"Guys & Dolls" is a Smash Hit!

The kids (and parents) have done it again! You have two more chances to see "Guys & Dolls" at Housy at 2 and 7 pm on Saturday, April 10.

“FREE MONEY” FOR Friends of Lee Kellogg School (F.O.L.K.S.)

The ever-creative parents at the Lee H. Kellogg School have come up with a new, easy way to raise funds for school trips and other "extras." Here's their press release:

Without spending anything extra people can now help FOLKS (Friends of Lee Kellogg School) raise funds to go towards fieldtrips, cultural programs and guest artists, special classroom items, playground and afterschool program items, as well as financial assistance to help insure that all students can participate in school programs and trips. Guaranteed contributions from participating retailers go directly to FOLKS, the volunteer parent and teacher group for Lee H. Kellogg School, through the new Scrips Card program.

“I’ve raised over $60 for FOLKS in the last two months alone without even trying and without pleading for anyone to buy a ticket, an ad, a pie, or anything. I just used the Scrip cards at the check-out when I did my grocery shopping and also when I bought office supplies,” explained Amy Wynn, a Kellogg School parent.
“At every turn, we are asked to buy something for a fundraiser in our small community. This program is a great alternative that can ease this burden throughout our region. We are asking that people try it at least once and see how good it feels to know you are helping raise needed funds by simply doing your everyday shopping and paying for it with your Scrips cards,” encouraged Margaret Caiati, FOLKS coordinator for this program. “Our goal is to get at least 80 people paying for $100 of their grocery bill at Stop ‘n Shop with the Scrip cards each month for the next three months. This would meet our initial goal of raising $1,000 this spring for field trip and cultural program funds,” she added.

The Scrips cards are easy to order and use and there is no extra charge. To help FOLKS raise funds, all one has to do is purchase Scrips Cards - which are basically gift cards - through the FOLKS Scrips program. The Scrips card purchaser receives the exact value paid for the cards; there are no added fees. The specific retailer for each type of card donates from 2% to 17% of each purchase directly to FOLKS. The whole community beyond Kellogg School and Falls Village is encouraged to participate.
The Scrips cards can be used for things bought each week such as groceries and drug store items, seasonal items like home improvement/gardening items and clothing, as well as gifts for holidays and special occasions. The Scrips Program has over 250 retailers to choose from, such as Stop ‘n Shop, CVS, K-Mart, Best Buy, Lands End, Applebee’s, Amazon.com, TJ Maxx, Barnes & Noble, Staples, ITunes, Wal-Mart, JC Penney, Home Depot, and many more. A full list of retailers and the order form is available at the FOLKS webpage housed at www.kelloggschool.org.

Questions about the FOLKS Scrips program and ordering cards can be directed to Margaret Caiati at (860) 824-1415 or mcaiati@comcast.com.

Back to School (and New Teachers, Too)

This is registration week for the Falls Village Children's Theater winter classes and workshops, and there are two new teachers: Joe Brien, who is offering a Marionette Workshop, and Rob Nellson, who will lead a jazz and beginning improvisational workshop for musicians with at least one year of experience. Lanny Mitchell (who directed a dazzling production of The Wiz in Sheffield last weekend featuring five familiar FVCT faces) will be back to offer kids classes in Dramatics, Hip Hop, Musical Theater Dance, as well as Jazzercize for Adults (on Tuesday and Thursday nights from 7 - 8 PM).

For details and registration: FVCT.com or 860.824.4303

Free Shakespeare!

Each year the Falls Village Children's Theatre is fortunate to be able to treat several children to a day of Shakespeare at Shakespeare & Company in Lenox. This year our program will be on August 9th. A bus will leave Kellogg School parking lot at approximately 11-ish and return approximately 7:30-ish. It is a wonderful day and the shows are unbelievable. Last year one five year old laughed so hard he fell off his seat (literally!) The final details have not been worked out but will include:
Arrival and a picnic lunch (packed by parents)
All will see Mad Pirates and the Mermaid,a spectacular show
Then the group will be split in two. Children entering 7th grade and older (NO exceptions) will see Othello on the main stage. Please review information about Othello to decide if its appropriate for your child.

Younger children will participate in interactive workshops with the Shakespeare actors and their education team. Go to Shakespeare.org for more information.

