Although spring is still just a hopeful thought, high school students at BFA are already planning for the next school year. The 2017-18 BFA Program of Studies was released this week and represents some of the changes that are happening at BFA to improve teaching and learning. The Program of Studies includes 23 new courses including Interdisciplinary Courses designed for our sophomore students.

The Interdisciplinary Courses were developed based on feedback from students from the Class of 2020 about their hopes after a year in our new Freshman Core. Other new courses were developed by the various academic departments to provide more opportunities for students to pursue an area of interest.

Another aspect that will be different for students next year is the introduction of a flexible schedule for classes. Currently, students are enrolled in four 75-minute classes each day. The new flexible schedule will have classes that are 45, 60, 75 and 90 minutes long. The classes will run concurrently throughout the day with different start and end times. 

Students might start the day with a 45-minute class, followed by a 90-minute class and end the day with a 75-minute class and 60-minute class. The goal is to provide flexibility for learners and match the courses with an appropriate amount of time for the subject and the learners. Interdisciplinary courses will run for 90 minutes, while introductory world language, art and band classes might last only 45 minutes. Some courses will retain their 75-minute length if that time frame works best and others will become 60 minutes long.

The new flexible schedule will allow our students who attend the Essex Tech Center, CTE, to enroll in a 45-minute class at BFA before they board the bus to Essex. BFA students currently start their day at Essex with a math, English or Social Studies course before they begin their program. Our new schedule provides that content instruction at BFA, keeping our tech center students connected to their teachers and peers, and still gets them to the tech center in time for their program.

The last change in next year’s schedule involves Support Block. Support Block is a 30-minute block that students attend every day to allow time for homework, make-up work, clubs, or quiet social interactions. Next year, Support Block will occur at the end of the day. This change was proposed by students and supported by students for a variety of reasons.

“All students, having been through all of their classes before Support Block, what they want help with and what they can handle on their own.  – Rachel P., student in her proposal to move Support Block

Students who play sports sometimes have to be dismissed early to travel for away events. Support Block at the end of the day will reduce the amount of academic class time our student-athletes miss on early dismissal days. Lastly, with support Block at the end of the day, our CTE students will be able to check in when they return from Essex and maintain their connection to their Support Block teacher and peers.

Flexible scheduling is a step toward the concept of “Mass Customized Learning” which shifts instruction from a time-based to a learning-based approach.

It’s an exciting time for students and teachers at BFA as we begin to reimagine our school day and year to improve teaching and learning and best meet the needs of our students.

Target 3 Flexible Learning Environments – FWSU maximizes flexible learning environments by redefining the school day, promoting learning experiences that extend beyond the classroom, and fostering creativity, innovation, and personalized learning opportunities for all.

Indicators of Success for this Goal – The definition of school day is flexible and responsive to the needs of students.

Action Step – Develop opportunities for students to demonstrate transferable skills in authentic settings

Last year our Kindergarten team began going out into the walking trails behind our school every Friday.  The intention was to engage students in hands-on learning opportunities outside of the classroom and explore the wonderful woods and trails on our school property.

Every Friday they focus on a different topic through the outdoor classroom.  This week, students in Mrs. Green’s class read the book, A Log’s Life by Wendy Pfeffer. The class talked about what to look for in our woods.

Each student was given a partner, a plastic bag to collect materials, and a Popsicle stick to dig.  They spent time exploring decayed logs and stumps, looking for evidence of insects and other wildlife.  Back in the classroom, the children sat with their partner and looked through what they brought in.  Each child received a Tri-lens to examine what was in their tray and made discoveries about roots, soil, bark, and moss.

Teachers report that Science Fridays and their walks outside have been extremely engaging and have provided many benefits for our students.  They share that students naturally engage in play-based learning and spontaneously form collaborative groups while in the woods.  Other benefits include increased student awareness of their natural surroundings and the differences in Vermont’s seasons, as well as increased engagement and focus inside and outside of the classroom.  We look forward to continuing these flexible learning opportunities and increasing our students’ appreciation of all that Vermont has to offer each season.

In late June of 2015, BFA-Fairfax Middle School teachers met with principal Tom Walsh for a two-day retreat to discuss ways to best meet the needs of students in the coming school year. Tom provided donuts. Despite the donuts’ sky-high glycemic index, the middle school faculty sustained an engaging, thoughtful discussion that lasted all day, churning out ideas that had immediate and positive impacts on students. For instance, the staff agreed that homework would be eliminated in the middle school.  Teachers charted the implementation of student PLPs. Technology integrationist Rhonda Siemons helped teachers generate methods for engaging families via Schoology. Perhaps most exciting was the decision that, beginning in 2017, each eighth-grade class would travel to Boston to support curriculum and instruction across core academic classes.

Inside the Boston Museum of Science

On April 20-21, 2017, students and teachers will be busy learning and team-building in one of our nation’s oldest cities. Mr. Psaros will spend much of this fall and winter teaching students about our nation’s democratic roots, with a look at our election process as well as a deep-dive into the origins of our constitution and its Revolutionary War influences. What better way to extend this learning than to stand in the Old South Meeting House, where Samuel Adams persuaded the Sons of Liberty to dump 30 tons of tea into the Boston Harbor? Or to visit the home in which Paul Revere lived at the time of his messenger ride to Lexington?

Statue of Paul Revere

Mrs. Barnes-Cota will be teaching about forces, including the forces of electricity and magnetism. On the heels of these lessons, students will have the opportunity to stand mere feet from the world’s largest Van de Graff generator (see below).

World’s Largest Van de Graff generator, Boston Museum of Science

On Tuesday, October 25, teachers and Principal Tom Walsh met with families to discuss the rationale for this field trip, as well as to answer questions from parents and students. Families were extremely encouraged and enthusiastic about making this trip happen. At the meeting, Tom made clear that our mission is to ensure that every student is able to participate in this trip, regardless of ability to pay, in keeping BFA-Fairfax’s commitment to the learning of every student and to the support of all our families.

The Massachusetts State House

Students, teachers, and administrators would like to thank the community for their continued support of our students. Fundraising efforts from last year’s “BFA’s Got Talent” show, as well as proceeds from middle school dances and bottle drives have helped to make this educational opportunity a possibility. It’s an exciting time to be an eighth-grade student or parent. We hope to make this trip to Boston a tradition at BFA-Fairfax Middle School for many years to come!