CROSSROADS ACADEMY
WE ARE MENTORS At Crossroads Academy, we are proud of the diverse range of experiences our faculty bring to their essential work with students. We place particular emphasis on teacher-student relationships; they are at the center of our school’s culture. We believe that these strong relationships inspire curiosity, encourage academic pursuits, and model positive ways to be in the world. Our teachers are the heart of the Crossroads experience. They walk with their students along an educational journey, providing support and inspiring Strong Minds and Kind Hearts along the way.
Ms. Scotty Harris
Lower School Division Head BA, Trinity College MA, Columbia University
Ms. Harris began her teaching career as a kindergarten and first grade teacher in New York City. From there, she went on to develop curriculum, lead literacy workshops, and work for the Admissions team at Dartmouth College. In 2016, Ms. Harris joined the Crossroads community as the Lower School Spanish teacher. She then shared her skills as a reading instructor, Faculty Mentor, and finally took on the role of Lower School Division Head. She supports students, faculty, and families at Crossroads. Her favorite work involves implementing vibrant changes to an aready strong and engaging program. “There’s always room for growth,” she says. If you ask Ms. Harris about what motivates her to give so much to a school environment,
she will highlight her love for children and her passion for connecting with others through shared ideas. She loves the conversation, collaboration, and creativity in supporting such incredible colleagues. Ms. Harris admits she would never make it in the corporate world. “I tried! I missed the students and energy of a school too much.” Ms. Harris’s energy and positivity shine at Crossroads. Whether she’s popping into classes, running down to Bancroft, teaching, leading a meeting, or planning with teachers, she takes her work seriously, but always with a smile. On her administrative journey, Ms. Harris promises to never lose sight of the hard work of teachers and the joy in education. “At Crossroads,” she says, “we are like one big family. I feel so lucky to be here.”
“My work energizes me,” Harris says. “And I hope that I can provide that same feeling for others at Crossroads.”
CROSSROADS ACADEMY 95 Dartmouth College • Lyme, New Hampshire 03768 www.crossroadsacademy.org • (603) 795-3111
With an intentional focus on the integration of content and character, our lower school students gain knowledge while exhibiting honesty, joy, perseverance, and respect. Through this approach, Crossroads students develop a balance between virtue and academic excellence. Our teaching team is dedicated to modeling a growth mindset and a commitment to lifelong learning. It is a joy to lead such a talented team. I encourage you to come visit our school to see our mission and curriculum in action.
LOWER SCHOOL AT CROSSROADS
Please visit www.crossroadsacademy.org for more information on Ms. Harris and our Lower School curriculum.
Ms. Sarah Burkhart Kindergarten Teacher BA, Colorado College MA, University of Colorado
Ms. Burkhart believes that young children are naturally inclined to wonder about the world. The kindergarten program at Crossroads is rooted in the importance of child-centered learning, in which children actively engage in meaningful experiences that reflect their ideas and interests. Students in Ms. Burkhart’s class regularly use the Treehouse Classroom for writing projects, read-alouds, and acting out plays. Similarly, every Friday, students can be found tromping around on the Hoopes Loop Trail. Ms. Burkhart understands the vital role her program plays in shaping a student’s attitude toward learning. She believes a
positive first experience in school can make all the difference in a child’s educational journey. Therefore, her relationships with students and their families are equally important as academic content. “I want my students to feel that school is a safe place to not only be themselves, but to take risks and try new things. I want them to know I trust their choices, I support their ideas, and I hear their voices.” In Ms. Burkhart’s classroom, social and emotional well-being is woven together with academic content to enhance each student’s sense of self, and to give each of them a strong foundation to becoming competent and capable individuals in an ever-changing world.
“Sometimes we go on a listening walk and move through the woods in complete silence. Sometimes we search for animal tracks in the snow, or build fairy houses in patches of moss. Often we let the students guide us—what do they need from nature today? What will they teach us about play and a sense of place?”
CROSSROADS ACADEMY 95 Dartmouth College • Lyme, New Hampshire 03768 www.crossroadsacademy.org • (603) 795-3111
MS. BURKHART’S Fairytales, Kings, and Queens Passports Around the World Presidents and American Symbols Native American Studies Forest Fridays KINDERGARTEN HIGHLIGHTS
Please visit www.crossroadsacademy.org for more information on Ms. Burkhart and our kindergarten curriculum.