Admission to the theater and the programs that day are being donated by John Harney & Associates. The FVCT does ask that each child contribute a minimum of $5 for the bus.
Attendance is limited and is on a first come, first serve basis. Contact Denise Cohn before July 10.
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Look Familiar?

A new poster, 100 Doors in Falls Village, which, amazingly, originated as Sean Caiati's first grade "First 100 Days of School" project, is now for sale to benefit F.O.L.K.S. (Friends of Lee Kellogg School) for $10. You can even get it beautifully framed by Real Memories for $75. To purchase, contact Betsy Howie at 100Doors@comcast.net or go to Toymaker's Cafe between noon and 4 PM on Saturday and Sundays in July & August.

Click on the poster to see it bigger

Your View Counts!

Community Forum to discuss
The Future of Housatonic Valley Regional High School
Tuesday April 29, 7 PM
Lee H. Kellogg School


From the Region One Press Release:

Strategies are needed to ensure Housatonic Valley Regional High School students the best possible preparation for life and work. Difficult decisions will have to be made by the Board of Education as enrollment figures shift and economic factors continue to put pressure on limited resources.

To inform the Board's decision-making; a Long Range Planning Team has been established and has begun work. The Team, made up of community members, staff and faculty, has scheduled a series of public forums in each of the member towns, at which they will present important information as well as solicit citizen responses. A survey to record public opinion, accessible online and in print, will also be introduced.

The community's participation in this planning process is essential to the direction of Housatonic Valley Regional High School. All citizens in Region One are urged to participate in the forums, and respond to the survey

"Transparency" at Kellogg

What a difference a year makes. Last year at about this time it was announced that changes would be made in the class structure at the Lee H. Kellogg School, which upset some parents who felt they should have been consulted. This year, changes are again being considered and the parents have been invited to be part of the process. There is a meeting today, February 27, at 4:30 that concerend parents should attend. There is also the regular Board of Ed meeting on March 4. Here is the letter that Principal Maria Bulson had sent by email yesterday to the Kellogg community.

Dear Parents,
On Wednesday afternoon we have the last scheduled Board of Education Budget Workshop for the 2008-2009 school year. After several administrative meetings with the Grade 3-5 team, it has been assessed that the multiage classroom needs further support. There are four different options that are presently being discussed. These options have been discussed with the faculty and with the Board of Education. After a presentation of the four options, the Board of Education will give both teachers and parents an opportunity to speak at the Budget Workshop on February 27th at 4:30 and again before the regular Board of Education meeting on March 4th at 7:00.
We encourage parents to take part in this decision-making process by attending either or both of the meetings, listening and voicing their opinions.
Sincerely,
Maria Bulson

Meet the Candidates, Part II

In addition to the three-way contest for two seats on the Canaan (Falls Village) Board of Education that oversees the Kellogg School [see October 24 posting], two fine women--the incumbent Maggie Ruotolo and Gale Toensing--are vying to represent Falls Village on the Region 1 Board of Education, which is responsible for Housatonic Valley Regional High School. Here are their responses to questions posed by the Falls Village Blog.

Margaret R. Ruotolo
Occupation: Retired Educator
Education: BS, Early Childhood Education' MA, Education
Volunteer Activities:
Current: Region One Board of Education, Falls Village Representative - Secretary - Member of Policy, Personnel and Long-Range Planning
Committees and Ag Ed Council; Zoning Board of Appeals member; Republican Town Committee member; Justice of the Peace
Past: Lee Kellogg Board of Education member for 17 years; Falls Village Recreation Commission chairperson

What makes HVRHS an excellent school?
Within an atmosphere of professionalism and personal attention, Housatonic has offered its students comprehensive and challenging programs for over 60 years. The school is fortunate to have the support of taxpayers in the six-town region who view their school with pride. The school is a learning center for our students providing for their academic and social needs. The staff is committed and caring and works with our students on a more personal basis that creates a comfortable environment when students seek advice or require extra help with academic and/or personal problems. The school offers a wide range of courses and activities and students have been recognized for their outstanding accomplishments. For example, our Envirothon team recently placed first in an international competition and the Ag-Ed program was cited by a state evaluation team as “second to none in the state”. Other recognitions have been awarded in the areas of academics, music, art, drama and /or sports. Our students are fortunate to have so many opportunities to provide growth as they prepare for their aspirations.

