Great Barrington Rudolf Steiner School Adds First Grade Teacher

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Pamela Giles

GREAT BARRINGTON, Mass. — Great Barrington Rudolf Steiner School's Pamela Giles will teach the first grade for the 2014-2015 school year.

An experienced teacher, Giles has been a GBRSS faculty member for more than 25 years, successfully graduating three eighth-grade classes and has served on several board committees.

"As a teacher, Mrs. Giles brings not only her deep insights of the students, but also her passionate vision for the future of our school," said Interim Faculty Administrator Krista Palmer. "By virtue of her experience, she's building for the future right from the beginning, fortifying her students' capacities for imagination and learning. She is also wonderfully artistic, connecting all aspects of the curriculum to the child’s feelings and bringing subjects to life, so students are touched by what they learn."


Giles grew up in New York City and received her bachelor's in education from Empire State College. She completed her teacher apprenticeship at GBRSS, where all three of her children would eventually graduate.

"Here's what I told my current eighth-graders: 'You'll be moving on to Algebra II in ninth grade, but I'll be moving forward by going back to the beginning, to the alphabet, straight and curved lines, and stories.' I am thrilled about taking a new first grade," Giles said. "I so much look forward to meeting and getting to know the Class of 2022 and their families."

GBRSS is accepting student applications for early childhood through eighth grade for September and will hold a Meet the Teacher evening for an opportunity to meet Giles on Wednesday, April 2, at 7 p.m. For more information, call Tracy Fernbacher at 413-528-4015.

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Dalton Select Board Argues Over Sidewalk Article

By Sabrina DammsiBerkshires Staff
DALTON, Mass. — A heated discussion concerning sidewalks during Monday night's Select Board meeting resulted in the acting chair calling a recess to cool the situation. 
 
The debate stemmed from the two articles on the town meeting warrant for May 6 at 7 p.m. at Wahconah Regional High School. 
 
One proposes purchasing a sidewalk paver for $64,000 so sidewalks can be paved or repaired for less money, but they will use asphalt rather than concrete. The other would amend the town's bylaws to mandate the use of concrete for all future sidewalks. 
 
The article on concrete sidewalks was added to the warrant through a citizen petition led by resident Todd Logan. 
 
The board was determining whether to recommend the article when member John Boyle took the conversation in a new direction by addressing how the petition was brought about. 
 
"I just have a comment about this whole procedure. I'm very disappointed in the fact that you [Logan] have been working, lobbying various groups and implementing this plan and filed this petition six weeks ago. You never had any respect for the Select Board and …" Boyle said. 
 
Before Boyle could finish his statement, which was directed to Logan, who was in the audience, Chair Joe Diver called point of order via Zoom. 
 
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