Ms. Jessica Nichols First Grade Teacher BA, Bates College MEd, Lesley University
Throughout her career, Ms. Nichols has been motivated by seeing the ahha moments for students when they perservere through a complex lesson and master a new concept or skill. “Watching that spark in a student’s eyes motivates me to do my best for them,” she reflects. “Students all learn differently, and I enjoy the challenge of trying to figure out which teaching strategies resonate for each child. Finding ways to light that spark for a child fuels me every day.” Ms. Nichols continually explores ways to meet her students’ needs through hearing their stories and understanding their perspectives. She is always exploring ways to broaden her repertoire of teaching strategies while diversifying her
approaches for all types of learners. “First graders often come to school brimming over with enthusiasm and a curiosity to learn,” she says. “I love finding creative ways to harness that energy to help them develop.” “Nurturing collaboration with colleagues allows me to better serve students,” Ms. Nichols reflected. “Not only because the teaching team is on the same page, but also because that approach fosters stronger relationships with students.” As a first grade teacher, Ms. Nichols emphasizes building strong connections with her students while making it clear that they are working toward a common goal.
“There is so much growth that happens in first grade and I enjoy getting to know my students for who they are and how they learn in order to help guide them toward academic success.”
CROSSROADS ACADEMY 95 Dartmouth College • Lyme, New Hampshire 03768 www.crossroadsacademy.org • (603) 795-3111
MS. NICHOLS’ Egyptian Museum Ice Age Cave Paintings Electrical Circuits Geology and Volcano Eruption Project Non-Fiction Animal Research Project FIRST GRADE HIGHLIGHTS
Please visit www.crossroadsacademy.org for more information on Ms. Nichols and our first grade curriculum.
Mrs. Marjorie Martin Second Grade Teacher Core Virtues Coordinator BS, State University of New York MS, Long Island University Mrs. Martin believes in fostering a growth mindset with each of her students. She has learned the best way to do this is by modeling what that looks like. Two years ago, Mrs. Martin decided that she would learn something as unfamiliar to her as mathematical bar models were to the second graders. So, over the course of the year, Mrs. Martin learned to walk on stilts. At the beginning of each month, she would demonstrate her progress to the class. As she leaned against the wall on her stilts, she would tell her students, “When you are learning something new, you sometimes need a little extra support.” By the final assembly in May, she walked up to the stage and performed the Hokey Pokey on stilts! She received a standing ovation, not for her dance moves, but for her perserverance and ability to model what it means and what it feels like to
learn something new. A love of learning begins early for Mrs. Martin’s students. Even before the end of the summer, she invites each new student for an individual visit to her farm. There, they pick vegetables, gather eggs, and help feed animals before preparing a dinner together. Then she provides each student with a journal that includes photos from the visit with space to write reflections and memories from the day. When students are ready to leave the school six years later, they often refer to these journals and reflect on “the special day on Mrs. Martin’s farm” during their graduation speeches. At Crossroads, Mrs. Martin is known for her dedication to her students and peers. From inspiring young Shakespeareans to building simple machines, students are in for an exciting ride.
“It’s important to always be prepared for what comes next. It might be necessary to walk on stilts. That’s where the magic begins.”
CROSSROADS ACADEMY 95 Dartmouth College • Lyme, New Hampshire 03768 www.crossroadsacademy.org • (603) 795-3111
MRS. MARTIN’S Studying Ancient Civilizations of China, India, and Greece Romeo and Juliet Performance Hosting the “State Fair” Hatching and Raising Chicks “Stuff-a-Truck” Charity Drive Experimenting with Simple Machines Writing Books
SECOND GRADE HIGHLIGHTS
Please visit www.crossroadsacademy.org for more information on Mrs. Martin and our second grade curriculum.
