GC St. Johnsbury Shares About Fall Term 2011!

All the classes are great and fun. I like the Rocker Chicks class. That was cool. The music class with Phil and Neal taught me a lot, too. I learn a lot of stuff and enjoy all the classes. I hope I can get my class done about animation.

– Shawn, GC St. Johnsbury

I like the comic club because you can make stories and draw. Yu-Gi-Oh club on Thursdays was great because I am interested in that and I like to play. I made friends and have more things to do. – Chris, GC St. Johnsbury

I like my cooking class this last year and baking class too. I like the Co-op last year. I like heath food at the Co-op to make heath foods at the Co-op. My class went very good last year. I’d like to cook and bake again this year. I like to make the waffle again with apples with wrap for my class again.

– Marshall, GC St. Johnsbury Participant

I like the music class because we share music and have instruments like harmonicas and tambourines. At holiday time we did holiday songs. – Tiffany, GC St. Johnsbury

Phil and Neal do a Global Campus Music Class every week. We take turns singing, doing group songs, learning new songs. We march with our harmonicas. Sometimes we bring CDs and talk about our favorite songs. It is amazing – some people that used to be very shy have learned to perform in front of others. We are grateful to the Unitarian Church for letting us use their space. Everyone is welcome – no previous experience needed! – Phil, GC St. J Participant, Neal, GC St. J Participant, Paul, CIS

We have a music class that meets every Wednesday at 10:00. We share CDs and we sing old folk songs. Sometimes we dance. Adam has been playing percussion on the cowbell (he’s very good). Marc is participating in harmonica playing with the harmonica group. The group is fast growing. Paul plays the piano for us and teaches us new songs and helps Phil and Neal with the class.

Adam is new to Global Campus and started a weekly Card Playing class. Marc started a craft group and he organizes the classes, sets up and helps make crafts. Marc was one of the founders of the Hardwick Global Campus. – Marc, GC St. Johnsbury Participant, Adam, GC St. Johnsbury Participant

I thought the classes were pretty good this term because there was interesting information about the impact of the Fairbanks brothers and their museum, and also the animal class. I researched all the information about the pavilion and the exercise class. I thought it was very important to stay healthy and to look at nutrition in a good way. It is good to get your heart pumping and to keep your muscles in shape. Healthy eating to watch your diet and eating the right kind of food from the food pyramid is good. – Beth, GC St. Johnsbury Participant

I really liked the class on Bones. I learned about science and evidence and crime. We did a packet on the show of bones, who the characters are, what they do in the TV series. We watched episode six and I really enjoyed it. Bones is about two detectives who are investigators who search for science, evidence and crime. They have a lab where they go to figure out who is the criminal.

- Ashley, GC St. Johnsbury Participant

I enjoyed the Bones Class. I liked seeing how they dissected them. It was interesting how they took the bones apart. Rosie taught the class and she did a great job! I also liked the film editing class taught by Scott. He taught us how to make movies. I liked taking the movie camera home with me. I made a short film about family because they are important to me. I also taught a class on how to make apple cider. IT was a good class because I helped to teach others. People asked me what kind of apples we used and I told them about the different kinds. Everyone got to taste the cider and they thought it was good. – Josiah, GC St. Johnsbury Participant

I like the different classes that are offered plus teaching classes myself. I have taught four classes in the past two years and each class has gotten better and better. Everyone gives me new ideas on things that can be added to what I teach. So not only am I teaching but I am learning from the whole group. –Josh, GC St. Johnsbury Participant.

I liked the class on Sharilyn and how she was born with a disability. It was very interesting and it taught me to know her more. I liked my boyfriend’s class on Apple Cider and how it was made. I also took a class on Star Wars and a class on learning how to speak Spanish. I enjoyed it all. Global Campus is a place where I learn about different things. - Rosie, GC St. Johnsbury Participant

What I have really learned last fall, 2011 from Global Campus is the movie I made, called, “Myself.” It has to do with me and why I was born with a disability and am a disabled woman. I like to brag about my CIS worker because she has been there for me. I have learned a lot about the camcorders and how to produce my voice in my movie. I learned what I want in my movie and how to edit it and the pictures. It was really hard work but it was worth it. I would love to teach a class about how I was born and how I have very good common sense because I know I am doing the right thing. My mom taught me a lot more than I ever imagined! - Sharilyn, GC St. Johnsbury Participant

People come to take classes and we sometimes go on field trips to close places. We started with a small number of people in St. J and we had the campus meeting for nine or ten people. And it’s really neat that we have grown to forty people now. Jim and Sherry come back from Thailand and bring movies to different campuses. – Michelle, GC St Johnsbury Participant

GC Newport and St. Johnsbury Pilot Virtual Interactive Classes!

Global Campus Newport and Global Campus St. Johnsbury connected through interactive TV for two course offerings this spring term.