What are the high school's weaknesses?
While I support comprehensive programs to serve a diverse student population and to meet the needs and interests of our students, the per pupil cost at Housatonic is high. There is a need to routinely revise and publish curriculum that meets the needs of our students and will provide them with skills appropriate for the 21st century. I believe we need to improve parental involvement and communication. We have to improve educational opportunities for the academic, general and review levels of instruction.

How can those weaknesses be addressed?
Housatonic was recently evaluated by the New England Association of Schools and Colleges and received a published report of their findings. The staff and the Board have already begun to use the recommendations from this report to affect positive change that addresses each of the above concerns. Dr. Gretchen Foster formulated a NEAS&C Response Committee made up of faculty members. They will chair seven sub committees to study the mission statement, curriculum, instruction, assessment, leadership, school resources and community resources. If reelected, I will serve on the curriculum committee. It will be our job to insure that curriculum is written for all departments in a consistent format. The Board is in the process of creating a long range plan apart from but interwoven with the high school’s response committees. It is our goal to use the NEAS & C report to identify strengths and weaknesses, collect data from both the response committees and from taxpayers by holding meetings in each town, analyze all information and then develop and implement actions plans to address challenging trends and issues within our school. This project should help us to plan for decreased enrollment, create a justified spending plan, update curriculum to accommodate changes in job skills and give all students an equal opportunity for improving their academic knowledge and test scores and to improve communication with stakeholders by involving them in the decision-making process.

Why are you the best person to represent Falls Village on the Region 1 Board of Ed?
I am the incumbent who would like to continue my service on the Region One Board of Education. My main goal is to improve student learning. Working on the beginning stages of the long range plan has proven to be an exciting process which I would like to complete. My past board experience and my professional training enhances my understanding of board issues. I support a comprehensive program for the students and fiscal responsibility for the taxpayers. My voting record documents my position. I will continue to listen, be flexible, and to accept the challenge of change. I will make every effort to work with all stakeholders of this school community as we offer the best of tradition at Housatonic and develop the highest educational practices. My participation in civic activities in Falls Village over the past 24 years is a model for students and encourages active citizenship.

Gale Courey Toensing
Occuplation: Journalist
Education: Master of Fine Arts in Writing, Vermont College, Norwich University
Volunteer Activities: Like all Falls Village moms, when my son attended Kellogg School I volunteered there all the time, and I've been a volunteer EMT with our town's ambulance service for the past six years. But from 1994 until January 2007, when I covered Falls Village as a reporter for the Waterbury Republican American newspaper for almost a dozen years, and then for The Corner Report. I couldn't serve on any town boards or commissions, because it would have been a conflict of interest. During that time, however, I also covered the Region 1 Board of Education and observed the work of three superintendents, three principals, seven board chairmen, and a shifting cast of board members. I wrote hundreds of stories about academics, administrators, board members, budgets, contracts, events, Freedom of Information issues, negotiations, students, teachers and more. Those years gave me unique insights and an institutional knowledge about the Region 1 Board of Education and the workings of the high school that few other people have.

What makes HVRHS an excellent school?
We have several measures -- most recently the New England Association of Schools and Colleges report and the Connecticut Academic Performance Test results -- that show Housy to be a good school. But I believe we can go even beyond excellence to make it an outstanding school, and I think we have many of the elements to do so. At the core of the learning experience is what happens between students and teachers, and we are fortunate to have excellent students and teachers at Housy. (I include the principal in the category of teacher because I see the role of the principal as "principal teacher" or educational leader -- with additional administrative duties). Surrounding and supporting our students and teachers are parents and a community that believes public education is one of the foundational elements of a democratic society and is willing to finance it generously, currently to the tune of almost $17,000 per pupil. We also have a hard working administrative team, and a fine facility in which learning can take place.

What are the high school's weaknesses?
There has been a lack of focus on academic performance, particularly the lackluster performance on the Connecticut Academic Performance Test (CAPT). The New England Association of Schools and Colleges found structural interference in the principal's authority, low morale, a disconnect between the school's mission statement and educational implementation of the mission, a lack of "ownership" of the school, and other weaknesses.

