Flynn PTO Update 8/20/12

Hey There Flynn Families - Hope you had a relaxing and fun filled summer - can't beat the weather!  Hope to see you next week at the Potluck, but if not, the first day is right around the corner!  Have a great last week of vacation...

Volunteer Opportunity!  Can you do a little copying and binding at St. Joes?  Anytime, m-f 8-2.  There may be some other misc jobs that teachers/admin need to get set for the school year.  Got some free time?  Call Karen Carr if you can help!  864-8478

Meet and Greet and Eat and take a peek at St. Joe's   Monday, August 27th, 5:30-7pm.  Bring a potluck dish to share and a blanket to eat on.  If you can swing it, bring your own dishes to help us cut down on waste!  The PTO will provide the drinks, dishes and watermelon for dessert.  Parking is VERY limited on site.  Plan to carpool, bike or take the bus.  There might also be parking in the adjacent neighborhoods.  Want to bike and can't get your food there?  Send us an email and we can help make a plan to get your food to St. Joes!  E-mail Kate at akbelluche@aol.com or flynnschoolpto@gmail.com


Target is giving away $25 giftcards for every 25 votes.  Click the link below to help us get free money/supplies from Target.  Right now we are only 4 votes away from our first card!
https://givewith.target.com/?ref=web_canvas
Back to School  Word on the street is that there will be NO parent parking at Flynn....  Options abound!  Walk, bike, bus (neighborhood special) or drive and drop in the south parking lot (adjacent to Starr Farm Road).  Bike racks will be relocated somewhere towards the front of the school by the first day.

First Day Coffee and snacks!!

Where: In front of the school between North Ave and Starr Farm Rd.

When: Wednesday, August 29th at 8:15

Why: Why not?!! It's a fun time to connect with old friends or meet new Flynn families. We'll be sad, happy, conflicted - there are a whole range of emotions that come with the start of school!

Who: All parents, guardians, family that are part of the Flynn community:)

Hope to see you there!!

D.O.T. at Flynn  (not the Department of Transportation....)  Intrigued?  Come to the potluck next week and find out all about it!

SAVE THE DATE

August 27 - Potluck - 5:30-7pm, St. Joe's school - EVERYONE is welcome! (please carpool!!!!)
August 29 - First day at Flynn
September 6 - First PTO meeting of the year - 6:30-7:30pm
September 20 - Open House at St. Joe's school for grades 3-5
September 27 - Open House at Flynn for grades K-2
October 1 - School Picture Day at Flynn K-2
October 2 - School Pictures for grades 3-5

Flynn PTO Update 6/4/12

 Hey There Flynn Families - The third graders had the most gorgeous weather for their annual overnight adventure to Camp Abnaki in North Hero.  Yes, that's Mr. Abbey, guiding his boat to a photo finish against Ms. Lessard and her crew!  Students, staff and families got out onto the Archery range, tried indoor rock climbing, crafted, sang by the bonfire and ran themselves ragged during their 24 hours away from school.

Playground Update: We received a $2,000 wellness grant and $600 more in contributions from families- only $12,400 to go!  On our way to a fancy, new, universally accessible playground...  Great work Mary, Sarah and Shelley!

Postponed Flynn Olympics!!!  Too rainy and sloppy today for field games.  TOMORROW is the rain date - let's hope for sunnier skies on Tuesday...  If you volunteered and can come back tomorrow, Flynn school needs you!  Let Lida know at ldvorak@bsdvt.org.  Free on Tuesday and can now volunteer??  Contact Lida above and she will find you a fun station to help at!  Either way, wear your rain boots or wettable sandals!!!

