Superintendent's Message
Jeanné Collins
June 1, 2009

Burlington student's are entering their home stretch, with classes ending in most of our schools on June 11th, and BHS graduation on June 12th. Throughout the school year, students of all ages have been actively volunteering in the community. I'd like to share with you just a few highlights of the many ways our kids have helped in the community this year.

Students are working out in the community nearly every school day. Our students volunteer thousands of hours throughout Burlington and help make our city a better place to live. This year, many middle school students focused on developing multi-generational connections. Students visited with residents at Starr Farm Nursing Home, Heineberg Senior Center and the Burlington Senior Art Guild. Students interviewed older Vermonters about their experiences, created crafts and artworks together, shared their computer skills, and discussed common interests. Students also prepared and delivered Meals on Wheels, taking special time to visit with each senior.

Our middle schoolers also volunteered in pre-schools and elementary schools, supporting young learners as mentors and reading buddies. A team of 7th grade students partnered with Vermont Refugee Resettlement Project to design, publish and donate a series of 80 alphabet coloring books for newly arriving families. For preschoolers at Franklin Square, students created a children's book with original poems about different animals they are studying in science.

Some of the local organizations our students volunteered at this year include: American Red Cross, ECHO Leahy Science Center, Chittenden Emergency Food Shelf, Recycle North, Bike Recycle Vermont, VNA Family Room, Sara Holbrook, King Street Youth Center, Lund Center, and Kids on the Block. This year, at Edmunds Middle School, one of our teams' volunteer efforts exceeded 1200 hours. At Hunt Middle School, students worked over 6,000 hours on community based activities.

For the "Kids Can Help" food drive, our students collected over a ton of food. On Green-Up Day, hundreds of students helped to clean up our neighborhoods. High school students have helped to design and plant gardens in Ethan Allen Park, host a holiday party for National Guard families, work at the Intervale Community farm, and coordinate a benefit concert for the Make-A-Wish foundation. Every one of our almost 1200 high school students volunteers for at least 10 hours.

Even our youngest students find ways to help out. Our 4th and 5th graders at Champlain and Barnes paired up this year to improve our neighborhoods and quality of life. Through this program, supported by Shelburne Farms, one group worked to survey kids about respect, and to create activities to help make sure that all kids feel welcome. Other students organized a musical performance at Cathedral Square, painted murals, and planted gardens. Edmunds Elementary students volunteered at the Ronald McDonald House and raised money for the Association of the Blind. Students also continued an ongoing "grandfriends" program in partnership with Converse Home.

Through these many projects, our students develop important skills and relationships, while they work to enrich and improve our community. Students continue to volunteer throughout the summer, and we hope that many will stay involved in the community as they grow!

As always, I welcome questions or comments on our schools. You can reach me at 802-864-8474 or superintendent@bsdvt.org