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The Sweetback Sisters at Next Stage

by hahrenholz | Music

PUTNEY – Next Stage Arts and Twilight Music present country swing sextet The Sweetback Sisters at Next Stage on Friday, August 2 at 7:30 pm. 

Centered around the charismatic, airtight harmonies of Emily Miller and Zara Bode, The Sweetback Sisters mix compelling originals and unexpected interpretations of country classics. Hints of jazz and ragtime flesh out the Sisters’ unique brand of classic country, as Miller, Bode, and their remarkably versatile band conjure up a singular blend of heart, humor, and virtuosic musicianship. Their rollicking music is as infectious as it is heartbreaking. Like the country artists they admire, the Sisters sing about traditional subjects of heartbreak, revenge, remorse, and staying strong in the face of relationships gone wrong, albeit with a contemporary sensibility. 

Windham Southeast School District (WSESD) Policy and Amendment Committee Meeting Minutes June 26, 2024

by Not Signed In | Education

F1 Student Conduct and Discipline – Review with BUHS Admin Cassie Damkoehler, assistant principal at BUHS, reviewed F1 with the committee. The following changes were made:
● In the Due Process section on page 4:
o The intro and bullet 1: stay the same.
o Bullet 2 becomes: “students’ right to a fair hearing before being suspended for up to ten days.”

The Next Stage Bandwagon Summer Series Presents Bombay Rickey on Saturday, July 27

by hahrenholz | Music

The Next Stage Bandwagon Summer Series presents five-piece band Bombay Rickey, on Saturday, July 27 at 6:00 pm at New England Center for Circus Arts, 10 Town Crier Drive, in Brattleboro.

“[Bombay Rickey is] easily one of the most adventurous and daring artists we’ve worked with – how many ensembles are fronted by an opera singer and can count cumbia, spaghetti-Western, and Bollywood as influences?” says Keith Marks, Executive Director of Next Stage Arts. “I saw them in New York in January, and they made my jaw drop on the floor. I’m over-the-moon excited to present them to our Vermont community.”

Praised as “a true treat for the adventurous ear” (TimeOut NY), Bombay Rickey is a five-piece band with a unique sound evocative of 1960s movie soundscapes. The group plays both covers and original music that borrow equally from the worlds of surf rock, cumbia, spaghetti-Western, and Bollywood, balanced out with soaring operatic vocals.

The Next Stage Bandwagon Summer Series Presents Pahua and Meridian Brothers on Saturday, July 20

by hahrenholz | Music

The Next Stage Bandwagon Summer Series presents the rising star of Mexican electronic folk, Pahua, and experimental Latin Tropical band Meridian Brothers, on Saturday, July 20 at 6:00 pm at Cooper Field, 41 Sand Hill Rd, in Putney.

“Electronic beats mix with Mexican soul in Pahua. Cumbia meets psychedelic rock in The Meridien Brothers. This double bill is one for the ages,” says Keith Marks, Executive Director of Next Stage Arts. “Pahua’s artistry bridges many divides and is for anyone interested in how music marches forward with electronics, ethnic flavor, and mastery. The Meridien Brothers are for anyone who seeks out new sonic adventures while still wanting to tear up the dance floor.”

Pahua is the project of Mexican singer, composer, producer and DJ Paulina Sotomayor; a blend of electronica and folklore that represents a very deep part of its creator: femininity, nature, inner strength and self-discovery.

Windham Southeast Supervisory Union School Board Meeting Minutes — June 12, 2024

by Not Signed In | Education

The agenda was amended to add discussion on a VSBA business voting member under new business, using the Personnel committee for summer hires, and ideas on how to better insure follow up on board matters.

There being no changes made to the Consent Agenda, the board approved the Consent Agenda (items listed below) as presented on a motion by Tim Maciel.

New Audio for Vermont African American Heritage Trail

by Not Signed In | History

Brattleboro, VT, 22 June 2024: New audio recordings created by multimedia artist Shanta Lee will enhance the visitor experience at selected sites on the Vermont African American Heritage Trail. These recordings resulted from a collaboration between the Brattleboro Words Trail and the Vermont African American Heritage Trail, will be shared on both sites, and can be viewed all together at: https://brattleboro.stqry.app/1/list/26097.

The recordings invite visitors to explore: the back stories of the Turner Family at Journey’s End in Grafton; the 54thRegiment sculpture of Black Civil War Soldiers in Rutland; Abijah and Lucy Terry Prince in Guilford; Black Civil War veterans buried in Woodstock; the Pullman Porters at Hildene, the Lincoln Family Home in Manchester; the archives of Daisy Turner at the Vermont Folklife Center in Middlebury; Alexander Twilight at the Old Stone House Museum in Brownington; and freedom seekers at the Rokeby Museum in Ferrisburgh.

Abe Noe-Hays on “Here We Are”

by Wendy O'Connell | Education

There’s magic in turning human waste into vital nutrients…and Abe Noe-Hays at Rich Earth Institute here in town tells us all about it. Tune in to hear how Abe and his team are changing the wastewater world through pee-cycling, and helping to bring health to our rivers and streams.

