As days lengthen and we enjoyed the clear, crisp, early spring weather last week, a colleague inquired about the solar arrays the school installed last summer. I am pleased to report that to date, we have generated over 25,000 kilowatt hours since September. This is the equivalent amount of energy as offsetting 15 tons of CO2 emissions or using 2,250 gallons of gas. That is a lot of savings! For those of you who are interested in seeing how the solar array is functioning in real time, you can click here.
Aside from the obvious environmental benefits and the financial savings for the school, there are other important reasons to have this system on our campus. These center on having a model for living with a lighter footprint on our planet—one that can be used for educational purposes. As Lower School students learn how sunlight can be transformed into electricity and Middle School students create their model cars for this year’s Solar Sprint Challenge, doors open in their imaginations. Where these doors may lead is unknown, but I hope some of our students may one day invent other methods for generating clean, renewable energy sources.
This generation will likely face many environmental challenges in the course of their lifetimes. And while one set of solar arrays will have a relatively small impact on this global issue, it is a first step on a long journey toward greater sustainability that will hopefully lead to more clear, crisp, and beautiful days in the future.
—Yours truly, Brad
Follow me on Twitter @CrossroadsHead
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* Head’s Note
* Virtues for this Month: Self-Control, Self-Discipline
* Virtues for this Month: Self-Control, Self-Discipline
* Admissions Office News
* Parent Association News
– Lunch Program
– Parents’ Night Out/Northern Stage (4/28)
* School News
– UVM Latin Day April 8th 2016
– Summer Programs 2016
– Classroom Clips
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* Virtues for this Month
* April: Self-Control, Self-Discipline
Self-control is stopping to think about my actions before I enact them.
Self-discipline is giving the best of ourselves and saying “no” to our weaknesses.
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* Admissions Office News
Greetings from the Admissions Office! Let me be blunt; I might just have the best job on campus. A big part of my work is to share Crossroads with new families. I love meeting people who are on the quest to find a place of inspiration and wholeness in which to have their children educated and then watching their eyes light up as we travel around campus viewing creative lessons unfold and engaged students enthusiastically participating in those lessons. How rewarding it is to share with families the stellar work that our students produce on the walls of our school or to step into a class where the students proudly share what they are learning.
Last week the second graders told our visitors all about their insect unit in science: the insect fashion show, hatching Praying Mantis eggs, and the highlight…eating insects! The visitors were “wowed.” When visitors see the Community Service Club poster on the door about honesty, reminding us all to pay attention to what is right, stand up for what is right, and do what is right, they are “wowed” again. This happens wherever we go—in and out of classrooms, down the path, past the playground, and down by the brook. “Wow!”
We live the reality that is Crossroads every day, and we might even sometimes take it for granted. But really great things are happening here all the time, and in my job I get to take special notice of it—not forgetting the gem of a school that Crossroads is and sharing it with the world. Now, maybe you’ll agree that I might just have the best job on campus.
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
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* 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.
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* Parents’ Night Out/Northern Stage (4/28)
Mark your calendar for Thursday, April 28, and get your babysitter lined up! Northern Stage has generously offered us the opportunity to enjoy their last production of the season, “Living Together,” while doing a little fundraising for the PA at the same time. A block of seats has been set aside for anyone calling and identifying themselves as part of the Crossroads community. Call the box office at (802) 296-7000 to reserve your seats now! When you mention that you are part of the Crossroads group you will receive a $5 discount per ticket, and the PA will receive 25 percent of ticket sales for that night.
Please note that the content of this show is PG-13 at best. See the website for more details. Please feel free to contact Terry Samwick with any questions. Looking forward to seeing you there!
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* School News
* University of Vermont Latin Day
The Crossroads Academy Latin students participated for the first time in the UVM Latin Day held on Friday, April 8. The students competed against high school students. It was a great success and lots of fun! Crossroads Academy won four first places: Latin poem recitation contest as a group, best dressed group, first-time attendance, and farthest distance. They also won a second place in the performance of a skit about Ambarvalia, a Roman festival. Two seventh graders (Elizabeth Leonard and Miriam Viazmenski) tied for first place for their solo performances at the recitation. Thanks to all the parents who helped make this event so rewarding! Please click here to view more photos and a video.
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* 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.
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* Classroom Clips
Classroom Clips is a weekly space for students and teachers to share their writing with the Crossroads community. Today’s entry is from third grader Natalie Wainwright. The third graders read many poems in April and wrote responses to the poems for National Poetry Month. Please click here to view Natalie’s artistic and written response to the poem “Two Sunflowers Move in the Yellow Room,” written by Nancy Willard.
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KEY LINKS: http://www.crossroadsacademy.org/
