These first eleven weeks of school have been a feat of innovation, courage and humility. THANK YOU. May we all continue to draw on the threads of care and joy that keep us connected, even as we navigate distance, grief and stress in these difficult times. Here are a few glimpses into the care and joy that have been thriving in OSSU as students, teachers and community members continue to build resilience through connection to place and to one another.
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Wolcott Bike Busters: Thank you to Lydia Mandigo, Hayden Greene, Saul Thompson, and Riley Haggett for sharing about this awesome new project at the Wolcott School. Play the audio clip below to hear the story in their own words!
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Craftsbury Outdoor Learning: Thanks to Tina Lyon for sharing these photos of Craftsbury’s Farm to School Fair and explorations at the Craftsbury Academy Woodlot!
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Teacher reflection from a conversation with Hazen Middle School teacher Greg Hennemuth:
RB: How are you doing?
GH: It’s hard – I don’t want to bring the virus home, so I wear a face mask and a shield – which makes communication tough sometimes. But I’ll tell you, it’s the most amazing thing co-teaching with Kelly! We’re having a lot of fun! We’re messing up left and right, mostly because of technology, but it’s a free expression of ideas as we collaborate and help one another and make mistakes with each other. It’s been a kind of milestone in my career. It’s never happened like this before. It’s been a real spark.
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A Recipe For Human Connection class at Hazen has distributed dozens of “Red & Blue Apron” soup kits to members of the Hazen school community. Ingredients for the soup kits were largely sourced locally through gleaning, donations, and harvesting from the Hazen greenhouse. Thanks to the following farm partners: Harvest Hill Farm, Eastview Farm, Riverside Farm, and High Mowing Seeds. Exploring ways to connect to each other and to the community through food has also included virtual cooking classes with partners at Hosmer Point Camp, sharing family recipes (see venison stew being cooked over the firepit in slideshow), and baking pumpkin desserts to contribute to the Thanksgiving Everyone Eats Community Meal.
HES students and REACH! participants are also contributing to the Everyone Eats Thanksgiving Community Meal by making greeting cards to include in each meal for an extra serving of joy and connection!
>>> For more info about how Everyone Eats benefits local businesses and farmers while connecting you to delicious free meals, go to https://www.nourishhardwick.org/meals, where you can sign up for free meals in Hardwick, Craftsbury and Glover. Also check out the Localvore Passport app that connects you to free meals supporting Vermont businesses around the state.
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MORE FREE RESOURCES:
Celebrating our Roots Recipe Book (amazing resource from South Burlington Farm to School)
From VT Folklife Center: Listening in Place Thanksgiving Activities
Field trip transportation cost assistance: CAE has funds to help support field trips for OSSU! Reach out to reeve@hardwickagriculture.org to submit a request for assistance with bussing fees.
OSSU - We See You! 