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In Need of Volunteer Host Families for High School Exchange Students

by Keckhardt | Education

We are looking for folks to step up to volunteer for international exchange students for the high school for the upcoming school year.  Students hope to arrive later this month, so they need someone to volunteer for them today,

What does hosting entail?  Students need a bed (they can share a room), a place to study and access to three meals a day.   Program support includes full health insurance, spending money, access to quarterly group trips, school support, and ongoing support of both the student and host family, too.

WSESD Board Meeting Agenda – Aug 13, 2024

by Not Signed In | Education

-If appropriate, agenda items are subject to Potential Action.
-If any Board Member feels that an item on the Consent Agenda warrants discussion, that item will be removed from the Consent Agenda and will be set aside for discussion. In this way, the Consent Agenda will be approved in one motion. That request should be made now – or before the vote on the Consent Agenda.

Eileen Christelow on “Here We Are”

by Wendy O'Connell | Entertainment

“Five Little Monkeys Jumping on the Bed”! A very fun show with Eileen Christelow, author & illustrator of that perennial fave and many more – Tune in for a look into her long career of delighting kids and adults alike with her stories of mischief and mayhem.

Brattleboro Mentioned in the New York Times 8/2/24 Edition

by PeterW | Media

In an article about the growing popularity of sandals…..:

“Let us pause for a moment to consider again the astonishing transformation of what was, at one time in the not-so-distant past, a niche hippie staple, mostly popular among commune dwellers and people who shopped in the Brattleboro Food Co-Op. Now, it’s the Type O blood of footwear, a fashion universal. Judging from my walking tour of Harlem, Midtown Manhattan, Greenwich Village and SoHo over several sweltering summer days, the sandal of the season is, without any doubt, the Birkenstock Arizona (or, for the more fashion forward, the big-buckle Madrid). Both models were so ubiquitous on city streets that it’s clear why the 250-year-old company reported revenues of nearly $1.6 billion last year.”

Guilford Chamber Singers Seeking Voices for December Christmas Concert

by fomag | Music

Calling all singers!

Enrollment in the Guilford Chamber Singers is now open to all choral singers for our Christmas concert, December 13 and 14 at Broad Brook Community Center in Guilford, Vermont. All voices are welcome, with the repertoire being several settings of O Magnum Mysterium (O Great Mystery). The text describes the animals’ wonderment as they look upon Christ in the manger.

Guilford Chamber Singers have been together for more than 50 years, and are essentially an a cappella group. We give two concerts a year, in June and December. Rehearsals are on Monday evenings from 7 to 9 at the West Village Meeting House in West Brattleboro, Vermont, starting on September 9.

Soles of Duende on the Bandwagon Summer Stage

by hahrenholz | Entertainment

The Next Stage Bandwagon Summer Series presents dance trio Soles of Duende, on Saturday, August 24 at 6:00 pm.

A Brooklyn-born Puerto-Rican from New Haven, a Mexican Puerto-Rican Jew from the Lower East Side, and a Bengali Indian from Jersey walked on to the wooden floor & the rest? History. Bonded by their deep love of music, their crafts, and true connection, Soles of Duende is on a lifelong mission to elevate the joy and music of true collaboration across disciplines and the celebration of the forms they practice. Based in the sounds of Tap (Amanda Castro), Flamenco (Arielle Rosales) and Kathak (Brinda Guha) , Soles of Duende’s fire is the spirit that lives within each of these women to celebrate their connection given their beautiful differences and to uplift the forms that made them.

“Live music meets dance from three different ethnic traditions sounds like a perfect way of exploring culture while seeing virtuosic talent,” says Keith Marks, Executive Director of Next Stage Arts. “This group has been getting a lot of attention in New York, and while they’re on the rise, we wanted to bring them to southern Vermont. There is so much about Soles of Duende that deserves attention – talent, merging of dance and live music, and the fact that these women are exploring connections of culture through dance is worth noting.”

Myra Flynn on the Bandwagon Summer Stage

by hahrenholz | Music

The Next Stage Bandwagon Summer Series presents Vermont native indie/soul singer/songwriter Myra Flynn, on Saturday, August 17 at 6:00 pm at Cooper Field, 41 Sand Hill Road, in Putney.

Singer/songwriter Myra Flynn spends her career embracing dichotomy. Half Irish and half African American, her original indie/soul songs blend soulful vocals with a lyrical delivery that doesn’t let one get too comfortable. As the New England Deli Magazine puts it, “Her vocal influences have as much in common with Ani Difranco and Shawn Colvin as they do with Rihanna and Jill Scott.”