St. Joseph's Tour   Hello 3,4 and 5 Grade parents,
Many of you were able to partake in the tour of St.Joesphs that took place Wed.May 30, but for those of you who were unable to attend, here is the short and skinny:  St. Joes is an absolutely beautiful school.  It has great tall ceilings and wonderful woodworking throughout the building. The classrooms are all huge with tons of windows bringing in lots of natural light. Most classrooms have a nice space built in for coats and backpacks. The childcare for the 6:30 tour was in the Gym and the children seemed to love it!  The cafeteria is in the lowest level of the school.  It has nice brick walls and is a big space with plenty of room for everyone!  It looks like a school that is straight out of a movie!  Out back there is a playground, not as extensive as Flynn's but decent, and a large grassy area for playing as well.  There will be another tour, potluck dinner and open house on August 27th. (all Flynn families are invited and encouraged to re-connect at St. Joes. This tour will be geared toward the children as by then they will know their teachers and will be able to see exactly where they will be. Have a great summer and we'll see you at St. Joes in the Fall:)  Thanks Tammy for the blow by blow - felt like I was there!

Free Perennials  During construction, all of our perennial flowers will be removed and discarded to make room for construction equipment.  Feel free to pop by the school this week with pots and a shovel and pick up some plants.  There are irisis and day lilies and daisies on the Starr Farm side of the school and some astilbe and bleeding hearts right out front.  Let's not let these beauties go to waste!  The PTO has put aside several thousand dollars from our two plant sales to help replace the landscaping once construction is complete.  All we ask is that you clean up after yourself!  Enjoy!

Sundae Scoopers!  Sundaes for lunch is being moved to Wednesday to accommodate the Flynn Olympics.  Volunteer scoopers should contact Edith Ducharme if they are not available to scoop on wednesday (educharm@bsdvt.org)

Narnia DVD's will come home with your child before the end of the week - keep an eye out in the backpack...   HUGE thank you to Rich Nadworny for volunteering countless hours taping, editing, trouble-shooting and copying all the DVD's.  His effort is greatly appreciated!

FREE Stuff, LOST stuff  There are huge bins of lost and found clothes in the front entry, a box of items for free and unclaimed dishes in the office.  If you are missing anything or just want some things new to you, COME ON IN!  All unclaimed items will be donated at the end of the school year.


PTO Meeting this Thursday!  Join us in the library at 6:30 to wrap up the school year.  The agenda is included at the end of this post.  School Board Reps from Ward 4 will be around during the last half of the meeting to hear feedback from Flynn parents concerning the June School Board meeting and vote to extend or sever the contract for Superintendent, Jeanne Collins. 

Flynn Archives  If you have a digital scanner, some free time and an interest in things from the past, Flynn school has an opportunity for you!  There are a few boxes of old photos, yearbooks and other Flynn school memorabilia that need to be scanned/saved.  Walk down memory lane aqnd see pics and info about Flynn in the past 20 years.  Take you time, this project has no deadline...  Intested?  Contact Karen Carr and she will hook you up!  kcarr@bsdvt.org

Just released Diversity Plan for BSD.  Click on the link below to view the 13 page document.
https://docs.google.com/open?id=1zkZpdotE92n8w96BG98_RIzVAsQ0PblvxI0Ov71yuerNTz4o58kGRmvvm--D

OP ED by Armando Villesesca, VT Comissioner of Education-- Speaks up on the diversity and equity issues in Burlington Schools- for unknown reasons, the Burlington Free Press has not run this...

Monday May 28, 2012
Vermont is becoming more racially and ethnically diverse, bringing perspectives and benefits that strengthen our state. As an immigrant resettlement destination, we are home to many people from around the world, making Vermont finally reflect the diversity found across the country.

As a refugee from another country myself, I understand well the challenges that being a new American brings to families as well as to communities and schools. Learning a new language and adapting to the social and cultural differences can be daunting to new Americans who are also often struggling financially.

Having recently visited Winooski schools I was very impressed by the dedication and efforts being made to support and educate these students. My experiences with the Burlington School District (BSD) are similar. Having visited the Integrated Arts Academy and the Sustainability Academy, I am moved by the dedication and supports made available to all students.

