.
Chris was raised in Vermont but since 2010 he has taught kindergarten in the KAUST International School in Saudi Arabia. Chris, his wife Liz, and their children Caroline and John are looking forward to returning to their home, a 1860s rural schoolhouse, in Quechee and joining the Crossroads community.
———————————————-
* Lower School Writing Teacher
Current teaching assistant Gena Doyle will transition into a new role for the 2016-17 school year. She will fulfill duties as the kindergarten and third grade teaching assistant, assistant to the Lower School Coordinator, and the Crossroads Academy Lower School writing teacher. In the latter role, which is a new addition to the faculty, Mrs. Doyle will work with students in K-3 to develop and foster a comprehensive understanding of the writing process and an appreciation for the many types of writing. With her guidance, students will work to develop ideas and express them through real-world application of learned skills, develop portfolios of their work, and submit select works to school and community publications. Mrs. Doyle will build a personalized, goal-oriented program for all K-3 students from year to year, in order to cultivate a community of strong and expressive young writers at Crossroads.
**************************************
* Admissions Office News
Greetings from the Admissions Office! Last Thursday morning I greeted the Lower School students with a rhyme… “Good morning to you on another gray May Day!” I think we’ve all wondered where the sun has gone these past couple of weeks. But where the sun is lacking outside these school walls, inside there is the enthusiastic glow of learning. One fifth grade student said she felt she was going to burst with excitement awaiting the performance of A Midsummer Night’s Dream. A kindergarten student proudly showed me the tadpoles she brought to school to share with her class. A seventh grade student eagerly leaped at the opportunity to share her understanding of The Tempest with a prospective family who was visiting last week. The school walls are filled with colorful poems and written and artistic responses to poetry created by students during National Poetry Month. So, despite the gray days of May, the bright spirit of learning is alive and well at Crossroads Academy…And, here’s to brighter days ahead outside of these school walls!
Reminder…
Our final Crossroads Brown Bag Café will be held on Tuesday, May 17. Please bring along a friend and join us for coffee and conversation between 8:00 and 9:00 am in the multipurpose room in the Klee Building. If the weather is nice, it would be fun to also take a nice spring walk around campus…wear your walking shoes! I hope you can join us.
Have a wonderful week! —Warmly, Marilyn
**************************
* Parent Association News
* Lunch Program
This week follows the “Week A” menu. Please be sure you are following the correct week. In addition, please consider sending in a set of silverware for your child to keep in his/her cubby; we are trying to avoid the waste of disposable silverware.
——————————————————————————-
* Cedar Circle Plant Sale (5/9–5/23)
Cedar Circle Farm in Thetford, VT, has again graciously agreed to host our annual PA Plant Sale fundraiser. You will be receiving a coupon later this week; just bring it to Cedar Circle Farm between Monday, May 9, and Monday, May 23, and Cedar Circle will donate 25 percent of the proceeds of your sale back to our school. So now that the snow has finally melted, dust off your gardening gloves, clean your planters and pots, plan your organic vegetable and herb garden, and venture over to Cedar Circle Farm for all your gardening needs. Bring your friends, make a date of it, and raise money for our school at the same time. This year we’re raising funds to help purchase a minibus. Please email Julie Leonard with any questions.
——————————————————————————-
* Room Parents for the 2016-2017 School Year
It’s time to start planning for next year. All parents (and grandparents!) are welcome to serve as room parents. Every class needs two room parents, and more than two per class are welcome to serve. Room parents may split duties as they wish.
If you would like to serve as a room parent next year for any of your child(ren)’s classes, please sign up here or let your current classroom parent know. Please feel free to contact Supreet Bauer with any questions.
——————————————————
* Last PA Meeting of the Year (5/18, 6:30 pm)
Apologies for the confusion over our last PA meeting of the year. Just to clarify, it will be Wednesday, May 18, at 6:30 pm in the Murray Room at the Howe Library in Hanover. Feel free to contact Deb Hoffer with any questions.
*****************
* School News
* From the Health Office: Bicycle Season is Here!
The Hanover Bike & Pedestrian Committee is hosting Bike Rodeo on Saturday, May 7th, from 9:00-10:30 am at the Ray School in Hanover.