“We love being able to present Vermont-based artists, and Myra has been on her way to building a national name for herself. As a regular at the Flynn’s Jazz Festival, Myra’s name is getting around for anyone interested in soul, funk, R&B, and beyond,” says Keith Marks, Executive Director of Next Stage Arts. “Myra’s range as an artist is a model for how Vermont artists can tackle a national stage. Her presence as part of the series is an opportunity to ensure that southern Vermont knows the power and presence of Myra Flynn.”

Backyard Concert August 3, 7:00 P.M.

by RDavis | Music

The Glyptodons, an indie folk duo from Portland, Oregon, will present an outdoor concert on the backyard patio at 63 Cedar Street in Brattleboro on Saturday, August 3 at 7:00 p.m.. They play original as well as cover songs.

The concert is free and open to the public but donations will be accepted. All proceeds will go to the musicians. Refreshments will be available. Seating is limited so please bring a chair.

WSESD Programmatic and Performance Equity Committee Meeting Agenda July 30, 2024

by Not Signed In | Education

AGENDA
I. Call to Order / Introductions / Recognition of Visitors

II. Review of Programmatic and Performance Equity Committee mission:

a. Mission: Monitor school equity and performance, and work with district staff to develop recommendations to increase equity and performance throughout the district.

III. Committee focus / items for discussion (listed here are items that were considered in 2023/2024):

a. Food Services in the district: how can the board assess equity in food access across schools in the district?
b. Leadership Councils: how is the board doing with communications with LCs?

WSESD Social Justice and Equity Committee Meeting Minutes June 20, 2024

by Not Signed In | Education

An email was sent to highlight issues with retention, including retirement, resignation, and reasons for leaving. The focus is on analyzing the factors contributing to and impacting retention. Mikaela is examining the reasons for employee turnover and the positions that people are leaving.

Michael mentioned that our school’s turnover rate is lower than the state average. The state turnover rate is 30%, while ours is approximately 12%. In Massachusetts, the teacher turnover rate is 12%. There have been several retirements.

WSESD Board Special Meeting Minutes – July 9, 2024

by Not Signed In | Education

KP Motioned and seconded to find that premature public knowledge would place the board at a disadvantage for the purposes of providing professional legal services to the body.

Motion Carried Unanimously

KP Motioned and seconded, to enter into executive session inviting Kendall Hoechst into the meeting.

Yann Falquet & Keith Murphy and The Murphy Beds at Next Stage

by hahrenholz | Music

Next Stage Arts and Twilight Music present a double bill of traditional and original folk, with Yann Falquet & Keith Murphy, and The Murphy Beds on Saturday, August 10 at 7:30 pm

Keith Murphy and Yann Falquet are masters of contemporary Celtic guitar, representing the compelling textures, harmonies and rhythms that the guitar has brought to traditional songs and instrumentals since the Celtic music revival in the 1970s.

Rainbow Girls at Next Stage

by hahrenholz | Music

Next Stage Arts and Twilight Music present an evening of folk, roots, and Americana music by California-based trio Rainbow Girls at Next Stage on Thursday, August 15 at 7:00 pm. Children of Divorce open.

Rainbow Girls are an eclectic folk trio hailing from the golden countryside just north of California’s Bay Area. Vanessa May, Erin Chapin, and Caitlin Gowdey seamlessly combine soul-touching harmonies, varitextured instrumentals, and poignant lyrical content into a beautiful sonic tapestry. Throughout their performance, voices are paired with an ever-changing amalgamation of acoustic and slide guitar, keys, upright bass, harmonica, and an array of vocal techniques creating an engaging and emotionally moving live show.

Bandwagon Summer Series Presents: Slavic Soul Party! Live in Concert

by hahrenholz | Music

The Next Stage Bandwagon Summer Series is thrilled to announce the return of Slavic Soul Party! to the Bandwagon stage, on Friday, August 9th, at The Putney Inn Field, 57 Putney Landing Rd, Putney, VT. This event promises to be an unforgettable celebration of Balkan brass, jazz, and funk, set against the picturesque backdrop of a Vermont summer evening.

Slavic Soul Party! has carved out a unique niche in the music world with their fiery Balkan brass sound, irresistible beats, and virtuoso jazz chops. Hailing from New York City, the nine-piece ensemble brings together influences from across the globe, blending them into a high-energy musical experience that is both infectious and soul-stirring.

The band’s Tuesday night residency in Brooklyn, spanning over two decades, has garnered international acclaim and a reputation for delivering an electrifying live show. Their latest album, “SSP! Plays Duke Ellington’s Far East Suite,” has been praised for its innovative reinterpretation of Duke Ellington’s iconic work, combining East European, Romani, and American sounds into a seamless fusion.

Lyle Howe on”Here We Are”

by Wendy O'Connell | Media

It’s more than the creaky floors that give Brown & Roberts it’s character – Lyle Howe talks about our iconic Hardware Store and the interesting life that brought him there.