Bromley Brook Voice
Summer 2006
We feel very strongly here at BBS about censorship and First Amendment rights; however, we feel perhaps even more strongly about issues of personal and emotional safety. Websites such as MySpace, Facebook, and Xanga.com exist at the intersection of safety and censorship. We are an "unplugged" community for many reasons, and safety is chiefest among them. In an article in a recent Boston Globe, the claim was made that these websites have attracted over 100 million users and most are simply teens showing off for their friends, but there is a darker side that many teens can't recognize. The Internet is "superpublic," and teens don't realize that they are exposing themselves in a public street.
Not only is there the immediate danger of fostering unhealthy relationships, but there is an increasing threat to a teen's long term success.
In recent reports, students have failed to get into colleges for posting negative information on their blog sites. Others have detailed exploits involving drugs and alcohol, leading to suspension from school or sports teams. And some individuals have even been denied job offers because of information posted on these "personal" sites. (Inside Private School Management, volume 2, July 2006.)
Each of our parents will be receiving a letter with our acceptable use policy, and we will explain that policy to your daughters. We want to be very clear what is safe and acceptable and what risky behavior is. We want your daughters to understand the dangers of keeping a blog and the negative effects it might have on their futures. Please join with us in our efforts to encourage wise Internet use.
Laura S. Mack
The Counseling Department is pleased to announce that Sandy Birch, MSW, joined the counseling faculty on July 11. Sandy comes to us after serving as Director of Counseling at St. Gregory College Preparatory School in Tucson, Arizona. In her position at St. Gregory's, Sandy provided mental health counseling to students and families; coordinated accommodations for students with learning, emotional and physical disabilities; and served as a member of the administrative team.
Her work experience also includes being Dean of students at the Darrow School, a private boarding school in upstate New York, and a social work intern at Faulkner Hospital in Boston and at the Victor School in Acton, Massachusetts. In addition, she worked for five years as a Course Leader with the National Outdoor Leadership School in Lander, Wyoming where she led 65-day expeditions in Kenya through remote environments, and 30-day expeditions in Baja, Mexico, teaching ecology and raising environmental awareness. In her capacity as a Course Leader she also taught first-aid, leadership techniques, group dynamics, and navigation in Alaska, Wyoming and Idaho. Sandy holds a Master of Social Work from Simmons College in Boston, Massachusetts and Bachelor of Arts in Philosophy from DePauw University in Greencastle, Indiana.
Sharon Hartunian
Director of Counseling Services
The Science Department at Bromley Brook School focuses on reinforcing our student's personal insights and growth, with explorations of how all science disciplines are related to community. The philosophy helps girls to make connections between their own experiences within their human communities and their natural communities, and the systems that comprise and drive their world.
In effect, Bromley Brook School has adopted a new chemistry curriculum called: Chemistry in the Community ("ChemCom") ChemCom teaches the same chemical concepts as the traditional chemistry course, but the approach is very different. Developed by the American Chemical Society, the course provides students with an idea of how chemical knowledge is incorporated into day-to-day decisions that govern our planet. It is taught thematically, with major focuses on water, materials, petroleum, air, industry, atoms, and food. This laboratory-rich chemical dialogue has a heavy emphasis on critical thinking and decision making skills, where students analyze the benefits versus the risks of chemical technology.
Brenda Abbey
Science Teacher
July started off with a bang! On the 4th we had a no-school, fun, outdoor activity and barbecue day (what else?) with a trip in the evening to see the fireworks.
Other activities this month included Circus Smirkus, tubing on the Battenkill, a trip to the Bromley Thrill Zone, a baseball game, the Great Escape and of course, we had to go to go see Pirates of the Caribbean. The Horse Show back in town and we've been there as well. That is always a fun event.
A quick note about the NEW knitting club. It just started and there sure was a lot of interest. Sandra McHenry will be coming to the school every Monday from 3:30-5:30 p.m. and teaching the girls to knit. Where do I sign-up? (smile)
Beth Bove
Program Manager
As our New England weather warmed up, we pulled the grill out of storage and fired it up for some great BBQs over the last few weeks. After a long winter and some late spring cabin fever, eating outside is a delight for the girls. Vermont is a beautiful place to be at any time of year, but springtime and summer are wonderful.
We now have two days of culinary classes and a very eager group of students participating. They are serious about their work in our class and take a great deal of pride in what they produce. They recently prepared a lunch for the teaching faculty in appreciation of all they do. We've had many events so far this summer for your daughters, including more BBQs, weekly birthday celebrations, a 4th of July full of food and fun and much more.
Please stop by and see us whenever you visit!
Nora Heinshon
Many of you have spoken to our new Student Health Coordinator, Meredith Deibold, but have not had the opportunity to meet her in person. We are so pleased to have Meredith on staff. Meredith's background in nursing has all bin in-patient psychiatric care. She started her career working on the adolescent unit at Yale New Haven Hospital and is thrilled to be working with the teenage population again. Meredith continued at Yale for twenty-five years and was more recently at the Brattleboro Retreat. She graduated from Cedar Crest College in Allentown, Pennsylvania with a Bachelor's degree in Nursing. She loves to ski, snowboard, and play golf.
Frank began working with at-risk youth in 1992 as a House Parent for New England Kurn Hattin Homes in Westminster, Vermont. From there he joined Hillcrest Educational Centers, Inc. in Pittsfield, Massachusetts as a Teaching Assistant working with at-risk students. It was during his time with Hillcrest that Frank decided to obtain his teaching certificate. In May 2000, he received a Masters degree in Education. From 1998 to 2001, Frank was a Special Education Teacher at Berkshire Farm Center and Services for Youth in Canaan, New York. Beginning in 2001, Frank was an Assistant Program Coordinator with Berkshire's youth detention facilities. We are pleased that Frank joins us as a Learning Specialist.
Great News!!!
Saturday, August 12, 2006 we have FIVE students graduating. They are off to:
- Adelphi University in New York
- Auburn University in Alabama
- Florida Community College, Florida
- Hunter College, New York
- LIM, The College for the Business of Fashion, in the heart of the international fashion industry in New York
