Garden Clean Up & Gary Beckwith's Haiti Trip--donations needed!

Before April break, Mr. Jensen's homeroom had the opportunity to help clean up our wonderful school by cleaning out the garden. Ms. Straughan is the leader in seasonal gardening at CHMS, and she gathered all the tools together for us before putting us to work. Students did a great job cleaning out the old leaves and raking the mulch. Hopefully all these showers will bring in spring flowers! Thanks to Mr. Jensen's homeroom, and Ms. Straughan, for their hard work. 

Gary Beckwith also came back to share about his trip to Haiti. His main goal was to add solar panels to a clinic so that it would have energy for refrigeration for the medicine supply. However, there is also a nearby school, and GRIT students contributed line drawings representing Vermont for the students in Haiti to color. The students in Haiti don't have electricity at their school, or paper or coloring supplies. The coloring books GRIT made, along with the art supplies donated by another teacher, were a huge hit. Below are pictures of the bulletin board put together with pictures from the trip. 

The students in Haiti made their own drawings for GRIT, which are the drawings you see here. Gary noticed that the students also didn't have shoes or soccer balls, and he would love to take these items on his next trip. 

If you can, DONATE! He is ready to take shoes, mostly sneakers and shoes kids would wear, on his next journey. There are kids of all ages at the school, so all sizes are welcome! Rather than buying new shoes, consider donating pairs you and your family have outgrown. He will also take soccer balls! Bring any items you can donate to the GRIT area, and Gary will come pick up the items as needed. 

Thank you!

Guest Speaker: Ms. Tolle

Last week, Ms. Tolle came in as our guest speaker to share about her time in the Peace Corps.  We are just beginning our geography and economics unit, which has a focus on Africa. Ms. Tolle spent time in Cameroon, where she taught math.

From left to right: Ms. Tolle's wedding dress (!) which is considered formal and therefore needed to match and have ruffles, a more formal dress, a casual house dress, and another more formal style. 

Here is Ms. Tolle, helping the students try on the different outfits from her time in Cameroon.

These are examples of the textiles, many of which are actually Dutch imports. 

Before Ms. Tolle and her husband left Cameroon, they visited the local tourist market to buy gifts for family and friends, as well mementos to take back with them. This is an example of a chess set with metal pieces.

Here is a doll of a mother with a baby, worn the traditional way of women in Cameroon. 

Some instruments, sculptures, and woven bags. 

We learned a lot about life in Cameroon, from speaking French and Pidjin, to expectations of work and daily life. Students took notes using a map of Africa to find Cameroon, as well as a chart to identify things they learned and things they want to learn more about. Thank you, Ms. Tolle!

Winter Activities

Students came back from December break and did a great job putting together fun and interactive book projects. Many students made games, and they enjoyed playing the games and learning about other books they might like to read. We have lots of creative students on team GRIT!

Battling in a Magnus Chase game

Playing a game for the Legend trilogy 

Looking at new book jacket designs

Harry Potter ABC book

Trying to escape Mr. Lemoncello's Library

One of our SAM activities involved creating a pattern and communicating what that pattern looks like to your teammates for them to build as well. However, your teammates couldn't see your pattern--you had to choose your words carefully! Would you describe your pattern as you were building, or describe it once complete? And, what happens when your teammates can't ask questions?? Will the pattern you design match what your teammates create based on your directions? The challenge of communication!

These patterns look similar!

Will the patterns match??

So close!

Winter recess time means skating on the skating rink! The rink has been popular this year as kids practice their moves or learn to skate with their friends. 

International Festival

GRIT students had an awesome time at the International Festival in Essex last Friday. The festival was a great way to wrap up our culture unit, and explore crafts, foods and performances from around the world.

 Entrance to the festival

Lots of crafts to see and buy!

Soccer around the globe

Yum, gelato!

 African drumming and dancing

Local rap group A2VT

Scottish bag pipes

Ask your child what their favorite part of the festival was. Did they try delicious foods? Bring home some artwork from inspired by another culture?