How can those weaknesses be addressed?
Through accountability, better learning and instruction, and communication.
Accountability: The board of education's role is to set policy that will provide the best possible learning and instruction for our students, and present budgets that will support those policies. The board is ultimately accountable for what goes on at the school. For my town, specifically, in addition to the by-law requirement to report to the Kellogg Board, I plan to keep the finance and selectmen boards ahead of the curve on budget information. For example, Falls Village is facing a big student increase next year and again two years from now at the high school. The boards need to know that as far ahead as possible for their planning. I also plan to post monthly reports from the Region 1 Board of Education meetings on the town's website. Also, in an effort to engage parents and community members more with the high school, I will hold meetings as often as they want to discuss what's happening at the high school. For the region In general, I really believe the tax-paying public has a right to know how its money is being spent and how and why decisions are made on the board. I believe more than ever in transparent government. And I think the most important question the board needs to ask before making every single decision is: How does this enhance teaching and learning for our students?
Better learning & teaching: The latest CAPT results showed an average of 48.9 percent of Housy sophomores failing to meet state goals in math, reading, science and writing. Our best students excel and we have extensive services for kids with special learning needs, but we need to hone in on how we can enhance learning for the so-called "average" students. That will require research, and some fearlessly honest, open discussion and debate, and it should involve the entire school community, including teachers.
Communication: I think communication is the key to meeting all challenges -- including accountability and improved teaching and instruction. The board has been criticized -- most recently by the Lakeville Journal -- for not communicating with the public. There is a perceived lack of effort on the board's part to engage the public, and a perception that it is reactive rather than proactive. I think this should and can be changed, and the tool for change is communication. I have a number of concrete suggestions that I'll raise at the appropriate time. One of the things I suggested to the superintendent when she was hired a few years ago was the need for strategic planning. That project is getting underway now. Strategic planning is not only a way to define and analyze issues and recommend solutions or improvements, it's also a great energizing process that engages people, gets them talking, thinking, and acting. In the early 1990's there was a massive strategic planning effort that involved probably more than 100 community people, and it rippled out. That plan needs to be pulled off the shelf, dusted off, and reviewed before proceeding. What were its goals and recommendations? How much of it has been achieved? How have needs changed? But, in fact, strategic planning should not be a project that occurs every couple of decades -- it should an ongoing process, and that's something I will encourage.

Why are you the best candidate to represent Falls Village on the Region 1 Board of Ed?
Because I have the knowledge, energy, and passion to bring new ideas and challenges to the board. Because from my years as a reporter, I know what the hard questions are and I have the courage to ask them. Because I'm willing to take calculated risks rather than rest with the status quo in order to become excellent, which is my overarching goal for the students, teachers, administrators and the board.

Meet the BOE Candidates

This year's Canaan (Falls Village) Board of Education election is peculiar, because you only get to vote for one of the three candidates, although there are two open spots. The Falls Village Blog sent a questionnaire to the three candidates: Andrea Downs, Ross Grannan, and Beckie Seney. Here are their responses in alphabetical order by last name: Their answers are rather lengthy, which suggests that all three are thoughtful, serious and committed candidates.

ANDREA L. DOWNS
Education: Associate Degree, Business Administration; Paramedicine Certificate
Occupation: Paramedic, Supervisor
Volunteer Activities: Canaan Board of Education, 4 years, chair 2 years; Education Connection Board of Directors, 4 years;
Falls Village Volunteer Ambulance, 10 years (Co-Captain 2 years, Captain 1 year);
Falls Village Volunteer Fire Dept., 6 years;
Republican Town Committee, 10 years, chair for 1; Girl Scouts of Connecticut, scout for 10 years, leader for 10 years; Falls Village Congregational Church, Board of Deacons 8 years, chair for 2.
Religious Education Committee, 8 years, chair for 6;
Recreation and Berkshire United Soccer coach, 5 seasons; CYB coach, 7 years, 2 teams for 6 of those years.
Lee H. Kellogg School Building Committee, 1999 renovation

Number of years in Falls Village: 18

Children: Two attending Kellogg school. Jeremy is 13 and is in 8th grade. Lydia is 11 and is in 6th grade.

What do you think are the Kellogg school’s greatest assets?
Unquestionably the children of Kellogg school are the greatest asset. The children are the reason that so many people work so hard to preserve and maintain the wonderful school that we have. Other great assets are our staff and parents. I have always believed in the saying, “It takes a village to raise a child.” When you put all of these noted assets together [that] makes Falls Village a pretty remarkable place.

