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.

Burr and Burton’s Mike Caraco Receives National Science Foundation Travel Grant

Burr and Burton’s Mike Caraco Receives National Science Foundation Travel Grant
Burr and Burton Academy mathematics teacher Mike Caraco has received a
National Science Foundation grant that will allow him to attend the
International Congress of Mathematics Education in Monterrey, Mexico, this
summer.

The National Science Foundation awards are administered through the National
Council of Teachers of Mathematics. Only ten percent of the applicants are
funded through the grant.

The International Congress on Mathematical Education’s (ICME) goal is bring
three to four thousand math professionals together from over 100 countries
to discuss what happening in mathematics research and teaching practices.

Caraco said he was very much looking forward to talking to other teachers
about their methods and learn about recent advances in mathematics as a
discipline.

“I am very interested in gaining an international perspective on the
teaching of math,” he said. “ I am especially intrigued by the math
productivity in eastern European countries.”

Caraco believes that interacting at the international level is invaluable to
the school’s math program. “I want to bring back the kind of information
that will help us make the best decisions about math instruction, ensuring
that Burr and Burton is at the forefront of math education.”

Caraco, who is in his second year at Burr and Burton, teaches Pre-calculus
and Intermediate Algebra. Before coming to Burr and Burton, he taught at Mt.
Greylock in Williamstown, Mass., and is the co-author of a calculus
textbook.

ICME participants will have the opportunity to hear world-renowned scholars in
mathematics and mathematics education as well as take part in small, focused
discussion groups on a wide range of topics, including the relationship
between research and practice in mathematics education, the professional
development of mathematics teachers, and information and communication
technology in mathematics education.