Red Cedar Rings Bell to Commemorate Lincoln's Birthday

Red Cedar joined with bells across Vermont at 2:12 p.m. today as they rang for ten minutes to celebrate the 200th anniversary of the Abraham Lincoln's birth.

Students listen for other bells. Some of us are pretty sure we heard ringing from Bristol and from New Haven.
Sam takes a turn ringing our bell.

Middle School Group Takes to the Snowy Woods

Our middle school group spent last Thursday and Friday at Sleepy Hollow in Huntington. We snowshoed and skied up to Butternut Cabin where we kept a hot fire going, ventured out for moonlight exploring, told stories and had a good time. We don't know exactly how cold it got that night, but in the valley it was below zero. The loft was warm, the bottom bunks were just right, and our water bottles froze on the floor. In the morning we had a long morning meeting, then spent the day on skis. 

Our intrepid group - about to set off for the cabin

Trekking in

Our view of the Crouching Lion from the porch of the cabin

Bill

the loft

Late afternoon sunlight in the cabin

A Margot shot

cabin window

Coming back from a moonlight ski

Card games in the loft

Tending the fire

Visitor Shares Story of Leaving Sudan

Alex Pial, one of the 'Lost Boys of Sudan' who has settled in Vermont, visited the school on Thursday. He told his story to the upper elementary and middle school groups.

When Alex was seven, he had to flee his home to save his life. Sudan was involved in a civil war and militia-men stormed and destroyed his village. He became separated from his parents, and with other orphaned boys, traveled hundreds of miles on foot to safety in a refugee camp in Ethiopia. Over the next dozen years, he and the other refugees were relocated time and again.

In 2001, he came to the United States and settled in Vermont. Alex now lives in Colchester and works as a caregiver for The Visiting Nurses Association. He volunteers his time sharing his story with schools and community organizations across the country.

Alex speaks to the group.

Showing where he lived in Sudan.

Charlie with Alex. Charlie and his family are friends of Alex and his wife, Victoria, and are involved with the Sudanese community in Vermont.