What do you think are the Kellogg School’s biggest challenges?
I believe the biggest challenge in our near future is our need to control costs while addressing a decreased enrollment. Now having said that, I also understand that enrollment trends tend to be cyclical and this is not new territory for Kellogg School. I feel it is important to continue to maintain our many learning opportunities currently offered at Kellogg while balancing the increased costs of energy, benefits, and an aging physical plant. One of the benefits of a small school is our ability to be flexible and consider options not available in a larger school system.

What is Kellogg’s role in the community beyond its’ educational mission?
Kellogg is a place of pride for all who live in Falls Village. Many people in our community attend the 8th grade graduation ceremony each year out of tradition. You do not have to have children in this school to feel a part of its community. Kellogg’s proximity to other public buildings in Falls Village such as the library, town hall, historical society, and fire dept. make this a natural gathering place. Many events are held annually at this location such as town meetings, the Falls Village Fire Dept. and Ladies Auxiliary dances, and Memorial Day celebrations when the weather does not cooperate. Various recreation programs use the indoor and outdoor facilities regularly. Currently Kellogg School is the only building in town large enough to accommodate large groups of people.

Why should you be elected to the Canaan (Falls Village) Board of Education?:
I believe that I should be re-elected to the Board of Education because all of my decisions are made with children in mind. I understand that my job on the board is primarily budgets and policy but I must always think about how these decisions will impact the learning of the children. In the past four years I have worked very hard to control the costs at Kellogg School. I have negotiated both certified and non-certified contracts. I feel we were able to negotiate contracts that meet the needs of all our union employees while considering the financial impact to our town. For the first time in the history of Canaan (Falls Village), we were able to negotiate four year contracts realizing a significant savings. I have also worked very closely with staff to control costs in areas such as energy, benefits and plant costs. I have put a great deal of time into rewriting and updating policy. During the first two years I spent time working with other board members and staff to rewrite two of the largest sections of the policy manual. More recently I have worked on policy pertaining to No Child Left Behind, Bullying and Wellness. This is not always an easy task. Many times the law and what the staff and the board feel are best for children are not in alignment. This is a delicate balance that must always be met. If I am re-elected to the Board of Education I will continue to work hard to maintain Kellogg School as the quality school that it is. I feel that giving the children of our community a strong educational opportunity is the greatest gift any community can give their young people. I am a strong proponent of public education and I will continue to work hard to keep Kellogg School a school of choice.


ROSS GRANNAN
Education: 4 plus years of college level classes.

Occupation: I have worked in Blown Glass for 19 years (full-time for 5 years, part time for 14 years) and have worked full-time as a Real Estate Appraiser for 14 years.

Volunteer: I served on the Planning and Zoning Board for three years.

Children: I have two children in Lee H. Kellogg School; Larry and Karl. Larry has attended Kellogg since 2000. I have been highly impressed with the staff and the education my two sons have received. When I tell friends and family that live outside the area about the school they are not only impressed with the class size but the quality of the staff. I feel privileged and secure to have my children enrolled at Kellogg.

What do you think are the Kellogg School's greatest assets?
Without question, the greatest asset at Kellogg is the staff, both certified teachers and the non-certified staff. This group of highly talented teachers and staff has brought Kellogg to a level of education that surpasses all expectations. They have been through 6 changes in principals in the last decade, many changes on the Board of Education and regardless of the challenges they face, and their dedication to the children of Kellogg is phenomenal. An equal asset is the support of the community and the parents. The belief in Falls Village is to support our school and keep the education level high.

What do you think are the Kellogg School's biggest challenges?
The biggest challenge facing Kellogg School is rebuilding the lines of communication between the staff, parents, administration and the town in general. Kellogg School is still an outstanding institution for learning and that of course is because of the excellent teaching staff. The staff is still in place and good teaching still goes on. The problem lies with the Board of Education and the administration and the unilateral recent actions involving the classroom reconfiguration. This was an example of the lack of openness and communication that needs to be changed. It is dysfunctional and somewhat self-serving. Declining enrollment should not result in knee jerk cuts in school programs and staff. I want to look at the big picture. I want to look ahead, see what we can do to attract more families to town, and work with everyone to maintain the same level of expectations for our Kellogg students, our faculty and our town, like we used to. We need to think outside the ‘’box’’, we need creative solutions, not simplistic financial reactions. The parents and teachers need to be able to address problems and solutions with the board of education without feeling like it is falling on deaf ears. Without a team approach the chance of moving forward and dealing with future issues is sure to bring further division, something this community strives to avoid.

