Special projects, outdoor learning, concerts, math competitions, community celebrations, civics, history, science, and celebrations of reading - these topics and more were just a part of the 2025 experience for the students at the six schools of the Bennington-Rutland Supervisory Union. For a sampling of 2025 activities, take a look-back at the following:
A winning equation - MEMS Mathcounts three-peat
Middle school math students from the Manchester Elementary Middle School (MEMS) are building a dynasty. Not once, not twice, but for the third year in a row, the mathematician magicians at MEMS captured the Mathcounts Chapter Team Title for Southwestern Vermont at Mount St. Joseph High School.
Sunderland students ‘Wish Upon a Reading Tree’
As part of their celebration of National Reading Month, the students of Sunderland Elementary School (SES) are making a long term investment in their community.
In March, they chose a book that everyone, students, teachers, and staff would read. “Our school comes together to acknowledge the importance of reading,” says SES Principal Jenn Turner. “The book becomes the foundation on which we conduct a number of related activities to build a family of readers.”
Student government sets the tone at Flood Brook
It was Vermont Town Hall Day, but this was a different sort of Town Hall. On Tuesday, March 4th, the Flood Brook School held their monthly All-School Meeting — a student driven agenda led by the leaders of the Student Council.
“Our mission is quite simple,” says 8th grader Dash Kenney, Student Council Treasurer. “We just want to make our school a better place and celebrate all things Flood Brook.”
Gorillas, bananas, and books - oh my!
Currier Memorial School (CMS) custodian David Champine looked out proudly at what he had done. For one evening, the gymnasium had been turned into a jungle campsite with tents, animals, palm trees, electric campfires, and stars illuminated on the ceiling. “Without a doubt,” said Champine, “this night is the coolest part of my job.”
Happiness at the 19th Hole - Dorset students visit the Manchester Country Club
Blue skies and crisp autumn air made the perfect day for a round of golf. But instead of spikes and clubs, the fifth graders from The Dorset School (TDS) brought notebooks, water bottles, and eager minds to the Manchester Country Club (MCC) for lessons in science, technology, engineering and math.
Can you compost it? Mettawee sixth graders sure do
The project started with a simple observation. “We noticed a lot of food waste every day after lunch,” said one Mettawee Community School sixth grader. “Then we started wondering about the best way of getting rid of the leftovers. The answer was easy — composting.”
Creating a community of readers - MEMS wraps National Reading Month March
Throughout the month of March, the Manchester Elementary Middle School (MEMS) placed an emphasis on community in its observance of National Reading Month. In celebrating literacy with its students on multiple fronts, the school staff, faculty and students reached outside the confines of the building to create a wider audience.
Sunderland students breathe life into their own wax museum
Celebrities and sports stars filled the first and second grade classroom at the Sunderland Elementary School (SES). Babe Ruth was trading batting tips with Jackie Robinson. A young King Tut, meanwhile, admired Amelia Earhart’s aviator cap while Tom Brady graciously signed an autograph for George Washington.
No, this isn’t a portal or a parallel universe. Just a school classroom with a creative teacher who wanted to bring history alive for her students.
Flooded with knowledge - Flood Brook students learn about watersheds and dams November
Southern Vermont faces a challenge. A network of dams, some dating back 250 years, play a major role in controlling the flow of water down the mountains into the Connecticut River and finally to the Long Island Sound. What dams are really necessary? Would we be better off with or without them?
During the first five weeks of school these questions and tradeoffs were explored by 7th and 8th grade students of the Flood Brook School. While their ultimate decisions are worth noting, the real value comes in the process undertaken in reaching a conclusion.
Fall for learning - Currier hosts Harvest Open House
The smell of freshly popped corn lured the adults inside the gymnasium. Volunteers manned various tables outlining the basketball court with everything from tasty treats to parent sign-up sheets to math games to arts & crafts and more. Colorful fall decorations filled the walls with the center of the gym left wide open for conversation and play.
The Annual Harvest Open House at the Currier Memorial School (CMS) was back.
The sound and soul of music - Dorset students learn from the Taconic String Quartet
At the start of the week, the students quietly filed into the gymnasium as four adults, in the center of the room, played bursts of beautiful music. And that was just to warm up their instruments. Certainly for adults and students at The Dorset School (TDS), as everywhere else, Monday mornings are historically something to be gotten through after the weekend. Not this one, not with an hour-long concert by The Taconic String Quartet.
A pathway to learning
The words of the English poet William Wordsworth created the vision for the newly completed Wetlands Boardwalk at the Mettawee Community School (MCS). “Let nature be your teacher,” Wordsworth advised, and years of contribution, collaboration, planning and perseverance by multiple interested parties brought the project to fruition. And future generations have been gifted an opportunity.
