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Project 540 a Success at Peoples Academy By Dorinne Dorfman, Individualized Studies Coordinator  May I tell you how exciting it is to see student leadership in action? I have worked in schools for eight years and never before have I participated in a process that placed students first and foremost as decision-makers. Project 540, a national program to increase civility, individual voice and social action, has brought this experience to Peoples Academy. After a full day of training, twenty-four PA students facilitated three 45-minute dialogue sessions this past winter. The entire high school student body met in small groups to share issues of concern, brainstorm resources in the community, and develop a plan for change. As the lead teacher, I met weekly with the Project 540 Leadership Team, a powerful force of students committed to make PA a great place to be and learn. Charles Broadmeadow, freshman, Chesley Barabee, sophomore, Aminah Mian, sophomore, Kelsey Paquette, junior, Ted Donahue-Laidman, senior, and Jarod Thompson, senior, spent hours reviewing dozens of papers listing hundreds of ways to improve our school. We presented our ideas to teachers to receive their input before formalizing an action-plan. On Thursday, May 1st, we held three assemblies to formally introduce the action-plan to students and teachers. Principal Otho Thompson was the keynote speaker, inviting students to become leaders and decision-makers on school issues that matter to them. Four students and I presented a Power Point, “A Blueprint for Change” at PA, listing the following goals: 1. To improve the overall climate of Peoples Academy, and to increase school spirit throughout the student body and faculty 2. To increase student involvement in decision-making at Peoples Academy, including students who typically don’t get involved with student leadership activities 3. To improve the quality of cafeteria food and cafeteria environment 4. To provide a greater number of classes, programs, and co-curricular activities, and to provide more opportunities for discussion on current and world events 5. To provide a greater number of activities for students in the community 6. To devise and implement a system for students to receive Physical Education credits for playing co-curricular sports Our special guest was the “PVC” club. This brutish team demonstrated the protective gear of carpet, foam rubber, and tires against the mock weaponry of PVC piping, more foam rubber, and duct tape. They invited fellow students to join their club and pledge loyalty (or at least attendance) to their military history teacher and PVC commander, Bill Chilton. They proceeded to demonstrate fun, safe, Medieval play. Next steps the Project 540 Leadership Team is to present to the upcoming eighth grade class, and to form a permanent student committee to oversee and implement the action-plan. The Vermont Rural Partnership, of which Peoples Academy is a member and had received Project 540 funding, will host PA students at its annual Learning in Place conference later this month. For a detailed Project 540 action-plan, or to get involved as a community member, please contact me by phone at 888-7551 or by email at dorinne.dorfman@morrisville.org. There is plenty of work and energy to share in bringing the plan to life.
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