About twenty-five people from Newport and fifteen from St. Johnsbury gathered in front of the interactive TVs to experience the new phenomenon of teleconferenced classes. The groups cheered as we got connected, waving at each other and reconnecting with old friends. It was really exciting to see everyone and be able to hear what they were saying. The first few minutes of the class was devoted to smoothing out the technology. St. J had a bit of trouble moving their camera, and Newport was hard to hear, but eventually we smoothed out these bumps and began teaching.

Edna was ready to teach her class Dogs and Cats. This was Edna’s first time teaching, and she was really prepared. We put the microphone right up next to Edna to make sure St. Johnsbury could hear her class and zoomed in the camera so they could see her posters and visuals. Edna had two stacks of note cards – one about cats, one about dogs. She also had two different posters as well as drawings she had made. Her class had a great mix of interactive questions and facts. She asked the group to list some of the things their cats or dogs do that are pesky. People said their pets scratch, chew things, smell, and shed. She then told the group how to care for animals and the appropriate ways to keep a pet. Raymond commented from St. J that he had recently taught an animal class. He is teaching a second class at the Fairbanks museum, for which he has made a scavenger hunt for people to find different types of animals in the museum. There were many questions back and forth, from both campuses.

Next up, Allycia began handing out copies of her PowerPoint presentation for the group in Newport to read through. We made note that, next time, we will email class materials such as these to St. Johnsbury ahead of time so they can see the handout. Also a first time teacher, Allycia taught us the Ins and Outs of High School. Alycia had great poise. She told us some of the good times at Lake Region, and also some of the times that have been less fun. She told us about nice friends she has made and fun classes she has taken. People were pretty interested in high school stories. Sharilyn from St. J told us about her experiences and asked specific questions about what it’s like in Special Ed these days.

After feedback and questions, we spent about half an hour in discussion between the campuses. People asked questions about family connections, summer plans, classes and updated each other on their campus happenings. It was really neat to hear the exchanges and to see how excited people were to be talking to another campus. The group gave general feedback that the process of the interactive TV had been very smooth. St. J commented that they would love to offer some of their classes on interactive TV next term.

GC St. Johnsbury Presents Documentary Film, "Our Global Campus" at Green Mountain Film Festival

Global Campus St. Johnsbury screened their documentary film, Our Global Campus in the Green Mountain Film Festival, April 2, 2011.

This spring, Global Campus St. Johnsbury was honored to have their film, Our Global Campus, accepted into the Green Mountain Film Festival at Catamount Arts in St. Johnsbury, VT. Campus participants arrived early at the screening to greet community members at the door and pass around information about their Global Campus.

Global Campus St. Johnsbury had spent the fall and winter terms working with volunteer filmmaker, Scott Miller, to learn camera work and some techniques in filmmaking. Campus participants brought the cameras home to film their lives and discuss their values and goals. They spent time documenting the different classes and special events held at Global Campus St. Johnsbury.

The screening was exciting for everyone, as it was the first time many of the GC St. Johnsbury participants had viewed the film in its final version. About thirty people gathered for the screening and the room was buzzing with excitement. As the group watched the film, there was lots of laughter and praise as different people’s film footage aired on the big screen. The film highlights the process of Global Campus and then goes more in-depth into the stories of seven participants who had been very active in the filming process throughout the year at Global Campus St. Johnsbury. It was neat to see the unique styles of filming and storytelling demonstrated through the different filmmakers’ work.

After the film finished screening, about five participants and volunteer film editor, Scott Miller, sat for a panel discussion where community members asked them about the process of making the film and their opinions about the outcome. It was really neat to see this panel discussion unfold and all the questions that came from the audience. At the end of the evening, Josh and Levi were signing autographs and answering more in-depth questions for audience members.

Back in the classroom, Global Campus St. Johnsbury is still filming, taking home cameras, and thinking about what else they want to do with filmmaking and where else they want to air their film. They have screened the film at four other venues – two in St. Johnsbury, one in Newport and one in Middlebury. At each event, campus participants attended as panelists and answered questions for the community. The campus has additional screenings planned for the summer.

GC St. Johnsbury Celebrates Fall Term!

This has been an exciting semester for Global Campus St. Johnsbury! Fall Term 2010 began with lots of new faces at Global Campus St. Johnsbury. The meeting room at Springfield College was packed with people and busy with excitement. This fall, the group delved into a unit on Our Stories, where campus participants practiced telling stories and personal histories about their lives. Using digital recorders, storyboards and artwork, they told stories about their favorite childhood memories or about where they live or about inspirational people in their lives. This unit was emotional for many people. We discussed that the campus is a safe place for participants to share about their histories and that people need-not feel obligated to share stories that are difficult to tell. There were a few tears as people shared about parents or loved ones who had passed away. There were also many laughs.