Why should you be elected the the Canaan (Falls Village) Board of Education?
There are several reasons why I should be elected. One of which is my goal to bring back the relationship the board of education used to have with the teachers, parents and community (as mentioned above). I will bring to the board of education a solid and respectful relationship with the teaching staff. I truly respect them and I am receptive toward their needs. I want the staff to know they have support from the board of education that they can trust the BOE, rely on the BOE and that it is possible to rebuild the relationship they once had. - After all, without this truly amazing staff, what's left of Kellogg? I will also bring openness and collaboration back to the board of education. In Kent Allyn's letter to the editor he describes a board of education that used to be. Yes, agendas and minutes used to contain all that was discussed in a board of ed. meeting. Last year the new configuration, the biggest change in 14 years, never made an agenda or a set of minutes! Yet the board of education publicly acknowledged they supported it 100% - but how do you support something you have never discussed (according to the minutes, any way) would the public have come to a board of education meeting had they known this was happening? - Absolutely, the library would have been full. Sadly, no one knew but the board of Ed and the principal. In addition, I have run my own business for more than fifteen years and I am quite familiar with the bottom line. In my business I have seen thousands of commercial buildings and single-family homes. I look at 60-year depreciation of costs of structures and yearly maintenance costs as well. One of my first tasks is to find out what the status of the Kellogg building itself. I feel my work in the private sector can offer something to the Board that they may not have at this time. I will bring to the BOE the ability to look at the big picture, look ahead at what is coming and approaching issues with an open mind. I am also willing and able to work with the whole community - teachers, staff, the board of education, the Selectmen, the Board of Finance and the taxpayers.

BECKIE L. SENEY
Education: Bachelor of Music Therapy, Psychology minor – Shenandoah Conservatory, Winchester, VA, 1992. Master of Science in Communication Disorders – Southern Connecticut State University, New Haven, CT, 2004.


Occupation: Speech-Language Pathologist, Region One School District (full-time) and New Milford Hospital (per diem).

Volunteer Activities:
Present:
Canaan (Falls Village) Board of Education, 2004-present. Current Vice-Chair.
Falls Village Volunteer Fire Department, 1998-present. Current Firefighter I/EMT-B; current member, Board of Directors; Past EMS First Lieutenant and Past EMS Co-Captain.
Emergency Medical Services Institute, Inc. Board of Directors, 2005-present. Current Secretary.
American Heart Association Basic Life Skills Instructor, 2007-present.
Salisbury Visiting Nurse Association Professional Advisory Committee, 2006-present.
Past:
Falls Village Day Care Center Board of Directors, 2001-2005. Past Vice-Chair.
American Red Cross CPR/First Aid Instructor, Connecticut Child Care Instructor, 1999-2004.

# of years in Falls Village: 10; I moved here in 1997 from Schenectady, NY. I previously lived in Virginia for a year as well.

Children: 2 step-children, Ryan (24) and Heather (22), both Kellogg and HVRHS alumni. Ryan earned both his B.S. and M.S. in Computer Science from Worcester Polytechnic Institute and Heather is finishing her Bachelor’s in English at the University of Connecticut.

What do you think are the Kellogg School's greatest assets?
Kellogg School has two assets that stand out amongst its many strengths – one is the staff, whose dedication and experience is unsurpassed. The other is the active involvement and support of the parents and the community as a whole.

What do you think are the Kellogg School's biggest challenges?
The biggest challenge faced by the school and the board of education right now is the declining enrollment, with the multi-faceted implications of that shift. This shift has the potential for impacting programs (curricular and extracurricular), staffing, physical plant, etc. This is not something new; enrollment is cyclical, and Kellogg experienced just such a decline in the 80s. The challenge is maintaining Kellogg’s outstanding educational program which prepares our students for secondary education opportunities while controlling costs.

