Graphic Details, Author at Indian Mountain School

91��ý Welcomes Amy Vorenberg as Next Head of Lower School

Graphic Details — Thu, 11 Jun 2020 00:00:00 +0000

This past January, Head of School Jody Reilly Soja announced that, following an extensive search conducted by a committee composed of Lower School faculty and school administrators, Amy Vorenberg will serve as Indian Mountain School’s next Head of Lower School.

Ms. Vorenberg is a seasoned independent school educator with 20 years of leadership experience at the elementary school level and an additional 16 years of classroom teaching experience. Ms. Vorenberg comes to 91��ý from the King School in Stamford, Connecticut, where she served as the Lower School Head since July 2018. During her time at King, Ms. Vorenberg oversaw all daily operations and curricular initiatives in Pre-K through grade 5. Recently, she redesigned the King School’s Early Childhood Program, including the implementation of a Reggio-inspired curriculum and project approach.

Prior to her work at King School, Ms. Vorenberg held two Head of School positions. From 2013 to 2017 she served as the Head of School at Beauvoir, The National Cathedral Elementary School in Washington, D.C. Prior to that, Ms. Vorenberg was the Head of School at The Philadelphia School, a progressive independent school serving students from preschool to grade 8. Additionally, she has experience at a number of independent schools in the Boston-area, including 12 years at the Shady Hill School where she worked as the Lower School Division Head and Director of Curricular Program and Professional Development.

Ms. Vorenberg and her husband Tom are members of the Norfolk, Connecticut community and look forward to joining 91��ý next year. Ms. Vorenberg shares, “I am delighted and eager to join the 91��ý community! I look forward to getting to know the students and their families and partnering with the entire faculty, staff, and administration, especially Jody Soja, to continue to deliver a fantastic learning experience in the Lower School at 91��ý.”

“We are excited and eager for the Lower School community to get to know Ms. Vorenberg,” shares Head of School Jody Reilly Soja. “Beyond her impressive resume and leadership experience—which will enable 91��ý to continue to provide a unique and unparalleled educational experience for our school’s youngest students—Ms. Vorenberg embodies our school values of honesty, compassion, and respect, and we know that her passion for teaching and guiding faculty will shepherd our school into this new decade.”

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A Gamified Approach to Global Language Learning

Graphic Details — Thu, 07 May 2020 00:00:00 +0000

Imagine a method of learning that looks a bit like the opening credits of Game of Thrones and you’ll have a good idea of Mrs. Kokoszka’s Upper Campus Spanish classes. As part of her curriculum, Mrs. Kokoszka utilizes a gamified approach to help students develop their Spanish language skills.

Classcraft is a game-based program that encourages collaboration, communication, self-expression, and is culturally relevant to today’s youth. Mrs. Kokoszka incorporated this program into her classroom before remote learning, but it has taken on increased importance during the spring term.

“I’ve found this to be an extremely effective and functional tool that allows our students to learn while having fun,” says Mrs. Kokoszka. “It’s a great way to supplement more traditional practices of teaching and learning.” In her fifth grade Spanish class, for example, students are asked to create characters and embark on various quests to help them learn new vocabulary and grammar. With different incentives and rewards, the students can work at a pace that feels right for them and they become invested in their work. Their progress is easily tracked by the teacher, who can post video tutorials and assign new tasks.

“Classcraft provides a chance for students to work at their own pace and be responsible learners,” shares Mrs. Kokoszka. “I love that the students have access to the material that they need in a single place where they can go back to it as many time as they need.”

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When Life Gives You Lemons

Graphic Details — Thu, 30 Apr 2020 00:00:00 +0000

Sarah Hyland is one of the many 91��ý teachers who had to retrofit her middle school curriculum to thrive in a remote setting. Instead of feeling deterred by the demands that came with teaching math creatively and remotely, she decided to turn lemons into lemonade.

“The driving question for this project is rooted in our school’s founding motto,” Ms. Hyland says. “I asked students to think about the ways in which they can create a profitable lemonade stand to raise money for charity.”

Independently and collaboratively using educational technology, students embraced the challenge. They considered what lemonade stands look like, how they can stand out to customers, what materials are needed. As they moved into the next phases of their project, students developed their own business plans and advertising strategies.

“The results have been impressive so far,” says Ms. Hyland. “One student is deciding to let his customers choose their own price, which could be a high risk/reward situation.” Through a series of video posts, students have been seeking feedback on the types of snacks they should sell and the most strategic locations for set-up.