The Our Stories unit sparked a discussion about creating a Global Campus St. Johnsbury film. Josh had made a film about his experiences at St. Johnsbury Academy and suggested that Global Campus St. Johnsbury might like to do something similar. The campus decided to create a film that told the story of Global Campus St. Johnsbury and what it is like to participate at the campus. The group began working with filmmaker Scott Miller on a documentary film project. Using five cameras, participants learned to shoot video footage and create video stories about their campus. The Campus Staff used a storyboard to discuss what type of shots to add to the film and what they want to show to their audience. Campus participants also worked on their own with the cameras, filming things that are important to them outside of the campus. The film was invited to present at the Green Mountain Film Festival in St. Johnsbury on April 1, 2, 3. The group is very excited for the opportunity to present their work and share about their Global Campus.

Global Campus St. Johnsbury participants took their campus to a new level this term preparing classes and working on new projects. Josh’s class, The Fantasy of Knights and Dragons, demonstrated many innovative teaching methods. Josh shared that he had been working on his class for over two months, making posters, practicing and designing packets for the class. David and Samantha’s Music and Art to Express your Feelings class opened up a new thought process for many participants. David shared that art can be relaxing and can open your mind to think and create. We saw many interesting artistic creations while listening to music. Michelle invited the group to try meditation. She demonstrated the process of meditating and shared different techniques to clear the mind and relax with meditation.

A highpoint of the term was Phil and Neal’s Talent – No – Talent Show. Many participants prepared acts of talent (or no talent) to present in front of the group. Phil and Neal arranged the room into a theater, invited guests from Springfield College, NKHS and GCF, and designed a program listing the acts. Jessica was invited to be Master of Ceremonies and she created a script that welcomed the group and introduced each act with a witty, innovative line. The group had lots of fun watching each other dance, play instruments, sing songs, recite readings, and play games. The hosts, Phil and Neal, marched in the Harmonica Marching Band as one of the acts. The show was lots of fun, and may become an annual event.

Looking ahead to Winter Interim, the group will study a Where in the World theme that incorporates stories from around the world. The campus will look at stories, myths and fables, as well as pictures and cultural facts from different countries. There will be an air of mystery to this term as the groups try to guess Where in the World these stories are from.

GC St. Johnsbury Spring Update

Global Campus St. Johnsbury kicked off their Spring Term with a Snow Day event, held at Lyndon Outing Club. The event was lucky to coincide with a blizzard, one of the few snowy days of the year, and the group had a great time building snowmen, sledding, snow shoeing and playing games inside the lodge.

New this term, the campus designed the Intensive Study Unit. The group wanted the opportunity to offer extended classes during the Wednesday meetings. These units met for two weeks at the end of the term and allowed four faculty members to offer intensive studies on a topic of their choice. The Intensive Study Units offered were Living On Our Own, Bag Making, Greek Mythology and Wonderful Weaving.

Cristy and Levi’s Chorus Club continued throughout the semester. The club met weekly at the Unitarian Church and performed America the Beautiful at the Global Campus Hardwick talent show. The group plans to continue their singing throughout the summer and combine with a few other groups – the Harmonica Club and Dancing with the Stars Class.

This term, the Global Campus St. Johnsbury Staff spent their time designing a community service project. The initial plan was to build picnic tables for a raffle, which would sponsor a local charitable organization. The Staff wrote a proposal and solicited support from local businesses. In the end, the group opted to change the structure of the project and offer their services to Springfield College for picnic table varnishing. This project will take place on July 7.

Congratulations to Global Campus St. Johnsbury students for completing their seventh academic term!

GC St. Johnsbury: Farm Visit

Early in the Spring Term, Marshall suggested it would be fun to visit Second Chance Farm and went about setting up the logistics of the visit. He works at the farm and wanted to show people around. We arrived and met his boss, Penny. Penny let Marshall lead the tour. We started with the freezers and storage and Marshall showed everyone where the meat and eggs are stored. Marshall brought out his egg scale, egg-collecting bin and egg cartons. He told the class that he is in charge of collecting the eggs, weighing them, cleaning them, and then putting them in cartons. He explained that some eggs are jumbo and some are small – this depends on the chicken, he explained. The scale had markers ranging from “too small” to “ouch!”

Next, Marshall led us down to the barnyard. Penny explained that she keeps her animals like they do in the movie Babe. Everyone lives together. We saw chickens, ducks, pigs, sheep, geese and a lamb all in the same big barnyard. The pigs, Lucy and Ethel, were very popular. Lucy showed off rolling in the mud and splattering everyone’s pants with muddy water. Inside the barn, Marshall showed us the baby chicks.

Next, Marshall took us to the fields. He explained that Penny’s plan is to bring the chickens into the field in a moveable pen so they can fertilize the grass. As of now, cows, sheep, a goat and a llama live in the fields. Penny brought us out compost to feed the animals. Rosie loved feeding the cows and sheep and had fun throwing in loaves and loaves of old bread. Cristy made friends with the goat, Stars. Sharilyn said she was having a great time, which she never expected she would! Marshall hopped the fence and picked up a baby lamb for us to pat. Lastly, we went out to look at the beef cows. Penny moves them around to different parts of the pasture so they can graze at different levels of grass and clover. Regina showed interest in the cows and knew that cows without horns are called “polled.” We have a lot of farming knowledge in our group!