The Winchendon Courier
Serving the community since 1878 ~ A By Light Unseen Media publication
Week of October 1 to October 8, 2020

Sizer School Proving that Remote Learning not only Possible, but Productive

Like many schools throughout the state, Sizer School in Fitchburg chose to begin the 2020-2021 school year fully-remote.

And the success that Sizer School has seen since implementing their reopening plan is proving that meaningful remote education is not only possible, but productive.

Prior to their September 14th start date, Sizer School educators were engaged in intense professional development, workshopping, brainstorming & adapting lesson plans to align with remote learning best practices. With a focus on making sure that students would be engaged and accountable, educators prepared themselves for remotely teaching.

“Teachers received intensive and focused training on google classroom. Specifically, teachers learned how to formulate common, schoolwide organizational structures and the use of instructional technology tools such as Loom, Edupuzzle and Google Meets,” said Sizer School Principal Frederick Randall.

The school provided all students with a Chromebook and a Back to School supply bag that included earbuds, markers, writing utensils and more. Students with specific science classes or specials were also given the materials needed for things like hands-on science labs and art projects.

Now in its second week of remote learning, Sizer educators are already seeing strong results.

When Sizer asked families and staff to share their thoughts on the start of the new year, the response was overwhelmingly positive.

“As the parent of a seventh grader, I am so impressed with how seamless the first week of remote learning has been. Sizer teachers are doing a remarkable job of making these newest students feel welcome and supported in this new learning environment,” said Jessica Guarino.

Teachers also reported that students appeared to feel welcomed.

“In more than one [virtual] class, students didn’t want to leave. They stayed after the end of the day,” said Pam Sweeney, M.A.T. Division 3 Humanities/Social Studies Team Leader.

According to Sizer’s Director of Academics/Data Linda Tarantino, in the first week of school, Sizer educators held “204 Google Classroom Meets sessions per day, x 5 Days = 1020 individual Classroom Meets sessions held this week! This number does not include all the small group sessions held by the paraprofessionals.”

As for how students are adapting to a remote learning environment, Physical Education and Wellness Teacher Ryan Prescott gave his students an extra credit video assignment based on a "Spell Your Name" Workout activity. For the activity, every letter of the alphabet is assigned a workout (like a 60-second plank or 20 burpees) and, using these, students created entire workout routines by simply spelling out their names! Seventh grade student Elise Moury of Winchendon took her video assignment to the next level, not only recording her "Elise Moury" Workout Routine, but including text, graphics, music and more.

Sizer School educators are also working on ways of sharing tips and tricks with students and parents, in the hopes of empowering all families to feel comfortable with programs like Google Classroom.

High School ELA teacher and Literacy Specialist Peter Nelson created a way to show students how to utilize the "View Your Work" page in Google Classroom in order to prompt students to complete missing work. He created "Get Rid of the Red" a mission explained here by 8th Grade ELA Teacher Meridith Pavlosky in a tutorial video for families: https://youtu.be/X1Faq6Yy4Tc.

Recently a video series entitled “Changemaker Check In” filmed by Jake VanHillo on behalf of United Way Youth Venture of North Central Mass featured an interview with eighth grade Sizer School student Ethan VanHillo of Winchendon and the topic was Remote Learning (https://youtu.be/ZS8BP9SgYlo).

“From the beginning of our planning through the start of school, our families and our students have been incredibly supportive and engaged,” said Sizer School Executive Director Dr. Michelle Paranto, Ed.D. “They have asked great questions, challenged us to do our best, and expressed appreciation for all that we are doing to make remote learning strong education.”

Dr. Paranto added, “Parents are supporting their students learning from home, and students have been showing up to classes ready to learn. We couldn’t have asked for a better start to the 2020-2021 school year!”

Currently Sizer School is accepting applications for the 7th, 8th and 9th grade. Apply now at sizer.schoolmint.net.

Sizer School is a free public charter school located in Fitchburg serving students in grades seven through twelve from 25 local towns and cities. At Sizer School students are known personally, challenged intellectually, and participate actively in their learning. Guided by its commitment to diversity and inclusiveness, the school seeks to send graduates into the world who THINK for themselves, CARE about others, and ACT creatively and responsibly. For more information, visit sizerschool.org.