Ms. Heather Verheeck Third Grade Teacher and Director of Summer Programs BA, Fairleigh Dickinson University MEd, Fairleigh Dickinson University Ms. Verheeck, or “Ms. V” as she’s most commonly known, is a teacher to her core. Her strong classroom skills and love for children shine every day as she understands that each child brings something special to the classroom. Regardless of the context, Ms. V’s students are “her kids,” a designation that once earned, lasts a lifetime. She keeps her door open at all hours of the day and is often the first to arrive to school and one of the last to leave. As she prepares her lessons, you’ll find students orbiting around her desk, sharing stories, laughing, and recounting what they learned during the day.
Recently, Ms. V completed an OrtonGillingham training to master highly effective strategies for increasing her students’ reading and writing skills. As a lifelong learner herself, she is happy to admit that each day her students teach her something new about life or the world around us. Because of this, she believes it is important to try to see things from their perspective. Ms. V is warm, kind, and able to embrace every student who enters her world. Students respond in miraculous ways to her energy and love of learning.
“My students teach me something new about life or the world around us,” she reflects. “I always make sure to remind myself to take a step back, so that I can see the world through an eight-year-old’s eyes.”
CROSSROADS ACADEMY 95 Dartmouth College • Lyme, New Hampshire 03768 www.crossroadsacademy.org • (603) 795-3111
MS. VERHEECK’S Ancient Rome Day Viking Studies Gingerbread House Cow Eyeball Dissection Wax Museum Class Book of Fairy Tales THIRD GRADE HIGHLIGHTS
Please visit www.crossroadsacademy.org for more information on Ms. Verheeck and our third grade curriculum.
Ms. Michele George Fourth Grade Teacher BA, Boston College MEd, John Carroll University
When Ms. George arrived at Crossroads in 2017 to teach fourth grade, she could finally proudly say that she will have taught every grade from one to twelve. At Crossroads, Ms. George’s students practice yoga, though they may not realize it. Sometimes the class takes a stand-on-oneleg stretch break to loosen things up. When Ms. George feels the energy rising past the point of productivity, she might ring a chime. Everyone knows what that means: Stop what you’re doing, close your eyes, and take three deep breaths. “It’s palpable,” she said of the effect. “It feels more settled. It feels like there’s more space.” Following Ms. George’s first year at Crossroads, she spent her summer vacation
writing a screenplay for a class production of Robin Hood to be performed at the culmination of their Medieval Europe studies in the fall. To prepare, she read as many as twenty renditions of the play and produced a nineteen-page script with seventeen speaking parts. “I tried to appeal to fourth graders,” she said. “The play explores history, romance, humor, poverty, truth, injustice, and bows and arrows.” In addition, the Core Virtues Program at Crossroads allows Ms. George to bring forth the best part of whoever she’s working with in any given moment. The Core Knowledge Sequence compliments her teaching style by allowing her the freedom to be creative.
“I appreciate the freedom to be creative at Crossroads. We have this rich curriculum, but there’s no how-to. To me, that’s a huge invitation.”
CROSSROADS ACADEMY 95 Dartmouth College • Lyme, New Hampshire 03768 www.crossroadsacademy.org • (603) 795-3111
MS. GEORGE’S Performing Robin Hood Enjoying a Medieval Feast Sheep Heart Dissection Forest Fridays Medieval Islam, Europe, Africa, and China Studies FOURTH GRADE HIGHLIGHTS
Please visit www.crossroadsacademy.org for more information on Mrs. George’s fourth grade curriculum.
Mr. Ryan Chappuis Fifth Grade Teacher
BA, Middlebury College MA, University of Connecticut At the very center of Mr. Chappuis’ teaching is his love of inspiring ten and eleven-year-olds. Whether he’s in his fifth grade classroom, leading a computer science lesson in the middle school, playing trombone for a music class, or reading with his students on the banks of Hewes Brook, he cultivates independence, creativity, and problem-solving skills. Mr. Chappuis instills a sense of pride in his students. He helps them to look outside of themselves through the big questions they encounter in his classroom. They are encouraged to think critically about the world around them and are
opening doors for future academic and social-emotional pursuits. In these moments, Mr. Chappuis believes they become ready to tackle important social skills like empathy and selflessness while maintaining the wide-eyed wonder of youth. “Every day brings a new discovery, and there is nothing I love more than seeing the light of excitement and understanding in my students’ expressions when they master a new concept or when a well-posed question leads us into a fascinating discussion about some deep philosophical idea,” he reflects.