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Life Through Service During the Pandemic

Graphic Details — Thu, 23 Apr 2020 00:00:00 +0000

From our founding days, service has been a defining aspect of our program. With the guiding hands of our Community Service Department, we carry our legacy into the present day by organizing events that raise awareness and funds for organizations in need of support. Our work benefits these organizations within the northwest corner of Connecticut and across the world.

In the past month, our founding motto has come to life in ways we never could have imagined. Given the rapid and unexpected need to adapt to the global health crisis, our contributions will have a slightly different impact.

By Kids For Kids Benefit Concert

Our most recent community service event took place just prior to the March break. We are pleased to report that we raised $1,673.40 for . As you may imagine, their summer programs for terminally ill children will not be taking place as planned. Instead, they will be bringing the fun to their campers by creating virtual experiences and mailing care packages. Our donation will support their efforts. Thank you to all of the performers, bake sale contributors, tech supporters, and friends for making this event a success. or

All-School Skating Party

We were able to in January during our annual skating party at Hotchkiss. We raised $741.00 during this event and our funds will go to (Zuni Youth Enrichment Project) in Zuni, New Mexico. As a reminder, this organization was founded by 91��ý Alum Kate Faber and her husband, Tom. Our contributions will assist them in creating COVID-19 wellness kits, which will be distributed through their free meal program on the reservation. These kits include items to support physical activity, mental health, safety, hygiene, nutrition, agriculture, traditional art, and S.T.E.M. learning.

Hoops for Food

If you can remember back to the fall when we held our , you probably remember donating nonperishable items for the . We have been in touch with the food pantry and they are seeing a significantly increased demand for canned food items due to an increase of job losses in our area. And so, if you live locally and would like to drop items off, please do so any Thursday morning and leave items in a bag on the back porch. Their most needed items are: canned tuna, spaghetti, canned meats, healthy juice/large plastic bottles, hearty progresso soups, canned coffee, boxed milk, pet food, and laundry detergent.

In Response to COVID-19

We are proud to share that members of our community have donated hundreds of N95 masks, surgical masks, and health vitamins to the School that can be distributed to local hospitals, health centers, individuals, and organizations. We are so grateful for the generosity of these families. Additionally, Mr. Corey Baker recently donated all non-perishable items from our dining hall to the Corner Food Pantry in Lakeville. We truly live a Life Through Service.

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Falcons Recap: Winter Wind-Down

Graphic Details — Thu, 27 Feb 2020 00:00:00 +0000

After a long and action packed winter it is hard to believe that competitions are coming to a close for the season. On Monday, March 2, all students-athletes will gather in the assembly hall for the seasonal Sports Awards ceremony and team parties to celebrate the hard work and commitment of each and every member of their team.

In order to find out more about how this season went for our 11 winter sports teams, team captains were asked to reflect on the ups and downs, and most memorable parts of the season. You can find their reflections below along with updates on recent competitions and how the season progressed for the Falcons.

ON THE COURT

The Girls Varsity Basketball team concluded their season with an impressive record that reflected their hard work and dedication. The starting lineup for the Falcons included student athletes from five different countries including Malawi, China, Korea, Ghana, and Mexico. Despite having a variety of experience levels, Captain Jessica Lomo reflected upon the fact that these backgrounds didn’t matter because the team “had chemistry” and became a unit as the season progressed. In addition, Captain Emily Tan was quick to comment on the many challenging opponents that they faced this season and that these victories are due to the hard work and efforts of every member of the team. From singing on the bus to laughing with their coaches on the sideline this positive environment created a space for all players to improve their skills throughout the season.

After a win for the girls varsity basketball team at home, the Varsity Boys Basketball team continued to fight hard and push the tempo in a double header showdown against Millbrook. The Falcons were determined to come out victorious in their last home game and were not accepting defeat as an answer. Ninth grader Jaden Mentor contributed 19 points, Jake Bauomel hit a three pointer, and many other Falcons kept tallying points to keep lead. The Mustangs continued to foul as the game progressed allowing the Falcons chances to score in the bonus round and capitalize on mistakes made by the other team. The Falcons walked off the court victorious beating the Mustangs 42-39 and will look to defeat Salisbury on the road in their last game of the season.

