Education

We hope you’ll join us as don Francisco and doña Juana, elders of the Q’ero nation, will be in Brattleboro in early June, offering their energy medicine, ceremonies of manifestation and even an introduction to the ancient “wisdom teachings” of the Andes.  

The Q’ero — don Francisco’s and doña Juana’s people, are said to be the last direct descendants of the Inca.  They historically were respected as the keepers of the knowledge, and held a place of honor at traditional gatherings and festivals.  After the Spanish conquest, they remained invisible, living in small villages as high as 16,000
feet above sea level. To this day, the Q’ero live without electricity, plumbing, automobiles or even bicycles.  Here they have kept alive their relationship with the spirits of the land, and practice a heart-based way of relating to the world.  

Child Care Provider Appreciation Day is Friday, May 10. In honor of this day of recognition, Windham Child Care Association is selling bags of Vermont Country Tea, custom designed for the organization.

For $5.00, a set of 18 teabags will be delivered along with a personalized note of thanks. The ‘Warm Moments: Tropical Comfort’ tea is a fruit tea combining black tea with mango, pineapple and coconut oils.

Orders can be made online at www.windhamchildcare.org, by calling 254-5332 with credit card information, or by sending a check to 130 Birge St. in Brattleboro. Deadline for orders is Monday, April 29th.

Compass School welcomes prospective students and their families for our Open House on Tuesday, April 30th from 6-8PM. The Open House is hosted by current students, staff, and parents and includes a tour of the school, homemade dinner, and a presentation from Asst Director Eric Rhomberg. This is an informative and fun way to get to know the school and the Compass community.

Through the auspices of e-Vermont and a grant from the Vermont Community Foundation, the Brooks Memorial Library is able to continue its free one-on-one computer coaching sessions into May and beyond.

In these private 45-minute sessions, participants meet with a skilled student intern from Community College of Vermont to learn basic computer tasks, such as setting up and using an email account, creating a Facebook account, or using a word processor or other popular software program. Experienced computer users are also welcome to bring their questions. The library has computers available, or participants may bring their own tablets, smart phones, or laptops to explore the capabilities of those devices; for example, downloading ebooks or other digital media.

Registration is open at Marlboro College Graduate School for our continuing education classes. Term begins May 3rd and finishes on August 10th. We have blended and online classes that are tailored for summer schedules. Information and registration links are below. Contact Joe Heslin: 802-258-9209 |

I’ve been observing what appears to be a nation-wide war on public education, and to the “greedy” schoolteachers who profit by being employed therein.

In state after state we see education budgets being cut and teachers being laid off, along with movements to voucher children to private schools, and to replace Public Schools with so-called Charter Schools, which are privately operated schools paid for with taxpayer money. (Some charter schools are founded by teachers, parents, or activists who feel restricted by traditional public schools. State-authorized charters are often established by non-profit groups, universities, and some government entities. Additionally, school districts sometimes permit corporations to manage chains of charter schools. The schools themselves are non-profit entities…Wikipedia)

For your consideration, about the place of technology in schools.

Beyond any personal loss, I find it disturbing the school board and administrators chose to cut this service, and continue to obscure the fact that schools are not facing the reality described in the video.

It is equally disappointing that this is not more of an issue for the community. My kids are grown now, and they’re facing other educational horizons. But it seems crucial for a town that wishes to be vital, these challenges cannot be shirked.

BRATTLEBORO UNION HIGH SCHOOL BOARD
53 Green Street
Brattleboro, VT 05301
www.wssu.k12.vt.us

NOTICE OF COMMITTEE MEETINGS

The BUHS #6 Teacher Curriculum Committee will meet at 6:00 p.m. on Monday, April 1, 2013 in the WRCC Cusick Conference Room.

One-on-One Computer Coaching with Justin 
Tuesdays,6-8 PM 
Wednesdays,2 to 4 PM 
Saturdays, 12 to 2 PM 

Individualized Instruction Based on Your Needs 

Through the auspices of e-Vermont and a grant from the Vermont Community Foundation, Brooks Memorial Library is able to offer one-on-one computer coaching with a skilled student intern from Community College of Vermont.

