Pemi-Baker School To Work Partnership

For Application Based Learning Experiences

SAU #48

47 Old Ward Bridge Road, Plymouth, NH 03264

Phone (603) 536-1254; Fax (603) 536-3545

 

 

Superintendent True Hears Business Needs

 

Application Based Reforms to Emphasize Work Readiness

 

"We have very good schools here in SAU 48, but we want them to be the best in the state. To do that we must bring together our businesses, our communities and our schools and work together to create an education system that brings students to the workforce ready to compete. . .ready to meet your needs. "

 

With that statement, Superintendent John True, opened a Tuesday morning breakfast meeting with area business people. The meeting was intended to establish an ongoing relationship between the schools of SAU 48 and the communites they serve, with a particular emphasis on giving students relevant work related experiences and skills to prepare them for the challenges of the workforce.

 

"This meeting is the first of a series of meetings intended to chart a new community and work oriented focus for education in SAU 48 and, if the enthusiasm of the attendees is any indication, it is a welcome change," said Assistant Superintendent Mark Halloran. "We have been working hard to lay the groundwork for this for some time and now we are ready to begin to process of reaching out to other community leaders and asking them to help guide us."

 

Halloran cited the recent opening of a branch of the Pemigewasset Bank - run by students - a Plymouth area high school as an example of integrating schools with businesses and creating opportunites for students to learn skills based upon their application.

 

"Our goal," said Halloran "is to help students focus much earlier on their areas of interest and to make their educational experience a part of that process. In order to do that we must challenge our schools to be a more central part of our comunities and challenge our business to make the success of our schools their business."

 

Among the concerns cited by area business people was the need for training in the social and interpersonal skills essential to service sector businesses, and the need to instill a work ethic consistent with the real world. Business owners cited examples of employees not bothering to call in when they are sick.

 

 

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News and Photo Release

Contact: Donna Marsden, SAU #48, 536-1254

July 1, 1998

 

New Summer Thriller: Plymouth Area Teachers Meet the Bog People

(Plymouth, NH) Sixteen teachers walked along the well-marked Nature Trail with their mouths agape, ears pealed, and their interest piqued on a very sultry, hazy June day. Most of them had never been to Quincy Bog, and they were amazed at the tranquil beauty and abundant plant and wildlife "right in our own backyard." Led by the "Bog People" (as the volunteer tour guides call themselves) the teachers received a full day of hands on training as their final day of a four day course in the integration of math and science.

 

Earlier in the year, School To Work Partnership Coordinators Laurie Vachon and Hope Kokas had met with Quincy Bog Nature Center Directors Faith Mattison and Ann Kent to explore a possible partnership to develop a teacher externship experience utilizing the bog. They brought their ideas to SAU #48 Assistant Superintendent of Schools Donna Marsden, who suggested they coordinate with an AIMS (Activities Integrating Mathematics and Science) Summer Institute. As an AIMS trainer herself, Marsden knew the tremendous value of providing "hands-on" learning experiences to teachers, and she enthusiastically supported and helped plan and market the idea in SAU #48 and to other schools in the region.

 

Offered to teachers of grades 3 through 5 who teach life sciences, this unique AIMS Summer Institute/School To Work partnership allowed Quincy Bog Directors and volunteers to introduce teachers to this invaluable community resource, while at the same time participating teachers earned continuing education credits.

 

The 16 participating teachers spent four days at Holderness Central School and one full day at the Bog during the last week of June. The day at the Bog was without doubt the highlight for all involved.

 

The results "exceeded my wildest expectations," said Marsden. Arlene Corso, a Special Education Teacher at Campton Elementary School, said she'd be sure to return with her students. "This is such a wonderful connection between teachers and other people and resources in the community. I plan to bring my students here and I plan to ask some of the Bog Directors to come speak in my classes." Other teachers agreed. They not only intend to bring their students, but also they plan to bring their own families. Some were avidly comparing notes, exchanging phone numbers, and agreeing to share lesson plans. "There's great interdisciplinary potential," added Ashland third grade teacher Mary Perrin. "If anything, a week-long workshop isn't long enough. There's so much to see and learn."

 

Beaming Bog Director Ann Kent couldn't have been happier. "We want teachers to become acquainted with the bog -- so they will use it. This community treasure exists because people cared enough to protect it and preserve it. By bringing teachers and students to Quincy Bog, we are helping to educate the next generation of bog-lovers."