However, BSD has faced criticism that it has not been supportive of our new American students, and that some of these new Americans have been treated badly by the school staff and fellow students. BSD has an Equity Coordinator that works directly with the district on these issues. I know that as much as the district does to support all students, including the many programs and systems they have in place to support new American students, there is always more work to be done.

One of the issues of concern is the federal requirement that English Language Learners (ELLs) must take annual standardized content assessments before they've had a chance to develop sufficient English language proficiency. Vermont has appealed to the U.S. Department of Education to change this requirement, but without success. Although these assessments may not accurately reflect everything these students know or can do, they do serve as one source of baseline information about students' current level of functioning in English in the core academic curriculum. In the long term, districts are held accountable through these annual assessments for showing that their instructional programs help ELLs as a group to make progress in content subjects and attain proficiency.

Federal civil rights and equal access laws, policies, and court decisions also require school districts to provide ELLs with specialized language and academic support services until they have attained the level of academic English proficiency necessary to participate meaningfully in their academic courses and on content assessments. While these support services should never replace students' participation in more academically rigorous grade-level classes, these programs seek to provide ELLs with greater access to content instruction in English while they are at the same time learning a new language.

Over the years, both the Burlington and Winooski School Districts and their communities have demonstrated steadily growing recognition, support, and resource allocation for creating the kinds of extra services needed to meet the educational needs of an increasingly diverse population of students and families. The schools have faculty and staff who are dedicated to supporting all students, and continue to work with staff on becoming more culturally and ethnically sensitive. The data shows that the group of students receiving ELL services during their Burlington High School career graduate and continue their education at virtually the same rate as their peers across the state.

At the same time, the district needs to be clear that harassment will not be tolerated. All schools need to address the challenges that students bring to schools in a way that is respectful and productive. I believe the statements made by the superintendent and the way the community has come together to address concerns and supports for students is a move in the right direction.
Armando Vilaseca, Commissioner of Education, lives in Westford.

Check your Calendar...

• June 5 - Flynn Olympics - Parent help needed! e-mail Lida at ldvorak@bsdvt.org
• June 6th - Sundaes for lunch - Thanks Edith and parent scoopers!
• June 6 - 5th Grade Bridging Ceremony, 6:30 pm
• June 7 - Last PTO meeting of the School Year - 6:30 pm in the library, childcare provided. Let's wrap up the year and vote in our 2012-13 PTO Board.
• June 8 - Early Release @11:30
• June 11 - Last Day for Flynn!!!! Early release w/ parade out back at 11:30
• June 19 - Support the Burlington Schools Foundation by dining at American Flatbread.  $4 from each pizza goes to the foundation and back to our schools!
• August 27 - Flynn Back to School Potluck and Tour of St. Josephs - 5:30pm at St. Joseph's school on North Street.
• August 29 - 1st Day of School!

June PTO Meeting, 6/7/12, 6:30 pm

AGENDA

• Welcome– Kate Belluche
• Thanks to departing PTO superstars: Brad, Kim, Bella…

UPDATES

• Treasurer’s report-  John Boone  (line item for playground help? Toys, towards new equipment? Also Mr. Ding a Ling)
• Principal’s Corner – Graham Clarke
• Enrichment Update  -Sarah Smith
• Fundraising Update- Tammy Kuypers – Spring Fest and beyond
• School/Family Partnership Update– Shanta Eastman
• K Orientation/Lunch
• Playground Update– Mary Mitchell
• Sign-ups for 2012-13 Events
• 1^st Day Coffee – Lisa T. to help  coordinate – in library?
• Babysitting – guidelines for kids/sitters – vol to draft a 1 pager? – maybe it can be handed out at PTO meetings for parents to review with kids and sign?  Mary?
• VOTE  PTO Officers for 2012-13…  President, V President/Communications, Fundraising
• Back to school potluck – August 27, 5:30
• 7:15 – Ward 4 Reps

Flynn PTO Update 5/29/12

Check out the launch of Flynn's new website.  Same address, new look and hopefully more user friendly - Take a look!  You can also access the PTO blog under Parent Resources.  http://flynn.bsdvt.org/

