MAY 2022
school News
Northbridge M.S. Teachers receive award At this years’ Blackstone Valley Education Foundation Business and Education forum, participants from area industries and school districts meet to discuss relevant topics to schools and business, such as necessary job skills, educating for the future, and how to develop an employable workforce through the support of the foundation. BVEF honors community members and teachers who are making a difference in the valley. This year, a pair of teachers from Northbridge Middle School were honored. Toted as a “Dynamic duo” by the Executive Director of the foundation, Mrs. Erika Baum, Mrs. Lisa Gogolinski and Mrs., Betsy Wermuth were honored for their commitment to exposing students to different STEM careers with a Massachusetts State Senate Official Citation declaring their “outstanding enthusiasm and involvement with the foundation.” Mrs. Gogolinski teaches Computer Science and Mrs. Wermuth teaches STEM to 500+ 11-14 year old's, developing a curriculum that not only challenges their students through teamwork and iteration, but also reflects the different careers needed to complete a task. “I think what we have created is unique at the middle school level,” says Mrs. Gogolinski. “Students of today have to learn about what they have to offer to careers of tomorrow.” In their classes, Mrs. Gogolinski and Mrs. Wermuth use their curriculums to guide students into understanding how a product is developed, from a concept, through prototyping, testing, and team feedback. The realization that students may work in careers that don’t even exist today creates a “What if?” discussion that fosters innovation and creativity in their understanding of skills. “Our little town is a perfect example of small business taking a global scale. Whitinsville industry started as a blacksmith shop, developed into a textile mill, foundry, and war time supplier, and now is a haven for innovation,” says Mrs. Wermuth, “What better place to teach about the importance of a team effort for success?” Mrs. Gogolinski agrees, “Students learn through experiences that bring the real world into their vision of themselves. We are encouraging that development, especially with the makerspace and the tools students have access to.” Over the past several years, the two have received grants from BVEF and other organizations, as well as donations from the community and curriculum supplies to create a workspace with vinyl cutters, a 3-D printer, video equipment, and general maker supplies to create a makerspace they dubbed Whitin Works in an unused room at Northbridge Middle School.
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Douglas students enjoying School to School Connection
3-D FUN - Uxbridge Public Schools STEAM team is breaking technology barriers with their youngest learners in three 3-D Printing Workshops this spring! it was an amazing example of three Uxbridge School Public Teachers: Ms. Amanda Gallerani from Taft Early Learning Center. Miss Samantha Wise from Whitin intermediate School and Mr. Michael Smutock from Uxbridge High School created amazing vertical alignment opportunities across Uxbridge District for the third-grade students! The 3-D Spring Workshops gave the opportunity to 70 third grade students to explore a career development in 3-D technology beyond their 45-minute STEAM class at Taft, as well as an opportunity to sneak peek and help with the transition to a new school in the district at Whitin in the Fall. it was wonderful to see all the students and parents learning how to design key chains.
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This year the elementary school fifth graders have partnered with the primary school first graders in Douglas. Each month they get together to do some learning while also having fun. The goal is to allow the first graders to get comfortable with their upcoming transition to the elementary school while also providing the fifth graders a chance to mentor and lead. During the monthly meetings a few fifth graders are paired up with a few first graders and they do an activity together. The students have read together, played math games, engaged in STEM activities, and written thank you cards to people in the community. The meetings have taken place on the field outside, in the elementary gym and in the primary cafeteria but no matter the location, the students have had a blast. Even though the pairings are different each time, it is neat to see the students looking for the group they worked with the last time to try and work with
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them again. The first graders really look up to the fifth graders and the fifth graders feel special being able to help others. Along with the academic skills that the students have worked on during the activities, these meetings are also a great opportunity for the students to work on their social-emotional competencies (self-awareness, self-management, social awareness, relationship skills, and responsible decision-making). Together they problem solve, communicate, organize, persuade, and advocate. Overall, the school-to-school connection has been a success. The students look forward to the monthly meetings and are enjoying the new relationships they are developing. The teachers have enjoyed allowing the students to learn in a different format and it is a nice shift away from traditional learning. They are excited to continue to grow the program in the years to come!
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