A kick to the eye. The sudden illumination, awakening. Then what? We’re faced with a choice- act boldly, or obsequiously fall in line.

It’s often said, we are social creatures. But what does that mean? Our genome evolved over millions of years (over a hundred thousand for our exact species). We were formed and given form through hunter/gather/foraging methods. Small bands of people acting cooperatively, non-hierarchal power structures, harmonious interaction with the land and its lifeforms.

Then, yesterday, or a few thousand years ago, through agriculture and pastoral living- we became sedentary, fenced in by boundaries and ideologies, controlled. Our population mushroomed, territories were annexed. Horsemen were elevated to warriors, shamans and chiefs told us what was what, the conquering hero was set loose upon the world. While the amount of labor- and dull labor at that- increased exponentially.

The Windham Regional Career Center at Brattleboro Union High School is pleased to announce their Community Education and Training Programs for this spring. Betsy Gentile, Workforce Development Manager and Adult Education Coordinator is presenting 17 community education and training programs to meet the needs of area employers and their employees as well as providing personal and professional enrichment opportunities for all community members.

“We’re extremely excited about two new technical training opportunities, Certified Fiber Optic Technician training and Intermittent Electrical & Drivability Diagnostic Strategies training.”

BRATTLEBORO UNION HIGH SCHOOL BOARD
53 Green Street
Brattleboro, VT 05301
www.wssu.k12.vt.us

NOTICE OF COMMITTEE MEETINGS

The BUHS #6 Finance Committee will meet at 7:00 a.m. on Wednesday, March 20, 2013 in the WSESU Central Office Conference Room, 53 Green Street.

The Vermont College of Fine Arts has just announced a new two-year MFA filmmaking program. 

The program uses a “low-residency” format that brings students together for week-long on-campus residencies in Montpelier for workshops, presentations, screenings and chances for collaboration. The rest of the time, students work in their home communities with guidance from faculty.

What caught my eye was that animation is a featured focus of the curriculum.

Applications Invited for the Vermont Leadership Institute

The Snelling Center for Government invites members of the private, public and nonprofit sectors to apply for the Vermont Leadership Institute Class of 2014. The application deadline is March 29th; the class is announced in June; the program begins in September and graduates in June. The application process is competitive and includes an application, references and a local interview.

Know your Library: Tours and Tips for Newcomers and Experienced Library Users

Join Reference Librarian Jeanne Walsh the first Friday of the month at 12 noon for a tour of first floor & mezzanine, a catalog search demo, and answers to your questions about how to find your way in the Library. Meet at the reference desk; no reservations required.For more information, call the reference desk at 254-5290 x109 or email asklibrarian@brooks.lib.vt.us The program is free and open to all.Location: Brooks Memorial Library Main RoomTime: The first Friday of every month at 12:00 PM – 1:00 PM

What can you learn in the Slow Lane that you can’t learn in the Fast Lane?

In conjunction with the third annual Slow Living Summit, Strolling of the Heifers and Marlboro College Graduate School are collaborating to offer a graduate level course entitled Slow Living Leadership for Sustainable Change, in Brattleboro, Vermont June 4-7.

The Windham Regional Career Center at Brattleboro Union High School is pleased to announce their Community Education and Training Programs for this spring. Betsy Gentile, Workforce Development Manager and Adult Education Coordinator is presenting 17 community education and training programs to meet the needs of area employers and their employees as well as providing personal and professional enrichment opportunities for all community members.

“We’re extremely excited about two new technical training opportunities, Certified Fiber Optic Technician training and Intermittent Electrical & Drivability Diagnostic Strategies training.”

Did anyone notice, or, rather not notice, the local media coverage of the Feb. 12 BUHS District #6 Annual Meeting?  By the way this is a meeting of all the voters in the 5 towns making up the district, something like 16,000 voters or so, typically attended by 1% of them or fewer.

WTSA mentioned it next day, but they have an inside track: The Moderator of the meeting is Tim Johnson of WTSA, using the personna of his real name as a Vernon resident.  I don’t know if The Commons covered it?  Their deadline wouldn’t have worked for the issue that came out on Weds. 13th, & I haven’t yet seen this week’s issue.  Even iBrattleboro missed it.