This post is an archived from OSSU - WE SEE YOU! self described as “A monthly appreciation of things we love about Orleans Southwest Supervisory Union (OSSU), from your partners at the Center for an Agricultural Economy (CAE).” The blog was active from Fall 2017 - January 2023 and celebrated place-based learning activities happening across the school system, including some of CAE’s school programs.
The OSSU now has a dedicated communications staff, who do incredible work sharing stories about activities happening across all six schools. Though the OSSU - WE SEE YOU! blog ended, CAE continues to share stories from our place-based education work.
eb1fc922683d97dce111db1f6d1cc0004075430b This issue is dedicated to the simple, powerful act of coming together. Whether to work, create, celebrate, learn, imagine, etc., togetherness is some of the most fertile soil for hope, change and care.
Connecting across age and district, Wolcott Elementary students visited Hazen Union to explore the school, meet staff and students, and share some music-making with the Hazen chorus and band. Through a special program called StoryKeepers in our Schools, the entire Hardwick Elementary School took part in a series of workshops with local children’s author Natalie Kinsey-Warnock. Students learned the tools for researching their own family stories, picked a family member and artifact to study in depth, and presented their family stories in a school wide event.
We are so grateful to have the support of the team at CAE and Vermont Food Venture Center as we build and expand our business. They have helped us in creating a solid business plan, navigating financial resources and providing us with all the available tools in order to set us up for success. Whenever we’ve had questions along the way, we feel comfortable knowing we can rely on their experience and knowledge to help guide us in the right direction.
Lindsay Beer
Courtesy of Wilson Farm, CAE
Connecting across age and district, Wolcott Elementary students visited Hazen Union to explore the school, meet staff and students, and share some music-making with the Hazen chorus and band. Through a special program called StoryKeepers in our Schools, the entire Hardwick Elementary School took part in a series of workshops with local children’s author Natalie Kinsey-Warnock. Students learned the tools for researching their own family stories, picked a family member and artifact to study in depth, and presented their family stories in a school wide event.
8ba0eba86efba1116b7fbd9abe96e5e32f0b1792 Hazen Union 7th graders tried something a little different recently. In order to plan and share ideas for a global citizenship research project they are undertaking, the students made tea, trying varieties from around the world, and sat down together for good conversation over a steaming cup. (If you are wondering why there is a jar of Nutella among the tea, it’s because there were scones, too!)
Each week at Hazen, the Recipe for Human Connection class makes a family-style meal together where everyone contributes something and everyone sits down to eat around the table. To share this practice with the wider community, the class plans and cooks a free community meal at the Hardwick United Church each month on the third Thursday at noon – and you are invited!
Shared recently by the OSUESD School Board, this public appreciation shines a light on the skilled, collaborative facilities staff who come together in big (but often behind-the-scenes) ways to manage crises and keep our schools safe:
On behalf of the OSUESD School Board, Orleans Southwest Supervisory Union would like to publicly thank the exceptional members of our facilities team for a job well done! On early Saturday morning, February 4, after a brutally cold night, the Orleans Southwest Union Elementary School District (OSUESD) facilities staff discovered a burst pipe at Lakeview Elementary School. Upon discovery, Darald Bartlett, Lakeview custodian, reported the issue, and a team was quickly assembled. Mr. Bartlett, along with Larry Eldred, OSUESD facilities manager, Dave Brochu, OSUESD assistant facilities manager, and Tod Delaricheliere, Hazen Union facilities manager, worked throughout the day to ensure that the water was removed from the building. On Sunday Joe Houston, OSSU director of facilities, and Mr. Eldred supported Principal Lisa McCarthy in developing a plan for reopening the building on Monday and to support teachers and staff. It’s just another shining example of how our team-oriented OSSU facilities staff pitch in across the SU whenever needed. Hats off to this group of dedicated and hardworking staff who support the education of our children each and every day.