 

In addition to Faith Mattison and Ann Kent, the other Quincy Bog Directors who volunteered their time to lead small groups through the bog were: Northam Parr, forester and educator with the UNH Cooperative Extension Service, who lent his expertise on trees; Betty Jo Taffe, who spoke about plants and shrubs; Bill Taffe, President of the Pemi Chapter of Audubon and a PSC professor, and Al Ports, who shared their knowledge on birds and wildlife.

 

The Pemi-Baker School To Work Partnership, the local school to work collaborative, is dedicated to advancing a community system for lifelong learning and regional economic development throughout the Pemi-Baker Valley.

 

The Partnership serves as a catalyst for introducing, mobilizing, building and supporting a range of activities that link our schools and community, by connecting classroom learning with workplace experiences.

 

Over the course of the next three years, funding to support the local STW System provides a means for the whole community - parents, teachers, school administrators, school board members, businessmen and women, civic and social leaders, legislators and, of course, students themselves - to participate in a dynamic process for strengthening education, by preparing students of all ages with the "know-how" necessary to compete and thrive in a global economy.

 

Anyone with an interest in expanding opportunities for students to learn and interact with the community is encouraged to participate in the Partnership by calling Alice King, School To Work Manager, at 603-536-1254 at SAU #48.

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Elementary Class Project Edges Closer on Conservation License Bill

5 Year Journey Through Legislature Nearly Over

 

---Holderness, NH. Teacher Jane Kellogg probably had no idea in 1994 that a 4th grade class project to establish a New Hampshire conservation license plate would end up as a crowning achievement for the Holderness 8th grade graduates-to-be.

 

After five long years filled with research, letter writing, meetings and lobbying for a state conservation license plate, it appears that the Holderness Central School children are about to prevail. The bill finally reaches the floor of the New Hampshire Senate this Thursday with a positive recommendation after a successful journey through the NH House.

 

"This is a remarkable story of perseverance and determination," said Bob Tremblay, Principal of the Holderness Central School. "These children just would not give up. Each year they would help bring back the conservation license bill and each year it would inch a bit closer to passage - only to be faced with further delay. Finally it appears that it will become a reality. We are very proud of them."

 

Superintendent of Schools for SAU 48, John True, praised the children and their mentors. " Jane Kellogg and many of the teachers and parents of these children have given these children a real life lesson. It is a tremendous example of the changes taking place in our schools here in SAU 48 as we institute the principles of School-to-Work and application based learning into our curriculum. . . bringing real life experience to educational concepts."

 

True was quick to point out that Principal Bob Tremblay was a leader in bringing these kinds of efforts to the curriculum. "For years now, Bob Tremblay has had a program called BAS, Business Adopting Schools, within his school that involves local businesses and gives the children the opportunity to understand what they are learning within the context of the real world. Jane Kellogg and others took that concept and applied it to the process of introducing legislation and seeing it through to its completion."

 

Former State Senator Wayne King, who sponsored the original bill in 1994 on behalf of the 4th graders, added his voice to the many praising the children. "They outlasted me," King said humorously, "these extraordinary kids serve as an example to all of us who experience both the thrill and frustration of dealing with government and its bureaucracies. They never gave up and eventually - through a process of educating the legislature and the public - it appears they will succeed. I'm tremendously proud of them."

 

HB 672 sponsored by Representative Martha Fuller Clark (D-Portsmouth) has strong bipartisan support, including Senator Ned Gordon who now represents the region.

 

The children plan to be at the Statehouse on Thursday as the Senate takes action on the bill.

 

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News Release

For Immediate Release

10/11/98

For More Information: 603-786-9278

 

 

Conservation License Plate Bill Signing Scheduled

Holderness Elementary Students to Join Gov. Shaheen

 

Holderness Elementary 8th grade students, who worked for five years to convince the legislature that New Hampshire should have a conservation license plate, will witness the culmination of their efforts when Governor Shaheen signs the bill into law this week. On Thursday April 16, 1998 at 10:30 am the students and Governor Shaheen will participate in a signing ceremony together in the Executive Chambers of the Statehouse in Concord. The event is open to media and other interested individuals.

