Principal's Message
At Braintree Elementary, approximately 100 students in preschool through grade 6 enjoy a place-based learning environment that encourages an appreciation of the natural world and its inhabitants. Braintree Elementary is part of the Orange Southwest School District, so we enjoy a small community school while also having the support and resources of a larger district.
Academic Excellence & Outdoor Learning:
We were proudly named the #5 elementary school in the state of Vermont, based on our performance on state assessments. Our teachers are dedicated to the academic and social/emotional development of each and every student. With engaging and differentiated lessons and a cohesive team of classroom teachers, interventionists, and other staff, students receive a rigorous, holistic education at Braintree Elementary. We make the most of our beautiful 17 acre campus. Each
classroom has a dedicated outdoor classroom available to them. On a typical day at Braintree, you may see the preschoolers playing in their mud kitchen, primary students measuring the results of experiments, and older children drawing the abundant wildlife on campus and making scientific observations and hypotheses. Incorporating the natural world in order to connect students with their environment and community is of utmost importance at our school. Ground will break this year on an ADA-accessible trail that will connect outdoor classrooms and provide the most access for our community members.
Our Farm to School program provides students with hands-on experiences growing, harvesting, cooking, and eating fresh produce. Braintree Blossoms, our school farmstand, provides additional real-life learning. Students in all grades have made items to sell at the farmstand, including apple sauce and pies, granola, and potpourri. Intermediate students are learning firsthand how to operate a small business. They set prices, create advertisements, organize inventory, engage with customers, and complete financial analyses. We have also been fortunate to partner with local farmers and families who have donated items to support the farmstand. Last year, RTCC students in the electrical and construction trades installed solar panels on the farmstand. We are grateful for the community support of this endeavor!
STEM:
Braintree continues our focus on helping students prepare for the future. Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math (STEM) is now a permanent part of our specials rotation. In the STEM lab, students learn the process of design thinking and the importance of testing and revision of projects. They learn how to collaborate and communicate with peers and leaders in the field. For our recent celebration of National STEM Day, Braintree students created a school-wide marble run, with each grade having a particular role in the building and assembly. We are proud to partner with community organizations for material and financial support of these
exciting projects.
Enrichment Opportunities:
We strive to make Braintree a place students want to return to every day. Exciting field trips and visitors to our building allow us to enrich day-to-day instruction. Farmer Anne comes monthly to cook with local produce and provide a taste test for all students in conjunction with our Farm to School program. We welcome
artists in residence throughout the year, including Bread & Puppet Circus, Guinean singer Sayon Camara, and a weeklong drumming residency in the spring. Deonne Myrick comes for monthly yoga instruction for all grade-levels. There are opportunities for students to increase their capacity for leadership; 4H visited this fall to facilitate leadership activities for intermediate students, and our Student Council meets biweekly to identify and address areas for growth within our school. After-school academic tutoring, band, and physical activity clubs are also available. We are proud to offer these opportunities for Braintree students to deepen their learning
and find success in and out of the classroom.