In connection with the event, they are showing two informative bike and helmet safety videos by NHTSA:
Bike Safe, Bike Smart
Fitting a Bicycle Helmet
———————————————————–
* LEGO Robotics Workshops – May 11 & 13 and May 18 & 20
This is a reminder that sign-ups for the spring LEGO robotics workshops are due this Monday, May 9th. The A-Bots (2nd-4th grades) will be meeting this Wed (5/11) and Fri (5/13) upstairs in the Spanish room in the Barn. The B-Bots (5th-8th grades) will be meeting next week Wed (5/18) and Fri (5/20) in the Spanish room in the Barn.
If your student is interested in LEGO robotics please read the attached informational document link here for details about the open LEGO robotics workshops and participation on the FLL team in the fall. The robotics workshops sign-up sheet is here .
Please sign up for the spring workshops by Monday, May 9 to guarantee a spot for your child (we have a limited number of EV3 robots).
Feel free to email Wayne.Chin@gmail.com with any questions and if you are interested in helping out with the FLL program.
————————————————————————-
* Scribble Bots
This past Thursday the fifth grade students participated in the Montshire Museum’s “40 Schools Project: Engaging Students in STEM through Tinkering.” In celebration of their 40th anniversary, the Museum wanted to bring their favorite tinkering and engineering program to over forty schools across Vermont and New Hampshire. The project allowed the Museum to explore successful models for bringing STEM learning experiences to schools throughout northern New England using web-based technologies now readily available to schools and teachers. The project began with a virtual visit from Amy VanderKooi, a science educator at the Montshire. The students were then given their materials and they set to work building their Scribble Bots.
—————————————————————–
* Yoga for Students in Grades Four through Eight
Would you like your child to have improved concentration and elevated mood all the while increasing strength and flexibility? Then why not let your child try yoga right here at Crossroads Academy!
Yoga with Julie is honored to bring a free four-week yoga course to Crossroads Academy that will focus on the fundamental breathing techniques (pranayama) and yoga postures (asana). Classes are open to students in grades four through eight and run every Thursday from 3:00–3:45 pm, May 12 to June 2. We will spend the first three weeks exploring the fierce strength and softness of warrior poses (warrior I – warrior III). Be prepared to have your child move, sweat a little, breathe a lot, and have fun! The final week, we will focus on rest and restoration, helping students to unwind after a long day of invigorating learning.
Julie became a certified yoga teacher (200 hours through the Soma Institute and Mighty Yoga, Hanover; registered through Yoga Alliance) at the end of April 2015. Realizing the benefits that yoga brought to her life, Julie is passionate about sharing yoga with the community, facilitating present moment awareness, and compassionately breathing life into our bodies. Julie firmly believes that yoga is for everybody regardless of age, gender, or physical ability.
In addition to teaching yoga around the Upper Valley, Julie is also a full- time post-doctoral researcher in the department of Psychological Brain Sciences at Dartmouth College. While her current research investigates how the brain allows us to orient and navigate within our environment, she is also interested in how the practice of yoga and mindfulness influence brain activity and structure.
For more information about Yoga with Julie and other classes open to the community, please click here. For any questions or concerns regarding the Crossroads yoga course, please e-mail handstandjulie@gmail.com
Please click here to sign up.
Hope to see you there!
———————————————————————————-
* Summer is Almost Here…Please Join Us for a Great Summer at Crossroads!
We are delighted to share course descriptions and registration information for the 2016 Crossroads Summer Programs. Taught by Crossroads faculty, other local teachers, or in collaboration with educational organizations in the Upper Valley, all of our programs are designed to be both engaging and fun. Most programs run from 8:00 am to 3:00 pm daily with a free extended-day option from 3:00-5:00 pm, but please see the program descriptions for the exact times. All programs are open to both Crossroads students and others in the area. Please click here to sign up.
————————–
* Classroom Clips
Classroom Clips is a weekly space for students and teachers to share their writing with the Crossroads community. Today’s entry is a poem written by fourth grader Thea Choyt. During their poetry unit in fourth grade, students read Robert Frost poems and then wrote their own poems in Frost’s style. Please click here to read Thea’s poem.
*******************************
KEY LINKS: http://www.crossroadsacademy.org/
* Teacher pages for assignments
* Crossroads calendar
* Crossroads Parent Association
* Current and archived newsletters
* Spirit Gear
* Crossroads Summer Programs
* E-newsletter version of Weekly News
Back
