Team -
An optimist is neither naive or idealistic, neither in denial nor blind to the realities of life. Optimists:
Look at the big picture and identify possible options
Search for root causes and don’t play the blame game
Understand that life contains ups and downs
Accepts that life can be unfair, difficult and touch
Look for solutions
Seek happiness within
Let go and forgive…
I’ve definitely been intentional about cultivating my optimism for many years, the key to which is to be mindful of the stories I tell. This is the place of power - our interpretation, our story crafting - and it’s the precise place where we can feed the seeds of optimism.
We craft a short story every time we interpret an event - a kid ignoring us, a colleague being appointed to head a committee that we wanted to head, a short email from our boss… Choose your stories carefully… [because] the stories we craft predict our futures, encapsulate our legacies, and impact our resilience. You have a choice, so tell [yourself and others] powerful stories.”
(Onward, 91-92)
With optimism for a wonderful 2022-2023 school year,
Meg, Laurie and Duane
Appreciations:
Staff Member | Appreciations |
ELO Committee - | For your work this summer to continue to strengthen how we use ELO time. |
TA leads - Chelsea, Tari, Randy, Ellen, Sarah, Rachael, Jonah | For your work to prepare all of us to start the year focused on building strong relationships with families and students to foster a sense of belonging. |
Aspirations Committee - Rachael, Tara, Brian W. and Erin, Maggie | For your ongoing work to increase our student’s awareness of their opportunities post Harwood by increasing our own conversations. |
Collective Leadership Team | For your incredible work this summer to support the work of starting 22-23’ strong. |
Paul Kramer | For your generous planning for our wonderful Living Tree experience. It allowed a deep breath to center ourselves and time to connect as we begin another adventure together. |
Calendar: Here is the bell schedule for the year, a fill-in version for HS students, and the modified schedule for the first two weeks
Safe - seen, heard, respected & understood:
Topics | Information/Links |
Attendance reminders |
FOR TA ONLY: Enter the attendance in PowerSchool (PS) within the first TEN (10) minutes.
FOR ALL OTHER BLOCKS, INCLUDING ELO:
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Student Support Log entries reminders | PowerTeacher/PowerSchool- Teachers can submit behavioral referrals from their PowerTeacher Portal, which will generate an email to our Student Support Team Process for the teacher from within the PowerTeacher Portal: 1.) Click on the Backpack icon of the class in which the student is enrolled. 2.) Select the student from the left pane. 3.) From the “Select Screens” dropdown, select “Submit Log Entry” 4.) Enter the subject of the log entry and a description of the infraction or some information for our team so they can address the issue. Click the blue “Submit” button when you are finished *****Please make sure to choose your wording carefully, as this does become a part of their record, just as a handwritten one would.******PowerTeacher/ |
TA update | Hi Everyone, it’s Ellen! As we prepare to welcome our students in TA next week; my group requested that I curate a small list of connection activities to provide a quicker way to prepare without having to search all of the resources. I am sharing them in the blog in case it is useful for others. This year we will be sure that all of the links to grade based slideshows are available in this section of the blog for easy access. Active Flip the sheet Materials: Old sheet/tarp/blanket Have all members of the team stand on a flat sheet, tarp, or blanket (kids should fill up all but about a quarter of the space). Challenge the group to flip over the sheet/tarp so that they are standing on the other side of the sheet/tarp without stepping off or touching the ground. You may want to offer the challenge and ask the group to set a time goal for how long it will take to solve the problem. Lightly Active Applause Please This game is similar to Hot and Cold Form groups of three to five students. One person from each group (the finder) steps out of the classroom. The rest of the group picks an object (for instance, the pencil sharpener) in the classroom for the finder to find. When the finder comes back in, they begin walking around the classroom in search of the object. The others cannot say anything, but they can give hints by using applause to lead the finder in the right direction. If the finder is far away from the object, the group will clap slowly and softly. When the finder gets close, the group will applaud faster and more loudly until the finder picks the correct object. Quieter/Calm Materials: paper and writing instruments or markers Dual Drawing and Journaling Dual Drawing and Journaling: In this coregulatory practice, partners share a sheet of paper for one to two minutes. When the time starts, one partner draws a line or shape and then passes it to the other person so they can add a line or a shape; they continue to do this for the set time period without talking to one another. When the time is up, they can talk about what they drew together, giving it a title and any description that feels appropriate to both of them. Pairs then will share their drawing with the full group and debrief what it was like to collaborate without speaking to create the drawing. (A challenge variation of this could be to tell one member of each pair what the drawing should be s/a a cat or piece of pizza) and then draw with their partner trying to nonverbally guide the drawing to resemble the targeted item) Slideshows: |
Rigorous & Robust Academic Program:
Topics | Information/Links |
Staff Meeting  | Objectives: To complete mandatory Health related trainings. |
Assessment Plan Reminders | Here are a few quick reminders from the Teaching and Learning Team’s presentation:
