On a brisk, clear fall afternoon, a group of 32 Mount Lebanon Elementary School students huddled up on the playground after practice. On the count of three, they burst into their group motto: “You don’t have to win the race, you just have to be in the race!”
The students, along with their coaches – Donna Soucy, Nina D’Cruze, Jon Grobe and Alan Palmer – formed Mount Leb’s Finding our Stride team this fall. The nonprofit afterschool program partners with more than 30 schools throughout the Upper Valley (including Hanover Street School) to help kids get active and develop positive traits like resilience and empathy.
“They encourage the kids to run and be active,” Principal Katie Roach said of the coaches at Mount Lebanon. “They play collaborative games and teach social skills to the kids about acceptance, trying hard things, not giving up, and supporting your teammates!”
Finding our Stride is one of the many ways that Lebanon School District students, with the support of their families and our dedicated staff, embody our Vision of a Learner. We are dedicated to educating students who are effective and collaborative communicators, critical and creative thinkers, responsible local and global citizens, and empathetic and resilient individuals.
This vision is the foundation of our Strategic Plan, which we detailed in the last edition of the Lebanon Times. As we approach the halfway point of the school year, here are some of the many ways we are taking action on this plan for guiding our growth as a school community.
Hanover Street School Map Making
Effective and Collaborative Communication
Every Thursday, a group of about 10 Lebanon Middle School students gather after school in the band room for Podcast Club. Last year, the inaugural season of the LMS Podcast featured more than 20 episodes, covering a wide range of topics and a few featuring special guests such as PTO members, school district staff and area leaders.
“Students have liked the idea that they can talk about almost any topic, and learn about different topics they may not be as familiar with,” said Christian Terry, LMS music teacher and the club’s moderator.
Students often talk about their favorite movies, books, sports, or current trends, but recent topics also have included lessons on friendship, what students think their lives will be like in 20 years and what a world without screens would be like.
“Students who might not find their voice in the classroom or on the sports field have an opportunity to do so through this co-curricular activity,” Mr. Terry said.
During a recording session in late October, students also said they like working with the technical equipment used to record the podcast. They added that they are developing public speaking and conversation skills through the club.
“The big takeaway is hearing others’ perspectives, having healthy debate, turn-taking, and listening skills,” Mr. Terry said.
All episodes of the LMS Podcast are available at www.youtube.com/@LMSPodcast/videos.
Lebanon Middle School Podcast
Critical and Creative Thinking
Fourth graders at Hanover Street School started the school year with a project that combined social studies and art to help them better understand New Hampshire’s landscape. Each student created a 3D map that ultimately will go on the cover of books students are creating throughout the year showcasing the state’s history.
The project started with sketches of the landscape around Hanover Street School, then moved on to labeling and coloring 2D maps of New Hampshire that highlighted important geological features and landmarks across the state before building a clay model of the state’s landscape. Their next step was casting their models with plaster, which was a great outdoor activity. They wrapped up their project by painting their plaster maps.
Students said they loved the hands-on project, and the sensory experience of working with the clay and plaster. The experience of making their 3D maps allowed them to develop a deeper understanding of the changing elevations across the state. The details they included were unique to each student. For instance, some used color to distinguish the varying elevations. No matter the approach, though, students said the project helped them learn creatively.
Responsible Local and Global Citizenship
Mount Lebanon School Finding our Stride
For one Tuesday in late October, 128 Lebanon High School students stepped out of their daily routine, and into the community. They spread to 24 sites throughout the Upper Valley for the school’s annual Day of Work.
The event’s history stretches back more than 20 years, and serves as a fundraiser for the Student Council’s grant fund, which supports co-curricular activities throughout the school.
Groups of students volunteer to help with projects at homes throughout the community, like raking leaves, prepping for winter or moving furniture. Residents who sign up for these services pay by donating to the school.
“It’s a good way to give back to the community because they do so much to help us,” sophomore Claire MacMartin said.
This year, juniors and LHS Council members Mikko Andres and Ian Danen-Lucier returned to the same West Lebanon house where they helped at last year’s Day of Work. The homeowner even called them over the summer to help with some additional yard work.
“It helps build a relationship between students and the community,” Andres said.
LHS Paraeducator Bradley Cantlin, the Council advisor, added, “I think Day of Work is really about the connections they make in the community. That’s really valuable.”
Empathetic and Resilient Individuals
Back at Mount Lebanon School, on the last day of Finding our Stride’s fall season, students are reflecting on the goals they set at the beginning of the program: get better and stronger, set their own pace, build stamina and perseverance.
Their coaches asked, “If we couldn’t do it, what did you tell yourself, or your friends?”
“You can do it,” one student exclaimed. Another chimed in, “Don’t give up, you’ve got this!” While another runner added, “You’re doing a good job!”
After the pep talk, the group took off on a roughly quarter-mile run through the West Lebanon neighborhood surrounding the school. Students who finished first stayed and cheered on their teammates until the very last person crossed the finish line.
“We want students to develop positive feelings about physical activity and perseverance,” Coach Soucy said. “And also, we just want it to be really fun.”
A few days later, many of the students participated in the CHaD Hero race in Hanover, raising money for Dartmouth Health Children’s and the Children’s Hospital at Dartmouth-Hitchcock Medical Center (CHaD).
Across all of its schools, the Finding our Stride program was the top fundraiser for the event, collecting more than $60,000 in donations and helping the event surpass $1 million for the first time in its 20-year history.