“It’s a perfect time for students to take on leadership roles. Whether it is learning to be a good role model for their kindergarten buddies, or participating in a Shakespeare play, fifth graders at Crossroads are consistently given the opportunity to step up to the plate.”
CROSSROADS ACADEMY 95 Dartmouth College • Lyme, New Hampshire 03768 www.crossroadsacademy.org • (603) 795-3111
MR. CHAPPUIS’ Odyssey Museum Persuasive Speech Contest Production of A Midsummer Night’s Dream Civil War Research Project Leadership Opportunities and Kindergarten Buddies Journalism and Nature Writing Exploring Squam Lakes Natural Science Center FIFTH GRADE HIGHLIGHTS
Please visit www.crossroadsacademy.org for more information on Mr. Chappuis and our fifth grade curriculum.
Mr. Guinness Harley Strings Instructor BA, Trinity College MA, Columbia University
Mr. Harley’s passion for the violin began to develop at age four, or perhaps even as a toddler. He credits his own innovative teachers for his current drive for pedagogical instruction. Trained in the Suzuki method, Mr. Harley adheres to many of the same principles, including a focus on early ear training, daily practice, and regular listening to current and approaching repertoire. He teaches using the Mother Tongue method, similar to inherent language acquisition. Note reading is not impressed until students have their own, confident musical ‘diction.’ His strategies provide the foundation for students to become proficient violinists and musicians, and might compel some to pursue engaged learning throughout their lives.
Mr. Harley’s philosophy encourages dedication, diligence, and the courage to persevere. He firmly believes that through such character development students will become successful at the violin and will also develop into active, effective, and conscientious global citizens. He inspires students to have a love of music and a true love of life, itself. Mr. Harley believes it is imperative for his students to investigate music from around the world. He has played in many parts of the globe, and is always mesmerized by the violin as a vehicle for emotional communication, regardless of the spoken language. Transcending all borders, Mr. Harley creates and harnesses an effective musical curriculum that encourages global awareness, and a deep thirst for further knowledge.
“Throughout my teaching, I adhere to the Suzuki philosophy that a beautiful heart truly does make a beautiful tone.”
CROSSROADS ACADEMY 95 Dartmouth College • Lyme, New Hampshire 03768 www.crossroadsacademy.org • (603) 795-3111
Crossroads instructs students how to play the violin with technique and tone production while cultivating an atmosphere that encourages daily practice. This teaches students the importance of continued improvement. Research strongly shows that learning a non-fretted stringed instrument can encourage bridging between the left and right hemispheres of the brain. As the left hemisphere controls the bow arm, the intricacies of mathematical bow divisions become deeply developed and articulated. The expression demanded by the left hand corresponds to the more artistically-oriented right hemisphere. Cultivating neural pathways between the two sides lends a deeper awareness of any subject, as well as a more fully rounded understanding and appreciation of the world itself.
STRINGS PROGRAM AT CROSSROADS
Please visit www.crossroadsacademy.org for more information on Mr. Harley and our Strings curriculum.
Ms. Holly Gardner Middle School Division Head BA, University of New Hampshire MA, Framingham State College
Ms. Gardner began teaching English, theater, language arts, and gifted and talented education in New Hampshire. She then took her teaching skills to Turkey where she helped students learn English and grew to become the Academic Vice Principal. She would spend the next twenty years overseas teaching in Thailand, Mexico, Cambodia, and Israel. In 2018, when her daughter was accepted into a college in Massachusetts, she chose to return to New Hampshire and joined the Crossroads Academy family. She taught English and performing arts, directed the musical, and served as the Middle School Division Head. She later focused her attention on the latter two. Ms. Gardner finds that helping students become “leaders of their own learning” is key to educating students in this
fast paced world. The idea of creating empowered individuals crosses over into her work as an administrator. Here too, she loves to work with teachers and support them in developing curriculum, pedagogy, and leadership opportunities. Holly’s dedication to policy and procedure are crucial to her work at Crossroads. She is always developing ways to grow our program through innovative thinking, planning, and looking ahead. She is skilled in leading workshops, implementing differentiation, and coaching her team toward student led assessments and learning. ‘When students are in charge of their own learning, they are able to recognize strengths and areas of interest. This leads to passionate and engaged lifelong learners.” Thank you, Holly for inspiring our MS team.