The 2nd Principal's Coffee took place last week in the Library.  Mr. Clarke packed in the parents with topics like construction/traffic concerns, 4/5 multi age classrooms, diversity and equity in the Burlington School district and homework at the elementary level.  Much of the time was spend on parents sharing their views on homework.  Opinions were decidedly split and Mr. Clarke said that the teachers are evenly split.  Parents asked that this topic be brought up with staff and that we continue the dialogue on homework.  BSD is adopting a revised Wellness Policy which seems unconnected, but does say that teachers cannot restrict recess for incomplete/missing homework.  The value of exercise to the mind and body is also valued.  The BSD Wellness Policy is included at the end of this post.

PTO volunteers will be giving tours and treating incoming kindergartners to a practice lunch this week and next.  If you see lots of wide eyed munchkins roaming the halls, be sure to give them your friendliest Flynn welcome!  Thank you Sarah, Laurie and Tammy for leading tours!
Principal's Coffee update

PTO Pizza pickups today! Come grab your pizza between 4:30-6 in the stage gym

If you missed the annual Flynn Spring Choral Concert, feedback was that it was the best one yet!  All the grades sang, danced and/or played songs on the recorder.  It is always delightful to hear the sweet kindergarten voices and contrast them with the range and maturity of our fifth graders.  For many of us the years between K and 5 go by in a heartbeat.  Thank you Mr. Reynolds for sharing song and dance with our kids!

Join the Burlington Students Foundation on Tuesday evening, June 19, at

American Flatbread, 115 St Paul Street, Burlington, Vermont to support the Burlington Students Foundation - 5 pm to 10 pm

For every flatbread purchased, $4 will be donated to support student programs.

Visit our new website: www.bsfvt.org

Like BSF on facebook!

Check your Calendar...

• May 29 - PTO pizza pick up
• May 29 - Special School Board Meeting at 7pm - BHS
• May 30 - School Tour, St. Joe's campus on Allen St. at 3:30, 6:30 pm - 3/4/5 Families
• May 31 - 3rd grade overnight to Camp Abenaki
• June 4 - Flynn Olympics - Parent help needed!  e-mail Lida at ldvorak@bsdvt.org
• June 6 - 5th Grade Bridging Ceremony, 6:30 pm
• June 7 - Last PTO meeting of the School Year - 6:30 pm in the library, childcare provided.  Let's wrap up the year and vote in our 2012-13 PTO Board.
• June 8 - Early Release @11:30
• June 11 - Last Day for Flynn!!!! Early release w/ parade at 11:30

WELLNESS POLICY

Final Draft 11.08.11

The Burlington Board of School Commissioners believes that health and wellness are essential for individuals to recognize their personal responsibility, value their participation in their communities, and understand their relationship with their environment.

The Commissioners also recognize the important connection between student and staff health and its impact on effective learning, high achievement and active citizenship.

Thus, the Burlington School District is committed to promoting school health programs and education that address nutrition, physical activity and psychosocial well-being.

Therefore, it is the policy of the Burlington School District that the following goals be achieved:

A. Health and Nutrition Education

1.

The school district shall establish and implement a sequential, developmentally appropriate preK-12 comprehensive health and nutrition curriculum that is in alignment with standard 3.6 of the Vermont Framework of Standards and Learning Opportunities and with the Vermont Health Education Grade Expectations. (See Appendix #3 for the definition of comprehensive.)

2.

The school district believes that visible, interesting and productive gardensestablished and maintained at school, can create lasting ties between students,their families, staff and others in the community. Related activities may includebut not be limited to cooking programs, school garden space for families, andCSAs for families and staff with school site drop-offs.

3.

Staff shall integrate, where possible, experiential education activities such asgardening, cooking demonstrations and farm and farmers’ market tours intoexisting curricula at all grade levels.

4.

