The Winchendon Courier

Serving the community since 1878 ~ A By Light Unseen Media publication

Week of October 7 to October 14, 2021

Winchendon Public Schools Educator Nominated for National LifeChanger of the Year Award

October 4, 2021 - Winchendon, MA - Toy Town Elementary School third grade special education teacher Nicole Landry has been nominated for the 2021-2022 national LifeChanger of the Year award. Sponsored by the National Life Group Foundation, LifeChanger of the Year recognizes and rewards the very best K-12 educators and school district employees across the United States who are making a difference in the lives of students by exemplifying excellence, positive influence and leadership.

Landry was nominated by her colleague and mother, Brenda Keney. Landry has put on many hats during her career in education. She has worked in every school in her district, from elementary to high school. Administrators seek her out to work with their students because of her flexibility, positivity, natural ability to "reach" children, and ability to work with all students.

Landry has also been known to help students succeed academically by providing free tutoring at her house on weekends and during the summer. Some of these struggling students are not in her class, but because of her huge heart and reputation, they seek her out. She gives her students the confidence they need to succeed and supports them with her own resources as well. Every year, she gives a scholarship to a graduating senior who may not otherwise receive one, but has worked very hard, has shown integrity, and is deserving of having a chance to better their life.

"Mrs. Landry has made unwavering efforts and is a great listener. Because of her caring attitude, her students know that they can positively change the world, one step at a time," said Keney.

By Paulo Carboni of Leominster

Ashlee Laffita and 10th grade student Selasi Sampedey of Leominster

Ashlee Laffita and 11th grade student Paulo Carboni of Leominster

10th grade students Max Siler-Huber (left) and Troy Hempel, both of Fitchburg

9th grade student Isabel Amato of Leominster
Photos courtesy of the Sizer School

Resident Arist Teaches the "Business" of Art

Fitchburg illustrator Ashlee Laffita has begun a nine-day artist residency at Sizer School in Fitchburg, that will extend over three weeks and investigate visual culture: graphic design and art as a communication tool.

The final project will be a collaboratively created art installation designed by the students to enhance the sidewalks.

The project is being called, "Rain or Shine."

Students began by brainstorming ideas for what they would like to communicate and sketching ideas for templates. Templates will then be cut, final designs chosen and then the creation of the site-specific installation(s). Using a non-toxic RAINWORKS invisible spray, students will recreate their designs in this medium, which will only be visible when wet.

"I'm always excited for students to have the chance to work side by side with a professional artist," said Cat Judge, Visual Arts Teacher. "They get a first-hand experience of what a practicing artist's creative process looks and feels like. As that relationship deepens over the course of the residency, students realize and embrace their own creative process. It's a joy to watch!"

Aside from helping students with the product side of things, Laffita is also coaching students on the business aspects of being an artist.

"I wanted to give the students a bit of a glimpse into what it's like to be not only an artist, but a business owner," said Laffita. "I knew that the past year had been quite challenging for everyone and I wanted them to look at their school environment in a new way."

Laffita continued, "I wanted them to shift the way they perceived not only their environment, but also give thought to how a contribution they make could impact someone else. Especially on a day where the other party may be feeling a little down emotionally. One huge aspect of art is it being seen – either by the creator or others, and I wanted the students to be able to enjoy that feeling."

Laffita is the owner of Phoenyx Artt. She has experience creating outdoor murals and oil painting. Previously Laffita has done community work such as organizing a community mural project where youth took ownership and created a mural to help beautify a neighborhood.

At Sizer, students are known personally, challenged intellectually, and participate actively in their learning. Committed to diversity and inclusiveness, Sizer seeks to send graduates into the world who THINK for themselves, CARE about others, and ACT creatively and responsibly. Laffita, who is also a Sizer School alumni, has created a project that goes perfectly with the Sizer School mission.

To help her with the "business" part of things, a group of students have become the project's Media Team.

In their first update, the media team described where the students are in their project:

Date week: Sep 27 - Oct 1

As of the week of September 27th, "Rain or Shine" in third period has been working on a project involving RainWorks. We have worked Monday through Wednesday, with a total work time of around two and a half hours. RainWorks is a type of street art utilizing hydrophobic coating on a sidewalk that appears invisible when dry, and reveals a created pattern when it rains. There are a few goals on this project. One of them being to bring some shine to a rainy day. Another goal of ours is to contact the Company RainWorks and get on their official map of locations with their product. So far, the artists have come up with many themes and designs for the final product. They range from visualizations of quotes to drawings and other student artworks, and they vary in style.

The rest of the project will take place throughout the next two weeks: Monday, Oct. 4 - Wednesday, Oct. 6; Wednesday, Oct. 13 - Friday, Oct. 15. The final design will be displayed outside the school for all to enjoy! For more information on Sizer School, visit www.sizerschool.org. Sizer School is still accepting applications for the 2021-2022 school year in grades 8 & 9, visit https://tinyurl.com/SizerSchool to apply. For more information about Laffita or her work, visit www.phoenyxartt.com.