Burr and Burton Juniors Qualify for National Merit Scholarship Semifinals

Burr and Burton Academy juniors Eliza Davis, Laura Donnelly, Alex Evanczuk, Dana Midura, Devin Midura, and Ellen Parent recently received notification that they were among the 50,000 highest-scoring participants out of over 1.5 million students who took the 2007 Preliminary SAT/National Merit Scholarship Qualifying Test. As part of this select group, they will advance to the semifinalist round of competition for the 2009 National Merit college scholarships. Out of this group, only 16,000 students will be named semifinalists, representing the top scorers in each state.

Burr and Burton Academy Librarian Receives Professional Award

Merlyn Miller, Burr and Burton’s librarian since 1990, was named to the Hall of Fame of the New England Educational Media Association (NEEMA) in ceremonies held recently in Boston. The recipients were honored for their significant contributions to the library media field. Mrs. Miller was one of three librarians from Vermont to receive this honor. Recipients were chosen based on their “significant contributions to the library media field through their efforts on the state, regional and/or national level." The New England Educational Media Association celebrated its 90th anniversary this year.

Ms. Miller, currently serving as vice-president, will be the president of NEEMA for the 2008-2009 school year. In the ninety years since the association began, this will be the third time a Vermonter has been president. She has been NEEMA member since 1995, serving as their representative from the Vermont School Library Association since 2004, and membership chair since 2005.

Music Teacher Julie Freebern Receives Burr and Burton Academy’s 2008 Bigelow Award

Julie Freebern, music history and vocal arts teacher, is the 2008 recipient of the David Bigelow Fund for Excellence Award. Freebern will use the grant to underwrite a trip to England where she will visit medieval castles, cathedrals and churches to enrich her knowledge of medieval music and music history.
Freebern, who says she “has a passion for the Middle Ages” not only teaches but also performs early music. She is a member of the American Recorded Society and performs weekly with the Northshire Early Music Ensemble. By visiting the places most associated with the composition and performance of mediaeval music, Freebern hopes to “deepen my knowledge, enrich my curriculum, and excite my students.”

The David Bigelow Fund for Excellence was established by the Bigelow family to honor alumnus and longtime trustee David Bigelow who died in 1998. The purpose of this endowed fund is to give the teaching faculty of the school the financial resources necessary to further their professional development, which will in turn enhance their ability to provide the highest quality education to the students of Burr and Burton Academy.

Faculty members are invited annually to “think outside the box” and write a proposal that goes to the heart of who they are as teachers and enriches their passion for teaching. Previous recipients of the Bigelow Award include English teacher Bill Muench, who wrote and produced a video on educating boys; art teacher Dawne Polis who fulfilled her dream of studying painting and art in Paris; English teacher Robert Hunter, who studied poetry in England; English teacher Peter Mull, who devoted part of his summer to a writing project; school nurse Meg Burns, who traveled to Thailand to help with relief efforts; social studies teacher John Graf, who traveled in the footsteps of Lewis and Clark; and Arts Department Chair Betsy Hubner who fulfilled a dream to paint in Ireland The fund is administered by the Board of Trustees as part of the school’s restricted endowment.

Burr and Burton Hosts Apollo Symposium May 2

The Burr and Burton Academy Astronomy Club and the Northshire Bookstore will present an Apollo Symposium on Friday, May 2, at 6:30 pm in the school’s Riley Center. Jerry Carr, Apollo astronaut and commander of Skylab4, Andrew Chaikin, the author of A Man on the Moon, and Sy Liebergot, the lead EECOM flight controller throughout all Apollo manned missions, will be on hand to discuss the Apollo program. All three will be available following the symposium to meet and sign books. The club is requesting a donation of $5 per ticket to help support the Burr and Burton Observatory Restoration Fund. Seating is limited. To reserve a ticket please call Bill Muench at (802) 549-8157 or email bmuench@burrburton.org. You may also use this link to reserve tickets online: www.burrburton.org/groups/symposium.

BBA Announces New Football Coach

Burr and Burton Academy Athletic Director Kathi Bierwirth has announced the Jason M. Thomas, an assistant coach at Middlebury College, has been named the head football coach for the 2008 season. A graduate of Poultney High School, Thomas earned his bachelor’s degree from the University of Massachusetts where he played on the varsity team. Before becoming pass game coordinator and wide receiver coach at Middlebury, Thomas was an assistant coach at the University of New Hampshire and the University of Buffalo. Coach Thomas met this week with Burr and Burton football players and their parents to discuss his philosophy, outline some goals for the season, and plan a summer weight training program. “The evening was very well attended, with twenty-three returning players on hand,” said Bierwirth. “We’re looking forward to a exciting season next fall.”

Burr and Burton Sponsors Walk for Water Africa Day May 10

Burr and Burton Academy is sponsoring a Walk for Water Africa Day on Saturday, May 10 (rain date Sunday, May 11) for everyone in the Northshire community. Relay teams of four people may participate in the Walk for Water Race/Walk that simulates the walk many African families must do every day to get water. Teams will leave from BBA and walk up to Equinox Pond and back carrying a jerry can of water.

Teams can also sign up for the Amazing Race Relay on the BBA field that will involve the completion of African “challenges.” Prizes for both races will be awarded for fastest team, best costume, slowest team and others.

The event will also feature an African marketplace with information about other African projects, African food, drumming, film, dance, music and more. Schools and community organizations are encouraged to provide as many teams as possible for this fun and informational spring event. Registration forms and more information. All proceeds will benefit the BOMA Fund's clean water and irrigation programs in Northern Kenya and World Vision Water projects in Africa. For more information contact Lani Lovisa at llovisa@burrburton.org or 549-8275.

Don Knaack and Burr and Burton Academy Win 2007 Governor’s Award for Environmental Excellence

Burr and Burton Academy’s Help Our Planet Service Learning project, implemented last year under the direction of Vermont musician and activist Don Knaack, has been selected to receive the 2007 Governor’s Award for Environmental Excellence & Pollution Prevention in the Environmental Excellence in Education & Outreach category.

Burr and Burton Academy students are in their second year of the Help Our Planet (HOP) Program. The HOP program is the work of Vermont musician Donald Knaack, who supervised the inauguration of his program at the school in 2006. After a year of planning, the students worked to implement the pledges they made to improve the environment

This year the students were able to begin several key initiatives, including the establishment of a full composting program in the cafeteria that will yield a savings in hauling fees of approximately $1994 per year, and the use of biodegradable plates, cups, wrappers and cutlery in the cafeteria.

Students have also been asked to save about 460 gallons of water, through simple steps such as spending less time in the shower and turning off the water when not needed.
More recycling bins were placed throughout the school and grounds to help students recycle easily. “We are very grateful to Don for bringing his program to Burr and Burton students,” said Headmaster Chuck Scranton. “Everyone has enthusiastically embraced these initiatives and we have seen significant results.”

HOP founder Donald Knaack, a Manchester-based composer and percussionist, who does music residencies in schools said he noticed many years ago there was no program to teach the basics of better environmental citizenry to students anywhere in the country. He began developing the HOP Program seven years ago and decided to bring the pilot program to Burr and Burton. The program was supported in part by the Association of Vermont Recyclers, the Vermont Agency of Natural Resources, USDA, and Casella Waste Management.