"Robots by the C" is 21st Century Learning

First things first – Congratulations to MERSD’s "Robots by the C" for taking second place in this year’s Boston Regional FIRST competition!  The combination of commitment, dedication and expertise exhibited by our student team together with the unwavering time and support offered by our parent volunteers who served as advisors to the team made for a remarkable effort.   I had the opportunity to visit the competition last Friday.  I was treated to a VIP tour, and I was able to sit court-side to cheer the team on in its victorious morning match.  The atmosphere was electric; one couldn’t help but get swept up in the excitement of the competition.  On my ride back to school, however, I realized that in all the fun there was great concrete example of a learning experience that illustrates the much used phrase – 21st Century Skills. 

MERSD’s vision is for all students to develop and demonstrate Twenty-First Century Skills.  The overarching elements of the skills framework are grouped into four areas which embody the skills, knowledge and expertise students should master to succeed in work and life in the 21st century.

Content Knowledge

Learning and Innovation Skills

Creativity and Innovation

Critical Thinking and Problem Solving

Communication and Collaboration

Information, Media and Technology Skills

Information Literacy

Media Literacy

ICT Literacy

Life and Career Skills

The "FIRST Robotics" program and competition require students to demonstrate skills in each of these areas.  Through their content knowledge of STEM subjects (Science, Technology, Engineering and Math) students need to creatively design a robot that will perform the required challenge in the most efficient manner possible.  This is done through a collaborative team effort in both the design and competition (implementation phase).  Competitions are called – co-operations because the point allotment is designed to favor teams that demonstrate cooperation with their competitors to yield the best results possible.  In addition to designing a working robot, teams are also responsible for designing a brand and marketing their team in order to raise funds through donations and sponsorships. Surely, this experience is one that prepares them well for 21^st Century workplaces that will depend on the innovation and strong interpersonal skills of its workforce.

March is Nutrition Month!

One of the tenants of the whole child philosophy is that…Each student enters school healthy and learns about and practices a healthy lifestyle with a goal that school supports, promotes, and reinforces healthy eating patterns and food safety in routine food services and special programming and events for students and staff.   MERSD gets high marks in the work it is doing to promote and model healthy living and good nutritional habits. 

In February our Food Service Department was featured in both the Mass Department of Child Nutrition Outreach Program web spotlight and on the School Nutrition Association’s online magazine Tray Talk. 

From Tray Talk

“Green Team” Helps Bring Fresh Choices to Massachusetts Cafeteria

Posted on 02/29/2012

At Manchester-Essex Regional Middle High School, members of the student “Green Team” plant, care for and harvest vegetables in the school garden. Cafeteria employees use this fresh produce, including lettuce, kale, tomatoes, eggplant, turnips, and green peppers, in the salad bar and in many of the made-from-scratch recipes served for lunch, like the pesto pasta prepared with garden kale instead of basil. Now that students are involved in raising these healthy choices, they are more willing to select them in the cafeteria.

Manchester-Essex purchases much of their fruit from local Massachusetts farmers, and they offer healthy choices, like yogurt, baby carrots and granola bars, in the cafeteria vending machine too.

Recycling and compost bins are located throughout the building to help keep the whole school “green.” The students and the school work together to create a setting that is healthier for their bodies and the environment!

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Thank you to Sheila Parisien and the entire food service staff for the work they do in support of our children and programs.