Team Solstice Learning

• Put the final touches on their argument letters and research.
• Reflected on the year and posted the reflection to their Personalized Learning Plan.
• Attempted to avoid the caterpillar apocalypse that haunts us outside.
• Recognized achievement and growth in Humanities with some special awards (see below).
• Connected with each other and said farewell to our 8th graders.

The Goodbye…

We had an amazing week saying goodbye to our 8th graders, to friends we’ve made and to staff who won’t be returning next year. It has been such a pleasure to teach this group of students this year. Together, we have learned, laughed and tried something new.

For our 7th graders… We look forward to seeing you again next year. Don’t forget to read at least two books this summer! Here is the Humanities teacher video, if you need a reminder…

For our 8th graders… Most of you have been on Solstice for two years and it has been so wonderful watching you grow from being in that one classroom All.Day.Long to watching you socialize with friends and learn in groups. We wish you all the best next year. You will be missed.

• 

• 

Congratulations to our Humanities Award Recipients

These students showed excellence through the year in their Humanities classes and amazing growth and dedication to their learning and engagement:

• William C
• Tristan F
• Anzal A
• Brette FC
• Ivan T
• Bianca F
• Olivia G
• Aydan L
• Harder D
• Idris GH

Congratulations to Mr. Newton’s Mathematician Award Recipients

• Caleb S
• Barwaaqo S
• Liz L
• Harper D

8th Grade Families

Please see the below message that was sent out to HMS families from Mr. Kelley last week. Let us know:

1. If you did not get graduation tickets. Have your student see Ms. McDuff in the main office.
2. If you have any questions, please let us know.

7th Graders on June 10:

• Will work with the team in the morning to get ready to welcome new students to Solstice.
• Will welcome new students to Solstice during Step Up Time.
• Say goodbye to friends and teachers.
• Are dismissed at 11:30.

We can’t believe there is one week of school left! It has been such a great year on Team Solstice. We developed new friendships, grew as learners and individuals and pushed ourselves academically. Here’s a look these last two weeks in Humanities …

Last week we….

• Worked hard on our math and ELA SBACS.
• Finalized research for our argument essays and put the final pieces together into a letter. Some topics include: gun control, use of cell phones in school, video games, raising of the Black Lives Matter flags on school grounds, and LGBTQIA rights, as well as many more. Ask your student what they are writing about.
• Despite the caterpillar invasion, we got outside to have some down time after testing.
• Celebrated our 8th graders at Hunt with an indoor field day, which included a bouncy house, games, raffle and lots of candy!

• 

• 

• 

• 

This week we will….

• Reflect on our growth this year.
• Finalize our letters to be sent to the intended recipient.
• Celebrate student achievement and growth.
• Try not to cry as we say farewell to the 8th graders and welcome to our new 7th graders onto Solstice.

We hope to have one last post for you next Monday with some final highlights and pictures from the last week of school, as well as a few summer notes for 7th graders.

Just a few things that are coming up at Hunt….

• May 24: SBAC Science – 8th grade only
• May 27: 11:30 Release all students – incoming 6th grade to Hunt
• May 30: No School
• May 31 & June 1: SBAC ELA – all students in the AM
• June 2 & June 3: SBAC Math – all students in the AM
• June 3: 8th grade field day – regular day 7th grade
• June 10: 8th grade graduation 1:30 – 2:30 at Hunt
• June 10 : Early Release 6th and 7th grade

We can not believe the year is rapidly coming to a close. It has been such a pleasure teaching these amazing 7th and 8th graders this year!

Last week scholars…

Last week humanities scholars…

Last week in Humanities, Solstice Scholars….

It was a busy week! We regret we did not take any photos to showcase the student’s hard work.

• Created their own covers for a book they read and wrote a paragraph outlining why the author should choose their cover.
• Learned about Malala Yousafzai and how she became an advocate for women and girls under Taliban rule. We practiced writing claims about these topics.
• Studied media bias and analyzed various sources for reliability.
• To highlight Mental Health Awareness month, we talked about the importance of mental health and how to take care of ourselves.

This Week, Solstice Sholars will…

• Study youth advocates in Vermont and how they are attempting to make a difference.
• Practice writing claims and using reasoning and evidence to support those claims.
• Hear about Asian American and Pacific Island persons who have made a difference.
• Continue analyzing local, national and international sources for bias.
• Create our own newspapers that are fact-based.

It is hard to believe we are in the month of May! This week scholars will…

• 

• 

• 

We stand with our students! In light of Superintendent Flanagan’s recent email about the Fox News coverage of BSD students and staff participating in an Equity training, we want to put forth that we stand by our LGBTQIA+ students and families. Hate of any kind has no place on Team Solstice.

BHS Tours – The BHS team will be hosting a tour night on April 14th from 5-7pm! Parking is free for the first two hours in the parking garage between Downtown Burlington High School and Hotel Vermont. If you are interested in visiting Downtown Burlington High School on Thursday, April 14th, please register as soon as you can; note that when the form asks for a quantity, this refers to the number of incoming students within your family, not the number of people within your party. This will be the last tour night hosted this school year with additional tours offered throughout the summer. Please stay tuned for more information. We welcome students and families to attend this event!

Last week, Solsticians….

• Continued working with Mr. Thomas, Ms. Sawtell’s student teacher during his solo time.
• Discussed and debated the difference between a fact, statistic and opinion
• Chose a country of interest to research. Then, brainstormed curious questions about their country.
• Began researching their curious questions and themes of geography.
• Learned about poetry. We sought to answer the question: What is poetry?
• Looked at examples of different types of figurative language.

• 

• 

• 

• 

This week, Solstice Scholars will…

• Creatively synthesize their country information into a presentation and share it with their class.
• Practice analyzing poems and have an opportunity to write and share their own.