Bill Prue, 2024 Rowland Fellow
North Country Union High School’s first Celebration of Learning was a resounding success, showcasing the remarkable achievements of our students and fostering a spirit of pride and collaboration. I, along with a team of teachers, administrators, students, and a school board member, started the event which brought students, educators, and community members together and highlighted a variety of student projects and presentations.
The event’s success was driven by strong student engagement and ownership. Students spoke confidently and proudly about their work, and many expressed that they preferred this format over traditional Student-Led Conferences. The presence of parents, teachers, and administrators underscored the strong support network for student learning and helped to build meaningful connections. While the initial community turnout was limited, the positive feedback from them suggests that future events will have a wider reach.
“Students spoke confidently and proudly about their work…”
Looking ahead, we can build on this momentum by implementing key strategies to increase community participation and student involvement. By reaching out to a broader range of community organizations and leveraging various communication channels, we can amplify awareness and attract a larger audience. We plan to expand student participation by encouraging more teachers to integrate projects for the Celebration of Learning into their curriculum and ensuring all student presentations are in a high-traffic area. Another way to expand student participation includes a new class I am starting based on my observations, which will culminate in the Celebration of Learning participation.
In order to keep this event viable in the future, my team and I have founded the North Country Alumni Association. Although in its early stages, this association will hopefully help to organize and fund the event, as well as other events and scholarships for current students.
This event has established a solid foundation for an annual tradition that celebrates our students’ hard work and academic excellence. The positive feedback and enthusiasm from participants confirm the value of this new initiative, and we look forward to growing this event in the years to come.
