Friday, November 17, 2006

Community Academy students go on rural retreat


To help his Community Academy students get mentally and emotionally ready for the challenge of the MCAS exams next spring, English and history teacher Will Connell thought they needed a break from the bustle of city living. He and two other teachers recently accompanied five members of the sophomore class on an overnight trip to Greenmont Farms in Underhill Center, Vermont, as Mr. Connell described, "to free their minds surrounding the test, and to begin the process of creating individual paths to proficiency." While in the country, the students stayed in a converted barn, cooked on an open campfire, and went hiking and rock climbing. Mr. Connell said the experience was powerful for the students: "I think our students will be going into this test with a better understanding of themselves and a better understanding of what it means to be on unfamiliar ground."

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