Both the 7/8/9th grade and the 5/6th grade JV Boys Basketball teams improved drastically over the course of the season. After splitting into two teams the boys quickly settled into their roles and began to work as a unit. According to Captains Jacob Cook and Inigo Sustacha, the boys “started as a JV team without [much] knowledge of the game” but after a few weeks of practice they started to become a “real team with real aspirations”. The older 7th/8th/9th grade team led by top scorers Inigo, Jacob, and Jin Lee pushed the tempo of the ball and worked to the final whistle. The Falcons 5th/6th grade team will compete in their last home game of the season on Friday February 28th against the American School for the Deaf.

The 91��ý Varsity Squash program certainly left their mark on their opponents this year. Led by a handful of veteran ninth graders in combination with a talented group of younger athletes the team found success and came out victorious in nearly all competitive matches this season. With many members of the squad returning next year the team has promise to be just as competitive in the future.

As the season comes to a close and time on the court comes to an end it is hard to remember that early on in the season many members of the Developmental Squash Team picked up a racquet for the first time. All members of the team improved drastically throughout the course of the season and were diligent and focused during both drills and challenge matches.

ON THE ICE

The Varsity Hockey team had a very successful season on the ice. Captain Giaco Traggio and Drew Bogardus reflected on the many ups and downs that their team, like many others, faced throughout the season. In addition, the team has “grown and matured” over the course of the season and look to come out as both better athletes and team mates. Despite all athletes on the team contributing to the success of the team both on and off the ice “one person [the captains] would especially like to [give a] shoutout to is Carter Foley, our goalie. According to Giaco and Drew, Carter “always gives 100%” and “has gotten immensely better and made everyone around him better in the process.” Lastly, the team would like to thank their coaches for their commitment and will remember their win over Rumsey and fun time playing pond hockey on the ponds near Indian Mountain for a long time. The Falcons will look to end the season on a high note playing in the Pavek Cup at Rumsey Hall this weekend, Saturday, February 29th.

With a roster full of both newcomers and veteran hockey players the JV Hockey team started out as individual players but soon became a team. All athletes improved their skating, fundamental skills of passing and shooting, and furthered their understanding of the game. The Falcons were able to test out their skills in 8 competitions this season against nearby schools and will look to finish the season strong with a home game against Rumsey Hall on Friday, February 28th.

ON THE SLOPES

According to Coach Sleboda “the Ski Race team ended a very successful racing season with back to back races at Catamount and Mohawk respectively.” All members of the team improved throughout the course of the season and “each proved to remain solid and consistent in their performance with each skier having two successful runs at each race.” Overall, the team captured 2nd place at both races losing to Rumsey Hall by only one point on the very icy and tight slalom course hosted at Catamount. Coach Sleboda commends all ski racers “for their remarkable focus, discipline and camaraderie.”

�ճ��Recreational Ski team enjoyed their time on the mountain at Catamount this season. Students completed many many runs on the mountain and became more confident skiers and snowboarders this season.

IN THE POOL

Swim Team: For captains Derrick Dellea and Quisha Lee the “swim season went by incredibly fast” in the pool. The team participated in a total of five swim meets and remained undefeated for the season, a testament to their hard work and improvement. More importantly, and well stated by their captains, the team “trained hard, competed with determination, made new friends, and finally, ended this season with triumph and pride for our team and our school”.

IN THE STUDIO

On Monday prior to the Sports Awards Ceremony, the Dance team will be performing multiple dances for the entire student body. The Dance team reflected on the most memorable parts of their time on the dance team this year, according to the team these memories include laughing and chatting on the bus rides to SPACE studio, meeting new people, a judgment-free zone at SPACE studio, and how everyone supports each other no matter what.

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91��ý Students Attend Art Competition, Receive Honors

Graphic Details — Tue, 25 Feb 2020 00:00:00 +0000

Last month, a group of five students traveled to Hartford Art School at the University of Hartford after submitting work to the 2020 Connecticut Regional Scholastic Art Awards.

Yujin ’20, Wade ’20, Sophia ’21, Alysa ’22, and Marisin ’22 had their work on display at the competition, which attracts a highly talented pool of artists from across the state. Yujin’s work received a “Gold Key” award—a first place honor—and the American Vision Award, which is the highest regional award to be given to one writer or artist from each region. Her work will go on to compete at the national level. Our artists came away with a combined five awards.