What is Kellogg's role in the community beyond its education mission?
Kellogg’s educational mission is its primary role, however, in this close-knit community, the school serves other purposes. It is in many ways the heart of the community, where events such as town meetings, fire department fundraisers, and athletic events are held. But it goes beyond the physical building - the students of Kellogg are the future of Falls Village, as well as the state and the country. The children of our community learn more than academics there; they learn citizenship, respect, responsibility, integrity. The skills learned by the students, modeled by the staff and parents, will shape Falls Village for years to come.

Why should you be elected to the Canaan (Falls Village) Board of Education?
I believe that I bring a strong background in policy development combined with experience in education to this board of education. As an employee of the Region One School District, I have a thorough understanding of the unique structure of our tiny district and the regional one from which we purchase services, and the impact of the policies the board develops on the day-to-day operations of a school. I understand the concepts of due diligence and the board’s role of governance, not management. But the biggest reason I believe that I should be elected to our board of education is that I care deeply about the children and I want them to have the best educational opportunities we can offer them.

B is for Baking

Kimberly Rock, the proud mother of a Kellogg kindergartner, sent in the following report and pictures.

You may have spotted the Kellogg kindergartners on Monday traipsing down Main Street hand-in-hand on their inaugural field trip of the school year. They were led by former-fifth grade-turned-Kindergarten teacher extraordinaire Candy Stiewing (pronounced “STEE –wing”), veteran teaching assistant Cristine Dakers and a couple of chaperoning parents.

Mrs. Stiewing and Mrs. Dakers are teaching the newest students at Kellogg about “community”. And what better way to start,then to visit Jason at Sweet William's Bakery? Owner Jason Young had the children eating out of his hand. He charmed them with stories of his earliest baking memories with his mother and said that some of his best recipes are variations passed down from her. The gigantic mixer was a crowd pleaser, and the kids enjoyed taking turns cutting out cookies from fresh dough–but if you asked the five-year-olds what their favorite part of the trip was, you’re most likely to hear about the yummy taste of Jason’s delicious creations.
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Huh?

There's going to be alot of confusion on Election Day this year. There will not only be new voting machines on November 6, but there will be three candidates running for two seats on the Board of Education but you can only vote for one (Democratic candidate Beckie Lynne Seney, Republican candidate Ross W. Grannan, or Petitioning Candidate and current board president Andrea L. Downs.) Basically, it's going to be like the Miss America contest with the first runner up being a winner, too. To keep this race from being a mere popularity contest, Town Clerk Mary Palmer has organized a meet-the-candidates forum at Town Hall on Tuesday, October 2, at 4 PM, where you can ask them questions about their vision for the Kellogg School. The two candidates vying to represent Falls Village on the Region 1 Board of Education are also expected: Republican Margaret R. Ruotolo and Democrat Gale A. Toensing. And the Registrars of Voters will be there from 3 to 5 PM to show you how the new voting machines are supposed to work.

Kudos for Kellogg

I was reading Terry Cowgill's Blog this morning and came across this comment from one of his readers about our town's unique public school.

"Also, I thought I should say that Lee Kellogg School impressed the dickens out of me this morning when their eighth grade visited Beckley Furnace. 22 kids, all well-prepared, all armed with notebooks (which they used), and they all seemed to have attention spans about 300% of the typical 8th grade attention span. Whatever they are doing in Falls Village is working. Other towns should take note."
Comment by Geoff Brown — September 27, 2007

Flower Children

The more I learn about the Lee H. Kellogg School, the more it sounds like a progressive private academy in Vermont. (That's meant as a compliment.) It's a cooperative community of learning that is intense, intimate, eclectic and humanistic: a school with a soul in a town with a heart.

Every year for the 8th grade graduation, the school reaches out to the community and asks residents to cut flowers from their own gardens to adorn the stage. No one seems to remember when or how this tradition began, but everyone honors it.

Donations can be left in the multi-purpose room at Kellogg anytime on Thursday, June 14. Bring flowers in containers with water, labeled with your name and phone number, and the containers will be returned to you. If you have questions or want to help with the flower arranging, call Maria MacNeil at 824-7958 or Joan Wingard at 824-5238.

Then come back at 7 PM for graduation in the gym. Betsy Howie (whose peonies will no doubt make it to the stage) tells me that of all the heartfelt events that take place annually in Falls Village, nothing compares to 8th grade graduation. Her advice: Bring Kleenex.