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ELO Details | Here is an overview of ELO for teachers. Jess will be working over the next two weeks to get ELO ready to go! For the first two weeks, we will meet in full classes during ELO time (see the first two week schedule). The first teacher- and student-booked ELOs will be on Friday 9/9. |
Positive school climate and culture:
Clarity of responsibilities for Meg and Laurie | ||
Laurie | Laurie & Meg | Meg |
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Topics | Information/Links |
Sometimes the little things we need have the biggest impact on our mindset. So, while there is much outside our locus of control we will do our best to address that which we can! | |
WELCOME to all of Harwood’s new staff — | |
Andrea Knepper - Middle School Math Teacher Andrea grew up in Southern California. She moved to Iowa City, Iowa to attend the University of Iowa where she earned her Bachelor’s degree in Sociology. Andrea acted as the Vice President of a local charity and coordinated a large fundraising program for her children’s school before moving to Vermont in 2019. Andrea completed Champlain College’s Teacher Apprenticeship Program to become licensed in Middle Grades Math and Science. In her free time, Andrea loves to read, knit, sew, exercise, garden, and spend time with her family. | |
Laura Baker - SLP Assistant Hello everyone! My name is Laura Baker. I was born and raised in Vermont, but have spent a significant part of my adult life abroad in Germany, France, Taiwan, and Brazil as both a student and English teacher. I returned to Montpelier about seven years ago and have continued working with high school age and adult English language learners online. When I'm not teaching or learning about language and communication, I can be found in my garden, out with my two dogs, or exploring our beautiful state with my infant son and husband. I am excited to join the district as a Speech-Language Pathologist Assistant and get to know (and learn from) you all. | |
Christina Ehrenreich - Social Worker Hello! I'm Christina Ehrenreich (pronounced "en-rich"). I am a Licensed Clinical Mental Health Counselor and I am thrilled to be joining the Harwood Union Middle/High community as the school social worker. My clinical interests include adolescent mental health and suicide prevention. I am a proud Catamount and have lived in Vermont for most of the past 13 years. When I'm not at school, I enjoy reading, indoor cycling, and spending time with my family. Ask me about my two dogs, Callen and Sammy! | |
Stephen Annino - Special Educator I am a retired special education teacher from Connecticut currently living in Warren with my wife. I am a ski instructor at Sugarbush. I play, coach, and officiate rugby. Other interests include hiking, biking, fishing, ice fishing, hunting and skiing. | |
Colin McClung - Library Assistant This will be my 17th year working in libraries. I spent time at UVM and Champlain College. I enjoy music, martial arts, rock climbing, ideas, good conversation, friends and family...and books, of course. Feel free to engage me about books and ideas any time. | |
Mary Stridsberg - Hall Monitor Hi my name is Mary Stridsberg and I live in Bolton. I have 4 boys with only 1 left living at home who will be a freshman at MMU this year. I am originally from Berlin and have only lived in Bolton for about a year. I was born and raised in Vermont and have lived here all my life. I have worked in the school system on and off over the years and am looking forward to joining the team here at Harwood. | |
Randy Sweeney - School Counselor Hello Harwood Community! I’m Randy Sweeney, I use she/her/hers pronouns and I will be the new high school counselor. Before coming here, I had been working at Vergennes Union High School where I was the middle school counselor. I live in Shelburne with my husband, a dog and a cat who thinks she runs our house. We have two sons - one who is in college and one who just graduated from college. I grew up in New Jersey, attended Tulane University in New Orleans, and lived in New York City for a while but I’ve called Vermont my home for the last 23 years. When I’m not being a school counselor some of the things that I enjoy doing are: skiing, hiking, cooking & growing my own food, yoga, seeing live music, and playing the guitar. Years before becoming a school counselor I worked on movies and I’m still a passionate movie watcher. I’m so excited to become part of the counseling team here at Harwood and to get to know all of you! | |
Kayla Ball - Student Support Specialist My name is Kayla Ball. I live in Johnson, VT with finance Garrison and my cat Edgar. I recently graduated from NVU-J with a B.A in psychology and I am currently pursuing a master's degree in school counseling. I am excited to meet the students of the Harwood community! | |
Teagen Comeau - Paraprofessional Teagen lives in Waterbury and has a degree in Biology. He’s fluent in Spanish and French and can speak Japanese, Italian, Portugues, German and Dutch. He enjoys fixing electronics, digital photography, cinematography, video editing and graphic design. | |
Rebecca Simon - Nurse (Tue/Wed/Thur) Hi, I am Becca Simon. My family and I relocated to Vermont last year to be closer to family. I am a former Hospital Administrator from the Finger Lakes area of NY. I met the great team of HUUSD nurses when I joined the HUUSD COVID-19 surveillance effort. I am happy to be serving in a more regular role at the HUMS/HS Health Clinic this year. Our family, which includes four dogs of various sizes, has been enjoying exploring many of the great trails and waterways all over Vermont. Fun facts about me: we lived in a yurt that we put up ourselves for seven years when our children were very young, and at one point in my life I had over 300 house plants. | |
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