“My favorite thing about teaching is watching my students get excited about learning and helping them to find and develop their passions.”
CROSSROADS ACADEMY 95 Dartmouth College • Lyme, New Hampshire 03768 www.crossroadsacademy.org • (603) 795-3111
Our Middle School curriculum continues with an intentional focus to integrate “content and character” with a rigorous academic program that prepares students for placement in honors-level courses at area high schools and acceptance to private secondary schools and more formalized program of character education, which includes a community service component with local organizations. Each student is assigned a faculty member as their academic advisor throughout grades 6-8 who provides guidance on not only on academic life, but also any personal or social issues that the student wishes to–and are encouraged to–share.
MIDDLE SCHOOL AT CROSSROADS
Please visit www.crossroadsacademy.org for more information on Ms. Gardner and our Middle School curriculum.
Dr. Jessica Day Science Teacher
BA Biochemistry, Occidental College PhD Biochemistry, Dartmouth College
Dr. Day doesn’t believe anyone is bad at science. In fact, one of the main goals for her teaching is to instill a sense of confidence within each of her students so they will have access to the tools they need to understand the world around them as a biologist, chemist, physicist, or any other type of science they would like to pursue.
upon an understanding and love for the scientific process. There is a constant buzz in the lab as students engage in handson activities that foster their curiosity and encourage original solutions and risk taking. In this dynamic classroom environment, activities and projects are tailored toward student needs and longterm goals for learning.
Dr. Day’s students are encouraged to pose their own questions and design experiments to perform in the school’s state-of-the-art lab. They compile accurate data and use this to advance their understanding of scientific concepts and ideas.
Along with having fun, Dr. Day’s process of teaching and encouraging inquiry leads toward a great sense of mastery. The lessons they learn can be applied across other subjects at the school in ways that are as dynamic as they are inspiring—all leading toward a greater understanding of the world around us.
Students are exposed to a thorough, well-rounded science curriculum built
“Anyone can be a fantastic scientist if they put their mind to it,” Day says. “When students graduate from Crossroads, they understand that.”
CROSSROADS ACADEMY 95 Dartmouth College • Lyme, New Hampshire 03768 www.crossroadsacademy.org • (603) 795-3111
DR. DAY’S Citizen Science Project Contributions Engaging in STEM Challenges Eighth Grade Solar Sprint Seventh Grade Cell Pizzas Sixth Grade Roller Coaster Design Fifth Grade Water Testing in Hewes Brook SCIENCE HIGHLIGHTS
Please visit www.crossroadsacademy.org for more information on Dr. Day and our science curriculum.
Dr. Bruce Freeberg
Academic Dean and History Teacher BA, Colby College MATS, Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary PhD, Emory University 2011 New Hampshire History Teacher of the Year Dr. Freeberg has a doctorate in philosophy and a dozen years of teaching experience at the college level. Now he teaches middle school history—and loves it. When Dr. Freeberg began studying early education, he was led to the writings of E.D. Hirsch, an educational reformer who argued primary schools lacked what children need to promote broad reading comprehension and to build a foundation for continued learning in high school and beyond. Effective primary education, Hirsch wrote, embeds the skills kids need to master in rich content: history, literature, geography, math, the arts, and science.
Crossroads Academy is the first independent school in the country to base its approach on Hirsch’s writings. At Crossroads, the curriculum is carefully sequenced from year to year and built around two concepts: Core Knowledge and Core Virtues. The first fosters literacy, and the second good character. As a histroy teacher of over 10 years at Crossroads, Dr. Freeberg guides students from the Renaissance in fifth grade straight through to the Cold War in eighth. “They’re encountering the grand narrative of the human story, which a lot of people never get,” he said.
“Ask a question in a college classroom, and you’re often answered with hesitation. Ask fifth graders a question and eight hands shoot skyward,” said Freeburg. “They might not be quite as articulate in their elaboration, but they arrive at many of the same insights that college students do.”