School foodservice, in partnership with other school departments and communityorganizations, will work to creatively market and promote locally-produced foodto students through activities such as:

a)

Featuring food grown in the school garden in the cafeteria through sampling and inclusion in school meals based upon availability and acceptability.

b)

Developing cafeteria themes relating to local farmers and products grown in the region.

B. Physical Education and Activity

Physical Education

The school district shall:

1.

establish a physical education program that is sequential, developmentally

appropriate and in alignment with the National Association for Sports and

Physical Education, standard 3.6 of the Vermont Framework of Standards

and Learning Opportunities and with the Vermont Physical Education

Grade Expectations.

2.

look into increasing minutes of physical education and should not decrease it inorder to accommodate the master schedule.

3.

encourage district wide health initiatives that include daily movement for allstudents and staff.

4.

offer curriculum that is taught by licensed physical education teachers.

5.

provide curriculum that equips students with the knowledge, skills and attitudesnecessary for lifelong physical activity.

6. develop curriculum that is closely coordinated with the overall school health

program.

7. support integrating physical education topics with other curricular areas.

8. minimize student pull-outs during scheduled physical education classes.

9. provide a safe environment to implement the program, with functional and

protective equipment for all students.

10. recommend district-wide professional development around the relationship

between health and wellness and academic achievement.

Activity Other Than Physical Education

The school district shall:

1. provide opportunities for physical activity are incorporated throughout the school

day.

2. prohibit recess and other physical activity to be taken away as a form of discipline

unless a student’s objectionable behavior occurs during recess or a physical

activity.

3. support the utilization of school gardens and farm visits which offer physical

activity opportunities, as well as agricultural education.

C. Health Services

1. The school district shall provide a cohesive, integrated approach to the delivery of

services to appraise, promote and protect health.

2. School health services are evidenced based as outlined in the School Nurse

Standards of Practice Manual, the National Association of School Nurses Scope

and Standards of Practice, and the American Academy of Pediatrics Bright

Futures Guidelines for Health Supervision of Infants, Children, and Adolescents.

3. The foundation of the school health services will be based on the student needs

assessment, plans and implementation of programs that support the wellbeing and

academic success of students

4. The school district shall provide a safe school facility with sanitary conditions to

treat students for illness or injury.

5. The school district shall make available information regarding educational and

counseling opportunities and referrals for promoting and maintaining individual,

family and community health.

6. The school district shall pilot nutrition screening, assessment and counseling to a

small group of student found to be in need of such care. School health services

will make referrals and connections to the student’s medical home if nutrition

screening and assessment reveals that nutrition counseling is needed.

D. Nutrition Services

Related to the Foodservice Program

1. The school district shall provide nutrition education to all foodservice employees.

2. The school district shall provide access to a variety of nutritious and appealing

meals that accommodate the health and nutrition needs of all students.

3. The school district will recognize child nutrition programs as food access

programs and work to be sure all students have the opportunity to access all

available programs.

4. The school district will provide the necessary infrastructure, outreach and support

to the foodservice office to be sure that all families eligible for Free and Reduced

meal benefits are able to access them.

5. School nutrition programs will reflect the U.S. Dietary Guidelines for Americans

and the Institute of Medicine’s (IOM) Nutrition Standards for Foods in Schools to

achieve nutrition integrity. (see Appendix A)

6. The school district agrees to promote and participate, through foodservice staff, in

all federally funded child nutrition programs and operate them to their fullest

extent.

7. The school district will consider any renovations that may be necessary to allow

for compliance with the new IOM Nutrition Standards for Foods in Schools. (see

appendix A)

8. Although the board believes that the district’s nutrition and foodservice’s

operation should be financially self-supporting, it recognizes however that the

nutrition program is an essential educational and support activity. Therefore,

budget neutrality or profit generation must not take precedence over the nutrition

needs of its students. In compliance with federal law, the district’s National

School Lunch Program (NSLP) and School Breakfast Program (SBP) shall be

non-profit.

9. The school district will provide potable drinking water in all cafeterias.

10. The school district will consider installing full-service kitchens at school sites

where public bond money is expended to repair or remodel a school.