 

The signing took place as scheduled: Here are some photographs

 

Governor Shaheen signing the bill into law.

 

Gillie Hopkins & Callie Racine Winners in 2000 TSA Competition

For two days, elementary school teacher Julie Sicks watched with pride, and just a little bit of anxiety, while students from the Plymouth Chapter of the Technology Student Association (TSA) competed in the annual TSA Conference for all of New Hampshire. Sicks, who teaches Technology at Plymouth Elementary, organized the TSA Club and serves as their advisor. After all the state TSA events were judged, she beamed when two outstanding students--eighth grader Gillie Hopkins and seventh grader Callie Racine--were presented with trophies!

Gillie Hopkins was awarded a first place trophy for her poster design promoting the 2000 TSA National Convention and another first place for her Balsa Wood Glider, which stayed aloft the longest. A third place trophy went to Callie Racine for her Video Promotion, which included a story board, production plan and actual footage that she filmed to produce a promotional video for Plymouth Elementary School.

Commenting afterwards, Plymouth TSA Advisor Julie Sicks said: “I’m so proud of the work these students did. I was a TSA Advisor for four years before coming to Plymouth this past Fall, so it was the first time my students heard about TSA. They took a chance on me and the Plymouth Club, and then, came out winners! Not only that, but we all had a really great time at the state Conference!”

When most people hear the word “technology”, they immediately think of computers. But computers are really only one part of the current technological
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realm. This is why, TSA, a national student organization is dedicated to integrating
all aspects of technology into education. The TSA motto, “Learning to live in a technical world”, intends that students, our future leaders, will leave school skilled in the four major technological areas of communications, manufacturing, construction, and, power and energy.

At the annual New Hampshire Chapter Conference of the TSA, Plymouth students competed in a number of the many events, including: the desktop publishing Poster Design, model Dragster Design (CO2 powered race cars), Balsa Wood Glider, Bridge Building, Photography, Inventions and Innovations, Video Promotions, Prepared Speech and All-Terrain Vehicle. While some of the competition categories required students to complete their projects in advance, others (like the Bridge Building or the Balsa Wood Glider events) are active. So to win first place for her Balsa Wood Glider, Gillie Hopkins practiced designing the model after school and brought a set of plans to the state competition held this month in North Lincoln, NH. There, Gillie constructed her glider on site, using only the materials provided by TSA. Her first-place Balsa Wood Glider was tested and judged in conjunction with the plans, drawings, and technical reports she had developed in advance.

Gillie Hopkins and Callie Racine are now qualified to attend the 1999 National Technology Student Association Convention. This June, both students will be off to Tulsa, Oklahoma, with their teacher, for the national TSA conference. Contributions to help offset the students’ cost for attending the national event will be gratefully acknowledged and may be sent to: Plymouth Elementary TSA Chapter, c/o Peter Hutchins, Principal, Plymouth Elementary School, 43 Old Ward Bridge Road., Plymouth, NH 03264.

 

Holderness Central Students Compete in Mathcounts Competition

 

Congratulations to SAU #48 students Dominic Rotella, Peter Ferguson, Seth Duda and Will Furmanick for their outstanding accomplishment at the state MATHCOUNTS competition last Saturday! MATHCOUNTS--a national program designed to stimulate interest and achievement in mathematics--sponsors progressive competitions that prepare students to succeed in a global economy. And in Holderness Central School, math teacher and team coach Sue Long simply describes MATHCOUNTS as “a fun way for her seventh and eighth graders to do math!”

So last month, after two teams of seventh and eighth grade students from Holderness Central School finished with an overall second place in the Regional tournament, the school qualified to send one team to compete (and have fun) in the statewide competition held on Saturday, March 13. Coach Sue Long accompanied Holderness “mathletes” Dominic Rotella, Peter Ferguson, Seth Duda and Will Furmanick to the state finals. There, teams from 18 schools engaged in the arduous challenge to represent our state at the national MATHCOUNTS finals in May. After her students had persevered through hours of mathematical gymnastics--solving problems that would cause a mental meltdown for most of us!--Coach Long said: “they used every ounce they had and made me, and everyone else who watched them compete, totally proud of their determination and competence.” When the scores were tallied, the entire team had represented Holderness and New Hampshire, with the best effort imaginable and placed twelfth among all of the schools in the state finals.

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