CROSSROADS ACADEMY 95 Dartmouth College • Lyme, New Hampshire 03768 www.crossroadsacademy.org • (603) 795-3111
DR. FREEBERG’S
Historical Field Trips History Coffee Houses Staged Debates Student Presentations HISTORY HIGHLIGHTS
Please visit www.crossroadsacademy.org for more information on Dr. Freeberg and our History and Core Knowledge curriculum.
Mr. Steve Glazer
Middle School English Teacher and Community Coordinator BA, Union College MA, University of Chicago 2015 New Hampshire History Teacher of the Year A member of the Crossroads community since 2013, Mr. Glazer puts place at the center of his teaching in the seventh and eighth grade English classroom. Here, both inside and outside the classroom, Mr. Glazer has found a true sense of place. “While most adults do not want to go back to being twelve or thirteen years old, I am trying to give my middle school students experiences that they’ll never want to forget.” “In a world of many words with often little meaning, Mr. Glazer has taught us to express complexity with creatively
structured simplicity,” said former student Maxine Park ’18. “To say that Mr. Glazer is inspiring would not do justice to the great dedication he has for his students and the way he challenges them to engage with writing and the world.” For Maxine and other students in Mr. Glazer’s class, that all-important sense of place has a way of staying with them, no matter where their path may lead. The opportunity to make such a difference explains why Mr. Glazer has found his place too, at Crossroads.
“At the end of eighth grade, my students recite ‘What to The Slave is the Fourth of July?’ at the African Meeting House in Boston. Trembling, they climb the same steps that Frederick Douglass climbed. From memory, they offer Douglass’s words to the crying docents. I’m trembling and crying too.”
CROSSROADS ACADEMY 95 Dartmouth College • Lyme, New Hampshire 03768 www.crossroadsacademy.org • (603) 795-3111
MR. GLAZER’S Thirteen Ways of Looking at Black Rain: Close Reading in the Atomic Age “This is My Letter to the World” an Emily Dickinson poetry portfolio project Shakespeare’s plays: The Tempest and Twelfth Night Reading 20th Century History: To Kill a Mockingbird, Animal Farm, Night, and Fahrenheit 451 Raising our Voices Women’s Literature from Elizabeth Cady Stanton to Hannah Arendt
ENGLISH HIGHLIGHTS
Please visit www.crossroadsacademy.org for more information on Mr. Glazer’s English curriculum.
Ms. Maria Squire
Middle School Math Teacher BS, Northwestern University US Peace Corps Zimbabwe, Technology
Ms. Squire appreciates the process of investigation, discovery, and practice necessary to the true study of mathematics. For this reason, she designs and delivers her math program as a sequential journey based upon building connections and relationships. Ms. Squire’s focus on connection spans the conceptual as well as the interpersonal. Crossroads community’s commitment to character education, civic duty, and holistic academic excellence continually inform, inspire, and sustain her work as Math Department Head, Math Club coach, and Pre-Algebra, Algebra and Geometry teacher. In her math classes, Ms. Squire enjoys
working to spark each student’s interest in numbers and patterns, as well as the more visual and 3-dimensional aspects of the discipline. Her students learn to view math as a universal language that is capable of describing and modeling reallife elements such as change and growth. Ms. Squire makes it her goal to create confident mathematicians and proficient critical thinkers who understand and appreciate the relevance of math in the everyday. She feels that coordinating math across the grades, preparing students for area math competitions, and teaching math daily are meaningful ways that she can contribute to forming effective leaders of tomorrow.
“It is important to inspire students to listen and to engage, thus empowering them to work, grow, and master,” she says. “At Crossroads, I have students who understand and value this process, which means that every day we are making a difference.”
CROSSROADS ACADEMY 95 Dartmouth College • Lyme, New Hampshire 03768 www.crossroadsacademy.org • (603) 795-3111
MS. SQUIRE’S Pre-Agebra: Variables, Positive and Negative Operations, Equations, Inequalities, Ratio, Proportion, Percent, The Coordinate Plane, Geometry, Probability and Statistics, Linear Equations
Algebra I: Linear Equations, Negative Operations, Axioms, Polynomials, Radicals, Quadratics, 2-Variable Equations, Exponents, Factoring, Radical/Rational Expressions, Equations and Inequalities in 1 or 2 Variables.