11. Compatible with federal regulations for such purchases, the foodservice program

will continue procedures that include locally grown foods and beverages in the

development of purchasing bids or procedures.

Not Specifically Related to the Foodservice Program

1. The school district shall encourage the investigation of healthy and local food

fundraisers that support local businesses.

2. The school district shall encourage healthy school celebrations whenever possible.

3. The school district shall offer students and faculty an appropriate facility for

classroom nutrition and health education, and serve as a resource for linkages

with nutrition-related community programs.

4. Food will not be used as a reward or punishment for students.

5. To the extent possible, recess periods shall be followed by lunch periods.

E. Counseling, Psychological and Social Services

1. The school board shall continue to recognize the need for counseling,

psychological and social services for all students and shall make available the

information necessary for families of students to seek the proper assistance.

F. Healthy and Safe School Environment

1. The school district shall maintain and implement a preK-12 anti-bullying

curriculum.

2. The school district shall encourage a culture of wellness throughout the district,

which includes, but is not limited to clean and safe buildings and a positive

psychosocial climate.

3. Health and safety issues in kitchens and bathrooms will be brought up to code.

4. Physical conditions such as temperature, noise and lighting shall be conducive to

a positive learning and eating environment.

5. The school district shall provide adequate time to obtain and eat food.

G. Health Promotion for Staff

1. The school district recognizes that fostering a personal commitment to positive

health behaviors in staff contributes to improved health status, higher morale and

greater personal commitment to the school’s coordinated school health program

and creates positive role modeling.

2. The school district shall encourage participation in an employee wellness program

that defines planning, implementing and evaluation.

3. The school district shall support opportunities for faculty and staff to improve

their health status through activities such as health assessments, health education

and health-related fitness activities when possible.

H. Family/Community Involvement

1. Curriculum will afford opportunities for connections with agencies and businesses

aligned with the wellness policy.

2. The school district shall promote community-based learning experiences that

promote health and wellness.

3. The school district shall partner with local business learning experiences when

appropriate and possible.

4. The school district shall include families of students in wellness activities

whenever possible.

I. Implementation

1. The CSHT shall continue to meet regularly to monitor the implementation of the

Wellness Policy.

2. A grant funded district wellness coordinator is necessary to ensure ongoing

implementation and evaluation of the policy. When the grant ends, the district will

investigate other sources of funding.

3. Data such as the Youth Risk Behavior Survey, the School Nurse Report and the

School Health Index will be used to identify areas of strength and need and

prioritize specific implementation steps.

This policy and its procedures may be modified subsequent to federal and state legislative

and regulatory changes.

Appendix

1. A la carte food includes all foods sold or provided throughout the school grounds

at any time that are not part of a reimbursable meal. Nutritious foods are foods

that include whole grains; low-fat or non-fat dairy products; fresh, frozen or

canned fruits and vegetables; lean meats, poultry, fish, beans and seeds.

2. Nutritious foods exceed the nutrient levels of Foods of Minimal Nutritional Value

which have been identified by the United States Department of Agriculture

(USDA).

3. Comprehensive health curriculum includes topics such as:

• Alcohol and drug abuse prevention

• Healthy eating/nutrition

• Mental and emotional health

• Personal health and wellness and self-care

• Physical activity

• Personal safety and injury prevention

• Sexual health

• Tobacco use

• Violence prevention

4. CSA (Community Supported Agriculture) in which community members

purchase a “share” of the farm’s produce before the growing season and receive a

portion of the produce weekly harvest during the growing season.

5. CSHT (Coordinated School Health Team) and is in place to monitor the

implementation of this policy and report back annually to the School Board and

community.

