26 | ACTON-BOXBOROUGH REGIONAL SCHOOL DISTRICT
Experiential, hands-on project-based learning provides opportunities for students to develop skills, self-confidence, a sense of responsibility, and enthusiasm for learning. Merriam emphasizes community building, supported by activities like our weekly All School Meetings. Special activities with our multi-age “family groups” include Community Day , Theme Days and Field Day . Students stay with the same family groups throughout their time at Merriam, gradually assuming leadership roles as they progress through the grades. Highlights of the year included: • We reunited our community after more than a third of students and staff had been in the Remote Learning Program. We reconnected around the theme “journeys” as a way to explore identity, develop community and look forward together as a school. • We implemented STEAM “Maker on the Move” challenges. Our lantern making challenge in December evolved into an evening “Solstice Stroll” where families came together to view beautiful lanterns, listen to poems and song while sipping hot chocolate.
• Grade-levels embarked on the first year of “re-looping” our school. Kindergarten now loops to 1st grade, 2nd to 3rd grade, 4th to 5th grade, and 6th grade stands alone. This has allowed us to refine and grow existing projects using an equity and STEAM lens, as well as invest in new curriculum materials that support standards and provide “windows and mirrors” for our students. • The Parker Damon Building received a grant to build out our gardens. This year’s 2nd graders will learn about the history of the land we live on and the traits of different plants through companion planting. They will harvest next fall as they continue their study of plant life cycles and indigenous and settler histories. • As part of the District Initiative for MTSS, our Instructional Leadership Team met regularly to examine existing structures and build out new structures for better implementing general education interventions in both math and literacy. We have adopted new assessment systems in order to systematically monitor progress and built schedules to support intervention blocks across grade levels. • During Literacy Week , high school students read books to students in various languages, and we had authors visit every classroom! • Merriam 3rd graders (with help from some high schoolers) parti- cipated in a National Chalk Art competition featuring endan- gered species. This was only a small part of their Endangered Species projects that were featured at the Discovery Museum in Acton for a culminating exhibit for the public! • We were able to bring parents back into our building, just in time for our mid-year Student Led Conferences! Kindergarteners through 6th graders independently walked their caregiver(s) through the journey of their learning.
Juliana Schneider PRINCIPAL Bryant Amitrano ASSISTANT PRINCIPAL
Merriam Core Values • Risk taking • Persistence in Learning • Respect
Made with FlippingBook Digital Publishing Software