Geometry: 2-column, paragraph, and indirect proofs, Congruent triangles, Parallel Lines, Polygons, Introductory Trigonometry, Circles, Area and Volume, Coordinate Geometry, and Constructions.
MATH HIGHLIGHTS
Please visit www.crossroadsacademy.org for more information on Ms. Squire and our middle school math curriculum.
Mrs. Tina Nadeau Art Teacher
AAS, Farmingdale College, SUNY BFA, Fashion Institute of Technology, SUNY Upper Valley Educators Institute Certificate in Art Education Mrs. Nadeau believes that in art, the process is as important as the product. She also believes that engaging young minds to think, act, and explore creatively fosters learning in all disciplines. “Art has always been an integral part of my life,” said Mrs. Nadeau, “and my goal is to encourage others to find that same sense of validation and reward through art.” Mrs. Nadeau enjoys supporting young artists and helping them connect their work to the world around them. Mrs. Nadeau not only inspires her students creatively, but also appreciates how they inspire her. A careful observer of all she sees, Mrs. Nadeau values the chance to watch each of her students, from kindergarten to eighth grade, create artwork. As the world continues to move faster and
faster, Mrs. Nadeau wants her classroom to provide students with a sanctuary in which they can slow down and focus, and to offer opportunities for hands-on problem solving. “It is my responsibility,” she says, “to guide 21st-century young minds into the future.” By doing so, Mrs. Nadeau hopes her students become both the guardians and ambassadors of culture by reflecting, preserving, and recording experiences through art. Mrs. Nadeau strives to develop lifelong learners who continue to grow and explore. Crossroads has helped her to create an environment that provides a lens into the past as well as the future. “When students enter the art room, I strive to nurture their creative souls and hope they spread the magic in turn.”
“I am always intrigued by how a student solves a visual challenge. I try to provide the recipe and the ingredients, but the student is always the passionate cook, and that’s what makes a great result.”
CROSSROADS ACADEMY 95 Dartmouth College • Lyme, New Hampshire 03768 www.crossroadsacademy.org • (603) 795-3111
MRS. NADEAU’S Kindergarten Alexander Calder Inspired Sculptures First Grade Egyptian Cartouches Second Grade Chinese Calligraphy Third Grade Native American Hopi Kachina Dolls Fourth Grade Medieval Gargoyle Masks Fifth Grade Goyutaku Japanese Fish Printing
Sixth Grade Greek Coil Pottery Seventh Grade George Seurat Inspired Pointillism Fall Still Life Paintings Eighth Grade Nylon and Wire Sculptures Inspired by Master Artists Family Arts Night Howe Library Spring Art Show Hood Museum of Art Field Trips
ART HIGHLIGHTS
Please visit www.crossroadsacademy.org for more information on Mrs. Nadeau and our art curriculum.
Mr. Matthew McGuigan Physical Education Teacher BS, Plymouth State University
When Mr. McGuigan brought his talents and passion for teaching to Crossroads in 2016, he set out to develop a curriculum that was fun and engaging. Mr. McGuigan encourages his students to become more physically active and establish healthy lifelong habits. “Some of my favorite childhood memories were outside exploring the woods, ridingbikes, playing wiffle ball, snowboarding, and a million other activities my brother and I invented,” he recalls. Mr. McGuigan often shares these childhood stories with his students, hoping they will invent their own activities and form their own memories. To facilitate this process, he teaches many skills in his PE classes (balance and coordination, throwing or kicking a ball), which help students generate their own positive associations of physical activity and play.
Mr. McGuigan creates an engaging curriculum by structuring lessons to touch on key components of healthy living, while also reinforcing our Core Knowledge and Core Virtues Programs. He collaborates with colleagues to build an in-depth understanding of the student experience across all subjects. In 2019, Mr. McGuigan was awarded the Middle School Physical Education Teacher of the Year Award from the New Hampshire Association for Health, Physical Education, Recreation, and Dance. His leadership and exemplary work were key components to this accomplishment. Mr. McGuigan is dedicated to growing each year, from teaching to guitar. This growth mindset is one of the many reasons he’s cherished at Crossroads.
“I want to make PE fun and meaningful for both myself and my students,” he says. “Students learn in different ways, but I know mastering physical skills and enjoying being active in and outside of school can help everyone.”