Flynn PTO Update 5/21/12

Hey There Flynn Families - Soccer and baseball and SpringFest - oh my!  Despite the early season heatwave, many Flynn families came out for our first annual SpringFest.  Fourty seven brave souls ran the 1/2 mile and 1 mile fun runs - there was cold water and finisher medals for all!  Families played capture the flag, dined on popcorn, freezy pops and baked goods, jumped themselves silly in the bouncy castle, got their faces made up and enjoyed the gorgeous "Spring" weather.  Looks like the PTO met their goal of a community building event as well as moderate fundraiser.  Tammy Kuypers reports that the event netted about $400. Many thanks to the parent organizers and event volunteers - your labor of love is much appreciated!

PTO Pizza forms are due back TOMORROW-  May 22nd.  Pizzas arrive on May 29th. Thank you for your participation. This will be the last order of the school year.
Lost your form?  Pick one up in the office or email Tammy at kuypers5@yahoo.com

Dishes!!!!  There is a whole bin of dishes in the office, full of dishes that belong to generous Flynn families that have made food for bake sales/staff appreciation over the past few months.   If there is no label on the dish, it ended up in this bin - are you missing a dish???  The bin is located under the staff mailboxes - come take a look and retrieve your stuff.  All leftover dishes will be donated at the end of the schoolyear.  In the future, be sure to stick your name on your dishes so we can return them to you - Thanks!

Response from Superintendant Jeanne Collins:  At the end of this post is a letter that will be printed soon in the Free Press.  Please read about how Burlington is reponding to issues of race and equity.

Check your Calendar...

• Fridays in May - Back by Popular Demand - Freezy Pop Fridays!!! $.25/pop (right after school)

• May 21 - Chess Club at 2:30 - Last one of the Year!
• May 22 - Orientation at Hunt Middle school for 5th grade PARENTS
• May 24 - Principal's Coffee, 8:15 in the Library - Everyone is invited!  Homework is on the agenda...  (see below - another article on the HW debate - thanks John Boone!)
• May 24 - Flynn Chorus Concert at Hunt MS (Kids to Hunt by 6:15)
• May 26 - Plant and Yard Sale at Hunt Middle School (formally the Flynn Perennially Green Sale) 8:30am-2pm - Lots-o-bargains!!!!!
• May 28 - No School
• May 30 - School Tour, St. Joe's campus on Allen St. at 3:30, 6:30 pm - 3/4/5 Families
• June 4 - Flynn Olympics - Parent help needed!
• June 6 - 5th Grade Bridging Ceremony, 6:30 pm
• June 8 - Early Release @11:30
• June 11 - Last Day for Flynn!!!! Early release w/ parade at 11:30

Does Homework Work?

By David Shenk

Sep 14 2009

Bottom of

Top of FormSSSSSchool's back, and so is Big Homework. Here's what my 7th grade daughter has to do tonight:

Bottom of Fo

1 Math review sheet,

1 Science essay,

French vocab for possible quiz,

History reading and questionaire, and

English reading and note-taking

About two hours, give or take. This is considered a pretty light load, so as to ramp up gently. Over the next few weeks, it will get up to three hours or more.

Most of us give very little thought to this long-lived combination. School and homework seem as interconnected as cars and gasoline. Kids need homework to get smarter -- right? It's supposed to be how they pick up a good work ethic.

Only maybe it isn't. Maybe most homework is a giant waste of my daughter's time and a needless cause of family stress.

Two 2006 books make that argument: Alfie Kohn's The Homework Myth, and Sara Bennett & Nancy Kalish's The Case Against Homework.

Homework does not improve children's work habits, argues Kohn. It does not reinforce skills, and "isn't even correlated with, much less responsible for, higher achievement before high school."

Bennett and Kalish write:

There's absolutely no proof that homework helps elementary school pupils learn more or have greater academic success. In fact...when children are asked to do too much nightly work, just the opposite has been found. And study after study shows that homework is not much more beneficial in middle school either. Even in high school, where there can be benefits, they start to decline as soon as kids are overloaded.

The new thinking is that, instead of piling on onerous, rote assignments, homework, kids ought to be encouraged to use their after school time to explore their own curiosities, read books of their own choice, to play, and to get adequate sleep.