Mr. Visockis, 91��ý Art Department Chair, expressed his pride in our students. “Students take risks by entering their work into this competition,” he said. “It’s not easy to put yourself out there and have your work judged among other students and peers. We’re proud of them for taking the initiative, for putting hard work into their pieces, and for going the extra distance. It speaks to their drive as artists.”

The art program at Indian Mountain School encourages students to explore their abilities and challenge themselves to explore different mediums. In this particular contest, submitted works ranged from drawing and painting to photograph and digital computer animation.

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Students Discuss Deforestation During 9th Grade Summit

Graphic Details — Thu, 20 Feb 2020 00:00:00 +0000

This term, ninth grade history students participated in the annual “Summit” project, in which groups of students inhabit the roles of various countries, stakeholders, industries, and other groups to work toward a hypothetical solution to a real-world geopolitical crisis. This year, students focused on deforestation in Brazil’s Amazon Rain Forest.

Represented at the Summit were major industrial interests, human rights groups, environmental action NGOs, and political parties. Each, from their varied perspectives, was asked to consider questions regarding domestic affairs, management of land rights, and the philosophy of “ownership”; ie., who “owns” the Amazon, and whose responsibility is its stewardship, maintenance, and/or development. With the people of a democratic nation seeking support from their government on one hand and the international community pleading for sustainable growth on the other, Brazil’s current state of affairs is one that resonates around the world.

Additionally, competing views of international relations and diplomacy surfaced, and students asked each other and themselves where (if at all) is it allowable for the international community to manage or limit a country’s economic growth potential for the sake of environmental preservation and the global good.

While fraught geopolitical conflict such as this often leaves the global community feeling as though progress is a zero-sum game, our students were able to exhibit self-interest and altruism in equal measure. During the summit, students performed with poise, maturity, and empathy that belies their age, and they also demonstrated a comprehensive understanding of the issue at hand. Each group reflected with care and precision their assigned group’s ideological and tactical standpoint, and while at the conclusion a resolution was not reached, the process of striving toward compromise yielded something even more important: an appreciation of the complexity and urgency of the conflict in the Amazon, and a realization that mutually beneficial solutions reached through compromise and partnership are possible.

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A Virtual Reality Experience of Mount Vesuvius

Graphic Details — Tue, 11 Feb 2020 13:52:00 +0000

Whenever possible, we like to bring history to life. It is our belief that students learn best when they are engaged in different types of learning. That’s why our sixth grade humanities students got to experience the eruption of Mount Vesuvius through virtual reality goggles during their study of Pompeii.

“It showed us what it was actually like to experience the volcano eruption,” shared Ella, a sixth grade student who completed the VR tour. “Ash was falling on top of me; it felt very real. It showed me how a volcano can destroy a whole city.”

Another student says the VR experience helped her understand the gravity of the eruption. “It was one of the earliest civilizations and for it to just be gone in a matter of days, that’s crazy.”

Students in Mr. Tieger’s class learned about Pompeii before immersing themselves in the heart of the volcano and later wrote essays that required them to develop creative first-person narratives.

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Students Raise Funds for Fires in Australia

Graphic Details — Tue, 11 Feb 2020 00:00:00 +0000

This winter, during Ms. Statile’s “bouldering” X-block class, a conversation transpired about the Seven Summits—the tallest peaks on each continent. After learning about the tallest peak in Australia, Ms. Statitle knew she would be remiss if she didn’t talk about the current events unfolding throughout the country.

“We discussed the scale of the fires and read a few articles and the class immediately erupted with a desire to act,” says Ms. Statile. “The students felt helpless and wanted to do something to make a difference.”

They agreed to raise funds and awareness for the in New South Wales and , an organization founded in 2002 by Steve and Terry Irwin. The news struck a chord in the hearts of their class and they rallied behind this cause. They were able to raise more than $600.

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American Sign Language Drawing Project

Graphic Details — Thu, 06 Feb 2020 15:44:26 +0000

Seventh grade and general art classes spent the winter term drawing American Sign Language (ASL) letters using continuous-bild contour. This is a drawing exercise where the artist draws the surface of a subject without looking at the paper. The blind contour technique trains the eye and hand to work synchronously; it also helps students to see all of the details of the object. This exercise may not produce a fully developed drawing, however, results are always interesting and unique.

After completing a series of drawings they created a three-dimensional sculpture of the drawing using soft aluminium wire. Interestingly, the aluminum wire was repurposed from leftover materials from our recent solar-array installation.

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