CROSSROADS ACADEMY 95 Dartmouth College • Lyme, New Hampshire 03768 www.crossroadsacademy.org • (603) 795-3111
MR. MCGUIGAN’S Middle School Hulbert Outdoor Center Trip Family Fall Festival Rock Climbing and Low Ropes Course Snowshoeing Fifth Grade Fishing Trip Field Day Lower School Passport to Winter Fun
PHYSICAL EDUCATION HIGHLIGHTS
Please visit www.crossroadsacademy.org for more information on Mr. McGuigan and our Physical Education curriculum.
Mme. Anne Delmelle French Teacher
BA, Catholic University of Louvain, Belgium MA, Catholic University of Louvain, Belgium Mme. Delmelle alternated between the study of French and Latin in school. The richness of this comparative study, and her love of French literature, allowed her to make connections between the spoken language in France and its heritage around the world. As a French teacher, Mme. Delmelle strives to offer this perspective and make connections between the disparate regions in the world influenced by French culture and language. At Crossroads, Mme. Delmelle believes the strong emphasis on academics provides a perfect environment for the children to realize their hidden potential as language
learners and cultural explorers. French at Crossroads emphasizes the essential questions associated with making connections between language and culture. Mme, Delmelle loves the way these connections are reinforced through the Core Knowledge and Core Virtues Programs. Mme. Delmelle offers her students ample opportunities to engage in genuine and in-depth learning. She knows that when students have the chance to explore their passions, a little bit of magic occurs, and they communicate in the target language without even realizing it.
“After twenty years of teaching, I am still amazed by the empowerment gained by the knowledge of a second language and the discovery of cultural diversity,” says Delmelle. “These discoveries can inspire students to stay up after bedtime to learn about the French world and read texts in French!”
CROSSROADS ACADEMY 95 Dartmouth College • Lyme, New Hampshire 03768 www.crossroadsacademy.org • (603) 795-3111
MME. DELMELLE’S TCI (Teaching with Comprehensible Input) is based on the work of Dr Stephen Krashen who determined that language acquisition is an unconscious process that happens when the learner is focused on the meaning of the message rather than on how the language works. I want my students to acquire the French language, rather than just learn about it. In all my classes–from K through 8–I am speaking French 90% of the time. To ensure that the language used is comprehensible I limit my vocabulary to high-frequency words that are needed for fluency then slowly add more complex concepts.
TCI METHOD
Please visit www.crossroadsacademy.org for more information on Mme. Delmelle and our French curriculum.
Ms. Amanda Brodsky Librarian, Math Teacher, Learning Specialist BA, Barnard College, Columbia University MA, Columbia University Ms. Brodsky always strives to give her students the opportuniry to learn and grow by representing student learning and student output through multiple modalities. Her students are often representing their work visually, using manipulatives to come to theoretical and practical conclusions, or selecting and designing their own ways to represent their learning. In each of her roles at Crossroads, Ms. Brodsky creates learning experiences that support her underlying goals as an educator: discovering her students’ interests, how her students learn, and supporting them. Ms. Brodsky loves to encourage risk
taking in nurturing environments that allow for mistakes as part of a student’s overall learning and growth. Her students cultivate a constructivist mindset where they make discoveries and form connections that foster independence. Students in Ms. Brodsky’s library or math classes are given opportunities to fuse social-emotional learning with academic work. By doing so, students strengthen their critical and analytic thinking skills and make greater connections between their new and previous lessons. Ms. Brodsky teaches her students the value of reflection while pursuing her passion of educating each student with creativivity and care.
“It’s important to engage with each student, and grow our relationship so that I can have an understanding of each student’s strengths and needs.”
CROSSROADS ACADEMY 95 Dartmouth College • Lyme, New Hampshire 03768 www.crossroadsacademy.org • (603) 795-3111
MS. BRODSKY’S Write Stories for Wordless Picture Books Create Your Own Graphic Novel Refine Research Skills Math Games YouCubed / Hands on Activities Team Challenges MATH & LIBRARY HIGHLIGHTS
Please visit www.crossroadsacademy.org for more information on Ms. Brodsky and our math curriculum.