Kohn again:

Most kids hate homework. They dread it, groan about it, put off doing it as long as possible. It may be the single most reliable extinguisher of the flame of curiosity.

Any parent reading this has high expectations for his or her child. We all want not what's easiest, but what's best. If that means a lot of homework, so be it. But it seems the time has come for all parents to revisit this subject with considerable skepticism.

_

Some interesting links:

• 2003 NPR report, "Homework: How Much is Too Much?"

• Sara Bennett's StopHomework.com

• Telegraph: "UK's biggest school to scrap homework"

• Letter from the principal of Grant Elementary School in Glenrock, Wyoming, explaining that her school is implementing a no homework practice

• "Project Student Autonomy: A Student's Guide to Taking Back Power in the Classroom"

David Shenk - David Shenk is a writer on genetics, talent and intelligence. He is the author of Data Smog, The Forgetting, and most recently, The Genius In All of Us. More

David Shenk is the author of six books, including Data Smog ("indispensable"—The New York Times), The Immortal Game ("superb"—The Wall Street Journal), and the bestselling The Forgetting ("a remarkable addition to the literature of the science of the mind."—The Los Angeles Times ). He has contributed to National Geographic, Slate, The New York Times, Gourmet, Harper's, The New Yorker, The American Scholar, and National Public Radio. Shenk's work inspired the Emmy-award winning PBS documentary The Forgetting and was featured in the Oscar-nominated feature Away From Her. His latest book, The Genius In All Of Us, was published in March 2010. Shenk has advised the President's Council on Bioethics and is a popular speaker. Click here to follow him on Twitter.

Letter going to Burlington Free Press from Jeanne Collins:

It's My Turn
Jeanne Collins
May 15, 2012

The city of Burlington is engaged in a very important and sometimes difficult discussion about diversity within our schools and community. These discussions have been intense and heartfelt. Some have called for my resignation, saying that I have been slow to act on diversity issues; that I have failed to lead as the demographics of our community changed.

I have heard the criticisms. I take them to heart.

Looking back, I recognize that I have missed opportunities to drive an agenda of diversity and respect. Part of my regret is that I have not shared with the larger community the issues which Burlington 's students of color face everyday. To those of you who believe action has taken too long, and particularly to students in our district who have suffered from the racism which I know continues, I say that I am sorry. I do the work that I do because I cherish children, all children. During the coming school year, I intend to increase my time visiting with our children in our schools, so that I can hear directly from them what they are feeling and thinking.

I intend to listen and act.

I was moved by the students who had the courage to protest the continuing verbal abuse suffered by children of color, often from other students. In the coming days, I will be announcing a series of aggressive actions to attack disparities in the school system.

It is not my intention to step down. We will create an environment where all students, regardless of race, ethnicity, or class, are respected and related to with equity. We will work with community advocates to close the achievement gap. With the Nellie Mae grant, we have the opportunity, beginning with ninth graders, to address the concerns of ELL students about being separated from other students as they are learning English.

We will not tolerate acts of racism in our schools, whether by students or staff. I recently met with all the administrators of our schools to draw a clear line with accountability for such acts. I asked them to inform everyone in their buildings of this standard. After the protests at BHS, Principal Mellencamp had all teachers read a statement about racism to the student body. We invited students to join in planning sessions for a student-led activity for the entire school.

We will enter next school year with plans to ensure that our staff in every school knows of my insistence on zero-tolerance of racist acts and statements in our schools and in the community. The high school administration, ELL coordinator and I met with Somali Bantu parents and have planned more meetings to come. I look forward to the integration of the Task Force recommendations in the new strategic plan, but we are not waiting until next October to respond aggressively to the crisis we are facing.

My pledge is this – to do everything humanly possible to eliminate disparities and inequities in our schools. I look forward in this work to partnering with the many different voices in the community. My email is superintendent@bsdvt.org if you would like to add to the discussion.

We have an amazing school district, with a wide variety of people who are dedicated and committed to our youth. Together we can create Excellent and Equitable Burlington Schools.