Eclipse Safety Video
Poem Town
I remember when I was in the 4th Grade in Miss Barrett’s classroom at Portland Street School
many moons ago. We memorized a poem in order to recite it. I’m not sure if I chose the poem
or if the poem chose me, but this poem has lived with me for all of the years in between then and
now. Emily Dickinson’s “A Bird, came down the Walk” was such an interesting poem for a
scrawny sensitive kid from Caledonia Street, but learning about the harsh realities of nature
served me well!
Before leaving for February break, some of our students accepted an invitation from Catamounts
Arts to write some poems that will be painted on windows throughout our community for the
Month of April when St. Johnsbury is transformed into Poem Town. (Here’s the LIST.) Our
students were thrilled to be a part of this project and were able to take the poems they had written
and connect them to the upcoming Solar Eclipse. Poetry is all around us and according to The
Atlantic, “Poetry can give students a healthy outlet for surging emotions. Reading original poetry
aloud in class can foster trust and empathy (too).” Please click here to learn about another Poetry
Opportunity through the Rural Arts Collaborative for students ages 16 +.
Upcoming Opportunities for Middle School Students
Vermont History Day: VT History Day
Bridge Building Competition at Lyndon Institute: Bridges due on Friday, March 22 between
noon and 5:00PM. Competition will be on Saturday, March 23, 2024. POSTPONED.
Vermont State Middle School Chess Tournament: April 20, 2024. Vermont State Chess.
Contact Mrs. Fallon for more information.