The Next Stage Bandwagon Summer Series Presents Rising Star of Mexican Electronic Folk, Pahua, on Saturday, July 20

by hahrenholz | Music

The Next Stage Bandwagon Summer Series presents the rising star of Mexican electronic folk, Pahua, on Saturday, July 20 at 6:00 pm at Cooper Field, 41 Sand Hill Rd, in Putney.

Pahua is the project of Mexican singer, composer, producer and DJ Paulina Sotomayor; a blend of electronica and folklore that represents a very deep part of its creator: femininity, nature, inner strength and self-discovery.

“Electronic beats mix with Mexican soul in Pahua. Her artistry bridges many divides and presents a danceable, global sound that will make everyone dance,” says Keith Marks, Executive Director of Next Stage Arts. “Pahua is for anyone interested in how music marches forward with electronics, ethnic flavor, and mastery.”

French-Italian Four-hands Piano Duet Duo Ondine to Perform at Next Stage on Friday, July 19

by hahrenholz | Music

Next Stage Arts presents French-Italian four-hands piano duet Duo Ondine at Next Stage on Friday, July 19 at 7:30 pm.

“Watching four hands cover the piano ranging from classical to contemporary pieces, the Duo Ondine is a must-see for anyone interested in witnessing piano virtuosity,” says Keith Marks, Executive Director of Next Stage Arts. “The duo is visiting from Europe, in residency at MIddlebury College, and we benefit from their connection to Vermont by having the pleasure of presenting them.”

Duo Ondine is a French-Italian four-hands piano duet born in Geneva (Switzerland) in 2014. Ten years later, it keeps delighting the international stage with refined, virtuoso and profound programs and a precise and highly sensitive playing.

WSESD Social Justice Committee Meeting Agenda

by Not Signed In | Education

Mission: Foster learning environments in which all members of the school community are safe, feel valued, and are appreciated, as well as promote policies and procedures that value equity and diversity in our schools.

I. Call to Order / Introductions / Recognition of Visitors

II. Updates

Windham Southeast School District (WSESD) Policy and Amendment Committee Meeting Minutes June 12, 2024

by Not Signed In | Education

II. Updates
● The following policies were presented for a first reading on 5/28/24:
o E14 Environmental Awareness and Responsibility
o F4 Searches, Seizures, and Interrogation of Students by School Personnel
o F5 Searches, Seizures, and Interrogation of Students by Law Enforcement Personnel or Other Non-School Personnel
o F41 Policy on Section 504 and ADA Grievance Protocol for Students & Staff
o G13 Acceptable Use of Electronic Resources and the Internet

The Next Stage Bandwagon Summer Series Presents Contemporary Mexican Ensemble Villalobos Brothers, on Saturday, July 13

by hahrenholz | Music

The Next Stage Bandwagon Summer Series presents Contemporary Mexican ensemble Villalobos Brothers, on Saturday, July 13 at 6:00 pm at the field behind the Putney Inn, 57 Putney Landing Road, in Putney.

The Villalobos Brothers are a Grammy Award-winning family band, recognized as one of the foremost Contemporary Mexican ensembles in the world. With their unique fusion of Mexican folk, jazz, and classical music, they have captivated audiences across the United States, Mexico, India, Russia, and Canada.

“Virtuosic violinists from Mexico showcasing how traditional music can get reborn into modern culture, these brothers are making an indelible mark on modern American music,” says Keith Marks, Executive Director of Next Stage Arts. “The Villalobos Brothers are a family band worthy of attention, praise, and adulation.”

Superintendent’s Update WSESU Connection June 2024

by Not Signed In | Education

Dear WSESU Community,

As we approach the end of another academic year, I wanted to take a moment to reflect on the journey we’ve taken together and express my gratitude to each member of our community.

This past school year has been a testament to resilience, adaptability, and unwavering commitment to the success and well-being of our students. Every school year there are successes and challenges. I hope in your own reflection you are able to identify and appreciate the many people who have been so integral in the development and growth of our students.

I am incredibly proud of our students who have shown remarkable courage and perseverance in the face of adversity. Whether in the classroom, on the playing field, or in their extracurricular pursuits, they have continued to inspire us with their creativity, passion, and determination.

Windham Southeast School District Board Meeting Minutes June 4, 2024

by Not Signed In | Education

Summary
● The Board voted to rotate the location of the Board meetings among the schools again this year
● The Norms of the Board were discussed
● The Portrait of a Graduate work is actively being embarked upon by the district
● Four hires and one resignation were approved for the 2024-25 school year
● As it is hiring season, and the need to approve new hires in a timely manner, the Board voted to give the Personnel Committee authority to approve hires throughout the summer with the caveat that the Board still receive resumes and the committee keep the Board informed of their work
● The Board voted to authorize the Finance Committee to approve the warrants, payroll and to implement Capital Plan projects throughout the summer
● The Consent Agenda was passed