Sizer School
Sizer student Elise Moury, from Winchendon
Sizer School
Sizer student Ethan VanHillo, from Winchendon

MWCC Awarded US Department of Education Student Support Services Grant

September 28, 2020 – Gardner, MA - Mount Wachusett Community College has been awarded three U.S. Department of Education federal Student Support Services grants totaling $4.7 million to continue to support programs that help low-income students, first-generation college students and students with disabilities succeed in college. Federal Student Support Services grants are renewed every five years.

The grant awards will be used to continue the college’s successful TRIO Student Support Services (SSS) program. SSS programs help students who are low income, whose parents did not get a college degree (first-gen) or students with disabilities.

MWCC will receive $1.2 million over the next five years - $253,000 per year – to support the Student Support Services STEM Health Sciences program, known on campus as the Rx Program. Through the Rx Program comprehensive services are provided to students who are majoring in health sciences - nursing, dental, physical therapy, complementary health care, medical assisting, medical office, exercise science, and the allied health interdisciplinary studies program.

“After graduating from high school, I attended a different college and I did very poorly. I was ready to give up on my dream of becoming an RN,” notes Emily Jones, Rx Program student. “Thankfully, I was able to find Mount Wachusett Community College and the Rx Program. I was missing the academic and emotional support from the college I attended previously, and this is exactly what the Rx Program provided for me. I could not be any more grateful for the wonderful Rx Program staff. Because of all the support and confidence they have given me, I will be applying for the nursing program in January. If it wasn't for the Rx Program, I would not be where I am today.”

MWCC’s second TRIO program, the Visions Program, will receive $688,000 each year, for a total of over $3.4 million. Now entering its forty-second year as an educational opportunity program at MWCC, Visions serves eligible students enrolled in any non-health services major.

Students in both the Rx and Visions Programs receive support services that include tutoring, academic advising, career, personal and transfer counseling and supplemental courses including financial aid workshops and economic literacy education. Students also participate in mentoring programs with faculty and peers.

“Now more than ever, programs like TRIO are essential to our communities,” stated MWCC President James Vander Hooven. “The funding provided by these grants enable us to have the resources we need to give the most underserved students the opportunity to succeed.”

“The Visions Program has been the most valuable and utilized resource of my college experience,” adds Holly Chabot, Visions Program student. “The prestige and immeasurable worth of the TRIO programs are highlighted by their mission to help students to reach their goals and attain personal success. Each staff member I've encountered is always eager to take time out of their day to provide academic support, unwavering compassion and personalized encouragement to each student. This network instills a sense of acceptance and appreciation within the academic community. These virtuous approaches are particularly vital to students like myself who need nurturing, supportive and constructive environments in order to flourish. Being in this community has fostered a sense of pride in my accomplishments, a strong mental fortitude, critical thinking and leadership skills, and has reignited the faith I have in myself to make my dreams tangible. I am honored to have been a part of the Visions Program at MWCC, and will undoubtedly continue to use the skills I've learned throughout the rest of my life.”

“As a single mother of four and college student, TRIO has meant an extra support for me in my journey. The program has given me support with technology as well as emotional support through the connections I’ve made with staff and students alike. The program has truly helped me to be more successful as a student and a parent. Words cannot express how much I appreciate their support, coming from a family that has no college graduates.” Jacqueline Hobbs.

“TRIO helped me balance life and schooling as a non-traditional student with academic resources and motivational support. I was able to participate in scholarship opportunities through this wonderful program as well as meet some of the most encouraging advisors.” Nicole Leeper.

“The COVID-19 pandemic has worsened the systemic inequality and financial hardship which keep promising students from succeeding in college. Student Support Services is needed now more than ever,” said Maureen Hoyler, president of the non-profit Council for Opportunity in Education in Washington, D.C., and organization dedicated to furthering the expansion of college opportunities for low-income, first-generation students, and students with disabilities.

For more than 50 years, the Student Support Services program has made important contributions to individuals and society as a whole by providing a broad range of services to help students succeed. This vital program can and does make all the difference.